Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-17
LOCAL "Y" TO
HAVE ENLARGED
"GYM" QUARTERS
Workmen Already at Work
Tearing Out Partitions
to Be Ready for Bas-
ket Ball Opening.
By WILLIAM o. BLOZIES.


Work on charging the gymnasium
at the Young Mems Christian asso-
citation has commenced and all ef-
forts are being made to have it COM
pleted and in shape for the opening
of the regular 1920, basket ball
season next month. according to an
announcement made by N. ]. Wes-
ton. physical director. prior to his
departure for the east yesterday.
The space that is being used for
the new gymnasium adJoins that OF
the present gym and has in previous
years been used for volley and hand
ball courts and other minor events,
but was not large enough to stage
basket ball contests. according to
Weston.
Decided to Remodel.
So it was decided by the physical
department heads to remodel this
space and add it to the present gym
so as to make sufficient room to
handle tine local cage games this
season. 1t is understood when this
additional part to the gym is COM
pleted the local "Y" gymnasium will
be one of the largest west Of Chi
cago.
Physical Director Weston also an
nounccd to the writer that in his
opinion the coming basket ball sea-
son will be the greatest in the his
tory OF the local organization and
probably will equal that of any of
the big Y. M. c. AS in the east.
The games staged during the past
month by the twelve teams of the
preseason league have been we'll at
tended and from the interest dis
played thus far the crowds will sur
pass those Of former years.
Over 500 Represented.
Over 500 young men and boys will
be represented in the various leagues
to be organized by the base ball
committee of the local "Y" this sea-
SOL, according to Weston. Of this
number nearly 200 younger boys,
vino in former years have not had
the opportunity to play on account
of the gymnasium not being large
enough. will have their chance now
to demonstrate to the public that
they are the stars of tomorrow"
since the gymnasium is being en-
la-ged.
THE boys are taking all active
interest this season and already are
sending in their applications for
memberships in the boys leagues"
according to Weston. At least 200
boys will play in the three leagues
to be organized for the youngsters,
Judging from the entries received
by the physical department. but it is
expected that before the annual
meeting, which will be held the lat
ter part of this month, although no
definite date has yet been set.
There will be no limit to the boys
leagues" said Weston, "as my slog-
an is The more the merrier'"
1t is planned to start the boys
league about the first part of next
. month, according to present plans,
but whether it will be possible to
start on time is still all. uncertainty
as it will depend upon the work ac-
complished on the gymnasium.
Organize This Week.
Organization of the Church league
will be held sometime this week, ac-
cording to Chairman Verne Moore
of the "Y" basketball committee.
Teams wishing to join the league
are urged to send in their applica-
tons at once. as they are limited to
eight teams and the first eight appli-
cations received will be the ones &C
cepted. The church league will be
the first to get under way, starting
shortly after the holiday season.
Meetings of the Commercial and
Tri- City leagues will be held the
first part of December.
Finals in the preseason basket
ball league will be staged on Tues
day and Thursday evenings, Dec. 9
and II and judging by the interest
shown by the various players the
contests will be fast and snappy.
Attendance Increased.
The preseason league is arous-
ing considerable interest and last
week the attendance was the great
est thus far this season. During the
present week number of snappy
contests are scheduled in the pre-
season league. Following is the
schedule for this week: Tuesday,
Bemis Park against Mime Lusa;
Morningside against Idlewild; Kirk
wood against Fontenelle; Union
Squares against Kountze Park.
Thursday night, Norwood against
Monmouth Parks; Montclaires
against Glendales; Union Squares
against Bemis Parks; Kirkwoods
against Idlewild. Saturday night,
Montclaires against Mime Lusa;
Bemis Paks against Norwoods;
Morningsides against Fontenelle
and Glendales against Kountze
Parks.