San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-04-25
i. |. EDWARDS
ACADEMY
HERO
San Saba Youth, Unbeaten
Wrestler, May Become
Star Boxer.

ANNAPOLIS, April 2+--The at
Eempt to develop a high grade boxer
rom a successful wrestler, not in
frequently made in professional ranks,
Is being tried for what is probably
he first time in college circles at the
Naval Academy, the subject being
Hayward L, Edwards, unbeaten
heavyweight wrestler, who halls from
San Saba. Texas.
Edwards. who engaged in eighteen
Unlimited weight bouts while a mem
per of, the Naval Academy wrestling
cam and won them all. was called
bpen to fill in when an injury to the
heavyweight of the naval boxing team
made 1t necessary to secure someone
n his place within few days Of the
ntercollegiates Of last year.
This year again, it looked as il the
Naval Academy has need of a heavy
weight, and Edwards was called upon
10 take the place.
Edwards is an interesting charac-
Ter. a great athlete with the possibili-
les OF. much higher development, an
ll-round likeable lad and the idol Of
he midshipmen, who look to him, and
lever In vain, for a victory in the
final mat bout. which will either clinch
victory or soften defeat.
REMARKABLE ATHLETE.
Edwards is barely 90 years old, be-
Ing one OF the youngest members Of
me class which will graduate in June,
Ind one of the most remarkable ath-
etes in the history of the Naval Acad.
my; perhaps, in the annals Of col
ege sport.
He was never given serious attention
IN the football team until last year,
yhen he won the position of guard.
IS no one suspected his possession of
rcat speed until the football game
With Princeton last fall, when Tiger
back got the ball on an intercepted
bass and would have scored had not
TEX" overhauled him.
Edwards made the wrestling team
aree years ago, when he was just
Eighteen and completed that season
With four falls and two decisions. one
n the decisions being against Spell
man, of Brown, who afterwards won
he Olympic championship on the mat
at 191 pounds. The following year he
lso scored four falls and two deci-
lions. and during the season just past,
be being the team captain, Edwards
made a perfect score, gained six falls
put Of six bouts, no bout going as long
rs four minutes and two Of them be-
Ing in less than a minute.
Edwards is not n ponderous youth.
by any means. He weighs 200 pounds
Ind Is six feet two inches in height,
md beautifully proportional. He has,
however, immense strength and a nat
lrai aptitude for the wrestling game.
KNOWS MANY HOLDS.
II his wrestling, Edwards is not
restricted in methods and holds, but
Uses a large variety, employing his
long, muscular legs with the scissors
md also u peculiar body squeeze,
which is oil his own. He is very az.
zressivc and takes big chances, know,
Ing his own power Of breaking holds
secured against him. On the few
occasions that he is underneath, he
S still on the offense, as on or two OF
bis opponents who have been pinned
by a sudden arm roll well understand.
Naval people and others are anxious
that Edwards should represent this
country in the next Olympics, and
have planned for him to return TO the
Naval Academy next year as assistant
coaeh. 1t is proposed to give him
|pIenty of work and have him entered
I'm matches, SO that he will be ready
for special preparation In 1923. At
that time, Edwards will be % years
pf age, and should be at the climax of
his powers.