The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-23
HANSON, FORMER
 CROSBY COACH, HAS FINE MARK
Western Illinois HOOpmen Rated .746 Over Ten-
 Year Period

Macomb, Illinois, March 23-The Macomb Teachers Leathernecks, who recently finished their tenth season on the hardwood, under the direction of Coach Ray Hanson, have every right to be proud of their record for the past ten years. A .746 percentage over a 10-year period is something for any hardwood team to shout about, especially in the Little 19 circle, as the leading teams in the Illinois Conference are continually upsetting their Big Brothers in the Big 10 and elsewhere.
 Started Clicking"
 Coach Hanson came to Macomb back in 1926 even before the present Morgan gymnasium was reality and immediately started the hard wood teams on the upgrade to suc- cess. In 1926, his first season at Western, proved to be the most dis astrous year for the Leathernecks, a total of eight games were lost as compared to twelve victories. Going from their low to their peak the Leathernecks finished in a first place tie last season with Illinois college, winning twelve out of thir- teen tits, for their first Conference championship, while four years of the ten the Leathernecks came through for second money. At the same time twice when finishing sec ond in the conference the improb- able situation, that of team going through the season undefeated came about; this has been the lot of the Illinois Wesleyan teams. Tn 1927 and 1928 the powerful Macomb team &C., counted for eleven victories in con- efrence competition out of possible twelve and Wesleyan remained un- defeated for first place; again this season the Titans were undefeated while the Leathernecks tied for sec- ond place.
 Great Stuff
 While speaking in terms of sta- tistics the Leathernecks have won thirty out of their last thirty-five games, dropping two last season and the balance this season. Against the toughest in the Illinois conference plus 8 number of outstanding teams outside the Conference Western has been victorious in 129 out of the 173 games played. Only A games have been lost by the Leathernecks since Coach Hanson has been at the helm which covers a 10-year period and leaves a .746 per centage.
 Woods A Standout
 Coach Hanson is proud of his 1935-36 squad and states they were his greatest team during his reign. Captain Wood, regular forward, was not only leading scorer in the con- ference, but was designated as most outstanding player, while four other LeatherneckS were selected by AP as all-conference material. Seven mem- bers of the squad will be lost by graduation, Carol Wood of Augusta; Dan Robbins of Good Hope; Dwight Means of Nashville; Joe Oitker of Macomb; Harold Machon of Ver- sailles; Charles Means of Nashville | and Brooks Tolbert of Chembers- burg. Other letter winners are Har- old Henderson of Galesburg; Perry | Barclift of Quincy; Wm. Hughes of Wheaton; Burdette Kirkpatrick | (Mgr) of Table Grove; Wendell Harriss (Mgr) of Table Grove. These letters are all subject to vote of the athletic board. Four other men are expected to return next year and be of real assistance in de- veloping another winning aggrega- tion; they are, John Elder of Basco, junior; Madison P. Carey of Chi cago, freshman; Paul Orr, Pittsfleld, sophomore; Luroy Hayes of Chicago, freshman.