The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-03
Three Teams in
Close Finish at
Trenton Contest
Local Boys Grab
Spectacular Two,
Half Point Lead

In a spectacular blanket finish
that saw only two and a half points
separating the first three teams,
Ypsilanti High Schools surprising
swimmers became the State Glass
Swimming Champions Saturday
evening in the Trenton High School
pool. Earning a total OF 491s points
the Braves topped the second place
Roosevelt natators by one and a
half points, and were two and a
half ahead of third place University
High. The two other teams in the
meet. Trenton and Adrian, finished
in that order with the former hay.
ing total OF 23ia points to the
latter's meager two.
Arlo Cox, ace breast stroker and
individual medley man for the run
ner-up Roosevelt team, was the In.
diyidual standout OF the meet as he
easily outclassed the field in both
of his specialties, setting pool
record iH-th breast stroke and a
State mark in the individual med
ley while so doing. In the qualify
ing round in the afternoon Cox was
able TO do no better than l:15.5 for
the breast, and 1885 for the med
ley, but in the evening Cox really
went to town as he clipped three
and a half seconds of the first
time and six and six tenths of the
second. The former pool record
OF INA for the breast stroke was
set by Bob Hodges, OF U. High,
year ago but CoX's 1872 eclipsed
this by four tenths OF second. His
1:47 flat was the outstanding time
OF the meet. however. as he wrote
new State record into the books
with II. A full second was Topped
of the former mark OF l:4S which
was set by Cox himself along with
Hodges when they tied In last
years meet.
Bob Hall. OF L. High also hung
up a new pool record as he record.
ed a 1:10.5 for the hundred yard
back stroke. The former record of
1:ll9 had been set only a few
hours earlier in the afternoon pre-
liminaries by the same Hall whose
lightning fast turns were one OF
his biggest assets.
The victorious Ypsi High team
wasn't conceded much OF chance
to win after their top back stroker.
Fred Wadke, was disqualified in the
afternoon for getting out OF his
lane, Since he was almost a GER
tain second place winner in the
event, Wadkes loss meant four big
points to the locals and dealt their
title hopes severe blow. Their
exhibition OF clutch swimming IN
the finals, however, enabled them TO
come through with a victory which
would be far understated II merely
called hard-earned.
After being unable to place in the
so yard free style, Ray Kingston
and Bill Briggs fought through to
third and fourth respectively in
the 100 yard breast stroke, but with
Cox and Herb Smith placing first
and second for Roosevelt, the
Braves were II points off the pace.
In the 220 yard free style, how.
ever. Lawrence koppin came
through with Ypsi's initial first
place as he easily led the other con-
testants to the finish line. Koppin,
only a sophomore, was a late sea
son sensation TO- the Braves as he
suddenly became unbeatable after
going almost unnoticed during the
seasons earlier stages. His per
formance Saturday however
stamps him as Glass BIS outstand-
ing distance swimmer. and with
two more years of high school com
petition ahead OF him there's no
telling what the future holds in
store.
Behind Koppin Saturday came
Art Campbell. OF Roosevelt, who
just edged out Don Camp, OF the
Braves for the runner-up spot, bur
the Roosevelt margin was reduced
to seven points. This was increas-
ed in the back stroke, however, as