The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1949-06-15
SUPER BATTING, FIELDING and PITCHING
Wins DIAMOND CROWN FOR zEEBEES
LACK OF INTEREST
HAMPERS ZION. BENTON
IN TRACK COMPETITION


from general lack of interest among
students and athletes this spring,
Coach Homer G. Hankenson never
theless did a remarkable job with the
limited material at his disposal and
brought his Zion-Benton charges in
third in the North Suburban confer
ence meet and fifth in the Lake coun-
ty games.
And what makes his accomplish
ment the more remarkable, Zion
Benton was competing against three
conference rivals who devote their
entire spring activities to the track
and field events. Two of these schools,
Crystal Lake and Libertyville, divid
ed the conference spoils between them
with Coach Owen Metcalf's Tigers
edging Bob Kelton's Wildcats by a
slim 82-74 margin, while Zion-Benton
finished third with total of "a mark
ers. Coach Hankenson reports that
he closed the season with only II ath-
letes still out for the sport.
No one is condemning the local
youngsters for their interest in base
ball, which after all is Americas No.
/ sport, but several other so-called
athletes, who lack the skill to take
part in the diamond sport, might we'll
devote some of their unused energy
1,,4o Of q
other sports which require less skill.
Track a Conditioner
Looking forward to the 1850 foot
ball schedule, in which Zion-Benton
must have a squad of well-coordinated
linemen and backs if it hopes to hold
it's own against teams developed by
Edgar Lindenmeyer at Lake Forest,
Gus Steinhebel at Libertyville and Max
Brady at Crystal Lake, some of Zion
Benton's brawny forwards might well
have worked off a little excess beef
on the track this spring or on the
wrestling mats last winter.
Much of Zion-Benton's success on
the track this year may be traced to
senior athletes, some of whom have
already demonstrated their skill on
the gridiron and will not be eligible
for the grid sport next fall. Outstand-
ing among these were Dorian Smith
and Paul Yonke. Smith, who showed
up strong on the hurdles and the
jumps, was the top pointsman with
ITO points, while Yonke, dashman
was second with 70 tallies. Tom Pet
ers, big sophomore weightman from
Winthrop Harbor, was third in the
point department with 68 markers.
Thompson a Star
Captain Leroy Thompson, miller
who has devoted his entire athletic
career to the cinder sport, establish
ed himself as one of the ranking
track stars of all time at Zion-Benton,
as he seldom was bested in the mile
run and copied both the conference
and the county titles. He totaled Ga
points.
Other senior lettermen were the
Wilson twins, Ford and Ward, who
recorded 20 and II points.
Among the underclassmen taking
1aurels in the cinder sport were Don
Moore, Paul Koppen, Gene Benson,
and Hal Graft. All four of these ath-
letes are expected to figure pro-
minently in Zion-Benton's 1949 foot
ball success. Benson will captain the
1850 track squad.
Minor letter winners were Bob
Howe, G. Mccormack, Roger Grulke,
Bob Grulke, Jim Schmalfuss, Jim
Smelling, A. Stewart, Ron Archibald
Peter Reinier and ROLAND Kinsman
A Future Inspiration
Commissioner Alex Ford Wilson
in behalf of his twin sons, presented
the school with a track plaque on
which will be inscribed the names
of future track stars at Zion-Benton
The purpose Of this plaque is to in
still greater interest in the ancient
sport, which still ranks the greatest