Evening star., 1950-03-25
.Sherman-K|opfer Duel
To Decide Champion;
Button Keeps Crown
By Lewis F. Atchison

By Lewis F. Atchison
One of the hottest duels ever
waged for the United States wom-
ems senior f1gure-skating crown
with defending champion Yvonne
Sherman OF New York only four
points ahead of Sonya Klopfer OF
Brooklyn, headlined today's pro-
gram as the four-day title meet
moved into the final round at
Uline Arena.
Donald Laws, slim, blond Wash
ington youngster, was engaged in
another tense struggle with Dud-
ley S. Richards Of Boston for the
Junior mems singles crown. Rich
ards had a 2-point lead after the
exacting school figure tests, but
District fans had hopes the home
town favorite would overtake him
in the free style windup.
Dick Button of Englewood, N. j.,
won his fifth consecutive mems
senior title with points to spare
last night before an appreciative
audience of some $500 fans. Ten
ley Albright of Boston. 14-year-old
victor in a battle with polio three
years ago. took Junior women's s
honors. The Washington duet of
Carol Ann Peters and Dan Ryan
won the Silver Dance competition
and Janet Gerhauser and John
Nightingale of St. Paul took the
Junior pairs.
Girls Duel Intense.
But the extensive interest in
Buttons expert skating and the
crowds delight in the smoothness,
grace and agility of the other title
winners seemed completely over
shadowed today by the impending
showdown between champion and
challenger for women's honors.
If the Brooklyn girl wins it
would be the first time in ice
skating history a junior cham
pion making her debut in senior
competition dethroned the title
holder. Coached by Howard
Nicholson, Miss Klopfer has made
steady progress since winning the
Eastern States juvenile ladies'
championship in 1916. Sonya has
refused to pattern her style after
that of any champion or profess
sional star.
II want to skate my own way"
she told a reporter, who agreed
that her own way was good.
Youngsters Near Top.
Miss Sherman frankly was puZ-
zled by her inability to outscore
her rival by more than four points
in the opening round. after out
skating her by 80 and so points
in their last two clashes. But the
pretty, dark-haired New Yorker
was not ready to surrender her
crown without a struggle, and
tonight's program promised to
give the fans the best show Of
the meeting.
Surprising Buttons winning
performance would be difficult If
not impossible. The Harvard
sophomore worked like a Trojan
to clinch the honor he seemed to
have under lock and key as he
came on the ice. His exhibition
was well nigh flawless. Hayes
Alan Jenkins of Akron, Ohio,
gave a crowd-pleasing perfor-
nance that made Button show his
best. however, and little Dick
Dwyer of Los Angeles. who hit a
bad spot and fell once, also was
well received.
Senior Men Finals).
]. Dick Button. Englewood, n. j., 1621.8.
KeSsrd Ks2ss Isna9 At1sn t6s ASsss. 1ss ss
= g. Austin Holt. Berkeley, Calf.
l. Tenley Albright, Boston, 955 .36.
2. Margaret Ann Graham, Tulsa, 922.49.
5anst Savta k4hea cae'fG g. Esu sSszs si4
.. ]. Dude, kisS:sa.' sf's' "sn Boston, Mass,
2. Donald Laws, washington, D. c..
3. Maryn Thomson. St. Paul, Mimi.
~. Barry German, Berkeley, Calf.
5. Evy scotvold. Lake Placid. N. Y.
8. Hugh c. Graham, Tulsa, Okla. e15.e.
Z. George E. Manual. Philadelphia, Pa,
: siia s2yli Ssfef k.ys: ws
ohi8; osd;} Armando Rodriguez Sacramento
Janet 'a,si as1h.p:.F r:F' 5ahn an.G Gs,snt.n..l.
s:Srs s.sK sE,t;ss Sssns s'as baltimore
land Hsssas sf:sns 9sSa eaS hossFs R'''' c'''
s1..ss Hs"t5S Cub r1s.ssS sisS
SILVER Dance Tin.ls):
s:5s3 : sss fs;;Ss Rsa,
Figure % Skating SSnnsil Club. $3.50. Ss'' Baltimore
ing eIsn, and Reasd ass
Jasoby. Syracuse Figure Skating Club,
w.shinssen xsTs ssurs Skating caD sisSo skSso
Total possible. 1000:
$3.50 pm.-4:1O-Fours (inaD.-
4:1O pm.-5:10-Novice mems free skat-
s p.m.-Junior mems free skating.
s:30-9:25--Gold dance tinaD,
e:25 pim.-1o:a5 senior ladies free skat-
1925 pm-11 :05-Senior pairs (fnaD.
11:05 p.m.-Awarding Of prizes.
Parade |
s on Kentucky Derby Candidates.