The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1952-10-16

ilooLA iuifSiACOll IiiGcllIlS NlOIlQdy
in the school offices.
While members of the six-man
board did not commit themselves
definitely upon the question of with
drawing from the big league, they
voted unanimously in favor of Harry
ey Burkholder's motion to Find out
first whether we can get into the
Northwest league and when we could
enter the league"
Action was taken on the matter
following the reading of a petition
signed by los persons asking that
Bluffton withdraw from Class A
competition and schedule games with
teams nearer the same size as Bluff
ton in enrolment.
An analysis of the names of the
signers indicated that 80 were par
ents of boys in the school, At others
were patrons of the games and 90
were businessmen of the community.
The list included the names of num-
erous persons said to have been OPP
posed to withdrawal several years
ago when the question was at issue.
The petition was submitted to the
committee by Ralph Reichenbach
who had been instrumental in cir
culating it.
with a registration of T2 boys we
are competing with schools enrolling
200 to 400 athletic prospects,"
Reichenbach pointed out. 'Even
horse races are handicapped to make
them interesting" he noted.
Discounts Petition
Harvey Burkholder, school board
member of the athletic committee.
said that he discounted the petition
to some extent. Several signers, he
said, had told him that they had
changed their minds and would be
willing to sign a counter petition if
asked.
He declared that Button had al
ways enjoyed its share of good years
in the big leagues last company, and
felt that the school would continue
to do so.
Coach Pete Schmidt indicated a
leaning toward the opinion of the
petitioners. He pointed out that the
football team will lose 10 seniors
next year and that there are not
enough recruits coming up with ex-
perience. 1t will take two years to
build reasonable strength, he said.
"Bluffton, everyone knows, is in u
static growth position and our
squads are not going to get much
larger. 1t is like pushing against a
solid wall every Friday. The boys
strive for a goal, but the team has
to have a good year occasionally or
there is no incentive. Constant loss
es discourage some boys from play
ing" he said.
In answer to an inquiry about at
tendance at the games this year
Robert Ewing, faculty business man.
ager, said that the visiting teams
were not bringing fans with them in
good numbers this year. Attendance
at the Celina game was only about
sec, at the Bellefontaine game, SGT,
and the Kenton game, 900.
Superintendent A. B. Murray, said
that while he personally disliked
Withdrawing from the Western Ohio
league, there appeared to be a defin-
lite feeling among the parents that
it is the thing to do.
The game has changed in recent
years with the use of the platoon
system, and it is true that smaller
squads must take abuse from the
larger teams with more adequate
reserves, Murray said.
The Northwest league which it
may be possible that Button will
enter includes Elida, Shawnee, La
fayette, S%pencerville, Forest, Column
bus Grove. Pandora and Delphos JEFF
ferson. There are some indications
that Button could shift places with
Shawnee which has now grown to
Class A size.
Even in the smaller league how
ever, Bluffton would still rank only
over Pandora and Lafayette in size.