Chris Bouchee

Chris Bouchee, star right fielder for the Maine West baseball Warriors, was a big asset to the many Warrior victories over the season. His powerful bat, collecting four home runs, and his "golden glove" fielding earn him a birth on the list of the Warrior baseball greats.

Commenting on the season, Bouchee said, "We did all right, but I thought we could have done a lot more as a team. We just didn't get the breaks."

Bouchee earned All‑Conference honors in baseball. Last fall he made all conference and all area as well as all‑state honorable mention for his powers on the football field. Chris plans to attend the University of Louisville where he will play and most likely excel at football and baseball.



Rick Wetendorf

For Rick Wetendorf the 1972‑73 varsity football season was probably the most fruitful in his four years at Maine West. Rick first got his start in football in his grade school days. He joined the team freshman year and was recently rewarded for his efforts by receiving an all‑expense paid scholarship to Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. Rick plans to study industrial management in addition to participating in athletic activities.

Wetendorf said that Coach James Morel is an above average coach with a rare ability of being able to persuade people to try their hardest.




Cindie Brodie

Cindie was elected as this year's outstanding senior in GRA. She has been in GRA for four years. During that time she has served as social chairman for three years and president for one. She has worked hard in the past four years to make GRA successful here at Maine West.

She feels that "GRA provides an opportunity for all girls to participate in many sports, whether skilled or inexperienced. The social activities also provide for fun and new friendships."

She plans on attending Knox College where she will be majoring in Psychology.




Larry Bierwirth

Larry Bierwirth became interested in swimming at 13 when he swam with the Des Plaines Park District and the YMCA. By freshman year, Larry was able to join the varsity team. He holds a variety of school and pool records.

The list of awards that Larry has won is as astounding as his list of records. Larry was voted the most valuable swimmer in both his junior and senior years. He swam in all of the districts and conferences during his four years and received many awards.

Larry plans to attend Eastern Michigan University in Upsilanti and major in math and some science. His plans for the future are uncertain, but he does plan to continue swimming in college.

John Anderson

Talking with netman John Anderson '73 about this year's season and his performance, John commented, "I am very satisfied with the season as a whole, we've had a good year. I personally was disappointed with my performance during conference, since I did not pass the first round. I won my first 12 games, hit my peak, and then went into a slump. My playing just started to slack‑off."

John sees next year as "a rebuilding year" for the team. Five seniors will be lost, and there will be three returning lettermen. But John feels that the year after next will have a lot of potential and should prove itself in play.

John's future plans include continuation of his tennis skills at Eastern Illinois University.



Denise Bell

Denise Bell first got interested in GRA as a freshman. As a freshman she was on the swim team. As a sophomore Denise was the intramural publicity chairman. Denise also got interested in volleyball and badminton in her sophomore year and has been on the teams ever since. Denise was vice‑president of GRA in her junior year and is now president as a senior.

Denise is planning to go to Illinois State University and will be majoring in PE. Denise feels, "Girls' athletics is a fine opportunity for girls who are interested in getting involved and getting experience in many sports." Denise was a junior leader and is presently a senior leader, on President's Council, and a newly elected member of National Honor Society.




Phil Da Prato

Gymnastics letterman and star Phil Da Prato first got interested in the sport in 1969 when he was a freshman. Since then, Phil has specialized on the T‑bars and excelled on them. This year, despite the fact that the team only managed to win one meet, Da Prato qualified for the districts. He was to have competed in the sectionals too, but an injury ended any chance he might have had in that competition.

Phil has no plans for the immediate future and wishes to thank Coach Sidney Drain for an interesting season and all the gymnastics coaches for making his four years at Maine interesting.





Chip Barbour

Chip Barbour was chosen as the best senior in track and cross country. Chip has participated in both sports for all four years.

Last fall in cross country Chip placed third in the conference meet, second in the districts, fifth in sectionals, and finished twenty‑first out of more than 300 runners in the state meet.

He was also voted team captain and most valuable runner by his teammates. In track Chip runs in two events. The one-mile and the two‑mile run.

Cross country Coach Bill Barringer commented, "Chip exerts a positive influence on a team and has never been known to complain. I doubt that there is a boy in the senior class who is more admired by the students than he is."

Gary Helminski

Gary has been selected as this year's outstanding senior soccer player. His contributions to the soccer team in the past two years will be greatly remembered along with his personality.

He plans on attending Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, where he will take up advertising and continue to play soccer.

Gary thinks that "the soccer team is on an upswing and with a little more support and a littie more participation, we could be on a level with other schools."

He feels that the best game that Maine West played was when they won over Maine East for the first time. The whole team played well and came up with a final score of 1‑0.


Joe Thimm

Joe Thimm has been chosen as senior basketball player of the past season.

Joe helped the Warriors to a 7‑7 conference record in his junior year, doing a fine job in both scoring and rebounding. One of the honors he earned that season was being awarded a spot on the Niles North Holiday Tournament All‑Tourney Team.

This past season Joe's play improved and with it the team's conference record, which rose to 8‑5. Joe scored consistently throughout the season and had a particularly hot hand late in the season, scoring 30 points against Niles East, 31 against Maine South, and 35 against Niles North.




Fred Gano

Varsity grappler Fred Gano first took notice of wrestling when his brother played on a team. That was back in fourth grade. Despite the mediocre record of the matmen this year (6‑8‑1), Gano established himself as one of the team's premier wrestlers and one of the outstanding wrestlers in conference.

Gano said that the main reason he enjoys wrestling is that it is a solo sport and the action and drama is centered around one man instead of several. He also said that he enjoys the tough competition this sport has to offer.




Jeff Potter

Jeff Potter, a senior at Maine West, has contributed greatly to the Maine West golf team this year. Being Maine West's number one golfer, Jeff put Maine West golfers back on their feet this season. The West stickmen are having the best golf season in the school's 12‑year history. The West golfers have compiled a 7‑7 record.

When asked if he would further his fine golf career, Jeff said yes and that he is attending school at Purdue University and would try and make the team at Purdue.

With an average of 41 for nine holes, Jeff competed at the district meet shooting an 83. However, he did not qualify for advancement to the sectionals.