JUNE 8, 1965
Sports Slants
YET ANOTHER CLASS has upheld Maine's winning tradition-there isn't much doubt about that. The big question now seems to be whether or not it can be done again next year. All factors taken into consideration, the answer would probably be yes.
STARTING WITH FOOTBALL, it doesn't seem that the Warriors will have as much returning talent as usual, but a strong Junior Class next year could give the class of '66 just the extra support they need for at least a first division finish.
GOING ONTO WINTER sports, Coach Freeman will undoubtedly miss that height which has been characteristic of so many Warrior cage teams. Unless some of the 6 foot 6 inch transfer students find their way on to the squad, West's tallest starter will be 6 foot 4 inch Tom Sperling. It may well have to be run and shoot next year. If it turns out to be shoot and hit, the Warriors will be right in with the rest of the leagueif it's shoot and miss, they shouldn't expect too many rebounds of any duplication of this year's effort.
TOM MORDUE AND RON Ploshay will help the grapplers to another successful season and quite possibly a title. They still need added depth in the heavier weight classes. If they get it, they will be one of the more potent threats in the Conference next season.
THE GYMNASTS will be losing a lot with the graduation of two three-year lettermen, John Kennett and Dick Braun. Palatine, a strong gymnastic school, will probably be battling Prospect for the top spot, while the Warrior musclemen will be trying to fend off the rest of the league to finish in the upper half.
NOTHING IS QUITE as predictable as Coach Carstens and his winning baseball teams. Look for Maine to be right in the thick of the Conference battie next year and look for them also to emerge the victors. The key factor will be the return of three top notch pitchers in Bob Mien, Sherm Schuett, and Bill Gastorf. Since Coach Carstens points out that pitching is 85 per cent of high school baseball, it looks as if Maine has an 85 per cent head start over anyone else.
ANOTHER TEAM WITH an excellent chance of repeating as Conference champs is the tennis squad. It was primarily junior strength which carried the netmen through the Conference meet this year, and if the same ones come through again next year in a Conference without co-champs Deerfield, things are looking up for another net title.
THERE'S NOTHING LACKING in track except, of course, 10 of the 12 boys who qualified for the State meet at Champaign. This may seem like a lot of talent to lose in one year, and it is. Even so, the tracksters have heavy depth coming up from the frosh-soph level and unless someone like Palatine or Prospect develop faster than expected, it will be another good year for Coach Jobst and his cindermen.
RETURNING TO THE FAIRWAYS next year will be Randy Black who saw just a bit of varsity action and beyond that only members of the class of '67.