Baseball

"This will be an interesting year because of the speed of the team," said Coach Al Carstens of the varsity baseball team. "Everything's wide open because there are only four returning lettermen," he continued. The four returning lettermen are Bob Mein '66, Tony Gyssler '66, Sherm Shuett '66, and Bill Gastorf '66.

Good prospects for the team this season are Craig Rowells '67 as a catcher, Bob Banger '68 as a first baseman, Dick Manny '67, Bruce Kaechle '68, Tom Kehe '67, and Wayne Rozanski '66, all as infielders. Trying for outfield positions are Tom Pyron '67, Pete Kulik '66, Al Fritz '67, Rich Farias '67, Ed Pluemmer '67, and Jim Koltz '66.

The Conference, according to Coach Carstens, will be strong with Wheeling, Prospect, and Palatine all having good ball clubs. Glenbrook North should have one of the strongest pitching staffs. Oak Park, Evanston, Morton West, and Niles West probably have the best teams in the area.

Maine West has won the Conference title for five seasons in a row. Last year's record was 17‑4. This year the varsity team has 18 games scheduled. Games against Oak Park, Evanston, Morton West, Niles West, Glenbrook North and South, Niles North, and Deerfield will be exhibition.

Coach Al Carstens is the head coach of the varsity baseball team, and Coach Gaston Freeman is the assistant coach. Managers for the team are Arlene Johannes '66, Ron Simon '67, and Jimmy Jones '67. Twenty to 21 boys will be on the squad.

Golf

Under the direction of Mr. Eugene Zuccarini, the varsity golf team had their first practice on March 9, 1966, in preparation for their first meet which will be away against Elgin on April 4.

This year's team will try to improve the fifth that last year's team took in Conference. This year's team will try to find a replacement for Clyde Rowells, who was the Most Valuable Golfer on last year's team.

Randy Black is the only senior on the team and the only returner that had varsity competition. Juniors out for golf are Mike Corey, Mike Bischoff, Rick Merk, Larry Coffman, Mike Del Campo, Bob Semkiew, Ken Lorentz, and Ken Shields.

Two sophomores who will be trying to make the varsity team will be Dave Krowka and Dave Grutzius. Both boys won numerals as freshmen, and Krowka was named the Most Valuable Golfer on the frosh‑soph team.

Outdoor Track

"Our toughest opponents to repeat as Conference champs will be Prospect and Palatine," stated the head track coach, Mr. Joe Jobst. Mr. Jobst has lost some of his outstanding runners whom he had on last year's team but has some boys who have been running fine so far. Last year's Warrior track team won the District championship.

The two mile run, which is to be added to the Conference meet this year, will be strong for the trackmen as they have the sophomore sensation, Lee LaBadie, and two seniors, Phil Martin and Bob Zografos.

The hurdlers are Bill Morstadt, Wally Tistle, Ted Faught, Steve Hall, and Joe Elliott. The 100 and 220 yard dash men shall be Vern Ray, Ken Mandelky, Bob Rosedale, and Joe LeCastro.

The 880 yard run will have Kevin Flurkey, who was a second to Lloyd Schlegel, who graduated last year, in both Conference and District. Junior Ed Lusk, a strong number two man, is scheduled for this event.

Battling for the 880 yard relay will be Vern Ray, Ken Mandelky, Jim Hren, Bob Rosedale, and Joe LeCastro. The 440 yard dash, which last year was a strong event with Rich Bokor in it, will have Jim Braun, Jim Hren, Barry Johnson, Tom Postema, and Mike Johnstone.

The mile run will have Phil Martin, who grabbed second in the Conference meet last year, Lee LaBadie, Doug Chase, Bob Zografos, and Warren Schwelder. Competing for the Warriors in the broad jump will be Jim Hren, Ted Faught, Bob Rosedale, and Bob Holm.

Jim Hren, Jim Braun, Ed Lush, Kevin Flurkey, Tom Postema, Barry Johnson, and Mike Johnstone will be battling for the four spots on the mile relay.

The high jumpers this year will be LeRoy Peterson, who clears five feet ten inches. Wally Tistle, Dick Wells, and Bob Holm are also high jumpers. Throwing the shot put and discus will be George Bongratz, Roy Svenson, Andy Sanchez, and Dave Bixby. The pole vaulters are Jim Mueting and Andy Sanchez.

Tennis

This year's Warrior tennis team is looking forward to a very profitable season with lettermen Tom Martin '68 and Dennis Doyle '66 leading the way. Gus Herrero '66, the Maine West foreign exchange student from Argentina, is claimed to be a good prospect for the squad along with John Stone '67.

In the Conference season, Maine West will have a good chance to do very well. The team this year will become very good with the practices and hard work scheduled for the remaining months.

The first tennis meet of the season, a quadrangular, is to be held on April 2. The team is practicing hard to do well in this quadrangular, consisting of the schools Blue Island, Lake Park, Homewood‑Flossmoor, and Maine West. This meet will be held on the newly surfaced home courts of Maine West.