Golf Tees Off

Golf at Maine West stands a good chance of gaining good standing this year. In a rebuilding season last year, the varsity won only one meet while losing nine. The Warriors finished their Conference play in last place.

This year, of course, head mentor Mr. Gene Zuccarini will return to the squad and so will all of last year's varsity players. The returning lettermen include seniors Larry Coffman, Rick Merk, and Ken Lorentz, and juniors Dave Grutzius, Ken Helfers, and Dave Krowka.

April 10 is the date of this year's first meet. Between now and that day the team will practice in the indoor nets and then go outside as soon as the weather permits. Downers Grove North and Maine South will provide some of the non-Conference competition for the Warrior stickmen before they encounter their Mid‑Suburban rivals.

Coach Zuccarini expects improvement from this year's team and sets no limit on the amount of improvement that the squad can make. In so far as chances of a Conference championship are concerned, Mr. Zuccarini commented, "If everyone shoots up to his potential, we should be a contender." This spring, as in most recent years, Prospect is the defending Conference champion.

The varsity golfers themselves are also optimistic about the upcoming season. Remarked last year's most valuable player, Rick Merk, 'As you know, last year our team had no seniors or returning lettermen, so we didn't do very well in our Conference. This year, however, we have six returning lettermen, so I expect this spring we should do considerably better."

The golfing Warriors shoot their home matches at Park Ridge Country Club. This year their schedule will feature about 14 dual meets, the District and Conference meets, and one tournament.

Tennis Starts Practice

The varsity tennis team, after doing very well last year, will try to regain first place in Conference this year under the coaching of Mr. Roger King. Likewise, the frosh‑soph squad will try to win most of their meets under the coaching of Mr. Roy Kearns.

Last year the varsity tennis team completed one of its finest seasons by taking first place in Conference, finishing second in District, and holding an eighth in State standing. Gus Herrero, Maine's foreign exchange student, helped the team out tremendously by winning most of the matches and going as far as the semi‑finals in the State meet. Other Conference holders were John Stone and Tom Martin in first doubles.

This year's Warrior tennis team is beginning practice and working hard to get in shape for their first big meet when they will host Waukegan, Lake Park, and Homewood‑Floss moor in the Quadrangular which is to be held April 1 at 9:30 am. Following this meet the Warriors also will host Niles East on April 6, starting at 4:30 p.m., and Willowbrook on Saturday, April 15, starting at 10 p.m.

This year's team has a total of four returning lettermen which include Hank Blau, Don Clark, Larry Scully, and John Stone. The team is a little short on experience since all of the returning lettermen are seniors, but Mr. King is looking for boys that show good potential as last year's frosh‑soph squad.

The racketmen will have held three meets by the time they meet their first Conference opponent, Wheeling. The meet will be held on Thursday, April 20, starting at 4:30 p.m. on the Maine West tennis courts.

All the teams in the Conference are going to put up good matches against the racketmen. Some of these teams in Conference include Arlington, Forest View, Prospect, Palatine, and Conant. The Warriors will have only one chance at each of them to be victorious.

Batmen Defend Title

This year the Maine West baseball team will be trying again for the Conference championship for the eighth straight year.

Returning this year to help defend the title are Al Fritz, Harry Tistle, Tom Kehe, Dick Manny, Bruce Kaechele, Bob Banger, and Craig Rowells. Completing the team will be a large number of juniors who show good speed and power and also some seniors.

Mr. Al Carstens, head coach, feels that the team will be a good one with a lot of potential and with good chances for a league championship. "Since practice has only just started, I haven't been able to see much of the new boys; but I plan to make a number of changes before the season starts," says Coach Carstens.

When asked who the toughest opponents will be, Coach Carstens replied that "Prospect and Arlington will be very strong this year. Prospect has every man except one returning, and Arlington has a number returning also."

Coach Carstens also said that "Wheeling is another contender this year. Actually, the entire league is very strong and well balanced. There should be some very good games played this year. I just hope we will be on the top in most of them."