By WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
August 19, 1970
The high school football practice season has arrived in full stride at area schools and with the extremely warm temperatures of the past couple of days, it shouldn't take long for the coaches to round the squads into perfect playing condition.
The temperature at the Leesburg high School practice field yesterday afternoon clipped the 95 degree mark, but under controlled sessions, the Yellow jackets should be in fine fettle by the first day of full pads.
After only two days of the practice session gone by, we are impressed with the fine leadership qualities exhibited by several of the players, all of whom are being counted on for yeoman duty this year.
Veterans like Lynn Gilbert, who checked in at 226 pounds; Greg Johnson, carrying a frame that could stand anther 25 pounds tacked to it; Andy Carlton, passing more superbly than ever; Tommy Ryan, weighing in at 195 pounds and looking better ever day at his running back spot; and tough little Hovie Guthrie, complimenting Ryan in fine style in the offensive backfield.
Kenny Hicks has looked greatly improved over his spring showing, offering Coach Lofton and his staff a strong appearing tight end for the upcoming campaign. Hicks has looked especially good sin the pass route drills run by coach Wettstein. He will offer his size and strength to the passing offense directed by junior quarterback Andy Carlton.
Andy is right on the beam with his passes in the early going, convincing more people everyday of his superior ability in throwing the pigskin. We chatted with some of the coaches yesterday and they feel as we do that the junior passer deluxe has to be rated right behind the super star of Lakeland Kathleen, David Bowden, when it to chunking the football.
The drills directed by Coach Max Wettstein and Coach Hubert Dabney are a Sight to behold to the untrained eye, but the results will be evident when the Yellow Jackets roll onto the gridiron for their football games this fall. Both men do a great job in this capacity.
NAPIER LEAVES FRIDAY
Leesburg's super quarterback from 1969, Mike Napier, will be heading up to Memphis, Tennessee Friday, readying for the opening day of football practice at Memphis State University. Mike received a full football scholarship from the strong Missouri Valley football power and he heads toward the MSU campus to begin the long and difficult trek to becoming
a college football star. Napier has the perfect attitude to make it in the college game and big things are expected from the youngster at the Tennessee school.
Napier's great batterymate last year, Greg Williams, should be heading toward Baton Rouge La. very soon to attend Southern University on a football grant. The mercurial flanker gave the Leesburg yellow jacket fans many moments of pleasure, as he was a superb athlete for the school.
We will attempt to give a weekly report on the progress of both former Leesburg greats as they strive to make their mark in the NCAA football world.
SEMANCHIK LOOKS FOR BIG YEAR
Gary Semanchik, former LHS football and baseball star, will be leaving our fair city for the campus of Jacksonville University next week, ready to get underway on his final year of collegiate baseball for the Dolphins.
Gary will be finishing up his collegiate career at JU, having transferred there after two big years as the power hitter of the Valencia junior College baseball team. Big Gary hit .341 for the excellent Dolphin diamond squad last season, a year when they wound up rated as the NO. 11 team nationally in the college baseball poll.
With several highly regarded freshmen and junior college transfers coming into the JU program, Gary expects 1970 to surpass 1969, and that is a big order.
While on the subject of Jax University, it is amazing what a strong overall sports program has been established by the small Duval county school. The great Dolphin basketball crew wound up as NCAA national Runnerups, the baseball team finished ranked as NO. 11 in the nation, the JU soccer team was unbeaten for the entire year, and their rowing crew was rated the best in the Southeast. With such glorious heights achieved this year, it would be difficult to expect the same next time, but Dolphins followers are expecting an even better year all around.
Fantastic, isn't it?
TAVARES MUST HAVE A WINNER
The Tavares Bulldogs must have a winner in their new head football coach. In a statement made last week at a local civic club meeting, new coach Jamie Wade promised the faithful Bulldog boosters that their favorites would defeat the Eustis Panthers this season, and that would be a big upset. Tom Comer seems loaded again but Coach Wade ignored this factor in favor of his definite belief that Tavares would win the big rivalry affair.
We were always taught that believing in something strongly enough is over half the battle, so the Tavares-Eustis clash should be a dilly this year.
We always like to see a winning attitude established by a new coach. It becomes a contagious, infectious thing that can turn a fair ball club into a good ball club and we hope this is the case with the Tavares Bulldogs.
We will be over to watch the Eustis
Kenny Hicks has looked greatly improved over his spring showing, offering Coach Lofton and his staff a strong appearing tight end for the upcoming campaign. Hicks has looked especially good sin the pass route drills run by coach Wettstein. He will offer his size and strength to the passing offense directed by junior quarterback Andy Carlton.
Andy is right on the beam with his passes in the early going, convincing more people everyday of his superior ability in throwing the pigskin. We chatted with some of the coaches yesterday and they feel as we do that the junior passer deluxe has to be rated right behind the super star of Lakeland Kathleen, David Bowden, when it to chunking the football.
The drills directed by Coach Max Wettstein and Coach Hubert Dabney are a Sight to behold to the untrained eye, but the results will be evident when the Yellow Jackets roll onto the gridiron for their football games this fall. Both men do a great job in this capacity.
NAPIER LEAVES FRIDAY
Leesburg's super quarterback from 1969, Mike Napier, will be heading up to Memphis, Tennessee Friday, readying for the opening day of football practice at Memphis State University. Mike received a full football scholarship from the strong Missouri Valley football power and he heads toward the MSU campus to begin the long and difficult trek to becoming
a college football star. Napier has the perfect attitude to make it in the college game and big things are expected from the youngster at the Tennessee school.
Napier's great batterymate last year, Greg Williams, should be heading toward Baton Rouge La. very soon to attend Southern University on a football grant. The mercurial flanker gave the Leesburg yellow jacket fans many moments of pleasure, as he was a superb athlete for the school.
We will attempt to give a weekly report on the progress of both former Leesburg greats as they strive to make their mark in the NCAA football world.
SEMANCHIK LOOKS FOR BIG YEAR
Gary Semanchik, former LHS football and baseball star, will be leaving our fair city for the campus of Jacksonville University next week, ready to get underway on his final year of collegiate baseball for the Dolphins.
Gary will be finishing up his collegiate career at JU, having transferred there after two big years as the power hitter of the Valencia junior College baseball team. Big Gary hit .341 for the excellent Dolphin diamond squad last season, a year when they wound up rated as the NO. 11 team nationally in the college baseball poll.
With several highly regarded freshmen and junior college transfers coming into the JU program, Gary expects 1970 to surpass 1969, and that is a big order.
While on the subject of Jax University, it is amazing what a strong overall sports program has been established by the small Duval county school. The great Dolphin basketball crew wound up as NCAA national Runnerups, the baseball team finished ranked as NO. 11 in the nation, the JU soccer team was unbeaten for the entire year, and their rowing crew was rated the best in the Southeast. With such glorious heights achieved this year, it would be difficult to expect the same next time, but Dolphins followers are expecting an even better year all around.
Fantastic, isn't it?
TAVARES MUST HAVE A WINNER
The Tavares Bulldogs must have a winner in their new head football coach. In a statement made last week at a local civic club meeting, new coach Jamie Wade promised the faithful Bulldog boosters that their favorites would defeat the Eustis Panthers this season, and that would be a big upset. Tom Comer seems loaded again but Coach Wade ignored this factor in favor of his definite belief that Tavares would win the big rivalry affair.
We were always taught that believing in something strongly enough is over half the battle, so the Tavares-Eustis clash should be a dilly this year.
We always like to see a winning attitude established by a new coach. It becomes a contagious, infectious thing that can turn a fair ball club into a good ball club and we hope this is the case with the Tavares Bulldogs.
We will be over to watch the Eustis
Resources
WAYNE STOKES
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
Sports Editor
Daily Commercial
www.dailycommercial.com
August 19, 1970
August 19, 1970
Leesburg Public Library
http://www.ci.leesburg.fl.us/library/
http://www.ci.leesburg.fl.us/library/
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
1986 Varsity Jackets Football Lettermen #82
Class of 1988 Leesburg High School
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online
