1935-36 Alfred University Saxons Varsity Wrestling Team
FRONT ROW: John Nevius (Hornell), Phillip Brundage (Alfred), Leonard Whitmore
(Sea Cliff), Sidney Fine (Brooklyn). BACK ROW: Sidney Tover (New York City),
Richard Thomas (Bergen, NY), Samuel Topper (Port Jervis), George Woloshin (New York City), Dr.
Joseph Seidlin, 1920.
(SOURCE: Kanakadea, Alfred University, 1937.)
Unheralded Alfred's
wrestling potentialities developed into the finest group of mat men ever sent to
represent our University in intercollegiate competition. At the close of the
season, wrestling was justly recognized as the most successful sport of the
year. Nineteen thirty-six marked a new birth in interest and possibility as the
grapplers swept through a six-meet schedule with but one defeat. Under the
impetus gained from previous seasons, co-captains Fine and Nevius led wrestling
to a new height. When they graduate this June, Alfred will be grateful for their
inspiration.
The first victim of the season was Mansfield, a previous conqueror. Sid Fine
gained the only fall but Whitmore, Brundage, Nevius, Corbman and Thomas won on
time. Woloshin completed the scoring by adding three points in pinning his
opponent in a longer period than he, himself, was pinned. This 23-10 victory
started a scoring spree which carried the Saxons through the season.
A last minute trip due to uncertain weather carried the squad to its only
defeat. Arriving in St. Lawrence ten minutes before the match was scheduled,
Alfred was forced to wrestle without rest, which severely handicapped the team.
Fine won by a fall in the fourth overtime period and Brundage scored with a time
advantage. St. Lawrence's strength in the upper classes caused the Saxon
downfall.
Four days later, the postponed match with Buffalo was held at home. Co-captains
Nevius and Fine won by falls as did Whitmore, Brundage, and Thomas. Sam Topper
won by time. Woloshin at 155, drew in the 175-pound bout. Corbman gained five
points by forfeit.
The return match at Buffalo was the first shut-out ever scored by Alfred's mat
men. Whitmore, Brundage, Paquin, Nevius, Woloshin, and Thomas won by falls while
Fine and Topper came through with time decisions. This definitely established
the pwer of the Saxon squad.
Rochester Mechanics, who had five straight wins for the season, succumbed 18-14.
The final outcome of the meet was a toss-up till Thomas won his match in the
heavyweight class. Fine, Brundage and Nevius delivered falls for the margin of
victory. In the 145-pound bout Paquin tore a ligament in his side but starved
off a fall.
The last match with Stroudsburg was a fitting close, avenging a 30-0 stut-out
defeat suffered in 1934. Nevius and Brundage scored falls, Thomas won on time,
Whitmore by forfeit. McAndrews in his first varsity bout drew in the 175-pound
class, to make the score 19½-10½, Alfred's favor.
The loss of Nevius, Fine, Topper, Woloshin and Corbman is an extreme blow to
next year's squad. However, four veterans are returning —— Pacquin, Thomas,
Brundage and Whitmore. Phil Brundage, the only undefeated member of the squad,
was unanimously elected captain for next year. Andrews, Ohmitie, Sloane, Tracy
and Derowitch of the junior varsity all have demonstrated their value and will
be fighting for the vacancies caused by graduation.
With the birth of an intangible spirit of work and desire for victory, which
came about in the 1936 squad, Alfred looks forward with high hopes for another
fine season in 1937. The drawing effect of a winning team may bring forth hidden
talent to replace the five seniors leaving the squad. With these thoughts in
mind we wait expectantly for the opening of the 1937 season, confident that it
will be a success. (Kanakadea,
1937)
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