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THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1969 60c
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Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

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Page 1: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1969 60c

Page 2: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

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Page 3: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

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Page 4: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

notes FROM THE

editor:

-NHSGCA: We have covered slightly over twenty HS State and Invitational championships in our Annual HG High School Report. We should have over twice this amount. We should have reports from every State plus highlites of top HS Invitational Meets across the nation and guest reports of HS (age) National Championships from other countries (as we have from Japan in this issue). How can this be accomplished so we will have all states reporting next year? . . It would be very easy if every HS Gymnastic Coach joined the National High School Gymnastic Coaches Association. We feel the HS Gymnastic Coach is the back­bone of Gymnastics in America and as such he should be a member of the NHSGCA. If he is a top coach the NHSGCA needs him to help set national programs and standards for growth. If he is just a novice coach getting started he needs the NHSGCA to aid his program grow. But whatever the status, every HS coach should be a NHSGCA member. The MG is going all out to push the NHSGCA membership drive and will print the name (and school) of every paid­up member of the NHSGCA in a near future edition of the MG. So don't be disappointed if YOU R coach is not listed. Make sure he joins NOW!, even if you and your teammates have to take up a collection and get him a membership as a present.

* * * NATIONAL HS INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Several HS sports have National Championships and it is about time we in Gymnastics stop just thinking about it and make plans for a Nat'l HS Championship. There is much that would have to be done, many points to be straightened out, different season schedules, senors only, travel ar­rangements, open or AA only, judges, etc. But these are just the details, the real action can come from a strong High school Coaches Association. So let's get going on a National HS Gymnastic Championship for 1970 .. . any bids.

* * * HS COED GYMNASTICS: One of the most interesting ideas to cross your editor's desk while going over material for this' MG HS edition was the coed competition program in Oregon. The idea may not be new as I recall seeing both boys and girls in the Pennsylvania State HS champion­ships a few years ago. However, this Oregon program is also on the HS duel meet schedule and that may be new. According to Mickey Chaplan (UCLA Ringman now in Oregon), the effect of HS Coed competition is very stim­ulating for the sport of Gymnastics. Mickey points out that they have a larger crowd turnout and the perform­ance level even seems to gain a bit as the boys indirect­ly compete with the girls for attention from the audience as well as from the girls themselves. To me it sounds like a great idea, the larger the crowd of spectators, the great­er the interest and enthusiasm for our sport. Perhaps there may be some problems, but it would seen that with the coaches and officials working together on a HS Coed Gymnastic program, the total competitive calibre has to improve and the school spirit and support for Gymnastics hit a new high.

m THE MODERN GYMNAST MAGAZINE

G Official Publication of the United States Gymnastic Federation

CONTENTS VOL. XII AUGUST-SEPTEMBER NUMBERS 8-9 NOTES FROM THE EDITOR .. , .. ........ Glenn Sundby 4 CHALK TALK .... .. ................. ........... .. ,,"" " '"'' 6 VIEWPOINTS ", .. """." .. .. " .. .. ,, .. ..... Dick Criley 7 CANADIAN REPORT ............ ", ..... .. .. John Nooney 7 THE JAPANESE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

... Roy Davis 8 MG HIGH SCHOOL REPORT .... .. ' '''' ... .. .. .. , .. ,......... 9 MG CENTER PHOTO .. , .. .. .......... " .. James Kruest 1 6 MG INTERVIEW: STEVE HUG

. .. Ken Sakoda & Steve Lerner 19 GYMNASTICS TyPES .... .. .... " .. " .. " .Dan J. Millman 20 FROM THE HUB " ...... .... , .. ", ....... Bill Roetzheim 21 COPA DE LAS AMERICAS .... , .. .. ... " ... Jerry Wright 22 JUDGING BY JERRY .. " .... , .. , .. .. " .. Jerry Wright 24 JUDGING HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS William Wright 26 NATIONAL YMCA GYMNASTIC SURVEY .. .. Wm. Buffa REGIONAL REPORTS .. .... " .. .. , .......... " .......... ",... 27 LETTERS." .. , ... ,"', ....... , .. , .. . ..... . .... ,. ,., .. ,., .. ,.... 29 NEW BOOKS .............. ... .. .. .. .... .... , ... "" .. ,,",, ." 30 MG GYM CALENDAR "" .. ............... .... ", ........ .. .. 30 MG CLASSIFIED " .......... ... ...... ,,, . ,, .. .. ,, .... ,, " ..... 30

COVER STORY, Ma rshall Avener of Island Tree High School is featured on the MG High School Edi t ion thi s year. Ma rsha ll is a sen iar and the 1 968·69 All-Around Champ for New Yo rk State.

PUBLISHER-EDITOR GLENN SUNDBY

ASSOCIATE EDITORS-TECHNICAL DICK CRILEY, FEATURE KEN SAKODA, LAYOUT

ASSOCIATE EDITORS - Feature

A. Bruce Frederick, Education; Dr, James S, Bosco, Research; Dick Cri ley, Sta tis tics; Jerry Wright. Com petition ; Frank L. Bare, USG F; John Nooney, Canada.

THE MODERN GYMNAST magazine is published by Sundby Publications, 410 Broadway, Santo Monico. California 90401 . Second Closs Postage paid 01 Santo Monica, Calif. Published monthly except hi-monthly June. July. August, and September. Price $6.00 per yeor, 60c a single copy: Subscription correspondence, The MODERN GYMNAST, P.O. Box 611, Santo Monico, California 90406. Copyright 1969© all rights reserved by SU NDBY PUBLI CATIONS, 410 Broadwa y, Santo Monico, Calif. All photos and manusc ripts submitted become the property of The MO DE RN GYMNAST unless 0 return request and sufficient postage are included.

Page 5: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

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Page 6: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC COACHES CONVENTION

The National High School Gymnastic Coaches Association held its annual meeting at the Sheraton Motor Inn in Seattle, Wash­ington on April 5, 1969.

The meeting started . with a breakfast, com­pliments of the University of Washington Athletic Department. Dr. Eric Hughes was present as a representative of the University.

Frank Bare gave a short report on the USGF and the new National Gymnastics Commission. Frank also thanked the Association for its help in sending two high school coaches to Macolin, Switzerland for the World Coaches Symposium.

Tom Walthouse and Joe Giallombardo, who represented the United States high school coaches in Switzerland, gave a summary of the week-long meetings and showed movies of their trip~ The National Association is deeply grateful to the Illinois Coaches Association for their contribution of $900 to help send Tom and Joe to Switzerland in the name of the United States High School Coaches.

Tom Walthouse, whose team won the Illinois State Championship for the second straight year, showed various film clips of his team in action. It is a truly outstanding team. (Triple backs on trampoline, double backs off parallel bars and on the floor exercise pad, and aliens and eagles on the high bar.)

Sid Drain, outgoing president, gave a brief report of, and outlook for, the National Asso­ciation, and stressed his disappointment in the lack of cooperation throughout the U.S. in supporting the high school association.

The final item on the agenda was the election of the new Secretary-Treasurer. All the men nominated were excellent. Jim Sullivan of Bothell , Washington , was elected to take over the responsibility of communication with 1000 non-communicating coaches.

The meeting was adjourned at 12 :07 p.m. with a group picture taken by Glenn Sundby.

The new officers for 1969-70 are: President - Don Perry, Fairmount High School , Kettering, Ohio ; Vice President -Bob Manning, Lawrence High School, Law­rence, Kansas ; Sec.-Treas. - Jim Sullivan, Bothell High School, Bothell, Wash.

These men need your help. Don't think about it - ACT! !

FOR THE RECORD Our good friend, Dr. Joseph Gohler, was

concerned about the missing scores in our " Notes from the Editor" in the May edition of the MG . So he dug into his extensive files of statistics on International gymnasts and com­petitions and came up with our questioned scores. Here are the c/o marks of the USA men's team at the 1952 Olympic Games in Finland :

6

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL COACHES: For the past six years I have seen a potentially great idea blossom,

semicbloom, and dissipate, all because of the apathy of the high school coaches. The National High School Gymnastics Coaches Association was formed to help you and gymnastics. But it cannot operate or exist without your support and help. Letter after letter was sent out to all high school coaches in the country and the response was less than 2%. This , gentlemen, is PATHETIC. When the coaches of this nation become so complacent -so apathetic to the needs and goals of their coaching counterparts in other parts of the country-then, gentlemen, we have stopped growing and our decline will be rapid.

We are not asking you to devote every waking minute to promote a Na­tional Association, but we are asking you to cooperate, so that every state can effectively promote gymnastics at every level. This can only be done if you help-with your ideas, your techniques, your knowledge, and yes, your money. We are a charter member of the USGF and that costs us $100 per year to retain our voting right. It would be a shame to lose the only voice that high school gymnastics has, just because you don't care.

I, for one, am proud that I am a high school gymnastics coach. I be­lieve that we have contributed more to the growth of gymnastics than any other .sjngle body or organization in the past 10 years. It is my belief that through a unified high school association we can help put gymnastics where it rightfully belongs in the area of athletics, and in the mind of the public. I hope that you, too, are proud of yourself and your sport.

But saying it isn't enough. Do something about it. Send your name, address, school affiliation, and your three dollars dues to Jim Sullivan, Bothell High School, Bothell, Washington.

Do it today - the future of high school gymnastics rests on you you, the high school coach.

Sincerely yours, Sid Drain Past-President NHSGCA

Place 30. Sc robe 34. Stout 59. Roetzheim 80. Holder 81. Beckner 89. Simms 90. Blattman

100. D'Autorio

Score C/D & final 55.65/54.75= 11 0.40 54.50/55.75= 11 0.15 53.60/53.45= 1 07.05 53.1 0/50.4D= 103.50 50.85/52.55= 1 03.40 50.20/52.20= 1 02.40 51 .50/50.85= 1 02.35 49.55/51.65= 1 0 1.20

Thank you for coming to our aid Dr. Gohler, as you have done many times before. I am sure our MG readers appreciate every vital fact they can get on Gymnastics.

. .. Kappa, Canna Holda Planchus ... Due to the reo cent budget cuts, the interdepartmental major in Underwater Tumbling and Computer Programming has been discontinued at UCLA. Thanks to a grant from a philanthropic agency, however, the On-the­Beach Training Program in Plonches is still in op­eration. Here is a photograph of a member of this year's graduating class, Andy Kadar (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Canna Holda Planchus). It purports to show that the planche is an academic exe rcise. (Santo Monico beach photo by Bob Smit~\

THE "BIG TRICK" IN mGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS Criticism of the U,S, coaching pro­

gram 'has often mentioned the emphasis on the teaching and use of the "big trick." In this case, a gymnast is en­couraged to develop his routine about a C part which he may not be able to controL Aside from the rushing of his

development, bad habits and increased likelihood of injury are cited as the basis for considering the big trick as a bad practice. A recent study of high school gymnastics in 4 states, Califor­nia, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Illinois, brought out some interesting points. The Illinois coaches, by and large, did not feel that the Big Trick threatened their perfromers' scores and felt that its use was rewarded, In Colorado, it was often included as a part of the routine. On the other hand, California and Pennsylvania coaches did not · seem to consider it necessary. Some felt that the use of the big trick actually hurt and others indicated that it must fit the routine or be left out. Form and style were stressed as better assets. (For other notes on high school gymnastics abstracted from Murray: A Comparison of Interscholastic Gymnastics on the High School Level, see previous issues of Chalk Talk.)

FEARLE SS LEADER. Shown in the above photo is editor-publisher Glenn Sundby (he's on the bottom) face-to-face with the great Akinori Nakayama (he's on the top), at Santa Monica Beach. Naka­yama recently won the First World Cup Meet.

Page 7: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

VIEWpoints fl y Uick Criley

Since the MG initiated an annual high school edition in 1966, it has become easier to keep track of the growth of the high school programs. In 1966 we listed 17 major regional , city or state championships . With much editorial urging, this number grew to 18 in 1967 and 2 1 in 1968. If all major high school championships which have been covered in these past issues had replied, this year's MG would have reported 28 such events . At the final deadline for this column we had received 18 championships summaries. What happened to Kansas, New Mexico, Flori­da, Kentucky , Virginia, Texas , Connecticut , Ohio, Oklahoma and Philadelphia?

As always, we made a plea for winning rou­tines, action photos, brief writeups and the top three individual scores in each event and all­around. Through such records many of our top collegiate gy mnas ts may be traced as well as some of the outstanding high schools in the country. For instance, who are the outstanding high school gymnasts of 1969? Undoubtedly, Marshall Avener (N.Y.), Dave Repp (Pa.), Dave Carter (Ind.) and Steve Hug (Calif.) would rank right up there. There are a number of high schools which year after year retain their championships ; these and other state win­ners merit our recognition. However, it is real­ly the high school coach who deserves the ac­colades. We hope that future championship summaries sent us will carry this information as well .

The kudus could go on and on, but it is the National H.S. Gymnastic Coaches Associa­tion which can be the real instrument of power and promotion here. We'd like to echo Sid Drain's position and urge your support of the NH SGCA. We know there are voices out there to be heard ; let us, the NCAA and the USGF hear them through the N HSG CA!

The accompanying quiz allows the truly in­terested reader to test himself on material re­ported in this month 's Modern Gymnast.

Test yourself on these schools - they are outstanding ones in their state or area. What states do they represent? 1 . Andover 1 4. Lawrence 2. Anoka 1 5. Lovington 3. Arlington 16. Mon roe 4. Butler 1 7. New Trier East 5. Clarenceville 18. Punahou 6. Columbus 19. Rocliester 7. David Douglas 20. South Eugene 8. De Anza 21 . South Portland 9. East 8runswick 22. Waukegan 10. Encino 23. Westminster 11 . Eureka 24. Yreka 12. Green Bay Preble 25. Lincoln Southeast 13. Kennewick 26. Ranum

Among the following young men are many all-around and mUltiple-place winners , individ­uals who have been in the gymnastic spotlight this year and years past. To your credit , you should be able to identify them by state and even further by their accomplishments. Look for their names to appear in future issues as members of outstanding college teams and, even, we hope , as N CAA champions and Olympians. 1. Marshall Avener 2. Steve Berglund 3. Jim Brousseau 4. Dove Carter 5. Jim Cole 6. John Crosby 7. Barry Freschette 8. Mike Frigor 9. John Gracik 10. Dale Hubbard 11 . Steve Hug 12. Dan Jenness 13. Clark Johnson

1 4. Bill McCurdy 15. Jim McFaul 16. Blane Naveschuk 1 7. Eric Nickerson 18. Peter Paulson 19. Mark Pierce 20. Dave Repp 21. Jeff Rock 22. Steve Scudeki 23. Nick Wooll s 24. Gene Mackie 25. Steve Heit 26. Seymour Rifkind

(Answers to quizzes on page 27)

CANADIAN

HI REPORT

by fohn Nooney 18 Lavington Dr. Weston, Ontario

CANADIAN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS ONTARIO HIGH SCHOOL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (22 schools en· tered), Humberside H.S., Toronto.

Teams: Port Colburne; Parkside, Dundas; Bawating, Soo Ste. Marie; Adam Scott, Peterborough; Humberside, To­ronto; Amherst, Amherstsburg Windsor; Vincent Massaey, Windsor; Westdale Secondary, Hamilton; Banting Memo­rial, Alliston; Dr. G. S. Williams, Aurora.

Events : FX: Tie between Drew Strickland (Dokingston) and Don Marinocci (Pa rkside). SH: Eric Smith (Adam Scott). R: Terry Ellins (Humberside). LH : Bruce Feaver (Parkside). PB : Paul Repka (Humberside). HB: Mike McKoy (Port Col­burne). ONTARIO BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

AA: Dove Hunter (Lawrence Pork) 52.4, Mike McKay (Port Colburne) 51 .3, Bill Koocher (Hill Park Hamilton) 47.6, Colin Puffer (PC) 47.4, Paul Repko (Humberside) 46.4. FX: G. Mia ll (Glebe c.i., Ottowa), tie between Hunter and Mc­Kay, Marinacci (Parkside). SH : E. Algie (Adam Scott), G. Harnett (Wheable, London), I:lunter. ~ : _Hunter, McKoy, Mancini (Amherst, Windsor). LH: Tie between Westlo!<e (D. M. Thompson, Scarborough) and Harnett, t ie Williams (Humberside) and Miall and Hunter, Masse (Soo Ste. Marie). PB: Tie between Hunter and McKoy, tie between Federly (SSM) and Mancini, tie between Stewart (Vincent Mos­sey, Windsor) and Repko. HB: McKay, Hunter, F. Bock (SSM) ONTARIO GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL INOIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Elite. UPB: Lloyd Osburn, Centennial; Dole Fisher, Laurier; Sha ron Tsukomoto, East York. B: Denise Fulinaro, Chur­chill; Lauri · Smith, Victoria Park; Lloy Osburn, Cen. FX: Denise Fulinaro, Churchill; Kathy Morton; Glenview; Shoron Tsukomoto, E. York. SHV: Tsukomoto; Smith; Sharon Swit­zer, Leaside.

Senior. UPB: Carolyn Chapman, Lorne Pork; Sue Gardiner, Waterloo; Susan Christilau, Lorne Pork. B: Sora Hopton, Downsview; Kathy Scott, King ; Vi rginia Zink, Banting. FX: Lynn Sinclai r, Church ill; Jon Askin, Agincourt ; Virginia Zink, Banting. SHV: Down Cooper, Cayuga; Susan Christi­low, Lorne Pork; Mary El len Long, Lorne Pork. TORONTO CITY HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS '

HB: Roy Kinoshita (UTS) 8.0, Terry Fou lds (Cedarbrae) 8.0, Chris Gautheir (K ing) 7.8, Bob Hornick (Marting rove) 7.3. R: Don Lacosse (C) 8.4, Gory Spackman (Laurier) 8.4, John Overall (K) 7.8, Mark Leece (York Memorial). LH: Alec Spasov (yM) 9.1, Bob McAlpine (Northview) 8.9, Fred Tanzola (L). PB : Roy Ki noshita (UTS) 7.3, Greg McCue (K) 7.3, Va leri Uzumeri (U TS) 6.2, Alex Campbell (K) 6.0. SH: Tom Philipp (yM) 7.6, John Volman (YM) 7.0, Bob Boron (K) 6.95. FX: Bob McAlpine (Northview) 8.3, Larry Wood­house (C) 8.3, Terry Foulds (C) 7.8, Alec Spasov (yM) 7.7. EDMONTON HIGH SCHOOL FINALS - GIRLS

Team: McNally (M) 186, Harry Ainlay (HA) 128.5, Ross Sheppard (RS) 98.5, Jasper Place (JP), Scona (S) 37, Bonnie Doon (BD) 32, Queen Elizabeth (QE) 21.5, Eastglen (Eo) 4. AA'novice: Carol Mellor (M), Sheila Reed (M), Brenda Cohoon (BD). AA-intermediate: 8etty Lou Gwartney (M), Terry Adam­son (M), Linden Von Alstine (HA), Janet Dunne (HA). AA­advanced: Tie between Debbie De Sutter (J P) and Down Mickleborough (M), Wen day James (M), Norma Fergu­son (S). CALGARY CATHOLIC JR. HIGH SCHOOLS 'A' Oivision: Teams: SI. Helena, St. Stephen, Brebuf, SI. 8rego­ry. Sr. Boys: Diduck, Leicht, Driscoll, Festa. Jr. Boys: Diduck, Kellogg, Kingery, Davi s. Jr. Girls: D. Oliphanl, B. Lindsay, K. Fraser, B. Meek. Sr. Girls: B. Ingerberg, B. Wensink, L. Von­Romelle, M. Demers. 'B' Division: Teams: St. Matthew, SI. Mary's, St. James, As­sumption, SI. Margo ret, St. Alphonsus. Sr. Boys: Slinn, Langsfeld, Klaver, Grotto. Jr. Boys: Rukenlhaler, Matyn, Klaver, Eerbeck. Jr. Girls: A. Reynolds, P. Hanson, L. Nadon, J. Morrison. Sr. Girls: tie between F. Sorsa and W. Watson, L Vargo, tie between S Brink and D. Kohler.

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Page 8: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

THE JAPANESE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

By ROY DAVIS It may be true to say: "If you've seen one,

you 've seen 'em all." Of course it depends on what you happen to be looking at. On Waikiki Beach such an admission would be sheer idiocy. A more appropriate exclamation might be : "You gotta see it to believe it." Waikiki , for obvious reasons to any male, truly sketches the imagination. Every summer is good ; the situa­tion seems to always get better.

I think I would apply the same line of rea­soning to the Japanese High School Champion­ships. You gotta see 'em to believe 'em. I saw the 1967 championships in Niigata with Bob Peavy. That trip was a marvel of Peavy in­genuity. Ask him sometime. The journey to Onomichi, north of Hiroshima, was at least the equal of the previous year - but without the Peavy wit to keep me from cracking up in the Nippon summer heat and humidity.

I'll never grumble again about going to Penn State, Southern Illinois or Washington State U. One can at least travel in reasonable comfort to such places - if one can afford to go in the first place. The Japanese have reversed the process. Anyone can afford to go - if they have the time to spare.

I won't bother with all of the details, but most commuters would appreciate a statistic or two : 32 hours, one overnight stop , a rainstorm , 4 separate trains, 25 pounds of luggage (the only way to travel in Japan is "light") and one Japa­nese-English dictionary.

One fact which should not escape the reader is the date. The contest was held last August. I know - I'm late. But August travel in Japan deserves some sympathy and some recuper­ation time. August is so hot that it melts Scotch Tape spools from precise, neat little circles into long sticky megaphones of irrevocable ooze. Very much like Washington, D.C. weather.

Enduring it all, I caught the train to the first days' e.xercises-the compulsory routines­with a white shirt , tie, Canon 814 movie camera and 12 rolls of Kodachrome Super 8 indoor­outdoor T ype A film. I had no tickets, but I had some assurance that I would be able to enter.

A friend , clothing salesman Akira Sasaki (the Ed Gombos of Japan) , assisted me in gain­ing entry ; it was a bit confusing, but I got in.

I soon discovered why I bought such an expensive camera. The gym was fine-clean , neat , orderly, compact, and dark. Having visited darker gy ms and work-out areas with good

filmed results, I had confidence that ye 'olde trustee Canon would not fail me. It didn't. The pictures came out astonishingly good.

For the next two days, eating sparingly, ignoring relief calls, and pickfng odd seats and angles wherever and whenever possible in the miniscule gallery, I shot 15 rolls of Super 8 color film.

As I edited the results recently and reviewed about 75 routines and over 150 feet of select warm-ups , I was again amazed at the very high quality of the good teams. The statistics in the boxes below clearly retlect that quality.

The high schools operate on the same format as the colleges, i.e., the best school from each prefecture plus Okinawa (a total of 50 teams) plus the top all-around scorer in each prefecture if he is not on a winning team, 4 members to a team, drop the low scorer on each event (i .e., add top three), compulsories on the first day, and optionals on the second day. For the op­tionals, only the top 16 teams from the com­pulsories are allowed to perform.

As expected, there are perennial powers in such a meet. I n my improving Japanese I asked several people who they thought the favorite should be. Those who knew nominated Koko­gakuin High School from Tokyo. On a gamble that turned out to be correct, I decided to con­centrate my camera on them and get as many of their routines as possible. After watching the compulsories (most of the time through the variable magnification of a 9 power zoom lens), I was worried that I had picked the wrong team. The top five teams were only 1.3 points apart - totally'

Let me tell you, Baby, it was exciting, too. At both Niigata in 1967 and Onomichi in 1968, the officials designed the rotating brackets so that the best teams competed together and thereby heightened the rivalries of the already excited teams. The top five and the seventh place team all performed at the same time. I was going nuts trying to take pictures. I would take a picture of a 9.5 routine and miss a 9.6! Actually, in spite of the frustrations , I missed only one dismount in all the routines when I saw the pictures. You will, too. However, my decision to concentrate on Kokugakuin saved the local natives , already a bit curious about a bearded, fair haired, light-skinned brother in their midst, from seeing the rather unsettling sight of a sweating, raving foreigner virtually wrapped from head to foot in wayward spools of film. No such mishaps ; when the occasion demands real efficiency, I can change spools

and keep shooting and miss only about 5 sec­onds of action thanks to the Super 8 cartridge. What a marvelous invention!

It would be impossible to describe the atmo­sphere the next day when all of the top con­tenders again marched into the area. The tension immediately increased. Kokugakuin had to at least maintain the 0.05 lead over Warabi to come out on top. The competitors stalled whenever possible to avoid the applause due another performer thereby increasing the overall suspense.

About halfway through the round it became apparent that Kokugakuin was too solid to budge. Warabi lost ground to Seifu , and the local favorite, Eishin High School of Hiro­shima, faltered significantly to drop to 7th place despite the cheering students lining the balcony.

With a combination of luck and good plan­ning, I managed to finish my 15th roll of film as I focused on the score of the final Kokuga­kuin high bar man doing his last routine.

After obtaining the printed results and thank­ing the meet director for his courtesy, I left the competition reflecting again on the excel­lence of the young gymnasts. With compulsory routines to provide fundamentals and style from the time they start gymnastics in junior high school and highly difficult optionals mastered as a result of nearly total self-disci­pline, meticulous progressions (no spotting belts), and constant self-analysis in learning, the results speak for themselves.

The statistics below are only part of the story; the real one is on film. The finished and edited product is 400 feet of Super 8 color film and every high school coach and gymnast should see them in order to appreciate the value of training by the use if compulsory routines. The Japanese are so much more mature than their U.S. counterparts that it's embarrassing. But it's a goal to reach for. Watch it; weep a little ; then go to work on your flexi­bility and get started on removing the small flaws in your swing.

The film is available through the MG. The sale price is $29.95 It cannot be rented. Remember that you need a Super 8 projector to view it. Good luck from Japan. See you this summer.

Jaa,

Roy Davis

PER COMPo OPTIONAL TEAM MAN

SCHOOL PREFECTURE TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL AVE.

1. Kokugakuin Tokyo 166.75 168.70 335.45 9.3

'" 2. Seifu Osaka 165.45 166.85 332.30 9.23 ~ 3. Warabi Saitama 166.70 165.25 331.95 9.20 ... ... 4. Sagami Kimagawa 165.70 164.70 330.40 9.18 ..... z: 5. Chukyo Aichi 164.80 163.50 328.30 9.13 ... 6. Sabae Fukui 165.00 161.15 326.15 ..... 9.05 .... 7. Eishin Hiroshima 165.35 160.50 325.85 9.03 C> ..... 8. Shizuoka Shizuoka 162.75 161.55 324.30 9.01

9. Kyushu Fukuoka 164.25 159.35 323.60 8.98 10. Chinzei Kumamoto 161.35 160.20 321.55 8.94

Roy ond Katsu at the Japanese High School Championships.

8

Page 9: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

ReUlon One

Region 1 - Connecticut, "Maine, MQ.$stJcnu· setts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Ver·

-mont.

MAINE BOYS' GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS by JAMES CONNOLLY, Coach, South Portland, Maine The meet was sponsored by the State Department of

Health, Physical Education and Recreation with the coopera­tion of the State Principals Association and held at Water­ville High School.

For the fifth straight year, South Portland High School, coached by James J. Connolly, won the championship. The trophy for outstanding individual performance went to star floor exercise and voulter Mark Pierce of South Portland.

The meet was under the direction of Charles Merrill of Waterville. Individual performonces continued to show marked improvements over past years. Scores compared very favorably with Massachusetts championships - very heartening considering the short time Maine has been in­volved in gymnastics.

Top Massachusetts officials were imported again for the finals. Nate Todaro of Lexinqton HiQh School ond

George Jessup of Newton High School were selected and handled the meet admirably.

It is apparent that Maine gymnastics is vastly im­proved, both from an individual and team basis. South Portland continues ahead of the field, with Waterville, Cony of Augusta, Biddeford and Bangor having some fine per­formers promising to make strong showings.

Among plans for this yeor are (l) the formation of a league or two to promote dual competition within the state and (2) a teaching program to develop a corps of gymnas­tic officials much needed in the stote.

Also with gymnastics coming under the State Principals' Committee, as are- all other sports, it should add consid­erably to the status of the sport. Although we are much in­debted to Fred Douglas, Stote Department of Health, Physi­cal Education and Recreation for the considerable progress we have mode, this new sponsorship will put us on the same basis as other sports.

Team: So. Portland (SP) 162, Waterville (W) 64, Cony (C) 51, Biddeford (B) 42.5, Bangor (Ba) 34, Presque Isle (PI) 14, Brewer (Br) 10, Stephens 9.5, Geo. Valley 5. Top Indiyidual: Mark Pierce (SP) 37, Scott Libby (W) 30, Bruce MacKenzie (SP) 29. FX: Pierce 7.05, Kenneth Stephens (SP) 6.75, Steven Ma_comber (B) 5.5. SH: Flemming (Ba) 4.B5, Victoi Beaupre (SP) 4.1, Doug MacKenzie (SP) 3.95. HB: Ralph Nichols (C) 6.05, B. MacKenzie 5.08, Tim Darling (SP) 5.05. PB: Mike Wiluz (SP) 7.0, B. Mockenzie 6.35, Libby 6.2. LH: Pierce B.35, Dan Merrill (W) 8.1, Anderson (Ba) 8.05. R: Wiluz 6.4, Steve Washuk «() 6.0, Mike Sprogue (SP) 5.2. Tu: Ken Ste­vens (SP) 6.65, Pierce 5.95, Disalvatore (Br) 5.5.

South Portland High School, Maine State Champs, coached by James J. Connolly.

9

Page 10: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

Dave Repp, Rochester High School, Pennsylvania State All Around Chomp.

MASSACHUSETIS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 8, 1969 GEORGE C. JESSUP, President Mass. Gymnastic

Coaches Assoc. Team: Andover (A), Lexington (l), Springfield Tech (ST).

AA: Steve Scudeki (ST). 38, 35; Richard Seikunas (A), 37.30; James Gronell (Uxbridge), 33.35. FX: Tie between Seikunas and David Leong (A), 14.65; John Berner (ST), 14.2. SH: James Battista (Newton) and James Rowan (Wellesley) 11.75; Brion Boyd (L), 11.6. HB: Roy Green (Wjnthrop), 14.45; tie between Scudeki and Steve Woods (l), 12.3. PB: Seikunas, 13.75; Art Adams (Braintree), 12.85; Charles Shoemaker (l). 12.5. lH: James Groneil (Uxbridge), 16.95, Roy Green (Winthrop), 16.6; Bill Reyn­olds (No. Reading) 1 6.35 R: Leong 1 3.5, John Oliver (No. Reading), 12.7; Robert Manchester (Brookline), 12.35.

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE INVITATIONAL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

University of New Hampshire Lou Datilio, Meet Director

More than 500 spectators turned out to view the first annual gymnastics championships which was sanctioned by" th.e NHIAA and UNH Athletic Deportment. Solem's Mike Frigon with 21 points was the individual all-around winner, with Bruce Castonguay of Timberland right behind him with 20. Jim Whelan of Manchester West rounded out the top three with 18.6. Manchester West placed first with 62.25, Timberland Regional second with 58.50 and Solem third with 58.05.

FX: Whelan, Hubbard (MW), Frigon (S) 4.9. SH: Adams (MW), Belanger (T), Kelly (S) 2.65. HB: Castonguay, Frigon, Gilotti (T) - Whelan - Loughlin (T), 2.95. PB: Castonguay, Frigon, Boucher (MW) - Takesuye (MW) 2.95. lH: Bouch­er, Hubbard, Castonguay 7.35. R: Gilotti, Todt (C), Frigon 3.95.

10

RegiOn lwo

Region 2 - Delaware, JJen"syivania, New York, New Tersev_ Maryland.

PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS March 29, 1969

Butler High School by DALE R. MEDDOCK, Western Penna. Turners

The P.IAA State Championship Meet was held at Butler High School under the direction of Mr. Paul Uram, with Mr. Harry Franks as the regional director from the East, The meet attracted one of the largest and most enthusiastic crowds I have ever witnessed at on high school gymnas­tics event.

In the all-around event everyone was interested to see if Rochester's Dave Repp could defend his title. Dove left little doubt as he started the night off by winning his sec­ond consecutive state title in the floor exercise to take the all-around lead which was never challenged. Repp then went on to win the P-Bars and finished second 6n the still rings and high bar. Dove's lowest finishes in the whole competi­tion come with a third-place finish on the side horse and a fourth on the long horse vault. This meet marked the end of Dove Repp's high school career which sow him win seven state titles over the past two years: two-time 011-around state chomp, two-time floor ex. champ, with single titles on the still rings, long horse vault and p-bars.

Paul Blasko of West Mifflin South placed second in the all-around by virtue of fine execution on all of the six events. It was Paul's great control throughout the whole meet that led him to the secane-place honors. Paul's best individual event finish come with a second place on the p-bars.

Rochester's two outstanding juniors, James Kruest and James Ivicek, placed third and fourth, respectively, in the all-around event. Kruest suffered major breaks on both the side horse and p-bars which prevented him from de-

fending the runner-up slot which he had held last year. Kruest was not to be denied his glory, as he completely outclassed the field on his way to his second consecutive high-bar title. His 9.15 winning routine hod to be consid­ered the outstanding routine of the whole meet. Kruest then went on to win the long horse vault title and finished second only to Repp on the floor exercise.

James Ivicek's second-place finish on the long horse vault combined with fine performances on the other five events insured him of his fourth-place finish .

Butler's John Gracik kept the side horse title in the fam­ily as he followed in his brother Joe's footsteps . By con­tinuing the Gracik tradition of a fine routine executed with excellent form and amplitude. Second place went to Butler's Eric Swanson.

The still rings event which was picked to be a real duel turned out to be just that, with Butler's Dove Zirnzak com­ing out as the state champion by virtue of his excellent con­trol throughout his whole routine climaxed by a double backoff which he stuck like glue. Second and third went to Rochester's Repp twins, Dove and Don.

There was no state team title awarded, but for the sec­ond straight yea r it was between Butler and Rochester for the top honors. Rochester come out on top with five first places, four second places and two thirds. Butler had two firsts, one second arltl two thirds.

Jim Kruest, Rochester H.S., 3rd AA Penn. State.

(The MG also thanks Carl Bell of Springdale for sending photos and scores.)

Team: No award given. AA: Dove Repp (Rochester) 49 .BO, Paul Blasko (W. Mifflin So.) 44.25, Jim Kruest (Rochester) 43.40. FX: Repp 8.35, Kruest 8.15, Eric Nesbitt (Hender­son) 8.05. SH: John Gracik (Butler) 7.75, Eric Swanson (Butler) 7.55, Repp 7.10. HB: Kruest 9.15, Repp 8.55, Bob Swonick (McKeesport) 8.35. lH: Kruest 9.10, John Nicek (Rochester) 8.80, Gracek 8.65. PB: Repp 8.75, Blasko 7.85, Mickey Holey (Butler) 7.75. R: Dove Zirnsak (Butler) 8.70, Repp 8.55, Don Repp (Rochester) 8.45.

Winning Routines: FX: Repp: Roundoff, tfipflop, bock layout, turn to Swedish

fall , turn to split, immediate double-leg circles, spin around, immediate split, press handstand-step down. Cartwheel,

. front handspring , ca rtwheel, fall to straddle-cut, turn over to one-arm' lever, hollowback press to handstand-step down. Front handspring, front flip, dive roll , cartwheel, re­verse pirouette, roll to sitting position immediate pull split, stiff-stiff press to handstand-step down. Round-off, flip­flop, bock-somi.

SH: Gracik: Moore on moore, tram let out, double in, break in T(2) front scissors, one reverse scissors, doubles, tram let out, loop off with full twist.

R: Zirnzak: Di slocate shoot handstand, lower to L cross, inlocate straight arm, bock uprise L, pike press handstand, lower to front lever, double dislocate to double backoff. LH : Kruest: Yamashita from the for end. PO: Repp: Peach-basket to handstand, stutz to handstand, back-somi, stutz, cost, bock-uprise, straddle-cut to L, stiff­stiff press to handstand, loy-bock, front-uprise, swing pirouette, bock-sam i-off. HB: Kruest: Double rear in, bock kip, disengage, V2 turn , straight arm kip, giant, stalder, giant, hecht vault, kip, for­ward hip circle, front giant, pirouette, whip change, hecht.

Page 11: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

Marshall Avener, Island Tree High School, 1 st All Around, New York Stote.

NEW YORK STATE PHSAA GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS, Region 5

March 1, 1969 Minerva Deland H.S., Fairport, N.Y.

by CLAYTON BUSH, Section 5 Chairman Team: Webster rN) 54, Fairport (f) 34, Eastridge (E) 18,

Irondequoit (I) 17, Rush-Henrietta (RH) 16, East 6. M: James Wing (W) 25.94, Bill Zornow (RH) 24.94, Mark Cum­mings (F) 19.64. FX: Cummings 5.63, Brion Mitson (W) 5.5, John Simmons (F) 5.26. HB: Wally Mead (W) 5.46, Zornow 4.26, Garth Walters (W) 4.23. SH: Craig Tice (W) 4.30, Bryon Kyhos (F) 2.80, George Poole (Edison) 2.70. PB: Sam Graci (E) 7.20, Wing 6.06, Tom Feeney (W) 5.20. R: Graci 5.10, James White (I) 4.53, Dan Bartlett (W) 4.50. lH: Glenn Brien (F) 8.46, Mead 8.23, Wing 8.06. Tu: Sim­mons 3.73, Lorry Wyatt (East) 3.6, Aaron Byrd (Madison) 3.33. Tr: Kevin Rocine (W) 3.5, Gory Long (Madison} 3.2~ Glenn Colbert (Madison) 3.13. Rope: Walters 5.5, Ted Ban-croft (F) 6.05, Bill Horn (El 7.6. . .

NEW YORK STATE PHSAA GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 7-8, 1969 James Sperry High School, Henrietta, N.Y. by C. F. (PETE) BUSH JR., State Gymnastics C.hairman Pocked with spectators and action was the new gym at

Sperry High School (near Rochester) for the eighth annual N.Y.S.P.H.SAA Intersectional Gymnastics ,championships on March 7, 8, 1969. Seven defending iitlists returned from lost year. All contestants qualified for this meet by plocing first or second in their own sectional champion­ships the weekend prior. Boys were limited to 0 maximum of two events, plus all-around. Marshall Avener success­fully defended his all-around title from John Crosby, his closest threat.

Sec. 3, 32.0; 4th-Sec. 2, 14.0; 5th-Sec. 4, 5.5; 6th-Sec. 1, 2.5; 7th-Sec. 6, 1 .5; 8th-Sec. 5, 1.0.

M: Morshall Avener, Island Trees, 50.90; John Crosby, Farmingdale, 44.25; Bob Rice, John Glenn, 43.1 5. HB: Marshall Avener, Island Trees, 9.0; Bob Clark, Com­mack South, 8.55; Richard Onyska, Baldwin, 7.05. FX: Bob Rice, John Glenn, 8.95; John Crosby, Farmingdale, 8.9; Dennis Thompson, Northport, 8.15.

PB: John Cole, Scotia, 7.75; Jeff Bean, Rome Free Academy, 7.4; Hal Quanback, Commack North, and David Cassidy, Colonie, 7.05. SH: William Murphy, Island Trees, 7.65; Mike Cheney, Fayetteville-Manlius, 7.5; Russ Smith, lindenhurst, 7.4. R: Bob Medlin, Commack North, 8.8; Mike Lawitts, Notting­ham, 8.75; Don Spier, Commack North, 8.7. lH: Mark Quancil, liverpool, and John Vette, Oceanside, 8.5; Bob Bazarnick, lindenhurst, 8.45. Rope : Alan Singer, New Rochelle H.S., 3.7; Don Knehre, Baldwin, 4.4; Howie Wolff, Farmingdale, 4.6. Tr: Conrad Markert, John Joy and Nicky Wolff, White Plains, 7.2; Mickey Maguire. Van Rensselaer, 6.9.

John Crosby, Farmingdale H.S., 2nd AA Penn State.

Tu : John Crosby, Farmingdale, 9.1 ; Bob Rice, John Glenn, 8.4; Frank Sellitto,Calhoun, 7.7.

WINNING ROUTINES FX: Bob Rice, John Glenn. Ro, ff, full , b-ex, front rest, hollow back, pirouette, cradle, snap stand,fhs, fs, sfr, front rest, snap Vo twist, valdez, fhs , walkout, cartwheel, Swedish fall, Vo turn sit, back ext, straddle Vo turn to str. seat, Vo turn handstand, ro, ff, bock pike. SH: Bill Murphy, Island Trees. Moore mount in middle, travel down, loop, inverted stoeckli, simple Swiss, bock scissor, 3 front scissors, travel down, loop Vo twist. PB: John Cole, Scotia. Peach handstand, fr stutz, cost upper arm, cut catch pump handstarid, reverse Vo pirouette, cast upper arm, bock uprise Vo turn to support, front shoulder roll, disengage glide kip to L, hollow bock, 1 arm hand­stano, st arm scale, hollowback layaway, front uprise, barini off. lH: Mark Guancil, liverpool. Handspring (for end). R: Paul Medlin, Commack North. Straight body pull to in­verted hong, cost back uprise to handstand, bock giant, drop cost, str. body inlocate, bock uprise cross, bock roll L, hollow back, bock roll, dislocate, double flyaway. HB: Malshall Avenel, Island Trees. Full twist catch, kip, hop change, front giant, hop, free hip shoot, 2 bock giants, re­verse pirouette, 2 front giants, front pirouette, 1 bock giant, full twisting flyaway. Tu: John Crosby, Farmingdale. (1) Ro, ff, wb, ff, dbs. (2) Fs, fhs, fs, fhs, fs, fs. (3) Fs, ro, ff, wb, wb, bs with full twist. TI: Conrad Markert, John Jay. Db,. b full , rudolph, bs, b full twist, bs, rudolph, bs, b %, b cody. Nick Wolff, White Plains. B full twist, bs, b full twist, bs, rudolph, bs, baroni, bs, bs, dbs.

Team scoring: 1 st-Sec. 11, 49.0; 2nd-Sec. 8, 48.5; 3rd- East Brunswick High School, New Jersey State Champs with coach Don Wieder.

11

Page 12: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

NEW JERSEY HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 15, 1969 Trenton State College

Team balance gave East Brunswick High School the championship in the first New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Gymnastics Tournament at Henry Hudson Regional High School.

The Bears won five of the six team events in reversing their only defeat of the season. The host team tripped East Brunswick, 127-124, during the regular season, but the Admirals fell by nearly seven points with the title at stoke.

Coach Don Wieder's team compiled an overage score of 134.04 during the events while Henry Hudson hod 127.80. Cherry Hill West was third in the tri -meet with 93.65.

Ea st 8runswick was the Northern champion while Henry Hudson held the Central crown. Cherry Hill West was the South entrant.

The Bears were 9-1 for the year and 9-0 in their area. The Admirals hod a 13-0 record and were the Shore Con­ference champions with on 8-0 slate. Cherry Hill West hod a 5-0 in South Jersey and 6-7 overall.

Don O'Connor and Blane Nasveschuk were the ring­leaders for East Brunswick. O'Connor, a 5-6 junior, won the parallel bars and still rings and was second in the high bar. Young Nasveschuk, a 5-6 sophomore, was the high bar win­ner, tied for second in the parallel bar, was fifth in tum­bling and was second in all-around competition.

Bill McCurdy, also a sophomore, won the all-around crown for Henry Hudson and was first in the side horse. The Admirals hod another double winner in Rich Wagner, a junior. He took the long horse and tumbling.

Team: Northern sectional and State Champs: East Bruns­wich High School (coach: Don Wieder), Central sectional chomps: Henry Hudson Regional H.S. (coach: John Bird), Southern sectional chomps: Cherry Hill West (coach: Fran Mechan). AA:'Bili McCurdy (HH) 41.10, Blane Nasveschuk (EB) 39.85, Rick Wagner (HH) ,38.60. TU: Rich Wagner (HH) 7.9, Mike McCabe (EB) 7.6, McCurdy 7.0. SH : Greg Cali­fano (Wall) 6.8, John Salvo (No. Bergen) 6.55; Marty Hyatt (CHW) 6.4. HB: Nasveschuk, 7.4, Marty Strawn (CHW) 7.0, McCurdy 6.4. PB: Nasveschuk 7.15, McCurdy 6.7, Rusty Sperling (Vineland) 6.25. LH: Randy Pendergast (No. Highlands) 9.65, tie between Augie Robinson (HH) and Wagner (HH) 9.3. R: Tony Grangnano (Freehold Reg.) 7.65, Noah Levine (CHW) 6.55, McCurdy 6.50. Winning routines : Tu: Rick Wagner (HH), 1 st RO, ff, back w Y2 step out, ff, dou­bel twister. 2nd front handspring, front stepout. hand­spring, front, forward roll, front. 3rd front handspring, front stepout, RO, ff, back w Y2 stepout, ff, full twist. HB: Blane Nasveschuk (EB): Rear kip, German giant. Y2 turn kip to regular giants, toe-on (feet together) toe-off, imme­diate free hip circle, 2 regular giants, cross change, 2 re­verse giants, pirouette change, 2 regular giants, full twist­ing flyaway. PB: Blane Nasveschuk (EB): Basket to support. cast. uprise, straddle cut. layaway, front rise. swing to handstand. for: ward pirouette, bock somi, cost, back uprise. front somi­dismount. LH : Randy Pendergast (No. Highlands): Yamashita.

12

RegiOn Three

Region J - AUioama, Wash. D. C, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, VirginitJ, West Virginia, Louisiana. Mississippi, North C4rolina, Ten· nessel!, South Carolina.

RegiOn Four

Region 4 - Illinois, ["duma, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa.

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 15, 1969 Niles West High School

Report by BILL TUCKER Arlington's gymnastic team under Coach Tom Walthause

captured the 1969 State Gymnastic crown far the second year in a row at the 12th annuall.H.SA Gymnastic cham­pionships held at Niles West High School in Skokie. This is Coach Walt house's second state victory and the school's fourth in the 1 2-year history of the meet.

Coming Qut of the preliminaries with a 30.00 deficit to Hinsdale Central, Arlington remained behind until the hori­zontal bar event when they went ahead 143.00 to 1 34.50. They continued to increase their lead from that point to finish as the state's No. 1 team with a score of 221 .00.

Leading off for the second year on trampoline was Terry Haines, who was defending champ. Terry finished first with a 9.15. In horizontal bar Jim Brousseau took first place with an 8.80, and in free exercise (formerly tum­bling) Steve Von Ebers captured a first with an 8. 70.

In still rings Don Bruring of Waukegan is a repeat cham­pion, retaining his title for another year with a score of 8.85.

Making a duel retention, Seymour Rifkind not only re­tained his all-around title but also kept his parallel bar title

Seymour Rifkind (above), Niles East H.S., 1 st All Around Illinois State. Don Bruring (right), Wauke­gan H.S., 1 st Rings III. State.

with a score of 8. 70. In side horse, capturing his first state tit le was Ed Slezak

of Hinsda le Central with a score of 8.40. In all-around (those who compete in all events but tram­

poline; there is no long horse event in Illinois) Seymour Rifkind of Niles East captured this event for the second year with a 37.50. Coming in second with 34.30 was R. Roth of New Trier East, a third place by R. Balhorn of Hins­dale Central and adding to Arlington's overall totals was a fourth to Jim Brousseau of 34.00 and fifth to Bob Gleich­man with a 33.55.

Team standings: Arlington (A) 221.00, Hinsdale Central (HC) 182.50, Niles East (NE) 121.50, New Trier East (NTE) 88.50, Evanston (E) 85.50, Waukegan (W) 79.00, Rich Cen­tral (RC) 64.50, Maine South (MS) 46.50, Prospect (P) 42.00, Niles North (NN) 41.00. AA: Seymour Rifkind (NE) 37.50. Robert Roth (NTE) 34.30, Randy Balhorn (HC) 34.1 O. FX: Steve Von Ebers (A) 8.70, Ward Block (HC) 8.65, Gary Drake (A) 8.55. SH: Ed Slezak (HC) 8.40, Fulton Lobel (Oak Pork) 8.25, Lorry Dilger (Maine East) 8.20. R: Dan Bruring (W) 8.85, Benny Fernadez (Elk Grove) 8.45, tie between Rifkind and Skip Frowick (E) 8.35. PB: Rifkind 8.70, tie be­tween Harry Constantine (Glenbrook North) and Gregg Fenske (Fremd) 8.45. HB: Jim Brousseau (A) 8.80, Gary Van Etten (RC) 8.45, tie between Kerry Ruhl (Wheaton Central) and George Cresswell (A) 8.30. TR: Terry Haines (A) 9. 15, Joy Bensen (P) 8.65, Frank Ramierez (VV) 8.50.

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 28, 1969 by JOHN W. HINDS JR., Columbus Sr. H.S.

Saturday, March 28, 1969, was a "big" day for some 75 Indiana High School gymnasts that qualified for the third Indiana High School Athletic Association Champion­ships. A large number of spectators from over the state were in attendance at Warren Central High School of In­dianapolis to view the best of Indiana high school gymnas­tics. To qualify for thi s meet the gymnasts had to place in the top five positions at one of the three respective sec­tional s held the previous week. For the third consecutive year the sectional w inners were Columbus, Madison Heights of Anderson and Concord of Elkhart.

The quality of performances varied from event to event. During the morning session competition on the trampo­line was close, even though all but the eventual winner had major breaks. The tumbling event was won in a dec~ sive manner as Frank Foreman ended his first run with a double bock and had additional runs that complemented his first run. During the atternoon session featuring the five Olympic events contested in Indiana, the gymnasts

Page 13: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

Columbus Sr. High School, Indiana State Chomps (coached by John Hinds).

seemed more composed. Floor exercise featured several (NC) 74. HB: Carter 81, Woolls 78, Stu Monical (NC) 68'12. good tumbling runs, including a full into splits. Performing PB: Coyle 76, Corter 75, Woolls 72. R: Greg Sella rs (C) 78, on the bo re floor Dove Corter combined good tumbling and Corter 74V2, Steve Malutich (C) 69. Tu : Fronk Foreman (HC) transitions with exceptional form to win the event. 81 V2, Powell 69, Jim David (C) 63V2. Tr: Mike Myers (Can)

The caliber of improvement in Indiana gymnastics was . 70, Kevin Herr (C) 65, Steve Berkebile (MH) 63. most noticeable on the "animal" - side horse. Executing Winning Routines: his collegiate level routine with the precision of a machine, FX : Dave Carter: Run , front handspring, front, headspring, Nick Woolls won with the highest overage score of the double leg circle to splits, str. arm st raddle leg press to meet, a well-deserved 85. From giant to giant and inter- handstand, step down, cartwheel, bock handspring, V2 turn, mediate moves the high-bar routines again proved to be front handspring, pirouette to handstand, step down, bock crowd-pleasers, especially w ith the variety and difficulty of handspring, dive to chest roll, stoop through to seat, Valdez the dismbunts. Dave Corter repeated as state champion to moment handstand, pike down, run, bock handspring, but was effectively challenged by teammate Nick Woolls. layout bock. On the parallel bars, Gene Coyle won wi th a novel and SH : Nick Woolls - Loop, side lift up, immediate side lift out, strong performances. His routine featured outside the loop, Stockli, circle, break into scissors with left leg for-bar work. Strong performances by Columbus High School word, two scissors, reverse sc issor, circle, side lift out, gymnasts for the second consecutive year resulted in a loop into double loop around, three loops, high arch di s-one, two, three f inish on the still rings. Greg Sellars won maunt. this event featu ring a healthy-looking " L" cros s, f ront R: Greg Sellars: Roll inlocate to bock uprise "L," sir. arm lever and stood double. press to handstand, lower down, bock roll "L" cross, cost

The all-around event which is not contested in Indiana bock, German to front lever, pull to inverted hong, dislocate dual meets was won for the second consecutive yea r by to double bock off (s tuck). Dove Carter with on overage score of 74.5 per event. His PB: Gene Coyle : Sr.-Howe-Score 76. Routine not reported. teammate, Nick Woolls, followed with a 69.3 overage per Dave Carter: Sr_-Columbus-Score 75. German cost to sup-event. port, straddle cut, swing to handstand, bock toss, Stutz,

If there hod been any doubt as to who was the 1968-69 cost to upper arm, bock upri se straddle cut to ''L,'' str. arm power in Indiana High School gymnastics, the final score str. leg press to handstand, back off with V2 twist. of the state championships should have convinced all. HB: Dave Carter: Jam to double eagle, hop to 14 undergrip Columbus for the third consecutive year won by what giant, hop to overgrip, free hip immed. reach under, flank must be called a convincing marg in. However, this fact vault, str. arm kip cast to handstand, two overgrip giants, shou ld not imply that there are not other good Indiana crossover, two undergrip giants, f lying straddle off. high school gymnastic programs. Many outstanding indi- Tu : Frank Foreman: (1) RO, ff, double back,, (2) RO, ff, double vidua l performances were exhibited from other schools, bock fu ll , (3) front, handspring, front, handspring, front, but they locked the depth. Future years will result in closer front, (4) RO, ff, V2 twisting bock, step-out, RO, ff, bock, competition between all teams as they develop greater f ront. team depth. Tr: Mike Myers: Full -i n fliffus, back, baroni-out fl iffus, double

Team: Columbus Sr. (C) 167V2, Concord of El khart (Can) bock, rudolph, double twist, rudolph, bock, 14 layout, double 64V2, Howe of Indpls (H) 37, Jimtown (J ) 34V2, North Cen- cody. tral (NC) 28, Hammond Cla rk (HC) 22V2, Madison Heights 18, Ben Davis 15, Southport 15, Crown Point 1 OV2, Heritage 9V2, Reitz Memarial 9, Elkhart 8, Angola 5V2, Anderson 2, Wabash 1 V2. AA: Dove Carter (C) 372V2, Nick Woolls (C) 346V2, Gene Coyle (H) 320'V2, Gory Powell (Can) 253V2, Greg Sellars (C) 238 1'2. FX: Carter 73, Paul Woerz (RM) 72, Jefl Clark (J) 71. SH : Woolls 85, Powell 74, Jock Harcourt

Boys' results: FX : Terry Lyons (SE) 8.5, S. Blumenstein (Sf) 8.35, B. Montgomery (Cor) 7.8. SH: Guy Seghetti (Cor) 7.875, Jerry Ingham (DO) 6.875, E. Nickerson (SE) and B. Montgomery (Cor) 6.25. R: D. Moninger (SE) 8.9, Dove Mc­Dowell (SE) 8.5, B_ Montgomery (Cor) 7_5.lH: Steve Blumen­stein (SE) 8.875, tie between Eric Nickerson (SE) and John

Anoka High School, Minnesota State Champs, with coach Johnson.

Bolsinger (Klamath Falls) 8.8. PB: Nickerson 7.8, Bruce Cor­ter (KF) 7.175, Doug Matz (DO) 7.125. HB: John Price (DO) 8.00, Nickerson 7_275, Matz 6.9.

Girls' results : SHY: Metta Racely (SE) 8.675, Judy Shirk (SE) 8.45, Jayne Hamilton (DO) 8.2. B: Martha Worner (SE) 8.3, Penny Nosh (Cor) 6.85, Metta Racely (SE) 6.775. UPB: Hamilton 8.375, Shirk 8.125, Diana Dill (Cor) 7,75, FX: Hamilton 8.125, t ie between Warner and Shi rk 7.775. Winning Routines: FX: Terry lyons (SE): Baroni, ff, bock pike, bock extension w ith V2 twist, cross splits, Japanese splits, front somi piked, front handspring, RO, If, full ; RO If, pike extension. Steve Blumenstein (SE) FF, full twist, bock extension roll to handstand, stoop to splits, straight press (on fingertips) to handstand, front handspring, front somi, headspring, If, Arabian dive roll , straight-legged ro ll-up, dive-bock hand­stand to prone fall , bounce, cut catch, ff, pike extension. SH: Guy Seghetti (Cor) , High double on end, loop around, walk around, double wlo pommel, khere up, doubles, trom­lot, khere up, frt scissors, feint , rear scissors, double trom­lot, Olympic off_ Jerry Ingham (DO) : Moore mount, imme­diate mooce, immediate downhill .travel, walk-around, khere-in, split left leg, reverse scissor, two front scissors, pick-up doubles, downhill Iravef, loop in, two doubles, half durham, 3 loops Olympic. R: Dan Moninger (SE), Still inlocate, kip maltese, lower through to inverted hang, giant inlocate, upri se handstand, lower to cross (smile) back roll , " L," hollowback press handstand, lower straight arm to back lever, dislocate out, dislocate, full. Dave McDowell (SE), Dislocate shoot to handstand, lower front lever, snap to L-cross, press out to L, hollowback to handstand, front cost inlocate, back up­rise cross, pu ll-in, back roll , double dislocate, double flip. lH: Steve Blumenstein: Handspring, for end yamashita. Eric Nickerson: Hecht. John Balsiger : giant yamashita. PB: Eric Nickerson (SE), cast to support, straddle cut to " l," hollowback press, front uprise, stutzkehre, cast with half twist, front uprise .. . . HB: Eric Nickerson (SE), Cast, double rear, bock seat circle, German, cast, half twist, kip to bock giants, blind change, stall, change to vault, k ip to back giants, cross change, pi rouette change, flyaway. John Price (DO), Cast, hand­stand, immediate sale ci rcle, front giant, roll to dislocate giants, pop to front giant, stall, rear vault, kip, front hip circle, change to front giant, pirouette, bock giant, set down, under change, kip front giant, stoop ofl. Girls' Winning Routines : FX : Jayne Hamilton (DO), Full turn in the air (cot leap); step back, lunge (one foot) ; step forward (knee lift); ro, 2 If, loy­out; tour jete, bounce change feet, pose; turn, split jump to squat to arch jump; run, aerial skip aerial; kick bock to splits; roll , stretch body, one arm support; valdez, bock tinsica, 3 steps bock; sc issor kick, full turn, illusion, lunger­skip lunger, pose on toes; front aer ial, sit leap; kick turn, bock walkover, straddle down; bock shoulder roll , split legs, roll (rotate), backward roll to knees (knee scale); kick turn, ro, split leg layout, double stag jump to knee pose. B: Martha Warner (SE) : Run, mount to straddle support, V. turn and V-seat; squat stand; pas chasse; pose with back leg bent, arms crossed in front; pi rouette (bent leg) turn_ Run to split leap, arabesque turn, pose; cartwheel, pose; '12 squat turn,. bock walkover, V2 turn, splits, backward roll ; stand, V2 turn, pose, pose, aerial front off. UPB: Jayne Hamilton (DO), Straddle vau lt maunt, swing back and straddle over low bar, kip up, squat up, pirouette, wrop-arou~d , eagle catch, drop glide kip, stoop up, front sale circle, reverse kip, swing down, swing up, straddle cut­catch on high bar, pike legs over low bar, squat up, strad­dle bock over high bar, wrap-around, straddle hecht dis­mount.

MINNESOTA STATE H.S_ GYMNASTIC MEET by JERRY E. JOHNSON, Coach, Anoka High School

The state gymnastic meet was held at Cooper High of the Robbinsdale school district. There were over 5,000 spectators in attendance. Since the seating capacity is around 4,500, the school set up close-circuit TV in the auditorium .for the overflow. Even top-rated dual meets have drown 1,500 to 2,000. Anoka's gymnastic team outdrew all other winter sports this season (in their school).

Anoka H.S. duplicated its record of lost yeor by going undefeated in dual meets and winning the state title. Jeff Rock, on outstanding a'thlete, led his Anoka team. After finishing third all-around lost year he captured the first all·around this year. He was first on free exercise, first on tumbling, second on parallel bars, third on trampoline, and if he had not fallen on a free hip pop on the H.B., he probably would have finished high here also as this was one of his better events.

The state meet was full of excitement and suspense. White Bear Lake H.S., the team that beat Anoka in the regianals, jumped off to a 1 6-point lead after the F.X. event. Anoka and Cooper H.S. slowly closed the gop. Anoka's ring

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team which has been strang all year came through with 14 paints to put Anoka ahead by twa points. The last event was won by Rock (tumbling) that clinched it for Anoka.

Coach Bill Murray of White Bear Lake H.S. should be the favorite for next season. He will have mast of his bays back, plus Phil Nardecchia, who finished third in the 011-around. Phil is a real fine gymnast and competitor. Cooper and Alexander Ramsey high schools will be in there also. Team: Anoka (A), 59; White Bear Lake (WBl), 47.5; Cooper (C), 46; Osseo (0), 25; Richfield (R), 1 /; Alexander Ramsey (AR), 16.

WINNING ROUTINES FX: Jeff Rock (A), B2. R.O. bhs bhs db full two Swedish dp. Stiff stiff press to h.s. bhs bhs b dive roll V2 two kick to pir­ouette. Running fhs ff dr Valdez. Fdr bhs bf v.. turn cart­wheel f wk a f wk a turn ro bhs bhs b pike. TR: Wayne Graves (Kellogg), 83.5. F fliffus, b air, db b, Ru­dolph, back air, full tw, db, tw, back air, one and three qts bk air, db Cody. SH: John Carlin (Mpls. North), 82. Mt. into (3) loops; care in, moore, moore, care-out tram let, (2) reg scissors into re­verse, db leg cir care out, (3)Joops (opposite) end, high Rus­sian dismt. PB: Jerry Johnson (C), 74.5. Peach to I seat; st arm st. leg press to h.s. back toss to imed. under bar cast b upris dou­ble leg cut h.s. pirouette. Fr. toss-off. HB: Ken Rice (C), 79.5 Sw kip to be giant (2) reach under vault; kip to f giant (cross arm sw pirouette), fr giant (2) high pike flyaway. R: Chris Olsen (AR), 80. St. body pull to inverted hang -cast to b uprise h.s. Fr. qiant to h.s. St. body back roll to 1-seat crucifix; rear uprise back roll to 1 -seat st. body press to h.s.; long underswing to high db leg cut. TU: Jeff Rock (A), 81.1 - Ro bhs bhs full tw.bhs b tuck. 2 -Fr wk a ro bhs bhs Arabian. 3 - Ro bhs bhs db full two

WISCONSIN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS by DAN GRAHAM, Coach, Preble H.S.

Wisconsin schools crowned their fourth different cham­pion in as many years as Green Bay Preble won the State Gymnastic Meet at Menomonee Falls on March 15.

The down-to-the-wire competition saw Dave Coutley take the blue ribbon in the final event, tumbling, to assure Preble the title. The Green Bay school finished with 68 points as Milwaukee Marshall was second for the second

-year in a row with 56 points, a half point better than the 55V2 for Homestead.

Milwaukee Boys' Tech took fourth with 41 V2 points, tollowed by defending champion Milwaukee Bay View with 38 and Milwaukee Washington with 35. The champion­ship for Preble, coached by Dan Graham, was the first for the school which was third last year and runner-up two years ago.

The meet's leading scorer was Pat O'Brien from Home­stead, who won the floor exercise in addition to his first in the horizontal bar while also taking fourth in the all-around. That gave the meet's only double winner 27 points. Pre­ble's Steve Graham was next with 25, including a second and two thirds, while Marshall's Don Jenness had a sec­ond and a sixth to go along with his all-around first to fin­ish with 24V2 points. The other individual winners were Steve Price of Marshall in the parallel bars, Bruce Bugalski of Bay View in side horse, Dave Stangel of Waukesha in still rings and Gary Beaumier of Preble in long horse.

Team Results: Green Bay Preble (GBP), 68; Milwaukee Morshall (MM), 56; Homestead (H), 55V2; Milwaukee Boys' Tech (MBT), 41 V2; Milwaukee BayView (MBV), 38; Milwau­kee Washington, 35; Milwaukee Juneau (MJ), 25; Racine Horlick and Waukesha (W), 18; Milwaukee Madison (MMad). 17V2; Hartland (Ha), 15 V2; Menomonee Falls, 14; Monitowoc, 11; Appleton East (AE), 8; Brown Deer, 7; Milwaukee South and Whitnall, 4; Milwaukee Hamilton, 3; Appleton West, 1.

AA : Don Jenness (MM), 41.75; Steve Graham (GBP), Craig Sas (Ha). FX: Pat O'Brien (H), 8.00; Dave Coutley (GBP), Mike LaTour (GBP). LH: Gary Beaumier (GBP), 7.55; tie between Steve Geldt (H) and Bruce Bugalski (MBV). SH: Bugalski, 7.65; Tom Paulak (MBT), Alan Przyworski (MMad). R: Dave Stangel (W), 7.55, Russ Franken (MBV), Keith Fuerst (AE). PB: Steve Price (MM), 7.35; Frank Loo­mis (MJ), Steve Graham (GBP). HB : O'Brien, 8.1 U; Jenness, Graham. Tu: Coutley, 8.00; Jim Paquette (MBT). Roger Peters (M).

NCllndividual Events: FX: McClaren (DeAnza), Johnson (DeAnza), Dudley (En­cino). SH: Steele (Sequoia), Morimoto (Aragon), Crall De­Anza). R: Wilson (Encino), Johnson, Harrold. LH: Buckman (College Park), McClaren, Johnson. PB: Berglund (Encino), Johnson, Harrold. HB: Johnson, tie between Barnwell (Col­lege Park) and Means (Oakland). Winning Routines : FX: Robbie McClaren (DeAnza), Ro, ff, full , bock roll exten­sion with V2 turn in handstand, front handspring, front handspring, Swedish fall , front splits, bent arm press, step-

14

Green Bay Preble H.S., Wisconsin State Champs

out, back walkover, front somi, front handspring, front (n, 7; Wichita Southeast (WSE), 6; Washburn-Topeka somi, Ro, ff, layout back. (W), 3; Kingman, Topeka West, Wichita East and Wichita SH: MIKE STEElE (Sequoia), Jump to double on pommels, West, 1 . side travel , German, uphill side travel, downhill side travel. FX: Steve Schuman (Ml); Mike Thomas (51); Alan Burke kehre to pommels, break to back scissors, two front scis- (WH). SH: Jesse Serrano (WS) & Lorry Estes (l), Marc sors, break to doubles, side travel"dawn, loop off. Joseph (L). H: Tom Yother (l); Cliff Nelson (5); Tom Mc R: MIKE WILSON (Encino), Straight body pull to inverted Gill (WS). LH: Jim Norris (5); Ron Ewing (l); Mike Bockus hang, kip to L, hollow back press, bock giant, lower to (l). PB: Marc Joseph (L); John Burrows (WS); Evan cross, pull to bock lever, inlocate back uprise, two dislo- Olson (5). R: Gory Fino (M); Mike Thomas (5); Sid Mead cates, high straddle off. (WS). T: Jerry Meldrum (HPJ; Steve Schuman (Ml); Alan LH : GARY BUCKMAN (College Park), Handspring from neck. Burke (WH). PB: STEVE BERGLUND: Cast support, straddle to L. stiff arm press, stutz, cast, back uprise, straddle, layaway, front uprise, front somi with V2 twist dismount. HB: CLARK JOHNSON: Stem to front giants, full twist to Ono, vault, turn hand to frant kip to two front giants, pirouette to two Czech giants, two regular giants, blind change, two front giants, stall, change hands to cast front dismount.

MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team: Clarenceville (C) 136, North Farmington (NF) 109, Taylor Kennedy (TK) 108, Ionia (I) 36.5, Allen Park (AP) 35.5, Alpena (A) 32.5, Hillsdale (H) 9, Taylor Center (TC) 8, Flat Rock 7.5, Portage Northern 7, Ann Arbor Pioneer 6, Wyoming Rogers 5, Portage Central 4. AA: Barry Frechette (C) 37.825, Bob Sexton (TK) 32.525, Ken Luegge (PN) 32.50. LH: Terry Boys (NF) 8.55, Rick Fredrick (C) 8.35, Frechette 8.225. HB: Howard Welsh (A) 8.25, Sexton 7.4, Dove Purdy (NF) 7.35. FX: Boys 7.95, TedOrtwine (NF) 7.5, Rick Restaino (TK) 7.0. Tr: Mike Kistler (I) 8.45, Mike Lesser (NF) 7.45 and Jerry Gauthier (AP) 7.45. SH: Joe Tramai (TK) 6.4: tie between Don Waybright (HT) and 10m Paulson (C) 6.10. Tu: Dan Witz (A) 7.2, Fredrick 6.4, Fred Gorton (TC) 6.3. R: Frechette (CL) 7.00, Dole General (NF) 6.10, Mike McCamnon (C) 5.85. PB: Frechette 4.35, Witz 5.9, tie be­tween Roger Tolzdorf (A) and Boys 5.15.

RegiOn Five

Region 5 - Iowa State Unjll., Kansas, Mis· souri, Nebraska. North. Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota.

1969 KANSAS STATE HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP

TEAM: Lawrence (l), 113; Wichita South (WS), 103, Sa­lina (S), 61; Medicine Lodge (Ml), 37; Seaman-Topeka (51), 35; Wichita Heights (WH), 27; Olathe (0), 25, High­land Park-Topeka (HP), 18; Manhattan (M), 11 ; Topeka

NEBRASKA HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS March 7,8, 1969

Lincoln High School by THOMAS SITZMAN, North H.S., Omaha

Twenty-three schools qualified boys in the district meets held the week before. Lincoln Southeast was the team champion, scoring 1 21 .0 to runner-up Lincoln High 's 67.5. The AA was won by sophomore Gene Mackie of Omaha Creighton Prep, followed by two seniors from the state champion Southeast team.

An important change was agreed upon for the 1969-70 season. Gymnastics will move from a winter sport to a fall sport. The coaches hope to gain several ends through this move, the gymnasiums are freer, and workouts may pro­ceed without interference from basketball practices. It allows the boy who is a swimmer or wrestler and who is too small for football a chance to work another sport. The wrestling mots will be available for floor exercise.

AA: (Note, there is no LH in Nebraska AA) Gene Mackie (CP) 30.60, Happy Botten (Se) 30.25, Alex Gerard (Se) 29.70. FX: Jeff Johnson (Lincoln) 7.95, Paul Hearty (CP) 7.60, tie between Botten and Jm Gump (Lin) 7.10. Tr: Ted Kimball (Se) 8.35, Botten (7.85, Lorry West (Ne) 7.40. SH: Rick Yates (Se) 8.1 5, Bill Teichert (North Platte) 7.90, Steve Wilke (Beatrice) 7.15. HB: Botten 8.00, Gerard 7.50, Rus­sell Spadt (Lin) 7.25. PB: Jerry Aquila (Omaha Benson) 7.85, Russ Severn (Ne) 7.0, Chet Porter (CP) 6.8. R: Gerard 7.90, Botten 7.00, Mackie 6.80. Tu: Johnson 8.05, Bob Mitchell (Se) 7.25, Lorry Dussault (Omaha Central) 7.20.

RegiOn Six

Region 6 - Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas:

Page 15: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

RegiOn Seven

Region 7 - Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming.

COLORADO HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 17, 1969 Aurora High School

Winning their first state championship in the 23-year history of the Colorado state high school gymnastic cham­pionships, Ranum High School also collected the highest point total, 176.05, in the history of the meet. Ranum's top performer, Mark Graham, earned firsts in FX, Tr and Tu, while his teammates took home 10 additional place awards.

The all-around was won by a Colorado Springs gymnast, Steve Hoit, with a total of 46.75. The Wasson High athlete edged Jefferson's Kerry Cassuto by a mere .15 while Ra­num's John Pellikan and Graham were third and fourth.

Top high bar performer Rich Danley of Westminster failed to qualify for the finals following a measure of con­fusion over the use of a crash mot. East Denver's Felton Johnson performed a near-perfect yamashita with half twist to claim the long horse event.

Team standings: Ranum (R) 1 76.05, Wasson (Wa) 166.10, Westminster (Wm) 160.05, Arapahoe (A) 156.25, Denver East (DE) 152.65, Palmer (P) 151 .95, Jefferson (J) 150.65, Denver North (DN) 145.80, Kennedy (K) 144.25. AA: Steve Hoit (Wa) 46.75, Kerry Cassuto (J) 45.60, John Pellikan (R) 44.30. FX : Mark Graham (R) 8.525, Pellikan 8.425, Myron Tucker (R) 8.375. SH: 8ruce Metcalfe (Lincoln) 8.275, G. Attleson (Alameda) 7.35, Hoit 6.90. Tr: Graham 8.85, Stan Curnow (K) 8.65, Pellikan 8.175. HB: Cassuto 8.225, tie between Hoit and Chuck Parker (P) 8.00. LH : Felton John­son (DE) 8.975, Cassuto 8.95, Graham 8.3 25. PB : Rick Fitzgerald (Wm) 8.075, Cassuto 8.00, Rick Barcelon (P) 7.925. R: Dorrell Auld (AO) 8.625, Lyle Hileman (K) 8.25, Hoit 8.025. Tu : Graham 8.40, Johnson 8.175, Tucker 7.875.

-

RegiOn Eight

Region 8 - Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nev­ada, Idaho, Or~gon. Washington.

WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 23, 24,1969 Washington State University

by REX DAVIS , Meet Director Over 100 competitors took port in the 1969 Washing­

ton State High School Championships hosted this year by Washington State University. Three regional meets were held a week earlier to determine qualifiers for the state meet.

The level of competition was good this year, with several fine individual performers leading the way. Top performer of the meet was Kirt Bare of Kennewick High School, who earned first places in three events, FX, Tu and Tramp. The all-around champion was Gordon Jones of Kent High School with a score of 41.45.

Kennewick High School was the team champion this year with a score of 152.70, followed by Kent with 139.66, West Bremerton with 135.51 and Renton with 98.38.

FX: Kirt Bore (Ken) 7.725, Dove Elverum (Shorecrest)

Kennwick High School, Washington State Chomps.

7.65, Gordon Jones (Kent) 7.575. SH: Steve Brouillette (Lake Wash.) 7.225, Mark Patterson (Ren) 6.725, Chad Fu­gata (Ken) 6.075. HB: Brad King (Cascade) 7.5, Don Hunter (Cos) 7.075, Elverum 6.525. PB: Terry Kelly (Lewis & Clark) 7.075, Dorrell Bossert (Cos) 6.85, Paul Scott (Kent) 6.775. A: Jones 7.275, Carl Kaiyala (Nathan Hole) 7.225, King 6.775. Tr: Bare 7.55, Mike Collier (Lake Wash.) 7.4, Gory Clauson (W. Brem) 7.125. LH : Jeff Evans (lnglemoor) 8.80, Dole Burson (Not. Hole) 8.375, Dwane Edwards (Everett) 8.325. lu: Bore 7.45, Case (Newport) 6.9, Paul Jansen (Ken) 6.725.

OREGON HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 14, 15, 1969 McArthur Court, Eugene, Oregon

by MICKEY CHAPLAN The most interesting things to be noted about high

school gymnastics in this state are the strong organiza­t ion, the great number (and, surprisingly, the quality) of high school gymnasts and the addition of some devices with really enhanced gymnastics for spectators as well as the competing gymnasts. These devices include (1 ) elimi­nation of zone deductions on vaulting for men, (2) addition of the all-around performer's score to the team score, and (3) having both men's and women's gymnastics teams in the high schools. Considering the results of a year's experi­mentation with (1) , it might be worth considering for the rest of the country. The second device encourages a team to develop a good six-event all-around man since his score counts twice for the team. The third device is probably the most healthy advance in high school gymnastics that I have ever seen. i.lthough dual meets become longer and there exists in many places a lock of qualified women coaches and judges, the end result of this device is gym­nasts who try harder, bigger audiences for gymnastic meets with much more spi rit and a much brighter appear­ance in workout raoms.

In both team divisions (men and wanen), South Eugene was first, David Douglas second and Corvallis third. The winning and second-place routines speak adequately for the quality of performances. Good form and tricks but poor technique in many places characterized the meet; neverthe­less, the first and second place finishers on the rings worked as well as any high school ring men I have ever seen, and the first and second finishers in the women's 011-around - Judy Shi rk of South Eugene and Jayne Hamilton of David Douglas - looked like real women gymnpsts with the style and composure one would expect from them. The men's all-around winners were Eric Nickerson of South Eugene, Bob Montgomery of "Corva llis and David Douglas.

Eric Nickerson, South Eugene HS., Oregon State All Around Chomps.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS FINALS OAKLAND ATHLETIC LEAGUE

AA:' Tony Lopez (Sky); D. Maxton (Sky); K. Means (Sky). FX: M. Sutherland (Sky); K. Hollis (F); T. Nora. SH: D. Lee (F); R. Hatfield (C); G. Taniguchi (Sky). R: R. Wright (Sky); T. Hor­ton (Sky); tie between R. Thompson (C) and T. Lopez (Sky). LH : J. Semmens (Sky); R. Thompson (C); R. Leon. PB: Tony Lopez (Sky); D. Maxton (Sky); K. Hansen (Sky). HB: T. Lopez (Sky); D. Maxton (Sky); K. Means (Sky). Team: Skyline 1 28.34, Castlemont 101 .1 0, Oakland 98.06, Fremont 96.31.

DIABLO VALLEY ATHLETIC LEAGUE Team: College Park, Ygnacio Valley, Mt. Diablo, Pacifica. AA: All-Around: Tim Niles (yv), Bill Barnwell (CP), Steve Cox (yV). FX: Floor Exercise: Bill Barnwell (CP), Gary Buck­man (CP), tie between Andy Alexander (CP) and Steve Box (yV). SH: Bob Penny (MD), Larry Delucchi (yV), Dan Mc­Dernid (CP). R: Tim Niles (YV), Marty Gerber (MD), Buck­man (CP). LH: Tim Niles (YV), Buckman (CP), Mark Sweeney (yV). PB: Tim Niles (YV), Roger Schuman (yV), tie between Bill Barnwell (CP) and Mark White (CP). HB: Barnwell, Niles, Frank Yuhre (MD).

MPAL Conference Team: Aragon, San Mateo, Hillsdale, Capachino, Mills. AA: Joe Fee (A), Tom Sweeney (SM), Kim Kludt (Hi). FX: Sweeney, Kurt Kuykendall (Hi), Kludt. SH: Frank Morimoto (Al, Bruce Frenzel (Hi), Morgan Hoff (Hi). R: Steve Yama­guma (SM), Fee, Frenzel. LH: J. Fee, Lydon, Dan Miller (Cap). PB: Fee, Sweeney, Klundt. HB: Fee, Sweeney, tie between Lydon and Bob Metter (A).

SPAL Conference AA: Larry Castle (SC), Mike Steele (Seq), Chris O'Hanlon (PA)_ FX: Castle, Rick Stephenson (SC), Andy Boyette (PA). SH: Mike Steele (Seq), Bill Gruber (PA), Mitch Castle (SC). R: Castle, O'Honlon, Tom Weeden (Carl). LH : Bill Gruber, O'Hanlon, tie between Boyette and Steele. PB: Steele, Gru­ber, Castle. HB: Castle, Jim Barrett (SC), O'Honlon. Tean: Palo Alto 134, San Carlos 128, Sequoia 100, Carl­mont 33.

MAVERICK DIVISION Team: Encino 141.75, DeAnza 132.04, Mission San Jose 109.83, Berkeley High 105.93, Homestead High 96.99, Alisol High 74.90, No. Salinas 52.85. AA: Clark Johnson (D), Steve Berglund (E), Robbie McClaren (D), Chris Harold (E). FX: Johnson, McClaren, Dudley Toccoy (E). SH: McClaren, Toccoy, John Chew (B). R: Mike Wilson (E), Johnson, Harrold (E). LH: McClaren, Harrald, Berglund. PB: Clark Johnson, Steve Berglund, tie between Robbie Mc­Claren and Chris Harrold. HB: Clark Johnson, Chris Harrold, Robert Harden (B).

DIVISION II FINALS AA: Joe Fee (A), Tom SNeeney (SM), Larry Castle (SC). FX: Castle, Kurt Kuydendoll (H), tie between Sweeney and Randy Piasontin (SM). SH: Mike Steele (S), Frank Morimoto (A), Morgan Hoff (H). R: Steve Yamaguma (SM), Joe Fee, Bruce Frenzel (H). LH: Randy Lydon (SM), Bill Gruber (S), Chris O'Honlon (PA). PB: Tom SNeeney (SM), Joe Fee, Bill Gruber. HB: Joe Fee, Larry Castle, Randy Lydon.

DIVISION I FINALS Team: College Park 103, Skyline 90, Ygnacio Valley 48Y" Mt. Diablo 31 V"~ Fremont 25. FX: Bill Barn SH: Don Lee (F), Bob Penny (MD), Larry Delucchi (yV). R: Randy Wright (S), Ted Horton (5), Gary Buckman (CP). LH : Gary Buckman (CP), Mark Sweeney (YV), Andy Alexander (CP). PB: Tony Lopez (S), Dan Maxton (S), Bill Barnwell (CP). HB : Bill Barnwell (CP), Tony Lopez (S), Kirk Means (S).

1969 CIF CHAMPIONSHIPS May 9, 1969

San Gabriel High School by FRED E. MARQUEZ, Meet Manager

San Gabriel High School was the scene of the largest crowd ever to watcha CIF Southern section gymnastics championship - 1500!

18

Westminster High, under the leadership of Mr. George Beckstead, compiled 29Y, points to win the 1969 cham­pionship. Lakewood High, the 1968 champion, was second.

Outstanding performances were turned in by Jim Mc­Faul and Jerry Iverson, both of Westminster, in leading their team to victory.

Jim Cole of Wilson, although failing to place first in any event, nevertheless won the individual championship_

Probably the two strongest events of the evening were FX where the difference between first and fifth was just a matter of tenths and high bar where the competition was outstanding. The importance of the meet and the· caliber of the performance was evident as over 20 top coaches from throughout the country were in attendance.

Team: Westminster (W) 29Y" Lakewood (L) 19, Wilson (Wi!) 1 6, EI Rancho (ER) 1 2, Millikan (M) 11 , Baldwin Park (BP) 6Y" Corona del Mar (CDM) 6, South Torrance (ST) 5, Son Gabriel 4, Poly 4, Montebello 3, South Hills 2, Anaheim 2. High Point Man: Jim Cole (Wi!) 11 , Jim McFaul (W) 10, Jerry Iverson (W) 9.5. FX: McFaul 17.7, Jeff Walder (CDM) 1 7.20, Bob Brum (L) 1 7.1. SH: R. Neuner (ER) 1 7.1, G. Sey­mour (W) 16.7, M. Loebel (L) and D. Marchi (Wil) 16.6. R: Iverson 1 7.4, G. Nelson (ER) and R. Barba (ER) 1 7.1 . LH: (4 vault total) R. Leavenworth (L) 35.0, Cole 33.8, D. Free­land (Poly) 33.6. PB: G. Pike (L) and Iverson 1 7.0, Cole 16.6. HB: B. Beach (ST) 17.3, Cole 17.2, C. Waid (W) 17.0. Tu: McFaul 17.3, S. Gerlock (M) 1 7.2, C. Hartell (M) 16.9. Rope : all tied at 3.6 seconds: McDermid (Ml, Chris Guzman (Mont), M. Frowiss (L), P. Ralston (W) and W. Feinberg (BP).

WINNING ROUTINES FX: Jim McFaul: Westminster. Roundoff, back handspring, full, bock handspring step out, Y, turn Swedish fall, turn to splits, stiff-stiff press to hands.tand, stepdown. Roundoff, back handspring, Arabian Diveroll, reverse pirouette. Front handspring. front, prone fall, stepup to two-legged valdez. Roundoff, back handspring, pike Arabian, straddle rollout, lower to Jap splits, back extn. roll. Y, turn, roundoff back handspring, pike. LH: Randy Leavenworth. Lakewood High. Hecht and Yama­shita. HB: Bill Beach. South Torrance. Olympic cast, Stalder, pirouette, giant, regular grip Stalder, giant, whip-shange, giant, shoot to Eagles, hop to backs, pirouette, immediate hip circle to immediate back kip, German giant, disengage, flange, giant, flyaway. Tu : Jim McFaul: Westminster. 1. Ro, bh, full, bh , fh full. 2. Front, front handspring, front, front handspring, front. 3. Front, ro, bh,whipover, bh, bh, full. SH: Rich Neuner: EI Rancho. Moore to moore, back Moore down, Moore uphill, Russian in the middle, 1 bock scissors, 3 front scissors, tra veldown. PB: Gary Pike: Lakewood. Underbor cast to L, stiff-stiff to hand, back over, drop-cast, straddle catch L, press to planche, loyback, front uprise, hand, stitz layaway, front uprise, front off.

C. I.F. Finals

Jim Iversom: Westminster. Cast catch, swing hand, back­over, cast, straddle cut L, planche, layaway, frontuprise, swing pirouette, back off. R: Jerry Iverson: Westminster. Inlocate, inlocate handstand, % back giant to cross, L pullout, hollowback press to hand­stand, back uprise to cross, dislocate, high straddle off.

Pete Paulson, Talft, Los Angeles City High Point Man.

LOS ANGELES CITY HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 29, 1969 Cal State - Los Angeles

Following the 1968 debacle in which sophomore Steve Hug singlehandedly led his winless Chatsworth High team to the city championship, LA City coaches devised a proce­dure to prevent such future occurrences. (It must be noted that even Makoto Sakamoto did not rate such measures.) Ironically, the new rule left Taft, a loser to Chatsworth in a dual meet when Hug (out with a broken elbow for city) was healthy, out in the cold for team honors, even though they led all schools with the number of qualifiers into the individual finals.

The dual meet for the championship carried elements of NCAA-type competition into the finals except that the team scoring was done on the outmoded 5-4-3-2-1 basis. (We say outmoded, for LA is a hotbed of gymnastic enterprise except when it comes to rules changes, the current season marking the first - and hopefully not the .last - of such signs of progress.) In the finals the Vikings of Monroe, coached by Les Sasvary,met University High, coached by Duane LaRue, and roundly defeated them, 72Y,-47Y,. Si­multaneously, the individual event championships were contested, with Taft 's Peter Paulson coming up with 13Y, points to edge teammate Murray Kephart for high-point man. Interestingly, if the old scoring system had been used, Monroe would have beaten Taft by just 1 Y, points.

Contestants from the San Fernando Valley area earned 32 of a possible 40 trophies. Rope climbers Bill Freeman of Toft and Marty Silverman of Monroe tied for first at 3.4 seconds. Kephart won the free exercise while Paulson dis­played one of the best individual routines in winning hori­zontal bar. Monroemen Brad Horowitz (PBl, Rob Rocka­fellow (R) and Brian Kolb (SH) accounted for other Volley firsts. Fairfax' Maurice Klieman took the vault while Dor­sey's George Lee won tumbling as the only first-place win­ners from "the other side."

There are nearly 50 high schools competing in the Los Angeles City Gymnastic program. There are eight leagues, with six schools to a league. The league winners and elimi­nation champs were:

Eastern, Huntington Park; East Valley, Grant; Marine, Narbonne; Mid-Valley, Monroe; Northern, Belmont; South­ern, Fremont; West Valley, Chatsworth; Western, Univer­sity. Quarterfinals: Gront, Monroe, Fremont, University. Semifinals: Monroe, University. Final : Monroe, 72Y,; Uni­versity, 47Y,.

High Point : Peter Paulson (Taft), 13 V,; Murray Kephart (Taft), 12Y,; Joe Greblo (Monroe), 8. Rope: Bill Freeman (Taft) and Martin Silverman (Monroe), 3.4 sec.; Stephen

(Continued on Page 27)

Page 19: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

( STEVE HUG ) ByKENSAKODA andSTEVELERNER

Age 17 Ht. 5'5" Wt. 127 lb. High School: Chatsworth High School (Los Angeles area) Honors: 1967 U.S. Pan·Am team qualifier; 1967 member of U.S. Pre-Olympic Games team; 1968, Los Angeles City High Point Man, first on FX, SH, PB, 2nd on HB, 3rd Tu.; 1968, U.S. team member in Junior International Invitational in Mexico City; 1968, U.S. Olympic Team Member.

How did you get started in gymnastics; why did you choose it?

When I was in the fifth grode, I used to play in the bar-pits at a nearby iuniar high school. Then it was a slow process, you know, going 'in the gym instead of the bar-pits. I started with knee circles and knee giants. What happened when you got into high school?

I iust played in the bar-pits in elementary school. By the time I got to iunior high, I sorta grew outa that. I started working out at the other events. I started tumbling while I was still in the bar-pits. About the seventh grade or so, I tried parallel bars and side horse, and those are the events I com­peted in at first. Rings and long horse are the last events I picked up. In the eighth grade I started working the all-around really seriously with the goal in mind to be on all-around gymnast. Since you used to work trampoline and tumbling, what opinions do you hold regarding those events?

I think tumbling has its place fairly well in free ex, but the trampoline is completely different. I don't know . . . I'm not sure the all-around performer should be in it, but I think it belongs in international competition. I think they are really degrading it in this country. I think it's a great event, and they are trying to kill it. What do you think of the current U.S. high school pro­gram?

For better international teams, it's obvious that the coaches should stress all-around and basic tricks. A lot of coaches, and it's been repeated over and over, but they still don't do it ... maybe they have free ex in Illinois by now, but things like that are sort of unbelievable. What are your reasons for going to Japan next year? Doesn't this reflect your opinion of U.S. high school gymnastics?

I'm going on a high school exchange program. I'm not saying that high school gymnastics are bet­ter there because I don't know. But I do know that the best gymnasts right now are coming out of Japan. I'm going over there to find out what I can do. I'll probably be working out with the best gym­nasts every day ... I'm not going over there for the high school gymnastics because I won 't even be working out at the high school I go to. In your past, how important have your coaches been?

Very important. Back in the bar-pits, when I was in iunior high, a guy named Larry Bridges sort of started teaching me to do parallel bars. That's one stage. Rusty Rock started taking me to the gym and working out with him. That was getting an idea of what college gymnastics was like. Then Art Shurlock started teaching me things with the Olym­pics in mind. Those three have really been the main three coaches. It seems to be difficult for a coach to walk into a gym and make a gymnast do even one routine. What makes you different? Why have you applied yourself?

This reason I do routines (is] I iust want to see myself how good I can do 'em. To see if I can do it better than I ever could before. To see if I can reach the high score each time I do it. It's like competing in a meet. There's a time for everything; routines aren't good the year 'round. There's refining of cer-

One of the outstanding high school gymnasts in the country, Steve Hug came into national prominence two years ago when at the age of I 5 he qualified into the U.S. trials to select the Pan-American team. Since then, he has reached perhaps the peak of his career when he earned a place on the U.S. Olympic team and ranked third among the U.S. entries. Associate MG EditorKen Sakoda interviewed Steve at the Los Angeles City Cham­pionships where he had been expected to retain' his 1968 title until he suf­fered a broken arm in the World Cup competition.

tain parts; the trends always seem to be changing. The latest seems to be working routines for a lot of endurance about a month before and then breaking it down to the parts. How often do you work your routines?

For a big meet, anywhere from a month or two before a meet, I start preparing routines. Side horse routines I usually do the year 'round, but that's the only event that really needs it. How do you structure a workout?

Warmup starts off by running around the gym, trying to build up a sweat and then trying to keep that sweat by constant movement. Stretching -iust trying to loosen up all parts. The more I stretch, the more muscles I have loosened up, the better the workout is. Do you work every event every day?

Yes, I try to touch every event every day. But I usually put more on one event than the others. What do you do during the summer months?

Every summer's a little different. This summer I'll be going, hopefully, to Japan. Last summer I worked out at Southern Illinois. I work out year 'round. It's been the same pace ever since the Pan Am trials. How do you like the pressure of international competi­tions, especially while you're still going to high s.chool?

The pressure doesn't bother me. I iust don't like what I'm learning in high school. I think I can get more out of other books than high school. For me, I don't like it. I know you are being approached by a lot of college coaches. What are you looking for in a college?

I'm not sure what I want to maior in in college yet. I'll probably be a coach after I get through com­peting. The idea now is iust to go to college and learn what I want to learn and learn as much of it as I can and compete for another 10 years or so. It's mainly a learning thing ; for coaching ... a per­son who knows what he's doing. If you were a coach and looking back, what line or pro­gression would you advise a new kid to start? When's a good age to start?

Maybe, the same age I was - 10 years old. Start

out with free exereise, tumbling, maybe stress a little more flexibility. Then I thought flexibility was being able to do the splits; that was about it - you were flexible if you were able to do that. How about strength? No, I think that strength comes from working the apparatus and that should be a little bit later. Do you agree with the present trend to de-emphasize the specialist?

The reason why a lot of people do it is because a lot of people can't work all around. You know, don't have the body to do it. A lot of guys iust never could work side horse, no matter how they tried. Some guys are tall; they can't even swing on the high bar. There are a lot of people, though, who are specialists who could be great all-araund men, but like the program in high school, they iust don't stress it.

I think the specialist has a place; it's up to the person. If he wants to be a specialist, why push him into something he doesn't want to do? He should be restricted internationally because it is iust too difficult to have an international meet with specialists. I haven't seen any specialists in our country who could beat the top gymnasts. I haven't seen anybody who could beat any of the Japanese on high bar, parallel bars or rings; none of these events could be touched by anybody in this coun­try. Everybody says we could put our specialists in ... they couldn't do it except on side horse, maybe. Do you think that gymnastic will ever become a real popular spectator sport?

I don't see why it isn't. It's kind of hard to explain gymnastics to everybody. I can see people not want­ing to see bad gymnastics, but I can't see why peo­ple wouldn't want to see good gymnastics. I don't know if it will grow though. Trampoline is good for the audiences. I think one way they could get gym­nastics going a little more . . . is some kind of a movie. You know I saw some kind of experimental film on sky-diving. I think that sort of thing on gym­nastics would be really great and that would really get the interest. I think somebody could make a simply fantastic film on gymnastics and present it to the public. Do you think that top gymnasts like those from Russia and Japan coming over here and performing as at the World Cup, do you think that will help its popularity?

Without a doubt. It'll build up the popularity, and it'll help the gymnasts see what good gymnastics is now. I think the gymnasts should not try to be exactly like the Japanese or the Russians; they should try to develop as best they can by using their own methods. They shouldn't try to copy is what I'm saying. There's not enough emphasis on fundamentals or flexibility. How far away to you think the U.S. is from being a top international gymnastic power?

I think they should try to be the best. You can't say the Japanese are physically better than us, that iust because they're so small that is the reason they can do it .... We beat 'em in every other sport, and we can do it in gymnastics, too, if we iust ap­ply our knowledge of it to the schools. I think some coaches are changing right now but not enough (of them].

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Page 20: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

GYMNASTIC TYPES DAN J. MILLMAN Gymnastics Coach Stanford University

Included in the conglomerate category of "gymnast" reside a number of diffe rent charac­ters. These varied personalities have one thing in common, a positive feeling for gymnastics, ranging from a mild attraction to a fanatical pre­occupation. You and I, of course, are in the middle.

Most of us, at one time or another, have won­dered, "What makes us persevere through ex­haustion, danger, ripped palms and aching shins - what makes us work hours a day , working at the most involved, complicated, frustrating sport man ever had the temerity to invent?"

We may have come up with the " kook theo­ry," the idea that all devoted gymnasts have borderline-pathological motivations for pur~u­ing the long path to excellence. "Only some kind of nut would work for years in gymnastics when he could play games like baseball or golf and maybe even get rich going professional later." Many gymnasts we all know serve as living evidence of the kook theory. Yet many stable, mild-mannered gymnasts throw that theory out of whack.

What's it all abollt, Alfie? Is there a single reason we pursue this sport? What follows is perhaps a partial answer to the question.

Below are listed five "types" of gymnast. Each of these types is classified according to his motivations for going into gymnastics.

The five categories are probably not all in­clusive ; the reader may have a motivation all his own . . . or perhaps he falls partially into each.

THE COM~ULSIVE GYMNAST Here is a fellow with some conflicts! He has

a relatively large amount of masochism and generally exercises guilts and builds a sense of manhood with every torn palm with every cracked shin. If he stubs his toe, he climbs back on the horse with tears in his eyes, but if you listen closely, you can almost hear him say under his breath, "Aaahh!"

You can recognize the compulsive gymnast easily. He's the athlete who rarely smiles or shows satisfaction. If he does poorly, he un­mercifully castigates himself. If he does well, "he could have done better. " This gymnast isn't sure why he's doing gymnastics ; he 's motivated more by the whip behind him than the carrot in front. He's fleeing from failure rather than pur­suing success. He knows only that he "should·' be doing gymnastics. Because of his unstable motivations, he usually performs poorly in competition, even though he is always among 20

the hardest workers in the gymnasium. Are you flipping more now and enjoying it

less? Are you compulsive? Examine your mo­tives ... do you really want to do gymnastics? Are you trying too hard? Is it fun for you? Where are your goals? Are they realistic? Do you believe you can win? Recommended read­ing: Psycho-cybernetics - Maxwell Maltz, M.D.

THE THRILL-SEEKING TRICK THROWER This guy is a gas to have around. It would

seem that his primary goal in gymnastics is to scare himself and everyone in the vicinity as he attempts stunts he isn't quite ready for. He tries some moves no one is ready for. And he usually succeeds! Gymnastics is his stage, his trial , his means to keep life exciting. Life is a game of " dare." When not in the gymnasium, he may be sky-diving or out on his motorcycle climbing hills .

He keeps workouts exciting but rarely makes a significant contribution to meet scores be­cause routines generally aren't his "bag." Nor is technique, nor form, nor style.

The trick thrower is having a great time ; he has no problems gymnastically speaking. ~t's nice to have one of these around ... if he sur­vives four years of college.

THE PARTIAL GYMNAST Here is a young man who works gymnastics

to help support a faltering ego. Gymnastics to him is an audience, female smiles , virility and applause. He's desperately trying to prove something ... that he's" not weak or small that he 's better than dad or brother. Through gym­nastics he gains acceptance. All too often this "athlete will generalize his gymnastics prowess into the unrealistic concept, " I'm a great per­son."

He is easy to recognize. He's often the man who "turns on" in front ofa"crowd. He performs more for the audience than for the judges. He has elements of the compulsive gymnast and elements of the thrill-seeking trick thrower. He would rather almost hit a very difficult routine than perfect a stock one. This individual has difficulty doing repetitive routines in practice unless there is an audience, for which the coach suffices nicely.

Thus far, it may seem that many gymnasts

are psychological basketcases. Though the de­scriptions have been worded strongly, these gymnasts are generally very likable fellows and contribute a great deal to the team. They are fiercely motivated. Every well-balanced team should have one or two of each. The com­pulsive gymnast shows what hard work means, the thrill-seeking trick thrower reminds us that daring is a part of gymnastics, and the partial gymnast is exciting to watch in meets.

Let's look at two more positive types. THE CONSTRUCTIVE GYMNAST

This student of gymnastics generally meets with near 9.0 success. He's found more among the specialists or two event men than the all­around because he's not particularly dedicated. However, because he has no conflicting motiva­tions, his pleasant, relaxed, goal-oriented work­outs generally send him well along the path of success. He is usually a consistent performer who gradually improves.

He works gymnastics because it's a construc­tive, productive thing to do. He finds it a physi­cal challenge that complements his intellectual endeavors. Gymnastics helps him to stay flexi­ble, fit and strong. He enjoys doing things that most other people can't do. His motivations are surer and more long-lasting, not dependerlt on external variables such as size of crowd.

THE ARTIST He is a rare bird. He is an artist first, a gym­

nast second. Gymnastics to him is a way oflife, not merely a means to an end. He has chosen a creative endeavor where he can pursue perfec­tion in a manner best suited to his temperament. He works regularly, diligently and in a serious fashion; gymnastics is no game to him. Yet he enjoys his work; he loves it above all else and is not disillusioned by predictions that he must one day go on to something "better." Not all of the top gymnasts in the world are artists, but if you look carefully , that is where you can find them, at the top. The artist is the ideal mixture of healthy drive and ability.

It is rare that any gymnast falls completely into one category or another. I n fact, categories don't exist . .. continuums exist, upon which we superimpose frames of reference.

Most of us have elements of all the five types of gymnasts. And we should, for that is one of the things that makes our sport so interesting.

-:-~ -~ -------... _. - -

Page 21: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

FROM THE HUB By BILL ROETZHEIM

Gymnastic Coach University of Illinois at Chicago Circle Campus

After a one-year departure from the type­writer, I thought I would take up where I left of! I will be a regular contributor to the M.G . but probably not on a monthly basis. I have been associated with high school gymnastics for so many years that I will continue placing the emphasis at that level. My material will be aimed at news happenings and instructional materials that will interest this group of gym­nastic fans.

If your high school is engaged in a project that maybe interesting at the national level or your area is promoting some aspect of our sport, drop me a line and I will incorporate it into my next article. This would also hold rrUB of a specific skill you are having difficulty teaching.

I believe the proper place to begin this in­structional column is with a trick that is rather a simple skill but one that is consistently poorly performed at the high school level. The trick is· the straddle dismount on the still rings. Recog­nizing the beauty involved in executing any dis­mount that goes upward judges feel dismounts must rise , and the high straddle certainly meets this qualification. To me it's sickening to watch a good high school gymnast perform an elegant ring routine and then ruin this creation with a low whipped cutoff.

Maybe I should have started even further back for a great deal of the success in execut­ing the high straddle must be credited to a good dislocate. It 's a funny thing, a dislocate is one of the first tricks learned and yet very few gym­nasts can do a good dislocate. This is quite sad , for it is this primary skill that is responsible for the proper execution of so many advanced tricks on the rings. I'm not going to teach a dis­locate in this issue , but let me say that in order to get a good straddle, the performer must have an explosive dislocate. By this I mean , from the kip position , the gymnast must drive up and out with such force that his shoulders rise to a height equal to or above the rings. I can best explain and describe this trick as originating in the kip position , and from there execute a dynamic back kip immediate cast back (lay away). The arms must be kept st;-aight and the second phase of this stunt must look like and feel like the dropping motion experienced when performing a giant on the rings.

Picture # I was taken a trifle late. The gym­nast has already started downward, but notice the height of his upper legs, and also even at this point 'his shoulders are only slightly below the rings. The arms are straight, and from the position shown in picture I, they are driven sideward and forward , and simultaneously the body is pushed rearward to gain total exten­sion. This extended position must be hit while the body is as high as possible, thus giving the performer maximum speed and power as he drops.

The stretched position of the body is main­tained until the feet pass a point approximately under the rings where you begin a piking action (see picture 2). Although the piking movement is performed well in picture 2, the forms leaves much to be desired. The tendency to bend the legs at this point is natural (to shorten the arc of the circle) and must constantly be guarded against.

Along with this piking action the rings are turned and drawn to the waist where you begin a continuous hard-pulling motion along the body towards the head (see picture 3). I've seen coaches tell their gymnasts to 'think of a shoot handstand or try and shoot away from the rings , but I have had the best luck telling them to turn the rings and pull as hard as they can, bringing the rings to the chest.

In picture #4 the gymnast has reached the top of his height Notice his body position in relationship to the buckles. At this point he also pushes the rings to the rear out of the way of his falling body.

In picture #5 the rings have drifted well out of his way, and he is just beginning to lift with the head in order to bring the upper body around, This phase of the stunt can be made beautiful by popping an arch , which will give the appearance of greater height , control and artistic interpretation.

It's almost ~s easy to lift a straddle as it is to "sling" one off the rings and what a difference it will make in your performer's score! (Editor: This is the first of a quarterly series which Bill will be contributing to the Modern Gymnast. Bill Roetzheim was a member of the 1948 and 1950 Olympic teams and coached at Proviso East High School in Illinois prior to joining the University of Illinois' Chicago campus. He chose the series title , "From the Hub," because of its association with the Chi­cago Circle Campus of the University of Illi­nois and because it also reflects the geograph­ic position of the Chicago area in relation to the rest of the country. Readers wishing to contact Bill about his features should address him at the Intercollegiate Athletic Department, Univer­sity (If !IIinois at Chicago Circle, Chicago, !IIi­nois 60680) .

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Page 22: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

COPA de LAS AMERICAS Report By JERRY WRIGHT

UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS

America's Cup Northwestern State College

Natchitoches, La. June 6-7, 1969

In spite of the fact that a trip to Mexico City was apparently still in doubt. 9 male gymnasts and four judges convened at Natchitoches, Louisiana, to select a U.S. team to compete in the first Cup of the Americas trials.

Dave Thor commented , in a semi-joking manner, that he hoped the team would get the money to go to Mexico. otherwise he would have to go to work in Natchitoches to get money to go home on , having already paid his own way to the trials. This writer was appalled at the mismanagement of this entire project.

The judges were informed that they could probably count on having their expenses paid one way or another. If there w~s enough mon­ey raised to go on to Mexico Expenses to La. would also probably be available. Then after the meet. the judges were told they would not be reimbursed for their one-way to Natchi­toches. some $75 to $125 depending on the judge.

The team and the judges did not know for sure they were going to Mexico until just be­fore the final night of competition and they were then informed that they would have only their transportation to and from Mexico taken care of. Room and board. luckily , was to be taken care of by the Mexican authorities-and what a surprise we had in store for us there.

Finally, after all possible sources of revenue raising were exausted unsuccessfully , Tom Maloney talked to Frank Bare and the U.S.G.F. agreed to pay half of the costs if the AAU would pay half. Col. Hull graciously agreed to this after a telephone call.

So much for politics , and on with the com­petition.

The trials were held on Friday and Saturday evenings with half of the men's events and half of the women's events each night. Friday ran a little long to about 300 spectators and Saturday two events were run' at the same time (staggered) to about 300-400 spectators. The competitors did a great job in spite of the lack of attendance , and as is usually the case, when a small number of people are in a large gym, it is difficult for them to get involved. The at­tendance here was supposed to bring in enough money to send the team to Mexico. Unfortun­ately the meet could not be scheduled early enough and most of the students were gone for the summer so that idea did not materialize.

FLOOR EXERCISE: We say generally strong and steady routines lacking in flair , explosion and virtuosity except for Thor and Tickenoff. Thor looked greatly improved over his showing in Long Beach in April. Tickenoff could possibly have used a flexibility move in his routine although not required. Fred Dennis and Rick Tucker were pleasant surprises.

SIDE HORSE: Tickenoffwas possibly over­scored here although not one criticism was voiced over the judging the two nights , in fact,

22

Men, Fred T urol!, Paul Tickenoff, Fred Dennis, John Elias, Rick Tucker, Dave Thor, Armando Vega (coach).

it was said that the jUdging of Maloney, Cul­bertson , Muczyczko and Wright allowed the performers to concentrate on their routines knowing they would get a fair evaluation from the judges.

Loyd suffered a severe loss in this event as he hit the horse and stopped, then came off the horse, losing .4-.5 for the stop and .8 for coming off. Thor scored 9.45 with form breaks on his scissors (his front leg bent very noticably on his forward scissors and hitting the horse breaking into scissors). Dennis and Tucker again looked very good.

STILL RINGS : Fred Dennis was first up and set the example with a 9.4. Thor was clean but short a " B" part and had no " B" hold. Tickenoff had the same problems. Lloyd was next and did dislocate , dislocate , shoot to hand­stand- fell out of the handstand immediately ; took an intermediate swing came to an " L" support , tried a press to handstand and fell immediately-gaining no difficult credit; inter­mediate swing and unable to collect his thoughts he dismounted with dislocate , full twisting fly-a-way. Causing a big problem for the judges. The decision was that he had 3-A , and I-C part :

Execution 5.0 Difficulty 1.2 6.2 routine Combination 0.0

from this was deducted the two falls for a total of 1.0 and form breaks of approximately 1.0 and his score was in the area of 4.2 completely eliminating him from the competition. There have been times when a good gymnast could make mistakes like this and still make a team because of a lack of objective judging.

LONG HORSE: On the whole a good dis­play of vaulting especially by Tickenoff and Thor. Dennis had trouble here with two poor vaults. I might mention that those in the com­petition were Dave Thor, Richard Loyd , John Elias, Richard Tucker, and Paul Tickenoff.

PARALLEL BARS: The entire group pre­sented basically strong routines. Loyd looked especially good in spite of the fact that it would be virtually impossible for him to get back in

the race. Thor mlssea nlS Intended mount and ran into a little trouble trying to do back saIto to handstand but came out ok .

HIGH BAR: This proved to be the best event with Tucker hitrmg a fine routine and finishing with an excellent barani out fliffis dismount. Lloyd looked great and finished with a double fly-a-way. Tickenoff showed a fine hecht dismount. Elias came through in good fashion and had a good hecht dismount (all this in spite of the fact that he had not had a good workout since the U SG F meet in April). Amerine lost his bid for a trip in this event (seems like this was about the 3rd National Team Jim has missed because of missing his H B routine).

AII·Around 1. Dave Thor 2. Paul Tickenoff 3. John Elias 4. Fred Dennis 5. Rick Tucker 6. Fred T uroff 7. James Culhone 8. James Amerine 9. Richard Loyd

National Team Trials Natchitoches, lao

54.55 53.65 53.25 53.15 52.90 52.90 52.70 52.00 48.95

SELECTION OF A NATIONAL TEAM COACH

The following is not intended as a crit­icism of individuals but as a criticism of a sys­tem. Rusty Mitchell, who is first of all highly qualified , apparently was to be the Coach of this team and was to host the final trials , sud­denl y found that he was no longer as qualified when he found he could not host the trials. How come? Armando Vega then became the host and was named the coach while making it clear that if he were being made coach just because he was hosting the meet he would rather not be the coach. This is again nota criticism of individuals and certainly not a criticism of Rusty of Armando but of a system which allows things like this to happen. Actual­ly there could not be a more logical choice for

Page 23: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

Dave Thor

coach than Armando because in addition to the fact that there could probably not be a better coach found he also speaks Spanish fluently . The criticism here is that a selection procedure of this nature holds up innocent people to pos­sible criticism and ridicule and it should not be. National coaches should be selected well in advance and coaching abilit y should be the prime factor for consideration.

MEXICO CITY JUNE 12-15, 1969

Little did the U.S. group know it but the problems of rais ing money to get to Mexico proved to be a small matter compared to what came up after arriving in Mexico.

The U.S. group was met at the airport by two Mexican officials and some photograph­ers and after that everything went from bad to worse (except for the conduct and performance of the U.S. Men 's and Women 's teams which was absolutely remarkable).

The hotel (?) we were · quartered in , was abandoned by Pancho Villa as a fire trap and should have been on quarantine because it was an absolute disgrace causing this writer to feel that an official apology is in order. The U.S. team, however, should have been able to afford to have packed up and left for a reason­able place. The restaurant was an absolute eye­sore and the food was so bad , that many of the U.S. and Canadian groups ate many of their meals elsewhere even though it came out of their own pockets.

I n the first meeting of officials, we were made rudely aware of politics in international gym­nastics as the Cubans made themselves totally obnoxious and finally got their way in their de­sire to have 6 events at the same time in the prelim·inaries, then proceeded to cheat every­one out of their eye teeth (the crime here is that they did not have to cheat, they were clearly the 2nd best team there and could not beat the Americans even by cheating). The problem of having 6 events at the same time was that there were only 18 qualified judges available. The end result was that we had 6 events with four judges for each event - using 6 unqualified judges.

The U.S. Men's team performed beyond description. It was probably one of the finest U.S. team performances ever in international competition. Which, in view of the disgrace­ful s ituations they had been confronted with

what was even the more amazing. They even had to return the uniforms they used in the competition or pay for them.

Dave Thor qualified first in 3 events and 2nd in two, in spite of a possible broken toe ; Tuck­er never looked better (in fact few U.S. gym­nasts ever looked better than Rick in the Pre­lims): Dennis, Tickenoff, Turoff, and Elias (in spite of not really being in good shape) per­formed like they were inspired and in spite of living conditions that were not even good enough to be called slums. This writer per­sona ll y attributes much of the teams success to the guiding hands of Coach 's Armando Vega and Donna Schaenzer who quite obviously managed to establish a strong report with the squads in just a short time.

F IN ALS: FLOOR EXERCISE: Two Cubans failed

to exhibit a strength part but still scored high on strong tumbling which was high and im­pressive. Tickenoff was cited for going out of the area by one Cuban judge-quite a coinci­dence that the one who caught it was Cuban! Thor came through with another fine perform­ance to win.

SIDE HORSE: The only finalists to com­plete their routines were Dennis and Thor.

Team Results United States Cuba Canada Mexico

All Around

CUP OF THE AMERICAS MEXICO CITY

1. Dave Thpr, USA 2. Richard Tucker, USA 3. Paul Tickenaff, USA 4. Sid Jensen, Canada 5. Fred Dennis, USA 6. Adres Gonzaeez, Cuba 7. John Elias, USA 8. Fred Turoff, USA 9. Rogelio Mendoza, Mex.

10. Jorge Cueruo, Cuba

Floor Exercise 1. Dove Thor (no other results available)

Side Horse 1. Dave Thor, USA 2. Rich Tucker, USA 3. Fred Dennis, USA 4. Rogelio Mencoza, Mex. 5. Manuel Vargas, Mex. 6. Yron Boisclair, Can.

276.35 265.20 259.85 256.85

56.35 55.55 54.95 54.40 54.30 54.10 53.75 53.50 52.85 52.80

18.75 18.1 5 17.95 17.45 16.70 15.45

Dennis should have had second place but Tuck­er stayed ahead by getting overscored.

STILL RINGS: Tucker, who looked so good in the trials and prelims appeared to be weakening. probablv . from Mexican living. Tickenoff came through with a fine routine but overturned his double fly-a-way and did a back roll out of it. Elias , probably the sickest of the men 's team from the Mexican food, did a great job. He was so sick that morning, he could hardly walk and that evening he did what was probably one of his best ring routines. Turof.f did a fine job but was overscored at 9.5. Fred Dennis got his second shaft of the evening for some strange reason as he hit what appeared to be a beautiful routine and was great ly underscored dropping him to second place. Sid Jensen was up last and after missing his mount performed well but was overscored at 9.4.

LONG HORSE: The Cubans are potential World champions here if they can clean up their form. Jorge Cuervo of Cuba did vau lt # in code of points (double front). He did not do it especially we ll but he made it around to hi s feet scoring 9.2.

PARALLEL BARS: Thor almost had a stop but had a high enough prelim score to hang on to I st in the event. Tickenoff seemed short on difficulty causing a judges ' conference. An in­teresting item here is that the Cuban was su­perior judge here and he would ca ll the judges in one at a time even if he called in two or three judges and he manipulated the scores so well that he moved a Cuban gymnast up from 5th to 3rd. The entire U.S. team again did we ll in thi s event.

HORIZONTAL BAR: With this an inter­squad match the U.S . team probably relaxed because their performances were not up to what they had been doing. Only Fred Turoff hit his rout ine well for the Americans. Sid Jensen hit his routine and received 9.35. Tucker did we ll except he bad to touch hi s hands down on his dismount (barani out fliffis again) and T hor almost had to stop on his stoop in and shoot to Eagles .

The Mexican Authorities had the Czech girls ' team as guests and three Japanese men to put on exhibitions and we had exhibi­tions coming out our ears. The Czech girls exhibited on a ll four events a ll four nights , the Japanese men exhibited on al l six events all four nights (I think) and got to be ridicul ­ous. I personally feel they are going to kill gymnastics instead of foster it in this manner.

Still Rings 1 . Fred T uroff, USA 2. Fred Dennis, USA 3. Sid Jensen, Can. 4. John Elia s, USA 5. Rick Tucker, USA 6. Paul Tickenoff, USA

Long Horse 1. Jorge Cuervo, Cuba 2. Dave Thor, USA 3. Paul Tickenoff, USA 4. Rene Bodell, Cuba 5. John Elias, USA 6. Andres Gonzala(ez, Cuba

Parallel Bars 1. Dave Thor, USA 2. Paul Tickenoff, USA 3. Andres Gonzalez, Cuba 4. Fred Dennis, USA 5. Rick Tucker, USA 6. Sid Jensen, Canada

Horizontal Bar 1. Rick Tucker, USA 2. Dave Thor, USA 3. Sid Jensen, Canada 4. Fred Turoff, USA 5. Rene Bodell, Cuba 6. John Elias, USA

19.00 18.90 18.90 18.55 18.05 17.95

18.95 18.87 18.80 18.72 18.62 18.50

18.85 18.40 18.30 18.25 18.25 17.70

19.00 18.85 18.65 18.60 18.55 18.30

23

Page 24: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

JUDGING bYJERRY By JERRY WRIGHT .

"JUDGING by JERRY," an MG feature series edited by Jerry Wright to help keep our readers up-to-date on National and Interna­tional (FIG) judging cocles and to subjectively analyze changes and problems, is not a one­man, one opinion project. Jerry will be calling on other qualified officials to contribute re­ports based on their technical knowledge and experience. If you are a qualified official and have a point of fact you would like to contribute or a question you would like clarified, drop a card or an article to: JUDGING by JERRY, P.O. Box 611 , Santa Monica, California 90406.

Jon Culbertson, judging article contributor for this edition is a past top caliber Gymnast, alternate on the 1962 USA World Games team and a dedicated official of note.

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE OIFFICULTY RATINGS IN THE F.I.G. CODE OF

POINTS (1968 EDITION) by

JON CULBERTSON New College

Sarasota, Fla. 33580 After having studied the recent , revised edi­

tion of the FIG Code of Points (hereafter re­ferred to as the Code) for nearly a year, I have some ideas, opinions and/or prejudices about the difficulty ratings which might be profitable to share with other judges, gymnasts and coach­es. In addition, I have compared the English version with the official French version and found some important omissions and correc­tions which ought to be generally known. The material which follows deals only with that sec­tion of the Code which concerns examples of A, Band C parts and the accompanying dia­grams.

Since most persons interested in such an article as this most likely (certainly should) pos­sess a copy of the Code, I have not included dia­grams except where thought necessary. Con­sequently, one is encouraged to read this article with the Code at hand. The events are taken in order as presented in the Code.

Floor Exercise I: Although Section I says it deals with jumps in place and forward , there is treated here also jumps backward (1-2, 3) which for the sake of proper organization should be included instead under II (jumps backward).

Jump in place with raising joined legs forward and lowering body backward through mo­mentary handstand to stand.

Jump backward

24

I - 7 & 8: French version refers only to "Japa­nese Jump" without the description given in English which fits the diagrams. In the Code under conventional terms (Art XII) on p. 173, one will find the "Japanese jump" defined as a jump with either a Y4 or J..2 tum which is prob­ably what should be considered the case here (the diagramJor the J..2 tum being· inadvertently omitted).

Japanese jump

I - 10-12:- Making the forward role to back handspring and back saito series (numbers 10-12) more difficult is a good adjustment but still awkward and unesthetic moves which should not be included in the Code. 11 would not change without this evaluation, and 12 is cer­tainly a low C! (Consult Article 71 and particu­larly p. 45 of the Code if you are not familiar with the concept of diversity of values in diffi­culty).

~~~~rf 11

~MA~ 12

Likewise, the series of back dives with J..2 tum preceded by a forward role (numbers 13-15) should be deleted as it seems redundant. The degree to which the back dive with J..2 tum is elevated and held on the hands determines its value alone as is indicated by a verbatim re­peat of the last part in the French Code under Article II , numbers 1-3.

~~~~~

n~~JJ

2

3

II : 8 and 9 might appear at first to be a mere duplication of I - 2 & 3, but the former (II -8 & 9) do not require a toe touch. However,

since a back handspring to a momentary hand­stand is a B (cf. VIII - 23), the back handspring to a straddled L support (II - 8) must be a very high B, if not a C, according to my logic. Or, perhaps better, the back handspring to mo­mentary handstand is a low B with a toe touch an intermediate B and to a straddled L a high B. Correspondingly, the back dive (toe touch) to held handstand (1-3) should be a higher C than the back handspring to held handstand (11-9) . IV: Number 2 strikes me as a very easy· B, therefore it ought to be a very low B.

2. Roll backward to still handstand, 2 sec. (Streuli)

V I: Once again we see the front scale-back handspring-scale (#3) as an extremely easy C (maximum value 0.41 ?). Hopefully this move will be reevaluated to a B in the next edition.

In VI (#11) the French version says nothing about the handstand being held two seconds. This is also left out for the one-arm handstand

11 . Underarmstand and raising to handstand, 2 sec.

(# 14) which must be an error in the French ver­sion (!?) since it is an obvious hold whereas one can't be sure regarding the forearm raise to handstand (# I I). My feeling is that one has to give a B to the latter without holding the hand­stand , but one can discriminate between a mo­mentary and a held handstand by allocating a low or high B, respectively. Again the French version omitted two seconds for the one-arm handstand after the press in number IS , but this is an obvious omission since it is corrected in X-18 which is the identical sequence. V I I: OK except there needs to be more included here I feel. For example, what is a front hand­spring from a stand? I say a B. Also with the prevalence and ease of front handspring-front saito (VII-9), this sequence should be a low C, and I predict it will be a B by the next revision of the Code, probably requiring a piked front saito or front saito-front handspring-front or at least front handspring-front saito-front hand­spring for a C evaluation. V II I: There is an obvious error here which most people have probably caught, viz. The interpositioning of the diagram for numbers 4 and 8. The series dealing with alternating arms on back handsprings (7-9) is of dubious value and prob­ably should be considered very low Band C parts.

Sequence 10-12 is a repeat of the same num­bers under I which was commented upon above. Certainly this sequence could be left out in one place or the other and more valuable examples put in its place.

As touched on in I I the back handspring to a momentary handstand (#23) must be a low B since other moves dependent on it are also B parts (e.g., I I - 8 and VIII - 26). X: Consonant with the French version all these press moves require a two-second hold except II & 14. However, these are probably omis­sions in the original, and I would take the lib­erty to include the two-second hold as an im­portant element in the value of the part.

Page 25: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

XI: #2 leads me to believe that I have always been right in ascribing a B value to front or back walkovers , although these moves have never been formally evaluated in a code of points. Yet they are not quite the same, and one could argue for a C evaluation for walkovers.

In connection with evaluating undesignated moves here is a fertile area of research. Would it be valuable to arrive at a consensus regard­ing the value for certain moves not li sted in the Code? Should the leading judges, coaches and gy mnasts be polled throughout the nation as to their opinions on the value of an unlisted move and then have judges ascribe to this until it ap­pears in the Code? I have appended to this article some moves in free exercise which should be evaluated wi th my predilection in parenthesis. I do so with the risk of incurring the reader's wrath but wou ld be quite will ing to receive any well-constructed criticisms to my evaluations from any reader. I believe sol icita­tion is warranted toward any reader who both­ers or has the interest to wade through this art icle.

In summary, the' free exercise has fewer in­consistencies and frustrations than some of the other events and is relatively easy to study. It seems that the Code has been most conservative with th is event with fewer major changes. In Kunzle's book on free exercise (Freestanding, Vol. I of Olympic Gymnas tics) written prior to 1956, there is not as much change in the diffi­cul ty ratings as one might expect after the prog­ress of the last 10-12 years. Of his list of C parts ("particular difficulties") only three out of 10 are now B parts, and only 5 out of 16 B parts ("ordinary difficulties") have been relegated to A parts (two are actually considered C parts today!) .

Moves not li sted or described in the Code which are worthy of evaluation:

Valdez (A) Butterfly (Al Butterfly with fu ll twist (C) Front dive with full twist (B?) Round off-back handspring-high back dive

with Y.z twist (B) Round off-back handspring-high back dive

with I Y.z twist (Cl Back or front walkove'r (B) Front aerial somersault (C) Side salto-cartwheel-side saito (low C?) Front saito with I Y.z twist (C)

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Page 26: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

JUDGING HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASTICS WILLIAM WRIGHT

Gymnastics Coach Central H igh School

Philade lphia , Pa. A. Introduction

To the best of my knowledge very little has been written concerning judging high school gymnastics utili zing the F.I.G. code of points. The code of points book has some information concerning modification of its system to be used at the high school le ve l. On page 190, type 2a, a scale is devised givi ng maximum difficulty to an exercise that has four "B" moves and six "A" moves a t the intermediate level. There a re other modifica tio ns but I feel that this qua lification is a good one.

I n order to devise a scale of difficulty that is reasonable and practical at thi s level I would like to recommend tha t a " B" move be equa l to .5 rather than A.

I hope the following scale will prove effective in judging high school gymnastics and will standardize judging at this level. It may also a nswer the age-old question of many coaches following a meet - What are the officials looking for ? How did they get that score?

B. Scale (modification of F.J.G. page 190 type 2a)

B = 5

6A 4B OC 7A 3B 8A 2B 9A IB

IDA OB 7A 5A 3A

C. Ex pla nation

A =2

100 95 90 85 80 75 (:J4 of routine) 50 (~ of routine) 25 (!I.! of routine )

I. The high school gy mnast should construct his routine based on ten parts: 6A and 4B to rece ive the maxi mum difficulty. I rea lize that thi s does not correspond to the 304 difficulty of the F. I.G ., but I feel there is a modification at the high school leve l tha t is needed.

2. " As with the F.I.G. , a "C" part may take the place of a " B" pa rt with no deduction and a "B" part may' take the place of a n "A" part. However, a t thi s leve l I feel tha t deductions can be minimized when doing a "C" move. Therefore a boy who does "C" moves in his routine is being compensated to some degree.

3. An important point to remembe r at thi s leve l is that there are ma ny moves that a high school gymnast may have in hi s routine that a re parts of no value. These parts are not in­cluded in the scale for difficulty. For example: fo rwa rd a nd backward roll s on the fl oor exer­cise, single leg cu ts on the s ide horse , shoulder stand on' the rings a nd para llel bars, a nd a hip pull over or single leg circles on the ho rizontal bar to mention a few.

4. Along with the scale a re further modifica­tions on each piece of a pparalUS that I think are necessary .

D . Deductions I. Sta ndard F.J.G. deductions are followed

concerning technica l execution a nd evaluation of the combination except where ex planations are given .

2. Example .3 - .5 for intermediate swi ngs . 1 - .2 excessive repetition of parts . 1 - .3 .di smount not commensurate with

the difficulty of the exercise

E. Contents of an Exercise 26 .

I . Side Horse a. clean swings, without stops, circles of one and both legs, forwa rd and back scis­sors of which one must be executed twice in succession. Double leg c ircles must predominate and a ll three parts of horse must be used. b. Suggestions for high school judging

(I) No double leg circles = - 1.0 (2) No mount into circle = -.5 (3) No dismount from circles = -.5

c. Example lOA moves = 8.0

-2.0

6.0 maximum

- 1.0 no double leg circ les - .5 no mount to circles - .5 no dismount from circles

-2.0

2. Rings a. a lternat ing between swing, strength , a nd hold parts , without swinging of rings. It must contain at least two handstands, one of which must be executed with st rength and the other from a hang, inverted hand or support, o ne strength part of "B" diffi­CUlty. b. Standard F.I.G. deductions c. Suggestions for high schoo l competitio n

(I) No swing handstand = -.5 (2) No press handstand = -.5 (3) N o strength move = -.5

d. Example IDA moves = 8.0

-1.5 require ments

n.5

-.5 no swing handstand -.5 no press ha ndstand -.5 no " B" strength move

- 1.5

3. Parallel Bars a. swinging, flight , and strength . Swinging a nd flight pa rt s predominate. Must have one pa rt of stre ngth and a " B" part where grip of both ha nds is released simultane­ously either above or be low the bars. No more than three stops. b. Suggestions for high school competition

( I) two handstand must be shown , one from a press, one from a swing or -. 5

(2) Other requirements the same as F.J.G. c. Example

IDA moves = 8.0 -1.5

6.5 maximum

-.5 no swing ha ndstand -.5 no press -.5 no " B" release

1.5

4. Horizonta l Bar a. The exerc ise must consist exclusively of swinging without stops.

b. Suggestions for high schoo l competition

( I) giant swings do not predominate or none at all -.5 - -1.0

(2) only show one kind of gia nts -.5 (3) does not have two pie roetts -1.0 (4) does not have I pieroetts -.5 (5) does not dismount from giants -.5

c. Example

IDA -2 .5

5.5 maximum

-1.0 no giants -1 .0 no pieroetts - .5 no dismount from giants

-2.5

5. Floor Exercise - standard F.I.G. rules except for difficulty scale

6. Long Horse - standa rd F. J.G . rules

F. Conclusion In order to standardize judging a system

must be adopted. I have used this one and it has been very successful. It will also show the coaches and gymnasts what the officials expect to see on each piece of apparatus. Other chang­es may be in order but I hope this can be a prac tica l g uide for judging hi g h sc hool gy mnastics .

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Page 27: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

NATIONAL YMCA GYMNASTIC SURVEY Report by WM. BUFFA, Chairman Nat'\. YMCA Gymnastic Committee

The results of our national YMCA gymnast ic survey are herein summarized and tabulated. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all who took the time to return their filled-in ques­tionnaires and particularly for the many inter­esting comments which were included relating to problems confronting physical directors and devotees of gymnastics in promoting the sport.

Lack of leadership or qualified coaches ranked as the most major problem in building a team or club. Other problems, in the order of their frequency of being mentioned, are: insuf­ficient scheduled work-out time ; lack of ade­quate equipment and facilities; lack of local competition ; keeping the interest of young gym­nasts; lack of parental interest , and several problems more or less pertinent to the specific area. As to the difficulties of partic ipating in our YMCA nat ionals, the two major problems mentioned with about equal frequency are di s- . tance and expense of the trip. A third frequently mentioned problem is that the gymnasts are not yet up to national caliber.

It is interesting to note in the survey returns , when arrayed geographically across the coun­try , that there are several concentrations of activi ty. These groupings would indicate that there is a strong possibility for state or area championships and meets. For example, Ohio has the greatest number of active YMCAs and is part of a concentration which includes Illi­nois, Indiana and Michigan - and possibly Wis­consin. Pennsylvania is another potential growth state and is in a concentration which includes Maryland, New Jersey , New York, Connecticut and other New England states. Other possible combinations are Washington , Oregon , California and Nevada and Missouri , Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Ten­nessee. As we scan across the Southern states and then westward where population grows in­creasir 'dy sparse, activity dwindles to very few YMCAs per area.

The greatest number of gymnasts fall into the trainee and novice categories, of course, and probably represent very young gymnasts for the most part. The junior and senior categories are light and need much development. The big surprise to many , however, is that in all cate­gories there are more women gymnas ts in the YMCAs than men.

Some suggestions were received relating to the National YMCA Gymnastic Committee promoting gymnastics in age-level groupings in our nationals or starting a N ational YMCA Ju­nior Gymnastic Championships. It has been the posi tion of the committee that these should be developed and promoted on a local area or state level. We do not wish to encourage extensive traveling of younger gymnasts to national cham­pionships each year. Furthermore, when the ex­penses of both the host associations and the participants is considered, it would be impracti­cal on a national scale. Even our present open­class national YMCA championships is gen­erally of junior-grade caliber, uses junior AAU­prescribed exercises and depends heavily on participation from the host 's area for a good entry .

A major problem clearly shown by this sur­vey, particularly from the national chairman's viewpoint, is lack of communication. Many YMCAs were heard from which were not on our YM CA gymnastics mai ling list and were previously unknown to us . Other " Ys," known to have gymnastic programs , on our mailing list and participants in the 1968 nationals, have not been heard from.

All of the mate rial sent out on our mailing list is intended for YMCA gy mnastics people - coaches , gymnasts , gymnastically involved physical directors, YMCA executives who pass the information along to gymnastically active clubs and otherYMCA and non-YMCA people who through their interests and positions in gy mnast ics have helped us in promoting YMCA gy mnastics. If you are in such a position and have never heard from us, please drop me a line at the address below.

A number of YMCAs reported rather sub­stantial tumbling and trampoline activ ity along with the regular gymnas tic eventS while some reported tumbling and trampoline activ ity only.

Generally , I consider the survey as being quite successful in that it has given us a fair idea of YM CA gymnastic activity in various parts of the country . Many comments on re­turned questionnaires were highly optimistic and indicated continued growth and progress expected in the immediate future . Some " Ys ," indicating modest activity , are just starting gy mnastic programs. Over-all, the outlook is quite encouraging. If you have any comments which you 'd like to offer regarding this survey, I shall be pleased to receive them at the ad­dress below:

WM. BUFFA, Chairman Nat'l. YMCA Gymnastic Comm. 53 Sky Meadow Place Elmsford, New York

REGIONAL REPORTS

REGION SEVEN Don Norton

Billings West H.S., Billings, Montana ; Tom Lux, Coach Gymnastics is in full swing West High and Senior

High here in Billings. Indications from other coaches in the state show that they too, have their programs under way.

Lost year was our first season of gymnastics as on inter­scholastic sport in the state. Our stage of competition and competitors is still embryonic. Throughout the state, we are using the Group II Compulsories from the Age-Group Gymnastic Workbook. We are hoping that in a few years the optional exercises will be of the normal nature.

The Billings public schools have a strong gymnastic pro­gram beginning in the elementary physical education classes, graduation to clubs in junior high and competition in high school.

Monroe H.S., LA C.IAL Chomps with Coach Sosvory

Corter (Fremont), Mark Guuowln (Taft) and Brad Bottino (Taft), 3.5 sec. LH : Maurice Kliemon (Fairfax), 8.6: E. Wil­liams (Fremont), 8.6: Poulson, 8.5. FX: Kephart, 8.65: Greg Robin (Fairfax), 8.45 : tie between Bob Henderson (Monroe) and Paulson, 8.0. SH: Brian Kolb (Monroe), 8.6: AI Landeg­ger (University), 8.3 : Gory Hendrickson (Toft),8.1. HB: Paulson, 9. 1: Leslie Grundy (Fremont), 8.95: Tim Shaw (Chatsworth), 8.8. PB : Brad Horowitz (Monroe), 8.35: Joe Greblo, 8.2: Lorry Lyons (C leveland), 8.15. R: Rob Rocka­fellow (Monroe), 8.5: Allen Lew (Los Angeles), 8.15: Mike Kerans (Monroe), 8.05. Tu : George Lee (Dorsey), 8.95: An­thony Ramey (Dorsey), 8.65: tie between Kephart and John Stasiefski (Reseda), 8.5.

Winning Routines SH: Brian Kolb (Monroe), Rear up, immediate travel, rear up, two double ·Ieg cirdes, moore to moore to ·immediote !ravel, rear up, scissors, two frontways, one rearwoys, double leg circles, travel down, loop off. R: Rob Rockafellow (Monroe), Hang, snap rise to iron cross (hold 3 sec.), dislocate, flange handstand, fla nge to cross, flange "L," hollowback press to handstand, lower back­wards into bock lever, dislocate, dislocate, bock double somersault. PB : Brad Horowitz (Monroe), Nakayama mount (facing out­side of bar sideways, flange into handstand, hop to other bar), glide kip into straight arm planche (hold 3 sec.), bent arm press to handstand, v.. turn to regular handstand, cast, straddle cut to T' (hold 3 sec.), hollowbock press to hand­stand, pirouette, cast, straddle cut, dip, handstand, back off. HB: Peter Paulson (Toft) , From regular grip swing, bic in, straddle cut-catch, hop under bar, st raight arm free kip to handstand, giant, stoop in, shoot, dislocate, one eagle, hop to immediate pirouette change, regular grip giant, cross arm change, :y.. reverse grip giant, straddle vault, catch in reverse hang, full twist under bar, reverse grip kip to handstand, one giant, pirouette change, one regular giant, pike flyaway.

Lost yea r our big meet of the year was at Billings West .... ------------------­High, with all gymnastic teams throughout the state invited. Kolispel won, edging out Billings West by 0.65 points. We ended our eight-meet schedule with a fine optional meet against Rapid City, S.D. Rapid City won by the score of 127.55 to Billings West's 1 22.40_ We won all other m~ets throughout the year and hope to even better this year. We lost two lettermen lost year and have 10 returning. Our squad this year is mode up of eight seniors, 27 juniors and 1 7 sophomores.

We have a nine-meet schedule. The Rapid City meet and the intercity dual will consist of optional exercises.

REGION EIGHT Jerry Wrjght

Thanks to Dick Criley, we have a report on gymnastic activity in our 50th state. The gymnastics is mostly in the YMCAs and a couple of the private high schools. Avis (Tie­ber) Kolliner has spent five years developing a strong pro­gram at Punahou but has moved, effective this summer, to Dallas as her husband was transferred to a new position in his firm. Rich Impson (formerly of ASU) and Rick Fonceco (U. Wash.) are also coaching there and will be joined by Bill Buck this fall. Carl Haberland is at the Central YMCA, and he has been the main spark plug behind the competi­tive program, which is still expanding. There are others who have on interest, but they are more concerned with hand-balancing and adagio. Greater interest in gymnastics is demonstrated among the girls than the fellows, and qual­ified women's judges are badly needed. At the University of Hawaii, Jack Bonham, an old friend of George Nissen, is the gymnastics coach, with Dick Criley serving as on unpaid assistant. The university is still at the point of putting on half-time demonstrations and exhibitions of vaulting, tum­bling and trampoline to raise interest, but the athletic de­partment seems to support the concept anyway. Erleen Durant is maintaining a girls' gymnastic club at Church College of Hawaii at Loie. The Hawaii Gymnastic Associa­tion was born this spring and hopes to provide a greater bose for support of the sport.

(Answers to quizzes from page 7)

Individuals

1. N.Y., 2. Calif. (NCI ), 3. 111., 4. Ind., 5. Calif. (CIF), 6. N.Y., 7. Mich., 8. N.H., 9. Penna., 10_ Calif. (No. Cal), 11 . Calif. (LA), 1 2. Wisc. , 13. Calif. (NCIl, 14. N.J., 15. Calif. (C IF), 16. N.J. , 1 7. Ore., 1 8. Calif. (LA), 1 9. Me., 20. Penna., 21 . Minn., 22. Moss., 23. Ind., 24. Nebraska, 25. Oregon, 26. Illinois.

States 1. Moss., 2. Minn., 3. 111. ,4. Penna., 5. Mich. , 6. Ind., 7. Ore., 8. Calif. (NCIl, 9. N.J., 10. Calif. (NCIl, 11 . Cal if. (No. Cal), 1 2. Wisc., 13. Wash., 14. Kan., 1 5. N. Mex., 1 6. Calif. (LA), 17. III., 18. Hawaii, 19. Penna., 20. Ore., 21. Me., 22. III., 23. Calif. (CIF), 24. Calif. (No. Col), 25. Nebraska, 26. Colo­rado.

CLOSEOUT - MEN'S GYMNASTIC PANTS Effective until Sept. 1 , 1969

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27

Page 28: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

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The four-inch thick mat is composed of one inch of Vinylfoam with a bonded

Powerhyde cover which allows a firm-foot landing. Underneath the Vinylfoam is

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Page 29: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

NOT INCOMPATIBLE

Dear Mr. Sundby: We very much appreciate the coverage you

provided for the 1969 Ivy League Gymnastic Championships . Gymnastics competition in the I vy League is developing at a rapid pace, and we are pleased that the MODERN GYM­NAST has recognized this.

However; we were extremely disappointed with the concluding paragraph of the article, which stated that the I vy League teams will continue to produce a few top-notch individ­uals but will never field teams of national prominence. Such an assertion seems to stem from the idea that the academic pressures asso­ciated with Ivy League schools eliminate the possibility of gymnastic excellence. From our direct experience we have found that a stm1U­lating educational environment and a rigorous gymnastics program are definitely NOT in­compatible. Although the strict admissions re­quirements pose a slight hinderance to recruit­ing, the number of academically qualified gym­nasts is surprisingly large. As a result, we are able to field teams of ever-increasing depth and ability.

Important to emphasize is the traditionally intense pride of I vy League athletic teams. The Ivy gymnasts have set goals no less de­manding than those of the finest teams in the nation and are ceria in TO be numbered among them in the nearfuture.

Sincerely, Russ Wiggin Lynn Williams Cornell Co-captains

ED.: We do hope are pessimistic review of Ivy League gymnastics will st imulate action not just for the individual gymnast but for the total program - good luck.

WHY? Dear Editor:

Progress in N.CAA. gymnastics in 1969? Not so! More like a giant step backward with the elimination of the trampoline event. Why ?

In comparison to contact sports, gymnastics has never been a high spectator sport in the U.SA., but it has made great inroads in the last 10 years. I would not hesitate to say that in the Midwest the trampoline has been one of the major reasons for the upsurge in at ten­dance at gymnastics meets. People have come to see the trampoline performers , and even­tually they are coming again and again be­cause they understand and appreciate the in­tricacies of the other events. We all know that the side horse is a most intricate, demanding event. But how many people will tUI'/l out for it unless they are avid side-horse men.

Trampoline is a gymnastics event that com­bines all the skills, agility and courage of the other events, and in addition it has another big plus - it's a crowd-pleaser. So I say again why is trampoline being eliminated?

Deal' Sirs:

Sincerely, Eileen M. Huntzicher Ann Arbor, Mich.

COLLEGE INFO WANTEO

I and several of the coaches in the Pittsburgh area are interested in advancing members of our gymnastics teams on towards colleges. But

we have run into the problem of being able to place many of the boys into areas where their talent can be best developed. The problem hinges on the fact that we cannot establish a large or complete enough list of colleges that have a gymnastics team to meet the needs of our pe/formers. Many of the boys do not have the potential or background to make the larger teams while there are undoubtedly smaller teams which compete that would enable the gymnast to pursue his sport. But we have been unable to compile such a list of colleges.

Since Modern Gymnast is the leading maga­zine in the sport of gymnastics, you probably come in contact with more information about teams, colleges and areas for interest develop­ment than anyone else. Do you have a list of colleges that have competitive gymnastics that would be available, or do you have any knowl­edge of where such knowledge could be ob­tained? To best serve' the interest of the sport and the gymnasts in volved in this area we would appreciate any and all assistance which you could give us.

Sincerely, Larry Livengood Gymnastic Coach West Allegheny High School Pittsburgh , Penna.

ED.: We will be starting a series of college and university profiles in the September MG. We hope this will aid the gymnast in deciding where he would like to continue his education and gymnastics. (College and university coaches take note and send along to the MG your school data , enrollment , student aid available, loca­tion weather, housing, students per teacher, sch~ol history, when founded, alumni of note , gymnastic record , etc.)

SPECTACULAR MOVES Deal' MI'. Sundby:

... 1 particularly enjoy your sequence photos of skills such as Millman's arabean I Y, 10

his hands, Hal Shaw's new vault (RO, back) on the long horse and that full-in-double fly-a­way on the high bar by Mark Davis. ~hese are certainly spectacular moves and by pl'lnflng them you inspire others to fly these skills and new innovations on them.

I would like to see more publishing of the new compulsOlY routines such as the Junior and Novice compulsories, not just senIOr, Pan Am and Olympic.

My friends and I compete and give exhibi­tions for the Queens Central YMCA , coached by Gene Cron. We recently won the State YMCA Gymnastic championships for the sec­ond year in a row ...

Gymnastically Yours , Joe Miller Long Island, NY.

PS: My good friend Peter Mark has a hand­balancing act with Rhoda Bram (soon to be his wife), called "The Caravells". I ha ve 111-

cluded a snapshot of them and would deeply appreciate it if you could print this picture as a wedding present to them. J .M. ED. Glad you enjoy our MG , spectacular skills and sequence photos. Gymnasts and cameras cooperating we will continue such projects. And as an old professional hand­balancer I find it difficult to refuse your re­quest of printing the photo of Peter and Rhoda and would like to add my best WIshes for theIr future.

UNIVERSITY ATTITUDE "TURNS OFF" HIGH SCHOOL GYMNAST

Deal' Glenn , My friends and I enjoyed fine workouts at a

local university , but according to the coac~, NCAA rulings permit the use of the gym factl­ities by college students only. This is an unfatr decision, due to the fact that other places to

work out are extremely scarce. Before this infringement was imposed we gymnasts were fre e to work out with the nation's best gymnasts, the progress we made was fantastic. The trouble arose when kids stumbled in with nothing better to do but jump on the appratus and inevitably injuring themselves. The result: All youths were thrown olll, including young gymnasts.

The actions taken are justifiable to this point, but just how can one get permission to work out? One may use the gym facilities if he I) . Gets permission from the coach, 2) Gets pemllSSlon from the director of athletics, 3) Gets a recre­ation card, and 4) Is attending a college or university. One might conclude that with all these ways to obtain permission to work out, what am I complaining about? BUT . . . the coach and director of athletics do not and will not give permission to anyone and "rec" cards are only issued to staff members. Why didn't they say that in the first place? In t~ e past I held great admiration for the gynll~as tl cs pro­gram at this university, but the attlfude of Its staff members has forced me to change my judgment .

It is to be desired that this situation can be quickly remedied! One answer would be to set up a statewide insurance fund or program (or anyone that would want to work Ollt uSll1g college or university gym facilities.

This letter . may be detrimental to our fin e sport of gymn~stics, but I feel that it contributes more than it detracts. The West Coast IS the womb of great gymnasts; we must do all that is possible to promote the world's greatest sport.

Yours truly, Dean K. Furukawa Los Angeles, Ca lifornia

ASSOC. ED.: Your situation is unique as few places outside of Los Angeles afford college facilities for high school gymnasts. You have made a fine , positive suggestion ; perhaps your Southern Califo rnia Gymnastic ASSOCIatIOn could follow it up. See also: "Gymnastic Insur­ance" in the October 1967 MG , page 28.

A reply received from "well-place~" sour~es concerning the problem raIsed by thIS letter In­dicates that the issue is not the insurance, but the NCAA bylaw regulation Article 6, Section 3: " No member institution shall, on its camp.us or elsewhere, conduct or have conducted In ItS behalf any ath letic practice session or test at which one or more prospective student-athletes reveal , demonstrate or display their abilities in any branch of sport." While the ruling may have been directed at other sports, it applies to gym­nastics as well and our source indicates that it is meant to prohibit coaches from taking u':l~air advantage of the si tuation from a recruItIng standpoint. To my mind this als~ raises an inter­esting question about our vanous gymnastIc clinics and sumner camps .... DC.

ASSOC. ED.

USGF 1968 Men's

OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC FILM Just $1-6.00 for

400 ft. 8mm (black & white) All the top final routines of the individual Championships from the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. ORDER FROM:

USGF Men's Otympic Film P.O. Box 777 Santa Monica, Ca. 90406

29

Page 30: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

BOYS' PARALLEL BARS For Physical Educators (Beginners-Intermediate)

By HElEN SCHIFANO SJURSEN Published by HOCTOR RECORDS, Inc.

Waldwick, N.J. 01463 "BOYS' PARALLEL BARS for Physical Educators" by

Helen Schifano Sjursen contains 56 pages of text drawings and photographs of simple and intermediate skills on the parallel bars for elementary- and junior high-age boys. The text and the drawings are direct and simple to understand with step-by-step progress ion and spotting suggestions for each skill. Also included are several complete routines for the beginners on the parallel bars in the low position and for the intermediates on the parallel bars in standard higher position.

Mrs. Sjursen has done a fine job in presenting these skill s for use by physical educators in the introductory stage of gymnastics and beyond. We agree with her con­tention that gymnastics belong s in Elementary Education and thai if gymnastics is to REALLY GROW in America we have to expose the youngsters to gymnastics at an early age and let their enthusiasm and good programming take it from there.

THIS IS GYMNASTICS By JACK CHARTERIS

Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education University of Guelph, Ontario , Canada

Published by STIPES PUBLISHING CO. , Champaign, Illinois Price $6.90

"THI S IS GYMNASTI CS" is a well researched book of over 300 pages of text, photos, drawings, diagrams and stati stic tables. It is divided into two principle parts­I Gymnastics in Physicol Education and II Competitive Gymnastics. Professor Charteris ha s done a good job on this book and it will undoubtedly become a standard text on Gymnastics for P.E. teachers in Canada and many parts of the USA and a welcome addition to any coach's personal library.

* * * The above listings are just brief announcements of these new books. More complete reviews will appear in a later edition of the MG by our book review editor, A. Bruce Frederick.

30

BOUND EDITIONS: The Modern Gymnast. All issues published 1956-68, Hard bound Volumes 1-10 complete .... : ....... _ .......... _ ..... ...... . $125.00 Single Volumes bound: Vol. 8 1966 ._...... . ...... .. , ..... ... ... $10.00 Vol. 9 1967 ..... .. ........ ......... , ... ... $10.00 Vol. 10, 1968 ..... ............... ... , .... .. $1 0.00 Order all three for just $25.00

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MG 10 year index avai lable free: just send self­addressed stomped envelope

BAllET FOR GYMNASTICS Manual # 1000 to accompany Class "C" record (Stepping Tones) ....................... ..... . $3.00 Manual # 1010 to accompany Closs "B" recanj (Stepping Tanes) ...... _... .... . ..... $4.00 Special offer: Both manuals ........... .... _ .$5.00

NCAA 1968 HIGHLIGHTS Regular $1.00. Order now for just 50c each

LET'S TEACH ROUTINES ...... .. ..... _... .... ... .$1.00 MG POSTERS:

Four color 20x24 uneven bar ...... $1.00 Giant 2'x3' World Cup Poster ... _ ... ....... $1.00 Gymnastics Maderne 16V2x23 .. ..... ... .. .50 High Bar 16V2x23 . .. ....... . ....... _..... .50

Special offer: All four posters suitable for framing.. ......... $2.00

Order From:

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Cali fornia res idents add 5% sales tax

FIG CODE OF POINTS, The F,I.G. Code of Points for Men

96 pages of the Internatjonal Rules for m~n . .. all the "A-B-C parts" included. Order from the U.S.GJ., P.O. Box 4699, Tucson, Arizona 85717. $3.50 per copy. The Official Code of Points. .

PORTABLE PARALLETTES Excellent for the home and gym. Handstands,

presses and levers so essential are moves done on these parollettes.

Extensively used by gymnasts and Olympians throughout Japan. Mode of hardwood and stur­dily constructed for - long use. Walnut finished and hand polished.

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( .... __ M_G_G_Y_m_C_Q_I_en_d_Q_, __ J MG Calendar: To insure publication of your important com­petition, camp, clinic and workshop schedules in the MG Calendar ... keep them brief and be sure to send them to our office at least 90 days before the event. .. All Inter­national, Notional, Regional and State top level events will be considered for publication in the MG Calendar.

OKLAHOMA UNIV. CLINIC : The Univ. of Oklahoma will host its second annual Men's and Women's Gymnastic Clinic on Oct. 3-4, 1969. For further information, contact Russell Porterfield, Univ. of Oklo ., Norman, Oklahoma 73069.

(~_M_G_C_L_AS_S_' F_' E_D_S_E_CT_'_ON_~) COACH WANTED: The Beverly Hills YMCA needs a part-time coach to develop and run a boys' and girls' gymnastic pro­gram. If interested, contact Dick Chapel (phone 276-7031) at Beverly Hills Y, 9930 Santo Monico Blvd., Santo Mon­ico, Calif. 9021 2.

NEW CONVERTIBLE GYMNASTIC APPARATUS A line· of convertible (portable-fi xed) gymnastic apparatus has been developed by Nissen Corpo­rotion, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The new System Nissen apparatus has the cap­ability of converting from fixed, floor plate at­tached apparatus to portable, free-standing ap­paratus in a matter of minutes ... if you need it. Thi s conversion feature is especially important for schools that practice and compete in one Gymnasium, but also have exhibitions and com­petitions in the basketball gym or field house where floor plates may be impractical. For schools already equipped with Nissen gymnastic apparatus System Nissen conversion kits have been designed to provide this dual capability. In addition to convertibility, System Nissen appa­ratus features a relatively obstruction-free floor area under the apparotus to facilitate more ef­ficient and safe mot placement. For more information about System Nissen ap­paratus, write: Nissen Corporation, 930-21th Ave­nue S.W., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406.

WORLD CUP HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights of the World Cup, including com­plete routines, were filmed for the USGF by Francis G. Murphy Productions of Holly­wood. The film, in 1 6mm color, with sound, is now available for purchase_ A limited number of prints are also available for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. For order­ing information contact Francis G. Murphy Productions, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California 90028. Telephone: (Area Code 213) 466-21 31_

Page 31: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

Better Not Take Safety Standards For Granted When You Buy Gymnastic Apparatus Nissen doesn't.

In fact, most new safety and convenience features for gymnasium apparatus in the last decade have been developed by Nissen.

Who else would think of putting a Floating Counterbalance device in each apparatus upright to make height adjustments almost effortless? More importantly, the counterbalance prevents the parallel bar, for example, from suddenly dropping, possibly causing pinched fingers or bruised foreheads. Who else but Nissen would develop an almost unbreakable Perma-Wood top bar for parallel bars, fusing hardwood laminations together under extreme heat and pressure?

Noone insisted these changes ... except Nissen.

Heavier gauge materials, interchangeable parts so improvements or innovations will fit equipment in the field, streamlined, protrusion-free design - Nissen has engineered new safety into gymnastic equipment, on its own, without an outside organization requiring it.

Some equipment buyers take (1~fpt" (1t~nt1~rr'k f()r or~ntpt1 Tf V()ll'rp

that way, your best bet is to buy equipment from a company that doesn't. Like Nissen, for instance. Nissen Corporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52406

A floating .J counterbalance is

installed inside each upright of Nissen parallel bars to keep the pistons at static tension. Only a slight hand pressure is required to raise or lower the bar.

Page 32: Modern Gymnast - August/September 1969

THE MODERN GYMNAST P. O. BOX 61 1 ;:.~' SANTA MONICA.7. CALI~RNIA • ~06_ .

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