𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗗'𝗦 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝟭𝟵𝟱𝟬~𝗧𝗦𝗖'𝗦 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟 𝗢𝗧𝗦𝗨𝗞𝗜, 𝗔 𝗦𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗗, 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗 "𝗦𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥"

 

Carl Otsuki

By Rene Torres

TRACK—Carl Otsuki ended his three year college career at Texas Southmost College with an undefeated record in the 100 yard dash and one defeat in the 220.

He was consistently high point man at most Texas track meets in which he appeared. Carl was also an outstanding football player. Because of his many accomplishments as a sprinter—he received accolades from the NCAA.

BASKETBALL—Brady Garcia, from San Benito, played for a Greyhound team that ended in third place in district. During a ten game conference season the forward scored 100 points and hitting for 288 in all games played. He was a unanimous selection for the 16-AA all-district team.

FOOTBALL—Joe Studebaker, all known Texas records showed him to be the individual to have scored the most points in football for the season with 172 points. Joe demonstrated his speed when he led the Lyford 11 by scoring 13 points and taking his team to the Class B Regionals.

FOOTBALL COACH—Dean Kluckman, from Lyford, led his team to the District 48-B Championship and the bi-district crown against Benavides—all in his first season. The undefeated season ended when the Bulldogs were defeated in the Regional Championship by Taft.

BASEBALL—J.K. (Jake)McClain of the minor league Harlingen Capitols, topped the Valley League with 32 home runs during the 1950 baseball season. He led the circuit in hitting for most of the year—leading his team to the regular season championship.

BASEBALL MANAGER—Sam Harshaney, the colorful player/coach of the Capitols, who started at ground zero without a ball park, led his team to win the Valley League title. Sam contributed not only from the dugout—but some of his hitting won several ball games for his team.

GOLF—Warren Reipen, a golfer that left Missouri and played out of Harlingen, dominated Valley amateur golf. Aside from winning several tournaments throughout the Valley—his biggest price was taking the Valley Amateur Tournament twice and the victory trophy in Torreon, Mexico.

TENNIS—Charles Lee Gordon, the San Juan sensation, won the state doubles championship in Class A competition—teamed with Melvin O’Mealey. He also won singles championships in the Mid-Winter Fair Tournament and the Edinburg tournament. Charles was one of the top-seeded players in the 1951 state high school tournament.

VALLEY ALUMNUS—Lewis Levine, of the University of Texas, and a former Harlingen Cardinal—spent a lot of playing time in the backfield during his eligibility years. He was not only a consistent ground gainer—but also contributed in defense for the Southwest Conference Champions.