Ark City ------4 0 1 .900 97 19 Winfield ------3 2 0 .600 97 52 Hutchinson ----2 2 1 .444 84 72 El Dorado -----2 3 0 .400 69 72 Wellington ----2 3 0 .400 65 84 Newton --------1 4 0 .200 44 72---------------------------------------------------
Hutchinson made the most gain, however, as the Hawks defeated Newton, 19-12, to climb to third spot, half a game ahead of Wellington and El Dorado.
Newton wound up in the cellar with a 1-4 mark.
At the start of the season Ark City and Hutchinson were favored to battle for the crown. Ark City came through, with only a tie with Hutchinson to mar its recond, but Winfield usurped the runnerup spot by turning back Newton, Hutchinson and El Dorado and bowing only to Ark City by a touchdown and to Wellington by one extra point.
With football concluded, the Valley teams now turn to basketball. Ark City has already started practice.
Winfield holds second place and Hutchinson edged Newton 19-12 in the final round to clinch third after a slow start in Valley play. El Dorado and Wellington are tied for fourth, and Newton is last.
Bill Hollins, of Arkansas City, won the league's individual scoring race with a total of 84 points in all games played.
Team--- W L T Pct. Tp Op Arkansas City ----- 4 0 1 .900 97 19 Winfield ---------- 3 2 0 .600 97 52 Hutchinson -------- 2 2 1 .500 84 72 El Dorado --------- 2 3 0 .400 69 72 Wellington -------- 2 3 0 .400 65 84 Newton ------------ 1 4 0 .200 57 120
RESULTS LAST WEEK
*Wellington 38, El Dorado 13.
*Hutchinson 19, Newton 12.
*Arkansas City 12, Winfield 6.
Agusta 20, Winfield 0 (make-up of postponed game)
*--Ark Valley League games.
In a terse statement, he said: "we're fighting for our lives her both tomorrow and on Thanksgiving Day. I have recommended a coach for Alabama, and it isn't Paul Bryant."
Bryant, whose Aggies currently are rated the No. 1 college football team in the nation, has seven years left on his contract at A&M at $15,000 a year. He is an Alabama graduate.
SEVENTEEN SENIOR REGULARS and reserves, have played their last Viking football. This year was one of the most successful seasons in recent years. Standing, from left, are Joe Crumpton, Jim Davis, Jack Myers, Bill Bottorff, Gerald McGee, Don Price, Robert Barron, Biff Hess, Chuck Hauber, and Larry Cooley. Kneeling, from left, are Leonard McNutt, Leon Ahlerich, Joe Wells, Melburn Brown, Leonard Landis, Alan Lewis, and Marion Watt. (McCuistion photo)
THE VIKING FOOTBALL TEAM OF 1958 will be supplied with experienced players and reserves with several sophomores and juniors due to return. An idea of depth, excluding a number of regular Soph players who will strengthen the team still more, may be seen above. Kneeling in position, for left, are Jim Bottorff, RE; Lewis Wallace, RT; Gary McNutt, RG; Wayne Garber, C (Don Jenkins, regular center, is missing); Larry Schwintz, LG; Richard Farnsworth, LT, and Jim Watson, LE. Standing immediately behind the line, from left, are Jim Ramsey, reserve RE; Larry Brown, David Norris, and Jan Cobble, quarterbacks; Ronnie Calvin, reserve LG; Don Dugan, reserve LT; and Alan Herrman and Tom Hanes, reserve LE's. Spread in the backfield, from left, are Buddy Akin, RH; Phil Hower, FB; and Gaylord Taylor, LH. (McCuistion photo)
It didn't add up in view of past year's showings; what micht have been still more fantastic was that the local team would be playing for the Ark Valley championship. And they lost that title by only a touchdown and a point. As a matter of fact an additional touchdown and three conversions in the right places would have given the Vikes a perfect league record -- only nine more points.
What happened? Where did this sudden rise from an obscure high school team to a top contending power in the league come from? Probably several reasons could be attributed -- Voe Vann's continued fine coaching in face of the odds, Kenny Everhart's enthusiastic line coaching, greater experience and power coming up from the lower grades, increased confidence of the boys who took the beatings last year, and the sudden surge of interest and backing by the public. It looks as if Winfield has come alive after a long sleep. A spark of the tremendous enthusiasm that has been afforede basketball had been shifted.
A bright sunny day in warm early September gave anindication of the onslaught that was to come. Coach Vann, full of vim and vigor after a summer on the farm, and Coach Everhart, tense with emotion and pulling at the bit to begin his first season, scanned their material and dug in. Amazing! The Vikings were able to run plays off the first day of the season -- a feat that the inexperienced gang of 1956 was unable to accomplish three weeks later at an opening game.
It looked better for the super Vikings and oft-beaten Joe Van began to feel reckless and even expressed as much by the time he won the El Eorado game. First Valley Center fell 19-0, the Vikings surprised Newton 40-13, and then once mighty Hutchinson bowed humbly in defeat, 19-0.
Then a tough one came when Wellington won by one point in a surprise second half. And it looked as if the Vikes, appearing listless, were back to their old habits when they fell 6-33 before a powerfull Derby team, undefeated at the time.
Onece back in Valley play against El Dorado the local pride vaulted back by sacking the game 20-13. El Dorado had been undefeated in Ark Valley competition up to that time.
The Vikes sharpened their weapons by defeating Caldwell, a new opponent, 19-6.
The then knuckled down for the big one against Ark City which would have given them the first Ark Valley championship in football in the history of the school. A 6-12 defeat after a nip and tuck battle was hard to take but Winfield gained an uncontested second place.
Losing to strong Agusta, undefeated and ranked ninth among all high schools in the state, by 0-20 score was sort of anti-climax.
Schools which defeated Winfield for three of their four losses received state rankings. Augusta had ninth, Arkansas City was tenth, and Derby got honorable mention. So it took the best to down the Vikings.
Thumb nail sketches on the top 26 players this season are as follows showing effectiveness and progress:
Leon Ahlerich -- An end playing his best game against Ark City. He snakked three TD passes during the season and improved defensively.
Melburn Brown -- Great potential, effective ground ainer as a halback, and showed power. He went through the season without injury. Buddy Akin -- Worked best on handoffs, improved considerably, and was touchdown threat at halfback.
Don Price and Chuck Hauber -- Fastest men on the team, were top notch competition and had much to do in building the team.
Bill Borrotff -- A leader and good on calling defensive plays. He was out because of illness part of the time but was a fine tackle and co-captain.
Robert Barron -- Did commendable work at tackle and came a long way. He was hurt a lot.
Joe Crumpton -- One of the best defensive tackles and made most of the tackles until he broke his ankle in the Derby game.
Joe Well -- Played his best game as end against El Dorado and progressed with every game played.
Leonard Landis -- Great team competitor at center, making a definite team building contribution.
Larry Cooley -- Served best as defensive halfback and throughout the season displayed an inborn desire to compete.
Jim Davis -- Played effectively as fullback and made good team contribution. He missed two games and most of a third. Jim Huff -- Plagued with injuries all season.
Gerald McGee -- a solid lineman as guard. Took heavy beating as a junior but weathered the storm and emerged a good player.
Jack Myers -- Came into his own this season and developed into an excellent tackle. A co-captain, he played equally well on offense and on defense.
Jim Bottorff -- Extremely versatile and only a sophomore, he can play almost any position and is good at it.
Gary McNutt -- rose out of the reserves midway in the season and filled a tackle vacancy satisfactorily.
Don Jenkins -- Big and rugged, he was one reason why the football team did so well. A top center, he gave the quartermack the confidence he needed.
David Norris -- One of the best kickers in the league, he broke a finge against Derby and was affected by flu but proved to be a good passer and made five touchdowns.
Jan Cobble -- One of the best as an offensive and defensive back. He did outstanding work against Hutchinson, El Dorado, and Arkansas City.
Larry Schwintz -- Small but tough, hel helped the line as a reserve guard.
Lewis Wallace -- Strong and big, he has lots of potential and did a commendable job.
Larry Brown -- One of the outstanding sophomores, he did most of the passing as a halfback but has running ability which will probably be emphasized more next year.
Phil Hower -- Another sophomore who dug out a place for himself in the backfield and carrid it through like a veteran. He played in every game and became one of the really good offfensive threats.
Wayne Garber -- Did all the centering on extra points. He pushed all the time and will be seen much more next year.
Ronnie Calvin -- A victim of pneumonia, he has a lot yet to show and is expected to find himself next year.
They are Howard Hess, Alan Lewis, Leonard McNutt, Marion Watt, Larry Dobson, Don Dugan, Richard Farnsworth, Alan Herrman, Jim Hall, Ronnie Patterson, Jim Ramsey, Gaylord Taylor, Jim Watson, John Dicken, Jim Nichols, and Wayne Wilt.
With the rise of Coach Ollie Hiebert's sophomores to the varsity in 1958, Winfield's football threat should become even more a memorable one. Hiebert's team, playing only half a schedule this year due to flu and weather conditions, won two and lost a close third game. The Sophs edged El Dorado 7-6 and trimmed Wellington 18-0. The loss was to Arkansas City 14-20.
WINFIELD AND CALDWELLplayers battle for the ball on a forward pass at Sonner stadium. Winfield defeated Caldwell in a non-league contest.
DINNER AT VIKING COACH Joe Vann's home sort of climaxed extra activities for the Viking football team as a group. Most of over 30 boys at the dinner are shown as they ate prior to presenting Coach Vann and Coach Kenny Everhart with presents. From left, around the first table, are Melburn Brown, Larry Cooley, Gerald McGee, Jim Bottorff, Marion Watt, Larry Brown, Jim Huff, Charles Hauber, Don Price, Jim Davis, Jack Myers, and Bill Bottorff. From left, at rear table, are Gary McNutt, Jim Watson,, unidentified, Larry Schwintz, Wayne Garber, and Buddy Akin. Several more key players and reserves attended. (McCuistion photo)
GETTING NEARLY AS MUCH exercise as the athletes themselves were the Viking cheerleaders for 1957-58. Four of the seven most-looked-at girls in Winfield were caught by the camera while going through one of their many routines in front of the grandstand at Sonner stadium. All are products of popular cheerleading clinics and veterans of many WHS junior high and freshman athletic games. They are from left, Roxie Harding, Barbara Higgenbottom, Marcia Truesdell and Carolyn Sue Finney.
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