THE UNIVERSITY COURIER.
15
TENNIS.
The University is the champion on the courts, having made a clean sweep in the singles, winning every game. The tie with Washburn in the doubles does not count for much when we learn that our best players did not wield the racket there.
The following are the scores of the K. S. U. games. K. S. U's. score is given first.
Oct. 12, K. S. U. vs. Baker,
Singles, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles, 6-1, 6-2, 2-6, 8-6
Oct. 17, K. S. U. vs. Washburn,
Singles, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles, 4-6, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
Oct. 24, K. S. U. vs. Baker,
Singles, 6—2, 6—2, 6—1.
Doubles, 6—0, 6—0, 6—"
Oct. 26, K. S. U. vs. Washburn,
Singles, 6-2, 7-5, 6-1.
Doubles, 6-5, 6-1, 6-0.
Whitman, Alden, Leland, Hallowell and Canfield represented the University in these games.
From the above it can easily be seen that K. S. U. has the best players. Baker was new to tennis and did not win a set, but Washburn has developed some fine players in the last year and gave our younger players quite an even match.
ROWING.
Rowing for the past two years has attracted more or less attention. Assisted but little by the Athletic Association, those interested in boating have forced themselves to be recognized. Even with the poor boats used last year, the races were witnessed by large crowds.
We have a course that Kansas City would consider priceless. We are so situated that races could easily be arranged with K. C., St. Joseph and St. Louis. All we lack is some assistance from the Athletic Association. With two four oared boats, a single shell or two, K. S. U. could make for herself a name on a boating course, equal to her foot ball victories. We have the material. We have the course. Why should there not be more interest taken in rowing.
THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.
Perhaps at no time since the university ceased to be a high school has there been an entire absence of the Athletic spirit among the students and professors. There have always been men connected with the university who recognized the advantages of a healthy athletic interest, and who knew that a victorious foot-ball team would add to the strength and glory of K. S. U. The work of these few was often disheartening and many of us remember the attempted witticisms leveled at university athletics not longer ago than '88-'89. But in that same year the Courier printed column after column of matter bearing on a gymnasium, and although little of it was read, still like a standing advertisement, it had some effect.
In the spring of that year, base-ball, foot-ball and tennis associations appear in the university directory, and in June
Athletic stock seemed to take a rise in the fall of '89, and in December the present Athletic Association was organized. A mass meeting was called 12:30, Friday Dec. 13, and after choosing M. E. Hickey temporary chairman proceeded to the adoption of a constitution and election of officers under it. Section 2, Art I, of the constitution provides that "the aim of the association shall be the promotion of the Athletic interests of K.S.U." Article II, says: "All students of the University and members of its faculty shall be members of the Association" The first officers elected under the constitution were Prof.W.H.Carruth, Pres.; F.H.Kellogg, Secy.; with a general board of ten members; the boating interests were not represented on the first board.
there was a field-day, in which one man won most of the prizes, but this phenomenal athlete has not been in school since.
With the organization of the association, athletics obtained a definite standing in the university, and by the close of the year '89-'90 a considerable interest had been aroused and several good games of base-ball were played with other college nines.
THE McCOOK GIFT.
The Commencement address of '90 was delivered by Col. Jno. J. McCook, of New York City, and before leaving Lawrence, he presented the Athletic Association with fifteen hundred dollars, to which he subsequently added another thousand. On the receipt of this handsome donation from Col. McCook, the purchasing of suitable grounds for athletic games was immediately agitated. Some fancied the grounds on South Mass. street while others advocated the tract just West of the university campus. The discussion was continued throughout the year, both in the Athletic Board and in the columns of the COURIER. At the beginning of the present year a proposition was received from Gov. Chas. Robinson to donate one-half of a twelve acre tract lying West of the university grounds, provided the Association would buy the other half at the market price, two-hundred dollars per acre. The proposition was accepted and the deed is now in the hands of the University Endowment Association. And arrangements have been made for putting a part of this field in shape for base-ball games in the Spring.
A PROSPEROUS YEAR.
Last year was one of unusual prosperity for University Athletics; Prof. A. G. Canfield was president of the Board, with M. A. Barber, Secretary. Foot-ball games were played with Baker and in the Spring a Triangular League was arranged with Washburn and Baker. "Midsummer Night's Dream" was given at the opera house under the auspices of the Board and netted to the Association, something like eight-hundred dollars. This brings the record down to the present year, which promises to be one of the most successful in the annals of the Association for already the Athletic crimson has wavied over many a hard fought field and our victorious Rock-chalk has sounded far over the plains of Kansas and Missouri.