Patton Polo Team Invades West Point By
R. G. Fleetmeyer
Last week, the Patton water polo team made a trip to New
York as an
entry in the National Water Polo Championships held at West Point
Military
Academy. The tournament was on a national level and quite a thrill for
Patton's high school boys.
After losing a hard fought game to the New York Athletic
Club, the Patton
swimmers gained momentum and beat North Carolina State 13-2.
At first the Paton swimmers took it on the chin for two
straight games,
losing to both the New York Athletic Club 8-2 and the West Point Cadets
11-8. Then they gained some experience and momentum as well. The North
Carolina State team suffered a severe 13-2 defeat from the Patton boys
as did the Bishop Laughlin Academy of New York 11-1.
The swimmers from Harry Hauck's Patton team consisted of
guards-Pete
Adams, Rick Skarbo, John Powser and Jim McNairy; forwards-John
Savinsky,
Dennis and Mark Manrique, George Saldana and John Westcott. The goalie
was D.I.T.'s very own, Tom Sullivan.
This was the last game this season for the team's captain
John Westcott
as he enlisted in the U.S. Navy last Monday. Westcott was a Detroit
high
school record holder, and more recently won the 1500 meter freestyle in
the N.A.I.A. Swim Championships while attending Detroit Institute of
Technology.
Last week he was named Michigan Swimmer of the Year. His captaincy
position
will be filled by Dennis Manrique.
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