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The Runnymede Redmen Sports Legacy

I can't say for certain but I don't think that the first teams at Runnymede were called Redmen. The name Redmen was probably coined by the newspapers reporting the accomplishment of Runnymede sports, specifically football.

The first sports recognition for Runnymede was in 1928/29 when the the school won the Senior basketball championship under the coaching of P.E. teacher Mr. Don Graham. Runnymede also won the Senior Suburb Hockey championship and were Ontario Semi-finalist under the coaching of Mr. Harold Pike.

Members of the 1928-29 Senior Hockey
Suburban Champs and Ontario Semi-Finalists

Armstrong, Edwin;    Bissell, Angus;   Fullerton, Max;   Graham, W;    Jackson, Arthur;   McNicol, W;   Oille, D;    Osborne, L;    Robinson, Bill;    Townsley, D;

Members of the 1929-30 Senior Hockey
Suburban Champs, Eastern Ontario Champs, Ontario Finalists

Armstrong, E;   Fullerton, Max;   Graham, W;    Pritchard,___;   Robinson, Bill;   Stinson, Wesley Summerville,___;    Townsley, D;   Watson,___.

Members of the 1930-31 Senior Hockey Team
TDIAA Champs, Ontario Finalists

Bevan, Morden;   Coulter, Bobby;   Fullerton, Max;   Grivel, Ken;   Harwood, George;    Jackson, Arthur;    Key, Jack;   McCarthy, Joe;   Robinson, Bill;   Stinson, Wesley;   

Members of the 1931-32 Senior Hockey Team
Ontario Champs

Bevan, Morten;   Coppin, Allan;   Coulter, Bobby;   Grivel, Ken;   Jackson, Arthur;   Key, Jack;   McClelland, Norm;   Robinson, Oelman;   Stinson, Wesley

Under the coaching of Don Graham, who began teaching at Runnymede in 1929 and Harold Pike who started at Runnymede in 1928, Runnymede's became prominent in the high school sports scene as soon as the school opened. Under the coaching of Don Graham, the Senior football team won the TDIAA championship for 4 years in a row, 1929-30-31-32 and were in the Ontario finals 3 times in 1929-30-31. Harold Pike kept on winning the Senior Hockey TDIAA championship 5 times from 1928 to 1934, with the exception of 1932-33. The Runnymede Senior Hockey teams of those years were in the Ontario finals all those years and in the 1931-32 season, Runnymede were Ontario champions.

Don Graham's not only won 4 straight TDIAA championships but also took the teams to the Ontario Finals in 1929-30-31, (semi-finalist in 1929 and 1930, finalist in 1931).

Members of the 1928 Senior Football Team

Gilpin,;    Graham, W;       Laing, R;    Laing, G;    Addison, G;    Peavey,;    Key, J;    Bevan, L;    Mandley,W; Armstrong, E;     Fullerton, M;    Coulter, Bruce;    Bell, D;    Jackson, A;    Lotto, D;    Coe,R;    Robinson, G;    Harwood, G;    Bissell, Keith;    Lotto, A;   
Mr. Don Graham (coach),

Girls Senior Basketball - TDIGAA Champs

But is wasn't just the boys team that brought sports honours at Runnymede, the Senior Girls Basketball team won the TDIGAA championship in 1931-32 and the next year 1932-33 the Junior Girls Basketball team were the TDIGAA champions.

Members of the 1931-32 Senior Girls TDGIAA Basketball Team

Coach Ms. Muriel Thompson;   Edna Laing;   Irene Wray;   Marjorie Leslie;   Bessie Hoppman;    Elsie Carter;   Betty Bolton;   K. Day

Runnymede Redmen

The new schools team's accomplishments came to light in the newspapers and it was here that they teams were identified with their school colours and were reported as the Runnymede Redmen. There were early reference to them being called Red Men, there was the nickname Crimson Bombers used since the early football jersey Runnymede wore were more of a crimson colour than red. There was some reference to them as the Runnymede Ironmen, the Jane Street boys, the Scarlett Rockets and the Junction Boys.

The Junction was not near Runnymede since it was the area bounded by the railroad tracks at Keele and Dundas but I am sure in the early days, from Runnymede's practice field, the railway tracks leading to the Junction was clearly visible.

The borough games were played on Fridays at Oakwood Stadium and the playoffs were played at Crang Stadium.

Hal Brown and the Senior Football Dynasty

          Football at RCI in the '30s and '40s

Runnymede's football dynasty and success came under the coaching of Hal Brown who began his teaching career at Runnymede in 1930 and was head coach of the Senior Football team at Runnymede in 1935. (He took time to record in a booklet the importance of football at Runnymede. The title of his booklet, The 4th R - as in Rugby-this is in electronic form if anyone wants a copy).

The year 1936 the road to the Provincial Championship

In 1936 Hal Brown won his first of many TDIAA Senior football championship for Runnymede and also competed in the Ontario ORFU finals for the first time [ ] where he would later win 2 ORFU (Ontario Rugby Football Union) titles-1938 and 1946. His assistant coach that year (1936) was Cec Cramp who would later coach the Junior Football team to a few TDIAA championships as well . Cec was a former Runnymede student (1927-1931) and began his teaching career at Runnymede in 1935. (I could not find any indication that Cec played football at Runnymede).

Members of the 1936 Senior TDIAA Championship Team

Askine;    Bishop, W;    Booth, D;    Cable, Ed;    Capirchio, Lou;     Carty, Ken;    Coulter, Jack;    Erskine;    Hull;    Lambert, R;    Martz, Doug    McMullen;    O'Brian, B    Paul, R    Peters, L    Plaxton, Jack;    Pruner, Bruce;    Rowntree, Clarence;    Rutledge, L;    Sheldon, E;    Turriff, Gord;    Vail;    Wallis, Tom;    Westman;    Wilton;   

Runnymed and the Passing Game

In the mid 30s football was taking on a new momentum. No longer just grinding the ball up the field but a new concept came into being, the forward pass. From a newspaper article, here is a tribute to Runnymede's coach with respect to a new way of playing rugby- passing!

"Runnymede's Redmen from the Jane Street Academy (they were also referred to as the Junction Squad) again proved conclusively in the second part of the afternoon's entertainment the Canada does not have to import American pigskin tossing stars as our own Canadian coaches are teaching the youngsters the art of forward passing, Runnymede again taking the aerial route to win the decision from the season undefeated Etobicoke by a score of 12 - 8. Instrumental in this new endeavour, passing, were Jack Coulter and Jack Plaxton passing to their favourite receivers Louie Capirchio and Ken Carty. This playoff game was played at Oakwood Stadium in 1936. In winning the suburb title, Runnymede met undefeated Malvern Collegiate at Varsity Stadium. For 3 years the Jim Crang's Metropolitan Cup was won by a suburban high school and for the first time since the inauguration of this series the cup has been won by a Toronto City School- Malvern C.I. Runnymede was rated as the best forward passing team in the suburban league, however that day none of the 21 passes were completed as Malvern's defence either knocked them down or intercepted them (5 were intercepted)".(Toronto Paper)

"Yesterday in the suburban playoffs Etobicoke C.I. bucked into an inspired red wave from Runnymede and lost out because the big red wave had a forward passing attack better than any other high school football this fall. Runnymede is a team which has made whatever reputation it has by the forward pass and scored two touchdowns that way yesterday." (by Gordon Sinclair)

1938 the beginning of a dynasty

In the fall of 1938 had to be the year Runnymede's football program emerged as a powerhouse not only in the TDIAA and Metropolitan scene, but in the provincial level. That year both Junior and Senior football teams won the TDIAA championships. This they would do again in 1939 and 1940. For three years both Runnymede's football teams were the District Champs. With Cec Cramp coaching the Juniors, winning their first TDIAA championship in 1938, and Hal Brown the coaching the Seniors, Runnymede was to become prominent in football scene for the next decade.

The first Double Victory 1938

"Runnymede Score Double Victory in TDIAA at Ulster Stadium. Runnymede Collegiate griders chalked up a double victory over East York in the TDIAA double header at Ulster Stadium yesterday afternoon . The West Enders scraped through with a 3-1 decision in the senior match, while the juniors finished strongly to gain a 10 - 1 verdict. Ed Cable scored all 3 singles." -(1938 Newspaper article)

[Almost 20 years, in 1958, Runnymede was to accomplish another sports feat- Runnymede's Midget, Junior and Senior Basketball teams would be the only school to win all 3 TDIAA championships.]

Ontario Rugby Football Union Championship

That same year (1938) the Senior Football team also won the Metropolitan Championship and the ORFU - Ontario Rugby Football Union - championship. They would repeat this in 1946, that is 2 ORFU championships for Runnymede and coach Hal Brown.

Members of the 1938 Senior TDIAA, Metro and ORFU Championship Team

Allaby, Roy;     Baker, Jack;     Banks, Horace;    Cable, Ed;
Clarke, David;    Cook, Doug;     Engels, Ted;     Fullerton, Hugh;   Gow, Ken;   Graham, Stew;   Harrison, Jack; Heinbuck, A;   Holmes, Graham;     Hoyle, Ken;     Mantz, Doug;     McLaren, Alvin;   Moncton, Harold;   Monoghan, Terry;   Needham, Bob;     Puttock, G;   Richards, R;     Searles, Howard;     Shanahan, Grant;     Wallis, Tom;   

The Second and Third Double Victory

Both Junior and Senior team kept the championships titles the following year. In 1939 the TDIAA football championships, both Junior and Senior remained at Runnymede. The Senior team did make it to the ORFU final only to lose to Hamilton Central Collegiate. "In defense of Runnymede provincial title at Crang Stadium, the Runnymede's big fellows eked out a victory in the first of a two-game series and although they carried a three point lead into the final game, Hamilton Central C.I. won the ORFU title.

Members of the 1939 Senior TDIAA, Metro Champions and ORFU Finalist

Abrahams, Ralph;   Armstrong, Bill;   Coleman, L;   Cook, Doug;   Fullerton, Ellis;   Graham, Stew;   Griff, Warren;   Harrison, Jack;   Kee, F;   Lawrence, Bill;   Leonard, B;   Mathews, Keith;   McCracken, Jack;   McLaren, B;   McNicol, R;   Monoghan, Terry;   Morris, Bill;   Obernesher, Jack;   Paisley, Bill;   Pocklington, Beric;   Raney, W;    Reynolds, B;   Richards, R;    Shanahan, G;   Shand, Jack;    Watson, L.

Three Years on a Row; 1938-39-40

Junior and Senior TDIAA Champs

It was an accomplishment for Runnymede's football teams, Juniors and Seniors, to win the TDIAA championship in 1938. This they accomplished again the next two years, 1939 and 1940. That is 3 years in a row that both Runnymede's football teams won the TDIAA championships.

Seniors Undefeated

The 1940 Senior team were undefeated that year and as the holder of the Metropolitan Cup, they kept it when the TSSAA winner as the Metro representative refused to play Runnymede. The weather prevented a play-off game for the ORFU title.

Members of the 1940 Senior TDIAA undefeated Championship Team

Abraham, T;    Armstrong, A;       Blanchet, E;   Bryans, M;    Capra, Harold;   Cummins, R;   Engles, Ted;    Evans, E;   Fielding, W    Graham, W    Griff, Warren;   Harper, W;    Harrison, Jack;   Maclaren, B;    Mathews, Keith;    McCracker, Gord;   Morris, W;    Paisley,Bill;   Platt, R;    Symmes, F;    Thomas, F;    Toodgood, Ted   Tunbridge, R;    Walker, M;   

The Redmen keep on winning and winning....

Under Hal Brown, the Senior team kept on winning and winning in 1941, 1943, 1945, 1946 - the 1946 year had to be considered the 'big year' as the Red and White won the Metro and ORFU titles as well.

Members of the 1945 Senior TDIAA Championship Team and Metro Finalist

Aldred;    Armstrong;    Barhean;   Bloom;    Brandon;   Butters;   Coulter,Bruce;   Darragh;   Downey, S;   Fielding;    Forster;   Gough, Bill;   Huktable;    Jarvis   Longmore;    MacLachan, Jim;    McFadden, Greg;    McLean, A;    Mold, Wallis;    Monaghan, Murray;    Peer,D;   Robson;   Score;   Waldess;   Ward;   Wedge, Basil;   

Cec's Junior Teams won TDIAA Championships in:
1938, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1947, 1956 and 1962 the last year that the Toronto District competed and the school's teams were localized.

Members of the 1938 Junior TDIAA Championship Team

Beamish;    Cable;    Cartis;    Cobtender;    Coulter;    Cruner;    Erskin;    Flazten;    Harris;    Hingle;    Ludlow; Lumb;    Martz;    O'Brian;    Rawlinson;    Rowntree;    Scott;    Synsyk;    Truhler; Trurrias;    Wilton coach: Mr. Cramp

Members of the 1939 Junior TDIAA Championship Team

Capra, Harold;    Clippars, R;    Dawson, Walter;    Engles, Ted;    Grant, Dave;    Harper, W;    Heinbuck, Les;    Howard, Ralph;    Leadbeater, Lloyd;    Lingwood, Jack;    Mackenzie, Archie;    Matthews, Fred;    McBride, W;    McCracker, Gord;    Morris, Bert;    Mounsey, Jack;    Murray, Jack;    Platt, Bob;    Rogers, Mel;    Rose, A;    Tunbridge, R;    Williams, G;   
coach: Mr. Cec Cramp (McClelland and Caswell)

Members of the 1940 Junior TDIAA Championship Team

Blanchet, Gerald;    Chilcott, Ted;    Davidson, Walter;    Grant, Dave;    Hamilton, Jack;    Howard, Ken;    Howard, Ralph;    Hratzay, Eugene;    Humphrey, Dave;    Johnston, Derek;    Lancaster, Art;    Laveque, Bernard;    Lingwood, Jack;    Mainprize, Harold;    Martin, Stew;   McCracker, Gord;    Murray, Jack;    Newmark, Happy R. Lambert;    Ralley, Bill;    Shand, Dick;    Walker, Gord;    Williams, G.
coach: Mr. Cec Cramp

Members of the 1944 Junior TDIAA Championship Team

Turner, E;    Smith, R;    McFadden, G;    Croft, K;    Walker, A;    Peer, D; Jonson, R;    Barr, A;    Longmore, D;    Philp, M;    Johns, B;    Robinson, J;    Ward, J;    Grant, G;    Forster, J;    Wallis, F;    Ferguson, J;    Melnigh, N; Johnson, D;    McLeod, D;    Habermell, G; Hord, A;     Downey, S;    Whale, B;    McLean, A;    Windship, R;    Bailey, D;    Formica, J.
Coach: Mr. Cec Cramp (Mr. Daniels)

*1947 Runnymede vs. Weston 7-6

*1962 Runnymede vs. Port Credit 9-8

In 1956, after 26 years at Runnymede, Hal Brown went to Richview C.I.

Cec Cramp lived opposite the school. He was a Grade 10 student at Runnymede when it opened, began teaching there in 1935, married a Runnymede secretary and retired from Runnymede in 1973.

-------Newspaper Articles-------

TDIAA FOOTBALL DOUBLE CROWN (From The Star Nov. 18, 1938)

Runnymede Grid Squads Capture TDIAA Honours - In 11 years, Runnymede's Sr. Rugby won 7 titles

[From my records:

1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936, 1938

Redmen Seniors Whip Mimico - Juniors Nose out Vaughan Rd.

MUD SPOILS PLAY

Finding a rain-soaked and muddy field very much to their liking Runnymede collegiate rugby tams carried off double championship honours yesterday afternoon at Oakwood stadium capturing both the senior and junior TDIAA championships for 1938.

The Runnymede seniors won their seventh title since 1927 when they downed the hitherto uneaten Mimico squad in the second game of the twin-bill by a 4-1 score while the Junction juniors claimed their first championship award by turning back the highly rated Vaughan Road gridders by a schore of 2-1 in the initial affair.

The weather and the bad field put a decided crimp in Mimico's triple threat running line of McIntyre, Coo and Moore, and it did the dame thing to Vaughan's forward passing star O'Malley. The much heavier Runnymede senior line showed to advantage with the kicking of Doug Gow winning them the game. In the junior contest Runnymede staged a last quarter splurge after being on the short end of the play prior to that.

From the outset Mimico looked like they might upset the pre-season opinions, scoring the first point of the game of a lofty kick by Moore and Scarless being roughed on a neat tackle by Webster, but the powerful Junction 'redmen' swung into hefty line spoiling whatever chances the Lakeshore squad had in that department.

Doug Gow came into the game in the second quarter to take ove the kicking duties from Searless for Runnymede and it was this tall, dangling inside that booted his team to victory. Gow's first kick went for 50 years and a Mimico forward was intercepted following that to give Runnymede possession. Harrison for 40 yards on the Runnymede's next play. Gow kicked a single after that and near the end of the quarter, he tacked on another point to give Runnymede a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Gow added another pair of singles in the third quarter an dit was Runnymede all the way. In the final chapter Mimico tried practically everthing to score but the steady performance of Runnymede's lines and the kicking of Gow kept the Junction gridders on top.

Juniors Nose out Vaughan Rd.

After fighting hard all the way through the opening half of the game to claim a single point lead, going into the fourth Vaughan saw their almost certain chances slip into oblivion when a fumble in the fourth quarter paved the way for Runnymede to know the score and go to win.

Vaughan played steady football in the first half, giving their Runnymede rivals few chances at anything with Stephens counting their large looking single with a deadline kick in the third chapter.

Vaughan's costly fumble enabled Runnymede to gain possession on their own 40 and Fred Mathews tore free around the left side for a 20 yard gain that turned the tide in favour of the Junction gridders. After that Bill Paisley kicked over the Vaughan line but Stephens squeezed out with it. Another fumble on a line play gave Runnymede possession on their rival's 20 and from there Paisley kicked to the deadline to tie the score.

Runnymede took command from then on with Paisley kicking dangerously near the Vaughan line several times and Stephens was forced to do some tall kicking himself to relieve the pressure. Paisley finally got one over the line a low one that bounced up over "Butch" O'Malley's head and he was rouged for the winning marker with but two minutes left of play.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Track and Field to update

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Basketball to update

Members of the 1945-46 Midget Basketball TDIAA Championship Team: /

Collins, B;   Summers, Keith;   Stone, Ron;   Drewitt, B;   Nelles, Don;   Love, Bobby;   Irvin, B;   Fitzgibbon, Claude;   Olgivie, James;   McAulay, G;   
Coach:   Mr. Robert (Thumper) Tompson

          ********************************************                                CHAMPIONSHIPS           ********************************************

Runnymede C.I. Championships
[ first posting - additions and corrections are welcomed and can be made to me at: john.maniezzo@tel.tdsb.on.ca]

1928-29
Sr. Basketball Champs (Mr. Don Graham )
Hockey Suburban Champs - Ontario Semi-Finalist (Mr. Howard Pike)

1929-30
Sr. Hockey Suburb Champs - Smith & Wright Trophy-Eastern Ontario Champs - Ontario Finalist (Mr. Howard Pike)
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs (Ontario Semi-Finalist) (Mr. Don Graham )

1930-31
Sr. Hockey TDIAA Champs - Ontario Finalists (Mr. Howard Pike)
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs - Ontario Semi-Finalists (Mr. Don Graham )

1931-32
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs -Ontario-Finalists (Mr. Don Graham )
Sr. Hockey Ontario Champs (Mr. Howard Pike)
Sr. Girls Basketball TDIGAA (Ms. Muriel Thompson)

1932-33
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs and Toronto (Mr. Don Graham )
Jr. Girls Basketball TDGIAA Champs

1933-34
Sr. Hockey TDIAA - Ontario Semi-Finalists

1935
Hal Brown began coaching the Senior Football Team

1935
Track & Field TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)

1936-37
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs - Ontario Finalist(Mr. Hal Brown/Cec Cramp)
Midget Hockey Champs - THL and TAHA

1937-38
Jr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Robert Thompson)

1938-39
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Midget Hockey Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs -Sr. Metro Champs -ORFU Champs * Provincial (Mr. Hal Brown)
*Sr. Football won 7th title since 1927 (7 out of 12)
Track and Field Intermediate TDIAA Champ

1939-40
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs UNDEFEATED
Sr. Football Metro Finalist - - Ontario Finalists (Mr. Hal Brown) *check (Jr. Basketball TDIAA)

1940-41
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs - Holder Metro Cup (Metro refused to play RCI) (Mr. Hal Brown)
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Track & Field TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)

1942-43
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Hal Brown)
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)

1943-44
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Hal Brown)

1944-45
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)

1945-46
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs - Holder Metro Cup (Mr. Hal Brown)
Track & Field TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Midget Basketball TDIAA (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Rowing S.S. Regata - Wright Trophy Winners
Track & Field TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)

1946-47
Sr. Football TDIAA Champs - ORFU Champs Provincial (Mr. Hal Brown)
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)
Jr. Hockey TDIAA Champs (Mr. Rolly Detcher)

1947-48
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Track & Field TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Jr. Hockey TDIAA Champs

1948-49
Jr. Hockey TDIAA Champs (Mr. Rolly Detcher)

1949-50
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)
Sr. Hockey Ontario Finalists

1950-51
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)
Sr. Hockey TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)

The Sr. Basketball team won the TDIAA Championship in 1949-50 and 1950-51 on the same day March 14.

1952-53
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)

1955-56
Midget Basketball TDIAA

1956-57
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Midget Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Hawley Cross)
Rowing S.S. Regatta Victory

1957-58
Midget Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Hawley Cross)
Jr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Jack Luke)
Golf Champs

1958-59
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs
Golden Ball Champions - Provincial (Mr. Terry Housley)
Jr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)

1959-60
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs
Golden Ball Champions - Provincial (Mr. Terry Housley)
Rowing - 2 Trophies

1962-63
Jr. Football TDIAA Champs (Mr. Cec Cramp)
Jr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. Bob Thompson)
Sr. Girls Basketball TDGIAA (Mrs. Gough)

1963-64
Sr. Girls Basketball TDGIAA (Undefeated) (Miss Lang)

1983-84
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs - Silver Medalist (Mr. John Petrushchak)

1984-85
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs
Goldenball Champs - Provincial (Mr. John Petrushchak

1985-86
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs
Goldenball Champs - Provincial (Mr. John Petrushchak)

1988-89
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs (Mr. John Petrushchak)
Sr. Basketball Goldenball Champs -Provincial(Mr. John Petrushchak)

1989-90
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs
Goldenball Champs - Provincial (Mr. John Petrushchak)

1991-92
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs - Silver Medalist (Mr. John Petrushchak)

1995-96
Sr. Basketball TDIAA Champs - Silver Medalist (Mr. John Petrushchak)