The Rise and Fall of Kansas Wesleyan University Basketball: The History of Kansas Wesleyan University Basketball

By Jerry J. Jones

One hundred and sixteen years have passed since Kansas Wesleyan University (KWU) formed basketball teams known as the Wesleyans, the Methodists, the Preachers, and now, the Coyotes. Fathers, sons, and grandsons have worn the purple and gold colors, winning and losing but always striving to represent the university in a most positive manner. Head coaches had been students, middle school, high school, and college teachers. Like the players themselves, the coaches had come from different states, scattered in all directions. But they were here in Salina back in 1901 and continuing on in 2017 as teammates and brothers of the basketball, bound together by the mutual story that is Kansas Wesleyan basketball.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543424423

Jerry J. Jones

No one knows more about the Rise and Fall of Kansas Wesleyan University Basketball than Jerry Jones who spent 22 years as Head basketball coach and 20 years as athletic director. During his career with KWU, the Athletic Hall of Fame was created, the Basketball Teams of the Decade and Players of the Decade were initiated and recognized. Reunions of the Championship Teams were organized and feted. At age 78, Jones comes closer to knowing, and did know many of the personalities profiled in the pages of The Rise and Fall of KWU Basketball. During his 42 years as an educator/coach, Jones taught English/composition, directed plays and musicals for 18 years; before becoming a full-time collegiate coach. In addition to 22 years at Kansas Wesleyan, Jones was athletic director/head basketball coach at Indiana University at South Bend for five years. He has been inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Baker University, Baldwin City, KS, and Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina, KS. National Coach of the Year in 2000 (National Small College Athletic Association, NSCAA) when his KWU team won the National (NSCAA) Championship, his teams also won Kansas Conference titles in 1986 and 2000 when he was named KCAC Coach of the Year those same seasons. Twice selected Teacher of the Year in high schools, (Holton, KS; Atchison County-Effingham, KS) the former Valedictorian at Vermillion Rural High School, KS, Jones was on the Dean's Honor Roll at Baker University and a Fulbright Scholarship candidate. He has authored two published histories, numerable magazine articles, and three unpublished novels. He is presently working on a book of his cowboy poetry. Now retired from coaching and athletic administration, Jones is seeking fame in another arena. He is the 2016 Kansas State Cowboy Poetry Champion and a finalist in the National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo, held in Abilene, KS. Jerry is married to the ever beautiful, ever young and always talented Dr. Kathleen Barrett-Jones. They reside in Salina, KS. Their daughter, Jessica, is married to a former Colorado and Texas cowboy, Wil Atkison, residing now in the wilds of Manhattan where they ride the subterranean iron horse to work in SoHo.

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Copyright © 2017 by Jerry J. Jones.

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Contents

Tip Off

1901-1909

Wesleyan Notes

Wesleyan Defeated

Wesleyan Items

Basketball At Wesleyan

The Crescents Win Fine Exhibition Results For

Concordia Again Defeated

Locals Defeat Baker Final Score In Basket Ball

Was A Terrible Game Wesleyan Beat Ottawa By Score Of 35 To 34

Lost Game On A Foul Wesleyan Had Fairmont

Lost Second Game

Merry Macks Win A Tussle

Lo, The Poor Indian Fell Before Attack Of The Palefaces

K. U. College Lost Wesleyan Players Were In Game Throughout Too Fast For The Visitors

Are They Champs? Wesleyan Won Easily From Bethany Team Street Parade On Return

Record Is A Good One Wesleyan Basketball Team Closing Season

Wesleyan Took Game

Coyotes Humble Topeka

Coyotes Tie Bethany

Wesleyan Takes One

Tour France As Basketeer

1920-1929

Opens Season In Victory

Play Ball To Music

Lost By A Wide Score

They Made It A Pair

Swedes Are Beaten

Win By 2 Points

The Final For Scott

Wesleyan On Top

Swedes Are Licked

Was A Jazz Of Boos

Kansas State Wins Opener 43 To 22

Coyotes Roll Barrelmakers

Wally Forsberg’s Last Minute Goal

Wesleyan Takes Terrible Swedes

Kansas Wesleyan Defeats Mcpherson

Joy And Lobdell Fire Late Goals

Wesleyan Whips Mcpherson

Jayhawkers Win Over Wesleyan Quintet 37 To 22

Kansas Wesleyan Defeats The

Title Bound Baker Orange

Kwu Upsets The Baker Orange

Kansas Wesleyan Defeats Swedes

Coyotes Win 40 To 30 To Share Cage Championship

Hunt To Start At Center

Kansas Wesleyan Hands Ottawa

1940-1949

Coyotes Down Swedes 60 To 43

Coyotes Win 59 To 43

Kansas Wesleyan Wins Conference

Wesleyan Squad Cinches Title

Coyotes Down Swedes In ‘47 Finale

Coyotes Edge Bethany

Coyotes Gain Tie In Kcac

1950-1959

Coyotes To Nationals

Coyotes Stop Hays

K-Wesleyan Keeps 3Rd Place Hopes Alive

Coyotes Beat Swedes, 72-64

Wesleyan Smashes Baker 102-67

Cassel Sets New Scoring Mark

Houdek Scores 32

Houdek Hits 44

Mosburg Scores 31

Coyote Losing Streak Ends

1960-1969

Kwu Takes Final, 78-65

Coyotes Defeat Tabor 69-66

Kwu By Bulldogs, 77-74

Coyotes Wind Up Season

Wesleyan Captures Mcpherson

Wesleyan Sweeps By

Kwu Breaks 10 Year Drought, 69-61

Fans Turned Away

Kwu Students Stage Walk-Out

Wesleyan Snaps 10-Year Swede Jinx

Coyotes Cage Cats, Capture Crown

Coyotes Shock Swedes

1970-1979

Coyotes Continue Winning Ways

Kw Breaks Victory Drouth

Coyotes End On Losing Note

Last-Second Shot Pushes

2 Naia Play-Off Games In Salina

Coyotes Rip Pioneers, 122-94

Kw Guns Down Tabor

1980-1989

Bill Stevens

Kw Edges Swedes

1990-1999

2000-2009

National Champs!

Gallegos’ 3-Pointer

Wesleyan Stuns No. 22 Bethany

Coyotes Bite Back

Kansas Wesleyan 56, Friends 55

Wesleyan Holds Off

Coyotes Blitz Bethany

2010-2016

Kwu Stops Rival

Kwu Men 75, Friends 59

Fields Passed Over For

Plenty In Reserve

Canon Goes

Coyotes Close The Door

Kwu Rally From 18 Down

Kwu Outlasts Swedes

Epilogue

Records

1906-1939 Records Individual Single Game Records

Tip Off

A center jump began every game when Kansas Wesleyan played their first game just a few years after the college opened its doors. The College was much different in those days with an academic college, a business college and a prep school. All three fielded basketball teams in those early days, but this book devotes itself to the history of the academics who are the fore-runners of the modern day run and gun Coyotes.

We begin in 1901 before the second annual yearbook, The Frontier, (1905) was issued and it was necessary to scan the newspapers to find any mention of collegiate basketball in Salina. Kansas Wesleyan University opened in 1886 and graduated H. M. Mayo in 1887, apparently an accelerated program.

In these early days, colleges competed regularly against high schools, YMCA and church teams, town teams, athletic clubs, traveling barn-storming groups and other colleges. Road games were never far away and the players and coaches had to round up whatever transportation was available. There were few gymnasiums, fewer gymnasiums with permanent basketball equipment and markings, and games were often played outdoors on concrete, asphalt and even dirt (including the 1936 Olympic finals).

In 1903, the Kansas Wesleyan College fielded both a baseball and a football team. No football was played in the Fall of 1904, but in the Spring, 1905, the KWC Athletic Association decided to again field a football team as well as baseball in the next year and to add basketball with a paid coach. Albert B. Cowden, who had started at fullback for KWU in 1903, had transferred to Northwestern University and played there in 1904, returned to coach the Fall 1905 football team and to coach, manage and play for the 1905-06 initial sponsored basketball squad.

What follows is a year by year history of Kansas Wesleyan collegiate basketball including some details of high-light games each season.

Collegiate records made available have been gleaned from the Yearbooks as well as newspapers during the early days as often Yearbooks did not include all games as some others played were written up in the newspapers of those days. Also some scores listed in the Wesleyan Yearbooks, the opponents media guides, and newspapers accounts were often different. In such cases, this history utilized the Salina version available whether it be the Yearbooks or newspapers.

Included are the All-Decade Teams, the Coaches/Managers/Captains with whatever biographical information I was able to come up with and a few stories thrown in gleaned from research and conversations with the KWU good old boys. When reading oral histories, you’ve got to realize that sometimes the memories are tainted by what Hollywood’s John Ford used to call, History as it ought to be.

With me being 76 years old when I began this project, I want to mention the co-author, David Toelle, KWU Sports Informational Director, who has been the keeper of Wesleyan traditions from the day he went to work for the Athletic Department as the Athletic Secretary in charge of our only computer. He has been on the cutting edge of every technical aspect of KWU athletics since KWU began to quit using paper and pencil and eraser back in the 1980’s. Unless mentioned otherwise, David has written the summaries and season outlooks from 2000 on.

Co-author of The History of Kansas Wesleyan Basketball, David Toelle began as a part-time Sports Information Director at Kansas Wesleyan before becoming full-time as the NAIA transformed into a non-paper organization. With his hi-tech capabilities, David assumed the role of university webmaster, implementing a complete redesign of the university website.

His responsibilities as SID include design of media guides and game day programs, keeping a complete statistical and historical record of Coyote athletics, press box and table management at all games, writing press releases, and updating the Athletic Department website.

A letter-winner in KWU cross country under Coach John Pickens, Toelle, a native of Reading, Kansas, was recruited from Northern Heights High School in Allen, Kansas.

Toelle came to Kansas Wesleyan in the Fall of 1996, and graduated from Wesleyan in 2001 with a bachelors’ degree in Computer Information Systems. He completed a second bachelor’s degree in Sports Management in 2008, and is working towards completion of his master’s of business administration.

Toelle also is involved in the community, especially during the basketball season, when he donates his time at the Salina Bicentennial Center doing basketball statistics for the basketball tournaments held there in March. He was involved with the Kansas Cagerz, a USBL Professional Basketball team while it was in Salina.

In addition to his duties at KWU, David has served as KCAC Conference Statistician and continues to serve the conference volunteering to work championship events for the conference.

The tremendous writing from the Salina Journal of the game day stories and many related researched articles come from the Sports Staff of the Journal, specifically Editors: Bob Davidson, Harold Bechard, Bill Burke and Stu Dunbar; included are reporters Brad Catt, Troy Palenske, Paul Mogenson, Mike Garretson and Vic Calcote among others who covered the games for the Journal.

My role has been more of a researcher and editor than author although much of the opinions are mine aided by outside sources, of course. This has been a labor of love and my love for our University has been enhanced by fellow members of the Presidential Cabinet of Advisors to the President (Wayne Schneider, Brad Botz, Darrell Victory, Al Tiller, Dave Fancher, Glenna Alexander) plus all of those Jones Boys who played at KWU during the 17 years that I served as basketball coach for the most marvelous president in KWU’s history who led KWU to record enrollments, record endowments, record academic achievements and record fund-raising by hiring good people, (particularly people with Kansas connections, President Emeritus Marshall Stanton.

1901-1909

1901

The Spirit is Willing, but …

(From the Wesleyan Advance, October, 1900)

The students of Wesleyan should take more interest in athletics. There is no reason why we can not organize football and ball teams, the very mention of which will strike terror to all the teams in this part of the state.

Initial Basketball Season:

Members of the Kansas Wesleyan Athletics Association:

Coach: No coach, Judd Yetter, freshman, was appointed captain

            Record         Won         0         Lost         6

(From the Wesleyan Advance, February 1901)

At a recent meeting of representatives of St. Johns, Mt. Barbara and the Wesleyan, an inter-scholastic basketball league was organized. As these three schools have the only basketball teams in Salina, they will play for the championship of this city. The schedule of games is as follows: Wesleyan will play at St. Johns, Monday Feb. 18; Mt. Barbara, Feb. 25. Mt. Barbara will play at St. Johns Feb. 21; Wesleyan Mar. 21. St. Johns will play at Wesleyan Mar. 6, Mt. Barbara Mar 13.

Mr. Yetter has been chosen captain of our basketball team and has been authorized by the Athletic Association to select the men who shall compose the team.

(From the Salina Republican, January 29, 1901)

The Calvary Boys Beat the Preachers

The cadets of Mount Barbara took the Wesleyan Basketball team into camp to the tune of 11 to 3. The Wesleyan team had had less practice than the Mt. Barbara team, but made a good showing; the better team work, of the cadets won the game. Rarig, Wesleyan guard was out-classed by Anderson and Captain Yetter. Anderson and Captain Yetter at forward were excelled by Henderson. Both teams will be able to give good account of themselves in the coming round between, Normal, St. Johns, Mt. Barbara and Wesleyan.

The players and their positions were:

(From the Salina Republican, February 20, 1901)

WESLEYAN NOTES

A basket ball game was played last night in the Wesleyan chapel between the Wesleyan and St. John’s teams. The Wesleyan played a good game considering their facilities for training. The St. John’s team, under the captaincy of Coach Reissner, played an excellent game. The teams would have been more evenly matched if St. John’s had not played their coach, which placed the Wesleyan team under a disadvantage, as they are all amateurs.

The score was Wesleyan 6: St. John’s 20.

(From the Salina Republican, Feb. 26, 1901) (Salina Daily Union, Feb. 26, 1901)

Wesleyan Defeated by Mt. Barbara, 13-6

Mt. Barbara is getting revenge for the way the Preachers pounded their line-up in football by dealing out defeat to the Wesleyan basket ball team.

The game yesterday resulted in a victory for Mt. Barbara with a score of 18 to 6 at the end of a hard fought game. The Mt. Barbara boys say if the preachers can preach with as much energy as they play basket ball, they will have a wide-awake congregation. The game was almost void of team play but some fine individual work was done by Yetter and Henderson.

(More on this game from the Salina Republican, Feb. 28, 1901)

The ball team was defeated on Monday by the soldiers on the mount east of the city. Though the score stood 13-6, the preachers say they are in no wise discouraged. They always do with their might what their hands find to do. The teams which they have played thus far have insisted on using their physical directors which is contrary to rules and places the preachers at a disadvantage. But they are strong in muscle and fervent in spirit and intend to yet show the soldiers that preachers can play basket ball as well as keep an audience awake.

(From the Salina Republican, March 4, 1901)

WESLEYAN DEFEATED

Ottawa Beat the College Team By a Score of 18 To 8

The first intercollegiate game of basket ball of the season was played here at Ottawa, Saturday between the Ottawa University and the Salina team. The score was 18 to 8 in favor of Ottawa. The game was arranged Friday after the Winfield delegation arrived for the oratorical contest. The game was played in the Ottawa college gymnasium before a small audience. The Wesleyans made eleven fouls, while Ottawa made seventeen. Both teams made two goals each on free throws in the first half. In the second half the Wesleyans made four and Ottawa two. Goals from the fields were made as follows:

First half: Ottawa 3, Wesleyan 1

Second half, Wesleyan 0, Ottawa 4.

Yetter, captain of the Wesleyans, threw six goals out of seventeen free throws. Cook of Ottawa threw three and Lambdin threw one from eleven free throws.

(From the Salina Republican, March 9, 1901)

WESLEYAN ITEMS

The basket ball team plays with the St. John’s team this afternoon. The team is improving it’s team-work and is more scientific in its manner of playing than formerly. Lack of a competent coach has somewhat handicapped the boys in this game but they are working it for themselves.

The young ladies of the college are practicing basket ball regularly. They take great interest in the game and are fast becoming skillful players.

(From the Wesleyan Advance, April, 1901)

Athletics

The basketball season at the Wesleyan closed March 28. Considering the fact that this is our initiatory year in this game our record is not one to be ashamed of. Although the regular team won no games there was a decided improvement in their playing as the season advanced. The team merit’s a word of praise because of its courageous perseverance. In the face of successive defeats they appeared upon the ground and ready to play at every game of the Inter-Collegiate series in which they were scheduled. Mr. Yetter deserves special mention for his work with the team.

1902

No record of varsity games results mentioned in available newspapers.

(From the Wesleyan Advance, November, 1901)

The Athletic Association will put out a strong representative basketball team this season and the ladies will re-organize also. The Varsity team would like to arrange games with out-of-town teams for any date after December 1.

(From the Salina Daily Republican-Journal, Jan. 21, 1902)

BASKETBALL AT WESLEYAN

A game of basketball was played in the Wesleyan chapel yesterday between the boys of the Bachelor Club and our picked team. The Bachelors were defeated by a score of 18-8 and today they are enjoying the taunts of the other boys who advise them to eat more and cook better. Mr. Kitchen, the coach, helped defeat the Bachelors and his playing at guard was a revelation to the spectators and his opponents.

1903

Won 2, Lost 2             These were the only games mentioned in available records.

From the Wesleyan Advance, 1902

Feb

Basketball season is here bringing with it the usual interest and enthusiasm.

March

By the close game we played "Baker, Feb. 24, we proved ourselves to rank among the best of the state. Baker has a fine team and we wish to commend them for their fair dealing.

The Wesleyan and St. Johns second basketball teams played a good game at the Wesleyan Mar. 15. The game ended 13-10 in favor of the Wesleyan. St. Johns played fast ball, but were unable to make many goals against the Wesleyan players.

April

The Baker Orange in commenting on the trip of their basketball team says the following:

The floor at Salina was 30’x 60’, well lighted and by far the best found on the trip. Stolz and Cowden were Salina’s stars, the latter being 6-3, had the advantage over J. Scholfield when balls were thrown by the referee. Salina has an exceptional fine team and Bakers team is exceedingly well pleased by the treatment which they received by the Wesleyans.

May

The basketball team for the coming season will be greatly strengthened by the Merriwell brothers who will be in school next year. Allcot and Fearnot, two good athletes, will also be in school.

1904

Record: Won     9         Lost     6 (Not all games could be located on record)

(From the Wesleyan Advance, Dec. 1903)

The football season has closed and while, we are sorry that we will play no more football games this year, we are glad to begin our basketball season with such good prospects. We have back several of last years players and with the good support which we know our students and friends will give us, we are sure to have a winning team. Now when we play our first game all come and see us win. We have secured the chapel for our games and are arranging to play with some of the best teams in the state.

Highlight Game, Bethany (Wesleyan Advance, February, 1904)

Monday night, January 8, the Swedes from Lindsborg and the Wesleyans played basketball in the Wesleyan chapel. The game was a swift one. The Swedes played exceedingly rough having ten fouls called on them while the Wesleyan only fouled four times, Baker twice and Hall twice. In the first half the Wesleyan had decidedly the advantage and outplayed their opponents at every turn.

In the second half the Swedes took a bracer and did better team work, but they were too late and could not make up for what they had lost. Baker, Stolz and Jensen each threw three field goals and Morris two for the Wesleyan. Baker did excellent work at throwing foul goals throwing nine out of ten possible chances. The Swedes threw eleven field goals, and two foul goals out of four chances.

The Wesleyan rooters were very enthusiastic. The Swedes played a good game but fouled so often that at no time did they stand a chance of winning. The victory was a decisive one for the Wesleyan.

Officials: Kitchen of Salina

                Benny Owens of Lindsborg

KWU Song (tune to Old Kentucky Home) by Maude Beauchamp (1904)

Dear Wesleyan, thou the beacon of the west

Thy praises we’ll sing evermore.

On loyal sons does thy fame securely rest,

And thy name shall sound from shore to shore.

Thy joys we love and we love thy curtained halls

Thy campus and class rooms so dear,

We proudly sing of the truth within thy walls,

And thy words of wisdom we may hear.

Chorus

Hail! Then, Alma Mater!

True praise from us shall come,

And thy growing fame, we will evermore proclaim,

And three cheers we raise for thee, Wesleyan

Thy children come from the east and from the west

For wisdom and sit at thy feet

To learn from thee all the purest and best

That makes life with greatest joy replete.

Our lives shall ever be thy honor and thy fame

We’ll never a stain on thee cast;

More glorious we will make thy noble name

Than it has been in the past.

Chorus

1905

No complete record of the games played found.

Highlight Game: Cooper College (Sterling) (Wesleyan Advance, February, 1905)

Scrubs vs. Cooper College

With two first team men and no practice, Wesleyan attempted to play basketball with Sterling. The players were quite evenly matched with reference to skill, but neither showed team work. But a small crowd witnessed the game. There were no sensational plays. The game progressed nicely as far as wrangling was concerned.

1906

Coach Albert B. Cowden, KWU

            Record         Won         6         Lost         5         1st Year

Season Record:         Won         6         Lost         5

Games were played in the Knights of Phythias Hall above the skating rink with the admission charge being 25 cents. Games were also played in the Oakdale City Park in the Floral Building.

Albert B. Cowden was player, coach and manager of the team. He was hired in the spring of 1905 as coach. Previously Albert had played football and basketball at KW, transferred to Northwestern University where he played football one season, then returned to Salina and KW.

Very little newspaper coverage except for the game with the Chicago Crescents. College basketball was in its infancy not only in Salina, but throughout the state of Kansas.

Highlight Game: Jan. 24, KWU vs. Chicago Crescents (Salina Evening Journal, Jan 25)

THE CRESCENTS WIN FINE EXHIBITION RESULTS FOR

VISITORS 47 TO 31.

Some of the Best Work Ever Seen in

This City - A Large Crowd Was

In Attendance

If the Wesleyan basketball team was never in a contest before it got into one Thursday evening when it went up against the Crescent Five team from Evanston, Ill. That was a little the fastest contest ever witnessed in Salina, and it was witnessed by a good crowd of spectators, probably the largest that ever attended a basketball game here. The score at the finish was just about as every one expected it would be, in favor of the visiting team. In round numbers it was 47 to 31.

The visiting team has been in a game almost every evening since it left Chicago on December 12, and it is therefore in good training, and its endurance was perfect compared with that of the local team. Toward the finish the Wesleyans were beginning to weaken, and the visitors made ten of their points within the last three minutes of play. An exciting contest was imminent from the first, and it grew in interest as the game progressed. The result was in doubt until after the middle of the second half, as the score was a tie, standing 29 to 29, about that time. Three times during the game the score was a tie, and at one time the Wesleyans were in the lead one point, Larson having broken the tie of 29 by throwing a foul goal. Orr followed with a foul goal in short order, however, bringing about another tie, which was broken by a field goal by Hussey, and the visitors took a lead which was never recovered. The first tie occurred in the first half when the score was 11 on each side.

In the first half, I. Morris was placed against Orr, and although he is one of the best men on the Wesleyan team, he was not equal to the emergency of this occasion. Orr is one of the Crescent’s best and Morris was worn out, having been traveling all night before and had taken no rest during the day. This, to a certain extent, was responsible for the large score of the visitors. In the second half Harper and Morris were transferred and Harper was able to hold Orr back.

The visitors realized that their opponents were winded, and they became aggressive and forced the home boys into such activity that the victory was within easy reach. One of the greatest features of the Crescent’s game is its long passes, frequently sending the ball the full length of the floor at a single toss. The team work of the visitors was perfect, passes being made to the positions almost invariably and with few exceptions the ball was received. The boys used a great deal of science in their work, and they took long chances, some of which added materially to their side of the score book.

Hussey made the long throw of the evening, throwing a field goal from the right of almost the center of the floor. This excellent throw was recognized by the spectators, and although they were sympathizers with Wesleyan, Hussey received the glad hand which must have made him feel that he had many friends in the crowd. Other plays of a similar nature by the visitors were roundly applauded. Orr had a trick of letting the ball out of bounds near the Wesleyan goal, and on the toss up he would throw a field goal. He did this twice before Morris realized what there was in the trick, then he checked the cleverness of the play. Harper prevented the throwing of a goal in this manner also. Young, the Indian, did some fine work in sacrifices. He was the only man who refused to take long chances, and therefore his star work was thrown to Orr. Osborn and Leo were both good men, the former breaking the last tie and making four points toward the long lead which gave the visitors their victory.

With the home team Larson did some excellent work with the basket. His usual work is near the basket, but last evening he played all over the field, which proved an effective change. O. Morris did some fine team work, and made some excellent passes which were beneficial in the final count. Mack played an aggressive game, but he was up against a hard proposition playing against Hussey, who was considerably taller than Mack. Harper proved himself the most aggressive all round man on the team, and did some excellent work in many instances.

1907

Coach John Eberhardt

Manager: Academic Dean Albert H. King

Season Record: Won 5 Lost 4

Troubled season as the Morris brothers were unable to attend practice regularly during the second semester. Practices were held at the Oakdale City Park Floral Building.

Fred Larsen set school scoring record with 25 points against Concordia Normal College with 12 field goals and 1 free throw on March 3.

Highlight Game: Mar 3, 1907, Concordia Normal College (Salina Evening Journal Mar 4

CONCORDIA AGAIN DEFEATED

Played Against the Wesleyans and

Beaten by a Score of 60 to 11

The Concordia Normal basketball team played with the Wesleyan team Saturday afternoon at the Park Pavilion. The Wesleyan were in the lead from the start, and some good passing was done. The Concordia boys could not hold the ball, and seemed unable to find the basket. Maddox, one of the Concordia forwards, was the star man, making four free throws and one field goal. He was the fastest man on the team, although Quigley did some good work scoring three frees and one field goal. Iulius Morris, one of the former Wesleyan stars, was back on the team, but did not do his usual work, being out of practice. Larsen and Rouse scored the most points for the Wesleyan, Larsen making twelve field goals and one free, Rouse the center making ten field goals. Harper scored four fields and Mack scored three field goals.

1908

Coach William Baker, KWU Student

            Record         Won         15         Lost         3         1st Year

IMG_0054.JPG

1908 Kansas State Collegiate Champions 15-3

Season Record         Won:         15         Lost:         3

KW split with Bethany each winning on their home town court.

Baker had not lost until March when they dropped two games; to KW and Bethany.

Baker claimed the state championship with their record of only two losses; however two of their players were declared professionals (not students at Baker). Both Bethany and KW felt entitled to the same claim.

Highlight Game: Mar 18, Baker (Salina Evening Journal)

LOCALS DEFEAT BAKER FINAL SCORE IN BASKET BALL

GAME 24 TO 22

Outplayed Baker Throughout Second

Half and Held Their Place During

The Early Stages of the Game

In the fastest game of basketball in Salina this year the Wesleyan University team last night defeated the Baker University team from Baldwin, Kansas, by a score of 24 to 22. It was the first Waterloo that the Baker team has experienced this year and they took defeat with a gulp.

Every point gained by either side was hotly contested. At no time was either side more than four points ahead of each other. When the game closed it was announced that the score was even. A moment of breathless silence followed while the score keeper counted up the points. When the result became known, such a yell for Wesleyan as went up last night was never heard before.

The game was full of spectacular features from start to finish. The playing of Baker and Rouse for the Wesleyan team and of Hoover for the Bakerites was the features. Rouse made one of the best plays ever seen in the Oakdale Pavilion, when he threw a goal from the field in a toss up. Larsen did excellent work in the field, but was a little weak in throwing foul goals. He more than made up for this, however. Rouse and Harper were at their best last night and were always on the spot to block the Bakerite’s throws. Mack delivered an exceptionally good line of goods last night.

The refereeing of Yoxell, the Baker man, was regarded by the crowd as about the shadiest sort ever seen in any game here. Cannon, the umpire, managed to hold him down to some extent. When the referee gave Baker four tries at a foul goal the indignation of the spectators was made manifest by jeers, and cat calls. But the referee won his point - that the crowd was trying to rattle the goal thrower.

This did not tend to soften the disposition of the Wesleyan players and from then on they played basketball like a whirl wind. Perhaps, if it had not been for the referee permitting Baker to make two points in that manner, Wesleyan would have lost the game last night for the boys took new lease of life and activity afterward and played a game of basket ball of the championship sort.

The score at the end of the first half was 9 to 12 in favor of the boys from Baldwin, but in the second half the Wesleyans fairly played them off their feet. Time after time it seemed that Baker was to score but the Wesleyans were Johnny on the spot and the ball was either returned to the Wesleyan goal, the center of the court or knocked out of bounds. Playing with terrific speed the local five roused such enthusiasm among the wearers of the purple and gold as has never been witnessed this season at a basket ball game. Try as they could, the Bakerites could not break up the plays and that the score against Baldwin was not larger is due to the fact that the locals did not play in their usual good luck. Every point made by them was won by fighting. With half the luck that usually attends the team in their difficult games, the lead of the locals at the finish would have been greater.

The terrific playing of the locals was retarded for a short time by the referee, who gave Baker four different trials at the goal on a foul throw because the crowd was cheering the Wesleyans. The goal was finally thrown or perhaps the game would have been longer. At the time the four throws were made, Wesleyan had made eight points in the second half while Baker had but one.

As to the rooting, it is fair to say that there is not a better crowd in attendance upon basket ball games anywhere in the state. There was no roasting of the players except when some juvenile felt that he was called upon to say something. The crowd was orderly and well behaved and the action of the referee, even though he finally gained his point, was very unpopular with the crowd and marred an otherwise splendid game. Salina people who attend basket ball games do not wear their funeral costumes and consequently are ill at ease when they attempt to make a noise like dead ones while someone is trying to throw a goal on a foul. The Baker team played a fine game and lost because they were out-played. They will agree in this. But the referee is evidently accustomed to a seat in a cozy corner where there is nothing to irritate him.

1909

Coach: Ray Mack

            Record         Won         13         Lost         7         1st Year

Season Record         Won:         13         Lost:         7

Home games played at Oakdale Park Agricultural Hall.

Mascot name changed from Wesleyans to Preachers

Highlight Game: Ottawa 34 at Salina KW 35 (Salina Evening Journal Feb 23)

WAS A TERRIBLE GAME WESLEYAN BEAT OTTAWA BY SCORE OF 35 TO 34

Tie at End of Second Half and Play

Continued Five Minutes to

Determine the Winner

The basketball game of the season at Salina, was played at Oakdale Park last evening between the Ottawa university and the Wesleyan. The Wesleyan team led out and remained in the lead during the game, winning finally by a score of 35 to 34.

At the end of the first half Wesleyan was ahead by no large margin. Both sides fought hard in the second half. Wesleyan continued in the lead. Several fouls were called on both teams. The score from the field goals was 24 to 18 in favor of Wesleyan.

At the end of the second half the referee called the score 30 to 30. Five minutes more was given to determine the winners. Wesleyan again led off with a field goal. A foul on Wesleyan gave Ottawa a free throw. Again Wesleyan made a field goal. A field goal for Ottawa made the score 34 to 33. A double foul made the final score 35 to 34.

The Wesleyan personnel - Harper, Ogden, Mack, Alcorn and Christenson played during the entire game.

The Ottawa team took their defeat like gentlemen.

The referee - Ottawa Coach - gave both sides a square deal. R.L. Sweet was the umpire.

1910-1919

1910

Coach Ray A. Mack, KWU Student

Roy Mack set a new KWU scoring record with 26 points and also made 13 of 14 field goal attempts for a percentage of .889 on January 12, 1910. This broke the old record of 25 points by Fred Larsen against Concordia Normal in 1907.

Highlight Game: @ Fairmont (Wichita State) (Salina Daily Union, Jan 14)

The Wichita Report

The Wichita Eagle gives this write-up of the Salina-Wichita basketball game at Wichita Tuesday night:

The team from Salina Wesleyan College proved entirely too fast for the Fairmont basketball bunch yesterday afternoon, winning an interesting game by the score of 50 to 31. The local team showed a few bursts of speed, but for the most part were outclassed on both offense and defense and also showed inferior team work to the visitors.

Solter of Fairmont was the individual star, his work all over the court being fast, his basket tossing after fouls were accurate, and his flying block of one toss that had apparently gone through the basket being the features. Mack, of Salina also showed strong.

The game opened at 3:30 and the visitors started off with a rush, securing three baskets in less than that many minutes. Fairmont closed the first half with a brace, but the score at the middle of the game stood 30 to 11 in favor of the visitors. During the second half the locals showed more strength. Bruce was substituted for Miller about the middle of the half and Snyder played the last few minutes in place of Hodgson.

1911

Coach John Holland Banker, KWU Student

            Record         Won         2         Lost         8         1st Year

Season Record         Won         2         Lost         8

The Dec 15 game with Bethany was the first basketball contest played in the new YMCA Building in Salina.

Cost for home games was 25 cents per person.

Highlight Game: Fairmont (Wichita State) (Salina Evening Journal, Jan 19)

LOST GAME ON A FOUL WESLEYAN HAD FAIRMONT

LICKED BUT EXPLODED

Final Score 43 to 42 - Wesleyan Seconds

Beat St. Johns by

27 to 15

Two games of basketball were played Wednesday evening at the Y.M.C.A. gym. The second Wesleyan team defeated the St. Johns five by a score of 27-15. Fairmont college won from the first team of the K.W.U. by a score of 43 to 42. St Johns and the Wesleyan seconds played the first game. It was a little one-sided. The St. Johns boys were outclassed in weight and team work. Watson featured for the Wesleyan and Thompson for St. Johns.

The game between Fairmont and the first five of the Wesleyan was fast and snappy. The visitors won the game on a foul. A Wesleyan player fouled one of the Fairmont five on a throw to the basket. At the end of the first half it appeared as if the Wesleyans would win easily, the score being 24 to 15 in their favor. The team work of both fives was good but apparently the Wesleyan boys lost their wind in the second half. Fairmont ran the score up until it was a tie and then won on a foul. Haymaker and Miller starred for the visitors and Green and Ogden did good work for the local team.

1912

Coach Ralph Carroll (Played at Cooper, U. Pennsylvania, Washburn) Became athletic director at Salina High School

            Record         Won         5         Lost         4         1st Year

Season Record         Won         5         Lost         4

Highlight Game: @Friends (Salina Daily Union, Jan 31)

LOST SECOND GAME

Rows of Posts Too Much for Wesleyan Team

The Wesleyan University basketball team was defeated by a team of Friends University Tuesday evening by a score of 34 to 24. The game was rather roughly played although the work was quite fast.

The hall in which the game was played has rows of iron posts through it and this badly handicapped the Salina visitors. The Friends team is at home among the iron posts but the visitors frequently collided with them.

Highlight Game: McPherson (Salina Daily Union, Feb. 6)

MERRY MACKS WIN A TUSSLE

Almost a Prize Fight During a Basketball Game

WAS SOME BITTER FEELING

Charges Made that McPherson Umpire Was Unfair

Anyway McPherson Won

In a game which ended in a fight and which was featured by alleged punk referee work on the part of the McPherson umpire, the Wesleyan basketball team was defeated Monday evening by the McPherson college team by a score of 32 to 24. During the entire game the McPherson referee called only one foul on his own team and all of the remainder of the fouls were called by Cannon, the umpire. Charges of unfairness were made against Schrader of McPherson College. He refused to allow Royer to be put out of the game after four personal fouls had been called on him. This referee did not call fouls or run the game according to the rules as is generally the case, but ran the game according to his own ideas, is the charge made.

Both teams played very rough and the fouls piled up rapidly, nineteen for McPherson and twenty for the Wesleyan. Neither team made a great showing on free throws.

All through the game Royer, the McPherson guard was roughing Stevens and at the end of the game picked Stevens up and tossed him against the floor and then the fight started only to be stopped. Coach Carroll, all he had to say about the game was that Stevens was no good in a boxing match or he would have made Royer look sick at the close of the game.

1913

Coach: Albert B. Cowden (Salina Y.M.C.A.)

            Record         Won         4         Lost         5         1st Year

Ralph Carroll (Salina Y.M.C.A.) Took over as coach for February Road Trip

            Record         Won         1         Lost         4         1st Year

Season Record         Won         5         Lost         9

Salina High School was preparing to enter the District 5 Tournament (state qualifier) with an undefeated record. Salina went on to lose in the second round to Reno County High School (Hutchinson) at the state tournament in Lawrence. Three of the Salina starters (Charles Corsaut, Roy Boyer, Harley Ladd) came to Wesleyan the next year as Salina High School finished the season winning 16 and losing only the last game.

Coaches Carroll and Cowden played on the Salina YMCA Select team that played the Bushton Athletic Club (who claimed to be winning the Kansas state basketball championship) with a final score of Salina YMCA 150, Bushton A.C. 24.

Highlight Game, Haskell (Salina Evening Journal, Jan. 19, 2013)

LO, THE POOR INDIAN FELL BEFORE ATTACK OF THE PALEFACES

WESLEYAN SHOWED UP WELL

Surprised the Crowd in One of the

Best Games Ever Seen Here.

Redskin and paleface met in combat in Salina last Saturday night at 10:00 o’clock and when the smoke of the fiercest battle of the year had died away the scorekeepers found that lo, the poor Indian, was behind, 48 to 44. The modern paleface collegians from the Wesleyan had turned the trick in one of the fastest and most aggressive basketball games ever seen in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium. The nearest approach to its kind was the Newton-Salina game last spring, but Saturday night’s speed and aggressiveness predominated rather than roughness.

It was seen from the minute that Referee McCarroll gave the initiative war-hoop that the fight was to be to a finish and the speed that never lagged during the contest was shown in the first minute of play. The Wesleyans tossed the first goal and the game then went on for the full time, never a time coming when either side could claim anything like a commanding lead.

At the end of the first half the Indians were just one point to the good and the big chief, who did the coaching believed that the endurance of his men would tell. He was mistaken, however, as the white boys showed endurance as well and with a rapid spurt in the last half took the lead again, never to be headed. The Indians showed well in the last few minutes and were drawing dangerously near at the close.

The Wesleyan team surprised even their admirers at the class they showed in the game and from now on they can be expected to give a great account of themselves. Saturday’s night exhibition should give them an idea as to the speed expected and if it is kept up a great record should be made.

Manager Andrew Ogden played the game at forward under the disadvantage of grippe and the neuralgia. He did not come up to his usual standard of speed and aggressiveness, but since he succeeded in shooting eight goals, some of them spectacular, he may be forgiven for his condition.

The big surprise of the game, however, was work of Earl Green, a guard. It was the first real game for Green and he had only been in a few scrimmages. Yet he showed well in fast, aggressive work and guarded well. He replaced Kuhn at the middle of the first half and played out the game with credit. While he does not know the game as well as Kuhn he has much more speed and strength.

The other players also showed up well. Parsons at center is slow but he showed spurts of speed at times and promises to develop into a good center, if he livens up from experience. Boyer played his usual strong game at forward and assisted materially on Ogden’s eight goals besides six of his own. Charles Cannon played a fine running game at guard.

The Indians possessed a number of fast players and Richards at forward was a spectacular player. They played a fine game, although showing a propensity for fouling. Ralph McCarroll referred the game in great style and kept the contest and players under control at all times:

1914

Coach George R. Edwards, Missouri University

            Record         Won         9         Lost         2         1st Year

Physical Education Director, Salina Public Elementary Schools and Salina High School

Head Coach Football and Basketball, Salina High School

Season Record         Won         9         Lost         2

The Bethany game was for the mythical Central Kansas Collegiate Championship as Washburn had beaten Wesleyan and Bethany had beaten Washburn.

The Kansas Intercollegiate Athletic Association title was more difficult to determine. Kansas University and Kansas State Agricultural College were not members in 1914. All seventeen members did not play each other and the champion was determined by the winner of the most games against conference opponents. The Kansas University wins by KWU did not count and kept the Wesleyan from a KIAA basketball championship.

Charles Corsaut, freshman from Salina, hit 9/10 free throws against Washburn (Feb 23) and 10/11 against Kansas University (Feb 26).

March 7 loss by Bethany to KWU was the first Bethany home court loss in six years.

Highlight game (Kansas University, Salina Evening Journal, Feb 17, 1914)

K. U. COLLEGE LOST WESLEYAN PLAYERS WERE IN GAME THROUGHOUT TOO FAST FOR THE VISITORS

The Contest was Not in Doubt at

Any Time During the Evening

Victory came easy to the Kansas Wesleyan last night and the Kansas University college team was defeated without trouble by a score of 56 to 28. The game belonged to the locals from the start and there was not a time that the visitors from K.U. had a chance to take the contest as the players seemed unused to the fast, aggressive play of the Wesleyanites.

The Wesleyan played a fast game and the guards held the visitors close and although they repeatedly got the ball under the basket the fast work always broke up the threatened goal. Kansas showed fine team work at times and some good passing, but the trys for goal were pitiful. Rapid guarding destroyed the chances each time and the ball would go back to the Wesleyan goal. A number of good goals were tossed, however, and the visitors indulged in 13 plays of this nature.

The Wesleyan team, however, took the