1948-49

THAT FIRST YEAR . . .
Football . Head football coach Ray Rosso, assistants John Owens and Wendell Pickens, were pleased as the Orange Coast Pirate football team won its first two games against Palomar 12-7 and Riverside 146. Fullerton stopped the Pirates winning steak 32 to 0 to give them their first defeat. When the dust of this first season settled, the record showed 3 wins and 5 defeats and fifth place in Eastern Conference standings. 70 practice uniforms used by the Pirates were purchased from the pro Los Angeles Dons. The uniforms had been used as game suits by the Dons.

Basketball . Miles Eaton, economist and political scientist, coached the first Pirate basketball team. Thirty-five candidates turned out for the first practice. The first game was played against Palomar and the Pirate team began its first season with a win, 54-36. The biggest win in that year was against the San Bernardino Indians though the odds-makers had predicted an Indian victory by 20 or 30 points. The Pirates however came through 45-43. The Pirate team concluded their first season by winning one game and losing two in the Western Regional Junior College Tournament.

Wrestling . Coach Elwood Spencer and his wrestling team made an impressive start for Orange Coast when they opened with wins over both Mt. San Antonio and Fullerton. In the Eastern Conference championship meet, the Pirate team captured our first Eastern Conference Championship and S individual titles.

Baseball . Coach Wendell Pickens' baseball team brought another Eastern Conference Championship to Orange Coast by defeating Fullerton in the last game of the season for the championship.

Track . Coach Ray Rosso's track team struggled through the Conference schedule without a victory. They were able to win two nonconference meets.

Tennis . Coach Bill Priest explains that two factors prevented the Pirate team from bringing home the Eastern Conference crown— ( 1 ) all but three players had no experience at all in the game, and (2) the other Eastern Conference schools all had tennis teams which were far beyond the Pirate caliber.

Golf . The Pirate golfers under the guidance of coach Wendell Pickens won the Eastern Conference championship with a record of 10 victories and 3 defeats.

SUMMARY—The first year resulted in an auspicious beginning for the Pirates in Eastern Conference competition. Three Eastern Conference crowns, in golf, wrestling and baseball, were evidence that the Pirates had to be reckoned with in all other sports.

Dr. Basil Peterson established the tradition of the President of Orange Coast College sitting on the bench with the team during all athletic contests. His tall figure became a familiar sight to all of those who followed Orange Coast College athletics.

The second year of athletic competition began with the Pirate football team charging to an 8-2 record. Defeated only by Santa Ana and Chaffey, Orange Coast's second year team ranked 16th in the nation.

The University of California's sailing team's four year winning streak came to an end as the Pirate sailors dumped the Bears 12-8 at Berkeley. This forecasted a bright future soon to be realized.

For the second year in a row the golf and wrestling teams brought the coveted Eastern Conference championships. The baseball team had to be satisfied with second place in the Conference.

It was this year that the Chaffey football game was played in dense fog at the Huntington Beach High School stadium. The fog was so thick that the timer could not follow the action. He had to go out on the field to keep correct time. George Hobbs was the Chaffey coach at that time and he was dressed identically with the timer. Assistant football coach John Owens saw this fellow through the fog and thought it was George Hobbs out there in the huddle with his team. John started to run out to kick him off the field. The only reason he didn't make it was because Dr. Peterson grabbed him and held on until he explained the situation. It gets easier as time goes on to understand why Dr. Peterson always sat on the bench with the team and the coaches.

Kenny Moats received the Most Valuable Athlete of the Year award for his athletic achievement, sportsmanship and over-all contribution to OCC athletics.

SUMMARY

The football season was highlighted with a Thanksgiving Day game at Klamath Falls with the Pirates defeating Oregon Tech 25-20. On the trip home the team served as ushers at the big game between Stanford and Berkeley. This was the completion of a hard-luck season which began by a tie with Fullerton 19-19, and defeats by Mt. San Antonio 32-14, San Bernardino 13-7 and Chaffey 28-20. The Pirates boasted the lightest football team in the Conference with a line average of 176 and a backfield average of 158 pounds. Coach Rosso had this to say about his team: "This team, considering only will to win, morale and playing up to its capabilities, was our best yet. We were small, but we didn't rely on size. We do rely on desire to play and this team had it."

Bob Yardley led the Pirate basketball team by annexing the Conference scoring title. He scored 464 points at the rate of 20.1 per game. However, the team tied for 6th place in the Conference race.

Hueston Harper became the new track coach and although the team made its finest showing to date this year, it was still in last place in the Conference standings.

General Stanley Ridderhof captained the Pirate golf team to a tie in the Conference Championship. Bob Marshall, medal play winner of the Eastern Conference, represented Orange Coast in the State Junior College Championship at Stanford and brought home a 5th place in the State finals.

The wrestling team with John Owens coaching and Fred Owens wrestling, wound up 1st in the Conference. The baseball team, fighting for its life most of the season, wound up in 4th place in the Eastern Conference.

Jack Bell was our lone entry in the Junior College State Swim championship meet held at Cal-Poly. Jack won first place on the one meter board and third place on the 3 meter.

Carleton Mears, a letterman in football, basketball and track, won the coveted Most Valuable Athlete of the
Year award.

SUMMARY

The Pirate football team started out with an upset by beating Santa Rosa 13-7 and demolishing that club's 27 game win record only to lose 14-0 to Oregon Tech in the second non-league game. The big Maroon and Grey team then ran by Fullerton 20-7 and Mt. Sac 24-14 before dropping a tough game to San Bernardino 14-6. However the Pirates came right back to beat Riverside 19-14 and for the first time in three years beat Chaffey 14-0. The Pirates then defeated Santa Ana for the first time 21-15 as Howard Miller and company sparkled to conclude the season. The Pirates were awarded the Eastern Conference Championship when two San Bernardino players were declared ineligible. Hal Smith and Fred Owens were co-captains of this championship team and Fred Owens received the Most Valuable Player award.

Basketball coach Miles Eaton's team made this their finest season with some of the stiffest competition OCC had ever met. This team won 14 games and lost ]3 and had a record of 10 wins and only 2 defeats at home, giving it fourth place in the Conference.

John Owens' wrestling team beat the only other wrestling team in the league, Mt. San Antonio, to wind up tops in wrestling for the fourth year.

Then came the greatest track meet of all time, Santa Ana vs. Orange Coast. No one who was there that day in 1952 when the Coast team beat Santa Ana in track for the first time will ever forget this event. Coach Harper describes the meet: "It took the tremendous efforts of Bruce Weed in the mile, half mile and two mile and Howard Miller in no less than four events, with his greatest achievement coming in the final event, the relay, where he came from behind, gaining 100 yards to win. The turning point of the entire meet was the fact that five men tied for third in the high jump. The one point for third place was divided five ways. Orange Coast was victorious because three of these men were members of the Pirate team. So the final score of the meet was Coast, 65-3/5—Santa Ana, 65-2/5. To quote the L.A. Times the next day, 'This is the closest score in a track meet that we have on record.' It was a team effort, but the support and encouragement of the various team members, especially captain Bob Van Drimlen, a competitive character, were what turned the trick."

The golf team under coach Wendell Pickens won its 4th Eastern Conference title in as many years.

This was a dark year for tennis, however, as coach Ray Rosso's netmen wound up their season with but one win and six defeats.

The baseball team tied for 2nd place in the Conference with an 87 win-loss record.

Howard Miller was named Athlete of the Year for his exploits in football, wrestling and track. Coach Rosso stated, "Howard proved to be the deciding factor in several of our 1951 games." Coach Harper said, "Howard has been a symbol of courage and competitive spirit. His leadership and effort on the field of play produced the needed morale to win in many cases."

SUMMARY

With a record enrollment of 750 students, OCC entered another battle in Conference athletics. The football season began with Coast beating John Muir 7-2 and rolling over Harbor 20-0. This is the year in which coach John Owens won the nick-name of "Skivits." It was said that John was the most active player of the Pirate team on or off the field. "A big-chested bundle of football tension and a self-made contortionist during a game he does everything from bending over backward and looking through his legs to placing a Japanese wristlock on his own ankles. Recently when a Harbor J.C. pass was completed deep in Pirate terrain he nearly strangled himself by grabbing his throat." ( Orange Coast Barnacle ) . But the Pirates dropped the Conference season opener 14-0 to Mt. San Antonio, lost their second to San Bernardino 14-0 before swamping Riverside 51-6; Chaffey fell before the Pirates by the identical score, and then Coast came from behind to beat Fullerton 14-12. Coast closed Conference play by beating the Santa Ana Dons 14-0. For the final game of the season Yuba Junior College beat Coast in a thriller by coming from behind 4 times to win 33-27. The Pirates tied with Mt. Sac for 2nd in the Eastern Conference.

Ray Stafford garnered third place in the Eastern Conference cross country meet and went on to place 7th in the State cross country meet.

This was the year in which Pappy Harris, equipment manager, retired. Bill Kimes said of him, "The most effective equipment manager I have ever seen. In all the time Pappy has been here the only athletic equipment lost was one headstrap. A member of the San Bernardino football team ate it!" Pappy's closing statement was, "There's a good bunch of coaches here, and I never saw any finer kids—even in the Navy."

John Owens tried to save wrestling as an Eastern Conference sport, but found out that Orange Coast was the only college in the Conference to field a wrestling team this year. He learned it doesn't pay to win every year. Sooner or later you will find yourself playing all alone.

Miles Eaton coached his basketball team in a number of thrillers as the Pirates beat San Bernardino 64-62 over coach Ray Blake's protests, defeated the Conference champion Fullerton in the 1st round by a 78-69 score and tied for second place in the Conference.

Coach Wendell Pickens' baseball team brought the Conference Championship to Coast when the Pirates were named co-champions along with Mt. San Antonio. An Eastern Conference playoff was held with pitcher Ted Herrera holding the Mounties to 4 runs while Coast marched in 9 to win the right to compete in the State playoffs. In the first game against John Muir, Coast led by 15 runs going into the third inning and held on to win 21-14. Long Beach City College then won two squeakers in a row 7-6 and 11-8 to win the Southern California title.

Wayne Braga was selected as Athlete of the Year. He lettered one year in football and two years in baseball. He also led the Coast batters with a 326 average. He led the football squad in punt returns, ranked third in passing, and was named the most outstanding back on the team.

SUMMAR Y

The football season became slightly hysterical when Coast beat John Muir 13-6, Harbor 13-7 and San Mateo 13-6 as tailback John Steinborn amassed a total of 345 yards. In the first Conference game, Coast lost a thriller to San Bernardino 12-7, lost their second game to Riverside, found the winning track again as they blanked Chaffey 19-0, beat Santa Ana again 22-13, lost to Fullerton 13-2 and beat Mt. Sac 100, to wind up fourth in the Conference with a 3-3 record. John Steinborn was both Eastern Conference and Southern California individual scoring champion, was unanimously named the Eastern Conference Player of the Year and was selected as the United Press All Southern California Junior College backfield.

Water sports ofllcially began with the dedication of a sparkling new swimming pool. Coast was awarded both the Eastern Conference and the Southern California junior college swimming championship meets for 1954. The first Orange Coast water polo team under Coach Joe Kroll wound up in a tie with E1 Camino College for third place in Southern California Junior College Water Polo Conference.

Paced by Roy Stafford and Ray Montoya, Orange Coast harriers placed third in the Eastern Conference Cross Country Championship behind Mt. San Antonio and Santa Ana.

This was the year that Orange Coast launched their rowing program. February 15 was set as the date for putting two of eight partially usable Pirate-owned shells in the water. The two floated were an eight-oared shell and a four-oared shell. At the request of the Board of Trustees, the Board of Supervisors of Orange County approved the lease by the college of 200 feet of harbor front property in order to provide space for Coast's rowing and sailing programs. Ken Peterson coached Coast's first crew.

Coach Eaton's basketballers broke even in their Conference play this year with a 6-6 record and fourth place in the Conference.

Chuck Atkinson and Bud Belshe were named to the 1954 National Junior College All-American swimming team. They were selected in the same three events, the 220 yard, 440 yard and the 1000 meter free styles. Belshe, whose quarter-mile and 1500 meter "mile" times were the best junior college marks in the nation for these events, also made the All-American team in the 150 yard individual medley.

At the State Junior College swim meet, held at Fresno, Belshe capped a nearly-perfect junior college career with three championships and meet high-point honors, winning the Helm's Athletic Foundation High Point Trophy for the third consecutive meet. Belshe won the 220, 440 and 1500 titles, to make it three straight in each, previously winning the Eastern Conference and Southern California crowns. In team standings, in the first year of competition, Coast was in sixth place in the State.

Coach Pickens' Pirate baseball team won their second Eastern Conference Championship in a row. Then in the first round of the State Championship playoffs, Ted Herrera pitched shut-out ball for eight innings to defeat Palo Verde 8-2. But for the second straight year in a row, Long Beach beat Coast twice, 5-2 and 5-0, after the Pirates had won the first game 12-6.

The Pirate golfers finished in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference and 14th in the State.

The tennis team finished in fourth place in the Eastern Conference while the track team also finished fourth in the Conference.

Don Carter, letterman in baseball and basketball, was Athlete of the Year.

SUMMARY

Coast's enrollment jumped from 679 to 1037 this year, but the Pirate football team, 44 strong, lost their first two games to East Contra Costa and Harbor by identical scores of 19-0. The Pirates scored in their 3rd game but still lost to San Mateo 19-7. After losing some heartbreakers in the closing seconds of play to Santa Ana and Long Beach, Coast closed its worst season to date, 0 wins - 10 losses.

The Pirate water polo team wound up in sixth place in the Southern California junior college water polo league with a 4-7 record. The cross country team placed second in Eastern Conference behind the Santa Ana Dons.

Although the Pirate's basketball team finished in sixth place in the Conference, Ron Winterborn scored enough times to better the school's individual record for the most points scored in league play for one season. Ron scored 251 to beat the 245 record set by Bob Yardley. Yardley, however, still holds the scoring honors for season's play with 468 to Winterborn's 467.

Orange Coast hosted the Eastern Conference Swim Meet and placed second to Fullerton. Coast also hosted the Southern California Swimming Championships as swimming stars from all over Southern California converged on Costa Mesa for a record-breaking swimming meet.

Coach Rosso's golfers wound up in 2nd place in Eastern Conference golf. Coach Harper's track team came in fourth in the Conference while the crew, under coach Paul Baptiste, hosted the Western Spring Regatta at Newport Beach.

The "Picken's Men" won their 3rd Eastern Conference Championship in a row the hard way with a come-from-behind performance to beat out Riverside. They beat Riverside on "Pirate Day," then went on to defeat San Bernardino 17-2 while Riverside lost to Chaffey. In the first game of the State playoffs, Coast defeated Citrus 14-0 to qualify for the Southern California championships. In the two out of three championship playoff, the Pirates lost the first game 13-3. They then came from behind, as they had all season, to defeat Los Angeles City College 8-2 and 8-1 in the final two games for the Southern California crown. Wayne Coughtry's unbelievable performance in pitching the last two games and hitting a home run in each was the outstanding individual performance of the year. The Pirate team then journeyed north only to lose in the final State playoff.

Buddy Belshe won the Athlete of the Year award. He was ranked as one of the best junior college swimmers in the nation. Belshe won four State titles, two Helm's trophies and established Orange Coast records in all free-style events from 50 yards through 1500 meters.

SUMMARY

After losing 13 straight games the Pirates broke the jinx by upsetting a favored Chaffey eleven 14-7 in the new Pirate Stadium. They followed up this win by upsetting the Santa Ana Dons 20-13 but then ran into two powerhouses, Fullerton and Mt. San Antonio, and suffered two defeats 32-6 and 34-0. The Coast eleven then found their winning ways and ended the season right behind Fullerton and Mt. San Antonio in third place in the Conference standings. Coaches Rosso, Osborne and Poore had reason to be proud of a team slated to wind up in the cellar that with spirit and determination beat their way up to third place.

Coach Picken's cross country team maintained its consistent upper division showing by taking third place in the Conference.

This was Coast's best year in water polo. The Tenth Annual Junior College Water Polo Tournament was held in the Pirate pool this year. Coast defeated E1 Camino 9-8 in an overtime period and then was defeated by Fullerton 7-6 in another overtime game. The season was highlighted by Coast's defeat of Fullerton in their second overtime game 10-9.

Coach Stu Inman came to Orange Coast College to take over the Pirate basketball team. The Pirates enjoyed a fine season with an overall total of 18 wins and 9 losses, and fourth place in final Eastern Conference standings. Included in their victories were wins over Santa Ana and Fullerton and a single win over the Conference champions, San Bernardino.

This was the year coach Pickens and the Pirate baseball team became the first club in the Eastern Conference history to go unbeaten through the schedule, and they won the Conference crown for the fourth straight year. In the playoff for the Southern California Championship, OCC defeated Compton 8-5 to qualify for the final Southern California playoff against Long Beach City College. The first game was a sluggers battle in which the Pirate nine came from behind on three occasions to beat Long Beach 9-8 in thirteen innings. In the second game, Don Leigh shut out the powerful Long Beach club while the Pirate hitters had a field day to defeat Long Beach 11-0.

The Barnacle reports that Long Beach was all set to face the expert pitching of Wayne Coughtry or Jim Newkirk, but never did they expect they would be facing the slants of little Don Leigh, whom one reporter called "a recruit from the library."

The three game series for the State Championship was held at Orange Coast as they hosted the Northern California champion, Coalinga. The first game saw the Pirates-take advantage of a ninth inning error to overcome a 4-0 deficit by scoring 4 runs after two were out in the ninth inning and winning it in the tenth by 5-4. Saturday's final lasted 15 innings with Butch Coopman driving in Rowland Hill with the winning run to defeat Coalinga 3-2 and to annex the first Pirate State Championship. Don Leigh, "the recruit from the library," was the winning pitcher in both games.

Coast swimmers again finished in second place in the Conference, behind Fullerton. Coach Ray Rosso led the golf team to a second place in the Eastern Conference, while the tennis team finished sixth in the league. The Pirate track team occupied the third position in Conference standing to round out an outstanding year in Eastern Conference
athletics.

Gary Johnson was named Athlete of the Year for his outstanding track and football records.


SUMMARY

Coach Al Irwin took over the head football coaching chores along with assistants Jim Stangeland and Bill Poore. They began the season with a roar as they scored three second-half touchdowns to slip past Glendale 20-13. They then walloped American River 42-12 and East Contra Costa 41-0. Up until this time Contra Costa had been ranked number 3 in the nation. The Fullerton Hornets next felt the Pirate sword as they fell 35-7. Coast was rated a touchdown favorite over Mt. Sac but had to settle for a 7-7 tie as the Pirates fumbled eight times and Mt. Sac recovered six. In one of the most exciting games ever played in the Orange Show Bowl, the Bucs came from behind in the second half and held on to defeat San Bernardino 20-19. Chaffey was beaten 31-7, but last-place Riverside held Coast to a 26-26 tie as fumbles cost the Pirates a victory. The final Conference standing was 4-0-2 for Orange Coast and their second Conference Championship. Numerous bowl bids were taken into consideration with a bid from the Potato Bowl at Bakersfield accepted. Orange Coast played its first bowl game against Stockton, losing by a hard-fought 20-12.

Coach Stu Inman's hard-charging basketball team lost a thriller to Fullerton in two overtime periods 83-82, to go behind in the first round of the Eastern Conference race. But the Pirate team returned the compliment when in the second round they defeated Fullerton for the first time since 1952 on the Hornet's court, 54-51. The Pirates and Hornets wound up the season as co-champions of the Conference. They played off for the right to represent the Eastern Conference at the State playoffs. Coast lost this final game to Fullerton 81-79. Dennis Fitzpatrick and Jeddy Young were selected to the All Southern California junior college basketball teams.

OCC was crowned the Eastern Conference baseball champion for the fifth straight year. However they went down to defeat at Pasadena in a sudden-death State playoff game.

Coach Al Irwin took over the swim team. The Pirate team finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference and placed 5 men on the Junior College All-American swim team.

Stan Hopkins broke the National junior college pole vault record while winning the State title at Modesto. Jon Visel placed third in the discus with his best toss of the year—162'. Jim Stangeland, Bill Poore and Hueston Harper coached this year's track team.

Ted Coutts, co-captain of last year's State Championship and this year's Conference Champion baseball squads and member of the cochampion basketball team, was named Athlete of the Year.

SUMMARY

This was the year that the Orange Coast College official colors changed from Maroon and Grey to Scarlet, Black and White, and Coast entered its 10th year of athletic competition.

Head coach Steve Musseau and assistants George Davis and Bud Goodell were the masterminds defending the Eastern Conference football crown. The Orange Coast College team was ranked 9th in the nation as they started the 1957 season. The Pirates edged East Contra Costa 13-12 in the opener, then traveled to Phoenix to defeat the Bears 19-0. In the first Conference game, Coast defeated Fullerton 21 -7. Citrus was next 21-12. Mt. San Antonio and company handed Coast its first defeat of the season, 20-14. In the next game Gary Bagley scored three touchdowns as the Pirates beat the San Bernardino Indians 27-6 to regain their winning way. Coast won the next two against Riverside 13-6 and Chaffey, 13-12. The Eastern Conference title was on the line in the last game of the season with undefeated but once-tied Santa Ana. The Pirate stadium was filled to capacity as Orange Coast's Ed Chambers, Gary J acobsen, Bob Barker, Jim Newkirk, George Allen, Al Story and Ed Bain put up a stonewall front line that kept the Dons from starting a drive until the final minutes of the game. Final score, OCC
13 - Santa Ana 6.

The Orange Coast district communities and the college campus surged with excitement as the Junior Rose Bowl Committee met to pick the California team for the Junior Rose Bowl. The Pirate team had been Conference Champions for two years in a row, had concluded a most successful season and seemed to be the team to pick. Sportswriter Ralph Alexander of the Los Angeles Examiner wrote: "In a surprising and unprecedented action, Cerritos Junior College was named to represent the West in the 11th Annual Junior Rose Bowl." So the dream of roses disappeared and disappointment reigned on the 10th anniversary of Orange Coast College.

Al Irwin took over the water polo reins and Orange Coast placed third in the Southern California water polo league.
Alan Sawyer, once UCLA's outstanding basketball player, became head basketball coach and welcomed Roger Gurich, the lone returning letterman. Coach Sawyer installed the fast break to get the Coast squad off and running. Sportswriters picked the Bucs for the cellar but coach Sawyer and Roger Gurich had other things in mind and beat Santa Ana with one second remaining when Gurich sank a 20 ft. jump shot for a 70-68 win and a perfect 4-0 Conference record. They continued their winning ways to win the Eastern Conference Championship and the right to journey to Bakersfield to participate in the State basketball playoffs. Roger Gurich won honors as the Eastern Conference Player of the Year. Coast was defeated in its final basketball game in the State Championship by Oakland 75-57.

Coach Dean Burchett, a member of our first wrestling team and undefeated in two years of wrestling at OCC, began his second year as coach of the wrestling team. Fred Oelkers finished second in the 137 pound class to gain the only point for Coast in the State wrestling tournament.

The Pirate swim team, under coach Al Irwin, won the Eastern Conference Championship by scoring 164 points to Mt. Sac's 105/2 and Fullerton's 811/2. This was the first time Fullerton did not win the championship since its origin. The Eastern Conference meet was climaxed when the team threw the coach, its own members and a stray girl into the pool. The Pirate team went on to finish its most successful season by taking 2nd place in the State junior college championship meet.

The Tennis team under coach Maurice Gerard had their best season with a 3-3-1 record in Eastern Conference play and a tie for fourth in the Conference. The OCC baseball team, Conference Champions for the last five seasons in succession and six in the history of the college, had to be satisfied with third place this year.

This was the year coach Rosso's golf team won the State Championship. All of the people attending the Spring Sports Award Banquet will remember this great occasion as Ray gave a verbal description in his own inimitable manner, of each of the 36 holes of the contest. Dennis Murphy fired a 67 for the lowest single round score and a 145 for the match. Howard Dayton, Phil Roseberry and Gil Sharp, in addition to Murphy, were winners of this coveted State Championship.

This closed one of the finest seasons for Coast. Four championships were won: in basketball, football, swimming and a State Championship in golf.

Bob Patterson, captain of the Pirates Eastern Conference swimming champions, received the Athlete of the Year award. Bob was picked for his inspirational leadership as well as his point-getting value to coach Al Irwin's water polo and swimming teams.

SUMMARY

Enrollment increased 22.7 per cent to a total of 2161 students. 90 candidates turned out for football, however, coach Musseau was heard to say, "We have the quantity but some of the other Conference schools have the quality." The Coast eleven won their first game from American River with the help of a little luck and Gary Bagley's 70 yard punt return, 14-7. The second practice game featured an easy 33-14 win over Phoenix. The first Conference game was a thriller as the Pirates beat Mt. Sac 7-6 for a happy homecoming for the Pirate alumni. Rich Martin, the Barnacle sports writer, predicted the Coast eleven would beat San Bernardino by 17 points in their second league contest. In order not to disappoint Rich, the Pirate squad did just that in their 23-6 win. Fullerton then upset the high-flying Pirates by a startling 6-6 tie. As the Pirate team chanted "Every day in every way we get better and better," they defeated the Citrus Owls 40-8, and Pierce 23-5 for their seventh victory of the season. The Conferenceleading Riverside Tigers put a stop to all this when they defeated Coast in a hard-fought 13-7 game before a jam-packed crowd of l0,000 in the Pirate stadium. As they faced the Tigers, Riverside was rated number 1 in the nation and Orange Coast number 33. After the 13-7 defeat, Coast dropped to number 39. Somehow this didn't seem quite right. OCC then won over Chaffey 14-8 but the Santa Ana Dons had their revenge when they defeated the Pirates 33-15 and Coast had to be satisfied with 4th place in the Conference.

Coach Ray Rosso's cross country team finished third behind Mt. Sac and Santa Ana in the Eastern Conference and ended up 12th in the Southern California meet.

The water polo team finished second in the Eastern Conference behind Fullerton. Their overall record was a good 10 wins and 7 losses. Six of the seven losses were to two teams, three each to El Camino and Long Beach City College, the other to Fullerton.

Coach Alan Sawyer's potent basketball team got things moving in the right direction by winning the first two games in Conference play against Citrus and Fullerton. But then they were upset by a determined Chaffey team. Santa Ana won a cruicial game, 75-71, and Coast had to accept 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.

Records fell in the swimming world when coach Al Irwin and his aqua-men beat Long Beach City College. Coast became the first junior college in four years to beat Long Beach in dual meet competition. The meet was a thriller, 44-42, with Mike Gaughan setting a new J.C. record in the 220 yard free style. The meet was not decided until the last event, when Mills, Gaughan, Bray and Von Hemert won the fourman free style relay in the time of 3:33.3, a tenth of a second off the national record. The Pirates thus retained their Eastern Conference crown. The Coast team placed 2nd in both the Southern California and the State Swim championship meets to close a most successful season.

For the first time in OCC history, coach Maury Gerard's tennis squad won the Eastern Conference title. They sailed through a perfect 7-0 Conference season with a number of clutch victories in order to maintain their perfect record and to bring the championship to Orange Coast. The tennis team was so over-joyed, so elated, that they threw coach Gerard fully-clothed into the Pirate pool!

Ray Rosso's golf squad captured its fourth Eastern Conference Championship this year. They defended their State title at Fresno but finished fourth in the State tournament. Dennis Murphy, however, was the lowest scoring golfer in the tournament as he shot a 146 for this honor. Again we listened to coach Rosso's narrative of Murphy's 36 holes at the Spring Sports Award Banquet.

In a do-or-die playoff contest of a tie game with San Bernardino, the Coast baseball team dropped the crucial game, which meant the difference between first and second place in the Conference. The game ended 7-5 and a second place for the Pirates this year.

The crew under coach Paul Baptiste recorded seven wins and four losses against 4-year colleges and universities for a fine year.

The wrestling team under Dean Burchett was second in the Eastern Conference and Ken Roberts was State champion in his division.

The track team finished fourth in the Conference.

Gary Green was named Athlete of the Year. He was a top performer for two years on the basketball and baseball teams. Because of his outstanding record with the Pirate nine this year, he was proclaimed the Most Valuable Player in the Eastern Conference.

SUMMARY

Coach Steve Musseau and assistant coaches Herb Hill, Walt Anderson and Gib Dear came up with Henry Enriquez and company to win a 19-16 opening game with Oakland. The team flew to Salinas the next week-end to win another close battle 7-6 over Hartnell. Santa Ana stopped all wishful thinking with a 22-2 victory before 9,000 grandstand coaches in the Pirate stadium. The Bucs then lost to Mt. San Antonio, San Bernardino, Riverside, Fullerton and then defeated Chaffey and Citrus for the worst season since winless 1954.

This was the year of the beginning of the perpetual "losers trophy" with Fullerton College in the form of a grubby smudge pot, which must be placed on display in the Student Center for the entire year. We lost the game and won the smudge pot, which was displayed in the Student Center in all of its gilded splendor!

Coach Norman Lumian came to Orange Coast from a successful coaching experience at Aviation High School to take over cross country and track. He led the Pirates to their finest season in cross country. They defeated 50 teams while losing to only 22. They finished third in the Eastern Conference and seventh in Southern California.

Coach Norman Watson reported that his undefeated Pirate sailing team was barred from competing in the National Championships in Ohio even though they won the Pacific Coast Championship. This year the Coast sailors broke a 5 year hold on the title by Occidental College to win the P.C.C. title. The Inter-Collegiate Yacht Racing Association evidently could not find Orange Coast College listed in their blue book. No invitation or recognition was given to the Pacific Coast champions because of their junior college status.

Coach Sawyer's basketballers opened the Eastern Conference race with an 11 won - 2 lost record. In the first round of Conference play, the Pirates won 5 and lost 2. One of the losses was an overtime game with Santa Ana, 65-63. The other was with Fullerton. The second round was not so successful as Coast dropped games to San Bernardino, Fullerton and Santa Ana and had to settle for a 4-3 second round and a 9-5 Eastern Conference record.

The wrestling team under coach Dean Burchett hosted the Eastern Conference championship tournament and made a strong 2nd place finish in the league. They then placed ninth in the State meet held at San Bernardino.

The Orange Coast golf team under coach Ray Rosso won second place in the Conference and hosted the State Golf Championships at Mesa Verde and Santa Ana Country Clubs. The Pirate team placed seventh in the State.

Coach Gerard's tennis team finished second to Fullerton in the Conference with a 6-1 Conference record.

The swimming team under coach Al Irwin won the Eastern Conference crown, placed 2nd to Long Beach City College in both the Southern California and the State swimming tournaments. Bob Griesser and Raymond Bray were two outstanding All-American swimmers on this team. In addition to participating in these championship meets, they also swam in the National A.A.U. championships at Yale University.

The track team finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 3-6 record. The baseball team won co-champion Conference honors with San Bernardino. The Pirates defeated San Bernardino in a playoff to decide the Eastern Conference representative in the State playoffs. The first State playoff game was played at E1 Centro with Imperial Valley College. The Bucs made seven errors but managed to win in 10 innings, 6-5. No one on this championship team will ever forget the victorious flight home in a DC-3 with one good engine. The Southern California Championship was decided at L.A. Valley. The Pirate team was soundly beaten in the first game 13-6. Chuck Lauritson and Frank Rios pitched the deciding two games on Saturday as the Pirates came from behind to win the Southern California Championship 10-8 and 6-1. Orange Coast was the site of the State Championship when the Northern California champions, Oakland City College, journeyed to Costa Mesa. Coach Wendell Pickens nominated Bob Dahlen to pitch the first game for the Pirates. Dahlen had only pitched 5 innings of varsity ball but threw a sparkling 4 hit - no run game and the Coast team defeated the Thunderbirds in the first game, 1-0. The following day Dahlen returned to the mound in the eighth inning with the score tied 8-8. The Pirates squeezed a run in in the 13th inning to win the game and the State Championship, 10-9. This was the second time that coach Pickens brought home a State Championship.

The crew under coach Paul Baptiste enjoyed a successful season by winning 5 races and losing 2. At the Western Inter-Collegiate Sprinting Championship the Buc team won both the junior varsity and the freshman division.

Swimming and water polo star Ray Bray was named Athlete of the Year. He holds or shares six swimming records for Orange Coast College.


SUMMARY

Alumnus Fred Owens joined head coach Musseau and the OCC football coaching staff this year. Owens had played left guard under coach Ray Rosso in 1951 and was named the most valuable player on the Pirate team, captained the team to its first Eastern Conference Championship and was named to the All-Conference and All-Southern California first teams. But even Fred Owens couldn't keep the Pirate eleven from becoming the league cellar-dweller for the second consecutive year.

The Pirate cross country team under coach Norman Lumian won the first Conference Cross Country Championship in Pirate history. The team went on to place 3rd in the Southern California championship meet.

Tim Jones, Gary Clark and Ike Enzenauer provided many thrills as they played their final year of basketball for Coast and coach Sawyer. The team wound up in fourth place in the Conference.

The wrestling team under coaches Dean Burchett and Fred Owens came in second to San Bernardino in Eastern Conference competition. Dennis Strachen, Don Dantice, Tom Pollard, Tom Horen, Bob Hanning and Joel Miller all qualified to compete in the State championships. Tom Horen won a second place in the 137 lb. class.

The powerful Pirate sailing team closed another successful undefeated season of sailing under coach Norman Watson. Coach Watson stated that he was convinced we have the best team in the nation and the first and second best teams on the Pacific Coast. Even though it won the Pacific Coast InterCollegiate Championship, the team was not allowed to compete in the National championships.

The track team, under the guidance of coach Lumian and with great efforts by Ron Stomp and Bob Van Sickler, finished in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, marking the highest place ever attained by an OCC track team. Ron Stomp went on to capture a first and third place in the Southern California championships and third place in the State championships.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Pirate swim team under coach Al Irwin won the Eastern Conference Championship. They finished 3rd in Southern California and 5th in the State.

The tennis team finished second in the Eastern Conference. In the past three years the Pirate tennis team under coach Maurice Gerard had lost only two Conference matches—both to Fullerton.

The Pirate baseball team finished with a 24-6 record and a second place in the Eastern Conference. Coach Pickens' team had the added honor of winning the coveted Citrus Tournament trophy.

Pete Reed was named Athlete of the Year. The star swimmer held several OCC records and the State and National records in the 50 and 100 yard free-style events.

SUMMARY

The Pirate football team lost its first game to Foothill in its eleventh straight loss but came back to snap its losing streak with a 27-15 victory over Oceanside. Entering Eastern Conference competition, the Pirates were badly outclassed at Riverside 41-6. They upset Chaffey 14-8 but were defeated soundly by Santa Ana 64-7 and then by Mt. Sac 20-12. The Pirates came back to fight a 7-7 tie with San Bernardino only to run into the best Fullerton team in years and lose 40-0. The season ended with a victory when Citrus was defeated 20-0. From last place in the Eastern Conference in the previous year, OCC progressed to a tie for 5th place in Conference standings.

A hard-fighting water polo team tried to bring a Conference Championship to Coast, but in the final Conference game Fullerton defeated OCC after two overtime periods. Again coach ]rwin's team had to be satisfied with second place.

In the basketball wars, Coast was upset by the last place team, San Bernardino, 61-60 in the final game of the year. This pushed OCC down to a third place tie in Conference standings. Bill Kellenberger set an Eastern Conference record by hitting 45 consecutive free throws.

The wrestling team under coach Fred Owens finished second in Eastern Conference standings and fifth out of 23 teams contending for the State Wrestling Championship. Larry Nissen at 123 pounds captured the State title in his division.

Coach Irwin's swim team captured the Eastern Conference Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

The Pirate baseball team led by coach Pickens and son Gary, and with the strong right arm of Jerry Newman, won the Eastern Conference and Southern California Championships but were defeated by Fresno for the State Championships.

The high-spirited crew under coach Horace Stevens had a fine record of 4 wins and 2 losses. The highlight of their season was winning the consolation race in the Western Inter-Collegiate Rowing Championships by edging Oregon at the finish.

Jerry Newman, fast-balling right hander of Coach Pickens' championship baseball team, was baseball player of the year and OCC's Athlete of the Year.

SUMMARY

In this year coach Dick Tucker became the new head football coach at Orange Coast College. Coach Tucker for the past eleven years had been highly successful at Brea-Olinda High School, where his teams won seven championships and compiled an over-all record of 98 wins, 18 losses and 1 tie. His assistant coach at Brea-Olinda, Dale Wonacott, was enticed to come to Orange Coast with him. Coach Fred Owens remained as assistant to coach Tucker. The Eastern Conference was expanded to 10 colleges with the addition of Grossmont and Southwestern. This meant that all of the football games became Conference games. The Tucker-coached Pirate team opened as underdog against Chaffey College. Chaffey fell before the new Pirate look, 34-14. The All-American Grid Index picked Southwestern to win in the second game by a 13-7 count. However, for the second time in succession the Pirates upset the Grid Index prediction and won handily by a 26-0 score. Mike Hunter opened up the Citrus game with an 87 yard touchdown run on the kickoff and the Bucs were off to another victory by a 38-7 score. The Pirates next faced their smudge pot rivals, Fullerton, and although we hated to part with the "Golden Smudge Pot" after having kept it for three years, Fullerton won the losers' trophy when they fell before the potent Bucs, 35-20. Grossmont was the next victim 20-0. Mt. Sac was a tough opponent for the seventh Conference game, but the Pirates won again, 14-7. With seven Conference wins apiece, the Santa Ana-Orange Coast game was a natural. All the chips were loose on this game—the Conference Championship, the Junior Rose Bowl. The game was played in the Santa Ana Bowl. A record crowd tried to squeeze in the old wooden bowl. Children were screaming and women were fainting in the sardine-packed mob waiting for the gates to open. After a close first half, the Dons pulled ahead on a couple of breaks and went on to win, 34-12. The Bucs came back to defeat Riverside 29-14 for an 8-1 Conference record. The Pirates then accepted an invitation to play Glendale in the Orange Show Bowl in San Bernardino. The Pirates defeated the Western States Conference Champion 23-16 for a most successful season of nine wins and one loss. Coach Dick Tucker was honored with the title of Eastern Conference Coach of the Year by the Orange Empire Sportswriters Association.

The entire college was honored by winning the Eastern Conference Sportsmanship Trophy for the third time in the five years of its existence.

Coach Lumian's cross country runners finished third in the Conference while coach Irwin's water polo team finished second to round-out a very successful fall sports season for the Pirates.

OCC wrestlers finished third in the Eastern Conference behind San Bernardino and Grossmont. Larry "Spider" Nissen captured first place in the 130 pound division of the state wrestling tournament to bag more honors for Coast and to help coach Fred Owens' Pirates capture sixth place in the State.

Coach Sawyer's basketeers came on strong in the last half of Conference play to win six and lose three. In the first half of the double round the Bucs lost 5 and won 4. With a 10-8 Conference record, the Pirates finished in 5th place in Conference standings.

The Pirate racketeers under coach Gerard downed Fullerton in the last Conference match 6-3 to win all the marbles in Conference tennis.

Swimmers also brought home a Conference Championship as they easily won the three-day Conference championship meet. The team finished in 3rd place in the Southern California championships and placed sixth in the State meet.

The Coast tracksters compiled a total of 45 points to finish in 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Eric Berge, Gary Blockburger and Mike Lange set league records in their events. In addition, Mike Lange won the high jump at the West Coast Relays at Fresno with a leap of 6' 73/4".

The Pirate golfers completed their season with a third place in the Eastern Conference and a third place in the State tournament.

The Buc baseball team finished in a third place tie with Fullerton and Chaffey with a 10-8 record.

Dave Grant, former member of our crew and sailing teams, returned to Orange Coast to become head coach of these two sports. The crew had an excellent record of 11 wins and 4 losses while the sailing team continued its dominant position by maintaining the Pacific Coast Inter-Collegiate Championship. Larry "Spider" Nissen was named Athlete of the Year. Nissen won 43 consecutive wrestling matches in his two year campaign at Coast. He was also the State champion in his class for the last two years.

Orange Coast College was awarded the Eastern Conference Iron Man Trophy, honoring the Pirates for the best all-around sports program.


SUMMARY

Head football coach Dick Tucker, aided by backfield coach Dale Wonacott, line coach Fred Owens, and end coach George Mattias, greeted 90 players reporting for the opening practice session.

The first game of the season was played against the Southwestern Apaches at Chula Vista. President Basil H. Peterson sat on the bench with the team as he had for the past fifteen years as the 1963 edition of the Orange Coast College Pirate football team was unveiled. The Pirates took charge of the game immediately with two touchdowns in the first quarter. The game was never in doubt as Coast scored four times to win 24-0.

The second game was with the Citrus Owls who had just upset mighty Santa Ana 14-0. Pirate Stadium was filled as the game began. Mike Hunter put on his own special show before the game was four minutes old as he ran a punt back 91 yards for the first score. At halftime OCC led 27-0. The final score was 40-0. The strong defense held Citrus to only 62 net yards. San Bernardino fared no better and were crushed by the Pirate steam roller, 48-0. The annual "Smudge Pot" game with Fullerton was next. The Pirate defense was scored on for the first time this year as Fullerton went down to defeat in a hard-fought battle 13-6. So the Hornets got to keep the smudge pot for the second year. Grossmont was next on the schedule. Billy White, Mike Hunter, Bob Haynes, Joe Scott and company put on an offensive show while Ken Madison, Ron Paterno and company put on the defensive show, with the final score, OCC 48, Grossmont 7.

The game of the year came next as the Pirates traveled to Pomona to tangle with Mt. San Antonio College. The Pirates and the Mounties had identical 5-0 Conference records; comparing past games both looked equally strong and both were top contenders for the Western bid to the Junior Rose Bowl classic on December 14. For these reasons 18,000 spectators crowded into 12,000 seat Mountie Stadium to view the game. At the end of the first quarter the winner was obvious. Coast led Mt. Sac 21-0. Bob Haynes scored three touchdowns and kicked six extra points. Billy White completed 16 of 23 passes as the entire team put out their greatest effort of the year to do what the OCC student body had asked them to do before the game—they sacked Mt. Sac 50-24.

The Pirate Stadium was overflowing as the Santa Ana Dons came in for the next game. Revenge was sweet as the Pirates whitewashed Santa Ana 20-0. Fourth place Riverside gave ground grudgingly, but gave enough to lose 20-6.

In the last game of the season, the entire Junior Rose Bowl Committee along with its queen was in attendance. Ten thousand loyal Pirate fans jammed the Pirate Stadium to watch the show as the Pirate Redcoats left no doubt in anyone's mind by trouncing Chaffey 46-0. Coach Red Robertson of Northeastern Oklahoma A and M scouted this game and when asked if he would like to play OCC in the Junior Rose Bowl, stated: "I'd rather play that Chaffey team."

With this victory Orange Coast College won the bid to play Northeastern Oklahoma A and M in the Junior Rose Bowl on December 14, 1963. President Basil H. Peterson in his congratulatory message to the coaches, team and fans, said, "For the past 16 years it has been my privilege to speak to our football squad as each new season has been launched. On each occasion I have extended greetings, stressed the importance of scholastic achievement, expressed confidence in our coaching staff and encouraged each player to represent himself and Orange Coast College to the best of his ability. This fall I told the team that they would be champions if they had sufficient desire and the will to win. My challenge was accepted. Today we are Eastern Conference Champions. We have been selected to represent the junior colleges of California in the Junior Rose Bowl Classic. Our coaches and the members of the team are to be commended and congratulated on their outstanding achievement. This is the greatest football team in the history of OCC. Our success is not due alone to our team and coaches. There are many others who have worked hard and contributed much to a winning season. Appreciation is hereby expressed to Dr. Bernard Mason, team physician; Mr. Collins, equipment manager; student managers; pep commissioner Candy Ventura; yell leaders; song leaders; and to Mr. Williamson and the band. Finally, I should like to pay tribute to the dynamic student spirit which prevailed throughout the season. It was this spirit which provided our team with the will to win. I am very proud to be the president of Orange Coast College. Being selected to play in the Junior Rose Bowl game is not only a distinct honor, it also brings with it a great responsibility. We face the challenge to up hold the fine traditions of OCC and also the reputation of all of the junior colleges of California. We must get ready for the biggest football event in the history of Orange Coast. I am confident that our team and our student body will meet the challenge which confronts us." 

It seemed very appropriate that the president, who throughout his years of leadership at Orange Coast College had always sat on the bench with the athletic teams to share both their victories and defeats, should, in his final year at Orange Coast, sit on the bench with his team in the Rose Bowl.  

And so on this big day in the history of the college he shared with the Pirate team that great victory over Northeastern Oklahoma which made the Pirate team the number one team in the Nation. The final score—OCC 21, Northeastern Oklahoma 0. Billy White was  voted player of the game by the radio and TV announcers. Mike Hunter ran a close second in the balloting. Coach Robertson of the Norsemen praised the Buc defense. "Coast's backs were great, but it was  that line that made the difference. Boy did they whop the tar out of us. I couldn't believe the way they outplayed us on the line." 

Ken Madison led the Pirates in unassisted tackles followed closely by Ron Paterno and Joe Scott to lead the Buc defense.

So ended the greatest football season in the history of Orange Coast College. Ten wins, no losses and a victory in the granddaddy of all bowls, the Junior Rose Bowl, to rate the Pirate team as number one in the Nation! 

This year also marked the fourth time in six years of its existence that Orange Coast won the Eastern Conference Sportsmanship Trophy. Only two other colleges have ever won this trophy, Mt. San Antonio in 1960 and San Bernardino in 1961. The award is based on sportsmanship during the football season only. The judging is broken down into three main sections—sportsmanship in the rooting section; team sportsmanship, and yell and song leaders, band and drill team performances.

Coach Al Trwin's water poloists also had the greatest season in the history of the college. The team won the Eastern Conference Championship, and in so doing made it the first time that Fullerton has ever lost the Water Polo Championship. The Pirate overall record was a fine 18 wins against 6 losses.

The swim team also won the Eastern Conference Championship. They went on to capture 3rd in the Southern California championships and with a tremendous team effort were 2nd in the State championships. Pete Glasgow set a new national record in the 500 yard freestyle; Terry Craig tied the national record in the 100 yard backstroke, and OCC records were broken by Bob Nealy, Jim Rayl and Randy Howatt and the freestyle relay team. All in all in this State championship meet, climaxing the year of swimming, Buc swimmers tied one national record, broke another and broke 11 school records.

The sailing team, under coach Dave Grant, came through again to win another Pacific Coast Inter-Collegiate Sailing crown but were again turned down for competition in the National championships.

The track team under coach Ernie Bullard took 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Eric Berg qualified for the State meet and won the State Pole Vault Championship to climax the year for the track team.

Billy White, player of the game in the Junior Rose Bowl, Southern California athlete of the month in December, all-tournament second baseman in the Citrus tournament, was named Athlete of the Year at the Annual Spring Sports Award Banquet.

This was the year the Eastern Conference made its mark in the State athletic championships. One newspaper reporter wrote at the beginning of the year that because of the stringent rules and regulations governing athletics in the Eastern Conference the Conference was in its death-throes as far as competing athletically with the other Conferences was concerned. With all of the rules and regulations the Eastern Conference record stands far above any other Conference in the State. The record shows:

In 16 years of athletic competition, Orange Coast College has won 35 Eastern Conference championships, 3 State championships, and the National Football Championship. Orange Coast has set this record because of a superior Board of Trustees throughout the years, the excellent leadership by President Peterson, a superior coaching staff in all sports, and a fine group of athletes from the high schools surrounding Orange Coast College.

SUMMARY