Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni "Sports Pics for Class of 1924"

The pictures are as represented in the Woodrow Wilson High School, Portsmouth, Virginia yearbook or annual of the year indicated on the page. The Memory pictures may not be complete and pictures and names may have been removed by request of the person involved. Also, it does not offically indicate the year of graduation and/or that the party in question graduated. This section of the website is dedicated to the memories of all alumni and are found in personal items that alumni have saved and were kind enough to allow it to be shared with others. Thank You. If you are not represented in your class, or have other pictures for the memories section you may submit a photo to be added. John “Eddie” Lee ’68.

The season opened with a victory over Cape Charles by a 19-0 score in a poorly played game. Wilson's first appearance was not impressive; they lacked the spirit and dash of former teams. Captain Holcomb probably the best game for Wilson, although Tenney and Ellis played well. Cape Charles was unable to cope with the heavier line of the Presidents but their defense was good.

Hard luck! We lost to the Walter Reid team by one point, score 7-6, in a ragged game marred by many fumbles and had punting. Wilson seemed to lack team-work and the defense was poor. Newport News, slightly heavier, took advantage of several of the many breaks and in the third quarter scored a touchdown. The Presidents came back strong in the fourth quarter and began a march down the field which resulted in a touchdown but the try for point was missed by inches. Tyler and Ellis, with beilliant end runs, featured in the Wilson offense, and on the defense Roundtree, Griffin and Allen played well.

When the Frosh of William and Mary came down to play the Presidents they met a different team from the one which played the Friday before. They displayed mid-season form and a remarkable defense, which smothered everything the "Frosh" attempted. Capt. Holcomb, Tenney, Leitman and Ellis played stellar ball for Wilson.

The first journey into foreign territory resulted in a victory for Wilson. The Spider freshmen went down in defeat before the superior form of the Presidents in a slow, listless game, score 13-7. Leitman was the outstanding player for Wilson, recovering a kick blocked by Rose and scoring a touchdown, and then in the third quarter intercepting a forward pass for the other score. The whole team played a spectacular defensive game.

Fifteen rahs! Back in the race for Tidewater Champs. Hampton fell before the steamroller of the Presidents, and to leave nothing undone Tootise Tyler ran rings around them for the final tune of 21-0. Tenney, Leitman and Holcomb bartered the Hampton line time after time for the needed yards and Rose and Scott at end broke up anything the Crabbers attempted. When the Crabbers tried to gain through center they met Porter, Roundtree and Griffin, who put up a determined resistance and the Hampton gains were few and far between. Every man n the Wilson team played superior football, thus out tale of victory.

The Goobers brought a fighting team down from Petersburg but they failed to stop the onward march of the Presidents,. Cook, the Petersburg quarterback was the only man on the team who could gain ground for them and his broken field running was brilliant. But it takes more than one man to score on Wilson and after the first half the Presidents marched down the field time and again for three touchdowns and a field goal. Tyler and Ellis, our speed kings, showed their heels to the opposing team and Holcomb hit the line for many gains. "Red" Allen and "Bill" Scott were right there when it came to breaking up opponents plays,

Didn't you hear the noise and news? "Maxie"---our "Maxie"---kicked a field goal in the first quarter and won the game for Wilson.

Before a crowd estimated at nearly 5,000, Muary, our bitterest rivals, fell before the brilliant playing of our entire team, score 3-0. Every man on his toes fighting, and backed by nearly the entire student body, who were rending the air with martial yells, the team played a truly wonderful game. Many times defeat was staring hard, but always that reserve energy, which has won many a hard fought game, was there and the Commodores were turned back.

Maury kicked off to Wilson and the ball see-sawed back and forth on the field. On an exchange of punts and a first down by Leitman dropped back, evidently to punt. The stands were silent. "Signals!" rang out clearly and the ball snapped. Leitman, taking his time, drop-kicked. Slowly, then gaining, the ball sailed, end over end, squarely between the goal posts, fully fifteen feet above it. And Maury student body was so quiet!

Leitman was the shinning light for the Presidents. He broke up passes, intercepted passes and gained whenever called upon. The entire team deserved the ovation given them because each one played the best and won.

Again we meet the Builders and this time it is a tale of victory. They didn't have a chance before the Presidents, who displayed the best form of the year. The final score was 25-0 and with it came the Championship of Division A of Tidewater High Schools. The line held like a stone wall and the entire backfield were stars of the game. Even Alex Smith, our star tackle, gave us the surprise of our lives when he pulled down a forward pass and "steamroller like" crossed the line. Uncorking a variety of plays that had the Builders guessing continually, Robertson, Tenney, Leitman and Capt. Holcomb displayed wonderful gaining ability and the entire line played a splendid defensive game.

Just a field goal! 3-0.

Are we downhearted? Not in the least. The game was a crdit to the losers as well as the State Champions. It was a clean, hard-fought game from beginning to end and our only "alibi" is that we'll beat them next year. Barnes, the Magic City's quarterback, was the star of the game. His heady running of his team contributed largely to their victory and brilliant teamwork. For Wilson, Tenney played a great game on the receiving, in forward passes and in hitting the line. Robertson and Leitman receive their share of praise for clean, hard playing. As a whole, however, the Presidents played such a good game, it would be unfair to pick the best player. Although, it may be said that the Presidents, fighting to the end played the best, cleanest, hardest game of the season.

Coaches Rafferty of V.M.I., Neal of U. of Va., and Cubbage of V.P.I., commented on the sportsmanship of the two teams, all of them declaring it the best high school game they had ever witnessed. Similar comments were heard from other coaches and men prominent in athletics from all over the state. We are proud of our team of 1923.