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ATHLETICS

Parallel with the establishment of our identity as a separate unit of the public school system came the necessity of forming some sort of an organization to encourage athletics among the pupils and in the spring of 1902, through the earnest effort of the boys, an association was formed for that purpose. At the same time there was also created an Advisory Board, consisting of Messrs., Bassett, Wright and Wilder, who worked in conjunction with Messrs. J. J. Garner and Joseph Cogbill, the newly elected President and Manager of the organization.

Naturally the baseball was the first branch of sports to be organized. A number of students qualified and a team was formed. Games were played with the following schools: Howard University, M Street High School and the Normal School. In the greater number of these games our boys were victorious.
 
After the close of school our Association had nothing before it until the following Autumn. At the inauguration of the football season an enthusiastic squad turned out day after day, anxious to capture places on the eleven. As a result of close observation on the part of our ambitious coach, Mr. Murray, we were able select a very strong team, with Mr. Whittington Bruce as Captain. Games were played with representatives of Howard University, M St. High School, the Belmonts and Baltimore High.

The last game of the season was played at Hampton, Va., where for two hours we struggled against an eleven composed of Indians and colored boys; the fittest athletes of the Institute. Defeat, our portion, was bitter; but the splendid hospitality of Major Morton and Captain  Allen Washington soon drove from our minds all thought of our loss and we spent the remainder of our all-too-short day in visiting the great institution founded by the great and good General Armstrong, for whom our school is named. A pleasant feature of our stay was witnessing the unveiling of the motto of the class of '03 which occurred in the main dining hall at 7 o'clock in the morning. The motto is "Service, Our Mission." Well may we adopt it as ours. 

With the return of spring has come the reorganization of our baseball team, which has so far proved satisfactory. Our Captain is Mr. William Grant and our Manager Mr. Whittington Bruce and through the earnest efforts of these gentlemen the players have been filled with that enthusiasm which is the forerunner of all successful effort.

And now for the future of Armstrong's athletic sports. Will she be successful or will she fail? We hope for the former and our hopes are justified by our present prospects, which seem to indicate a brilliant career for "Old Armstrong" on track and field. 

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[[image - Black and White photograph of the school's baseball team in uniform and men standing behind in dress clothing]]