Douglas Pappajohn introduced tumbling as part of the PE
program 59 years ago. Following him, Michael Luchak continued the program with
much enthusiasm. Although the teams had no official name, Bernie Leavitt says
her team called themselves the Tumbling Tumbleweeds and what fun they had!
Saturday night entertainments often included a tumbling
act. One evening Russ Spangler, Gordon Guild, Louis Johnson, Don Williams and
brothers Dick and Werner Seidel demonstrated the “kick” that CUC’s water has.
They lined up, each taking a sip of water, and then all fell backwards as one.
Even the faculty displayed their tumbling skills for
Faculty Talent Night. The team was made up of Vic Fitch, Colin Campbell, Curtis
Wolfe, Orval Lorenson, George Schafer and Allen Robertson under the direction
of Luchak. They were assisted by two unknown female clowns.
The greatest highlight of 1961 was the arrival of the
school’s first trampoline in November. It was introduced by Michael Luchak at a
Benefit Program presented to raise money for the $650 piece of equipment. Admission to the program
was: 50ȼ for adults; 25ȼ for students; and 15ȼ for children.
Members from the audience were called up to show their
trampoline skills. All earned considerable applause with the youngest being
2-year-old Gary Tetz (President Johnson’s grandson) who found it had more
bounce than his parents’ bed. But a thunderous applause erupted when President
H.T. Johnson removed his glasses, kicked off his shoes, mounted the trampoline
and experienced uncertain thrills for the first time on the unpredictable
surface.
by Edith Fitch
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