In football, Gilbert moved into a starting role in head coach Karl Plath’s relatively new T-formation alignment, replacing graduated all-league quarterback Jim Miller.
Gilbert topped Ed Dargis of Morgan Park Academy 8-2 in the first round at state, edged Lyle Matzick of Sterling by a referee’s decision that decided a scoreless tie, and advanced to the finals with a 5-3 trimming of Lionel Bloom of Chicago Austin. He won two referee’s decisions in four bouts at the state finals, including a decision over Fred Loffredo of Tilden Tech in the title match after the two grapplers were tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation. Gilbert moved up in weight class to 154 pounds as a senior and showed a knack for winning the close ones on his way to the IHSA crown.
He won via forfeit over Joe Affronti of Chicago Austin, pinned Frank Witt of Rock Island in 3 minutes, 4 seconds, and then earned sweet revenge for a sectional loss to rival Donald Rumsfeld of New Trier, by a referee’s decision in Champaign. Competing at 145 pounds, he bounced back from an opening round loss (11-8 to the eventual runnerup, Charles Pankow of Lyons) with three consecutive victories. Gilbert’s breakthrough on the mat actually started with a third place finish in the Illinois High School Association state tournament as a junior. He’s believed to be the first African-American starting quarterback at ETHS, guiding the 1950 Wildkit squad to a 7-1 season and a second place finish in the Suburban League as a senior. Richie Gilbert put Evanston on the state wrestling map when he broke through to become the school’s first state champion in the sport.īut Gilbert was also a trailblazer in another way.
0 kommentar(er)
