The Citizen, 1987-05-13, Page 23Ron Vercruyssen has been head and shoulders above his competition
most of this year as he was as he scored this basket earlier in the
basketball season. The 6’ 10’ ’ centre drew the attention of not only the
opposition but scouts from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia
where he has received a scholarship to attend next year.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY ,_MAY 13, 1987. PAGE 23.
Ron Vercruyssen
gets full basketball
scholarship
CDCS studies special needs
For the month of May, Clinton
and District Christian School is
focusing on people with special
needs. A special needs person is
one who is handicapped physically
or mentally, sick or shut-in, or
lonely.
Children of all ages are capable
of understanding the special needs
of someone and also, they are able
to help, even in a small measure.
All grades are being encouraged to
take part. Kindergarten students
visited the Lady Diana Nursery
School at Vanastra. Grades 5/6 are
visiting at Huronview. Films about
special needs are being shown to
all grades. Most grades are
learning about special needs in
research and reading also. On May
20, a day of visits to the school by
some “special” people of our
community is planned.
This past week, many students
prepared for the kite-flying compe
tition in connection with Clinton
Klompenfeest. Gr. K - 3 had
commercial kites; gr. 4 - 8 flew
homemade kites. The final fly-off
was set for May 11.
On May 13, the musical, “Down
By the Creekbank” will be per
formed at Huronview Day Centre
program. Students hope the audi
ence will enjoy it.
Preparations for Field Day are
underway, for both the in-school
meetand alsofor the Track and
Field Meet in conjunction with the
local public schools. Running fast
and jumping tar is always a
challenge.
Students said good-bye to Chris
topher, Jennifer and Jeffrey Hen
shaw who moved to British Colum
bia on May 1.
Ron Vercruyssen, one of Ont
ario’s hottest young basketball
players, has accepted a full athletic
scholarship to an American univer
sity, the result of more than three
years of hard work toward that
goal.
The six-foot ten-inch athlete
from RR 2, Blyth signed the
one-year renewable contract with
St. Joseph’s University of Phila
delphia, Pennsylvania on the last
day of April, a deal which Mr.
Vercruyssen says virtually guaran
tees him a spot on the college team
for the next five years.
‘ ‘The one-year renewable is just
atechnicality,” he said. “They
told me that the only way it won ’ t be
renewed is if I don’t want to stay on,
or if I let my grades slip or turn pro
or something.”
The scholarship covers the cost
of the college’s tuition for one year,
about $6,000 U.S., provides room
and board, about $1,400, and
includes a $200 book allowance. “It
won’t cost me a cent,” Mr.
Vercruyssen said.
During his first year, the
18-year-old will spend approxi
mately 12 hours a week on the
basketball court, while his course
load will be 12-15 hours a week. He
plans to take a general business
course for the first year of college,
giving him four more years after he
decides on a major, which he says
will be in the field of business
administration. Onafour-point
scale, the scholarship student will
beexpectedtomaintain a grade
point average of 1.75 or better.
For the first six weeks at St.
Joe’s, Mr. Vercruyssen will spend
75 minutes a day taking part in an
extensive conditioning and
weightlifting program. The next
six weeks will consist of two and a
half hours per day of pre-season
practice, butafterNovember26
practice time will decrease as the
team begins its playing season.
The team will play in 27 games in
Howson
wins
high jump
Continued from page 22
she was timed at 12.9 seconds in
the midget girls 100 m. She also
captured the 200 m.
Julie Howson of Blyth captured
the senior girls high jump for CHSS
with a leap of 1.45 m.
Kim Medd of Blyth placed
second in the midget girls 300 m.
for CHSS. David Sparling of Blyth
was second in the senior boys 200
m. Kathy Kennedy of Londesboro
was second in the midget girls 400
m. for CHSS. Kevin Scrimgeour of
Blyth was second in the senior boys
high jump.
Jenny Allan of Blyth scored a
third place finish for Madill in the
midget girls triple jump. Craig
Bauman of Blyth scored a third for
CHSS in the midget boys long
jump.
All qualified to take part Wed
nesday and Thursday of this week
in the W.O.S.S.A. championships
in London.
the Atlantic Ten Conference
throughout the regulation season,
a circuit which will take it to other
schools from Maine to West
Virginia. Post-season tourna
ments will follow.
He has played for the Seaforth
District High School basketball
team since Grade 9. His coach,
Terry Johnston, first saw the
potential of the lanky athlete early,
but the youth really began attract
ing attention when he made the
Ontario Juvenile Basketball Team
in Ottawa in December, 1986,
when he wasfirst scouted by St.
Joe’s assistant coach, Phil Morelli.
Rising rapidly through the ranks
of juvenile basketball since that
beginning, Mr. Vercruyssen was
selected as one of the top 12 players
in his division in Ontario, earning a
berth on the provincial team,
competing at the Canada Winter
Games in Nova Scotia last Febru
ary.
Although Ontario placed fourth
in the competition, the style of both
Mr. Vercruyssen and of a Toronto
high school star, Richard Stewart,
impressed Mr. Morelli so much
that he eventually signed both
Grade 13 students for the St. Joe’s
team this fall.
“Ron has had some good basic
coaching with Terry (Johnston), he
has size, and he has expressed the
desire to be the best he can be, ”
Mr. Morelli said. “He has the
makings of a fine college player.”
And what does the Huron
County farm boy see in his own
future? “If 1 stay healthy and
really, really improve my play,
maybe I’ll get a shot at the 1992
Olympics,” he smiled.
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WHAT HAVE WE GOT THE MOST OF ?
CARS!CARS!CARS!
1986 GMC 1/2 ton 1984 Pontiac Parisienne, 4 dr.,
1985 Buick, 2 dr. station wagon, low mileage
1985 Plymouth Voyageur Mini 1984 0Ws De)ta 88 Brougham
van, 7 passenger _no. _ 411985 Chevette 1981 Cut ass S“’reme
Brougham, 4 dr., air1985 Pontiac Parisienne, 4 dr., conditioning
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1979 Cordoba, 2 dr.
1979 Olds Regency 98, 4-door,
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^1'jfaJ.Gas^Pumps
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Being chosen for the Ontario team
at the Canada Winter Games
brought Ron Vercruyssen to the
attention of university scouts. Now
he’d like to play in the 1992
Olympics.
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SPECIAL NOTE: We take trade-ins. We buy outright or take on consignment good used furniture, appliances
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THEWINGHAMSALESARENA Justnorthof WinghamonHwy. No. 4 357-1730