STORIES FROM THE PAST

50 years ago

Bob Lincoln looks like he should be working the low post for the Los Angeles Lakers, not teaching 5- to 13-year-old youngsters gymnastics.

The 150 youngsters that go to Imperial Valley College’s weekend elementary gymnastics class believe Lincoln is ten feet tall. He’s not that tall, but he might dunk a few basketballs without getting more than a few inches off the floor.

As chairman of the college’s physical education department, and a gymnastics instructor, the lean and lanky bespectacled Lincoln is steering a three month pilot course in what he believes is a much neglected sport in these parts. And it’s all free.

One of Lincoln’s student aides, Mike Flanagan, suggested that while other sports are healthy, only gymnastics “conditions the whole body! Every part of it!”

Lincoln pretty much agrees. “What surprises most parents,” he asserts, “is the increase in strength of their children in only a month’s time.”

Besides strength, said Lincoln, gymnastics improves the youngster’s flexibility, balance and agility.

40 years ago

Two Calipatria High School players were unavailable for action and a third was hampered by injury Friday night as the Hornet girls faced Imperial’s varsity basketball team.

Injuries to the Hornets failed to diminish the performance of Coach Diane Cox’s Tigers, who broke away for a lopsided 71-35 victory in the Calipatria gym.

Bonnie Gow has a slipped disc in her back; Jeanie Bautista suffering from a knee injury, Susan Tapiceria has an ankle sprain, although she did try to play.

Imperial won by hitting well from the field and the free throw line. The Tigers worked well as a team and were able to control the rebounding game.

Kelli Reed and Lerna Thames were the big blasters in the Imperial charge. The Hornets were unable to keep Thames away from the basket for points and rebounds.

Imperial’s pivot worked inside to pull 15 missed shots off the backboards. She popped in eight of 13 shots from the field and added one free throw for 17 points.