Team Loses Van Buskirk
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Title
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Team Loses Van Buskirk
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Date
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May 22, 1936
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volume
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1
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issue
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11
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page start
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1
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page end
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1
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content
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en
TEAM LOSES VAN BUSKIRK
A brief story in the metropolitan press last week conveyed to a startled fencing world the news of Joe Levis' election as captain of the Olympic Team to replace Harold Van Buskirk, who has resigned.
"Van's" accomplishments as Captain of the Olympic Team have been unparalleled. Better than any other active fencer or official, he has come to know the capacities and limitations of every fencer on the squad. For three years, at great sacrifice of time and effort, he has served on the Bout Committee (including the Chairmanship last year), and he has attended and observed every single important competition of the League. The leading fencers voted him the ablest all-round official in the game. He is an expert in the technique of the three weapons. Himself no longer an active competitor, he has during the past year earned the full confidence of all the contestants for places on the Olympic Team. His scrupulous impartiality and his unfailing desire to facilitate top-notch performances by every single entrant in the tournaments, regardless of identity and club affiliation, have built up a strong feeling of loyalty and devotion on the part of the Olympic fencing squad toward its leader.
This sudden resignation of Van Buskirk is a severe blow to the Team, and the remarkable esprit de corps which has been developed during the past few months must necessarily suffer in consequence. No man, not even the popular, capable and likeable Joe Levis, could hope in a few weeks' time satisfactorily to establish himself in the position which Van Buskirk holds with the team. The fact that Joe is a competitor as well, will make his task even harder, and the Team must pull together and give him full cooperation if we are to have any success abroad this summer.
