As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments and landmark years from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments from This Story
1948 Men's Track and Field: Welsh Becomes CMC'S First SCIAC Champion

Landmark Years in CMS History
1947: Pomona-Claremont Sagehens Are Born

CLAREMONT, Calif. - After its founding in 1946, Claremont Men's College formed a new partnership with Pomona College, allowing its students to compete on the existing varsity sports teams for its consortium neighbors. In 1947-48, a total of 25 CMC students took advantage of the opportunity, with many carving out starting roles for the Sagehens.

A list of the Claremont McKenna student-athletes from 1947-48 (as taken from the school yearbook, The Ayer) is listed below. Two student-athletes played multiple sports, Pete Welsh in basketball and track and field, and Jim Wilcox in football and golf. Welsh would also compete for the football team one year later, play one season on the tennis team, win a SCIAC Championship in track and field, and become the first inductee into the CMS Hall of Fame.  

For the football team, Wilcox was a starter at guard for the Sagehens, while Jack Haskell played defensive end. Bob Essig became a starter for the basketball team in his first year, earning honorable mention All-SCIAC honors as a guard/forward, and was chosen as an All-SCIAC second team selection in his second year in 1949. In the spring season, Ed Aguirre played outfield on the Pomona-Claremont baseball team and was the leadoff hitter for the Sagehens, while Jack Swanson played both second and third base.

Welsh was the star of the track and field team, competing in the sprints, hurdles and jumps, and winning the SCIAC title in the 100-Yard Dash, the first SCIAC title ever for a CMC athlete. Art Yarborough was one of the team's top sprinters. Art's brother Doug competed in the pole vault, while John Snyder ran the 880 and Chal McWilliams competed in the shot put and long jump.   

1947-48 Claremont-McKenna Student-Athletes

Football
Bill Byers
Jack Haskell
Harvey Riggs
Jim Wilcox

Basketball
Bob Essig
Pete Welsh
Bob Wilson

Baseball
Ed Aguirre
Jack Swanson

Track and Field
Chal McWilliams
John Snyder
Pete Welsh
Art Yarborough
Doug Yarborough

Swimming and Diving
Bob Chapman
Ken Coburn
Dick Hospers
Tom Spear
Jim Stoessel
Dick Van Vorst
Austin Woodward

Golf
Rex Henzie
John Lingenfelter
Jim Wilcox

Tennis
Jack Heyneman
Grant Kenyon
Russ Penniman