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. 3.4—'Tuesday, May 15,1973 Reno Evening GazetteVerington's Phil EstepSeason s over for Nevada's greatest' prep sprinterA By TOM McGUlREYERINGTON - He’: generally regarded as the greatest Mgh school sprinter the state of Nevada has produced.\ Sadly, he never got into any | **real” competition this pastlike me to run the 100 and 440, and possibly the decal felon.”sities are seeking him out as a footballer.f season.§Unless an invitation fromEstep1? main forte could be the intermediate hurdles, though.“I’ve always enjoyed them/’ he admitted of running hurdles.the prestigious Golden West | Invitational track and field ' meet scheduled in Sacramento4j| in early June is forthcoming, | the season is over for Phil i Estep.I An invitation to the meet which attracts the top high : school track and field perfor-*mers in the country would *' give Estap — according to his coach, Phil Person — a chance to improve upon his already excellent performances.Estep, a 6-2, 185-pound 18-year-old closed his high school career for Yerington last Saturday by winning three events, setting one record and tying two.His lies of 9.6 in the 100, 21.9 in ihe 220 and 48.8 in the 440 are all all-time Nevada “AA”. records — the 100 and 440 doekmgr* are the fastest ever recordud by a Nevada prep.Just where does he go fromhere?WOOING HIMWith uis tak-nts, Estep is a likely candidate for a fult-rxde athletic scholarship for college. Already, several schools are wooing him.“Nevada, Utah, Brigham ‘ Young, Idaho, Boise State and Mesa (Ariz., J.C.) have contacted me already,” the quiet, unassuming youth said.“I’ve been real impressed with BYU, hut I would like to see some other places.” he said.The curly-haired Estep is fully aware that he may be asked to do something other than the sprints in college.At BYU they said iheyfdEstep has run the 120 highs in 14.S and the 180 lows in 19.6.RESEMBLES MANNHe has, however, the classic physical build to become one of the top internationalists in the 440 intermediates; he bears a close resemblance, physically, to world-record holder Ralph Mann, a former BYU star.As far as the decathlon, he’d have to learn now to pole vault and high jump, and puton a few extra pounds in order to put the shot and toss the discus.“1 don’t know if I’d like it, though,” he observed.Estep also gained some-state-wide reknown as a football player as he was named an all-stale defensive halfback his junior and senior years. Several colleges and univer-ay /lt;' e/ t~tf .tfttaLLOYD ESTEP“I had a lot of fun with football in high school,” he commented, “but I don't think I would want to play football in college.”He’s a runner, pure and sim-ple.From where, then does his athletic talent come from?DANCING LESSONS“My mom says it’s because I took dancing lessons when I was small,” he replied, laughingly.All the children of Lloyd and Shirley Step took dancing lessons from their mother who taught it in Yerington upon their arrival from Parma, Idaho, 17 year ago, until about three years ago.Lloyd is a welder for Anaconda in Yerington .vhile Mrs. Estep is currently employed at Nevada Drug, also in Yerington.“Pm a little surprised he’s as fast as he is.” the elder Estep admitted, although “I usually got first-place ribbons in races when I was young.”Phil is the fourth of five Estep children. He has an older brother, Steve and sisters Pat, Kathy and Penny.EXCELLENT MUSICIANHe not only is a superior athlete, but he is an, excellent musician and art student, according to Yerington High School principal Maurice Moyle.“He’s worked just as hard at music as he has in athletics,” Moyle said.“At our last Band Festival (April 25) all three adjudicators commented on. the quality of the saxophone players,” he noted.Phil concentrates solely on the sax.His extra curricular activities outside of athletic endeavors at Yerington include holding presidencies of the Letter men’s Association andHis teachers feel that whatever field he chooses, he’ll succeed in it.COLLEGE FOOTBALL Mike Lommori, the 10-year football coach at Yerington, feels that Phil “can really play good caliber college football.tiHe’s a well-coordinated kid. He has- a lot of natural ability, works hard and is by far* the fastest player I’ve ever had,” Lommori said of the football team captain.“And he’s not a bad wrestler, either. He does everything pretty well,” he continued.SHIRLEY ESTEPthe Music Club. He has been a member of the honor band and honor jazz band.Phil has also been a Yerington representative to Boy’s Slate.Music is not the only other field in which he excels.GIFTED IN ARTHe is gifted in art, according to Yerington art teacher Harold Beck.“It is unusual to find an athlete who has a diversified interest in a creative field,” Beck said of Estep, who has been taking courses in jewelry design and ceramics.“He works exceptionally well with his hands,” Beckcontinued. “He’s turned out beautiful pieces of pottery and is very good in jewelry design.“I wouldn’t say he’s the best artist I’ve ever had, but he certainly is -well-rounded.”Beck was of the opinion that Phil could successfully major in art in college.“I’m kinda undecided,” Estep said.“I.thought I’d like to go with a business major or possibly, although I’m not really sure,in music or art.”’“But he’s really dedicated to track. We went to Elko for our last game (last fall), came back and he started running the next day.“He could have been an outstanding basketball player, but he concentrated on music and worked out with the weights,” Moyle said of his “off-season” activity.Moyle attributed Estep’s interest in track to Person “who has been Phil’s coach since the sixth grade — four years ago he came from the Intermediate School to the high school along with Phil.DEMANDING COACH“Person is a very demanding coach who teaches his kids how to sacrifice and work hard for what thev want.’”Ai“I really enjoy it,” Estep said of his chosen sport.“It’s something you can do on your own.“The benefit of working hard is that you can see how much you’ve improved.”His quality, of being able to work hard has not gone unnoticed.“He does work hard to achieve his goals,” Lommori said.“He is conscientious,” echoed Jean Crawford, Phil’s senior English teacher.“Phil is not a bookwork, butndianapolis SpeedwayThe house that Tony rebuilt'INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - TheIndianapolis 500-mile auto race will run. the 57th time May 28 with ....-another colorful show drawing more than 250,000 persons and heard and seen by millions - • more around the world.■But it hasn’t always been. so. In 1945, when Anton - “Tony” Hulman of Terre Haute, Ind., bought. the - Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it was in disrepair. Interest in the Memorial Day classic had diminished after thetrack was closed - four years during World War II.The Speedway, which was built in 1909 as a proving ground for automobiles, is nowThe 21A-mile asphalt.track is the focal point of the Speedway on the city’s far west side, but it isn’t the only attraction of the 539-acre property Hulman has replaced the ancient wooden grandstand that nearly circled the track withsteel and concrete grandstands.There is now an estimated seating capacity of 235,000 androom for an additional 100,900 persons in the track infield.Hulman has supervised construction of a more-than-100-room motel, a 27-hole golf course with nine holes m the infield andi an office-museum building as well as press andhospitality quarters.Pair takes doubles leadFALLON — Terry Newton andJim Lynskey, both of FallonReno-Sparks’ Art Nish is stillthe leader with a 702 in theare the new doubles leaders in;singles division, while Charliethe Nevada State Bowling Tournament held at Oasis Bowl. Newton and Lynskey have a+ rvT-nfollDriver, Fallon, is the all-events leads with 1986.Tv-Pix, of Carson City remainSpeedway officials never announced attendance figures, but an estimated 60,000 persons watched the 500 in 1946 and prize money totaled $75,000 after a prewar high of §96,250.Hulman, whose great wealth comes from varied business and real estate interests, has made the Indy race the richest in the world of auto racing.For the third straight year prize money this year will total more than $1 million.His newest improvement at the Speedway is an addition to the motel to house VIP suites which rent for $10,000 a year on the second floor and $20,000 for the third-floor. There are sixQAh -f IrtArcompanies involved in racing.For race day, tickets for reserved seats sell for from $10 to $40, and it costs S5 a person to watch the race from the infield in the midst of one of the world’s largest picnics.Gasoline Alley, the strip of concrete that connects the garage area with the pits, provides one of the few places in major sports where fans can mingle with their heroes. In fact, drivers, owners and mechanics often have to push their way through the crowd, signing autographs and talking with excited people.The museum of 500 and Speedway relics is free andhe recognizes that English is essential in his future.” “SENSITIVE”It was Ms. Crawford who noted that Phil is “sensitive.” “He is aware of his environment, probably because of his music.“Phil is not the kind of youngster who is the mixed-up ‘who am I’ type of kid.” Also, “he is extremely modest ... if I didn’t read in the papers I’d never know what he’s done,” she said, “he doesn’t talk about it. “Phil is relaxed and shy,but awfully good about taking kidding from his peers,” she added.Along the same vein, Beck noted that “Phil has an excellent sense of humor. He's one of the few people you e'Jn really kid.”“Phil is a very good citizen of the school,” Moyle said. UNCHANGED “I don’t think the publicityhe’s bad the past couple of years has affected him,” headded. “His behavior has remained unchanged.”“He’s always been an easyboy to live with,” said Mrs. Estep, “He’s very humble and .doesn’t particularly like a lot of show.”The next step from high school is college, and Phil’s parents are very much in favor of that.“We’ve always said that ifhe can get through college it would be a wonderful thing,” Mrs. Estep said quietly. “We would like to see him get a college education.”All that is left is for Phil to choose which college he wishes to attend.■/* -*- k il. * V!.;. *yx' vV- ? f -■ fsirlt;r«p /.r5*''/A.' *■T'.'v ’ * !'/• • f » .. . •• r■V' -'///■ ' vA' 4' '■ **/ -*.7 V ,, , h's't v/ *'Ji, v» ' 4 ■' - *' *■ * ' fttt' ' A*, f ' ^ * .. v; -v' ^ '• •' - lt;■' -'ff-S V 'lt; w S---W '-A i'Jt A■■ ■■■' iXjr%, * w *t'v *is* \ .tcK ■*/; v/v-^sa•y.'S'V'c!)lt;S~ S' ' •• »’. //'•J Wv? x%' ; -«*=. -• £sL-A;-v,/A ,'S', ' /.■AA'yS4mtf.•v-vSCiyr'ft '•y-va*•• A*•VN'Ay P '„S - ' ,-'Y / ** wlt;- / ✓.£lt; v'r -Xi.'Ayy lt;•y.-\/, 'Wi ,Jt-my tyA' A•y.f/«isA% V A'Piy--A.4,/lt;•' A*X,.:yyy.is1*^ 'V f'Sr-vy.* ysA' i'v..Ut MiS.Si'f?]S'!mmA.A/iiv:ffi%AV*Power drillWith his coach, Phil Person, holding him back with a belt and strap, Yerington sprint star Phil Estep works on a 'power drill” for the development of leg muscles and explosiveness in running during a practice session.(Gazetfc Photo)
Newspaper Details
Reno Evening Gazette
Reno, Nevada, US
Tue, May 15, 1973
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Jamie S.
NV, USA 11 Sep 2020
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