WRU'S WINGER EXCELLED AT TWO SPORTS...
CLEVELAND, OH (February 1, 2006) - This Friday night the Case Western Reserve University men’s basketball team will leave their blue and white uniforms in the Veale Center and head to old Adelbert Gymnasium. There the Spartans will become the Red Cats, putting on the maroon and white of Western Reserve University to face New York University at 8:00 p.m.
Terrence L. Wenger, a 1962 graduate of Reserve, never faced NYU but did face arch rivals like John Carroll University and their next-door neighbor Case Institute of Technology in Adelbert Gym. Reserve’s contests against the Rough Riders of Case Tech were always special to Wenger.
“Our basketball games in Adelbert against Case Tech were always our most competitive and the gym was always packed,” explained Wenger, now 66 years old. “I don’t remember off hand what our record against them was during my time, but I do remember we beat them my senior year. I was given the game ball and I still have sitting on a shelf in my basement.”
Wenger, a Novelty OH resident, earned six letters during his collegiate career. He was awarded three letters each in baseball and basketball as an undergraduate at Reserve. As a basketball player, Wenger earned second-team All-President’s Athletic Conference as a guard twice and served as team captain in the 1961 and 1962 seasons. As a baseball player, he earned first-team All-PAC honors three years as an infielder, and played pro baseball in the Indians organization two years following graduation. He captained the Red Cats his final two seasons.
“I had a chance to sign with the Milwaukee Braves out of high school (Canton South in Canton, OH), but decided to go to college,” said Wenger. “I continued to talk to scouts during school and worked out for the Indians my last year down at the old Stadium.”
The Indians offered Wenger a contract at the conclusion of his senior year, but there was a catch. He had been accepted to dental school and the administration was only willing to give him a two year cushion before he would have to retake all the entrance exams that he had already passed to be reinstated. Wenger decided to try professional baseball.
“That put a little bit of pressure on my decision,” explained Wenger. I played the entire summer of 1962, went to spring training in 1963, and played that entire season. At the time I wasn’t doing all that well, so I decided to attend dental school in the fall.”
The former Red Cat would spend the next six years, not including his time as an undergrad (1954-62, BS with English major and Science minor) at the then Case School of Dentistry receiving his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) in 1967 and his MS (Master’s of Science Degree in Orthodontics) in 1969. Today he owns and operates Wenger Orthodontics Inc. in Mayfield Heights, OH.
“I do regret not getting back to watch the teams very often after my undergrad years and even now,” said Wenger. “I think it’s great what Case has done to the campus and I am anxious to see the new football field and dorms.”
The Spartan men will face two UAA opponents in Adelbert Gym on Throwback Weekend beginning with New York on Friday. Then they will change their uniforms to Case Tech and host Brandeis University on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. The women, wearing Mather College uniforms, will face NYU at 6:00 p.m. and Brandeis at 2:00 p.m.
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