The Edmonton Grads | Edmonton Details From Zenith To End: The Edmonton Grads was a basketball team for women coached by Percy Page (1915–1940). The Grads won an astonishing 95% of their matches during 25 years as a team. The classes were national and global champions, and frequently slippery scores defeated their opponents.
In 24 games held with the Olympic Summer Games in 1924, 1928, and 1936, the team won the Underwood International Trophy (USA-Canada) for 17 years straight (1923 to 19 40) unbeaten. The Grads were named in 2017 at the Hall of Fame for the Sports of Canada.
The Edmonton Grads | Edmonton Details From Zenith To End
Beginning
The Basketball Start was an early game when the Edmonton Grads formed in 1915. James Naismith, a Canadian at Springfield, Massachusetts, YMCA International Training School in 1891, invented the sport. It designs for male players as in most other sports, but it wasn’t long before females started to play.
At the end of the nineteen-1990s, young women played basketball in secondary schools (e.g., the Ontario Windsor Collegiate Institute), universities (e.g., University of Toronto), and the YWCA (e.g., Ladies Basketball Club of Toronto).
In Alberta secondary schools in 1904, girls first started playing basketball. Ten years later, at MacDougall Commercial High School, a girls’ basketball team was established in 1914.
The team won the Edmonton high school league in 1914, coached by teacher Percy Page, and won both the inter-collegial basketball League and the Albertan Provincial Championship in the following year. At the end of the season, the graduates decided to play basketball and set up the Commercial Graduates Basketball Club).
The society was open to MacDougall Commercial students and graduates and members of other business schools, and those who already have a business career. They were soon called “Business Degree” and ultimately “Grade.”
Basketball Club Commercial Graduates
In addition to grades, junior and senior high school groups in the Commercial Graduates Basketball Club, junior female teams (CUBS) for the still-in-school or recent graduates. And an interim team (Grades) for talented players once vacancies establish, could move to grade levels.
This “feeder,” which contributed to the success of the grades, ensured continuity, cohesion, and depth. Before the Grads won the first domination Championship in 1922, the teams won numerous championships at the secondary and provincial levels.
The page coach or control all the teams, and the grades are influencing. He ttell his players, “You need to play basketball, think basketball, and dream basketball.” The steps hold from September to June twice a week, usually Mondays and Thursdays.
During player work, the practice took place from approximately 8:00 to 9:30 in the evenings. The Grads and Gradettes usually worked together, work on drills or simulate games. Page and his assistant trainers stressed precision and co-operation.
The Grads were therefore known for their short game. In 1923, after the Grads turned into men’s rules, they also practice in the lead-up for big games against the Boy Grads.
His players expect to be disciplined, sporting, and ladylike. Although his adherence to a specific code of conduct was not required. His motto was, “First ladies, second basketball players.” Page expects them to behave as such, dress appropriately, and avoid smoking, drinking, and reputation.
Since the women were respectable working women. A family of sorts with the players, a few of them referred to him as “Papa Page,” formed Page, and his wife, Maude, who served on a team chaperone.
The proximity may contribute to explaining the success of both the team and the fact that players’ turnover was so low. Generally speaking, when they were married, players resigned from the group, but not all.
Record & History Team
In 1922, the Grads of Edmonton won their first national championship to defy London’s Shamrocks in two sets with a combined 49–29. The first game plays by the rules of women (six players) and the second by the laws of men (five players).
Until now, the Grades only plays under women’s rules, although the less restrictive rules of men adopt the year that follow. The Shamrocks, who favour the traditions of men, win in the second game 21-8 easily in the first games.
The overall score for the Grads was, however, higher, and the championship finished. Their national title was successfully upheld until the team dissolved in 1940.
History Of Team & Records Of The Edmonton Grads
The Grads compacted the first Underwood trophy. The World Champion’s competition between American and Canadian championship teams, just one year after winning their 1st National Championship. Their adversary, the favorite Cleveland-Knits, had shorts with the words “World Champs” already.
However, this trust misplace. The Edmonton Grads played two Cleveland team matches and scored 53–33 in a combined score. The Grads have defended their title over the next 17 years (1923–1940) against many challengers and won most of their games. The Underwood International Trophy award as a permanent holder during their 25th and final season.
In overseas matches, the Grades also demonstrated their dominance. The team participated in tournaments held in conjunction with three summer Olympia games organized by the Fédération sportive female International (1924, 1928, and 1936). The Grads won all 24 games, and a great deal defeated their rivals. For instance, they scored 109–20 in 1928 on Equip de Paris.
The Grads name the world champions in recognition of their dominance. But the team brought no Olympic medals to its home. There were no match organizations by the International Olympic Committee, and basketball was not an official Olympic event at the time.
In 1900 women began to compete in five sports: golf, equestrian sports, sailing, croquet sports, and tennis. By 1936, women’s participation at Summer Games open to archery, aquatics, gymnastics, and athletics (tracks and fields). Until 1976, women’s basketball become an official Olympic event.
The Grads traditionally played a total of 522, winning 502 and only losing 20. The author of The Grads Are Tonight, however, challenged these numbers! (2011). According to Hall, in their 25 years as a team, the Grads played more than 400 games, losing 20.
She explains that the greater total (522) includes games played by junior and secondary school teams in MacDougall Commercial from 1915 to 1922. In addition, the records of games played between 1922 and 1940 have some discrepancies.
While there is no doubt that the Grads are exceptional teams and won 95% of their matches, a certain number can never achieve.
Players In The Edmonton Grads
Geraldine Reid and Iola Mitchell were the first McDougall Commercial High School team (1914). She joined them late in 1915. The group includes Batson, Osborne, Anderson, Martin and Reid, and Elena Todd. A star of the upper secondary school team when the Edmonton Grads officially started to play in 1917.
Several players arrived and came, including Alfretta Dickson, Connie Lamont, Mona Karren, Kathleen Hall, and Dorothy Shaw, between 1917 and 1922 (their first national championship).
Among the “official” 38 members of Edmonton Grads, who are only players from 1922 to 1940, most of these players are not recognize. The following table lists the official grades of 38 degrees. You can find the full biographies in The Grads are Tonight’s M. Ann Hall’s! (2011).
The End Of The Edmonton Grads
The Grads dissolved in 1940. In 1940. There were several reasons, including the loss of the Government’s arena for the Commonwealth Training Program of the Air Force. Wartime conditions made travelling difficult and resulted in many races cancel in Canada, the United States, and Europe; moreover, few teams were good enough to compete with the Grads.
In 1940, Page elects the Provincial Government. Later the attendance at the games declined. Page was a lieutenant governor of Alberta from 1959 to 1966 and was a member of the Alberta Legislature from 1940 to 1959.
Although the team has disappeared, two female basketball teams establish the Comet and the Starlet. Several grades have competed at a provincial, national and international level. Such as Noel MacDonald, Betty Bawden, Etta Dann or Helen Northrup, Winnie Gallen, or Kay MacRitchie.
They never succeeded as the grades did, however. In 1941, MacRitchie moved to Vancouver, joining the Hedlunds, which dominated basketball for women in Canada for the next couple of years.
Significance
The Grads of Edmonton were a leading women’s basketball team at the beginning of the 20th century. They played to crowds of people, attracting thousands of viewers and brought fame to the city since. The newspapers throughout the country and elsewhere reported their victories.
The most influential newspapers in Canada, 300 U.S. daily papers and publications in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Cuba. They carried the team’s story in 1923 of success in the Underwood Trophy competition.