Getting Drilled
Syncopates Debut on Campus

Every generation boasts of school traditions that defined the times. Some traditions boosted morale, while some evolved to meet the needs of a new day. Some even transformed into longstanding school traditions.

Such was the case in the 1960s with the creation and debut of the Syncopates. Conceived, organized and carried out by women, the university’s first drill team raised school spirit to record heights.

Founded by Mary Ann Klopfer Bower ’61, according to university records, the drill team took a while to get in sync, but thanks to Bower’s experience serving as head majorette of the Wittenberg Marching Band back in 1959, which disbanded following a decline in membership, the idea quickly took hold and forever changed halftime entertainment at Wittenberg football games.

“I had been a member of the Miller Blackhawks Baton Drill Team Corps in high school and had to take lessons to participate,” Bower said. “The idea of forming a drill team for Wittenberg seemed possible.”

The late Dean of Students Heimtraut Dietrich, Associate Professor of Physical Education Ruth Helsel and Professor Emeritus of Music and the band’s director Robert Dolbeer ’46 approved the idea, thus making Wittenberg the first college in the area to have a drill team. Dolbeer directed the corps throughout its years on campus.

Dolbeer or “Dr. D.” recalled that the Syncopates worked hard both at the organization issues and at practice sessions.

“I made the musical selections, and the girls chose the members, and made up the dance routines and formations,” Dolbeer said. “Composers were writing lots of dance arrangements for show tunes at the time.”

The first tryouts were held in February 1960, and 24 members and three alternates, chosen on the basis of marching ability, appearance and drill routines by team leaders Marcia Endle Sutcliffe ’61 and Bower, reported back to campus in the fall along with the football team for all-day practices. The Syncopates spent an hour each day practicing to recordings.

On Oct. 15, 1960, the members appeared for the first time dressed in red-pleated skirts, white blouses, socks and tennis shoes. “The team performed a skillfully executed drill exercise and moved into a square formation and danced to the song “Goofus” before forming the V for Victory and dancing to the fight song,” according to the Torch.

“The girls [also] made up dance routines,” Dolbeer explained. “They might perform a routine to the ‘Overture’ from Hello Dolly, a drill to match the music, then stop and dance to a show tune or pop tune.” Each performance included precision marching, kick-time and dancing.

During the next 12 years, the drill team grew to 48 members and 16 alternates, and their uniforms evolved into plaid skirts, white sweaters and boots. A picture in a 1972 issue provided the last reference to the group.

“I think young women just found other things to do that were more interesting,” Patricia Richmond Benne ’68 said. “It was the ’70s after all.”

– Phyllis Eberts ’00