Joe Vavra was an outstanding athlete at Syracuse playing five varsity sports, and lettering in four of them. He would play one season of basketball for Syracuse, the one sport he did not letter in.

He was an outstanding football player, playing left tackle and place kicking, both which he excelled at. He was a three time football letterman, and recognized as one of the best Syracuse ever had. Vavra was a good baseball player, playing first base and third base, lettering three times in that sport.

Vavra would try out for the boxing team his sophomore season, though he had never boxed before[1]. He would end up winning the intercollegiate heavyweight championship that season. He would not return to boxing again. Vavra would also letter in track and field.

Vavra would graduate from Syracuse in 1935 with a degree in education. He would be the athletic director at Schenegus High School. At the same time he was an assistant coach at Hartwick College for football. He would play professional basketball for the Binghamton Triplets in 1939, along with former Orangemen Johnny DeYoung and Marc Guley. He would later teach at Binghamton High School, along with coaching the basketball team in the 1950s.

[1] Syracuse Post Standard 2/16/1938

© RLYoung 2007