Jean Ingraham
Ingraham Sets Scoring Record
A graduate of Wolfville High School, Jean Ingraham was active in sport. At the closing ceremonies for the 1931 school year, she was awarded a silver “W” for her work on the girls’ basketball team. Even then she was involved with town tennis and reports of tennis matches played by members of the Wolfville Lawn Tennis Club include her name. In July 1931, for instance, she and her partner “played splendid tennis to out point their more experienced opponents” from Kentville.
A member of Acadia’s Class of 1937, Jean Ingraham was called “Acadia’s outstanding lady athlete” in 1936. A multi-sports athlete, Jean is best remembered for her work with the Acadia University women’s basketball teams of the mid-1930s, especially the teams of 1936 and 1937. She partnered with Fran Roach and Shirley Elliott to form the “punch line” – demonstrably the most potent scoring unit in women’s basketball in eastern Canada, if not the entire country. In 1937, Ingraham set a single game scoring record in an away game with Mt Allison University (NB) when she made 34 points.
Ingraham was a valuable member of the varsity tennis team and swimming team. A member of the Tumblers Club and president in her Senior year, she participated in a number of interclass sports competitions. She not only received her athletic “A” but also athletic distinction. After graduation, she was an instructor in physical education at Acadia for two years and coached women’s basketball, including the 1939 team which won the Maritime title. Ingraham was also active in town sports. In March 1938, she led a Wolfville women’s team in two victories against visiting teams from Halifax, scoring 32 of her team’s 35 points. According to the local paper, “the team has improved steadily during the season and on their form Friday night should give any girls’ team in the province a good game.”
(Wolfville Acadian, May-June 1931; 17 March 1938, 1)
