The Team
Later that week, the selected pupils were notified. Hicksville would field a strong team, with a first-string panel of Stephen O’Brien, Barry Cressman, and Mel Bienenfeld; Steve was designated Team Captain. Two alternate panelists (to be used only in case of dire emergency) were also designated: “Chic” (Charles) Hassell and myself. The panel is shown here in a photo of a home TV screen which appeared in the 1964 Comet Yearbook.
I had sat in classes with Barry and Steve since Junior High, and I knew their respective abilities. Both were strong in terms of literature, writing, history, and culture. Steve was especially strong in French and Latin, was learning German, and dabbled a little in Hungarian. I did not meet Mel until High School, but I quickly learned that he was a proficient musician as well an exceptional math student. Mel earned the highest score ever attained by a Hicksville student in the annual competition of the Mathematical Association of America. I was confident that the Hicksville High panel would do well.
