William Saul, Class of 1960: Basketball, Soccer

William Saul, Class of 1960: Basketball, Soccer
William “Bill” Saul set the Old Gold standard as Peddie’s “net man.” When he wasn’t defending the net on the soccer pitch as the varsity goaltender, Bill was regularly stirring the nets as the leading scorer for the Peddie basketball team. As a senior, Saul captained both teams during the 1959-60 seasons and played a major role in the success of these two programs.

Bill’s performance in goal for Peddie’s 1959 soccer squad helped that team capture the Prep State Championship. Saul was especially stingy in “grudge” games with Pingry and traditional foe Lawrenceville, recording a 2-0 shutout and a 3-1 victory, respectively, in those critical matches. Peddie’s “spirited booters” then defeated rival Blair Academy as Saul blanked the Bucs 2-0 in the state final. In 2000, Saul was inducted alongside his ’59 teammates and coach Oscar Rand into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame.

Although often finishing with the most points, Saul was also known as a tenacious defender on the basketball court. His defensive-minded play was a huge factor in Peddie’s opening game of the 1959-60 hoops season in which the Old Gold and Blue snapped Horace Mann’s 23-game winning streak with a 57-44 win. Saul won the Molinet Plaque as the most valuable basketball player.

A three-sport letter winner in soccer, basketball and baseball, Bill was an exceptional school leader, serving as vice president of the senior class and chairman of the Varsity Club. He also devoted his time and energy to the Advisory Council, Gold Key, Discipline Committee and served as sports editor of the Peddie yearbook. Saul was awarded the Peddie Varsity Club Award given to the senior voted by the faculty and Varsity Club as the most outstanding athlete in the graduating class. For his athletic achievements, leadership and commitment to our school, we honor Bill Saul as a 2010 inductee to the Peddie School Sports Hall of Fame.