University of San Francisco Athletics

Forty-two had a freshman football team of fair renown, that first year, which, with little Pete Franceschi running wild, beat San Francisco J.C., Saint Mary's, San Jose, and lost to Santa Clara and California Poly. Tiger Smith, Tom Canepa, Russ Kynoch, and George Burtner were others on that outfit. There was a freshman basketball team, led by Will Debrunner, Jim Porter, and Charley White, which lost only one game in its regular season, and Pete Franceschi climaxed a successful athletic year by winning the annual President's Day Pentathlon, an event '42 has monopolized since its arrival on the Hill (TheFoghorn).

A native San Franciscan, Thomas Canepa was born and raised in North Beach. He was a member of the Salesian Athletic Club and one of the "Jones Street Boys." Referred to as the "little giant," Tom played guard for the Galileo Lions and the USF Dons football teams and also played basketball for the Dons. He was a member of the Block Club, the Philhistorian and the Maraschi Clubs and graduated in Accounting. 

After serving in World War II, he worked as Head of the Purchasing Department for the SFUSD. He was a member of the SF Real Estate Board, and a member and President of the Italian Cemetery (SFGate).