hˈɑːɹdɪnsˈɪmənz dɹˈɑːpt ɪts spˈoːɹts pɹˈoʊɡɹæm dˈuː tə wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː, kˈɔːzɪŋ spɹˈɪŋkəl tə tɹænsfˈɜː tə ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts nˈeɪvəl ɐkˈædəmi fɔːɹ hɪz sˈiːnjɚ sˈiːzən ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː, wˌɛɹ hiː ˈɜːnd ˈɔːlˈiːstɚn ˈɑːnɚz.
Hardin-Simmons dropped its sports program due to World War II, causing Sprinkle to transfer to the United States Naval Academy for his senior season in 1943, where he earned All-Eastern honors.