The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 36, Ed. 1, Friday, February 14, 2003 Page: 10 of 10
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Page 10
LSC South StarnHftcs
Team Conf. Tot.
1. A&M-Commerce 6-1 16-6
2. Eastern N.M. 5-1 13-7
3. W. Texas A&M 4-2 14-7
4. Midwestern St. 2-4 7-14
5. Angelo St. 2 5 12-10
6. ACU 2-5 11-10
7. A&M-Klngsville 2-5 10-12
Team Conf. Tot.
1. Angelo St. 8-0 20-1
2. Midwestern St. 7-1 16-5
3. W.Texas A&M 5-2 15-5
4. A&M-Kingsville 3-5 10-10
5. Texas Woman's 3-5 7-13
6. ACU 24 11-12
7. A&M-Commerce2-6 6-15
8. Eastern N.M. 1-6 4-16
Ttam Conf.
1.ACU 00
2. A&M-Kingsville 0-0
3. Eastern N.M. 0-2
4. Tarleton St. OO
5. W. Texas A&M 0-0
Softta
Taam Conf.
1. Angelo State 0-0
2. Tarleton St. 00
3. Eastern N.M. 0-0
4. Texas Woman's OO
5. ACU 00
6. A&M-Kingsville OO
Tot.
7-2
5-3
3-6
36
1-5
Tot.
5-0
2-0
5-6
2-3
2-3
0-2
riefs
Baseball kicks oft LSC
South slate with quad
The baseball team split a
doubleheader with St. Mary's
Tuesday dropping the first
game 3-1 but coming back to
close out the series with a 15-4
win.
ACU managed only two hits
in the first game of the double-
header. Freshman pitcher Ben
Brockman gave up five hits
and three runs over six
innings picking up the loss for
the Wildcats now 7-2 overall.
The Wildcats came back
with a vengeance in the sec-
ond game collecting 15 runs
on 19 hits. Junior catcher Paul
Ilowcy had four hits and six
RBI while senior third base-
man Brad Massey drove in
three on four hits.
ACU plays Eastern New
Mexico In a doubleheader at
Crutchcr Scott Field Friday at
2 p.m.
Joshua Parrott sports writer
Softball team heads to
LSC First-Pitch tourney
The softball team hits the
road Friday to take part in the
Lone Star Conference First-
Pitch Tournament in Irving.
The tournament is a cross-
over which features teams
from the LSC North Division
playing only LSC South teams
and vice versa.
ACU (2-3 overall 0-0 LSC
South) begins play Friday at
noon against East Central
Oklahoma and 2 p.m. against
Northeastern Oklahoma.
The Cats continue play 10
a.m. Saturday against South-
eastern Oklahoma and wrap
things up with a 2 p.m. game
against Cameron.
Joel Weckerly sports editor
Scores
Monday
Man' Tannla
Texas Tech 9 ACU 0
Tutsday
St. Mary's 3 ACU 1 (Gl)
ACU 15 St. Mary's 4 (G2)
Woman'a Basketball
Angelo State 65 ACU 46
This WOtk'S schotlulo
IkemegmmkHaMcs)
Friday Fabraaiy 14
Women's Tennis 9 Northern
Kentucky 9 a.m.
Men's and women's track &
field 9 Tyson Invitational 10:30
a.m.
Baseball vs. Eastern New
Mexico 2 p.m. (2)
Softball 9 LSC First-Pitch
Tournament 1 p.m.
Women's Tennis 9 Wright
State 4 p.m.
Saturday Ftbruary 15
Women's Tennis 9 Eastern
Kentucky 8 a.m.
Baseball vs. Eastern New
Mexico noon (2)
Women's basketball vs. Texas
A&M-Commerce 2 p.m.
Men's basketball vs. Texas
A&M-Commerce 4 p.m.
Men's and women's track &
field Tyson Invitational
Williams takes leave of absence
Health problems in
coaches family
forces decision
IociWeckiily
Spoiu CJitor
Women's basketball coach
Wayne Williams
was granted a
requested leave
of absence Wed-
nesday to deal
with ongoing
health issues
within his fami-
ly. The leave
Williams
granted by director of athletics
Shanon Hays Wednesday
morning comes with six
games remaining on the team's
schedule.
Assistant coach Shawna
Lavender will take over as
Interim coach for the remain-
der of the season.
Williams' decision was
based on spending more time
with his mother who is bat-
tling Alzheimer's and his
brother who faces a life-or-death
situation in Lubbock.
"I realize this decision
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Junior guard Rodney Lee (left) makes his move on junior guard
Ryan Coleman during practice Wednesday. The menls basket-
ball team plays host to Texas A&M-Commerce 6 p.m. Saturday.
Cats hoping playoff
wish won't dissolve
Team to play TAMC
in Moody Saturday
IosmuPamott
Spo'ti tt'rifr r
From Dec. 16 to Jan. 9 the
men's basketball team seemed
to be on top of the world win-
ning seven consecutive games
posting a 9-3 record.
Since then the Wildcats 11-
10 overall and 2-5 in Lone Star
Conference play have crashed
back to earth losing seven of
their last nine games. They now
face the possibility of missing
the LSC postseason tourna-
ment for the fourth straight
year.
Junior guard Rodney Lee
said first-year
coach Klint
Pleasant isn't
giving up hope
for an ACU
postseason run.
"Coach stays
positive the
whole time and
tells people not
to get down"
"They like to
push the ball."
Ryan Coleman
junior Rim i J
on Texas A&M-Commeirc
said Lee who is second in the
LSC scoring 19.5 points a game.
"I know that after those couple
of losses the thing is that we
need to win games."
Revenge should be a factor
in the season's remaining
games as the Wildcats have
already lost four games this sea-
son to their next five oppo-
nents. ACU took on Texas A&M-
Kingsville for the second time
in less than a week Thursday
night trying to keep from
falling sole possession of the
last place in the LSC South
SportsFriday
The Optimist
comes at a time when our team
is in the middle of the confer-
ence schedule" Williams said
in a prepared statement "but
my family is my first priority
and that's where I need to be
right now."
Hays said Williams' situa-
tion had been consuming his
time all season long.
"I knew Wayne was under a
lot of stress" Hays said. "He's
been putting a lot of time and
effort toward his family and
running a basketball team is
more than a full-time job. He
chose to take care of his family
and I certainly respect that."
Williams informed his play-
ers of the decision after they
had gone through part of their
scouting report during a team
meeting Wednesday after-
noon. "Needless to say we're going
through a wide range of emo-
tions right now" junior center
Mclanic Carter said during
practice later that afternoon.
"We're feeling for Coach; our
thoughts and prayers are with
him."
BYiEfflClirBfEntEIII
Division. Results were unavail-
able at press time.
Junior guard Ryan Coleman
said ACU's next opponent
Texas A&M-
Commerce is
similar to the
Wildcats
approach on
the court.
"They like to
push the ball"
said Coleman
Coleman
who has started 20 of 21 games
this season and is averaging 6.8
points a game. "Our main focus
Is to get back on defense and
keep them from getting easy
baskets."
The Lions
16-6 overall and
6-4 In confer-
ence play
come to Moody
Coliseum to
take on the
Wildcats in LSC
South Division
action 4 p.m.
Saturday. Previously ACU
dropped a Feb. 6 road game to
the Lions 74-68. Senior forward
Micah Reed leads the Lions at
18.9 points and 7.9 rebounds a
game.
Coleman said he has
changed his approach to bas-
ketball since the arrival of
Pleasant this season.
"He really emphasized hard
work" Coleman said. "The bet-
ter defense you play the more
you play. Coach cares about us
stopping people not the offen-
sive end."
Lavender who is in her sixth
year on the coaching staff said
that despite the somber mood
the day produced the Wildcats
(11-12 2-6) are prepared to
focus on the remainder of their
schedule.
"Today's been very emo-
tional" said Lavender "but
these arc the strongest girjs I've
been around. We have six con-
ference games left and we're
definitely still in the hunt of
things. We have the capability
to get It done."
"I'm glad Shawna's there to
step in" Hays said. "I know
they respect her just like they
do Coach Williams."
Carter said Williams had
words of encouragement to
give to (he team before he
departed Wednesday.
"He said he believes In us
wholeheartedly" she said. "All
we can do Is stay positive and
look forward. That's what
Coach would want right now."
After playing Texas A&M-
Kingsville Thursday evening
the Wildcats will try to keep
moving as they take on Texas
A&M-Commerce 2 p.m. Satur-
day In Moody Coliseum.
ACU facing best in
nation in Arkansas
Wildcats looking
to add more
nationals qualifiers '
Sim Hon
Copy Editor
Even more than a
Whitman's Sampler or soap-on-a-rope
this Valentine's Day
head track and field coach Jon
Murray wants to bring home 1 8
automatic nationals qualifiers
from the Tyson Foods
Invitational in Fayctteville Ark.
He is tak-
ing his 22 best
athletes to the
elite indoor
meet at the
Randal Tyson
Track Com-
plex on the
I
VA
jB
HJB
H
MIK
UHHL1
campus of the Stashkiv
No. 1 Univer-
sity of Arkansas to attempt to
qualify or better their times
against professional and
Division I talent.
Freshman Yuliya Stashkiv
qualified in the mile at the Red
Raider Open Jan. 25 and she
will try to do the same in the
women's 5000 meters Friday.
Stashkiv is seeded No. 1 in the
event and will be challenged
by Arkansas star Christin
Wurth the No. 2 seed. Murray
said she should run under 17
minutes but will be pushed.
"This is going to be a chal-
lenge for her" Murray said.
Cats take weekend off
Team coming off
long road trip
BuanP.Roc
Spoilt Wilier
The men's tennis team
spent last weekend in Las
Cruces N.M. playing a series
of four matches in four days.
But the weekend also was filled
with activities other than ten
nis competition.
"Las Cruces
is actually a
cool place"
said Sal Taweel
senior men's
player. "We
ended up hav
IH
ing a aay on so Taweel
we were ante
have some fun and go to the
mountains in New Mexico."
ACU finished the road trip
with one win and three losses;
however all three losses were
to Division I schools consid-
ered the favorite in every
match.
The men began their road
trip by playing Division I team
Pan American on Friday. Pan
American won two of three
doubles matches and received
one point for winning the dou-
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Newly appointed interim womenfe basketball coach Shawna
Lavender addresses the media while her players practice
Wednesday afternoon. Lavender fills in in for Wayne Williams
who decided to take a leave of absence earlier that day.
rercrajftni
"But she has the credentials to
be the best distance runner
we've ever had."
Another athlete competing
in her event for the first time is
sophomore Sofi Hildenborg
who looks to qualify in the
women's 400-meter dash.
Headlining (lie men's field
are Manuel Brandcnborn and
Slial Shalcv in the men's shot
put seeded second and sev-
enth respectively. Both have
already qualified automatically
lor nationals i -77- 1
Two other A
previous auto- H
made qualifi- THf
Nic Alex- M
and LHLsJ
Christie Van HHI
for nationals
Wyk will com- Alexander
pete in the
men's 60-meter dash for brag-
ging rights to call themselves
two of the best in the nation .
Murray said both 4x400-
meter relay teams will compete
for the first time with their best
athletes giving both squads a
good chance of qualifying.
"Our women's 4x400 will be
one of the best we have had in
a while" Murray said.
Senior high jumper Marcsa
Cadicnhcad is seeded first in
her event and looks to impnn c
her season best mark with a
win in Fayctteville.
Other universities partici-
rtrm-miliia
blcs bracket. Pan American
then went on to win six consec-
utive singles matches en route
to a 7-0 victory over ACU.
Later that day the ACU men
faced off against Division II
opponent West New Mexico.
The Wildcats won every match
and defeated West New
Mexico 9-0. ACU was then
scheduled to face Tennessee
Tech Saturday morning but
rainy weather led to a cancella-
tion. On Sunday ACU played
New Mexico St. yet another
Division I school.
Though many of the match-
es were close the ACU men
won only one singles match
and lost 6-1.
"It's hard when you play
against Division I teams but
it's good for us" senior Clayton
Morgan said. "When you play
against better Division I teams
you can't help but get better
and more prepared for when
we play other Division II
teams."
The Wildcats again faced a
tough opponent traveling to
Lubbock on Monday to play
Texas Tech. The heavily favored
FcbruaryHjIOM
ACU participants in
the Tyson Invitational
Mtn (tMd)
60 meters Nic Alexander(S)
Christie Van Wyk (7)
400 meters Rlcardo Johnson
(15) Delt Cockrell (34)
Mile Bernard Maniraklia (6)
Jean Marie Nduklmana (17)
Martin O'Kello (19)
5000 meters Arthemon
Slndaylgaya (4)
Mile relay ACU "A" (6)
Pole Vault Cory Aguilar (22)
TJ Ben Washington (12)
SP Manuel Brandenborn (2)
Shal Shalev (7)
800 meters Bernard Manlraklza
(1) Jean-Marie Nduklmana (2)
Martin O'Kello (7)
Women (teed)
60 meters Althea Johnson (15)
400 meters Sofi Hildenborg
(19) Marlchea Austin (34)
800 meters Angle Waters (6)
5000 meters Yuliya Stashkiv
(1)
Mile relay ACU "A- (5)
HJ Maresa Cadienhead (1)
Alice Bergstrom (12)
Pole Vault Katie Eckley (7) Val
Gorter(19)
TJ Lakeshla Finch (12)
paling include powerhouses
Arkansas Kansas Texas
Kentucky Auburn TCU
Florida Baylor and Mississippi.
Events will begin Friday at
10:30 a.m. and continue
through the invitational and
Olympic Development events
on Saturday.
Red Raiders took care of busi-
ness against ACU in a 7-0 victo-
ry. ACU's top doubles team
lulien Curatella and Kirk
O'Connor lost by a score of 9-
7 almost pulling off an extraor-
dinary upset against one of the
top doubles teams in the
nation lhe team of sopho-
more Jason Ray and freshman
Evan Puglla also nearly tasted
victory before losing 9-8.
Taweel said the team played
better than the stat sheet
shows.
"We tried to go into every
match with positive attitude
thinking we are going win the
match" Taweel said. "We try
not to think of them as superi-
or opponents because any-
thing could happen. There
were a lot of close matches; the
thing is these guys are more
exposed to this kind of tennis.
We lack the experience of play-
ing this level; skills-wise the
competition was pretty even
but mentally and experience-
wise they were supcriqr." '
'I he men's team now has an
overall record of three wins and
five losses. The Wildcats will
play again March 1 against an
unannounced Division II
opponent.
.-.fcLlltM W. ...
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 36, Ed. 1, Friday, February 14, 2003, newspaper, February 14, 2003; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101810/m1/10/: accessed April 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.