Tuesday, December 12, 1984
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
7
KU gymnast short in stature only
By Ted Bell
Kausan Staff Reporter
You would think that anyone who was a three-model gymnast in high school, holds the KU record for all-around performance in that same spirit, and can bench peers 275 pounds would not have too much trouble holding on to a piece of wood or metal.
Unfortunately, that is Robart
"Pete." Pierson's biggest problem.
You see, Pierson is only 5 feet
2 inches tall. The Lawrence junior
corporate in six events for the Jayhawker gymnastics squad,
and is in contention for "all-around" honors after every large meet. The best "all-around"
challenge award is given to the best performer in the six events although the team is not given points.
He usually does very well in
KU gymnast Robert Pierson
Big 8 wins two, loses two
By United Press International
The Big Eight split four games in non-conference competition Monday night with Kansas State falling to powerful Indiana 89-83 and Nebraska victim of Hawaii 82-74 on the island state.
Colorado used Pat Frink's 32 points to move past Texas 90-75 for its third win in four games. Oklahoma State pushed its record to 3-1 with a 78-60 victory over MacMurry College.
Northern Illinois invades Iowa State and Oklahoma plays Texas Tech in the only games tonight.
The Hawaii Rainbows handed the Cornhuskers a rude aloha before 3,019 persons using balanced scoring for the victory. Six of Hawai's players scored in double figures with Harvey Harmon leading the way with 18 points.
Nebraska sophomore Tom Scantilebury led both teams with
22. The same two teams meet again Wednesday night.
Indiana's Earl Schneider scored 26 points and Vernon Payne added 21 to lead the Hoosiers to their fourth win. Earl Seyfert of Kansas State topped all scorers with 28.
Kansas State pulled to a six point lead in the second half but the margin melted away quickly as Indiana led by as many as nine later in the game.
Frink's 32 points, with ample support by Chuck Williams' 25, were enough to down the Longhorns. The Texans are now 1-4 under new coach Leon Black. Billy Arnold led Texas with 20 points.
Oklahoma State was never threatened against MacMurry College of Jacksonville, Ill. The Cowboys led 38-23 at the half.
four of the judged events, but the sensitizing two cause him some unusual problems because his hands are too small to hang onto the high bar and the sidehorse.
"These short stubby hands are the problem, and I really can't compete in national all-around meets because of those two weak events. Floor exercise is my strongest event. I feel it's the hardest part of gymnastics, he said, so I work hardest on it."
ROTC game won by Middies, 6-0
The Middies blanked the Caddets 6-0 Saturday in the first annual post-season Army-Navy ROTC football game.
He took fifth place in free exercise at the Big 8 championships last year, and has his sights set on a higher placing this season.
Pierson concentrated on these three events while in high school, so when he started competing in the all-around events at KU, he not only had to learn to perform in three events, he had to realize his hands were too small for two of them.
On the fourth series of plays in the game, Dennis Harris swept into the end zone from 10 yards out to post the needed margin for the Navy.
Pierson's three other events are parallels, rings, and long horse vault.
Pierson's hands were not too small in junior high school when he first got interested in the sport. "A friend of mine knew the coach," he said, "so I started after one conversation with him. There was no problems with size."
That play was the difference, although Army threatened numerous times to cross the goal line. Outstanding catches by Don Brewer and a key interception and runback by Mike Hay to set up the touchdown for Navy loomed big in the Middie attack.
By the time Pierson graduated from Lawrence High School, he had collected a gold medal in free
exercise, a silver in the rings,
and a bronze medal for parallels
in state championships.
But Pierson is still a little disappointed with his hands. "It's every athletes goal to compete in the Olympic games. The Olympics in gymnastics is nothing but all-around work. You can't specialize in one particular event, so I guess there's not much hope for me in even the national all-around events, let alone the Olympics."
Downtown
A total of eight interceptions—four by each team—made the game not unlike a tennis match. A constant mist and a muddy field played a big part in the frequent exchange of the football.
All Freshmen with Freshman class cards are admitted FREE. (Class cards are in the mail now.)
All Freshmen who have not paid dues will be admitted (entitled to Free beer and entertainment) for $1.00.
Non-Freshman dates admitted for $1.00