12
Wednesday, April 19, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Collier's improvement paces KU
By BLAKE GUMPRECHT
Sports Writer
This summer, as last summer, KU tennis player Chéc Collier will be working with his team to make it even better.
He won't be traveling around the country to compete in tennis tournaments as he did throughout high school. In fact, he'll be lucky to get to an in any organized competition.
However, RU men's tennis coach Tom Kivisto thinks the lack of competition in the summer might be enough to keep Collier on the court even from a possible professional career.
"It's a shame," Kivito said. If he wanted to work hard enough, he could do it.
"I'm not going to let him walk me."
Collier, though, said he was looking forward to this summer. Making a living with a tennis racquet is not Collier's idea of the good life.
"I DON'T want to have to worry about where my meal is coming from," he said.
"I really enjoy working in the oil business. We really have a good time. My dad's my boss."
Collier is just a sophomore and he didn't become KU's No. 1 singles player until early this month, but his professional prospects should continue to improve with every
Collier played his first match as the No. 1 singles player at the Oklahoma City Invitational April 7. At that tournament Collier matched his teammate, player 6-2, 6-0. He lost his only other match in the No. 1 position to Brian Mitchell, Missouri's top player and to the Big Ten champion.
"HE'S PLAYING some of the best tennis of his life," Kivisto said after the Oklahoma City match. "He're really coming on as a player. There's no question he's progressed."
"It's a big jump," he said. "I love it, but I've got a lot to learn and a lot more to learn."
Carr could sign with Jayhawks
Kansas, which already has signed three basketball prospects, may sign a fourth this
Antone Carr, 6-8 forward from Wichita Heights High School, is hoping to pass up his senior year at Wichita Heights to enter college in the fall. If Carr decides to leave Heights, the Jayhawks are interested in siring him.
The Jayhawks have not been able to actively recruit Carr because he is a junior.
"We've had an eye on him." KU assistant basketball coach Bob Hill said last night.
Carr said over the weekend that although he was a junior, he had 18 credits and needed just two more to graduate. He hoped to pick up the credits during the summer.
"WE HAVE a lot of things to check out," Mrs. Carr said.
However, his mother, Joann Carr, said last night that it was still not known whether the classes her son needed would be offered during the summer.
Carr announced his plans after Carmichael was told last week that his teaching position was to be eliminated at Wichita Heights because of declining enrollment.
Steve Carmichael, Wichita Heights basketball coach, said Carr had only 17% credits and would be unable to obtain more than two over the summer. The school principal could waive the final half-credit, Carmichael said, but such cases are rare.
Carmichael's absence, would mean that Carr would be playing under his third coach in three years. Lafayette Nowward resigned in April last year to become assistant coach at KU.
Carr averaged 14 points a game as a sophomore under Norwood in 1975-76. He also played for the team title with a 23-0 record that year. He also played on the same team as Kus' Darnell Valentine. Carr averaged 23 points a game as a junior led him into the Class 44 tournament.
KSU announces two signings
MANHATTAN (AP)—Kansas State University officials yesterday announced the signing of Ed Nelyd of Bonner Springs to national basketball letters of intent.
Neally, a 6-7, 210-pound forward, won all-state honors among Class 3-A schools, averaging 28 points and 14.6 rebounds a game.
Adams, 6-6, 19-pound guard, averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds for Martin Luther King High School in Chicago, where he was named to one all-America team.
Rovals win 8th
TORONTO (AP)—Amos Otis belted a grand slam home run in the first inning as the Kansas City Royals shut out the Toronto on Saturday yesterday for their eight straight 71.
wrote Wilson and Hal McRae beat out infiltrs held to the game. The Royals then pulled a double steal. Darrell Porter was walked intentionally, filling the bases.
Otis followed by hitting a 2-2 pitch from loser Dave Lemancykz over the left center field fence. 380 feet away, for his first baseman's season and the first grand slam of his career.
"You have to be more mentally tough each point at No.1. Every school has a good teacher."
ALTHOUGH Collier's singles record is only 8-7 and his doubles record is just 6-9, most of his losses came at the hands of some of the country's top-ranked tennis players.
KU's schedule this spring has included such Midwestern powers as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, The Hawks and the Jayhawks also faced several nationally ranked teams on the *th*
spring break tour of the Southwest and West.
Kivito said, "He's playing the beat in the country and is above 500 in singles. He's not."
According to Kivisto, Collier's 6-4 frame has a lot to do with his success.
"HE'S GOT the longest reach I've ever seen; you can't get anything by him," he said. "He's got the longest legs and the longest arms."
Staff Photo by RANDY OLSON
Winning form
Chel Collier displays the form that has made him KU's No. 1 singles player. Collier, just a sophomore, was one of Oklahoma's top prep tennis players before enrolling at KU.
WANTED Part Time Food Service SUPERVISORS
Base Pay $3.35 to $4.35 Per Hour (Following Short Training Session)
Up to $50.00 Monthly Bonus After Six Months
QUALIFICATIONS
Must have two years experience in Food Service.
Must have one year experience in Food Service Management.
Must be highly motivated individual.
Must furnish list of current references.
Not long ago, however, Collier's lanky tenure was more of a liability than an advantage.
Applify Scrum Foods - 719 Mass. — No Phone Calls
Applicant to have short Resume available at time of application.
Anvolv Schumm Foods—719 Mass.—No Phone Calls
AND, ALTHOUGH he lost the state singles finals two years straight, he was on the state championship doubles team. He also won 508 regular season singles record as a junior.
Despite the heavy recruiting that follows credentials like Collier's, friendships, not ties are also important.
"I was pretty awkward until I finally quit
arrowing last year," he said.
His frame did not interfere with his domination of high school tennis, though. While at Hertitage High School in Oklahoma he played 1 player in Oklahoma (wears a row.)
AND HE'S STILL glad he came to KU,
even though Oklahoma and Oklahoma State
are the league powers and tennis is often
considered more important at those schools
Collier had become good friends with two Jayhawks, Mark Hosking and Joe Ruysser, during several summers playing the Missouri Valley Professional Circuit.
"Everybody got to know everyone else," Collier said. "I could have gone to Oklahoma or Oklahoma State but I wanted just to just from the tournament with Mark and Joe."
"We may not be the best team, but we have a lot of fun playing," he said. "The boys are really excited."
Collier seems to have found the right mixture of fun and serious tennis. He started at the No. 5 position last year and then moved up to No. 2 singles before the season ended.
AND NOW, as KU's top player with two complete seasons left, Collier is in position to play.
"Clethes competition," he said. "It's rare to find a guy like that. He transcends his practices. You'd think he was playing over his head, but all winners do."
CHEP
SALAD
4 kinds of cheese, 3 kinds of meat, your favorite salad dressing and crackers... $1.75
Reg. $2.15 Offer expires April 30, 1978
107
lemon tree
11 W. 9th
GRAND
OPENING
SPECIAL
Buy One Cone
Get One Free
Coupon Expires April 30, 1978
YO
SKIN-FLICK TIME
Fri. & Sat.
Night—12:15
Box Open at 11:45 & All Seats 2.50
Show starts 12:15 Sorry - No Refuses
2000 Hillcrest
Attention SENIORS:
Farewell to the
HARBOUR
Thursday, April 20 7-10 p.m.
10c draws
for class card holders
WHERE ELSE
CAN YOU GET SO MUCH?
where comfortable Jayhawks live
easy walking distance to classes comfortable 2-bedroom apartments central air conditioning and heating wall-to-wall carpeting cablevision hook-up variety shop free utilities
swimming pool
bar-b-que grills
laundry facilities on-site
security service
location on bus line
on campus living
OFFICE HOURS: Mon.-Frl. 9:00-5:30 Sat.10:00-4:00