Section:
B
The University Daily Kansan
They said it...
Sports
"I was pretty much looking like Freddie Krueger."
— Jame Carney, cyclist, on losing 30 percent of his upper lip in a crash.
Inside: Four tennis players and two golfers were named to the All-Big 12 academic team.
SEE PAGE 2B
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2000
Inside: It's been a rough season for tennis player Alex Barragan, but he's trying to turn it around at the Big 12 Championships.
SEE PAGE 8B
WWW.KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
'Hawks need win to enter tournament
Baseball team must gain ground in Big 12
By Amanda Kaschube
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
It's crunch time
With only two conference series remaining this season, Kansas is close to gaining a berth in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Only two things stand in the way — Baylor and Texas A&M.
In order to gain ground on the Aggies, who occupy the eighth and final qualifying spot in
"It's down to where we've got to win a lot of games and we've got to count on others to lose."
Shane Wedd
first baseman
the conference, the 'Hawks (22-23 and 8-16 in the Big 12) must defeat the 5. Bears (36-13 and 17-7 in the Big 12) this weekend in Waco, Texas.
And that could be hard for a team that has failed to seize "easier" games from Iowa State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.
But don't count Kansas out yet.
"It's down to where we've got to win a lot of games and we've got to count on others to lose," said first baseman Shane Wedd. "We have a shot at the end and we still have the hunger to take it to the next level. If we play our best ball, we have a chance to achieve something special."
The 'Hawks will need to be on the ball tonight — the Bears have won their last three games, including two victories against Texas last weekend. And Baylor's closer, Zane Carlson, has snatched 12 saves in his 19 appearances. Combined with a 3.56 ERA and 7.5 strikeouts per game, the Bears have dominated the mound.
See BASEBALL on page 2B
KANSAS VS.
BAYLOR
Kansas (22-23 and 8-16) vs.
Baylor (36-13 and 17-7)
Baker Bridge Warner Town
Saylor Johnson, FI
7 p.m. today — Kansas pitcher Pete Smart (6-8) will start
7 p.m. tomorrow — Kansas pitcher Rusty Bullard (4)
Finance 6-14
1 p. m. Sunday — Kansas pitcher Brandon O'Neal (14)
4) will start
Jayhawks want strong showing at Drake Relays this weekend
By Sarah Warren
By Sarah Warren sports@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Scott Russell isn't breaking a sweat over the Drake Relays.
“It’s always a big meet,” he says, shrugging his shoulders.
True, the junior has won the javelin there the past two years and currently is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the event. He knows one bad meet could change things, but all that doesn't matter.
"There'll probably be the five or so of the top 10 athletes in the javelin at Drake." Russell said. "So it'll be big."
Truth be told, Russell and his throwing colleagues plan to make a strong showing. Russell, who won the javelin and hammer competition at last week's Relays, plans to make a showing in the field, along with Kansas sophomores Andrea Bulat and Ryan Speers, who placed second in the javelin and first in the shot put, respectively, at that meet.
Also in the field for the "Hawks this weekend are the Kansas pole vaulters. Junior Andrea Branson, ranked second in the nation, will vie for the top spot at Drake after setting a personal best last week at Memorial Stadium with a jump of 13 feet 10 inches. For the men, juniors Greg Steele and Vadim Gvodetskly, hope to make a strong showing for Kansas after placing third and fourth, respectively, last week.
The Jayhawks will be fielding a strong team on the track, as well. The team is bringing the men's 4-mile, distance medley and shuttle relay teams to the meet, as well as both the men's and women's 1,600-meter relay teams. However, members of the those relay teams, namely junior Charlie Gruber and senior Andy Tate, also will run alone, with Gruber running the collegiate 1,500-meter race and Tate running the 3,000-meter steeple chase.
"I think this is a very elite group," said coach Gary Schwartz. "I think we're hoping that we're going to do well with everybody we take. That's the goal."
And everyone who is not going to Drake will be attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City Open tomorrow.
"The competition is good there because other schools are doing what we did," Schwartz said. "Their athletes who aren't going to Drake are going to UMKC. There'll be part of Kansas State, Emporia State and Missouri's teams. Everybody is just trying to move towards the conference meet."
Kansas senior Brooke Chiller grimaces as she returns a backhand. Chiller, who played No. 1 singles for the Jayhawks, won her match against Iowa State's Noortje Cornelissen 6-4, 6-4. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/ KANSAN
Women's tennis defies wind, whips Iowa State
Kansas to take on No. 2 Bears today
Zac Hunter
sports@Kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
On a day that was not particularly good for playing tennis outdoors, the Kansas women's tennis team played particularly well.
In fact, they dominated. Kansas, the No. 7 seed, took on No. 10 Iowa State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament at the very windy Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo., and wasted no time in dismantling the Cyclones, 5-0.
Coach Jenny Garrity said she was happy with the way her team shut the door on Iowa State, even when it attempted to get
back into some matches.
"I was very pleased that we didn't have any three-setters in the matches that Iowa State fought back in," she said.
Junior Monica Sekulov set the tone early by disposing of Kendra Leese 6-1, 6-0. The win was typical of Sekulov's early season when she usually was the first winner off the court.
While it was Sekulov who started the meet with a win, senior Brooke Chiller ended it. Chiller defeated Noortje Cornelissen 6-4, 6-4 at the No.1 position. On a windy day, Chiller said, the outcome of the match came down to one simple thing.
"I think you have to see who can hit the most balls in the court," she said.
See TENNIS on page 2B
Kansas freshman Tiffany Chang returns an overhead volley during her No. 3 singles match against her Iowa State opponent. The Jayhawks won their first-round bout against the Cyclones and advanced to second-round play against the Baylor Bears today. The opening serve is set for 4 p.m. at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City, Mo. Photo by Matt J. Daugherty/KANSAN
Polls ignore rowing team as NCAA tournament nears
Bv Shawn Linenberger
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Despite the Jayhawks' continued success, no one has seemed to notice the 'Hawks' accomplishments. Jayhawks varsity boats have defeated previously ranked Massachusetts, Tulsa and Texas.
Kansas slowly is becoming the Jan Brady of collegiate rowing.
Kansas' first varsity eight boat defeated Tulsa by nearly eight seconds and Texas by five seconds.
Both margins marked sound wins, but the USRowing Collegiate Coaches Poll seems to indicate otherwise.
*Tulsa'* is ranked No. 22 in Wednesday's poll, while Texas
"It's frustrating for us because we've worked so hard," senior Abby Rosdahl said. "But it's also more motivation."
debuted at No. 27. Kansas dropped out of the poll after holding the No. 25 spot.
Teams usually try not to get wrapped up in rankings, but in rowing, it's a must.
The top 15 teams in the final coaches poll advance to the NCAA Championships in late May.
That's why this weekend, as
Rosdahl puts it. is the focal point of the season. The Jayhawks will race No. 9 Southern California, No. 16 Washington State, Stanford and Oregon State.
Kansas hopes these races against highly ranked opponents are more favorable than its April 1 loss to then-No.16 Iowa.
There's less pressure against the West Coast teams because they're not the geographical rival Iowa is, Rosdahl said, but there still is much energy surrounding the team.
"We're very excited,very optimistic and nervous as well." Rosdahl said. "We have to prove that we not only belong in the top 25, but the top 15 as well."
Coach Rob Catthul said his team was ready for the critical stretch.
Races tomorrow against Southern Cal, Oregon State and Stanford, and races Sunday against Washington State mark Kansas' last competitions before Central Regionals in two weeks. The NCAAs are next for Kansas — if the Jayhawks qualify.
"We've gained a lot of speed," Catloth said. "It's now or never for us doing anything in the postseason."
ROWING SCHEDULE
Tomorrow
At Redwood City, Calif.
10:45 a.m. First varsity vs. Southern Cal
11 a.m. Second varsity vs. Southern Cal
5:15 p.m. Varsity four vs. Oregon State
5:30 p.m. Second varsity vs. Stanford
5:45 p.m. First varsity vs. Stanford
Sunday
11:30 a.m. Second varsity vs.
Washington State
.
11:45 a.m. First varsity vs.
Washington State
■ noon Varsity four vs. Washington State