Section B · Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Friday, March 31, 2000
Captain loss small roster limit soccer
By Chris Wristen sports@kansan.com
Kansan writerwriter
Toughness will be the name of the game for the Kansas soccer team this weekend as it travels to the University of Illinois for a three-game tournament.
The Jayhawks will play Northern Illinois at
followed by a 4 p.m.
game against
Evansville — a team
that Kansas defeated
2-1 last spring. At 10
a.m. on Sunday, the
team will face
Illinois, a Big 10 team
that was ranked as
high as No. 15 last
fall in a Soccer
America doll.
That won't be an easy task for a Kansas team that is playing with only 14 healthy players. But that's what coach Mark Francis said it would take for his team to improve.
"You try to play teams that will make you better," he said. "We want to play teams that will help us, and we're doing that. Each year we try to make our schedule tougher."
Adding to the difficulty of the trip will be a fatigue factor, said Meghann Haven, junior forward. Spring break disrupted team workouts, and players had to get back into shape quickly.
Three games in two days certainly will expedite the process.
"It's going to take a lot of mental toughness," said Colleen Colvin, junior midfielder. "With the lack of subs that we'll have, we're going to be tired so we'll need to be mentally tough enough not to make mistakes that might cost us a win."
One of the stepping stones the team has endured this spring has been the loss of team captain Katie Lents because of a fractured ankle. The team has missed Lents' presence on the field. Haven said.
But, with the loss of a captain, others have emerged from the pack.
Francis praised the efforts of Colvin, Haven and freshmen Brie Valento and Pardis Ariazand who he said had helped guide the team this season.
"They've been a good example for the others on the team from their work ethic and with what they bring to the field every day," he said.
Shortstop John Nelson shows off his base-running skills in the Jayhawks' 7-3 victory against Iowa State on March 3. Nelson, Denton, Texas, junior, leads the team in stolen bases with 23 on 24 attempts. Photo by Kate Levenson/KANSAN
When he's pitching he 's a Smart-bomb
Continued from page 1B
"Last year was very painful," he said. "I haven't been able to experience success before this year. I love it. But coach Kilmer has helped me — he's the best coach I've ever had."
Thirteen-year pitching coach Wilson Kilmer has turned 14 players into major league pitchers and played a key role in the Jayhawks' advance to the 1993 College World Series. Smart may be his latest success story.
"Pete showed signs last year that he had it in him," Kilmer said. "The biggest reason for his improvement is that he works hard. He took direction. He's a competitive guy that wants to do well."
Smart's desire has made him the premier pitcher at Hoglund Ballpark. And he owes it all to Kilmer.
"When I came here, I was mechanically a wreck," Smart said. "I was ugly to watch and was seven or eight miles per hour slower. Kilmer has guided me every step of the way. I used to be mentally frail, but now I gained the confidence to be able to get through it. I'm a tougher pitcher because of him."
And he is — just look at the numbers. Smart already has matched the 36 K's he had in
Wilson Kilmer Pitching coach
"Pete showed signs last year that he had it in him."
20 appearances last season. Although he currently holds a 5-4 record, his five wins are more than any Jayhawk pitcher had last season.
At the beginning of the season, Smart said he wanted to be the best pitcher in the Big 12. In a conference filled with pitching talent, that may be a tall task. But he's not discouraged.
"Am I No. 1? No, Am I in the top three or four? Probably not," said Smart, who also is one of three team captains.
"But if I string together six more wins, I have a chance. I'd rather just have a team that is fourth or fifth in the league. I'm not a rah-rah guy, but I come in and work hard."
All of his hard work could pay off if he gets the opportunity to play professional ball when he graduates this May. But if that plan falls through. Smart has his eye on loftier positions.
Brothers Gremminger to battle in 'Hawk-Aggie game
"If not pro ball, I'll be president of the United States and save the world," he said.
Continued from page 1B
"But it's not because of lack of effort. When you have high expectations, you overtry early. He had a slow start but he's rolling now. It gives the team a big boost."
winning streak. Kansas was swept last year in its series with Texas A&M, and the Aggies hold a 22-5 all-time record against the Hawks.
Yet Randall remains optimistic.
And the 'Hawks will need Gremminger's offensive boost to win against the Aggies, who are in second place in the Big 12 and on a six-game
Yet kandani remains optimistic.
"Every weekend is a big weekend, every game is a big game," he said. "I like our chances. I think we can win the first game, but we need to win the series. We haven't played a weekend series where we've played well in pitching,
offense and defense."
And the results reflect Kansas' inconsistencies. In each of the 'Hawks four big 12 series — Iowa State, Texas, Oklahoma State and Missouri — Kansas has won the first game but dropped the second game. But the 'Hawks possess a 1-7 record in the later games of the series. But that doesn't mean Jesse Gremminger will give his brother any slack — he wants a Kansas victory.
"I want us both to do equally well," he said. "We caught A&M at a bad time. If we would have played them earlier, it might have been easier. It will be interesting."
Tomorrow's game will begin at 2 p.m. while Sunday's is set to start at 1 p.m. Kansas Baseball Notes
Wednesday's rained-out game has been rescheduled for April 25. But instead of playing Westminster, the Hawks will face Washburn at 6 p.m.