Friday, February 11, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B • Page 3
Native sons boost team
Continued from page 1B
one of the only athletes from Kansas.
"When I first got here, I had a little grudge on my shoulder about being a Kansas kid," Stroer said. "Now, there's a neat friendship between the team. Bryan and I have something in common that no else on the team has. It's kind of a special feeling."
Stroer and Maier came to the University with very similar backgrounds. Each of them played high school basketball and won at least one state championship in tennis. In fact, Stroer had a 26-1 record his senior year.
Both players said they received many offers to play tennis at other universities, but they knew all alone the would be Jayhawks.
When Stroer signed with Kansas, his best friend's mom handed him a sheet he had filled out in sixth grade. He had written that he wanted to go to Kansas.
"She said, 'Look, you're fulfilling one of your goals by becoming a Jayhawk,'" Stroer said.
"Coming to Kansas is something I've always wanted to do."
Maier said he also knew he would attend Kansas as a child.
"Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to come here," Maier said. "I have some family on the faculty so I've been in and of Lawrence all my life. It made the decision easy for me. I definitely love this university."
Riley said he named Maier as the captain not only because he was the team's lone senior but also because of his love for Kansas tennis.
This season has been fairly successful for both athletes. Coach Mark Riley named Maier the team's captain before the season began. As the captain, his record has been 9-8 in singles play.
"I thought Bryan would be a good captain because of his commitment to Kansas," Riley said. "He really respects this university and has the most experience out on the court."
Unlike Maier, Stroer is just getting adjusted to competing at the Division I-A level. He has racked up a 12-9 record in the team's fifth singles position. Riley said he saw a bright future ahead for Stroer.
"During high school, he was
Pete Stroer, Salina freshman has something in common on his new team. He is one of two players from Kansas. This situation is a rarity which has not happened since the 95-96 season. Photo by Brad Dreier/ KANSAN
never truly committed to just playing tennis." Riley said. "I know that when he starts playing tennis more than six months a year, he can be a star."
Key player fighting injury
By Brent Wasko
By Brent Wasko
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas men's tennis team will have to overcome the injury of a key player this weekend if it hopes to defeat two ranked opponents in Lawrence.
After struggling mightily at the Louisville Invitational in late January, the Jayhawks (1-3) return home to take on No. 38 Indiana and No. 88 Iowa at the Alvamar Racquet Club.
But to bounce back, the squad will have to cope with the injury of one of sophomore Rodrigo Echagaray. He defeated the nation's No. 17-ranked player at the Rolex Indoors meet last week and is suffering
"The only way to make things right again is to compete," Kansas coach Mark Riley said. "If we perform the way I know we can, then we have a good chance of beating both teams."
Men's tennis
from pain in his right elbow.
from pain in his right leg. Riley said Echagaray would play in the same singles and doubles spot that he had all season or he would not play. But Echagaray said yesterday that he still felt pain when he served the ball and that he didn't know if would be able to compete at full capacity this weekend.
"I'll just have to wait until Saturday to see how it feels," Echagaray said. "I don't think it is a bad injury, so I'll probably try to serve. The doctor said it shouldn't get any worse."
The Jayhawks' most difficult challenge this weekend could be the overall strength of their opponents.
Indiana, the Jayhawks' opponent at 10 a.m. tomorrow, is strong, with 10 letter-winners returning from last season. The Hoosiers (1-0) are coming off of an upset victory
against No. 22 Notre Dame
"Indiana is a much-improved team," Riley said. "They've been getting better with each year. The bottom line is we're going to have to play really hard to win."
play Iowa, which Kansas faces at 1 p.m.
Iowa, will not be a cupcake, either.
The Hawkeyes have started the season
with a 2-0 record. Last season, the
Jayhawks dominated the Hawkeyes,
beating them 6-1 in Lawrence.
Iowa is led by Tyler Cleveland, who racked up a 7-2 fall record on his way to the championship of the Rolex International Tennis Association Region IV Tournament. Overall, Iowa returns seven players, including five who are proven Big Ten performers.
Still, Echagaray said the team was looking forward to competing against its ranked opponents.
"I wish all of our opponents were ranked," Echagaray said. "It's better because you can get really pumped up to play."
'Hawks to have whirlwind weekend
By Zac Hunter sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
By Zac Hunter
Hoping to build on its 3-0 start, the Kansas women's tennis team will head to Tobacco Road for three matches this weekend.
"Ohio State) just upset a Top 25 Marquee team that is very, very good," coach Jenny Garrity said.
The first match comes today against Ohio State in Durham, N.C. The Buckeyes are undefeated early season by starting off 4-0, including an unset of Marquette.
Today is the first time the Jayhawks will play away from Lawrence this spring, and it also will be against the best team they have seen thus far. Senior Brooke Chiller said the better competition would be good for her.
"The tougher the opponent, the more I won't be able to make errors," she said.
Ohio State is ranked No.36 in the nation, while the Jayhawks are close behind at No.41.
"For our first road match of the season, it's definitely going to be a big test for us, but I think the girls
are ready," Garrity said.
Coaching the Buckeyes is former Kansas coach Chuck Merzbacher. During his 1992 to 1996 coaching tenure, he led the Jayhawks to four straight Big Eight Conference championships and three NCAA tournament berths. He was named the 1993 and 1994 Coach of the Year in the Big Eight and received the same award in the Big Ten Conference last year. The Buckeyes won the first and only meeting against Kansas in 1978.
The Jayhawks will have tomorrow off to travel to Davidson, N.C., for their second doubleheader of the season on Sunday.
The first meet of the double-dip begins at 9:30 a.m. against College of Charleston. The Cougars have begun the season 0-2.
Following that match, the team will go head to head with the home team, Davidson College. The Wildcats were railed in their first meet this spring, 9, by No. 13 South Carolina. The Cougars and the Wildcats are not ranked in the top 75.
Junior Monica Sekulov said playing the doubleheaders definitely would have the team in shape for the Big 12
Women's tennis
In addition to being a tough road test, the trip is a chance for Garrity to return to the college where she played and coached college tennis for eight years. She played for North Carolina State from 1988-92 and began her coaching career at the same institution in 1995. She was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year in her final season. 1998.
tournament at the end of April, which spans four days. However, fatigue can be a problem in the early part of the season when the players have not had a chance to get into game shape.
"In singles I was dragging a little bit," she said. "I think it was just a long day. Physically, it wasn't so bad, but it just felt like we were here all day."
Arizona State tournament to open season
Chiller said she felt fatigued during her final singles match last weekend, but it was more of a mental fatigue.
By Rebecca Barlow
sports@kanson
Kansas Sportswriter
By Rebecca Barlow
rolowing the weekend, the team has a two-week break before returning to action in the Jayhawk Classic, which begins Feb. 26.
Opponents beware: Sarah Clopton has some new pitches.
But the returning All-Big 12 starter isn't saying which ones. She just smiles and runs her index finger and thumb across her mouth as if to say, these lines are zipped.
Along with Clopton, the Jayhawk return nine starters and 13 letter-winners. The Jayhawk finished fifth in the Big 12 last season, earning a trip to the NCAA Regionals.
The star hurler's new pitches may be a secret, but the Kansas softball team probably won't surprise anyone this year.
Clopton and her teammates will start their season at 11 a.m. today at Arizona State's tournament in Tempe, Ariz. The Jayhawks take on Fresno State, ranked third in the nation, and Arizona State today. They play Georgia tomorrow and Utah on Sunday.
"I think everybody as a team is doing excellent," Clopton said. "Our attitude is definitely a lot more positive than it has been."
"When we look at the season, we do not start out with an easy schedule," said Kansas coach Tracy Bunge, who is back for her fourth season. "We felt like we need to think nationally and picked Arizona and Fresno."
Although practice started last month, Bunge already has noticed the hard work the Jayhawks have done.
"I can't ask any more from these kids." Bunge said. "They are on the way to having an extremely successful year."
Bunge said that there was a definite advantage to having all nine starters returning and that she was confident that her team would be successful.
"I have full faith this team will rise to the occasion—to be at the World Series." Bunge said.
Clopton said she hoped this year's team would improve its 31-30 record from last year.
"Hopefully, the season will be better than last season," she said. "It will definitely be bittersweet."
The Jayhawks add four new team members this season. Identical twins Kelly and Katie Campbell, both transferred from Northwestern. Kelly will see time on the mound, and Katie will be sharing time behind the plate.
Leah Mountain and Leslie Sailor both walked on the team last fall. Mountain plays first base and will back up senior Shannon Stanwix. Sailor will back up Megan Urquhart at third base.
Bunge said she thought a lot of people would be surprised with the new players.
"The best thing about freshmen is they become sophomores," she said. "They keep adding experience and gain knowledge."
Although Sailor was uneasy about going away to college and about joining the team, she said she had found friendship on the team.
"The team welcomes everybody," she said. "I was a little bit nervous. These were people I have never played with before."
kansan.com
Bunge said the coaching transitions should go smoothly for the new players.
"They have brought new energy to the team," Bunge said.
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