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Tuesday, June 6, 1972
University Summer Kansan
KU's All-Around Gymnast: A New Trend in Competition
Performing in all six events requires not only a great deal of skill, but also basic concentration and control. A little assistance from the coach to begin the event contributes to perfection of each segment of the performance. Through each distinct
maneuver, the strength and endurance of the gymnast is enhanced by contrast ripple effects in the degree of difficulty epi. This is the basis for jugging.
Strenuous body control is followed by a brief moment of apparent exhastion when the gymnast leaves the protective mat, allowing for a powerful return.
All-around gymnast Marc Joseph, Lawrence junior, anticipates his performance and moves to mind. Joseph tries to remain mentally at ease while he focuses on the performance of his teammates. Left, prior to the meet, he is preparing for handling pain while stretching stiff muscles.
The all-around gymnasm often has to rely solely on the strength of his arms and legs to catapult his body through the air. During the vaulting horse, above, and every other event, Joseph remains in free fall for an instant, twisting and turning in different controlled movements. He must be able to return to earth. A final pat on the back from the coach makes the hard work for control, strength and endurance all worthwhile.
By STEVE STRAS Kansan Sports Writer
"I had a fight with my girl friend, and while we were not talking to each other, I turned on the television set," he said.
One night six years ago, Marc Jobe joined the University of Kansas gymnastics had a fight with his girl friend. Now he's the best all-around player.
"On television that night I watched the NCAA gymnastics tournament and watched the *tie* between me and myself that I could do that, too."
Joseph began participating in gymnastics as a sophomore at Lawrence. He worked on the
parallel bars and placed fourth in the state meet his sophomore year. He won the event his final two years at Lawrence High.
During his senior year in high school, Joseph started working as an all-around man at the coach of his coach, Bob Manning.
He decided to come to KU because he had lived in Lawrence most of his life and knew several of the KU gymnasts.
Since Joseph has been at KU, legislation by the NCAA has increased the importance of the all-around gymnast.
Legislation has initiated a trend toward emphasizing all-around performers and putting
less emphasis on specialists, according to KU Coach Bob Lockwood.
"The United States and Canada are the only countries in the world with specialists in gymnastics. All other countries, however, have very few regulations, only have all-around performers." Lockwood said.
Two years ago, the NCAA rules that a team must field three all-around performers. A team now only two specialists in each event.
In 1964, a team needed only one all-around performer and could enter three specialists in each round. The third competitor attempted to eliminate
Now, the NCAA is considering a change requiring four all-around men for a meet and tournament event. If that change isn't implemented, the number of all-around men will remain the same, but the number of athletes might be reduced to one.
specialists from collegiate gymnastics.
All an-airborne man performs in all six gymnastic events—floor exercise, side horse, high bar, horizontal, parallel bars and still rings.
Each event takes much hard work and a great amount of time, Joseph, Lockwood, and several other members of the gymnastics
team regard the new legislation with little favor.
"Gymnastics is a minor sport in which many people want to participate, but many don't have the physical attributes nor the desire to become all-around."
"Not everybody in gymnastics in the United States can be an all-around performer," Lockwood agreed. "The physique has much to learn, but it is also what man needs a well developed body and great overall body strength."
Rich Schubert and Terry Baird, two oceans specialists, it would be bad for the sport and many people if oceansists were faced out of competition.
Joeph does not think that the Nets all-around men. There will always be a place for the players in collegiate gymnastics, he said.
As an all-around performer, Joseph said he did not think the recent legislation would effect him.
"I don't think I am good enough to compete internationally, and I am not." Sometimes, my knee will lock when I am performing," he said.
Joseph doesn't plan to enter international competition when he leaves KU.
Bad leg and all, Joseph has the fourth best score ever recorded by a KU all-around man, a 49.45.
Kansan Photos by RON SCHLOERB
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