WEDNESDAY, MAY 8.2002 SPORTS REPORT CARD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B Coach of the Year, should have a strong crew next year as well. Six of the team's eight players will return, including senior Kim Lorenz, Big 12 co-champion at No. 6 singles, and sophomore Aurele Bejar, Big 12 champion at No. 5 singles. Soccer-A- Never winning a postseason game tempers some of the enthusiasm that stems from making the NCAA Tournament for the first time. Kansas' first victory against Missouri in coach Mark Francis' three years at the University and a strong freshman class that includes forwards Monica Brothers and Rachel Gillfillan and keeper Meghan Miller shows a team sharply on the rise, though. Rowing — B The rowing team has finished in the Top 25 each year of its existence except for this season, and no one knows why the team isn't doing just as good this year. Coach Rob Catloth has moved rowers from boat to boat trying to find the perfect combination for the teams' first varsity eight-boat, which has floundered when the other boats have floated in first. Whatever its problems, the team still has had an OK season. The team tied for second at the Big 12 Invitational and managed to win the Kansas Cup. Cross Country — B- THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B While the cross country team has improved in recent years, the team still hasn't reached the level of its cousin, the track and field team. This season, the men finished seventh and the women finished eighth at the Big 12 Championships. However, the men finished first and the women finished second out of eight teams at their only home meet of the season, the Bob Timmons Invitational at Rim Rock Farm. There, senior Brent Behrens finished first in the eight-kilometer race with a time of 26:25.37. Next season, the team will suffer the loss of senior standouts Behrens, Brian Blachly, Charlie Gruber, Katy Eisenmenger and Courtney Deutsch. The team will lie in the hands of Mark Menefee, Chris Jones, Laura Lavoie and Diane Disher. Volleyball—C+ Finishing seventh in the Big 12 forced the Jayhawks to take on Texas Tech in a play-in game in the conference tournament and dropped them a letter grade. Losing eight seniors won't help next season, but Kansas returns three quarters of its pitching staff — Kristen Milhoan (6-7, 5.05 ERA), Kara Pierce (12-9, 3.21 ERA) and The Jayhawks went 16-15 overall and just 6-14 in the Big 12, but they did nearly take a game from conference champions and national semifinalists Nebraska. The team will lose setter Molly LaMere only, and although LaMere was an integral part of the team the past four years, coach Ray Bechard should have a solid core of returning players featuring four seniors, three juniors and seven sophomores. Swimming and Diving — C+ Swimming coach Cathy Burgess' team gave mixed results all season long. The team won seven of its 12 duals during the season, but lost every dual it had with a Big 12 team. The team also couldn't produce at the Big 12 Championships, finishing fifth out of six teams. However, the Jayhawks bounced back, finishing in the top 30 at the NCAA National Championships. Burgess and company will suffer the loss of senior diving standing Rebecca McFall, who finished third at the NCAA Zone meet, but if freshman swimmer Amy Gruber continues to improve, the team should get some great performances out of her. Serena Settlemier (12-7, 2.42 ERA) — which should give the team a fighting chance in the tough Big 12. Football-C- The hiring of Mark Mangino as coach bumps this team up from a D. The Jayhawk finished 3-8, but two of those victories were against Wyoming and Southwest Missouri State. A double-overtime victory against Texas Tech in Lubbock was the team's only worthwhile victory. Wide receiver Harrison Hill will be back for a sixth season this fall, though, and Mangino's trademark intensity should help the Jayhawks win a few more games next year. If nothing else, at least the team will look professional in its new uniforms. Kansas finished in the top three of its six regular-season tournaments, including a first-place finish at the Stevinson Ranch Invitational in late March, but a 10th place finish in both the last regular-season tourney and the Big 12 tournament sunk the team's grade. Three seniors will be gone next year, but All-Big 12 selection Chris Marshall and juniors Tyler Hall and Andrew Price will still be around to help coach Ross Randall lead the five returning sophomores. Men's Golf-C. The team consistently finished in the lower half of almost every tournament all year long, including at the Big 12 tournament in April, where it placed 12th. The team started off well in the fall, placing 14th out of 31 teams at the Bay Tree Classic, and sophomore Jennifer Bawanan won the Sunflower Cup in Manhattan. But the team finished 14th out of 16 teams at the Big 12 Invitational, 16th out of 19 teams at the Women's Collegiate Shoot Out and 10th out of 18 teams at the Jayhawks' home event at Alvaar. In the spring, the team Women's Golf—D+ started off well with a third place finish out of 15 teams at the Islander Invitational and then slid down the rankings until the teams' last place finish at the Big 12 tournament. The team is 21-24 before tonight's game against Rockhurst, but is 4-16 in the Big 12. While the team has played well in non-conference contests, going 17-8, the teams it played were mostly doormats, clearly scheduled to pad the team's record. The only real victory the team has gotten out of the non-conference season is the team's 9-1 victory over then No. 8-Wichita State. Also, the team is 6-16 on the road. Ouch. The Jayhawks do have a respectable offense, but the pitching is a weakness that dogs the team at every game. The team will lose its top three pitchers, which makes next season's outlook even gloomier. Baseball — D+ The team's 5-25, 0-16 record stands for itself, and warrants a failing grade. The team lost its first game, and then won five games against unranked opponents, all but one of which were at home. And then it lost every single Big 12 game. The team also managed to score just 12 points in the first half of its 80-41 loss at Colorado, which is the fewest scored ever in the first half for Kansas, and the second all-time fewest for a half — the record holds from 1988 when the team scored just 10 points in the second half against Mississippi. The class of incoming freshmen are supposed to be very talented. We hope they can help erase the horrors of this year's season. Warren is an Overland Park senior in journalism and Spanish and is the Kansan sports editor. Chronisr is a Pittsburg senior in journalism and is the Kansan associate sports editor. Women's Basketball—F GRADUATING? kansan.com THERE IS STILL TIME! We've got pick up and go GOWNS/HATS/TASSELS ANNOUNCEMENTS (NEXT DAY PICKUP) Jayhawk Bookstore 1420 Crescent Rd ...at the top of the hill! 7th & Florida NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2002 Studios, 1BR, 2BR 3 BR w/ 2 baths & 4 BR w/ 2 baths - Furnished Apt. Available - Gas heat & water - Fully equipped kitchens including microwaves - W/D in select Apts - Private balconies & patios - On-site laundry facility - Pool - On KU bus route - On-site Manager - 24 hr. emergency Maintenance Models Open Daily! For more information call 785-841-5255 Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sun. 1pm-4pm. EVERYTHING BUT ICE BEDS • DESKS CHEST OF DRAWERS BOOK CASES unclaimed freight & damaged merchandise 936 Mass. 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