WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6. 2002
SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITYDAILYKANSAN 5B
Bowling team prepares for tournament
By Stephanie Goettsch Kansan sportswriter
For the first time, the University of Kansas men's and women's bowling teams have a chance to qualify for the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships in the same year.
The two teams will compete at sectionals March 23 and 24 in Oklahoma City, with a chance to qualify for the national championships.
The KU men are currently ranked 13th and the women are 18th, according to the Collegebowling.com's team ranking system. Out of 64 teams, only four from each of the four sectional qualifiers will advance to the national championships.
"The level of intensity is up," coach Mike Fine said. "Everyone is on board and understands what they need to do."
Fine was satisfied with the sectional assignment, and felt lucky to be assigned to the Midwest region.
"We were afraid we'd be shipped clear out to Sacramento," he said.
According to Fine, the Midwest won't be all fun and games though.
pete at Oklahoma City, including former national champion Western Illinois University runner-up Florida State University and four other teams that made nationals last year.
"We're not taking anything for granted," Fine said. "We're trying to anticipate every lane condition and event."
In preparation, both men's and women's teams have been bowling 50 to 75 games and practicing 15 to 20 hours per week.
"It's helping. You can never really shoot enough lines or angles," junior Jesse James said. "We can take days off in the summer. We know we can't take days off now."
Spring break will be a vital opportunity for the two teams to regroup, according to senior Mike Keeler, because bowlers will have an extra week of practice while those schools that have already had spring break will be back in class.
The week off will also help team members get over injuries and health issues that have been rampant this spring.
"We've been swapping the flu, so its been difficult to get a healthy team," Fine said.
The women's team will face the added challenge of being down a player.
Earlier this week, senior Tiffany McBurney
Mike Fine
"We're not taking anything for granted."
Mike Fine coach
made the decision to sit out the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury.
Junior Amanda Kuxhausen and freshman Carly Ingham will be expected to step up and fill the void left by McBurney.
"I feel horrible because we have so much talent," McBurney said. "It's been a struggle because we've been losing girls to grades and injuries."
The KU bowling teams will compete one more time before the sectionals this weekend at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Mo.
"It will be a good last tune-up because all the teams are good." Fine said. "We will be pin-pointing specifics of our physical game to improve on, like weaknesses in arm swing, release and ball speed."
Contact Goettsch at sgatgoetsch@kansasan.com.
This story was edited by Jeremy Clarkson.
WASHINGTON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
the big 12. They were led by three players, all Kansas natives, who averaged more than 16 points per game. In all, five Wildcats hailed from the Sunflower State, while freshman forward Blair Waltz was the only Kansas native on the Jayhawk roster.
"People get really caught up in whether we're going to be able to get certain players in the state," Washington said. "You know as well as I do that some people bleed blue and some people bleed purple. It's not easy when you have a history with the school."
The Wildcats' remarkable turnaround from a season ago had critics asking when Washington would be able to do the same.
"I don't think we're going to have quite the competition we had this year," she said. "So it gives a younger club a chance to develop some confidence and get on the winning side of things. I don't expect it to take a lot of years."
Washington's resume gave a strong argument for allowing her to work things out. She has a lifetime 540-329 record — a .621 winning percentage. She's had 17 seasons of 20 or more victories, 11 NCAA tournament appearances and is responsible for recruiting perhaps the greatest women's basketball player ever, Lynette Woodard, in 1977.
Following the 61-46 loss to Texas on Feb. 26, Texas coach Judy Conradt, having 785 wins of her own, pledged her support for Washington.
"I told Marian before the game that she's done enough to have a season like this without undue criticism," Conradt said. "If you're in the business long enough, it cycles around."
Washington said that while some people were given four or five years to turn a program around, she was trying to do it in less time than that.
Her goal is being helped by a successful incoming class for next season. The Jayhawks have signed seven players, led by
Tamara Ransburg, a 6-foot-4 forward from Coastal Christian High School in Virginia Beach, Va. Ransburg, a native of Grandview, Mo., chose Kansas over several Top 25 programs, such as Duke and Connecticut. Two other signees, Crystal Kemp and Ebony Haliburton, are Kansas natives.
"I think it'll help that we have a pretty talented club coming in," Washington said.
Washington's players have stayed behind her through all of the team's struggles. Senior center Kristin Geoffroy said the personal relationship Washington developed with her players was a rarity in the college game.
"She really cares for you on and off the court, and that's really hard to find," Geoffroy said. "That means a lot to us. We know that she'll be there for all of us."
"And we will all be there for her, too."
Contact Wood at rwood@kansan.com. This story was edited by Joanna Miller.
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