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BUILDING PROGRAM—The tennis team, in a sport which once ranked low on the KU athletic totem pole, is now a contender for the Big Eight crown. Pictured here, left to right, are Mel Karrle, Coach Denzel Gibbens and Pete Woodward. Woodward and Karrle, both juniors, are among the top players in the conference and will make strong bids for titles at the top two singles posts and first doubles.
Relays Finances Very Low
The Kansas Relays is in financial trouble.
University Daily Kansan
Bill Easton, KU track coach, declined to discuss the financial problem but admitted that "the situation is still very much the same as last year."
There was speculation last year that the Relays might have to be discontinued unless it could break even. The event annually has lost money.
Most of the expense of the Relays is incurred in the obtaining of participants. Sponsors of the meet must pay transportation and living expenses for the competitors.
Coach Easton said he hoped that combining this year's Relays with a special Kansas Centennial program would attract more spectators and begin to get the Kansas Relays on a paying basis.
Coach Gibbens Improves Tennis Situation for KU
The Kansas varsity tennis program has gone from "rags to riches" over a short three year span.
A good share of the responsibility for this success belongs to KU's dedicated tennis coach and business manager, Denzel Gibbens.
Gibbens' team last year finished second in the conference to Oklahoma State, the defending champions.
GIBBENS BECAME tennis coach at KU four years ago. In his first year at the helm his "racketeers" had a 5-7 record previous to the Big Eight meet and tied with Nebraska for fourth in the conference.
The next year his squad started off slowly with a 1-5 start but came back strong to finish with a 7-6 season.
The Jayhawks had more tough luck in the Big Eight Tournament and finished fifth primarily because of a bad draw.
Last year the netmen had a highly respectable 12-1 record going into the league tournament. But, champion Oklahoma State defended its title successfully and the Jayhawks finished in second place.
THIS YEAR THE Jayhawkers are strong. Back from last year's club are the two top swingers in Mel Karrie, St. Joseph, Mo., junior, and Pete Woodward, Topeka junior. Behind them are two 1959 lettermen Jerry Williams, Olathe senior, and Pete Block, Mission senior.
Williams played No. 2, Block No. 3 two seasons ago. Neither competed last year.
Karrie and Woodward both were runners-up in their respective Big
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Friday. April 21, 1981
AIM FOR TITLE—The Kansas golf team will be trying to dethrone defending Big Eight champion, and NCAA runner-up, Oklahoma State at the annual conference meet at Colorado, May 19-20. The members of the team, left to right, are Dick Haitbrink, John Ward, Rod Horn and Brien Boggess.
KU Golf Program Future Is Bright
Golf at KU has grown tremendously in the last few years.
Under the guidance last year of Coach Jerry Waugh, the diligent linksmen took the runner-up position in the Big Eight Conference after a mediocre fourth place the year before.
WITH THE DEPARTURE of Coach Waugh, the University Athletic Department appointed swimming Coach Jay Markley to fill the vacancy.
Immediately, Markley informed all freshman and varsity golfers of a new kind of golf program. Previously, the sport had been under a more or less free-lance type of jurisdiction. Players had no exact schedule to follow concerning practice. Now, all varsity golfers are required to practice three hours a day and hand
in two 18 hole scores each week in addition to the matches.
Markley feels that this consistent program of play and practice will bring the players to their full potential by the time of the conference meet May 19-20.
IT COULD ALSO provide the extra spark needed to end the golf supremacy established by Oklahoma State University in the last few years.
"With practice and perseverance, we may have a chance to push Oklahoma State out of their number one position. The only major problem we face at the moment is team depth," said Markley.
This year's team is composed of four returning lettermen and one sophomore. They are: Brian Boggess,
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THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
Extends a Hearty
and Cordial Welcome
to Every
High School, Junior College,
College and
University Competitor
Who Will Visit
Our Campus This Weekend
To the 36th KU Relays
ARTHUR C. "DUTCH" LONBORG UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS Director of Athletics