4
Wednesday, August 20, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Returnees spark tennis optimism
Sports Editor
By YAEL ABOUHALKAH
If he can keep Bill Clarke supplied with enough tennis balls this year, Kirkland Gates looks forward to a strong performance from his University of Kansas net
Gates, in his second season as head coach,
has everybody back from last year's squad,
which finished fifth at the Big Eight meet in
Mav.
"We feel like we're going to be competitive with everybody," Gates said. "We're going to have a lot more depth, with some new players. We'll be pushing Oklahoma State and the other top teams in last year's league champ) and Oklahoma."
Clarke recently won the Missouri Valley Ave meet, qualifying him for a chance to play in the state championship.
THE TOP RETURNEE is junior Bill Clarke. The lanky Shawnee Mission South product took the conference by storm his freshman year at the 4. slot. He was then pushed to the No. 1 spot as a sophomore, still managing a better than 500 record.
Of course, there's one weapon of Clarke's that will carry him far on any court he plays on—his hard, booming serve. Clarke has been the best man for him in his fight with the pure power of that serve. He's received recognition and a reputation because of its velocity.
Kansas Relays is 51 years old
The University of Kansas has a sure way of making it rain.
It's really very simple. All it does is
try to be as close to the customer as
it can, it's hard to ask for a better
guarantee.
Next April will mark the 51st running of the annual event.
That's the idea Forrest C. "Phog" Allen had from the very beginning. He knew that to make the Relay a success, it was to have people who would become people who would come a long way to see.
But despite the usual insult weather, in the Reyls always draw some of the rains.
So he began a series of promotions designed to attract interest to Kansas and its annual track carnival. Apparently they worked.
Among the earliest stars were high jumper Tom Poor, the NCAA champion and Adrien Paulen, the 440 champion from the Netherlands.
Other top performers were KU stars Glenn Cunningham and Jim Ryun in the mile and Cliff Cushman in the intermediate hurdles.
Recent world-class performers include sprinters Ivory Crockett, Charlie Greene and Don Quarrier, middle distance runners Hick Wohlhuter and Madelaine Manning and pole vaulters Dave Roberts and Kjell Isaacson of Sweden.
"There's no doubt about it," Gates said. "Bill has a great serve. But he wouldn't be doing as well as he has been if he hadn't improved the rest of his game. When people started returning his serve, that forced him to work on other aspects of his game. He's got high aspirations this year and I've got a lot of confidence in him."
ALSO RETURNING will be the No. 2 player, Tim Headtle, a senior; senator Greg Buller; juniors Marty Gilliam and Jeff Seymour; head coach Mike Freshmen prospects include Mark Hosking, 1974 Kansas highs angels champ and head coach year, and Joe Ryusser, City, Mo.
"Headkie has got about as well of a diversified game as anybody has," Gates said, noting that the team's asset. He's good in practically all aspects of the game. His serves can come from any
direction and he's got a lot of moves out on the court."
After Clarke and Headkite, the rest of KU's positions are up for grabs. Gates is looking to fill the spots with a more experienced crew.
Troyts for the team start Monday, Aug.
26 at the Allen Field House court, where
the game will be played.
"WE WEERE A LITTLE weak after our top two players (Clarke and Headke) last year and with another player moving in, plus more experience and our freshmen players, there's no doubt that we would have a better year." Gates said.
"The year, we'll be carrying about 10 players and everybody will be pushing each other," he said. "That will make us a lot stronger at the lower positions."
Gates said he's still looking for another coach, but the top three or four goals on the team.
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