Wednesday, August 18. 1976
11
Swimmers seek to reclaim crown
By STEVE CLARK
The streak is finished. After eight consecutive Big Eight swimming titles, the Jayhawks sank to third in the 19th championship season and the dynasty remains, eager to start again.
Head coach Dick Reamon, now in his 19th year at KU, has given much thought during the past five months to his team's performance.
IT'S TRUE. KU had several athletes in less than perfect condition.
"There's no way in the world I feel like we're third best in the Big Eight," he said recently. "We just weren't a healthy, ready team. It (the straint) canuck up with us."
Gary Kemp, KU's top swimmer, was slowed by a damaged knee. Mike Alley was suffering from tendonitis in his shoulder and had seen limited action for the month before the meet. Craig Parmann had been lost earlier in the season when he concluded with hamura. And three Jeyeh swimmers had the flu just before or during the meet.
But Reason isn't making excuses for the sound's showing.
"I don't use the injuries as an excuse," he said. "I think we did the best we could under
1. don't think we showed everything we could have if we were at full strength. But I know we can't be at full strength.
REAMON'S EXPECTATIONS concerning the upcoming season seems on the surface to be contrainter. For example, although he has 17 lettermen returning, he's very much concerned with their experience, or rather, their lack of it.
And although he's positive that KU will be better in every event, he has said that they will not be worse.
Reason explained that his worry about the team's experience stemmed from his prediction that as many as 16 members of the 20-man team who will go to the conference showdown could be freshmen and sophomores.
"In sheer talent, we've probably replaced the 12 people that have graduated in the past two years," he continued, "but you can't replace their experience."
AND HIS REFERENCE to a possible fourth place finish has more to do with the conference improving rather than with KU crumbling.
"It's a simple matter that the conference has gotten a whole lot better," he said. "They've come up to the standards of ex-communist that we've had throughout the 1980s."
"We could have a very successful season and we could win; we could have a very successful season and we could finish fourth."
The odds favoring another Jayhawk title over a fourth place finish were improved recently by the addition of assistant coaches Gary Kempf and David Bush.
Kempf, who was graduated from KU in the spring, will help Reamon with the men and direct the women's squad. Reamon had been a captain for the former Big Eight Swimmer of the Year.
"I WOULDN'T HESITATE a moment to say that Gary is the most outstanding individual I ever had in my program at KU," he said, "and I don't mean just as a swimmer—from the standpoint of leadership, ability, the whole works."
Reamon was equally impressed with Bush, a Rutgers graduate, who competed for the United States in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. He'll coach the divers.
"In David Bush I really believe we have one of the outstanding young people in the country," he said. "He's had both national and international help and I think that the scope of his background is really going to make a big difference with our kids."
BUSH WILL BE working with a group of athletes who gave KU its strongest event
Tam Anagnos, St. Louis sophomore; Mark Hill, Ormah junior; Paul Sweeney, Dallas junior; and Rocky Vizzari, Greenbrier junior, are the core of the diving team.
In addition, Reamon is very high on Kurt Anselmi. Leawood freshman.
Dick Reamon
"In the pool, the sprint freestyle (50-100-200) was a problem area to us last year, and I'm concerned about our depth there again," he said.
If there might be a lack of quantity, KU won't hurt for high quality, thanks to the return of Jesse Gray, Topeka sophomore. As a freshman, Gray shattered his previous best in the 201 freedom style by five seconds enclosing grabbing the conference championship.
Others expected to help include Bill Dostert, Omakh a sopohmep; Paul Carroll, Wichita sopohmep; Charles Gerwick, Wichita sopohmep; Alderker-Akermo, Akremo, Mich., freshman.
THE MIDDLE DISTANCE and distance
of captain Mike Alley. Wichita
"He's the only proven performer we have in those events," Reamon said.
He should receive support from Griff
locking, Kansas City, Kan., freshman and
deceased.
Reamon forecasts that the individual medley events (200-400) will be the capital of the world.
"David Estes is probably our ringerleader," he said, "and also, Beman Wagner."
Estes, Bartlesville, Okla., sophomore, was the 1975 Oklahoma high school Swimmer of the Year. Wagoner, Wichita senior, and other co-captain for the 1976-77 campaign.
THE BUTTERFLY EVENTS (100-200)
should be much improved from a year ago.
Estes and Gordon Docking, Kansas City.
The event will be aided by a host of newcomers.
Pete Velaelo, San Antonio, Texas, freshman,
pete should break both the freshman and
freshmen from the basketball team.
In Smith and Gerwick, KU has the Kansas state champion and run-up. And Tom Whaley, Omaha freshman, was the Nebraska state runner-up.
The breaststroke (100-200) will also be used. The backstroke (150-200) is kalina sophomore; Kris Flaksa, Kila Flaksa, sophomore; and Wagoner are back. Blankenkship and Plaska are both former athletes.
JAY ARNSPERGER,尹宏ophorme, yet another former state champion, heads the KU backstroke (100-20c) field. He'll be joined by Griffock Docking in that event.
"We've got a lot to be optimistic about what we can do, but you never know what they're going to do." Think every one of the swimmers back from last season are going to do better this year—or maybe not.
After collecting eight big Eight crowns in a box, he can tell the KU is an uncomfortable feeling for Reonan his squad. Only time and practice will tell whether KU can regain the touch and make sense.
"Maybe losing was good for us," Tearman suggested, "you can't say yet what the effect was. That's one of the real questions this season. It should be an interesting year."
Rugby...
From page seven
derby without cars. But it consists of more than mere head-crushing.
Rugby is virtually the only sport in existence where, following 80 minutes of highly physical contact, the opposing squads get together and party.
Following each contest the home team boots a party for the visitors where beer is served. The guests have massive quantities. This "third half" is sometimes as action-packed as the first, with a big game.
According to one player, if a team doesn't party very well after games, they tend to get a bad reputation among other teams. The best available sources confirm that's true.
The best available sources confirm that's an identity KU doesn't have to be worried
Welcome Back!
Come in and talk with the Professionals!
As a new school year begins the people at First Serve would like to wish you good luck and remind you we are here to serve you for all your tennis and ski needs. We carry the latest in warmups, ski and tennis apparel and the finest selection of quality racquets around. We can also professionally restring, regrip, and repair your old racquets.
first serve
TENNIS & SKI SHOPPE
II9 MASSACHUSETTS 842-8845
WELCOME BACK HAWKS THE BIRD FEATURES TOPLESS DANCERS
Open from 1 p.m. to 3 a.m.
- Private club Newly remodeled
- Membership available Disco music
843-9800
501 N. 9th
You may not recognize Memorial Stadium has undergone quite a change this summer.
The radio and photography levels of the press box were remodeled. And new aluminum seating covering 10 sections of the stadium's west side was built.
First, she got a new coat of blue paint. Then additional synthetic turf to cover previously existing grass areas was installed.
Stadium features new scoreboard
But the biggest change at the stadium was the installation of a new scoreboard at the façade.
The scoreboard was paid for by Phillips
Bank and the Mitchell-Stephens
State Bank and the Mitchell-Stephens
Agency. The four companies will display
on the board under a 15-year
guaranty.
The scoreboard was purchased from the American Sign and Indicator Co., the same firm that constructed and installed the scoreboard in Allen Field House last winter.
"We feel these renovations and additions will make our athletic facilities much more comfortable," said Walker. "Bob Memorial Stadium and Allen Field House are excellent facilities, but these changes make them even more important of the spectators and the players."
In addition to carrying all the necessary information for football games, the scoreboard has a timing device for track meets and a rectangular message center at the top of the board. The message center is armoured to carry a variety of information.
Staff photo by JAY KOELZER
Memorial Stadium scoreboard
930 massachusetts 842-2147
for the finest pipes & tobacco!
now located in the back of the bookstore
watch for our specials! TOWN CRIER
The Great Look of the Quality Corduroy Suit
at
The Town Shop
839 Massachusetts
- Wear it vested for parties.
- Wear it with sweaters.
- Wear it as a sport coat.
for the comfortable look.
It
will never let you down.