4B
国家税务总局监制
6B THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2004
SPORTS
Not just an East Coast sport anymore
Nascent KU men's club lacrosse team joins the nation's best teams
BV JESSICA FERGEN
jfergen@kansan.com
KANAN SPORTSWITHER
After only four years of existence, the Kansas men's lacrosse sport club team is competing against the top lacrosse teams in the country.
"We're poised to become one of the bigger sport clubs at KU, and we're hoping to get some attention from students," said Ryan Wallace, Overland Park senior. "We're playing against some of the best teams in the nation."
As the team traveled to Texas A&M during Halloween weekend, team members were excited about the possibilities and expectations they faced this year.
Fifteen collegiate teams competed in Texas A&M's annual fall tournament. Kansas, the only out-of-state team, placed second in its bracket.
"This is one of the biggest fall
tournaments in the country"
Wallace said. "After this week-end, it's really obvious that we're above the level we were at last year, but we still need some work to get to the level we need to play at this spring. We've got a lot of young talent to work with."
In only its fourth year as a club at Kansas, the lacrosse team made a step up this year into Division A of the U.S. Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates Men's Division. This means that Kansas plays among top tier club lacrosse teams in the nation.
"This year marks a big turning point for our program," Wallace said. "Along with our best incoming freshman class ever, we were excited for the opportunity to show ourselves at the Division-A level as a serious program. KU has been receiving national attention as a young up- and coming program ever since our start in the fall of 2001."
Led by nine seniors and
backed by a large freshman class, the team is currently comprised of more than 45 members. Competition in its conference includes teams such as Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State and Illinois.
"We're playing a lot of good teams and the competition's going be a lot tougher," said Kent Domas, San Antonio junior. "It's going to allow our team to get a lot better because we're going to have to step up our level of play."
Last year, in Division B, the Jayhawks were 8-2 during the regular season and were seeded fifth in conference playoffs. They were ranked as high as No. 1 nationally at mid-season by laxpower.com.
This season, the lacrosse team has already beaten rival Kansas State for the second time in a row. On Oct 1, the Jayhawks were victorious in Manhattan, beating the Wildcats 8-3 in the annual fall tournament. In addition, they placed third overall in the tournament.
"That was a blast because it's a big rivalry game," said Gabe Van Pelt, Lakeville, Minn., senior. "You get to play in the old stadium and play in front of all the fans. You get really pumped up and you want to shut them up because the guys are really cocky over there. It's a good time."
The men will play most of their conference matches in the spring semester. The team is trying to schedule its five home games in Memorial Stadium in order to draw lots of cheering Jayhawk fans.
"I think it would be really awesome to play in the stadium because I think it'll get people to notice what lacrosse is and get people interested so more and more people will come out and watch our games," Domas said.
- Edited by Steve Vockrodt
GOLFER: O'Neil said the team was successful this fall season
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Both individuals have had instant impact in their first year at Kansas. O'Neil said she thought the team had a very successful fall season. She also said she was proud of Giangrosso's work ethic and her preparation
before each tournament.
Giangrosso said she intended to stay in shape and get comfortable with her swinging and putting in Anschutz Sports Pavilion this winter, in preparation for the spring season. In the offseason, O'Neill said that she plans to build on
Giangrosso's fall success. The Jayhawks will look to Giangrosso in the spring season to complement the play of Kansas starters such as juniors Tiffany Woods and Chelsey Pryor, and sophomores Amanda Costner and Jill Wollmbe.
Giangrosso will get an opportunity to continue her successful freshman season Feb. 28, when Kansas travels to College Station, Texas, to open its spring season at the Texas A&M 'Mo'morol Invitational.
Edited by Johanna M.
Maska
TOURNAMENT: Intramural tourney to become Kansas tradition
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
"We hope to have the championship in Allen Fieldhouse if everything works out," Schooley said.
The teams playing in the championship will receive T-shirts, and the winning teams will receive trophies and have their entrance fees to the national tournament paid.
Georgia Tech will host the national tournament April 15-17. In addition, the top officials from each regional tournament will get to go to nationals.
"I think it's always a good incentive, a neat draw for students to want to go to other university campuses and represent KU in a positive way," said Jason Krone, associate director
for programs. "It definitely raises the competitive level, and you have those natural rivalries that are out there, like the Big 12, and you want to beat those teams."
If everything goes well, Schooloy wants to add another tradition to the list at Kansas.
"This is hopefully a first annual tournament," Schoololey
said. "That's the goal."
Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Forms and fees for registration have not yet been set, but Schooloy hopes to begin registration at the start of the spring semester. For more information, contact Recreation Services at 864-3546.
Edited by Steve Vockrodt
DEFENSE: Kansas unlikely to win later when it can't win now
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
Last week, Kansas coach Mark Mangino said that this team would be playing a fourgame season for the rest of the year, referring to the team's final games. He mentioned that three victories would give the team six, making it eligible for a bowl berth. With two home games remaining against Colorado and nationally ranked Texas, and a road contest at Missouri, it's likely that the last Kansas victory was recorded three weeks ago with the victory over Kansas State.
It was possible, though doubtful, that after a win at Iowa State, Kansas may have been able to ride the momentum
to two more victories, possibly by beating Colorado and pulling an upset at Missouri. That would have been an extremely difficult task, but after the loss in Ames, the 'Hawks are forced to win their remaining three games to qualify for a bowl.
Not to break any hearts out there, but Kansas' opportunity to go to their first ever back-to-back bowls died when they started losing winnie games back in September. If this football team can make me eat my words, great, but that won't happen. It isn't realistic to expect them to run the table for the rest of the year.
Weinstein is an Overland Park senior in English.
BARMANN: Swanson to take starting position, Luke backs up
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
In Barmann's absence, Mangino said junior Jason Swanson would start.
While Whittemore's injury was never fully disclosed, it was widely believed to be caused by an injury to his collarbone. Mangino said that Whittemore would miss the rest of the season, but he returned for the final two games.
Swanson was a key to Kansas' 31-28 victory over Kansas State.
"I'm always ready if they need
"We have to do a good job of rallying around Jason Swanson now." Mangino said.
After the game on Saturday, Swanson said that it wasn't a total surprise to be called into the game.
"He has quick feet. He's not necessarily a burner, but he has quick feet," Mangino said.
Mangino said Swanson's strengths were in his accuracy and his ability to throw "good touch passes." Another strength is his speed.
"We have to do a good
job of rallying around Jason Swanson now."
Mark Mangino Kansas football coach
With the loss of Barmann, Swanson will be backed up by junior Brian Luke as well as senior John Nielsen.
me," he said. "I didn't feel like they surprised me."
Nielsen played briefly following the injury to Bill Whittemore, at Kansas State, last season.
Another quarterback on the roster is freshman Marcus Herford. Herford, however, has taken a redshirt this season, and Mangino has all but ruled out using him this year.
Edited by Steve Vockrodt