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10A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
TENNIS
Players go for the grades
Women score all-time best grade report
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2005
BY ERIC JORGENSEN
ejorgensen@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTSWRITER
The Kansas tennis team proved last semester that managing athletics and academics is possible.
possible. The team had a cumulative grade point average of 3.49, which was higher than any other sports team at the University.
In a statement released by the Athletics Department during the summer, the department said that the 3.49 GPA was an all-time record. The athletics program as a whole averaged a 2.92 GPA last semester.
Often cramped for time, the
team found itself studying on the road and during the evenings after practices. Sophmore Stephanie Smith said she was pleased the team was able to accomplish such a feat during the tennis season.
during the tenure "I'm amazed," Smith said. "Everyone worked hard, and the fact that it was during the spring semester when we travel a lot more is even more impressive."
Smith, a journalism major, received several accolades for her 4.0 GPA last semester. Among the awards were the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Big 12 Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Junior tennis player Ashley Filberth also earned a 4.0 last semester. She was named first team All-Academic Big 12.
The Kansas City, Mo., native said balancing academics and athletics was not easy, but it was
possible with determination.
"It's a lot harder in the spring because we miss so much class," Filberth said. "We're gone almost every weekend, so we miss lots of Friday classes and some Monday ones."
"In the fall it's easier to study since we travel less," Smith said. "I feel I do better when I have a lot of things to do. With tennis and school, I'll stay focused."
The team remained optimistic for this semester.
Filberth also said the fall semester is less time-consuming, allowing for more time to study. She said she had faith that her teammates could maintain last semester's high standards. "I think all the girls are smart and capable," Filberth said. "We know how to work hard."
The team will have more free time to study until September 7
REPORT CARD
Spring 2005 Cumulative Team GPAs
- Tennis - 3.49
(Now all-time Athletics Department record)
* Men's Golf - 3.30
* Soccer - 3.23
* Swimming & Diving - 3.21
* Rowing - 3.19
* Volleyball - 3.18
* Women's Track & Field - 3.10
* Softball - 3.02
* Women's Basketball - 2.93
* Men's Track & Field - 2.88
* Men's Basketball - 2.81
* Women's Golf - 2.79
* Football - 2.59
* Baseball - 2.57
Source: www.kuathetics.com
when practice starts. Then players will be back to the usual grind of school, practice and late-night studying.
— Edited by Tricia Masenthin
Sharapovabattleswind opponent in U.S. Open
BY STEVE WILSTEIN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Wispy Maria Sharapova was one strong gust away from getting knocked over, though not out, at the U.S. Open
"I'm really glad I had a piece of chocolate cake last night," she joked, "otherwise I would have been blown away. It made me heavier."
nearer. Nearly as thin as her racket, the top-seeded Sharapova had more trouble with gales up to 36 mph playing tricks with the balls than she did with any of the shots by Dally Randiantely in a 6-1, 6-0 rout yesterday that took all of 49 minutes.
"The first few games I was serving 69 miles per hour," Sharapov said. "It's pretty funny. I think it's even funnier from TV because they
can't see the wind. These people probably think we look like beginners. That's the sad part."
A trailing front from remnants of Hurricane Katrina blew through the Open, the sun played peekaboo all day, dark clouds came and went after morning rain and the lingering heat and humidity continued to test the mettle of players.
layers.
Paper and plastic scudded across the courts, umpires' microphones rumbled with the sound of the wind, and the jets that are often diverted away from the National Tennis Center roared constantly overhead to and from nearby LaGuardia Airport. Lobs looked as if they were perfect sometimes sailed long, sometimes flew back toward the net. It was a day for double-faults, a day for muttered curses.
Elise Amendola/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Dally Rendriantefy of Madagascar at the US Open tennis tournament in New York yesterday. Sharapova won the match 6-1, 6-0.
SWIMMING
Swimmers strive for unity and skill
BY KELLY REYNOLDS
kreynolds@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
Technique and team-building are two focal points for the Kansas swimming team. Although the season doesn't kick off until Oct. 8, Kansas swimming coach Clark Campbell is guiding the team through a five-week skills and drills clinic.
The five week period is a time for the team to become efficient in their strokes and starts and to do weight training and stretching.
a screenshot. "We're not training hard right now," Campbell said. "We're focused on content and building a foundation, two building blocks of success."
With 10 new swimmers and divers on this year's squad, Campbell said he was already impressed with his young team's maturity, spirit and willingness to learn. He partially credits senior leadership for the energized atmosphere.
aunthospierce
Senior co-captains Gina
Gnatzig and Emily Rusch have
met with Campbell and established a few team goals, including maintaining a team grade point average of at least 3.0 and placing in the top three at the Big 12 Conference Championships in February.
The team recently attended a "bonding trip" to Clinton Lake to help team unity. Both Gnatzig and Rusch are beginning their fourth year as Jayhawks and think that the enthusiasm of the team, as well as its chemistry and its planning with Campbell, has them prepared for an excellent year.
Incoming freshmen Molly Bramer and Kendall Matous said they felt welcomed as new additions to the team. Both said
few years.
"We are a lot closer as a team now than we were at this point last year." Gnatzig said.
"We're training hard right now. We're focused on content and building a foundation, two building blocks of success."
Clark Campbell Kansas swimming coach
that Campbell's five-week clinic was making the transition from high-school swimming to college swimming easier.
In addition to their aim to contribute to the success of the team, both Bramer and Matous have set individual goals.
lege swimming class. "The adjustment has been just fine," Matous said. "I'm so excited and also so nervous, but the captains have made it clear that they are very open and willing to talk to us."
goals. "I'd like to make NCAAs," Bramer said. "That would be good."
good.
Matous added that she would like to be a part of the All-Big 12 Conference team.
Conference team. With goals in place and lines of communication open between captains, team and coach, Campbell is confident that the Jayhawks will come together.
"We just need to prepare, and take each day as it comes," Campbell said, "and in February, we'll be a different team."
Sept. 26 ends the five-week foundation-building and begins the training phase of the swimming season. The Jayhawks will open the season with Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 8th at Robinson Natatorium.
Edited by Erin Wisdom
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