SPORTS
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, MAY 20-22, 2005
WWW.KANSAN.COM
PAGE 20
SENIORS
Amy Gruber, swim team senior captain, practices in the pool at the Robinson Center. Team grubber qualified for the 2008 U.S.Olympic trials.
Kansan file photo
Kansan file photo
Seniors say 'bye'
Mike Lee yells after making a layup and being fouled. Lee converted the three-point play on his way to a career game with 18 points in the first round loss against Bucknell. Lee, along with many seniors, will likely pursue careers with their degrees, rather than play professionally.
Simien, Langford, Miles likely to step into bigger shoes
BY STEVE VOCKRODT
svrockrot@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Students will say goodbye to their college careers with a walk down the Campanilie on Sunday, but student-athletes at the University of Kansas live two lives, and some have already experience a graduation of their own.
Along with the trip down the hill, student-athletes have bid farewell to college athletics with one last substitution off the court, one final climb out of the pool or one last step off the playing field.
Very few athletes will graduate to professional careers in the sport they played at Kansas, more athletes will continue their sport recreationally as they pursue careers with their degree and yet others will walk away from their athletics lives at the same time they cross the bell tower atop the Campanilie, never to return.
One group of athletes who will likely trade the bright lights, fanfare, television cameras and free scholarships of college athletics for the brighter
lights, rabid fanfare, glare of television cameras and big bucks of professional sports are three of the four graduating seniors from the men's basketball team.
Wayne Simien, Keith Langford and Aaron Miles are expected to all turn professional when the National Basketball Association holds its draft on June 28.
And while they will cross the greener pastures of professional sports, the dynamic trio will be remembered as one of the finer classes of graduating seniors in Kansas basketball history.
Despite never winning the national title many thought they would be christened with, they will look at their careers at Kansas positively.
"I have no negative feelings about anything in my body," Langford said at the team's annual postseason banquet.
Time will tell if this year's graduating class will emerge unscathed from the final moments they spent on the court as Kansas basketball players. Kansas lost its to an unheralded Bucknell team in the first
round of the NCAA tournament, a surprising upset that soured many hopeful fans in Lawrence who were expecting a third consecutive berth to the Final Four on the shoulders of the four experienced seniors.
But coach Bill Self said that he expected that in time, the seniors would be remembered as one of the better core of players to leave Kansas in the same year.
"Regardless of how it ended, that won't take away who you are," Self said. "These guys are first-class and they will be remembered as first class."
Simien also added that he would probably remember the brighter moments, like one of the first experiences he had on the team rather than his last.
"I remember freshman year, me and Keith were roommates." Simien said. "We were late to our first pre-game meal. We never thought we were going to play again.
"I guess we rebounded from that all right."
BASEBALL
SEE SENIORS ON PAGE 19
Tourney birth on the line
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@kansan.com
KANSAN SPORTWRITER
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kansas will face Oklahoma State in a three-game series in Lawrence starting Friday. Kansas is sitting in eight place in the conference, 1/2 game ahead of Texas A&M for the final tournament spot. The Aggies will close out their season with a series against Texas this weekend. The first game will be played in College Station, and the final two will take place in Austin.
These critical games will determine whether the Kansas baseball team will enter the postseason after Kansas lost a critical Big 12 series, dropping two of three games to Missouri last weekend.
Kansas sophomore Sean Land, a cousin of Scherzer, took the loss. He was the victim of a controversial call in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the score tied 0-0, Missouri had a runner on first with nobody out after a walk to junior center fielder James Boone. A wild pitch led to a dispute over whether the ball hit the batter. Missouri sophomore shortstop Gary Arndt. There was no immediate signal from home plate umpire Andy Eaves, and Kansas senior catcher Sean Richardson threw the runner out at second. After the out was called, Eaves declared that the batter was hit by the pitch, sending him to first and making the previous runner safe at second.
the series Friday night, 8-0. Missouri sophomore pitcher Max Scherzer continued his impressive season, allowing just two base runners and striking out four in seven innings of work. He picked up the victory to improve to 8-2.
Junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer's Kansas record 24-game hitting streak came to an end, and the Jayhawks (34-25, 9-14 Big 12) missed a golden opportunity to win their first road conference series since 2003. They did, however, break a 0-for-11 skid against the Tigers in Columbia that goes back to 1997.
Kansas lost the first game of
Kansas' players and coaches erupted in protest, and the umpires reversed the call and sent Arndt back to the plate. Curiously, they sent Boone back
to first and resumed play. The strange occurrences clearly shook Land, and the Tigers went on to score four runs in the inning.
Land pitched 5 2/3 innings and gave up five runs, only two of which were earned. His record fell to 5-5.
Kansan file photo
Kansas coach Rick Price lamented the lack of offensive production.
"We thought if we worked the count we could get Scherzer out early," Price said. "We just couldn't get the clutch hit when we needed it."
Schweitzer went 0-for-2 with two walks to snap his school-best streak. It was the first game in which Schweitzer went hit-less since mid-March.
torv was even better.
Saturday's game was a different story. Kansas starter Mike Zagurski was outstanding in the Jayhawks' 9-3 victory. Zagurski threw a complete game for the second time this season. He allowed three runs while scattering eight hits. He struck out 12, which made him the third pitcher in KU history to record 100 or more strikeouts in a season. He is now 7-4 on the year.
Zagurski said the strikeout milestone felt good, but the vic-
"The bats did a great job," Zagurski said. "Their insurance runs late in the game allowed me to stay in the complete game."
Kansas got on the board in the second inning. With two outs, Schweitzer doubled and freshman designated hitter John Allman singled to give the lavhawks a 1-10 lead.
Junior first baseman Jared Schweitzer celebrates with junior center fielder Matt Baty and junior left fielder A.J. Van Slyke after scoring a run during the home series against then-No. 3 Texas.
With the score tied 2-2 in the sixth inning, the Jayhawks busted out. Two runs in the seventh inning and two in the ninth gave the Jayhawks the winning margin. Junior shortstop Ritchie Price hit his second home run of the season in the seventh.
Price earned his 100th victory at Kansas with the win. He was happy with the way the Jayhawks bounced back after the blowout loss Friday night.
Sunday's game was destined to be a close one, as both teams' bullpins were well-rested. Kansas got off to a good start, scoring three# runs in the first two innings and chasing Missouri's starting pitcher, junior Doug Mathis, from the game.
Senior designated hitter Andy Scholl homered to lead off the second inning. For
Scholl, who has seen limited action lately, it was his fifth homer of the season.
The Tigers tied the game in the third innning, taking full advantage of a defensive miscue by Kansas. The momentum remained with them until the end.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the eighth inning. Quick stayed in despite his pitch count, which was well over 100 for the day. Quick gave up a single to lead off the inning
and then was relieved by junior closer Don Czvz.
With two outs, Czyz then walked junior second baseman Trevor Helms to force in what proved to be the winning run for the Tigers. Missouri won 4-3.
Junior Andrew Johnston got the win in relief for the Tigers, improving his record to 3-3. Quick was the hard-luck loser for Kansas. He dropped to 9-6.
Edited by Janette Crawford
POST-GRADUATION PLANS
Student athletes preparing to give back
Every senior has goals for the future after graduation, strong motivations that back up their goals and a clear outlook on their professional success
By Courtney Grimwood ♦ Kansan correspondent
My post-graduation plans are Participate in the University's Professional Development School Program, student-teaching in an inner-city school in Kansas City for a year and to join the Peace Corps before
DAN FERGUSON
DARYL ENGLESS
Sport: Track & Field, Cross Country
Events: Distances: steeplechase, 5k
becoming a fully-employed teacher and coach.
My motivations: Becoming a teacher and a coach are the result of individuals that have guided me along the way. I also want to join the Peace Corps following my student-teaching because it is a wonderful opportunity to see the world while helping people. Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world," and although I may not make a difference on a grand scale. I still want to live my life by that ideal.
In 10 years I see myself: somewhere in the mountains with a beautiful family, working in a job that allows me to interact with children.
KATHY MCVEY
Sport: Softball
Position: Pitcher
My post-graduation plans are: Student-teaching at Spring Hill High School and to find a job in the Kansas City area to teach and coach softball and/or basketball.
My motivations: I love working with children, especially when I can help them realize how fun learning can be. The processes of life are fascinating and I enjoy the overall experience of attending school. I love learning and I want to spread that enthusiasm to future generations.
In 10 years I see myself: Married to my current boyfriend of four years and raising a couple of children. I will be active in the community as much as I can, volunteering for good causes whenever I get the opportunity. I will also have a few years of teaching experience under my belt and will be on my way to becoming one of the best teachers my students have ever had.
MEGHAN MILLER
Sport: Soccer
Position: Goalkeeper
My post-graduation plans are: Start coaching. I always coach camps in the summer, but I need to start coaching more players and goalkeepers individually. I am staying a fifth year to finish up my degree and I will
help coach the soccer team, mostly working with the goalkeepers.
My motivations: I owe a lot to soccer. I have had so many great opportunities as a result of playing soccer and I would like to give as much back as I can. I enjoy coaching. I like seeing players with smiles on their faces after they master a skill. The coaches here have impacted my playing career and now they are doing the same for my coaching career. They have already done more than I could have asked for.
In 10 years I see myself: In the Bahamas, relaxing with friends on the beach. I hope I'll still be playing in a league or overseas and coaching.
LEANNA KEMP
Sport: Rowing
Position: Coxswain
My post-graduation plans are: Moving to Jacksonville, Fla. to go on the Young Life Staff.
My motivations: I love children and the Young Life ministry.
-I have been a Young Life
leader throughout college and it's been such a rewarding experience that I know I will wake up every morning loving what I do.
Living in Florida also makes it that much better!
In 10 years I see myself: Having a family, living in North Carolina with a southern accent and possibly still working with Young Life or children.
If none of those work out, I would probably be in marketing.
SEE BLAH ON PAGE 19