wednesday. april 14. 2004
sports
the university daily kansan 3B
Bowler sets sights high
By Jason Elmquist
jelmquist@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Just like Wayne Simien and Aaron Miles, Ryan Jacob Page represents the University of Kansas at sporting events. The difference? Page is a bowler.
Page, known to many as Rhino, has been a part of the success of the KU men's bowling team for the past two years.
He was a member of last year's team that finished fourth at Nationals in Tulsa, Okla.
This weekend both the men's and women's teams will compete at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championships, again in Tulsa.
Part of the success of the men's team this year has been because of Page.
As the men's leading bowler, he hopes to help improve on last year's finish.
Page is a native of San Diego, Calif. He is currently a sophomore majoring in Atmospheric Science
Bowling has been a part of Page's life for some time. Atage 4, Page joined his first bowling league.
"My parents bowled in a league," Page said. "I remember being in the nursery, looking out, and always thinking that I wanted to bowl."
Gerry Keslar, a three-year veteran of the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) Tour, works at the Jayhawk Bowling Supply's Pro Shop Equipment & Instruction.
Page and Keslar have worked together on Page's mental game. Keslar has helped Page understand what a "quality player he truly is." He has aided Page in his ability to control his emotions and the environment.
"The difference in Rhino's game is he builds on it rather than being frustrated," Keslar said. "He's learned how to understand how to make changes on the lane or in the tournament."
After making the Junior Team USA two years in a row, Page qualified this year for the United States Olympic Bowling Team after a strong showing at the 2004 USAB Amateur Championships in Las Vegas.
"It's been quite an experience and an honor to represent our
"My parents bowled in a league.I remember being in the nursery, looking out,and always thinking that I wanted to bowl." Ryan "Rhino" Jacob Page Member of the men's bowling team
Keslar said Team USA choosing Page was a no-brainer.
country," said Page.
"He would be one of the strongest players in the country. It's obviously so, that's why he made the team," said Keslar.
In comparison with last year's team, Page thinks this team is more unified.
He said he thought the cohesion of the team had helped it in trying times.
"Last year, we were like five individuals. This year, we're a team," said Page. "The times that we've really struggled we've come together and worked things out, as before it would have crumbled."
Men's bowling team leader Ryan Jacob Page, San Diego sophomore, said he planned on focusing on building a strong team mentality this year. He was part of a team that finished fourth in nationals last year and said he would look for more success in this weekend's intercollegiate Bowling Championships in Tulsa, Okla.
Kit Leffler/Kansar
Page has set his expectations high for this team. His goal for the team is a national championship, and he is going to do everything he can to assist them
in reaching it.
"I look for us to have a national championship this year," said Page. "I know I'm going to work my butt off to do
whatever I can, and I know that as a team we're going to really come together."
Edited by Stephanie Lovett
Volunteers ensure Kansas Relays fun for everyone watching
By Michael Phillips
mphillips@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
In just 24 hours, the eyes of the track world will focus on Lawrence, where Olympic hopefuls and high school prodigies will try to impress the national audience.
For the Kansas Relays volunteers, the work has already begun.
Daniels, assistant volunteer coordinator, also helps plan social events for the 5,000 athletes, their families and the Lawrence community.
Their goal is to ensure that one of the nation's largest track meets will be run smoothly from the moment the athletes arrive.
"We're really trying to turn this thing into a community event," he said.
He adds that the best way to accomplish that is through a broad range of events.
The first of those will run today and tomorrow in front of Stauffer Flint Lint. The "Kansas Relays Exchange Zone" will feature games and a prize drawing sponsored by Coca-Cola. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days.
Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, 1012 Massachusetts St., will host an event tomorrow night, with family events on the patio and the bar atmosphere inside.
The Kansas Union will hold a "Slab Party" outdoors on Friday
night. There will be an open mic featuring talent from the "Hawk Nights" talent shows and area schools.
The final event will be held at Abe and Jakes Landing, 8 E. Sixth St., after the relays end on Saturday night, and will feature jazz, hip hop and reggae music.
Daniels said, "It's not uncommon to see both past and present athletes at these events," because they continue coming to the Relays even after they no longer compete.
With so many events involving so many people, Daniels turns the logistics into one simple statement.
"We need people power," he said.
The Relays will use over 600
volunteers, many of them KU students such as freshman Briana Singleton.
She could be found folding T-shirts at Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, just one of her many duties for the week.
"Track and field has always been a vital part of my life," she said, "so I've seen firsthand what all it entails to run a track meet."
She heard about the opportunities from Daniels, who works in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Beyond these events, there will be plenty of opportunities to experience some history from the world of track and field.
The inaugural group will be inducted into the Kansas Relays Hall of Fame at a banquet on Saturday night.
Saturday afternoon, inductee Wes Santee will appear at Oread Books in the Kansas Union with author Neal Bascomb.
Bascomb's book The Perfect Mile is about the quest to run the first mile in under 4 minutes. Briton Roger Bannister accomplished this in 1954.
There will also be a historical exhibit at the "Exchange Zone" on campus.
Meet director Tim Weaver sees parallels between the social events and the different track and field events.
"What the social calendar does is mimic the diversity within track and field," he said.
Weaver added that he had seen
increased levels of involvement every year since 2000, when the Relays went on hiatus because of construction at Memorial Stadium.
"The passion that immediately was re-sparked, the people getting involved again, it has been phenomenal," he said.
The 54-student Kansas Relays Committee oversees the events all-year long and helps plan the events.
They help ensure that when the crowds come to Lawrence, everyone will have somewhere to go.
"We just really want to give everybody an opportunity to get involved," Damiels said.
—Edited by Kevin Flaherty
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kansan.com the student perspective
Runner's Clinic
Wed. April 14 1:00-4:00pm Thurs. April 15 9:00-11:00am
All KU students, faculty and staff are invited to attend. Sponsored by the Physical Therapy Department at Watkins Memorial Health Center. Come to the south entrance (Inclement weather site: Physical Therapy Dept. 2nd floor)
Wear your shorts and usual running shoes for a free evaluation of problems experienced by running, walking and aerobic exercise. This clinic is staffed by physicians and physical therapists. (Aerobic stress test not included.) There is a charge for supplies, if needed.
To register, call 864-9592 (appointments preferred)
Student Health Services at Watkins Memorial Health Center