4B
Friday, May 3, 1996
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Former Jayhawk to play field hockey in Olympics
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By Jenni Carlson
Kansan sportswriter
The name John O'Neill probably is not known to Kansas sports fans.
When the 1996 Summer Olympic Games start on July 19 in Atlanta, O'Neill will be representing the United States as well as the University of Kansas. The 1995 Kansas graduate is on the 16-member U.S. Olympic men's field hockey team, which was announced last week.
"Every kid in sports dreams of going to the Olympics," O'Neill said. "You get that raised-hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck feeling."
O'Neill, who holds a bachelor's degree in computer science became interested in field hockey when the
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1884 U.S. Olympic team was training near his home in Ventura, Calif.
Luckily for Watts, the rowers uniforms are long-sleeved and made of a water-resistant material. He was able to stay warm until he was picked up by officials who were trailing the race.
John O'Neill
In 1986, O'Neill joined the national junior team and moved up to the senior squad just a year later. He has been traveling
"There's a ton of sacrifice," said O'Neill, who lives in San Diego. "Spending so much time away, keeping relationships up is hard. It takes a very special person."
Since he's had time to reflect on the situation, Watts said. he can see how the story seems unbelievable.
"It all happened so fast, I didn't logically think about it at the time," he said. "It was just something I knew I had to do."
O'Neill has found someone who understands what it is like to be an athlete. His fiancée, Susan Spry, was an All-American and Big Eight Conference champion swimmer for the Kansas swimming team in the late 1980s.
"Being an athlete, I totally respect his schedule and dedication," Spry said. "I can understand the rigorous schedule where another person would go, 'Are you crazy?'
Despite a schedule that has O'Neill traveling to Spain and Egypt for competitions before the Olympics, he and Spry still plan to be married on Nov. 23 in Chicago, where Spry grew up.
Field hockey is not as popular in America as it is in other countries, O'Neill said. On the roster for the 16-
man U.S. team, three players are American citizens who grew up in Holland and several others are Europeans immigrants.
"It's a huge sport over there," O'Neill said.
O'Neill said that because there are no college men's teams in the United States, the team has to travel abroad to find competition.
U. S. men's field hockey coach Jon Clark said that in the nation, there were about 150 males playing the sport, which is similar to soccer but uses a stick and ball and plays just a 70-minute game.
"The team that we produced from that base is quite amazing. Give us 550, and we'd win it," Clark said, laughing.
Unfortunately for Watts and the rest of the rowers, they were only able to pass one boat after he jumped. They finished fifth.
"The fact that this was the final race and a freak thing like that happened is really disappointing," Watts said.
Kansas crew coach Michael Amick said he was upset because the boat had been running such a great race, only to have an equipment problem disrupt it.
"I feel bad because I feel responsible," Amick said. "It's my responsibility to to check the equipment in
The U.S. team, which is making its first Olympic appearance since 1984, will start on its quest to win it all on July 20 against Pakistan, the world's top-ranked team. Last month, the United States lost to Pakistan by a lone goal, 2-1, in an Olympic warm-up game.
"If we get off to a good start, anything could happen," Clark said.
Whatever happens, O'Neill plans to enjoy it. He will participate in the opening ceremonies and experience some of the other activities in Atlanta. But any distractions or pressure will disappear when the competition begins.
"When you play the game, you don't even think about it," O'Neill said.
While the mixed novice eight boat didn't finish as high as they wanted, the crew team brought home three medals from Madison. The men's lightweight four won a silver, and the women's eight and women's lightweight four both won bronze.
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