Wednesday, February 14.2001
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
ROLLING THUNDER
'Hawk bowlers take their lanes seriously
By Brandon Stinnett sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
Cheap beer, cigarette smoke and goofy-looking shoes are a few of the stereotypes associated with bowling.
But those things are nowhere near the Kansas bowling team during weekend tournaments, except maybe the shoes.
Kansas bowlers do sport the same styleless footwear that is a trademark of recreational bowlers. But to them, bowling is more than mere beer-saturated fun. It's a combination of mental prowess and calculated strategy. As Kansas bowling coach Mike Fine said, competitive bowling is a lot like chess: Every move matters, and nothing is left to chance.
"We really preach here that bowling is cause and effect," said Fine, whose Jayhawks are ranked No. 15 in the nation. "There is a reason for everything. We can control everything that happens on the lanes and we can positively affect the outcomes by knowing what's going on."
Recently, the team's calculated strategy has paid off. The men's team rolled past the competition at the Association of College Unionls Intercollegiate bowling tournament last weekend and placed second. The women's team finished third.
One key to the team's success is senior Tom Partridge. Not only does Partridge excel individually, he's relied on to guide bowlers through their inevitable mental struggles. It's a job for the team's most experienced bowler each season, and it's something Partridge has grown accustomed to.
That's one of the things that's expected of me that isn't expected of anyone else," Partridge said. "I like it, actually."
But the most difficult thing for Partridge is fixing his own problems.
"The hard part of my job is when I'm struggling." Partridge said. "Thankfully, my teammates are
really good at figuring out what to do when I'm struggling."
Partridge didn't have to do anything to help sophomore Jesse James during the final game of Notre Dame's Blue and Gold Classic on Jan. 27 and 28.
After struggling through his first eight games in the tournament, James bowled a perfect 300 game—the first in the tournament's four-year history.
"In basketball, it would be like scoring 50 points," James said. "In baseball, it's like giving a grand slam."
James said he thought the lane conditions were perfect for his style throughout the tournament, but problems with his bowling mechanics kept him from high scores in earlier games.
In the last game, James decided to block everything from his mind and relax.
"I felt like the lane was mine if I could make good shots," James said. "I just didn't until the last game."
James, who averages around 210,
will have to wait awhile to see if he
can repeat his performance in the team's next tournament. This weekend's Great Plains Intercollegiate Conference Tournament was canceled yesterday because Iowa State backed out. Six teams are required for a conference tournament to be sanctioned by College Bowling USA,
and, with Iowa State out, it left just five.
"We're disappointed," Fine said. "Especially since we felt we had a good chance of winning our conference. We're not real happy with our friends from Iowa State right now."
Kansas doesn't compete again until March 11, when it plays host to the Jayhawk Classic at the Kansas Union Jaybow.
While another 300 game would be nice, James said he'd rather see the team succeed.
"My goal is to not shoot 300 every game," he said. "My goal is for the team to win. That's most important to me."
Edited by Megan Phelps
Glenn Harrison, Frontenoc junior and second-year bowlet, throws a practice ball before practice. The men's bowling team finished in second place at the Association of College Unions Intercollegiate bowling tournament last weekend. Photo by Jamie Roper/KANSAN
Women dominate complete sweep at Jayhawk Classic
The Kansas women's tennis team had something to prove last weekend after an unexpected loss to Southwest Missouri State the previous weekend.
The Jayhawks proved plenty, sweeping the Jayhawk Classic tournament at Alvamar Racquet Club
"It was important to show that we were still a strong program despite the loss to Southwest Missouri State," said Kansas coach Kilmeny Waterman.
At No. 66, the Jayhawks
At No. 60, the Jayhawks (4-1) were the highest-ranked team of the five squads competing, and started off the weekend with a 6-0 victory against Louisiana-Monroe.
"Because we were the highest-ranked team of the tournament we expected to win all of our matches," Waterman said.
Winning all three matches during the weekend looked easy. The Jayhawks went 12-1 in singles play and 9-0 in doubles play, and three Kansas freshmen were pivotal to Kansas's success.
Waterman said freshman sisters Courtney and Kristen Steinbock and freshman Emily Haylock all played well during the weekend.
"We had great play in the doubles positions," Waterman said. "Our three freshmen played great, giving us a lot of depth to our lineup."
After sweeping Louisiana-Monroe, the 'Hawks defeated Dake 5-1 on Saturday afternoon.
Junior sisters Cheryl and Lisa Mallaiah and Courtney Steinbock each won straight-set decisions against Drake.
"Drake had played well up until the tournament," Waterman said. "Winning 5-1 was a good way to win the match and regain some confidence."
Kansas completed an unbeaten tear through the Jayhawk Classic by defeating St. Louis 4-0 on Sunday, becoming the only team in the tournament to win all three of its matches.
Senior Monica Sekulov decisively defeated Drake senior Ratasjer Kuruvilla 6-0, 6-1.
"Our strongest aspect about our team is that we have eight players who can play the top six positions." Waterman said.
The Jayhawks will return to action at noon on Saturday in the opener of Big 12 Conference play when they play host to No. 6 Texas at Alvamar Racquet Club.
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