UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, December 6, 1995
71B
Grand Slams thrill tennis players
Two Kansas Jayhawks meet up with the best
By Dan Gelston
ansan sportswriter
Kansas sophomore tennis player Enrique Abaroa almost didn't win his 1992 French Open titles junior championship.
But it was not because of tough competition or an injury. instead, it was because he didn't have a partner.
"Ten minutes before the sign up I found out my partner couldn't play," Abaroa said. "I was looking all around for a partner. Lasked a few people and finally I found somebody I wanted to play with. His coach didn't want him to play at first, but then he said yes."
And when he did, Abaroa fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing in a Grand Slam tournament and winning.
Abaroa and his Kansas teammate, freshman Luis Uribe, both have known the thrill of playing in one of the Grand Slam events $ \textcircled{1} $the Australian Open, French Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon $ \textcircled{2} $as an amateur.
And for both players, the experience has been the greatest
they have had as tennis players.
"My dream when I was little was to play in a Grand Slam," Abaroa said. "That was the most thrilling moment for me to be on those courts."
Uribe also said playing in Grand Slams was the best experience he has ever had.
Both players also shared another sentiment — that the U.S. Open was the best place to play.
"I loved the U.S. Open, it was my favorite place to play," Abaroa said. "I liked the environment. I liked the hard courts. The people really get into it there."
Not only did Uribe like the melting pot that is Flushing, N.Y., where the Open is held, but he liked the opportunity to better express himself.
"The U.S. Open was the tournament I liked the most," Uribe said. "I speak English, so I was able to understand the people better."
Unlike the other Grand Slam tournaments, where the juniors are separated from the professionals, everyone is grouped together at the U.S. Open.
"I got to sit next to Pete Sampras, Arantxa Sanchez, Gabriela Sabatini," Uribe said. "I got to
see how they eat, how they prepare, what they do. That was great."
What wasn't so great was Uribe's experience at Wimbledon in 1994. He twisted his ankle prior to his opening-round match. He tried to go on but was forced to forfeit the match.
Uribe has yet to play in dual-match action, but from what he's seen in the fall tournament season the caliber of the top players won't be much different.
Most players go to college and then, maybe, gat to play in the Grand Slams. After playing to filled stadiums against some of the best players in the world, it might seem that playing in front of a handful of fans in the Midwest would be a letdown.
"It's different but it's still important," Uribe said. "Before my first match in Tulsa, I was nervous. I'm starting a new period. I'm not playing for me or a country; it's for my school."
"I try to treat all the matches the same in terms of importance," Abaroa said. "The Grand Slams have helped me a lot. They've made me relax, and they give you more confidence. But I still get nervous before my matches."
Abaroa said that perhaps the
How Kansas men's tennis players sophomore Enrique Abaroa and freshman Luis Uribe fared in their Grand Slam appearances. They played in the juniors competition.
A Grand Experience
Abaroa
Australian Open: Round of 16, 1992
French Open: Won the doubles championship.1992
U.S. Open: Quarterfinals, 1992
Wimbledon: Lost in second round,
1992
Australian Open: Never played French Open: Lost in second round, 1994
U. S. Open: Lost in third round, 1994
Wimbledon: Forfit opening round match due to injury, 1994
best part of the Grand Slams was not actually the time on the court but the exposure to the rest of the world.
Although some dreams are reached, that doesn't mean there aren't others to be fulfilled.
"My next dream is to win the NCAAs," Abaroa said. "I really think I can do it."
Kansas golf coach hooks new recruits
Two high school seniors will be expected to fill spots left by graduation
The Kansas men's golf team wasted no time in jumping on the recruiting trail.
By Spencer Duncan Kansan sportswriter
Last week the golf team received two commitments during the early fall signing period that Kansas men's golf coach Ross Randall believes will help strengthen the team.
Ryan Vermeer and Jimmy Gates will both attend Kansas next fall and were recruited from surrounding states.
"We're really pleased to sign both of these players," Randall said.
Vermeer attends Millard South High School in Omaha, Neb., and Gates is even closer, attending Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo.
Gates is a Leawood native and carries an impressive resume.
"He's been our team leader for two years," Rockhurst High
He was a medalist at the 1995 USGA Amateur Public Links qualifying tournament, a 1995 first team all-state selection in Missouri and the 1995 District Champion. While these are only a few of Gates' honors, his most important quality, according to his high school coach, may be his leadership ability.
School boys' golf coach Steve Ryan said. "Athletes were looking to him. He was one of our two team leaders as a sophomore and was definitely our leader last year."
Vermeer also can hold his own.
In his 3 1/2 years in high school, he has been a Nebraska Junior Golfer of the Year, a Nebraska PGA Junior tournament winner and has five top-10 finishes in Amateur Junior Golf Association and national junior events.
Vermeer also has done a little record setting at his high school.
"We've had a real strong golf program here going back to the 1970s," Millard South High School boys' golf coach Dave Noyes said. "We had Tom Seekam here who turned pro on the Asian Tour, and Ryan's beaten Tom's records that
"Tom set when he was Ryan's age." Vermeer's best attributes might be his work ethic and attitude.
"What's impressive with Ryan is other kids really enjoy playing with him because of his golf etiquette and mannerisms," Noyes said. "He doesn't throw his club around, and he's not a hothead. He's a class kid."
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
The two players will help to fill a void the team will have next fall when seven of the Jayhawks' experienced players graduate. Both recruits are golfers Randall is glad he signed, and he said he was looking forward to the influence they would have on the team's winning tradition.
"We've had good success the last few years," Randall said. "They should help us continue that."
'Husker running back sentenced for assault
The Associated Press
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska running back Lawrence Phillips was sentenced to one year of probation yesterday for assault-
mer girlfriend.
Lawrence Phillips
Phillips, who initially was dismissed from the defending national championship team but later allowed to return, also
was ordered to attend a domestic violence prevention class and pay restitution. He must pay his former girlfriend Kate McEwen $247,84 and then pay $110,80 for damage caused to the apartment building where the assault occurred.
Phillips had pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault and trespassing charges for the Sept. 10 attack on McEwen, a Nebraska women's basketball player.
Police and prosecutors said Phillips broke into the apartment rented by transfer quarterback Scott Frost and attacked McEwen with his hands.
She was treated at a hospital and released. She has since returned to school.
Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne initially dismissed Phillips from the team but later called it an indefinite suspension; he allowed Phillips to rejoin the team Oct. 24.
When Phillips is done with his probation on Nov. 29, 1996, he could face 30 days in jail, but the judge said that the jail time would be waived if the probation was completed successfully.
Deputy Lancaster County attorney Nancy Wynner said the state recommended and agreed to the probation.
Top-ranked Nebraska faces No.
2 Florida in the Fiesta Bowl Jan.
2.
The Associated Press
KENT, Ohio — Two Ohio State football players have pleaded not guilty to assault charges.
Christopher Cicero, the attorney representing Tom Hoying, 20, and Mike Vrabel, 20, submitted the plea Monday.
"Obviously, there were events that led up to the incident, and we are confident that if this matter should proceed to trial, both Mike and Tom will be completely exonerated." Cicero said.
Ohio State football coach John Cooper said the case probably would not prevent the players from playing in the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl game against Tennessee.
The pleas will allow a judge in Kent Municipal Court to set a trial date. The pleas mean the
two won't have to appear in court Thursday for arraignment as previously planned. Cicero said.
they were arrested early Saturday after a fight in a tavern parking lot.
Timothy Fulton, 21, of Canton, Ohio, was taken to a hospital and treated for head and face injuries.
Hoying and Vrabel each were charged with one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Hoying, a 6-foot-4, 221-pound sophomore quarterback, is the brother of No. 1 quarterback Bobby Hoying. Vrabel is a 6-4, 255-pound junior defensive end.
Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger said Monday that no immediate disciplinary action would be taken.
present:
Lawrence Community Theatre and Hallmark Cards
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Dec. 7 (7:30 pm), 8 & 9 (8 pm), 10 (2:30 pm)
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You are guaranteed redemption during this period. You may always redeem your
coupon as long as tickets remain for the game.
Undergraduates The last day to petition to withdraw from a CLAS course is Dec. 7th in 4017 Wescoe
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