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Sports

SPORTS

Michigan tournament opens mens golf season

Aaron Johnson
September 28, 2001

The MSU men’s golf team opens its season today as it heads to Ann Arbor for the Wolverine Invitational. The 21-team field, which includes seven Big Ten teams, begins play today and will compete through Sunday. “It’s always a tough one - the first one - because you haven’t gotten through the expectations yet,” head coach Mark Hankins said. Despite that factor, he said the team anticipates a strong finish this weekend. “We have a good team,” Hankins said.

VOLLEYBALL

Senior captain Ashtons back injury cant stop her from leading

Dan Woike
September 28, 2001

Senior defensive specialist Lisa Ashton had big plans for this season. Her relentless hustle on defense, her work ethic and her leadership were going to be inspirational for her teammates.What the Spartan volleyball co-captain didn’t plan on giving her teammates was a lesson in vulnerability and optimism.“Maybe taking a look at me on the sidelines will remind them they aren’t guaranteed four years of play,” Ashton said.

FOOTBALL

Cleaves horses around

Aaron Johnson
September 28, 2001

Mateen Cleaves may not be a Spartan or a Detroit Piston any more, but his local fan support doesn’t seem to care.About 30 fans watched as Cleaves played horse Thursday in front of the Okemos Sprint Store at 3544 Meridian Crossing Drive with four radio station winners.

ICE HOCKEY

Two exhibition games open hockey season

James Jahnke
September 28, 2001

The MSU coaching staff’s agenda for this weekend is fairly simple - provide the freshmen with their first competitive collegiate atmosphere, get the returning players back up to game speed and at all costs, avoid injuries. But it’s easier said than done. Just five days after their first practice, the Spartans are being thrust into back-to-back exhibition games, starting with the annual Green and White intrasquad game at 7:05 p.m.

SPORTS

Local wrestler joins brother as Spartan

Kristy Austin
September 28, 2001

In front of a crowd of friends, classmates, parents and mentors Thursday, Williamston wrestler Andy Simmons, a three-time Michigan High School State Champion, announced his intent to join the Spartans next fall.“I am going to State because I really like the program and it will be close so that people from around here can come and see me,” Simmons said.

SPORTS

Spartans must squelch history of winning, then losing even bigger

Justin A. Rice
September 27, 2001

The MSU head football coaches are so worried about starting flat against Northwestern on Saturday - like the team did last year - they addressed the issue minutes after beating the Fighting Irish.“They just want to make sure that unlike last year we don’t come off a couple of wins in the beginning and then get too high and forget about next week’s game,” senior linebacker Josh Thornhill said.

FOOTBALL

Duckett vs. Anderson

Eric Lacy
September 27, 2001

If MSU’s T.J. Duckett is considered the Midwest’s “freak of nature,” then Northwestern’s Damien Anderson comes in a close second. Both Heisman Trophy candidate running backs are known for their uncanny speed and strength, despite the fact they differ in size. Duckett, at 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds, bruised his way to 1,353 yards in 2000, while Anderson, at 5-foot-11 and 207 pounds, scampered for 2,063 - the most in the Big Ten.

SPORTS

Fans, Spartan players dig Jordans return

Aaron Johnson
September 27, 2001

There was a time no one questioned his moves, his word was gospel, and he could do no wrong.But with one fax, he has brought a hellfire of controversy upon himself.Michael Jordan’s announcement Tuesday that he will return to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards has the entire sports world wondering what to expect.To many around East Lansing, his return brings a lift to basketball and to sports in general.“It’s great,” human resources senior Ashli Fabiano said.

SPORTS

Death of Maine coach has team, family ties for Mason

James Jahnke
September 26, 2001

Detroit - Sadness shrouded CCHA Media Day at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday, as the league’s 12 coaches remembered Maine head coach and former MSU assistant Shawn Walsh, who died Monday after a 15-month battle with renal cell carcinoma, a rare form of cancer. But the loss hit at a much more personal level for MSU head coach Ron Mason. Walsh, 46, was the ex-husband of Mason’s daughter, Tracey Hein.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans star in CCHA poll; U-M takes second

James Jahnke
September 26, 2001

Detroit - The CCHA unveiled its preseason media poll at the league’s annual Media Day in Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday, and the Spartans were in familiar territory - atop the league. The media overwhelmingly endorsed MSU to repeat as CCHA regular season champions, giving the Spartans 22 out of 26 possible first-place votes.

FOOTBALL

Rogers, Jarretts improvements earn Big Ten Player of Week honors

Justin A. Rice
September 25, 2001

The Big Ten named freshman wide receiver Charles Rogers and senior punter Craig Jarrett Big Ten Players of the Week on Monday for their efforts in MSU’s 17-10 win over Notre Dame.Rogers was named co-offensive player of the week along with Northwestern’s Damien Anderson and Jarrett was named the special teams player of the week.

SPORTS

Field hockey squad hosts Central Michigan

The MSU field hockey team hosts Central Michigan at 7:30 p.m. today in the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. The Spartans (5-3, 1-0 Big Ten) are coming off a dominating 5-0 win over Northwestern in their Big Ten opener Saturday at Spartan Stadium. Despite its 3-3 overall record, Central could present a challenge for the Spartans.

SPORTS

Men, womens squads top college racers at invite

Early rain threatened to ruin the course, but the track held together for the MSU men’s and women’s cross country teams to host the 12th annual Spartan Invitational on Friday at Forest Akers East Golf Course.The women competed well against the field of 12 teams - which was open to the public for the first time - and took four of the top five spots.