SPORTS
Golfers finish in 3rd
The women’s golf team finished third in a 15-team field at the rain-shortened Lady Buckeye Invitational this weekend.
SPORTS
Tennis drops 2 at home
The women’s tennis team (11-11 overall, 3-7 Big Ten) finished its regular season with 4-3 home losses to Indiana and Purdue this weekend. The Spartans lost the doubles point in both matches, but got strong play from freshman Dora Vastag (No.
SPORTS
Training? Just do it.
With his 6-foot-4, 280-pound frame culminating with his bald head and fire red goatee, Justin Hartis looks like a warrior.And the junior lineman from Charlotte had a chance to battle with some of the best warriors in high school football Saturday afternoon during the Nike Football Training Camp held at the practice fields next to the Duffy Daugherty Football Building.
FOOTBALL
Long snapper signs NFL contract
The MSU football team’s long snapper from last season signed as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins on Sunday night - five minutes after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Tony Grant, 23, signed a two year deal in addition to a small signing bonus after not being picked up during the seven-round draft. The electrical engineering senior said he didn’t know if he would get drafted at all. “I don’t know any details, all I know is I’m a Redskin,” Grant said.
BASEBALL
Spartans defeat Wolverines
With a little help from the Wolverines, the MSU baseball team staged a ninth-inning rally Sunday and won 5-3 at Ray Fisher Stadium.The Spartans (26-9 overall, 9-6 Big Ten) entered the final inning down 3-0.
FOOTBALL
Being drafted; the first step
The NFL Draft can be the most exciting two days in a young college football player’s life. This weekend, five Spartans came one step closer to playing professional football. Five players from a team that finished 7-5 last season is a pretty good accomplishment, and showed just how much talent that team had. Last year the Spartans weren’t represented until the seventh round, when three players were selected. Cornerback Renaldo Hill went to the Arizona Cardinals, center Siitupe Peko went to the New York Jets and T.J.
FOOTBALL
5 Spartans see dreams realized with 2002 draft
First-round draft pick T.J. Duckett was the guy in the spotlight this weekend, but four other Spartan players quietly fulfilled childhood dreams of their own. Tight end Chris Baker, wide receiver Herb Haygood, defensive tackle Josh Shaw and punter Craig Jarrett all had their names called in the 2002 NFL Draft, which took place Saturday and Sunday in New York. All four were Spartan seniors last fall - but being drafted is the official start of their professional football careers.
FOOTBALL
SPORTS UPDATE: Duckett picked No. 18 by Atlanta
Former Spartan tailback T.J. Duckett was picked by the Atlanta Falcons as the 18th pick in the NFL Draft on Saturday.Duckett, an MSU standout and fan favorite, was largely expected by analysts to be chosen by the Cleveland Browns, which would have put him at 16th in the draft.
SOFTBALL
Big Ten Tournament hopes slipping away
After three straight nonconference games, the MSU softball team returns to Big Ten action this weekend. The Spartans (21-26 overall, 3-7 Big Ten) travel to Iowa City, for a two game series with the Big Ten-leading Hawkeyes (28-14, 8-2). The two teams begin the series at 6 p.m.
FOOTBALL
Going pro may be a snap
No one at Beaner’s Gourmet Coffee recognized him as he sipped an Orange Brain Freeze smoothie that matched his orange American Eagle T-shirt. His gold chain, with a tiny gold football dangling at the end, didn’t give him away either.
BASEBALL
Sluggers ready for Michigan
For the first time in years, the four-game baseball series between MSU and Michigan has some meaning.MSU (23-8 overall, 6-5 Big Ten) and U-M (11-19, 6-6) are currently in fifth and sixth place, respectively in the conference.
SPORTS
U runners to compete in Western Michigan Invitational
The track and field teams will head to Kalamazoo Saturday to compete in the Western Michigan Invitational at Kanley Track. The women’s team will begin competition at 10:30 a.m.
FOOTBALL
Spartans anticipate NFL Draft
A few hopeful Spartans are anxiously waiting to hear their names announced this weekend at the 2002 NFL Draft in New York. Junior tailback T.J.
SPORTS
Cancer claims former Spartan, Big Ten championship swimmer
Kenneth Walter Gest, a member of the only MSU swimming team to win a Big Ten Championship, died April 4 of pancreatic cancer at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He was 65 and had been living in Traverse City since 1976. Gest was an All-America swimmer and a member of the Spartan’s 1957 squad.
SPORTS
Golfer helps womens team swing into spotlight
Of course, Spartan fans know the names of basketball guard Marcus Taylor and hockey goalie Ryan Miller.But when those star athletes’ respective seasons ended with disappointing first-round NCAA Tournament losses last month, the result was a temporary void of recognizable Spartan athletes.Spring sports have traditionally been overlooked around campus because MSU has had trouble competing with warm-weather schools from the South and West.
SPORTS
U grapplers earn top 20 rankings in preseason poll
The wrestling season is over, but the team is still receiving accolades. The MSU wrestling team is ranked No.
BASEBALL
McCuiston credits patience for breakout season
Patience has been a huge virtue for center fielder Chris McCuiston this season.In this, his senior season, McCuiston has finally settled down in the batters box and become a serious hitting machine.
SOFTBALL
Loyola next on Spartans 11-game road trip
Before the MSU softball team returns to Big Ten play this weekend, the Spartans play Loyola today in nonconference action.MSU (21-26 overall, 3-7 Big Ten) will travel to Chicago for a 5 p.m.
BASEBALL
Sluggers break home-run record
The MSU baseball team broke an 18-year-old record Tuesday with five home runs in its 22-6 beating of Wayne State.The Spartans (23-8 overall, 6-5 Big Ten) entered the nonconference game with 57 home runs, two shy of the 1984 record of 59.
SPORTS
Freshmen leadership serves up success for Spartans
With freshmen rackets leading the way, the MSU women’s tennis team is having one of its best seasons in recent years.After two years of rebuilding, third-year head coach Tim Bauer has started to implement his style of players.