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Sports

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Recruit stays with TideThe Spartan football team lost out on a prized community college linebacker. Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas chose to stay with Alabama on Monday. Pope verbally committed to Alabama in July, before reconsidering following NCAA sanctions against the university. Alabama was placed under a five-year probation, which includes a two-year bowl ban for repeated violations.

ICE HOCKEY

Team looks within to move on minus Mason

James Jahnke
February 18, 2002

Colton Fretter, 19, is standing firm in his decision to play hockey for MSU next season. The high-scoring forward from Harrow, Ontario, signed a National Letter of Intent with the university back in November after choosing the Spartans over Bowling Green, Miami (Ohio) and other suitors. But November was a much different time in Spartan hockey.

BASKETBALL

Threes plague Purdue

Justin A. Rice
February 18, 2002

West Lafayette, Ind. - Purdue’s love for the three-point basket was clear Saturday night, but Valentine’s Day had long passed. “It killed us tonight,” Boilermaker forward Rodney Smith said.

SPORTS

No question, CBC is heaven

The Olympics provide athletes with a chance to shine on the global stage with a myriad of nations covering the Winter Games.

FOOTBALL

Spartans among top linebackers final prospects

Paul Day
February 18, 2002

The No. 1 community college linebacker in America may come to MSU, and his decision could come as early as today. Rivals.com has Derrick Pope, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound linebacker from Garden City Community College in Kansas, the top Juco linebacker in the nation. Sunday, Pope listed MSU, Arkansas and Florida as his finalists.

SPORTS

Gymnasts set history

John Ostler
February 18, 2002

Led by several record-setting events, the MSU gymnastics team outscored Rutgers University 195.735-to-191.350 Saturday. The Spartans’ score was the fourth highest in school history. MSU took first place in all four events.

ICE HOCKEY

Victory at Joe breaks season tie

James Jahnke
February 18, 2002

Detroit - Fifth-ranked MSU finally broke its season-long, head-to-head stalemate against Michigan and claimed a 3-1 victory in front of 20,058 fans at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday. The Spartans (21-6-5 overall, 15-5-4 CCHA) raced to a 2-1 lead in a wild opening five minutes, and then clamped down on the No.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Michelle Matthews
February 15, 2002

Wrestling The No. 18 wrestling team host Northwestern at 7:30 p.m. today at Jenison Field House. MSU (4-8 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) holds a 23-14-1 edge over the Wildcats (7-10, 0-5) all-time. The Spartans then travel to Penn State (5-9, 2-3) for a 1 p.m.

BASKETBALL

U looking to rebound

Dan Woike
February 15, 2002

After a disappointing effort its last time out, the Spartan men’s basketball team travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue at 7 p.m.

FOOTBALL

Coach leaves for Panthers

Ryan Wallace
February 14, 2002

After one year, MSU’s linebackers and special teams coach has decided to move on to the next level. Spartan head coach Bobby Williams announced Wednesday that Sal Sunseri has resigned.

SPORTS

Opportunities abound at U

For many MSU athletes, their homes and families are not that distant. But for some, they are a world away.As a member of the Spartans swimming and diving team (6-5 overall, 1-4 Big Ten), Ildiko Szekely is one of those athletes.The interdisciplinary studies and international relations senior has spent most of her MSU years away from her family in Budapest, Hungary.“They love that I have this opportunity here in the U.S.,” Szekely said.

BASKETBALL

Spartans tournament future on bubble

Justin A. Rice
February 14, 2002

After losing 63-61 to No. 18 Illinois on Tuesday night, the MSU men’s basketball team was forced to add a new word to its dictionary - bubble.Unless the Spartans win the Big Ten Tournament, they will likely be on the fringe of the 65-team pool in March’s NCAA Tournament.

SPORTS

Lions next for Spartans

Chris Mackinder
February 14, 2002

The MSU women’s basketball team’s goal is still to play in the NCAA Tournament. But another Big Ten loss would secure a losing conference record, therefore the Spartans (15-9 overall, 5-8 Big Ten) must run the table to keep realistic postseason hopes alive.