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Sports | 1117

SPORTS

Spartans compete at U.S. championship

Women’s track and field sent two athletes to the U.S. Junior and Senior National Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday in Palo Alto, Calif.Senior tri-captain Sherita Williams competed in the senior nationals triple jump, and freshman Michelle Rzepka competed in the junior nationals pole vault.Williams set school records in both the long jump (20’ 1/2”) and triple jump (42’ 3/4”). Williams was named Big Ten conference champion for the latter, earning All-Big Ten first team honors and finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships, earning first team All-American.Williams finished ninth overall in the triple jump with a 42’ 1 1/4” jump.Rzepka, who holds the school record in the pole vault at 12’0”, made her first appearance at the U.S.

SPORTS

U.S. bows out with heads held high

Ulsan, South Korea - Like great performers always do, the U.S. soccer team saved its best for last. Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough. So after making its longest run at the World Cup in nearly 75 years, the United States bowed out with a loss in an epic 1-0 battle with Germany. “The U.S.

SOFTBALL

Pitcher transfers to U for softball

The softball team added sophomore hurler Stephanie Christner to next year’s roster.Christner played last year for Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, earning All-Region XI honors.

SPORTS

Lugnuts fall to Battle Cats, again

Andrew Fifer
June 24, 2002

Lansing - After winning their first two games of the season’s second half, the Lugnuts have dropped two straight. Lansing (2-2 second half, 39-34 overall) lost 8-2 to the Michigan Battle Cats Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park, 505 E.

SPORTS

Lugnuts prepare for second half

Andrew Fifer
June 20, 2002

After failing to earn a first-half playoff spot, the Lansing Lugnuts will try to build on a strong finish and nab one of the four remaining postseason spots.Lansing won nine of its last 11 games for a 37-32 first-half record.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans look ahead to NHL draft

James Jahnke
June 20, 2002

A quartet of Spartan sophomores - led by center Jim Slater - expect to hear their names called at this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Toronto, but the players say they have no inkling as to which team will pick them. “I really don’t have a clue,” defenseman Duncan Keith said from his home in Penticton, British Columbia earlier this week.

BASEBALL

All-Star festivities entertain community

Andrew Fifer
June 19, 2002

Lansing - The 2002 Midwest League All-Star Game attracted everybody and their mother to Oldsmobile Park Tuesday night. The annual event, which showcased 63 of the top prospects in the league this year, was much more than a game. As attendants entered they were given inflatable plastic noisemakers to create an enthusiastic environment and the recipients wasted little time putting them to use. Prior to the summer classic, fans swarmed the All Stars to capture their autographs on baseballs, baseball caps and programs. Many people attended to take in the game, but just as many were at the park to take in at least one of the side attractions. Lansing native Shawn Gilmore, who tries to take in at least five Lugnuts’ games a season, was one of the many individuals taking part in pregame festivities. Although he didn’t know any of the players from the Kane County Cougars or Beloit Snappers, he was more than eager to get their signatures.

ICE HOCKEY

McAuliffe to stay with Spartans

Assistant coach Dave McAuliffe will be back with the Spartan hockey team next season, after being passed over for the vacant Northern Michigan head coaching job.McAuliffe, 36, was one of three finalists for the Wildcat position, but the school ultimately chose former Northern player and assistant coach Walt Kyle to succeed Rick Comley.

SPORTS

Nuts All-Star lineup

The Lansing Lugnutsare set to enjoy the three-day All-Star break.Lansing will have five representatives at the 2002 Midwest League All-Star Game at 7:05 p.m.

SPORTS

U.S. team not just happy to be there

Daejeon, Korea - Expect the unexpected they say, but who really does? Anyone who expected the United States would actually beat Portugal and then allow Poland to score two goals in less than five minutes should have their garage searched for a time-traveling device, be stripped of any magic eight balls and then be questioned by Scotland Yard. The U.S.

SPORTS

Tae kwon do inspires local pair

Andrew Fifer
June 13, 2002

They are separated by 23 years, but have found a home at a local academy. Although Connie Patterson and Teri Kim have experienced similar pleasures from tae kwon do, they have traveled separate roads. Kim has been virtually raised at Shinn’s Tae Kwon Do, 2189 W.

SPORTS

Spartan Stadium project grueling effort for construction company

Ben Landes
June 12, 2002

Sean McCarvel curiously watched as a tractor pulling two trailers loaded with grass modules growled by. Onlookers had to gaze through the dark, long and narrow tunnel at the field entrance of Spartan Stadium in hope of catching a small glimpse of the new grass being installed. Tractors dropped off their loads every 10 minutes and got back on the road just as another rig pulled in. If all goes according to plan, MSU will have its first grass football field since 1968 by Friday. “I think it’s great - great for the players and great for the university,” 1993 graduate McCarvel said.

SPORTS

5 Spartans get drafted

With the season already finished, the baseball team set another record with five players drafted in Major League Baseball’s 2002 First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday and Wednesday. Senior center fielder Chris McCuiston and junior catcher Brady Burrill were selected Wednesday, setting the new record.

SPORTS

With bloody knockout, Lewis proved Tyson is finished

Saturday night’s heavyweight bout confirmed my belief that Mike Tyson has forever fallen off the plateau of boxing superiority. The man called “Iron Mike,” who used to intimidate opponents first with his psychological warfare - he was quoted as saying he would eat Lennox Lewis’ unborn children - then knock them out with brute strength, was beaten by Lewis, clearly the more skilled and tactical fighter. I suspected that Lewis’ height and reach advantage would be too much for Tyson to overcome.

SPORTS

Lugnuts split series

The Lansing Lugnuts split a four-game road series with a 8-4 victory over the Burlington Bees on Saturday night at Community Field in Burlington, Iowa. The Lugnuts (30-31) dropped the third game of the series 4-0 and the opener 5-3. In game two, Lansing came away with a 3-0 shutout of the Bees (31-30). Lansing opened a four-game series against the Clinton LumberKings at 3 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Taylor fails to impress, but remains confident

Andrew Fifer
June 10, 2002

After competing with 65 professional hopefuls at the Chicago predraft camp June 4-7, Marcus Taylor will soon cement his decision to leave MSU.The guard said he plans to return home Tuesday and sign with an agent before leaving to work out with the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.Hiring an agent would end any dreams that Spartan fans have for Taylor to don the green and white for MSU next season.While in Chicago, Taylor said he was focused on displaying the skills that allowed him to lead the Big Ten in scoring and assists.

SPORTS

Day earns freshman honorable mention

MSU freshman pitcher Tim Day continued a recent Spartan tradition by earning honorable mention status on the 2002 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America baseball team. Day became the third Spartan in as many years to be selected to the team.