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Sports | 1117

SPORTS

U takes 19 top-five finishes in Spring Opener

Andrew Fifer
April 8, 2002

The men’s track and field team came away with 15 top-five finishes at Notre Dame’s Spring Opener on Saturday. In the field events, sophomore Steve Manz led MSU with first-place finishes in shot put (56 feet, 3 1/4 inches) and discuss throw (157 feet, 6 inches). He also placed third in hammer throw (162 feet, 8 inches). Senior Paul Terek finished with a second-place finish in javelin throw (187 feet, 9 inches). Terek also placed fifth in shot put and long jump. Sophomore Kevin Yokom won the 5,000-meter run with a time of 14 minutes, 38.04 seconds. The women’s track and field team also produced top-five finishes at Notre Dame.

SOFTBALL

U pitches shutout against Eastern

Andrew Fifer
April 5, 2002

Riding the arm of sophomore Jessica Beech, the MSU softball team defeated Eastern Michigan 2-0 on Thursday.The game, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was the Spartans’ (14-21 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) fifth shutout of the season.

ICE HOCKEY

Miller headlines three Spartans as All-Americans

James Jahnke
April 5, 2002

Junior goaltender Ryan Miller earned his second-straight West All-America first-team honor Thursday, while two Spartan defensemen made the second team. The second-team accolades taken by junior defenseman John-Michael Liles and senior defenseman Andrew Hutchinson make MSU the only school with three All-Americans this year.

BASEBALL

Sluggers ready for Northwestern

Chris Mackinder
April 5, 2002

As the MSU baseball team returns to Big Ten action, it expects better results.After splitting its first conferences series with Minnesota 2-2, the Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) are looking for a better performance at Northwestern.The Wildcats (7-13, 1-3) host the first of a four-game series 3 p.m.

SPORTS

Sports briefs

Andrew Fifer
April 5, 2002

Tennis teams ready for Big Ten action The men’s tennis team takes to the road in Big Ten action this weekend, while the women play at the Indoor Tennis Facility. The men’s team (13-7 overall, 1-4 Big Ten) will play Saturday at Ohio State (15-2, 4-0) and Sunday at Penn State (7-9, 0-4). The Spartans are coming off a 5-2 loss Wednesday to Michigan (11-5, 2-3). The women’s team (10-7, 2-3) will also play Penn State (6-7, 1-3) and Ohio State (16-1, 4-1) this weekend. The Spartans host Penn State Saturday and Ohio State on Sunday. Spartans ready to run The men’s and women’s track and field teams will be in action this weekend. The men’s team will compete at 9 a.m.

ICE HOCKEY

Goaltender ready to man the pipes

James Jahnke
April 3, 2002

If junior goaltender Ryan Miller leaves school early - and that’s still an “if” at this point - Spartan fans probably will be a little worried about MSU’s last line of defense next season.After all, Miller has been the epitome of excellence and durability in his three-year MSU career.

BASEBALL

Spartans split Big Ten opening series

Andrew Fifer
April 1, 2002

After dropping its Big Ten opener, the MSU baseball team used the long ball to split a four-game series with Minnesota at Kobs Field this weekend.The Spartans (17-5 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) hit nine home runs in Saturday’s tripleheader to win two games.

SPORTS

U professor studies coaches

Ryan Wallace
April 1, 2002

Tom Izzo has it. Ron Mason had it. Bobby Williams is developing it.It, is something coaches call the ability to positively affect the learning ability and performance of their athletes.Deb Feltz, director of MSU’ Department of Kinesiology, has been examining this philosophy not only on the athletic field, but also in the classroom.However, the idea of coaching efficacy, or coaching competence, was not the first thing that got her interested in this field of research.“My intents started with nonathletes attempting physical activities for the first time,” Feltz said.“I was interested in fear-invoking activities - like diving.”Feltz decided to take the role of confidence in a different direction.She looked at how teachers used their efficacy to motivate their students.

BASEBALL

Baseball team deserves more

This has not been the ideal March for MSU sports fans. After three consecutive Final Fours, you thought the men’s basketball team could pull it together and make another run at a title, but they bowed out in the first round. Then, the Spartan hockey team followed suit with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Colorado College in the NCAA Tournament ending the career of legendary coach Ron Mason. Then the women’s basketball team created some excitement on campus, advancing deep into the 2002 Women’s National Invitation Tournament.