Most 3-year-old girls tend to have pretty typical goals for their future. Some want to be ballerinas, others want to be movie stars and some dream of being a princess. Laura Kueny, who just finished her college career as the most prolific women’s golfer in MSU history, had a bit of a different plan for herself at a very young age.
Former MSU athletes tend to pop up in unflattering news stories all too often. However, as two former Spartans — Shannon Brown of the Los Angeles Lakers and Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks — are competing for championships at the highest level of their respective sports, now is the perfect time to focus on MSU’s former stars who now are winners on the court, field or ice and off of them.
In 1997, the NCAA held its first-ever Women’s Rowing Championship. The very next year, MSU made women’s rowing a varsity sport.
Six Spartans qualified for the NCAA Championships throughout this past weekend, marking the second consecutive year MSU has sent six athletes to the biggest stage of college track and field.
Led by strong performances by both of its varsity eight boats, the MSU women’s rowing team finished ninth at the 2010 Championship Regatta on Sunday in Sacramento, Calif. All three of the Spartans’ boats were in the petite finals, meaning they could do no better than seventh place.
On the final day of action at the NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., four members of the MSU track and field team did well enough to advance to the NCAA Track and Field Championships, starting June 8 in Eugene Ore. Among the many Spartans to record personal or season-best marks was senior triple jumper Kryon Foster, who jumped a season-best 15.79 meters. His leap was good enough for sixth place and a spot in the championships.
After an impressive first day for the MSU track and field team at the 2010 NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., day two Friday also proved to be successful. Two freshman Spartans, hurdler Keenan Michael and thrower Beth Rohl qualified for the NCAA Championships June 8 in Eugene, Ore.
In the first day of competition at the 2010 NCAA Championship regatta Friday in Sacramento, Calif., the MSU rowing team advanced all three of its boats to the semifinals, which start at 9:00 a.m. Saturday. The Spartans’ varsity eight easily made it to Saturday’s semifinal, when it finished behind California and USC but beat Washington and Washington State.
The MSU track and field team began action in the NCAA Track and Field East Regional on Thursday in Greensboro, N.C., and already has a first-place finish to bring home. Sophomore Becca Buchholtz highlighted day one of the competition when she tied for first in the high jump and broke the school record with a leap of 1.81 meters.
Just as director Walt Drenth said he had hoped, the improvement of MSU track and field has continued, as 26 Spartans will make their way to Greensboro, N.C., this weekend to compete in the opening rounds of the NCAA Regionals.
The MSU women’s rowing team starts action in the NCAA National Championship Regatta on Friday in Sacramento, Calif. For the 12th time in the last 13 years, the Spartans will be competing in the sport’s national championship and will look to improve on their sixth place finish each of the last two years.
The Big Ten recently announced its all-conference teams. The seven MSU players earning a spot on All-Big Ten teams is tied for the second most in MSU history and the most since 1968.
For the past 10 years, the only thing more predictable than MSU men’s basketball head coach Tom Izzo making the Final Four about every other season is his name being thrown into the mix as a candidate for every high-profile coaching job in the country. So, if no school or franchise has been able to lure the Iron Mountain, Mich. native away from Spartan Country before, why would this time be any different?
After recently being named Big Ten Golfer of the Year and chosen for the All-Big Ten first-team for the third consecutive season, MSU senior golfer Laura Kueny added one more accomplishment to her illustrious career by being named a second-team All-American by the National Golf Coaches Association, or NGCA.
Thirty-four total wins, an 11-2 record against in-state rivals and a place in the top-three in the conference in 13 different offensive categories is an impressive résumé for most college baseball teams. But for MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss Jr., achieving those feats wasn’t quite enough to complete an entirely successful season.
When Saturday’s series finale rolled around, the scenario was clear. Win and move on to the Big Ten Tournament. Lose and pack it up until next season. Unfortunately for the Spartans, the latter became reality as they lost to the Wildcats, 8-6, on Saturday on a walk-off three-run home run at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston, Ill.
MSU senior golfer Jack Newman tied for 11th last weekend at the NCAA Notre Dame Regional in South Bend, Ind., barely missing out on a chance to play at the NCAA Championship.
Junior Kyron Foster of the men’s team and sophomore Becca Buchholtz for the women earned spots on the All-Big Ten first-team list, while juniors Charelise Davis and Emily MacLeod, both from the women’s team, made the second team.
In an effort to increase funds and also reward loyal and generous Spartan fans, the MSU athletic department is conducting a seat adjustment in Breslin Center for men’s basketball games effective in the 2010-11 season.
In spite of accomplishing so much and playing in numerous important tournaments, senior golfer Jack Newman said competing in the 2010 NCAA Notre Dame Regional, which starts Thursday in South Bend, Ind., and goes through Saturday, is right on par with everything else he has done.