Senior Brad Gebauer and sophomores Jeremy Orr and Nicole Bush all advanced to the NCAA Track and Field Championships, following their performances at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships last weekend. Gebauer, the 2006 Big Ten indoor and outdoor pole vault champion, took first place in the event with a leap of 5.41 meters.
Over the weekend, the MSU women's rowing team broke its own record. The Spartans ended the NCAA Championship Regatta in sixth place overall — claiming the highest NCAA finish in the program's history. Head coach Matt Weise said the team had a lot of which to be proud. "The athletes worked very hard to be ready for this championship, and their hard work paid off in our best team finish," Weise said in a press release. The Spartans' previous high finish was eighth during the 2000 NCAA Regatta. The varsity team was able to compete in the Grand Final on Sunday — marking the first time a Spartan varsity team competed in a national championship race. The winner of the championship was California, defending its team title with a close finish for first, just in front of Brown. Alessa Thomas
The MSU men's and women's track teams will both be participating in this weekend's NCAA Mideast championships in Knoxville, Tenn. The women's team will send five Spartans to compete in numerous events.
Today, the MSU women's rowing team departs for the NCAA Division I Women's Rowing Championships in New Jersey.
MSU sophomore golfer Ryan Brehm tied for 75th at the NCAA Central Regional in Chardon, Ohio. The tournament lasted three days — last Thursday, Friday and Saturday — with a field of 141 student golfers. Competing as an individual, Brehm was the only MSU golfer at the tournament and finished with a 14-over-par 227. The Mount Pleasant-native had his best day on Saturday, shooting a 1-under-par 70.
MSU women's basketball senior guard Victoria Lucas-Perry was named as a finalist for the 2006 USA FIBA Americas U20 Championship Team. After three days of trials, a field of 38 athletes was cut down to 18.
MSU freshman Franklin Gomez and MSU junior Andy Simmons both won national championships in wrestling in the freestyle division at the 2006 University Nationals.
The MSU women's basketball team is switching its talent this year. Freshman Tiffanie Shives announced that she will be transferring from MSU to Gonzaga.
This season, the Spartans' home football game against rival Notre Dame will be nationally televised by ABC.
MSU football player Cole Corey was sentenced Thursday to spend between two and 10 years in prison for possession of a controlled substance Thursday in the Lenawee County Circuit Court. Corey appeared in 11 games for the Spartans in 2005, recording six tackles and returning a kick on special teams.
Lansing — The Lugnuts' Monday night game against the West Michigan Whitecaps was canceled due to rain and will not be made up. The Lugnuts remain a half-game ahead of the Whitecaps in the Eastern division.
Beginning this season, MSU football games will be featured on Detroit's radio station WJR-AM. The station previously broadcast games for the Green and White for 14 years from 1963-76. Former MSU and NFL quarterback Jim Miller will join play-by-play announcer George Blaha and former MSU center Jason Strayhorn on the Spartan Radio Network's football broadcast team. "George Blaha is one of the nation's premier play-by-play announcers, and it's a real positive to be able to add two former Spartans to the broadcast lineup, in Jim Miller and Jason Strayhorn," MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason said in a statement.
Reserve quarterback Domenic Natale announced earlier this month that he would not return to MSU next season. The redshirt freshman had been battling sophomore Brian Hoyer for the backup spot to senior quarterback Drew Stanton but was placed third on the team's depth chart after spring practices. MSU has released Natale from his athletic scholarship to transfer to either Rutgers or Cincinnati, according to MSU Sports Information officials. Natale didn't have any recorded pass attempts in 2005, but he did appear in games.
MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo will return to Kuwait this month to coach troops and foster morale as part of Operation Hardwood II. Izzo first visited the Middle East last August and coached the military team Camp Arifjan to a championship in the eight-team tournament. "My first trip was eye-opening in many different ways and cemented the tremendous respect I have for the men and women of the United States armed forces," Izzo said in a statement.
Victoria Lucas-Perry was invited to try out for the USA Under-20 Women's National Basketball Team.
Lansing — The Lansing Lugnuts moved into first after defeating the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park. Four Lugnuts pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and only one run.
During this weekend's NFL Draft, you'll hear familiar names like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Vince Young called early in the first round. But for MSU fans, there could be other recognizable names in this year's draft.
By Brittany Ghiroli For The State News Going into the women's Big Ten Rowing Championships this weekend, spirits couldn't be higher for the No.
The State News caught up with former MSU guard Charlie Bell on Thursday over the phone. Bell is now playing in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks, who are battling the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
Oh sure, he grew up playing baseball in Royal Oak, played for a year at John Carroll University and then started for three at Dayton.