For Jennifer Scully, April 16 cannot come any sooner. To the four-year starter and president of the MSU women's water polo team, it's the date she's been waiting for since she came to MSU four years ago.
With the Spartans riding a nine-game winning streak, Travis Gulick's play probably has gone unnoticed by most. On Tuesday, however, the Big Ten recognized the junior right fielder's achievements by giving him co-Big Ten Player of the Week honors. "It was really a surprise to me," Gulick said.
After going 7-for-14 at the plate in five games last week, senior pitcher Jessica Beech earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors. The Okemos native became the first Spartan to be named Player of the Week in 2004 by scoring a run in each matchup, bringing the Spartans' total runs to 13 while MSU's opponents scored 23 runs. MSU faces Central Michigan at 4 p.m.
Every gambler needs an insurance plan in case of disaster. Senior cornerback Roderick Maples, who is known for taking risks on the field, is no exception. Only, Maples' insurance plan comes in the form of junior strong safety Eric Smith. "We kind of got attached," Maples said.
MSU gymnastics took home fifth place from the Central Region Championship on Saturday, scoring a combined 195.025. The event was held in Maravich Center at Louisiana State, and featured five top-25 teams. Junior Lauren Simpson led MSU on bars, junior Nicole Anderson took the lead on the floor and sophomore Sarah Alexander led the Spartans on beam. Alexander, along with freshman Chayla Hill, led scoring for the Spartans on vault, each scoring a 9.800. MSU broke numerous records this season, including the school's record team score twice, and ended the season with a 19-20-1 record.
The MSU men's golf team placed 15th in the Border Olympics on Saturday at the Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas. Junior Andrew Ruthkoski led the Spartans with 215 (70-70-75) and tied for 12th; freshman Matt Harmon came in 41st with 222 (75-72-75). In three rounds, MSU shot a total of 893 (297-290-306). The Spartans continue competition Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind.
Time was almost running out for former Spartans defenseman Brad Fast to record his first NHL goal in his professional debut with the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. With less than three minutes left in regulation, Fast's wrister went past Miami goaltender Roberto Luongo to force the game into overtime.
It was a game of Duck, Duck, Goose that got out of control. The object was to kick a soccer ball in a circle while chasing an opponent who also was kicking a soccer ball.
Ladies and gentleman, here on center ice is the three-ring circus. Sigh. Who am I kidding? That's just the trio of Detroit Red Wings goaltenders - Dominik Hasek, Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace. It's been the story since July 8, 2003, when Hasek officially unretired, checking Joseph out of the No.
Despite a record-setting performance from its star pitcher, the MSU softball team endured a rocky start to its Big Ten season this past weekend. Two losses in a doubleheader at Iowa on Sunday capped a four-game road trip for the Spartans (19-13 overall, 1-3 Big Ten). Before falling to the Hawkeyes (22-15, 4-0), MSU split a pair of games at Illinois, losing, 7-1, in its Big Ten opener on Friday and winning, 2-0, on Saturday.
If the first four games of the Big Ten season are any indication of how MSU's season will go, finishing in the top half of the league won't be a problem. The Spartans baseball team dominated the Hawkeyes over the weekend, recording the team's first four-game sweep since 1990 while earning the conference's top spot. "We'd certainly rather be there than the alternative," head coach Ted Mahan said.
Bryan Gale jogged out to the mound, reached down and picked up the rosin bag, adjusted his pants, fixed his cap and stared toward home plate. It was time. In the top of the fourth inning against Iowa on Friday, the senior right-hander was one strikeout away from setting the all-time MSU mark for Ks. "You try not to think of it, but in a way, it's kind of in the back of your mind," Gale admitted after the game.
Ted Mahan is optimistic for this year's Big Ten season. That's saying a lot for the MSU baseball manager, who, in his previous eight years coaching the Spartans, finished with a winning conference record once (16-12 for a third-place finish in 2002). "If there is ever a year we should compete in the top half of the Big Ten, this is the year," Mahan said. Of course, Mahan, a soft-spoken 47-year-old who is in his 13th year overall with MSU baseball, has facts to back up his statement: The Spartans play 18 conference home games this season, compared to 14 away contests.
It's a good thing the prognosticators' postseason isn't a one-and-done. Both college basketball gurus picked Georgia Tech to take out Nevada, but Uncle Joey (3-1) picked two other games correctly (Xavier and St.
After all of head coach John L. Smith's off-season shuffling, perhaps the position most affected is running back.
Janel Grimm Burgess is no longer an assistant head coach for the MSU women's basketball team. She now is an associate head coach for the team.
Sex and sports are associated with one another all the time. Let's face it - sex sells, and so do sports.
To hit or to be hit, that is the competition. Well, at least for two Spartans running backs. Junior Tyrell Dortch and sophomore Jaren Hayes have been moved from taking hits on offense to laying hits on defense in the early stages of spring football.
The daily juggling act for student athletes between classes and practice is being recognized as the 2004 Winter Academic All-Big Ten Conference Team was announced Tuesday. Among the 409 students recognized by the Big Ten are 32 Spartans, hailing from four varsity sports.
On Valentine's Day, the MSU men's basketball team defeated Minnesota, 69-58, at Breslin Center.