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Sports

ICE HOCKEY

Mason brings coachs touch

Andrew Fifer
July 3, 2002

The waters have been calmed, the ship has been righted and now there’s a new captain. MSU athletics director Ron Mason has taken over the controls of MSU sports, and said he doesn’t expect a lot of change. Mason officially took over duties of the department Monday, after former athletics director Clarence Underwood ended his 23 years of work with MSU and more than three years at the helm of MSU sports. Despite some tumultuous times, Mason and others credit Underwood with bringing unity and direction to the athletics department. “I’m not coming in here with any grand plan,” Mason said.

SPORTS

Spartans find success at Open

Senior golfers Eric Jorgensen and John Koskinen placed in the top 10 at the Detroit Newspapers Michigan Open.The tournament was held June 24-27 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa’s Bear Course in Traverse City.Jorgensen was tied for second place going into the final round, with a three-day total of 210 (69-72-69), but shot a 77 on the final day of the tourney.

SPORTS

Pagel shines on Foreign Tour

Dawn Klemish
July 1, 2002

Everywhere she went, Julie Pagel received a hero’s welcome. Despite language barriers, the MSU junior forward and the rest of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Foreign Tour team were well-received as they traveled across Europe on June 14-24 to play against teams from Belgium and Holland.

SPORTS

Lugnuts take weekend series 3-1

Andrew Fifer
July 1, 2002

The Lansing Lugnuts continued its strong start to the second half by taking three of four from the West Michigan Whitecaps in a four-game, home-and-home series.The Lugnuts (7-4 second half, 44-37 overall) won the first three games of the series before losing 6-5 in a 15-inning marathon Sunday at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park.

BASKETBALL

Former U star goes late in draft

Andrew Fifer
June 27, 2002

After watching the 2002 NBA Draft for more than three hours and seeing 10 point guards selected, Marcus Taylor was finally taken by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 52nd pick. The 6-foot-3 guard is the third underclassmen the MSU men’s basketball team has lost to the NBA in the last two years and the 51st Spartan to be drafted.

ICE HOCKEY

Spartans nab brothers from Lake Superior State

James Jahnke
June 26, 2002

A pair of Nightingales will soon migrate south to East Lansing, and the Spartan hockey team will be the beneficiary of the move. Adam Nightingale, a forward for Lake Superior State, is transferring to MSU, and his little brother, Jared Nightingale, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Spartans and will be a freshman in the fall. Per NCAA transfer rules, Adam Nightingale will not be allowed to play for a season, but can practice with the team.

BASEBALL

Pitching success drives Lugnuts

Andrew Fifer
June 26, 2002

The Lansing Lugnuts’ pitching staff ranks near the top of the Midwest League, even with the loss of four quality pitchers.Angel Guzman, Mark Carter, Adam Wynegar, and Eric Brown have taken their collective 14-5 record to the Single A Daytona Cubs, but the Lugnuts (3-2 second half, 40-34 overall) still hold a 3.20 ERA this season - third best in the Midwest League.The task of making up for those lost pitchers goes to pitching coach Mike Anderson, in his second year with the Lugnuts.It might seem losing pitchers of that caliber would be an enormous burden on the team, but Anderson said it’s just a part of the minor league system.“That’s what it’s all about,” Anderson said.

ICE HOCKEY

5 Spartans chosen in NHL draft

James Jahnke
June 24, 2002

Jim Slater sat in the Air Canada Centre for several hours Saturday, in disbelief about what was unfolding in front of him.Slater, a sophomore center at MSU, was projected as a solid first-round pick in this weekend’s NHL Entry Draft in Toronto.

SPORTS

Pagel shines during Foreign Tour

Led by junior forward Julie Pagel, the women’s Big Ten All-Star team is a perfect 4-0 in its Foreign Tour.The team picked up its fourth win in a 101-90 victory over Euronyl Waregem on Saturday.

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.