Bashore officially named to Olympic roster
(07/13/08 11:01pm)
IU graduate Kayla Bashore can add her name to the ever-expanding list of Hoosiers competing in this year’s Olympic Games.
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IU graduate Kayla Bashore can add her name to the ever-expanding list of Hoosiers competing in this year’s Olympic Games.
Senior Christina Loukas has dominated the boards at both a collegiate and national level. Now, it’s time to take on the world.\nLoukas is headed to this year’s Olympics in Beijing, reaching yet another milestone in her already accomplished diving career. She will head to China in August after training in California, and hopes to compete in both individual and synchronized diving.\nLoukas said that diving used to be an extracurricular activity. She spent 10 years doing gymnastics and dove during the summers for fun. After she started feeling burned out from gymnastics, she switched over full-time to diving at age 12.\nShe spent her teen years diving with club teams as well as her high school team in Riverwoods, Ill. She won the state diving title three straight years and came in second the one year she didn’t win. She also placed well in several national meets, including the Junior Olympics.\nMany people saw her potential throughout her career. Because of her gymnastics background, she could easily maneuver her body in tight formations. In high school, she had several people accurately predict her success.\n“I had people tell me, ‘You’re going to make the 2008 Olympics,’” Loukas said. “I was like yeah, maybe I’ll be good, but not that good! Well, here I am.”\nOne of the people who always saw her potential is IU diving coach Jeff Huber. Huber told her from the very beginning that she was going to standout. He couldn’t have made a better prediction.\n“I owe everything to him.” she said. \nLoukas’s college career has been highlighted with successes in both board and platform diving. She was named Big Ten Diver of the Year in her freshman, sophomore and junior seasons after breaking records and performing in ways not always seen by college teams. She has also received Big Ten academic recognition. Always a dominant presence on the boards, Loukas was still shocked to be named to the Olympic team. At 22 years old, she has accomplished her childhood dream. \nDedicated work and long hours of training have helped her to get where she is, but Loukas also contributes some of her success to the strong support system she has in her family. They attend nearly every meet and were present last week when she finished first at the Olympic Diving Trials in Indianapolis.\n“My dad never cries,” Loukas said. “But he had tears in his eyes and my mom was bawling. They were so proud of me. My whole family is so supportive.”
IU soccer fans can worry no more — Ofori is back.\nJunior defender Ofori Sarkodie has returned to the roster after taking a brief hiatus last season to play European ball.\nA regular on U.S. national teams, Sarkodie is no stranger to playing soccer at a high level, but said this experience was like none other.\n“It was an absolutely amazing experience,” Sarkodie said. “It really opened my eyes to different playing styles. Mentally, the game is different. It’s more intense. They pay attention to detail. Every play is like the last run to the net.”\nSarkodie decided to take the trip after realizing he was ahead in his course work and could afford to take a semester off. While in Europe, he practiced with teams in Norway, Holland and Portugal. \n“I decided I wanted to experience Europe and the playing style in Europe.” he said. \nSeveral teams had their eye on Sarkodie after his experience playing on the Under-20 World Cup team last summer. \nIn addition to learning new playing techniques, Sarkodie also got to experience European culture and the importance of soccer.\n“Soccer is their culture, their pastime,” Sarkodie said. “The game really plays into their nationalism.”\nAlthough he was a regular starter on the IU team, Sarkodie said that getting back on the squad won’t come easy.\n“I have to compete for the position like I would on any other team.” he said.\nSeveral players were moved around in their positions last season to help fill in for Sarkodie’s absence, including sophomore Rich Balchan. Balchan is currently playing with the U-20 national team. \nSarkodie said he would like to continue playing soccer at a national level, but his options are somewhat limited. He remains optimistic, however.\n“The only (national team) I’m eligible for is the U-23 team, which is the Olympic team,” Sarkodie said. “It’s a pretty large pool to pick from, but you never know.”
For the third straight Summer Olympics, IU’s women’s diving team will be represented on the boards. But more importantly, for the first time, senior Christina Loukas’ childhood Olympic dreams are coming true.\nThis weekend, Loukas officially qualified for the Beijing Olympic games by taking the top spot at the U.S. Olympic diving trials in Indianapolis. She topped the second place diver, Nancilea Foster, by nearly 90 points.\n“I still can’t believe it actually happened.” Loukas said. \nLoukas began her domination of the boards early in the week. On Wednesday, she slipped into the top spot during the preliminary round and never looked back. She was the only diver to score more than 60 points on her five preliminary dives.\nAfter scoring 370.80 points in the morning session to take the lead, she continued her momentum on into the semi-final round where she finished with a score of 729.85.\nThe semi-final round was a remarkable one for Loukas, who averaged a score of 9.0 on her last five dives. She earned the first 9.5 mark of the evening on a forward 2 1/2 somersault 1 twist pike, as well as three scores of 9.0 and three scores of 8.5.\nLoukas also received 25 bonus points for her performance in the 2008 World Cup in Beijing, which took place in February, where she finished fourth. “Having been in China for the World Cup will make (the Olympics) much more comfortable,” Loukas said. “I’m just really excited to go.”\nAlthough she is already guaranteed a spot on the Olympic roster, Loukas will still attend the Olympic team selection camp in July, where she hopes to be selected to participate in 3-meter synchronized diving as well. She will be diving with Amanda Miller, a Purdue University graduate.\nFormer Hoosier diver Cassandra Cardinell also had a successful run at the trials. She ended day one in fifth place on the platforms, but managed to work her way into third, only 114.5 points out of first, by the semi-final round. Hoosiers Lindsay Weigle and Amy Korthauer went into the final round in ninth and twelfth place, respectively.\nCardinell participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics, where she and fellow Hoosier Sara Hildebrand participated in the synchronized 10-meter platform event after winning the title at the Olympic trials. They finished seventh.
Omaha, Neb., isn’t necessarily a popular summertime destination, but that won’t stop several IU swimmers from making the \ntrip there.\nFrom June 29 through July 6, 24 Hoosiers will be competing in the 2008 Olympic Swim Trials with hopes of making a trip to Beijing this summer. IU currently has four divers competing in the diving trials in Indianapolis, which goes through June 22.\nWhile this is the first Olympic trial for several of the swimmers, sophomore Ashley Jones has done it once before.\n“I kind of know what to do,” Jones said. “It’s the fastest meet in the world. It’s exciting to be a part of that. It’s cool, but I don’t try to let it get to me.”\nAlthough Jones has experience in the event, Olympic trials rookie and sophomore Presley Bard worries she might be taken by the atmosphere, too.\n“It’s going to be hard to not get caught up in the action,” Bard said. “I’m just going to have to stay focused on racing and myself.”\nBoth the men’s and women’s teams have spent the last few months training heavily, including a training trip to Mexico. While the training has been intense, senior Todd Patrick is hoping his stellar NCAA season will help him as well.\n“I’m feeling pretty good,” Patrick said. “I had a good college season so I’m just going to ride that out, I hope.”\nPatrick has been training with fellow senior Ben Hesen, who won the national title in the 100-yard backstroke during the regular season. While the two are both competing for a roster spot, Patrick said that his partner’s victory would be just as sweet.\n“We thrive off seeing someone else do good,” Patrick said. “We really go off of each other.”\nHesen’s success for the past few seasons has helped bring him to this year’s trials. Although this is his first time vying for an Olympic spot, Hesen said he likes being in the limelight and looks forward to \nthe competition.\n“This will definitely be the largest crowd,” Hesen said. “I just look at it as the biggest opportunity in a swim meet that I can find.”
While IU head coach Tom Crean reeled in two big fish this week, one got away.\nMaurice Sutton, a senior from Largo High School in Maryland, announced May 21 that he has chosen Villanova University over IU, Kentucky and Seton Hall. Sutton, a 6-foot-10-inch center, was originally recruited by Crean at Marquette. \nSutton averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and 9 blocks during his high school career. He is considered a three-star recruit and is the No. 23 center in the class of 2008, according to Scout.com. \n“It’s been a long process,” Sutton said. “But I’ve been praying, and in the end, I chose ’Nova.”\nIt was initially reported that Villanova was not offering Sutton a scholarship, but Sutton confirmed that they in fact did. While scholarships are always an issue for college athletes, Sutton said another factor significantly influenced his decision – location.\n“Location meant a lot,” Sutton said. “Especially towards the end of the process. I realized how much my family meant to me. God chose for me to go to ’Nova, and I can’t argue with that.”\nAlthough many Hoosier fans were hoping to sign Sutton as a front-court big man, Tuesday’s addition of Tijan Jobe will help fill that position. Jobe, who is listed at 7 feet, is a junior-college transfer set to join the Hoosiers next season.
IU coach Tom Crean has had a busy last few weeks. While most of his attention is directed toward filling the decimated Hoosier roster, Crean has also been focusing on filling his coaching staff as well.\nOver the last month, Crean has hired Tim Buckley, Bennie Seltzer, Jayd Grossman and Brian Barone to accompany him on the sidelines. For the first time together Tuesday, all four coaches were made available to the media to discuss the upcoming season.\nBuckley and Seltzer were named assistant coaches in April, while Barone, who came on board in April 29 with Grossman, will be in charge of operations and video. Grossman will be the assistant athletic director for basketball administration. Crean is expected to hire a third assistant coach in the next couple of weeks.\nBuckley is no stranger to the state of Indiana or the IU basketball program. He was the head coach at Ball State from 2000 to 2006 before being fired. He then signed on to former Hoosier stand-out Steve Alford’s staff at Iowa. When Alford left for the University of New Mexico, Buckley joined Crean for the 2007 season.\n“It feels great to be back in Indiana,” Buckley said. “I don’t really feel like I left at all.”\nBecause he is only two years removed from the state, Buckley said he still has many of his recruiting contacts. The coaches have been busy attempting to fill next season’s roster, which was left nearly empty after losing several players to graduation, transfers and dismissals.\n“We’ve been in (Assembly Hall) a lot of late nights just working,” Seltzer said. “It’s been exciting. We’re involved in bringing back one of the most storied programs in America. That’s exciting – really exciting.”\nControversy came with Seltzer’s arrival to Crean’s staff. Seltzer has many ties with \nformer IU coach Kelvin Sampson, dating all the way back to Washington State, where he was a star point guard for the coach. He was a part of Sampson’s staff at Oklahoma during the time of Sampson’s first phone infraction allegations, but was never named in any of the reports. While many were skeptical of hiring someone associated with Sampson, Seltzer said the community has nothing to worry about.\n“That’s something (the fans are) going to have to deal with,” Seltzer said. “I’ve always been me – Bennie Seltzer. A guy that’s going to do things by the book and do things the right way. I did them the right way at Oklahoma, I did things the right way at Marquette and I’m going to do them the right way here at Indiana.”\nBarone followed Crean to IU also after a single season at Marquette. He previously played under Crean at Marquette. Though he knows IU is going through turbulent times, Barone said he’s confident Crean can smooth things out because he’s seen him do it before as a player.\n“Coach Crean was my third coach in three years, which as a player is just tough,” Barone said. “But the way coach came in and put a culture amongst our team and my teammates is exciting for what I know is going to happen here.”\nBecause of restrictions put on the men’s basketball program, the assistant coaches have spent the most time dealing with the recruiting process. Although the NCAA Infractions Committee is scheduled to meet June 14 in Seattle, to determine any punishment for IU after excessive phone call allegations were made against Sampson, Buckley said no recruit has expressed concern about the outcome of that meeting.\n“It’s Indiana basketball,” Buckley said. “I really believe that’s how they feel and a lot of people believe and trust in coach Crean in what he has done and what he is going to do.”
Upsets. Heartbreak. Elation. The 2007-2008 men’s soccer team had it all. \nThe season started off strong with a win over New Mexico in Fort Wayne, and it appeared as though the Hoosiers were officially leaving behind their disappointing finish from the season before – a defeat in penalty kicks by Santa Clara.\nThese hopes continued to grow as IU went on to tie No. 9 Maryland and defeat No. 2 University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) during the course of the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. They dominated in the Mike Berticelli Tournament in South Bend, defeating both Northern Illinois and Rhode Island to win the tournament.\nThe Hoosiers climbed the rankings and were sitting at No. 2 in the nation when they traveled to St. Louis to face Creighton University and St. Louis University. Unfortunately for IU, they hit a speed bump in their road to the NCAAs, falling to both teams.\nThe losses were tough for the team, and it showed in their game against University of Alabama-Birmingham a few days later. A lapse in defense led to a late goal by UAB, leaving the Hoosiers to scramble from a 2-1 deficit late in the game. They were unable to recover.\nWhile it was a tough three-game stint for IU, they came back with a vengeance for the remainder of the season. Even while facing tough opponents such as Michigan, Notre Dame and Northwestern, IU went on to lose only one game and tie three more before heading into the postseason. They claimed their 13th Big Ten regular-season title outright, but fell to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament championship game.\n“It’s frustrating,” freshman Neil Wilmarth said. “Their two center backs were strong and hard to get by. It makes it hard to finish an opportunity when we got one.” \nIU was awarded a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament, giving them a first round bye. Their first, and ultimately last, game of the tournament came against the Bradley University Braves in Bloomington. The two teams tied at 1-1 during regulation time, which led to two overtimes and eventually a shoot-out. All five Bradley players slipped their shots past junior goalkeeper Chay Cain, and the first four Hoosiers got theirs past the Bradley keeper as well. Freshman Michael Roach was to take the deciding shot, and despite solid kicks in practice, sent his shot just high and off the crossbar. Bradley continued on in the tournament while the Hoosiers saw their tournament run end prematurely for the second year in a row.\n“I want to commend my team for an outstanding year,” said head coach Mike Freitag. “It didn’t end up the way we wanted. I was proud of this team. I know this team will continue to grow.”\nWith the loss, three seniors saw their collegiate careers come to an end that evening. Goalkeeper Chris Munroe, midfielder Charley Traylor and back Greg Stevning all played their last games as Hoosiers. The three Hoosiers had been teammates since high school, when they played for North Central in Indianapolis. \nWhile their athletic careers may have ended, all three are beginning their professional careers in business. Traylor will be working in finance in Atlanta, while both Stevning and Munroe will be working in Chicago.
What started off as an “international friendly” quickly escalated into a heated competition as IU hosted the Mexican Youth National Team Tuesday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium in front of a crowd slightly more than 4,600. \nFor the fourth straight year, the Mexican Youth Team traveled into Hoosier territory. Unfortunately for IU, for the second straight year, Mexico walked away as the victors with a score of 2-0. Mexico leads the overall series 3-1.\nIn a tense match, both teams fought a very physical and intense game. While Mexican goalie Miguel Baez said he thought the collegiate style of play was more physical than what he was used to, IU coach Mike Freitag respectfully disagreed.\n“Their style is a physical one, if not more so than ours,” Freitag said. “They are well schooled on using their bodies. They make contact first before going after the ball, whereas we tend to go in feet first. I have to commend them for their style.”\nIU started the match a bit shaky, letting El Tri players get the step ahead of them on passes. However, where the offense lacked, the defense picked back up. Junior midfielder Brad Ring played a physical game in the middle, saving the Hoosiers from dangerous possessions from Mexico.\nIt was in the 11-minute mark when Mexico scored its first goal. IU freshman defender Daniel Kelly was tripped up in the 18-yard box and had the ball stripped from him by forward Moises Herrera. Herrera went one-on-one with Hoosier goalkeeper Chay Cain and snuck it past him into the lower right of the goal.\nThe intensity of both teams quickly rose as the Hoosiers frantically tried to tie things up and Mexico tried to hold them off. The intensity peaked in the minute of stoppage play when a Mexican player went down with an apparent face injury. Hoosier and Mexican players began arguing about the dirty play and had to be separated by referees as the half expired.\n“I don’t think anything malicious went on in the game,” Freitag said about the verbal altercations. “I just think it was two teams trying to play hard and get an edge.”\nJunior forward Kevin Noschang had several attempts at goals as the game went on, but was unsuccessful.\n“(I thought) ‘Shoot,’” Noschang said about his missed goals. “My job as a forward is to take chances and unfortunately none of them worked.”\nThe Hoosiers’ closest opportunity to score came in the 58th minute, as Noschang brought the ball into the 18 and centered it to sophomore Neil Wilmarth. Wilmarth took the shot, but it was easily blocked by Baez.\nMexico scored the go-ahead goal during the stoppage play. Jesus Manzo took a fast break down the left side of the field and knocked the ball into the lower right side of the goal, sending the Mexican faithful into a fury of cheers.\nKelly said Mexico was a great \nteam – possibly the best he’s ever faced.\n“They way they move,” Kelly said, “I mean, we know we have to move, but the way they move is some of the best I’ve ever seen.”
After months of battling other national collegiate teams on the pitch, the IU men’s soccer team will take the game to an international level when it meets the Mexican Youth National Team at 7 p.m. today at Bill Armstrong Stadium. \nFor the fourth consecutive season, the Tricolores will make a stop in Indiana. They are set to face IU today and Notre Dame on Friday.\n“We will be playing a quality opponent,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “Hopefully we’re peaking right now, and we’re looking forward to playing the best game of the season.”\nMexico holds a winning record against IU at 2-1. Last spring, El Tri beat IU 2-0 in front of about 6,000 rowdy fans in Bloomington – mostly cheering for Mexico. The Hoosiers’ lone victory came in 2006 when they defeated the team 2-0, with one of the goals coming off the foot of junior midfielder John Mellencamp. IU faced the under-17 team for the first two meetings, but battled it out with the under-20 team last season and will do so again today.\nThe Hoosiers are no strangers to the U.S. under-20 team themselves. Freshman Daniel Kelly and Rich Balchan were called to the training camp in February, and former IU player Ofori Sarkodie competed in the under-20 World Cup last summer.\nAlthough the record hangs in Mexico’s favor, sophomore midfielder Eric Alexander said he is feeling good heading into the match. The Hoosiers are currently sitting on a 3-1-2 record this spring, including their most recent victory against last season’s College Cup participant Virginia Tech. \n“We’re feeling pretty confident,” Alexander said. “I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at beating them.”\nWhile Alexander had the opportunity to face Mexico last season, this will be freshman Tyler McCarroll’s first experience – on the field, at least.\n“I’m an Indiana kid, so I’ve been coming to these games for years,” McCarroll said. “It’s a great game. I’m anxious to get to play in the atmosphere.”
The grandstands were still in place from the previous weekend’s bike race, but the brisk wind and spotty rain kept the stands nearly empty. The weather could not stop the Hoosiers, though, as they pulled out a tough 1-0 victory over Virginia Tech in their sixth spring season match. \nLast season, Virginia Tech made it to the NCAA Final Four before losing to eventual-champion Wake Forest in the first round of the College Cup. It was the best appearance by the team in school history. \n“We did a lot good today,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “I like a lot of what these guys are doing.” \nThe Hoosiers dominated the Hokies on offense, out-shooting their opponent 17-6 over the course of the game. For most of the first half, the possession remained in Tech’s territory, giving the Hoosiers several opportunities to set up a score. They were unable to execute, however, as the Hokies’ defense stacked itself deep in the box. \nThe first close call for Virginia Tech came less than three minutes into the game, as junior midfielder Brad Ring got the ball into the six-yard box before having it knocked out just wide. The Hoosiers also utilized passing, especially inside the 18-yard box, which led to another near-shot a few moments later by freshman forward Michael Roach. \nVirginia Tech freshman Michael Munroe got his turn in the goal in the second half but did not record any saves because of the Hoosiers’ defense and control of possession. IU had 13 shots in the second half, with one resulting in a score in the 76th minute. \nSophomore Eric Alexander brought the ball into a crowd of Hokie defenders, and kicked a shot that deflected off the goalie and slowly rolled into the net. \nSeveral freshmen had the opportunity to play against Virginia Tech. Freitag has made a point to have his younger players, although still relatively inexperienced, contribute playing time. \n“We played pretty well today,” Alexander said. “We’re meshing well, but we still have some stuff to work on. Right now, everyone is contributing. The freshmen are really stepping up to fill the spots.” \nAmong these was freshman Tyler McCarroll. McCarroll saw minimal playing time during the regular season but is using the spring season to showcase his skills, campaigning for playing time next season.\n“It’s really great to get experience (during the spring season),” McCarroll said. “It’s giving me confidence for next season and for the game against Mexico.”
The Hoosiers continued their spring winning trend by tallying another victory and another tie in this weekend’s Bucks College Cup Tournament. The Hoosiers tied Oakland 1-1 before outlasting Big Ten rival Michigan in a 1-0 contest later in the day.\nIU coach Mike Freitag divided his team into two, with the veterans on the team facing the Wolverines with most of the bench playing suiting up against Oakland.\nFreshman Alec Purdie continued his scoring streak by tallying the lone Hoosier goal in the Oakland game, his third of the exhibition season. Oakland later tied the game at one.\n“I felt like we were the better team,” Freitag said. “But we unfortunately let one slip through.” \nFreshman midfielder Tyler McCarroll was one of the Hoosiers who got an opportunity to play thanks to Freitag splitting up the team. McCarroll played in both games on Saturday. \n“It was a really good experience to get out there,” McCarroll said. “Both teams played well. As a whole, we had a good weekend.” \nFreshman forward Michael Roach saw significant action during the regular season, but said that the spring season plays a large role in the team’s development. \n“I think spring has been a great time for all the guys to jell,” Roach said. “We’re all on the same page.” \nThe Hoosiers have three games remaining in the spring season, with Notre Dame up next on April 12.
From a small town to the big stage, senior Ben Hesen has seen it all. \nAfter dedicating years to swimming, Hesen’s hard work has finally paid off. Last week, he took home the national title in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA Tournament, an award that was a long time coming. \nHesen grew up in Jeffersonville, Ind., just outside of Louisville. His swimming career began around age 5 when his parents enrolled him in lessons and summer programs in the pool. Hesen said the programs were fun and easy, but it soon became a full-time commitment. \n“It just trickles up to a full-time swimming career,” Hesen said. \nIn high school, Hesen won three state titles in the 100-yard backstroke and was named to the high school All-American team the same three years. \n“I never took (swimming) serious,” Hesen said. “One year I just got good and won state. I went from 24th in my freshman year to win state the next year, which is a big deal for high school. That’s when I started getting noticed \nfor college.” \nWhile several schools contacted Hesen regarding a place on their teams, IU was the first to notice his strength. Hesen immediately agreed to become a Hoosier, and didn’t even bother talking to other recruiters. \n“It’s not even so much that I was 100 percent all about IU,” Hesen said. “I just was in a stage where I just didn’t really have much preference what happened. Maybe that was immature, but it worked out good for me.” \nHis years at IU have been beneficial ones, for both Hesen and the team. He has broken several school and conference records in the backstroke, butterfly and in relay competition. And although he didn’t make much of an impact at the NCAAs as a freshman, he proved to be a dominant force later in his college career. \nHe tied for fourth place in the NCAA tournament in the 100-yard backstroke as a sophomore and placed second as a junior. The only way he could continue his improvement was to take the title outright, and on March 28 of this year, he did just that. \n“I went to NCAA meets in high school,” Hesen said. “Watching those guys, I was thinking, like, ‘Damn. These guys are the top.’ I never thought I would ever be comparable. And now that I am a champion, it’s kind of weird.” \nIU coach Ray Looze has worked with Hesen all four years in Bloomington and appointed him as a team captain this year. Looze said he’s enjoyed coaching Hesen and said he believes Hesen came here to help restore some of the glory to the IU program.\n“The thing about Ben that I remember, especially from the last week, was after he won the national title he walked up to me and said, ‘Coach, does that help the program?’” Looze said. “That was the first thing he asked. He says ‘Does that really help the program?’ and I said, ‘Ben, you have no idea.’” \nLooze attributes Hesen’s ability to keep the team focused and loose to his carefree personality. \n“He’s a funny guy,” Looze said. “He walked into a dual meet and said, ‘Coach, I don’t think I’m going to swim today.’ He made everyone laugh because they were all uptight. Then we swam fantastic after that. Ben never takes himself too seriously.” \nWhile his college career has been winding down, Hesen has been noticed by those on the professional swimming circuit and might have a chance to join the U.S. Olympic team in the future. \n“It’s going to be hard to make the (Olympic) team,” Hesen said. “But after this past week, I do think I got a chance now.” \nAlthough he has his work cut out for him, Hesen has an optimistic outlook for his future and an appreciative view of his \npast successes. \n“So far, I just feel like I’ve been a lucky guy because all those things are just things that are working out for me,” Hesen said. “I can’t really say I’ve ever had some major setback ever – knock on wood. It just seems anything I’ve ever set my mind to just keeps on happening.”
The spring exhibition season presents the perfect opportunity to get in shape, solidify lineups and avenge last season’s losses. \nAt 7:30 p.m. today, the Hoosiers will try to do all three when they face regional rival Louisville in hopes of notching their second win of the \nspring season. \nThe last meeting between the two squads left the Hoosiers unsatisfied, losing by one goal in overtime, 2-1. The Hoosiers struck early with a goal by sophomore midfielder Eric Alexander only three minutes into the game, but were unable to hold off the Cardinals’ tying goal in the second half. Louisville’s game-winning goal snuck past senior goalie Chris Munroe a little more than two minutes into the first overtime period. \n“Spring games are supposed to be laid back and less competitive,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “I don’t think this one will be.” \nThe Cardinals’ tough defense held the Hoosiers to only four shots on goal in the team’s last meeting and only seven shots total. Louisville ended the game with 14 shots, six of which were on goal. Louisville midfielder Aaron Clapham proved to be one of the more dangerous players, as he had three shots on the IU goal and scored the winning goal. \nThe Cardinals are coming off their first-ever NCAA tournament bid. They defeated Duke in the first round but eventually lost to Ohio State in the second.\n“Louisville is an up-and-coming program,” Freitag said. “This is the kind of game I want for the spring. It’s a \ngood rivalry.” \nThe Hoosiers’ most recent victory came at the expense of the University of Illinois-Chicago, whom they defeated 3-0 off the feet of freshmen forwards Andy Adlard and Alec Purdie. Purdie’s two goals, the last two of the game, came in his first appearance as \na Hoosier.\nBecause of the soggy conditions at Bill Armstrong Stadium, the Louisville game may be played at Memorial Stadium.
In only their fifth meeting in school history, the Hoosiers stomped out the University of Illinois-Chicago Friday night, defeating them in the team’s first spring exhibition match, 3-0. \nThe first half began slowly for both teams, with plenty of possession but few dangerous approaches toward the goals. As the game proceeded, both teams’ defenses became more aggressive. At the 29-minute mark, there was a battle for the ball that left a UIC player with a bloody wound to the head, causing a stoppage of play as the medics and referees took care of the situation. \nJunior forward Kevin Noschang led several fast-break attacks on goal in the first half, one of which led to the first shot-on-goal for the Hoosiers. Noschang’s shot attempt was saved, but despite UIC’s persistent defense, the Hoosiers scored soon after when freshman Andy Adlard put the Hoosiers in the lead 1-0 with his goal.\nAs tame as the first half was, the Hoosiers exploded in the second half. They started off the first four minutes with two shots, as well as several dangerous attacks on the Flames’ defense. The second half also saw the welcoming of a few unfamiliar faces. Three players who had seen limited or no playing time during the regular season took the field, including freshmen Max Weston and Alec Purdie. \nPurdie, who sat out the fall season with a knee injury, came into the game in the second half and immediately made his presence known. Purdie fought his way through defenders, and his dedication paid off. With 12:52 remaining in the game, Purdie was fed a pass from junior midfielder Brad Ring for a straight-on shot up the middle into UIC’s goal, giving the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead. \nA minute and two seconds later, UIC felt Purdie’s wrath again. He nailed the ball into the left side of the goal off of a pass from junior midfielder Billy Weaver, sealing the exhibition victory for IU. \n“That’s Alec’s M.O.,” said IU coach Mike Freitag. “He always seems to score goals. He was out with a knee injury this season, but to see him come back in and play and score goals – I’m very happy for him.”
The NCAA season is officially over, and it couldn’t have ended any better for senior \nBen Hesen.\nHesen brought home the first-place finish he had been striving for on the second day of the event in the 100-yard backstroke. With a time of 44.72, Hesen took nearly a second off his previous school-record time. The last Hoosier to win the event was Mike Stamm in 1973, and Hesen’s performance was the second-fastest time in NCAA history. \n“I was planning on (winning),” Hesen said. “I figured if I lost, I’d deal with it later. You’ve got to go in planning to win.” \nAlthough Hesen’s victory was the highlight of the weekend, several other Hoosiers also competed well in the tournament and finished 10th as a team. On the first day, the Hoosiers took home 11 All-American honors, including two relay teams and two divers.\nSenior Todd Patrick brought home an individual All-American honor when he placed third in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:44.55. It was the best finish for an IU swimmer in the event since 1975. Patrick also avenged his second place finish from the Big Ten Tournament when he out-touched Michigan’s Alex Vanderkaay from Michigan by .02 seconds. Vanderkaay took the title in the Big \nTen Tournament.\nThe 200-yard freestyle team consisting of Hesen, Patrick, junior Matt Lenton and freshman Ante Zoricic placed eighth with a time of 1:19.14. They had a preliminary time of 1:18.45, which was the second fastest in school history. The eighth-place finish is the best finish in the 200-yard freestyle for IU at the NCAAs. \nThe 400-yard medley team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and senior Pat Penoyar finished 10th and received All-American honors, as well. \nIn the diving well, freshman Landon Marzullo placed fourth, and senior Taylor Roberts finished 12th on the 1-meter springboard.\nOn the second day, the 200-yard medley relay team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and sophomore Ronnie Hehn set a new school record after their fifth-place finish. The relay team also holds three of the five fastest times in IU history. \nRoberts recorded a personal best with a fourth-place finish on the 3-meter springboard, while Marzullo placed 11th. \nThe third day saw yet another school record fall. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Hesen, Patrick, Lenton and Zoricic set a new school record in their 11th-place finish. Despite winning the 100-yard backstroke outright the night before, Hesen missed out on qualifying for the 200-yard backstroke by .01 seconds. \nSenior John Kevin Koehler went on to set a personal record with a time of 15:02.86 in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He placed 11th overall and recorded the fifth-fastest time in IU history. \n“I was a little upset,” Koehler said. “I was trying to go for a school record. But the season ended on a good note at the NCAA’s. To be able to do that and to contribute personally is really great.” \nOverall, IU coach Ray Looze said he was proud and impressed with his team’s showing \nthis year. \n“These past few days have been fantastic,” Looze said. “I’m really proud of all the guys. Hesen’s win was a dream come true for him, and it looked great for the program.”\nLooze also said he was sad to see the seniors go, and called this season the “most rewarding season” he has ever been involved in. \n“They’re a team I’m always going to remember,” Looze said. “These guys are kind\nof special.”
Four swimmers will travel to Purdue this weekend with hopes of joining their teammates in the upcoming NCAA competition.\nSenior swimmer Alex Brunfeldt, junior swimmers A.J. Miller and Steven Murry and sophomore swimmer Aaron Opell will all take part in the Boiler-Make-It Last Chance Invitational time trials to attempt to make the cut.\nAll four men are hoping to garner the competitive times to join what may be one of the strongest swimming squads in years. IU coach Ray Looze is also hoping to add a few members to his already outstanding squad.\n“We’d love to get one or two more guys,” Looze said. “But the core group we have right now is pretty solid and they should give us a chance to score some good points.”\nBoth Murry and Miller said that the team is looking strong and they are eagerly anticipating the NCAAs but would love to help lead their team to a top-10 finish rather than cheer from the pool deck.\n“I’m getting excited,” Murry said. “I’m just trying to make it right now. I’m right on the fringe, hoping to get \nin there.”\nLooze said he is fairly confident in the four swimmers but that usually only one swimmer actually makes the cuts during the invitational. Miller said he is very hopeful and that he would love to join “the best NCAA team we’ve had in a long time.”\n“I’m just going for one event,” Miller said. “I’m going to go for it all right then and there. If I don’t get it, I don’t get it. If I do, I’m real excited for it.”
The Hoosiers didn’t place as high as they hoped to but still pulled off an impressive showing, as a team and individually, finishing second at this weekend’s Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships in East Lansing, Mich.\nPredicted to finish third, the Hoosiers finished runner-up with 855 points to heavily-favored Michigan, which took the title with 1,081 points. Defending champion Minnesota placed third.\nThe first day was eventful for several IU swimmers and divers, including freshman diver Landon Marzullo. Marzullo placed first on the 1-meter dive and set a Big Ten meet record with a score of 388.55 after six dives. In recognition of his performance, Marzullo was named Diver of the Championship, Big Ten Diver of the Year and Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Senior diver Taylor Roberts and sophomore diver David Piercy also placed in the top 10. \nSenior swimmer Todd Patrick set school records in both the 50-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley. Patrick broke his own record, set earlier in the day, in the 200-meter medley. The medley team of Patrick, junior Matt Lenton, senior Ben Hesen and freshman Ante Zoricic placed second and set a school record with a time of 1:18.34. \nMarzullo continued his dominance on the second day of the championships, taking the top score in the 3-meter diving competition. He defeated Purdue diver David Colturi by four tenths of a point. \nHesen broke several individual records on the weekend, including one set by U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps. Hesen won the 200-meter backstroke in 45.92, bettering Phelps’ time set in 2005. Hesen was also one of four Hoosiers to place in the 100-meter backstroke and won his second straight Big Ten title in the 100-meter backstroke.\nHesen proved that his swimming expertise extends beyond the backstroke. He set a school record in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 46.65 and was the first Hoosier to win in the butterfly event since 1986. \nThe 200-meter medley team of Hesen, senior Ronnie Hehn, Patrick and Lenton gave IU its first title of the conference meet and officially qualified for the NCAA Championship in March. \nThe final day of the competition saw Hesen and Patrick break more records, with Patrick also officially qualifying for NCAA competition. Hesen broke his own record, set at last year’s conference meet, in the 200-meter backstroke. Patrick broke the school record in the 200-meter butterfly and placed second. \nLike Marzullo, Henson also took home the top individual award in his sport, sharing the Big Ten Swimming of the Championship award with Michigan’s Alex Vanderkaay.\nHesen swept the swimming counterpart, sharing the titles of Big Ten Swimmer of the Championship and Big Ten Swimmer of the Year with Michigan’s Alex Vanderkaay. \nIU coach Jeff Huber also took home an award this weekend, winning the Diving Coach of the Year award.
Three days. Seven ranked teams. One victor. \nThe No. 6 men’s swimming and diving team traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich., Tuesday to prepare to take on the rest of the conference at the Big Ten Championships, which begin today. The host team, No. 4 Michigan, is the tournament’s favorite, with No. 9 Minnesota and IU considered the two teams competing for second place. The last time the Hoosiers took the conference title was 2006. \nSix of the Hoosiers’ opponents are ranked in the top 20. In addition to Minnesota and Michigan, Purdue, Ohio State, Penn State and Northwestern are ranked. Wisconsin also received votes in the latest College Swim Coaches Association of America poll. \nLast season, the Hoosiers finished fourth in the conference and placed only one point shy of third. Even with their less-than-stellar performance, several swimmers and divers still managed to make their presence known. Swimmer Ben Hesen shattered both a school and conference record in the 100-yard backstroke and set a school record in the 200-yard backstroke. \nBoth of the 200- and 400-yard medley relay teams placed second, while diver Taylor Roberts placed second on the 3-meter board and David Legler placed second on platform. Overall, the Hoosiers set 46 career-best records during the course of the three-day meet. \nThis weekend will be the first time the Hoosiers have faced defending champion Minnesota this season. Swimmer A.J. Miller called them the “ghost in the mist,” saying although they haven’t competed yet, the Hoosiers have had them on their radar all season. \n“We’ve always had our eye on Minnesota,” Miller said. “They won last year but we haven’t gotten a chance to swim against them this year.” \nThe Hoosiers have gone 2-2 against conference opponents this season; both of their losses came against Michigan. Legler said the team is feeling stronger lately and is choosing to look at the losses as positives. \n“Michigan was a learning experience,” Legler said. “We learned from our mistakes. Now we can come back and show our strengths.” \nWhile the Hoosiers are ranked in the top 10 nationally, they might be playing the role of underdog at this year’s Big Ten Tournament. IU coach Ray Looze thinks the critics might be underestimating his team. \n“This is a very good team,” Looze said. “We’re just sort of lurking in the weeds – menacing is more like it. If we do what we’re capable of doing, I’ll be very proud.”
The power of Thriller is undeniable, and the album only gets better with age. The music, given that it's now 25 years old, sounds somewhat dated. Thick with synthesizers, drum machines and cheesy samples, it's always evident while listening what era this music is from, but the quality music, along with the work of master producer Quincy Jones still shines through.\nNov. 30, 2007, marked the 25th anniversary of the release of Thriller, Michael Jackson's album that became the best-selling album of all time. To commemorate this milestone, Sony has re-released the album with seven bonus tracks, which includes remixes from Fergie, will.i.am, Kanye West and Akon. Also included is a track from the original recording sessions that wasn't included on the 1982 record.\nFor many, including myself, the title track is the most recognizable song on the album. It's perfect down to every detail. When it opens, you hear the creak of a door, footsteps, the crack of thunder and a wolf howl before the music kicks in. Then epic synthesizers build up tension again, before the explosive chorus reignites.\nAnd what about the lyrics? They're as sexual and terrifying as pop music gets. Jackson sings that he can thrill you more than any ghost would dare to try because, girl, this is thriller night. Suave, Michael. \nAlthough the epic title track is great, it's not my favorite track on the album. In my opinion, the hyper-masculine and uber-macho "Beat It" kills as the best track. Eddie Van Halen's killer guitar solo performance on this track sways me toward naming this song as the album's best.\nSolo aside, these lyrics are also worth noting. Jackson is writing about a boy torn between living up to a preconceived notion of masculinity: that all men are supposed to stand up for themselves at risk of physical harm. Jackson demands nonviolence with a dance beat.\n"Billie Jean" is another great work of pop-music mastery. But, on some levels, the lyrics are quite racy, dealing with sex out of wedlock, promiscuity and unwanted pregnancy. \nThere's a lot of implications that can be drawn from these lyrics. One line is frequently mentioned: "Dance on the floor in the round." It's hard not to read sexual tensions into this, as men in the room with Billie compete to be the one to "dance" with her. Also, after Jackson's night with her, she comes back to him to tell him that he is now a father. Seeing as how the song is about an unwanted child Jackson is denying is his, the sex theory could fit. He also offers some advice to listeners, "So, take my strong advice, just remember to always think twice" -- advice that rings true on a carefully crafted album.\nThriller also has low-key ballads such as "Human Nature," "The Girl is Mine" and "Baby Be Mine." I must admit, though, "The Girl is Mine" is one of the cheesiest songs I've ever heard. The "argument" between Jackson and Paul McCartney at the end of the song about who has the girl is laughable to say the least. The remaining ballads are staples of pop music, but definitely not the best songs on the album. \nAlas, the remixed and previously unreleased material is not worth the extra money if you already have a copy of Thriller. The will.i.am remixes -- "Pretty Young Thing" and "The Girl Is Mine,"-- pretty much ruined the songs. Will.i.am offers some meager rhymes over his equally meager beats. Akon's remix of "Wanna be Starting Something" isn't too bad, actually staying pretty true to the original version. It's catchy and modernized but nothing special. One of the biggest pieces of trash on the "extras" is Fergie's awful attempt to remake "Beat It." These frivolous remixes only emphasize the colossal feat that Thriller really was.\nThriller is a milestone in pop music, and although this 25th anniversary re-release offers some unreleased tracks and remixes, don't be persuaded to buy it just for those. If you don't yet own a copy, though, get off your couch, buy the album immediately, put on your red leather jacket and moonwalk your way through Thriller.
Solutions by The State News