Drake Relays to challenge Hoosiers
Many coaches and athletes believe in the old adage that the only way to become better is to face competition that is better.
Many coaches and athletes believe in the old adage that the only way to become better is to face competition that is better.
Few sporting events rival the prominence of the Penn Relays, the first and largest collegiate track and field relay meet in the world. Ninth-ranked IU will send its top 20 athletes to join about 22,000 more who will attend the 107-year-old meet. Because of its size, the meet is nicknamed the "Penn Relay Carnival," but the Hoosiers are focused on taking care of business.
Many NBA stars refer to the playoffs as the "second-season" -- a description meant to imply that the slate is wiped clean and focus is regathered. But perhaps the players give it a different meaning. Perhaps they are referring to the length of the post-season, which feels more and more like the regular season.
Fresh off of Tuesday's no-hit victory against Miami of Ohio, the softball squad fell 4-1 to in-state foe Ball State Wednesday in the Hoosiers' final non-conference game. The loss drops IU to 15-33 on the season.
Senior Paul Jacobson entered the spring season with many goals in mind, one being to finish as one of the top five all-time winningest men's tennis players in IU history.
This year's men's tennis Big Ten championships has a clear favorite, an underdog, and a very fine line between the two.
Entering the Big Ten Championships today in Madison, Wis., the box scores depict an IU men's tennis team whose play has been mediocre in recent weeks. But a look at individual performance reveals a team gaining confidence. Perhaps the most prominent late-season improvement comes from senior Milan Rakvica. Playing at the No. 1 singles position, Rakvica has claimed victory against five of his last seven opponents. He was named Big Ten Co-Athlete of the Week in early April after upsetting No. 20 Graydon Oliver of Illinois in consecutive sets and knocking off Brad Erikson of Northwestern. Rakvica followed with another win against No. 54 Phillip Metz of Ohio State.
Few teams in the history of the Big Ten have exhibited the kind of dominance IU's women's tennis team has in the Conference Tournament. The Hoosiers will take 15 Big Ten Tournament Championships in the 21-year history of the event Thursday into Columbus, Ohio, for this years tournament, hoping to end a three year title drought.
With the women's tennis team heading toward the end of regular season play, it is hard not to see the biggest strength of the team. In fact, you would be seeing double. IU's doubles play has become the backbone of the squad. The three doubles combinations have come on strong, winning the last 11 points, the last loss coming March 11 against Illinois.
Throughout the past half-century, the United States and Japan have made several trades that have benefited both nations. Among the items the Japanese exported to the good old U.S. of A: quality electronic equipment, karaoke, Godzilla movies and, on a more regrettable note, Pokemon.
Perhaps softball coach Diane Stephenson best summarizes the importance of senior managers Matt Nocks and Leslie Shaffer to the team.
Dominating defense, flawless pitching and clutch hitting. For most of its season, the softball squad has wondered where these have been. IU (15-32) found them Tuesday at the IU Softball Field, in its first series sweep of the season in a doubleheader against Miami (Ohio) 1-0, 3-2.
A winless weekend on the road ensured the softball team will not meet its goal of reaching the Big Ten tournament. The last-place Hoosiers dropped two games to Northwestern (17-18, 6-7 Big Ten) on Friday, 4-2, 5-1.
Before this weekend, women's track and field coach Randy Heisler said it would be rough for his team to win because the Hoosiers would be competing against Eastern Michigan and Illinois and because those two teams wouldn't steal points from each other.
This, my friends, is the best time of the year if you like sports. Taking nothing away from the drama and excitement of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the NBA playoffs are the best postseason in sports. But the sports world -- the combination of everything going on at one time -- makes right now better than any other time of year.
The men's track and field team continued its home dominance, recording 12 wins in 19 events en route to its second victory of the outdoor season and third of 2001 Saturday at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex.
After losing two of three games to Eastern Kentucky this weekend at Sembower Field, the baseball team has lost every weekend series in the 2001 season. The Hoosiers began the three-game set with a doubleheader Saturday against the Colonels. In the first seven-inning game on the day, the Hoosiers hit two home runs -- one of which was a grand slam -- but came up three runs short, losing 9-6.
Sophomore Drew Marsch had some pressure on his shoulders before the 51st men's Little 500 race. His team, Delta Sigma Pi, was the last team to qualify, and two riders, senior John Gurchiek and junior Chris Dobecki, had injuries.
The women's tennis team finished its regular season with two Big Ten victories this weekend, dismantling Michigan 6-1 and Michigan State 5-2. The Hoosiers' (16-8, 7-3 Big Ten) triumphs were career wins 602 and 603 for head coach Lin Loring, who was already the winningest women's coach in Division I history.
Senior Tom Davidson fought through the most talented competition in the country on his way to his U.S. Diving Championships national title.