• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-02-25_Vol46_No21_07

Sports 7 February 25,1982 Western Carolinian pnoto by Doug Cavanah WCU wrapped up it's 1981-82 basketball season last night with a win over Campbell College. The Cats roared to a 19-7 season and ended up in second place in the Southern Conference. Cats Finish Season 19-7 by Russ Randolph Western poured in 44 points in the second half here last night to give them their 19th win of the year over a scrappy Campbell team. 64-53. The game concluded a very exciting regular season for the Cats, and will put them in good standing going into Saturday night's first round Southern Conference Tournament game against the Citadel in Reid Gym. Tip-off time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Coach Steve Cottrell says he's not superstitious when it comes to basketball, so he really doesn't see an advantage for either team when his Cats meet the Citadel for the third time Saturday night. The two teams, which met Monday night, will square off for the second time in five days in an all- important first round game, and the winner will face the winner of the Davidson-Furman game which also takes place Saturday night. In the conference's other first round games, top ranked UT- Chattanooga will host eighth place Appalachian State: and fourth place East Tennessee State will host Marshall, the number five team, in a tough game in Johnson City. Tennessee. The Citadel finished in a tie for sixth place in the final conference standings with Furman. each at 7-9. However, the Bulldogs dropped to seventh place by virtue of the conference's tie breaking system. The citadel was 13-12 overall going into their final regular season game last night at South Carolina. Winners of the lour first round games will advance to Charleston, West Virginia, for thechampionship- semi-Iindls. March 5, in the 12,500 seat Charleston Civic Center Ihe Southern Conference championship will be decided the next afternoon, March 6, before an NBC-TV audience The league tournament champion will automatically advance to the NCAA tournament. WCU won both of their regular season meetings with the Citadel. 58- 53 in Charleston and 87-75 Monday night in Reid Civm. When asked about the upcoming round game. Cottrell does not think his Catamount team wilt have the Citadel's "numbei "nor does he believe that supernatural powers will be on the Bulldog's side in this third meeting after losing the first two games to Western. "1 he only thing we have to be concerned with is the improving of the way weVe played in the past few games." said Cottrell. "We are yet to reach our peak of performance, and that peak is what we'll need in this first round game, as all the teams will need in this always-tough tournament," he explained. Cottrell also stated that his team is not as healthy as they need to be, but there is no time to recover. "We've got several players with nagging injuries and illnesses, and they are just going to have to play with some pain and discomfort," he revealed. Cottrell said the key to success against the Citadel will be defense and strong play from his bench. "Our defense has not played up to its potential as of lately, and it will have to improve for the tournament if we are to advance." he noted. The Cats, who have a chance to turn in the best record of any WCU basketball team since the 1970-71 season, won and lost in crucial games last week. In an offensive thriller. Western shot a blistering 6795 trom the floor-- the second highest field goal percentage in the school's history— to beat a fine East Tennessee team. 100- 91, in Johnson City, Tennessee last Swimmers Dump Milligan, Brevard by Russ Randolph Western's combined men's and women's swim team overcame adversity to take their sixth and seventh wins of the season against only one loss in a tri-meet at Brevard College Saturday. The Cat swimmers defeated Milligan College 163.5 to 143.5, and then went on to defeat Brevard, 163.5 to 87. The team was weakened by the illness of two key swimmers, and found themselves behind a strong Milligan team earlier in the meet, losing races first year coach Scott Persons had anticipated winning. "After losing both medley relays, falling behind, and seeing John Mangrum defeated for the first time this season in the 50 back, I thought our chances of winning were very unlikely," said Persons of the surprising win. "But rather than resign themselves to defeat, our team swam as if sharks were chasing them," Persons added.: The Cat swimmers were led by Sid Winecoff, who won four events and anchored a winning freestyle relay team, Linda Skipper, and James Armstrong, both of whom were sick and unable to practice the week before the meet and yet swam their fastest times of the season when it was needed most. Other outstanding performers for Western were Donna Melanson. who won the 50-yard breaststroke. the 50-yard freestyle, the 100 yard individual medley, and anchored a winning freestyle relay team; and John Mangrum. who took second in the 50 yard backstroke and first in both the 200 and 400 yard freestyle. WCU's swimmers will meet Milligan again Saturday in Milligan. Tennessee. Thursday night. Ronnie Carr pumped in 18 points in the second half and a game total of 27 points to lead the Cats from a five-point halftime (55-50) deficit to a commanding lead late in the game. Point guard Kevin V oung also had a fine night, pouring in a career high 19 points, while freshman surprise Cedric Cokely flashed his credentials for the conference's freshman of the year with 15 points coming off the bench. Senior Greg Dennis was another Catamount scoring in double figures with 10 points. Despite the fine display at East I ennessee, the Cats just couldn't pull things together last Saturday night in Reid Gym against a tough Marshall team Ihe Thundering Herd became onlv the second team to deleat Western in Reid this season, and turned the tables on the Cats with 60Cf shooting from the floor and 86< c shooting from the freethrow line. •em shot only 4395 from the floor and 55cf from the foul line after entering the game as the nation's third best freethrow shooting team. Despite the loss. Western still saw fine performances from Ronnie Carr and Greg Dennis. Dennis had 23 points. 2 steals. 2 rebounds, and hit 5 of 6 from the foul line, while Carr had 22 points. 3 assists, and hit 2 of 3 from the freethrow line. Cedric Cokely and Kenny Trimmier also scored in double figures in the loss, scorring 11 and 10 respectively Mondav. Condi's crew regained its shooting touch and hit from the floor and 89p trom the freethrow line to defeat the Citadel Bulldogs. 83-75. Again, it was the combined efforts ot Carr and Dennis that paced the Cals in the pout Is attended game, as they combined for 18 of WCLs first 22 points in the second half to blow open a quick 13- pomt lead. Dennis ended the game with 22 points, including a perfect 10 of 10 from the foul line, while Carr connected on 9 of 12 shots from the floor for 18 points. Cedric Cokely came off the bench again for 15 points, and Kevin Young added 14 points with 8 assists Kenny Trimmier was the leading scorer for the Cats in last night's Campbell win here, followed by Greg Dennis with 16. Kevin Young with 9. and Cedric Cokely with 8. Students are reminded that they will have to purchase a $2.00 ticket to see the WCl -Citadel game Satutd.n night in Reid Civ in 1 icket information is available from Jordan Field House at 227-7171. Intramural Events Scheduled I. Intramural sign-ups for Co-ed Inner lube Water Polo begins Monday, March 1st at 8:00 a.m. and ends Monday. March 8th at 3:00 p.m. in Office 14 of Reid Gym. 2. The Intramural Department has extended Volleyball sign-ups through Monday, March 1st till 3:00 p.m. in Office 14, Reid Gym. 3. Voting for Basketball All-Stars occurs Monday, March 1st in Room 20 of Reid Gym. Team captains should be available to vote from 3:30 through 4:00. 4. Intramural Basketball All-Star and All-Campus pictures will be made Wednesday. March 3rd in front of Reid Gym 5. Intramural sign-ups for Wrestling begins Wednesday, March 3rd, Thursday, March 4th, and Monday. March 8th from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in Reid Back Equipment Cage. 6. Intramural Volleyball rules meeting, required for team captains and intramural assistants, will beheld Thursday, march 4th at 4:00 D.m. in Reid Rooms 21 & 22. All-Campus Champions lor basketball freethrows were Richard Davis and Ron BurwellofZooCrew. They each hit 21 of 25 shots attempted for a total of 42 of 50 shots attempted. All-Campus Champion for I- on-1 basketball (6' and under) was Eric Guard. He beat Wendal Moss 20-14 in the finals. All-Campus Champion for 1-on-l basketball (6' and over) was Carl Long. He beat Richard Davis 20-18 in the finals. Bits V Pieces H/jB Of Sports by Russ Randolph _f/ftgQj—T J_\ ...Where has the packed crowds of Reid Gym gone? Is it the ticket situation, the loss to Marshall last Saturday night or what? COACH STEVE COTTRELL said last night that his players were dissapointed in the small crowds lately in Reid Gym, and that he is really depending on the students to get the Cats through their first round tournament game Saturday night against the Citadel."I could tell the team was dissapointed in the attendance this week, and 1 just hope they're not going to let us down (the fans) when we need them the most." he said. Indeed, it was that superb home-court advantage that had a lot to do with many of Western's home wins, but with a mere 1,676 showing up for the Campbell game last night, that home-court advantage was a thing of the past. ...Junior TIM McKINNISH was one of those students at the Campbell game last night, and said he too, was disappointed in the declining attendance in Reid. "1 think the crowd support has been a real winning factor for our team this year, and 1 am real displeased with the poor attendance lately when the season is at its most important stage." said McKinnish. "Winning 19 games is a real big accomplishment, and I think we (the students) should show our pride by cheering our team on when they need us the most." he added. ...Swim team member SID WINECOFF is a good example of a dedicated swimmer. Sid recently went to the trouble of shaving his head for the team and surprised everyone, just as his team has been surprising everyone this season, winning 7 of 8 meets thus far. Perhaps Sid's new haircut aided him in winning those four events he won at Brevard last week. ...WCU's BASEBALL TEAM begins their quest towards another championship season this Sunday as they travel to Georgia to face their first opponents there. The bat Cats are under the direction of a new coach, have many returnees, and have many good recruits, so the expectations are very high for this fine group of athletes. ...Interested in SLIMNASTICS but didn't get to take it as a PE Course this semester? Well, the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department is sponsoring an eight-week course in slimnastics scheduled to begin Monday. March I at 7 p.m. at the Cullowhee Baptist Church here on our campus. The registration fee for the course is $12 per person. Pre-registration for the course in mandatory. To pre-register, or for more information, contact the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department at 586-6333. KEVIN YOUNG AND GREG DENNIS played their last regular season game last night, and despite the poor attendance, it was a good game for them. Young and Dennis combined for 25 of the 64 points scored by the Cats, and were awarded plaques at halftime by Athletic Director Bob Waters incommemeration of their outstanding play the last four years. Indeed guys, our hats go off to you!!! ...WCU's TRACK TEAM produced another fine showing last weekend at Chapel hill, where the Cats competed with Duke, Appalachian, Campbell. Pembroke, NC State, Wake Forest, East Carolina, and Carolina. Several Cat tracksters were able to place well for the thinclads, like TRACY BARNETT, DWAYNE NORMAN, RICKY CALDWELL AND MILES NICHOLSON, to name a few of the top performers. Coach DON MILWOOD says his team has improved with each meet, and that he is looking forward to a successful outdoor season. This weekend the Cat tracksters will travel to Johnson City. Tennessee to participate in the Conference Championships (indoor) at East Tennessee. ...THE GYMNASTICS TEAM under direction of veteran Coach SUE FIELDS had a difficult time last weekend at Milledgeville, Georgia due to injuries. Western placed third in a tri-meet against Michigan State, and Georgia. This weekend the gymnasts will host Eastern Kentucky in Reid Gym for their last home meet of the season, and Coach Fields would like to see a good crowd out to support her team and see some fine performances. The meet is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning, and admission is free. ...Gymnastics standout REENIE McDONALD has already made national qualifying scores once this season and is out to do it two more times in order to send her to the Nationals out west this spring. Her teammate BECKY STEVENSON was plagued with an injury last week in Georgia, and did not get to perform, but it is hoped whe will be OK for this Saturday. Player of the week RONNIE CARR did not get to play last night against Campbell due to a pulled back muscle, but he continues to lead the conference in scoring with a 19.0 average. GREG DENNIS is close behind him at 17.6 points per game, and is also making a run for the freethrow title as he is hitting %7c/( of his charity tosses. Rifle Team Vastly Improved photo by Mark Haskett " swam as if sharks were chasing them." WCU swim team took their sixth and seventh victories over Milligan and Brevard in tri-meet. by Greg Ryder The Western Carolina Rifle Team is about to finish its second year of competition in the Southern Conference, and their great improvement over last year has earned them the respect of many other schools. Harvey Webber. Southern Conference Chairman, calls them the most improved team in the conference. This is due to a number of different factors, including some new equipment, a strong coaching program and a lot of personal dedication on the part of the members of the team. "It takes a lot of work and dedication to be on this team," said team manager Sgt. John Stanfield of the Department of Military Science. "The shooters have to travel thrity miles one way just to get to the practice range in Clyde. Then they only have approximately three hours per weelc to actually shoot on the range." That means the team, which consists of male and female marksmen, spends more time in travel than in the time spent practicing or competing. Due to lack of facilities at the present time there are no home meets for the WCU team, and this means they never get the old home field advantage. "We've got a fairly strong program set up now and it looks good for the future of the team." Sgt. Stanfield said. The team has received six new Anschultz rifles to replace the outdated M-40 military issue rifles that had been used up to this point. Because of these new weapons team scores were up about 20Cr averall and were expected to continue to rise as the participants became more accustomed to the equipment. The lack of facilities creates other problems as well. When traveling to other schools the team must make arrangements to use the various pads and other pieces of equipment involved in the matches. This will no longer be a problem when the new Regional Activities Center is completed as it will have modern facilities for the team to use. Western's team has a total of ten members this season, but two have been red-shirted and this leaves six that actually participate in the out-of-town meets. Surprisingly to some, WCU's best shooter is a woman, and there is more than one woman on the team. According to Sgt. Stanfield, the WCU team shooters rank as follows: I) Gaylc Billings. 2) William Johnston. 3) Walt Stiehm, 4) Orlando Russel. 5) Chriss Harris. 6) Eric Bennett. 7) Deborah Carpenter. The future of the WCU team seems well cemented and with the introduction of a new team manager to replace Sgt. Stanfield (who. incidentally, designed and implemented the team's present practice schedule) there are hopes for a much better showing in the conference competition. Currently the team is ranked 8th out of nine schools, but there is still one major school meet at Wofford and it is hoped that our team will round out the season with an 11-23 record.

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1982-02-25
  • Date digitized: 2019-01-29
• Extent
  • Dimension: 15" x 11.5"
  • Pages: 14 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1982-02-25_Vol46_No21
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library