Newspaper Page Text
Tiff. CLUSTER. ARPIL 20, 1990-PAGE 7
Sports
Mercer tennis
By ROBBIE BURNS
With injuries, youth and the loss
of top players, the 1990 Men’s and
Women’s Tennis teams have over
come these obstacles to make an
impressive showing. Despite the
adversity. Head Coach Kerry
Bacon is extremely pleased with
their performance. “Both squads
have a lot of youth, but they have
played well, and I feel we’ll
become stronger with more ex
perience.’’
The Bears were hit hard early as
Bacon's number one player Rob
Elilison went down with a knee in
jury. Sophomore David Arthur
moved into the top spot, but he now
moves back a position with the
return of former number one
Cowles “Co Co" Dean.
The Teddy Bears also lost their
top player in Angie Wood, one of
the conference's best and also rank
ed in the top 100 in the country.
Similar to the men, everyone now
moves up a position with
sophomore Tracy Smith as the new
number one.
“With moving to number one.
T.acy has done a fine job," said
Bacon. “Her match record is 7-3;
she has been a pleasant surprise.”
Bacon feels that Smith along with
Senior Kathryn Price and
Sophomore Betsy Emmett have
been most competitive.
“There are our top three, and
most consistent players," said
Bacon. “Betsy has done a real good
job at the number five spot after
playing number eight last year."
Both teams improved this past
week with victories (Bears 5-3,
Teddy Bears 4-6) over Brewton
Parker, and look to improve those
records with home matches Mon
day and Wednesday. Come out and
support MERCER TENNIS.
Notes: The Bears play home
matches Monday vs Shorter Col
lege and Wednesday vs Albany
State University. They will be in
Samford this weekend.
The Teddy Bears will entertain
Shorter College on Monday and
Ga. State University on
Wednesday.
All tame-mateherSegin at 3:00
p.m. \
Is Slowdown Dead?:
A Chat With Seigfried
By ANTHONY HOOKS
With the close of the 1989-1990
college basketball season, fans
witnessed an explosion of excite
ment as teams began to continuous
ly push the ball up and down the
court, launching 3's and ramming
down slam dunks. Timeouts were
noticeably absent when teams such
as UNLV. Loyola Mary mount, and
Oklahoma took the floor.
However, Bear supporters often
found themselves left out of the
scoring fest as the team could only
manage lowly 63.4 points per
game.
Bombarded with articles from
newspapers and suggestions de
nouncing the slow, halfcourt style
of ball, I took the problem to its
source. Coach Seigfried. Explain
ing the problem in which I had
become partial to, I must say I was
fairly enlightened by the conversa
tion we had. "People may or may
not believe this, but I prefer an up
tempo style of game. I like to push
it up because it gives you an oppor
tunity for high-percentage shots.
However, if you can’t run well
with the opposing team, you don't
need to run."
He continued, explaining
specifically why it would be to our
detriment to run. “To successful
ly run a full-court game, you need
to rebound and shoot well from the
perimeter. Taking a look at our
slats, we finished last and next-to-
lasf in the conference in both
Mercer Speaks
With the recent resignation of Women's Basketball Coach Ed Nix
on, there has been a proposal that the basketball program be dropped
With such a serious matter on the administrations agenda, we at the
Cluster need to have input on the decision. Therefore, we have pro
vided a reader response below.
Do you feel that the Womens' basketball program should be dropped?
If so. why?
If not, what other suggestions do you have?
You can drop these forms at the Post Office in Box 35. Thank you
for your tune and consideration. Continue to read up on your school.
YOU DO COUNT! ***„ Mr
Sports Editor
/
David Arthur is caught in action at Tuesday Tennis match.
categories. Additionally, in com
parison to other teams in the con
ference, we were one of the
slowest. Add up all those parts and
you have a definite problem.
Seigfried's statements ring true
as the Bears shot only 43% from
the field and surpassed only
Hard in-Simmons in the rebounding
margin. “Opportunities were pre
sent against teams, but there was no
execution. This year was definite
ly a learning experience as we had
to make a difficult transition.
However, the final weeks showed
improvement and character on our
part as our younger players began
to understand and execute their
roles."
Suffice to say, I was fairly
satisfied with this analysis.
However, I was assured that next
year would bring more action. As
you know, we have some talented
players joining us in Andre Jones.
Yauun Pounds, and Kenny Brown.
We also plan to bring in recruits,
mainly high-school players who I
can insert in my system and bring
out the best in their athleticism. A
steady progression on our part will
help to establish a strong program
which can flourish for years to
come."
WIN A HAWAIIAN
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Campus organizations,
clubs, frats, sororities call
OCMC at 1 (800)
932-0528/1 (800) 950-8472
ext. 10.
Mercer Moments:
Men’s Soccer 1985
By ROBBIE BURNS
The fall breezes of 1985 brought
together a unique group of veterans
and freshmen, special memories
and the best team in the history of
Mercer Soccer.
Head Coach Dana Robinson
remembers this team, with a smile
on his face, as a group of
“characters." More than a group
of “characters," though. Robinson
says they obtained “a lot of
character."
“They all had good work habits
and were dedicated players on and
off the field," he said. “This was
a group of guys who battled
through the hard time to lay the
foundation for our future teams."
The 1985 squad tied the 1983
team (10-8-1) for the most wins in
school history with a 10-9-1
record. After loosing three of their
first four, they won three straight
and then two of their next three.
The Bears ended the season strong
winning three of their last four.
During the three game win streak
came their biggest win of the
season, a 2-1 overtime thriller
against conference rival Stetson.
Mercer was involved in five over
time games, splitting four and be
ing one.
Robinson said Seniors Vince
Benedetti, Dan Grogan and MVP
David Dresbach provided the
leadership neccdcd, but the key in
gredient was the Freshmen.
“The 1985 Freshmen, made up
of Payman Roshan, Scanlon
“Scan" Putegnat. Todd Bramble
and Scott Rogers, were the first
major and probably best recruiting
class we’ve ever had. They mixed
well with the upper classmen and
things began to come together. "
This team set standards that
future teams can follow.
“These are the kind of people we
want in our program. They were all
good students who are now in suc
cessful careers. That was the best
season we've ever had. and they
were the best team Mercer’s ever
had." a