The Georgia State University Sports

The South's Premier Sports Coverage Tuesday, July 23,1991 GSU wrestler wins gold medal in Georgia State Games And his hot streak continued ButRaysaidhe'splanning to By John Carroll in the Georgia State Games. With join the Wrestling Club this year Suff Writer the pressure on in the champion­ and he hopes the club will become ship match of the Olympic-style a varsity sport Georgia State University has event, Ray completed his As far as an Olympic hope­ a gold medal winner in the Geor­ undefeated day (6-0) by beating ful, Ray said, "I'veconsidered it" gia State Games and his name is former Army wrestler Demetrious He added that the Olympic trials Lewis Ray. Johnson 3-2. are mostly held in the North and in The junior wrestler won his After the victory, the cham­ the West, which makes it hard 163-pound weight division Sat­ pion was presented a gold medal. financially to compete. urday by winning six consecutive Ray enrolled in Georgia State But he said with the Summer matches in the Panther gym. last year. Before that, he worked Olympics coming to Atlanta in GEO K GIA STATE GAMES "I've been training all year," two and a half years with Eastern 19%, he hopes qualifying tour­ said the 24-year-old accounting Airlines as a ramp manager. naments will be closer to the South. major. "This is the biggest tourna­ The Towers High School If they are he said, "I'll train ment for me all year." graduate went to Carson-Newman and try my besL" He added it Ray has been competing in College in Jefferson, Tennessee would be easier financially, too. amateur matches all summer. He ona wrestling scholarship in 1985. For now, though, Ray is a has placed in every match, includ­ He transferred to West Georgia gold medalist in the Georgia State ing six first place finishes. College after 1986. Games. Baseball coach named "In addition, he brings a From staff reports wealth of experience from all levels of baseball to our renewed program. GSU will look to Coach On July 17, Kurt Seibert, Seibert to plan, organize and de­ formerClemson assistantbaseball velop baseball to a level of respect coach, was named head coach of that will enable the program to the Georgia State University grow each year." baseball team - a team that has Seibert is expected to come been out of existence since 1986. on board at Georgia Slate before In accepting the position the end of July and he's already Seibert, a former two-time ACC mapping a course that should al­ All-Conference shortstop, said, low the Panthers to begin play on "This is the most exciting thing a limited scale next spring, with that's happened to me since I home games and practice already played in the big leagues. I look slated for the DeKalb College Field forward to bri nging a very positive at Panlhersville. and aggressive approach to "It's going to take some time Georgia State baseball." and there will be trial and error," Seibert was a third round draft said Seibert, "But I'm confident choice and played six years within we can eventually reach our full the Chicago Cubs' and Minnesota potential." Twins' organizations, advancing Seibert inherits a Panther to the major-league level with the baseball legacy that strectches Cubs in 1979. back to the late 50s, when Stoney In announcing the selection Burgess produced a 17-23 overall of Seibert, Georgia State Athlet­ record between 1958-60. ics Director Orby Moss said, "Kurt In 1961,the sport was dropped is full of ambition and is a very for the frst of several times. 11 was competitive person. The young renewed under Archie Crenshaw men who come here to play for from 1965-67 and again underRon him can't help but be motivated Kennctt between 1970-72. by his personal enthusiasm and S tale's best ever finish was a Georgia athletes parade with pride during the Opening Ceremonies of the Georgia State Games. Marc Dataiis - Signal drive to succeed. 30-25 campaign in 1980. Table tennis championships held in GSU gymnasium By Ron Daniel there," added the 28-year-old na­ working on the forehand and a "He had areal heavy top-spin serve Berry indicated that table Staff Writer tive from Decatur. "If I get beaten, couple of hours working on the which I should have been able to tennis takes fast reflexes. "It's a I get beaten. If I lose, I'm not backhands, defensive shots, and attack, but he took me into his quicker game than probably any Georgia State University stu­ playing normal." serves," said Berry before the game." other game around - net neces­ dent Peter Berry was one of 58 The Georgia State Games acts matches began. "How the ball is spun really sarily faster, although the ball will competitors in the table tennis as a state championship for Geor­ Berry, an amateur, lost in the dictates the match a lot of times," go 104 miles per hour on a smash. venue of the Georgia State Games gia table tennis players. Amateur first round of eliminations. After added Berry. "That's what hap­ "You're basically 10 to 12 that was held in the campus gym table tennis players play in elimi­ coming back from a 16-19 deficit pened to me." feet away from your opponent," Saturday morning. nation rounds across the state with to win 22-20 in the first game, According to the United added Berry. "So you have to re­ "A lot of these players are the top four qualifying for the Berry lost the next two games 8- States Table Tennis Association act real quickly." really accomplished pingpong championship matches against the 21 and 14-21. rules and regulations, table tennis This year's state table tennis players," said Berry, a painting state ranked players. Afterwards, a disappointed is played on a 9-by-5 feet table champion was Ty Hoff of Au­ and drawing major. "I'd be real Berry, who has been playing Berry said,"It's just like any other which is 2.5 feet high. gusta, who also won last year's happy with making it into the table tennis regularly since 1985, sport The person who plays his or There are 21 points per game. championship. second or third rounds. said that he has spent several hours her game best wins." If the score reaches 20-20, the Racquetball results, "I really just expect to play preparing for The Games. Berry said the guy that beat players alternate serves until one see Page 10-A pretty well and see how I do from "I've spent a couple of hours him had a tough serve to handle. scores two consecutive points.