All-Americans Chosen from Outstanding Tech Team
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MEN'S TRACK All-Americans Chosen From Outstanding Tech Team One has only to glance at the 1987 men's track team statistics to realize what an impressive showing they made. In ad- dition to team accomplishments, the Jackets had several notable standouts at the national level. James Purvis, Alan Drosky, and Eric Smith were the three All- Americans chosen from the Tech squad. In addition, the Jackets had four people qualify for the Indoor Nationals, and five people qualify for the Outdoor Nationals. The Jackets also sent six runners to the prestigious Penn Relays. It was ACC competition that really in- spired the Jackets to some very notable achievements. At the ACC meet, the Jackets had more first and second place finishes than any other school at the meet, finishing in third place overall, a mere five points from second. At the end of the season, nine of the Tech tracksters had been chosen to the All-Conference team, the most ever in Tech's outdoor track history. Front Row: Eric Smith, Emi Walters, Jeff Prainito, Mike Taylor, Jerry Gilchrist, Steve Brown, Paul Patrick, Milton Woodward, Brian Crumbo, Erik Larsen. 2nd Row: BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Tech sprinter fires out of Mike Price, Ted Scalia, Sean McDonald, Maurice Morrison, Mark Pickens, Maurice Davis, Curtis Crocker, Matt Haynes, Scott Olinger, Chester Riggins. 3rd Row: the blocks. Long jumper hits paydirt. Now that's Danny Collins, J. R. Sims, James Purvis, Todd Norman, Mike Krehnbrink, Frank Long, Pat Gallagher, David Waid, Frank Pogson, Dirk Morris, John Griner what a perfect baton pass looks like! 212 / Sports WOMEN'S TRACK Lady Runners Set the Pace The women's track team was on the move in the 1986-87 season. Sometimes practicing as much as three to four hours a day, the girls proved they would be tough contenders in any division. In her third year as head coach, Dee Todd taught her runners how to win. In the ACC's outdoor conference, the wom- en's track team placed fourth overall. Kathy Harrison, an All-American, went to the Nationals. Other team members, Brid- get Koster, Michelle Linihan, Pam Harris, and Kathy Harrison, individually qualified for the prestigious Penn Relays. The team also excelled in indoor track. In the ACC's indoor conference meet, the Lady Jackets finished fifth overall. As if practice wasn't enough, first- quarter freshmen must attend study hall each day. This helped them adjust to their busy practice schedule without getting behind in their academic work. As the Lady Jackets continue to practice year- round, next year's team promises to be a Front Row: Laura KanAly, Chris Vorpahl, Karen Hoffman, Kathy Harrison, Michelle Linihan, Lesley James, Bridget Koster, Tomika Whitten. 2nd Row: Wanda Durden, Janet Gould. Pam Harris, Joy lvemeyer, Kaye Walters, Michelle Norris, Tavie North. top-notch squad with many returning members. CS C S Sports /213 Talented Team Is Working Towards An ACC Title Enjoying the new tennis complex com- pleted this year, courtesy of former Tech tennis player, Bill Moore, the men's tennis team opened the spring season with an impressive showing in a round-robin tour- nament with three other nationally ranked teams. The Jackets, ranked 25th nation- ally, upset 13th ranked Cal-Berkeley, 5-4, and gave top ranked Stanford a run for their money, but lost 5-3. "It was a good team effort," commented new head coach Jean Desdunes. Starting this year with a healthy team, the Jackets are hoping to finish second, or possibly dethrone Clemson to finish first, in the ACC. This is an experienced team with three seniors at the top of the line-up, as only one player from last year's team was lost. Tech is hoping to qualify the top three players and two doubles teams in the NCAA's. Tech is looking for a strong perfor- mance from their number one player, Ken- ny Thorne, whose playing suffered last year due to injuries. Thorne teams with the Jacket's number two player, Bryan Shelton, to form Tech's top doubles team. Andre Simm, at the number three spot, duos with George Paulson for the second AA doubles team. FIRST ROW. Asst. Coach Gary Niebur, Gery Groslimond, Head Coach Jean Desdunes. 2nd ROW: Greg Gusky, Jens Skjoedt, Steve Turnsik, Franz Sydow, Mike Chinchiolo. 3rd ROW: Mark Avedikian, Andre Simm, Kenny Thorne, George Paulson, Bryan Shelton, Brad Prybis. 214 / Sports WOMEN'S TENNIS Lady Netters Looking Forward to a Positive Season The lady netters are rebuilding a very young team this year with three of the top four faces being new in the lineup. Tech's top two players, Kristy Kottich and Kim Tatum, are both freshmen, with Kottich ranked 46th among southeastern col- leges. The third and fourth spots are held by sophomores, Leigh Roberts and Amy Thomas respectively. Thomas was red- shirted last year to comply with NCAA regulations regarding transfer students. Roberts, who won the consolation match, finishing fourth in the Southern Intercollegiates in the fall, teams with Ta- tum, who also won two rounds in the main draw at the Southern Intercollegiates, as the Lady Jacket's top doubles team. We are playing with a lot of enthu- siasm," commented coach Rick Davison, who is looking to move his team out of the basement of the ACC. His goal is to finish the season with at least a .500 record. TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Two of Tech's lady netters exhibit perfect form as they execute their two- handed ground stroke. BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Bryan Shelton and Andre Simm concentrate on the FIRST ROW: Cristina Guardado, Carrie 011ar, Amy Thomas. 2nd ROW: Head Coach Rick Davison, Jamie Myers, Leigh ball, while Jamie Myers finishes off her stroke. Roberts, Delisa Denton, Kristy Kottich, Kim Tatum. Sports / 215 VOLLEYBALL Women Post New Winning Record in Impressive Season At the beginning of the season, third year coach Judy Sackfield set some very serious goals for this year's Lady Jacket volleyball team. The team's primary goal was to beat an ACC team, and secondly, to have at least a .500 season. This season proved to be the best one ever posted by a Tech volleyball team, as they surpassed the previous season-high win mark of 8 early on in the season. This very young team, consisting primarily of freshmen and sophomores, was led by the outstanding play of their setter, Mar- garet Gales. At season's end, the Lady Jackets hadn't beaten an ACC team, and fell just two matches short of a .500 season, end- ing at 18-20. However, Coach Sackfield asserts that next year's season will be an even bigger success, as this very young team has gained some much needed ex- perience. FAR, RIGHT: Can you say S P I K E?! BOTTOM, LEFT 1st Row: Coach Judy Sackfield, Margaret Gales, Wynne Wycoff, Mia Carter, Elaine Griffith. 2nd Row: Jessica Smith, Shannon Shelton, Sandra Sailor, Laura AND RIGHT: Lady Jackets go up for the block. Rullman, Shelia Ahery, Carol Gergesha, Lisa Kofshey, Jennifer Beemsterboer 216 / Sports Sports /217 WRESTLING AA Funds Cut Under the direction of head coach Low- ell Lange, the Georgia Tech Wrestling Team accumulated a 4-3 record in the first half of their season. While wrestling is still considered a varsity sport, the issuance of scholarships has been discontinued, although those scholarships already is- sued continue to be honored. In addition to shrinking support from the Athletic As- sociation, the team's schedule will con- tinue to get smaller from year to year. This year's team is quite young; no wrestlers will be lost due to graduation. The team's best wrestler is Tony Marlow, a 134-pound freshman who had accumu- lated a 6-3 record by early February. Oth- er notable standouts include Steve Moel- ler, a 167-pound junior, Eric Gebhardt, a 177-pound sophomore and Kevin Grass, a 190-pound junior. In tournament action, the grapplers finished in the middle of the pack at the Mid-South Tournament early in the season, and they look to face much stiffer competition against Division I schools at the Citadel Tournament at the end of the season. TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Two wrestlers assume the starting position. Tech grapplers jockey for a pos- sible pinning position. BOTTOM: Tech wrestler strains to break hold. FRONT ROW: Darren Farber, Joe Smith, Tom Richard, Ray Jones, Kevin Grass. BACK ROW: Coach Lowell Lange, Charles Atlas, Eric Gebhardt, Kevin Hayes, Steve Moeller, Tony Marlow, I. M. Tuff, Coach Krauser. NOT PICTURED: Reid Draper, Chip Jones, Wayne Higgenbotham. 218 / Sports Sports / 219 WOMEN'S SWIMMING New President Takes Charge This year's women's swimming team was young but showed great potential. Due to the closing of the old pool, they had a tough time getting started, but with their new president, Sheryl Watkins, things began to look up. The lady swim- mers competed in a meet at Georgia State this past fall and did well consid- ering the number and caliber of teams participating. Team standouts included: Paige Kern in the 50m and 100m freestyle, Sheryl Watkins in the 100m backstroke and 200m IM, Becky Dey in the freestyle, Mar- ion Sewell in the 200m freestyle and the butterfly, and Lori Schwartz in the 500m freestyle. The team also sees great po- tential in Justine Ellis as a long distance freestyler. BELOW, LEFT AND RIGHT: Tech swimmers show MEMBERS: Erin Sydow, Paige Kern, Sheryl Watkins, Justine Ellis, Becky Dey, Mojgan Khatami. their superior form in free style. 220 / Sports MEN'S SWIMMING Swimming Has Club Status This year's men's swimming team looked great, although they had to make the adjustment from varsity to club sta- tus.