City Skater Rebecca Finds a Likely Match
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The Prince George Citizen - Saturday, October 21,1995 - 13 Sports SKATE OFF ENDS TODAY Team golf to get new king ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (CP- one-stroke verdict over Ireland’s City skater Rebecca AP) — Last year, Canada sur Ronan Rafferty. Darren Clarke prised the U.S. and won the Dun-scored 69 to defeat Gibson by four hill Cup team golf championship.strokes while Philip Walton’s 71 That won’t happen this year. was good enough for a two-stroke Both the Canadians and Ameriwin over Stewart. cans were eliminated Friday, mak The new American lineup of ing today’s clash meaningless beBen Crenshaw, Lee Janzen and finds a likely matchtween the two countries. Peter Jacobsen were bounced out The Canadian team of Daveof the semifinals, losing 2-1 to the Barr of Richmond, B.C., Rick GibSwedes after being blanked 3-0 by by TED CLARKE son of Vancouver and Ray StewartIreland on Thursday. Citizen Staff Citizen photos by Brent Braaten of Abbotsford, B.C., won 2-1 last While the Americans face Cana year over Tom Kite, Curtis Strangeda today, the Irish meet the Rebecca Rebagliati has and Fred Couples in the final ofSwedes to see who reaches the always wanted a pairs figure skat the 16-country tournament. semifinals by finishing first in ing partner. In the opening round Thursday,Group 1. the Canadians lost 3-0 to Sweden The same applies in Group 2 The problem was, male pairs in Group 1. Then, they droppedwhere a Scotland meets South partners are about as scarce as 2-1 decision to Ireland on Friday.Africa. The Scots, Colin Mont palm trees in Prince George. Barr was the lone Canadiangomerie, Sam Torrance and An So to fulfill her dream, the 14- winner, carding a 1-under-par drew71 Coltart, are 6-0 and the only year-old had to go south to Vancou on the 6,933-yard course forteam a not to lose a game. ver. But thanks to a little luck and some good connections, her search didn’t take long. Clansmen call on Just three Weeks into her summer skating school session at the Vancouver Skating Club,, Rebagliati heard at a pairs seminar that 17-year-old their Grimm reaper Jonathan Quong was also looking for a partner. At just 84 pounds and already an accomplished skater, Rebagliati was in volleyball crunch considered an ideal match for the 150- pound Quong, who has skated in pairs by TED CLARKE nior triple-A provincial tournament, at the divisional and Canada Winter Citizen Staff Grimm’s talents didn’t go unnoticed. Games levels. Above, Rebecca When Chad Grimm leaves the floorHe was the only player from the North “I’ve always wanted to do it, but I Rebagliati, 14, has to make a spike or block an attack, toit’s make the B.C. junior provincial didn’t know what it would be like,” like a leap of faith for the Correlieuteam. said Rebagliati, who finished third inteamed up in Vancouver Clansmen. “We got to go to a tournament in Friday’s senior ladies artistic’ B.C. Win with Jonathan Quong, 17. And based on his past history as theMontreal,” said Grimm. “We didn’t do ter Games Skate off at Kin 1 Arena. Right, Danielle Donnolly Clansmen’s power hitter, Grimm rarelythat great (seventh) but most of the “I like (pairs and singles) both theof the Spruce City lets his team down. teams were older so that was alright.” same, but it’s easier to get to where I Ask anyone watching Friday at theGrimm likes the way his team is play want to go faster in pairs becauseSkating Club. The two Kelly Road Roadrunners senior boys’ing. there’s not as many pairs. I like it a lotcompeted Friday at the volleyball tournament what the 17-“(Middle blocker) Chris Neverol was and I want to take it as far as I can go.”B.C. Winter Games Skate year-old Grimm can do to turn a gamen’t with us the last two big two tourna Because they are the only novice in his team’s favor. ments and now he’s back, we’re getting pairs couple in Vancouver, RebagliatiOff, which ends today at His thunderous spike while jumpingmore together as a team,” said Grimm. and Quong automatically qualify Kinfor 1. nearly waist-high above the 2.43-metreGrimm’s big-kill shots inspire his the B.C. provincial (section) champi high net, brought a roar out ofteammates the in much the same way a onship in November. a majority of her 18 hours a week Buton after just two days on the ice, thecrowd in attendance at Kelly Road Secslam dunk does in basketball. So far, she’s found timing the hardthe ice to singles. offer was on the table. ondary School and helped the Clans“He gets hits like that once or twice a est aspect of learning to skate with a “I do singles as well because you “There’s no doubt about it, she lovesmen to a 15-3, 15-6 win over the game,”Fort said Neverol. partner. have to be a strong skater in pairs. pairs,”My said Joanne Rebagliati, RebecSt. James Falcons. “When anyone on the team gets a hit “It’s hard to be together on time bespins are a bit better now and I’ve beenca’s mother. “She’s got a very goodWhere most volleyball players hislike that it can turn a whole game cause you have to do it over and workingover on my double axle.” partner and coaches and she has a veryage average 75-centimetre jumps at thearound. “I think if keeps playing the again to get it right.” Rebagliati is living with friends ofgood substitute family.” net, Grimm can clear 97 centimetres way he is I think he’ll easily make a Rebagliati said she’s not afraid ofher family, former Prince George resi “I left it totally up to her.” from his feet to the floor. university team.” being dropped and considers her liftsdents Sandra and Tony Makowsky, inAlthough the phone bills are high,At six-foot-two, he has plenty ofKelly Road middle blocker Rob with Quong one of tandem’s strongNorth Vancouver. Joanne said it’s been a good move heightfor to help him reach the highMcGuire balls. knows what it’s like to come points. Although she misses her family andher daughter. But it wasn’t always that way. face to face at the net with Grimm. “He’s really strong and our lifts arefriends she feels comfortable with her “There’s no coaches here to teach“I was short until about Grade 10 “When he comes up like that at the easy for us to do. He’s been doing pairsadopted family and her club coaches.pairs,” she said. and I just started doing vertical trainnet it gives them a lot of confidence,” for four years now and he knows at my“The coaching is the same as it was “The coaches at the Spruce Citying to make up for it,” said Grimm. said McGuire. level what I’m supposed to try. here but they look out for me moreclub be have started but they’re learning“I did a lot of skipping, squats and“I’m not close to his vertical but if “I asked him how far we can go andcause my mom is here. All my coachesthemselves.” raises and setups and that helped. Usuhe’s hitting down I should be able to he says we can probably make thelook out for me.” Rebecca will join 69 skaters from 17ally I try to jump as high as I can getbe up and shut him down. I’ve blocked Canadians this year if we do our best.” Initially, Quong and Rebagliati wereclubs on the ice today at Kin 1 to trycause for it helps you see the open spotshim before and hit around him before, Rebagliati, who still skates for theto skate together for one month beforeone of two spots open for the Caribooon the court easier and helps youyou hit just have to be smart.” Prince George Figure Skating Club, shehas had to decide whether to leave herNorth Central Region at the provincialaround the blockers.” ■ The tournament continues today kept up her singles skating and devotesBeaverly home and move to Vancouver.championships. While helping Correlieu to a ninthwith the championship final set for place finish out of 16 at last year’s 4:30.se O rioles say goodbye to brass after a disappointing seaso n by DAVID GINSBURG 1 ' V ' O M I Associated Press MORE BASEBALL, page 14 BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles, who entered the season with pennant aspirations but finished below .500, fired manager Phil Reganthat Baltimore Orioles also have expressed inter and announced the resignation of general manest in La Russa, but Cardinals general manager ager Roland Hemond on Friday. Walt Jocketty said he didn’t think La Russa had The dismissal of Regan, who led the Orioles muchto interest in them. a 71-73 record in his first year as a major league “I think it’s between us and Oakland,” said A ' u ^ s y manager, paves the way for the hiring of formerJocketty, who made the offer earlier this week. Oriole Davey Johnson. La Russa has an agreement allowing him to Johnson, who guided the Cincinnati Redsleave to the last two years of his Oakland contract the NL Central title this year, interviewed for thebecause the American League baseball team has Baltimore opening last season.