B Wednesday STAT OF THE WEEK B3 BIKE TOURNEY B2 Sports Briefs, B2 Chico State schedule and standings, B3 A look at a Chico State sports record: Chico State hosted a cross-country and downhill Wildcat of the Week: Amy Swanson, B3 when it was set and who set it mountain bike over the weekend

Games or fashion shows? Something dawned on me as I was looking at last week's sports section: field players wear skirts. While this may not sound like a monumental, "it dawned on me moment," believe me, it was. Women's players wear skirts, women's players wear spandex and women's players wear shorts. How does wearing a skirt improve a player's ability? Why do volleyball players wear spandex and why don't softball players wear pants? Maybe it's tradition. Field hockey evolved in during the 19th century Chico State men's players double-team a player from Notre Dame in University Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats went on to edge Notre Dame, 6-5. and was introduced to the in 1901. In those days, women wore ankle-length skirts and flannel shirts. The skirts have been shortened to cheerleader length and the shirts have lost their sleeves. Nope, it's not Crossing out the field tradition. CORD NOWELL coming of University of He was offered the head coaching Collegiate Lacrosse League, under Staff Writer Maybe it's comfort. California, Berkeley, lacrosse head position at UC Berkeley, an offer he neW head coach Rob Warner. The team Some former coach volleyball Steve Dini. During the last three couldn't pass up. is looking to improve on the 10th players I've talked to said they seasons, Dini coached for Chico State "It's great coming back to Chico and place finish at Nationals in St. Louis hated wearing spandex in front of and helped turn the program around, seeing all the players I helped develop," last season. the fans. and with an overall record They also complained of Just because hockey,there areit moredoesn'tpadsmeanin of 31-21. Dini said. "It's 'proud parent' syn¬ During the summer the team lost a having to adjust their uniforms the hits are any harder than in lacrosse. Under Dini, the team improved drome. We haven't been playing that few key players, but it remains strong frequently. Other athletes I've The Chico State men's lacrosse team each season, and last year, qualified great, but I took over at Cal to help turn with experience. Graduate Rob talked to said hosted its annual they would never preseason Chico Fall for Nationals for the first time in 17 the program around. I still bleed Meinbrees is no longer with the team, play volleyball because of the Tourney on Saturday, featuring nine seasons. (Wildcat) red." along with Tyson and Wit Poor, who uniforms. It's not comfort. hard-hitting teams. After last season, Dini left Chico to Chico State comes into the presea¬ Maybe it's to improve range The tournament marked the home¬ be closer to his family in the Bay Area. son ranked third in the Western LACROSSE I B6 and mobility during games.

., tThis argument might work for sd^ball shorts, but the pain from CHICO STATE'S TOURNAMENT RESULTS TOURNAMENT MVPs sliding nullifies what they add in The Wildcats won Saturday's informal tournament. Here's how: The coach picked two standouts for the tournament. Here's how they did last season: mobility. I've played men's slow pitiph softball in shorts and I can ■ Game one: Chico State 11, Santa Clara ■ Dan Yob: Attacker sajfTor certain, there is no University 0 comfortable way to slide. Women wear shorts and then cover their ■ Game two: Notre Dame University A 8, Chico State 1 ■ Last Season: 30 goals and 9 assists legs with sliding pads. Just put on Some pants. That's as ridiculous ■ Game three: Chico State as cranking the air conditioning in 6, Notre Dame University B 5 ■ Danny Gallant: Midfielder your house just to walk around in your favorite parka. It's not range ■ Championship: Chico State 5, UC Davis 4 ■ Last Season: 2 goals and 1 assist and mobility. Maybe it's a way to distinguish the women from the men. How ridiculous would it be if guys wore spandex shorts to play volleyball, or kilts for field hockey? If they did, fans would have no way of telling the males The coolest from the females. It would be game under water ► utter chaos! It's not to distinguish. Invented in the 1950s, underwater hockey came to Chico State in 1993 Maybe it's to improve interest in female sports. BECKY REGAN player Terry "Mr. Rub-a-Dub" Chico State player Chris "A League of Their Own" is a Staff Writer Decott. "Sometimes I idle in the Marolla. perfect example of this. That was water like an eel then take off This doesn't mean foul play the 1940s, and while times have The hockey player shot the like a shark." isn't going on under the water, but changed, women's uniforms puck with all his might and The British Navy invented Marolla said fouls often occur at a haven't. This is one reason female watched it slide 3 feet, then stop. underwater hockey in the 1950s. more competitive level. athletes aren't taken as seriously In the silent, weightless It was designed as an aquatic In , underwater as male athletes. If female athletes world of underwater hockey, exercise to keep divers fit and monitor the game, but want to be as taken seriously, they every inch matters, and water relaxed. was the first since Chico State's team is recre¬ need to dress the same as males. often stops the puck just country to adopt the exercise as ational, no officials are necessary. Until inches from the a they do, fans will . , and soon after, underwa¬ Decott said the players prac¬ continue to attend games for Director of recreational ter hockey emerged in New tice managing their emotions more than one reason. Players sports Mary Wallmark said Zealand and . and staying calm under water to aren't to blame for the underwater uniforms, hockey came to The sport is now played in maximize their use of . though. Athletes I talked to said Chico State as a recreational more than 20 countries, accord¬ This also teaches the players team in they never questioned uniforms 1993. The game allows ing to www.underwater- to stay cool in a fouling situation. because they got used to them at athletes the freedom to move hockey.com. Each player is equipped with a young age. No one has their bodies in ways that would It is one of the few sports a , mask, fins, protective questioned them, so maybe it's not be possible in most other where athletes will not injure ear covers and a glove. The about time. sports. themselves if they fall down. glove is covered with soft "Water hockey puts you in an "The biggest advantage to spongy latex that feels like the Adrian can be reached at: environment that is almost like underwater hockey is zero per¬ Underwater hockey player Brad Smith sits on the edge of the [email protected] being in space," said Chico State cent impact on your body," said please see HOCKEY I B6 pool during practice on Thursday at 8 pm„ waiting to rotate in.

'CAT -3 FIGHTS HEIN SIGHT B2

Women's Soccer Volleyball Men's Soccer Volleyball Men's Soccer The Orion experienced coaching Cody Hein- Friday Saturday Saturday Saturday Tuesday style as it sat with him Sonoma State San Francisco State San Francisco State San Francisco State Sonoma State during Friday @ Rohnert Park @ Chico @ Chico @ San Francisco Chico and Saturday 7 ' nights' p.m. 4:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. games.