UA Sports News for January 1998
Press Releases are courtesy of the University of Akron Sports Information office.
January 26: Track Sets Six School Records At Weekend Meet
Head coach Dennis Mitchell's UA indoor track team had another good weekend, setting six school records and winning four events while competing at the Golden Flash Invitational at Kent last weekend.
Sophomore LaTrese Taylor (Canton) captured the women's 200m dash in a school-record time of 25.00 seconds. Other women's event winners included the 4x400m relay team, which posted another school-record time of 3:34.45, and sophomore Christi Smith (Columbus), who won the long jump with a mark of 19-3 1/2. Record breakers included freshman Lisa Clark (Worthington), whose 57.87 placed her second in the 400m dash, and freshman Heather Globig (Madison), who cleared 9-6 1/4 in the pole vault.
On the men's side, senior Barron Pringle (Middletown) won the 55m high hurdles in a time of 7.54, and also set a school record in the 300m intermediate hurdles, finishing second in a time of 38.69. Pringle is the defending MAC champion in the 110m high hurdles in outdoors. Akron's other record breaker was freshman Anthony Scruggs (Geneva), who ran a 6.44 in the men's 55m dash.
Ford Motor City Bowl Pulls Top-10 Ratings
The inaugural Ford Motor City Bowl, which featured Ole Miss and MAC champion Marshall on December 26, pulled a rating of 4.1 (3-3.5 million homes), ranking it 10th out of 20 Division I-A bowl games. "That is a great rating, especially for a bowl in its first season," said Dave Brown of ESPN.
Zips Continue To Move In The Power Ratings
The Zips took another jump in the Sagarin-USA Today computer poll following the win over Kent on Saturday. Dan Hipsher's men's basketball team (10-7, 6-3 MAC) checks in at No. 93 in the weekly survey, which ranks all 306 NCAA Division I teams in the country. That rating is up from No. 100 last week. There is now a total of six MAC teams currently in the top 100. Western Michigan leads the MAC at #35, while Ball State (#41), Eastern Michigan (#77), Toledo (#92) and Miami (#99) are also in the nation's top one-third. As a conference, the MAC is 13th out of 31.
The latest MAC statistics reflect the Zips' success. Akron is ranked fourth in scoring offense and third in scoring defense, while it is second in both field-goal percentage offense and defense. Individually, sophomore Jimmal Ball (Canton) is 10th in the league in scoring (15.9 ppg), sixth in assists (4.1), and second in steals (2.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.09). Junior George Phillips (Franklin Park, Ill.) is 10th in field-goal percentage (51.7) and first in blocks (1.59).
Hardwood Injury Update
Junior guard Adam Benton (Acworth, Ga.) underwent successful surgery last week to repair damage to his weakened left ankle. The procedure, performed by team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Herb Thompson, will keep Benton sidelined for the remainder of the season. The Zips hope to have Benton back for a planned European trip in May. Benton had appeared in eight of the Zips' first 16 games (three starts) and was averaging 3.9 points per contest. He hit for a season-high 11 points at Xavier.
Bowles Making Serious Bid For MAC Frosh Honors
Zips sensational freshman Cheryl Bowles (Kansas City, Mo.) is making some serious noise on the court and is a strong candidate for MAC Freshman of the Year. The 6-4 forward is currently second among all MAC freshmen in scoring (12.8) and first in rebounding (7.5) and field-goal percentage (51.4). Roxanne Allen's team (8-12, 4-5 MAC) entertains Western and Central Michigan this week.
Football Signings To Be Announced
A news conference is planned for Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. to announce the 1998 UA football recruiting class. The press conference will take place in the Tommy Evans Lounge in JAR Arena. UA head coach Lee Owens, who completed his third season at the helm of the Zips, will be on hand to make the announcements and answer questions from the media.
The UA Athletic Department will sponsor Career Day ‘98 on Sunday, Jan. 25, at JAR Arena. Student-athletes will attend workshops on interviewing skills, internships, graduate school, financial responsibility and resume and cover letter writing. The students also will have an opportunity to discuss career options with representatives from 40
different companies and organizations. For further information, contact Gerald Yearwood at (330) 972-6770).
Students Can Pick Up Tickets For Men’s Home Hoops
The next student men’s basketball ticket pick-up date is set for Friday, Jan. 23. Tickets for the Feb. 5 Eastern Michigan and Feb. 7 Toledo games will be available beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the JAR Arena Athletic Ticket Office. UA students can receive a maximum of four tickets per game when they present their valid University of Akron ID.
Tickets for the Feb. 14 Miami and Feb. 19 Kent games will be available on Feb. 2, while tickets for the Feb. 23 Ohio game can be picked up on Feb. 13.
For further information, contact the UA Athletic Ticket Office at (330) 972-6920.
UA Hall of Fame Banquet Set For Feb. 13
The 23rd annual Varsity A Sports Hall of Fame banquet is planned for Friday, Feb. 13, at 6:15 p.m. at the St. George Party Center, 3204 Ridgewood Road in Fairlawn. Tickets are priced at $25 apiece and can be purchased through the Alumni Association at (330) 972-7270 or the Athletic Department at (330) 972-7080.
Zips Crack Top 100 In Power Ratings
Fresh off victories over Mid-American Conference rivals Miami and Bowling Green, coach Dan Hipsher’s men’s basketball team (9-7, 5-3 MAC) has broken into the top 100 in the Sagarin-USA Today computer poll. Akron checks in at No. 100 in the weekly survey which ranks all 306 NCAA Division I teams in the country. There are a total of five MAC teams currently in the top 100. Western Michigan leads the MAC at #40, while Ball State (#41), Eastern Michigan (#73), and Toledo (#86) are also in the nation’s top one-third. As a conference, the MAC is rated 13th out of 31 leagues.
The Zips, currently in first place in the MAC East Division, are back in action on Saturday (Jan. 24) when they travel to Kent for a 2 o’clock tip. The UA women’s team (8-11, 4-4 MAC) will entertain Kent on Saturday at 6 p.m. in JAR Arena.
Zips With Good Showing At Indoor Track Meet
Several members of coach Dennis Mitchell’s UA track team posted strong performances last weekend at the Doug Raymond Classic at Kent. Highlighting the weekend for Akron was sophomore Christi Smith (Columbus), who took first in both the pentathlon (3,660 points) and the long jump (18-9 1/4). Other first-place finishes for the UA included: sophomore LaTrese Taylor (Canton) in the 60m dash (7.75), and senior Laura Wozniak (Brunswick) in the high jump (5-7 3/4). On the men’s side, seniors Nate Norris (Elyria) and Barron Pringle (Middletown) both won events. Norris took first in the 5,000m run (15:23.98) and Pringle won the 60m high hurdles (8.06), while junior Mike Slomovitz (Orange) captured the men’s long jump (22-7 3/4).
Hardwood Injury Update
Junior guard Adam Benton (Acworth, Ga.) will be lost to the Zips basketball team for the remainder of the season and is scheduled to undergo surgery this Friday to repair his weakened left ankle. The ligament damage in his ankle is the result of a series of sprains dating back to his high school days. Benton had appeared in eight of the Zips’ 16 games (three starts) and was averaging 3.9 points per contest. He hit for a season-high 11 points at Xavier.
On the women’s side, freshman forward Cheryl Bowles (Kansas City, Mo.) sat out Saturday’s game at Bowling Green, nursing a mild strain in her left knee. Bowles, averaging team-high figures of 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, is expected to play when the team returns to action on Saturday against Kent.
Dusty Cover, an NCAA Division II national shot put champion, has been appointed assistant track & field coach at The University of Akron.
The announcement was made today by Zips head coach Dennis Mitchell.
A native of West Salem, Ohio, Cover graduated from Ashland University last May with her bachelor of science degree in sociology/social work. A 10-time Division II All-American, she will work with Zips athletes in the discus, shot put, hammer and javelin.
Cover was nationally ranked by U.S. Track & Field in both the hammer throw (25th) and shot put (35th). She won the Division II national title in the shot indoors in 1995 and was a provisional qualifier for the Olympic Trials in the hammer later in ‘96. She is a graduate of
Northwestern High School.
Akron’s Lee Jackson Field will be the site of the 1998 Mid-American Conference Track & Field Championships, May 21-23.
UA Hall of Fame Banquet Set For Feb. 13
The 23rd annual Varsity A Sports Hall of Fame banquet is planned for Friday, Feb. 13, at 6:15 p.m. at the St. George Party Center, 3204 Ridgewood Road in Fairlawn. Tickets are priced at $25 apiece and can be purchased through the Alumni Association at (330) 972-7270 or the Athletic Department at (330) 972-7080.
Reader Set For Hula Bowl Appearance
Fullback Jamie Reader (Monessen, Pa.) will represent Akron at the annual Hula Bowl this Sunday, Jan. 18, in Maui. The game will be televised live by ESPN at 4 o’clock.
For the second straight year, UA has a participant in one of college football’s postseason all-star games. A year ago, Jason Taylor represented Akron at the Blue-Gray Classic and the Senior Bowl. Taylor, a defensive end, went on to be a third-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins and a member of the NFL All-Rookie Team with five quarterback sacks.
Reader accumulated more than 1,000 yards of offense during his Zips career, with 761 rushing yards and 316 receiving yards in 41 games (32 starts). Last fall, he carried 71 times for 334 yards and three TDs. Reader also caught five passes for 35 yards and shared the UA Oustanding Senior Award with Corey Christian (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
Amie Marks Is USA Today Positive Performer
UA senior forward Amie Marks (Jewett) is this week’s USA Today Online Positive Performer. She is the second Akron Zip to earn this honor, following grid standout Andre McCray (Akron/Buchtel) who was tabbed on Oct. 23.
The Mid-American Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week in late December, Marks ranks second on the Zips basketball squad with a 10.9 points per game scoring average. She
compiled a 3.95 GPA during the fall semester and carries a 3.80 cumulative average as a special/adaptive physical education major.
Zips Cage Teams Prep For Miami, Bowling Green
The UA men’s basketball team (7-7, 3-3 MAC) plays at Miami (O.) on Wednesday and returns home Saturday for a 3 o’clock tip with Bowling Green.
The Zips dropped a heartbreaker last Saturday at JAR Arena, falling to Western Michigan, 89-83, in overtime. Guard Jami Bosley (Massillon Jackson) and forward George Phillips (Franklin Park, Ill.) paced the Zips scoring column with 21 and 20 points, respectively.
“We’re 3-3 in the conference with a two-point loss, a three-point loss and an overtime loss,” says Zips mentor Dan Hipsher. “We’re awfully close to being 6-0.”
The Zips women (8-9, 4-2 MAC), meanwhile, dropped two games in Michigan, falling 74-62 at Central and 74-69 at Western. Coach Roxanne Allen’s squad entertains Miami on Wednesday and travels to Bowling Green Saturday.
UA’s popular “Lunch With The Coach” basketball style will start up Wednesday, Jan. 7, at noon at the Martin University Center on campus. The program will run for eight consecutive weeks on Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25. Zips basketball coaches Dan Hipsher and Roxanne Allen are the featured speakers throughout the winter.
The Martin University Center is located at 105 Fir Hill Street on The University of Akron campus. Tickets for the luncheon are $7.25 each. A table can be reserved by calling the Martin University Center at (330) 972-7711.
Alumni Association To Sponsor Pre-Game Dinners
The University of Akron Alumni Association is sponsoring a series of pregame buffet dinners in the Martin University Center Grille Room prior to upcoming men's basketball games. The first dinner is planned for Thursday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m., leading up to the 7:30 tip-off between Akron and Central Michigan at JAR Arena.
The other dinners are scheduled for the games versus Bowling Green (Jan. 17) and Toledo (Feb. 7). Contact the Alumni Association at (330) 972-7272 for more information and reservations.
On The Air
University of Akron men's basketball coach Dan Hipsher will come into your living room every week and talk Zips basketball. The Dan Hipsher Show begins Tuesday, January 6 and will run for the next nine Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. on WAKC-TV Channel 23.
The half-hour show, hosted by Joe Dunn, features coach Hipsher taking a look at action from the past week, previewing upcoming games and a player interview segment.
Eight To Be Honored At Sports Hall Of Fame Banquet; Grant And Torma Highlight The Class Of '97
Eight individuals will be honored at the 23rd annual Varsity "A" Sports Hall of Fame banquet next month. The class of 1997 brings the total number in the Hall to 234, which includes 206 athletes, coaches and administrators, 19 Meritorious and nine Achievement awardees. The new class includes athletes from six sports from 1970 to 1987.
The class includes two-time football All-American Wayne Grant. A four-year letterman for the Zips, Grant earned first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and was named honorable mention Associated Press All-America in 1984. His senior-season performance earned him first-team honors on both the All-OVC and the American Football Coaches All-America teams.
Academic All-American Rose Marie Torma played shortstop and third base on four winning UA softball teams from 1981 through 1984. Torma, who recorded a career-high .369 batting average as a freshman, was accorded second-team Academic All-America status in 1984, the same year that the Zips captured 48 of 54 games on the way to finishing national runner-up in the NCAA Division II championship. Torma was voted to the NCAA Division II All-Tournament team that season.
The other inductees include baseball infielder Dave Fleischer (1983-86), golfer Bob Heffelman (1974-77), basketball forward Larry Quarles (1970-72) and cross country-track standout Nate Ritchie (1974-78).
Former Zip golfer Jim McCready will be the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award and three-year soccer letterman Robert R. Morrison will receive the Achievement Award. McCready established the $100,000 James T. McCready Family Foundation Golf Scholarship, which provides financial aid for members of the UA golf team. Morrison is being honored for his success in the food industry. He has been employed at the J. M. Smucker Company since 1960, has been a member of its Board of Directors since 1970 and currently is Vice President of Operations.
The banquet will take place at 6:15 p.m. on February 13 at St. George Party Center, 3204 Ridgewood Road in Fairlawn. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets, priced at $25 each, for the induction banquet can call the Alumni Association at (330) 972-7270 or the UA Athletic Department at (330) 972-7080.
The inductees will also be presented at halftime of the Akron-Miami men's basketball game on Saturday, February 14. Tip-off for that game is set for 3:00 p.m.