Aggie polo team finding success depsite obstacles by John Wagner Battalion Staff After the Texas A&M polo team won the state champion ship April 4, a half-page adver tisement appeared in The Batta lion, congratulating the team and informing the student body of the victory. The ad was bought by a mem ber of the team. And when the team showed up to present its championship trophy to Dr. Zerle Carpenter, head of the animal science de partment, they found that he was out of town. It’s been that kind of year for the members of the polo team — not enough money, no proper facilities and no recognition. But without the money, without the facilities and without the public ity, they have succeeded in establishing themselves as a na tional power in the world of col legiate polo. No small feat for a team that doesn’t even enjoy the financial security that comes with varsity status, and yet has one of the highest budgets of all of Texas A&M’s extramural clubs. The members will say that it’s pride that keeps them going. And pride that keeps the team winning, despite all the financial obstacles that stand in its way. Their reasons for learning and playing polo are as diverse Prescriptions Filled Glasses Repaired BRYAN 216 N. Main 799-2786 Mon.-Fri. 8-5 Sat. 8-1 COLLEGE STATION 8008 Post Oak Mall.. 764-0010 Mon.-Sat. 10-9 p.m. Texas State sc Optical k Since 1935. AUTO INSURANCE FOR AGGIES: Call: George Webb Farmers Insurance Group 3400 S. College 823-8051 ALLEN Oldsmobile Cadillac Honda SALES - SERVICE “Where satisfaction is standard equipment’’ 2401 Texas Ave. 779-3516 as their backgrounds. Larry McClure, the club pres ident, is one of the four players who competed in the state cham pionships. By his own admis sion, he doesn’t have a good polo background. “I was raised on a ranch, and when I first started playing polo, I said, ‘You’re not going to get me in one of those little sad dles,”’ McClure said. But now the senior from Col orado City says it’s his ranch- style raising that benefits him most. “Your horse makes up a big majority of the game, and if you feel comfortable on that horse and if you can ride a horse well, then of course you’re going to be 'a better polo player,” he said. I John Cole’s background is a itad more traditional. The soph omore from Greenwich, Conn., 'grew up around horses, but not on a ranch. “I used to show horses, and I was on the United States Eques trian team when I was 16 years old,” Cole said. “We were get ting ready to go the Olympics and I just quit — I just got bored with it. “I had done just about every thing that had ever been done on a horse, and one day my .father suggested to me that maybe I could get into a really fine college if I played polo.” Cole came to Texas A&M af ter meeting polo coach Mike McClery at the stables where he worked. McClery and several members of the Aggie team were in Connecticut for the in tercollegiate championships, and McClery persuaded Cole to head for College Station. In March, the Aggies finished third in the intercollegi ate championships, losing to the University of Connecticut. Both McClure and Cole say members of the team suprised themselves as well as the other teams partici pating. “When we went up there, they didn’t expect us to have a good team at all,” McClure said, “and we kind of fooled ourselves and them.” UC defeated the Aggies in the last two minutes of the game, only to lose in the finals to Cali- fornia-Davis. Cole and McClure predict good things for Texas A&M polo in the future, but both say the club has many problems to overcome before it can concen trate on growing. The cost of keeping horses and traveling to matches is ex pensive, and much of the money comes from the players’ own f >ockets. And the club’s facilities or practicing and or practicing and keeping horses aren’t as good as they could be, the players said. But the polo team goes on, and they are doing right well, thank you. Cole said the team just needs a little support. “If we could get some sup port from the university, there is no doubt in my mind we could be number one in the nation next year." Team Larry Mike members John McClure and McClery present Fernandez tops No. 4 seed at TAIAW event Lili Fernandez of the Texas Aggie women’s tennis team de feated the No. 4 seed at the Texas Association of Intercolle giate Athletics for Women state tournament Thursday in Fort Worth. Fernandez, a junior, adv anced to today’s quarterfinal round by upsetting Lori Nelson of TCU 1-6, 7-5. 6-3. Texas A&M teammate Amy Gloss lost to Susan Gerrell of SMU 6-4,6-4 in another match Thursday. Aggie coach Davitl Kent said the victory was well-deserved. “That was a big wbi because Nelson beat herl they played,” “She’s in real good sha[i| now.” Fernandez will play! man <>f the I niversitv 1 today in the quartewl Through the end of April on Sunday and Monday evening, when you buy any frozen drink at full price, you receive a FREE fnterurban t-shirt. Wear your Interurban t-shirt these evenings for ^-price drinks. IJVTERURBAJV 505 University Drive, College Station, Texas Argentine battles illness, heat to advance in tennis tourney Texas A&M p as team ranees dur veek. The All Models Sale Priced!! Alvarez Yamaha Yairi Sr More Marked Down For Stock Reduction! All Guitars included for this Sale! KeyboARd Center Inc. Sale Ends Saturday Store hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m.-9K)0 p.m. POST OAK College Station, MALL TX 77840 Layaway GuUnr Lessons Piano Tuning Piano Rental . -Mi vf-'. ■ tv; United Press International HOUSTON — Second- seeded Jose-Luis Clerc, Argenti na’s No. 1 player, for the second day fought off more than his opponent to advance in the $300,000 River Oaks Interna tional tennis tournament. Battling a sinus problem aggravated by Houston’s tradi tionally heavy humidity, Clerc Thursday defeated Poland’s Wojtek F'ibak, 6-2, 6-3. The previous day, after up setting local favorite Sammy Giammalva, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, Clerc said, “I feel bad. I’m really sick. I’m in a lot of pain.” Clerc complained of pers piration and error-ridden play Thursday. He was ahead of Fibak, 5-1, in the second set when he lost concentration and allowed the Pole to win two games, making it 5-3. In the ninth game of the second set, Fibak had four con secutive break points before Clerc pulled out the win. Top-seed Ivan Lendl used his powerful serve to defeat Ricar do Ycaza of Ecuador, 6-0, 6-4, and seeds No. 4 Peter McNa mara, No. 6 Eddie Dibs and No. 8 Andres Gomez also advanced. Lendl broke Ycaza in the first, third and fifth games of the first set, playing well from baseline to baseline. He relied on nine ser vice aces and seven service win ners in the second set to over come a spate of errors. Lendel got his only service break in the second set with the games tied 2-2. Down 40-love, Lendl hit four straight winners and Ycaza then made an error to lose the final point of the game. In the 10th game, down love- 30, Lendl reeled off two service aces and two service winners to take the match. Dibbs of Miami Beach, Fla., beat Gianni Odeppo of Italy, 62, 7-6. The second set saw back- and-forth efforts throughout. Ocleppo pulled to the lead 3-2. then Dibbs won three straight to make it 5-3. Ocleppo then tied it at 5-5, and each won one game to make it 6-6 and require the tie-breaker. Dibbs took the tie- fare 3y si Bruins defeat Quebec on last-minute goal, 4- breaker 11-9. Gomez bested RodFral Australia, 6-2, 6-3, am mara of Australia ( Erick Iskersky, 6-7,6-1 In other WCTactionTI day, Elliot TeltscherofScji' Fla., beat Steve Delonoi United Pres- coll, Texas, 6-3, 6-3. Te® e much -m said he was luckvonsomt 1 , ! n {’ sta “ big points and said Dt^ rl(l beat ^ r s bothered by the slicksii(Jf‘ 1 ^. 0 , ^ 7 sists It’s Still S luri. In other wo mte October. B|teve Mur? ordinals’ secoi etf-game vict< upping the C United Press International Ray Bourque would agree that when it comes to playoff goals, the latest is the greatest. “That has to be the biggest of my career,” the Boston defense- man said Thursday night after scoring with 55 seconds to play in regulation to give the Bruins a 4-3 victory over the Quebec Nordiques in Game 1 of their Stanley Cup quarterfinal series. “I’ve scored in the playoffs be fore, but nothing like this.” Boston’s stylish defenseman whistled a 30-foot wrist shot past goalie Dan Bouchard af ter pick ing up a puck in the slot and faking around Quebec defense- man Andre Dupont. The winning play began when Rick Middleton steered the puck out of the corner to the slot area, where linemate Bruce Crowder deflected it to Bour que, who did the rest. “That was a masterful goal,” said Boston Coach Gerry Cheev- ers. “A goal that a superstar gets. It was just a super play.” The Nordiques, who ousted ts - But Elia .. resst'd with th SpbiTnance, e ^ around defenseman sau | Hoganson and slid a ln|t’t|hat the Cut der between Bouchard’spl L a iion( tie the score 3-3, bmp. “if f, e In other playoff b * er ‘ New York Rangers defeaifn r b<>0 ,J :>It( New York Islanders 5d f 150 ! 1 go defeated St. Louis ’ s r . uc ^ L„c„uver,dgedU»§ d r t ^ urn ph. Lonn -urge Hendr 111 a with homi ?Doug Birdh £★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★*** Serving Luncheon Buffet Sunday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m $4.50 plus tax Top Floor of Tower Dining Room Sandwich & Soup Mon. through Fri. $2.19 plus drink and tax Jt-Open to the Public ^ “Quality First” * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ATTENTION! *Young Life Annual Fun Run* AGGIES PARENT’S DAY SPECIAL ONE QUARTER AND ONE HALF MARATHOI DATE: SATURDAY — APRIL 17, 1982 - PARENT'St TIME: REGISTRATION — 7:00 A.M.-8:45 A.M. START —9:00 A.M. PLACE: IN FRONT OF G. ROLLIE WHITE COLISEUM TAMU CAMPUS Entry Fee $5.00 per runner, 1st 300 will received iron-ons, others will be accepted and privileged to f| AGE GROUPS, MEN AND WOMEN (AGE CATEGORIES: 20-BEL0W, 21-29, 30-39,■ 49, & 50-AB0VE) ALSO FATHER/SON, FATBi 1 /DAUGHTER, M0THER/S0N, MOTHER/DAM DIVISIONS. TROPHIES GIVEN IN ALL DIVISIONS FOR ONE QUARTER AND ONE HALF MARATHON !!!EVERYONE WELCOME!!! RUN FOR THE FUN OF IT >eer *!★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★**