Page 16/The Battalion/Monday, September 19,1988
Mitchell relies
on experience
in win over youth
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — American
platform diver Michele Mitchell worries
about growing old gracefully, something
that happens quickly to a young woman in a
sport best compared to driving a car off a
three-story building.
The young know no limits. The old know
them all.
“Today was the experience of age vs. the
resiliency of youth and I was hoping experi
ence would pay off,” Mitchell, 26, said Sun
day.
“And it did for me. Silver is great.”
The color will match the medal Mitchell
took home from Los Angeles four years
ago, but it will represent a greater personal
triumph. She is the American grande dame
of the 10-meter tower, written off more
than once.
With maturity is supposed to come grace,
but. women divers are increasingly going
the way of their gymnastic counterparts —
one step on the world’s stage and never an
encore.
It is no longer enough to find a young
ster small, light and agile enough to per
form the twists and turns diving demands
and wait for her to develop. Now, coaches
find kids who are all those things and one
more — fearless enough to jump from a
platform 30 feet above t he water.
And as it turned out Sunday, Chinese
teen-ager Xu Yanmei, 17, kept Mitchell
from the gold by throwing a flawless back
ward 21/2 somersault in the final round, to
taling 445.20 points to the American’s
436.95.
But teammate Wendy Lian Williams, 21,
finished behind Mitchell with 400.44, in no
small part because the more highly re
garded of China’s youthful duo, 14-year-l
old Chen Xiaodan, lost her nerve on the fi
nal dive.
It was a backwards 3 Vh-somersault with
the highest degree of dif ficulty in the com
petition. And the failure to hit it left Chen
backsliding into fifth.
But it was clear that Chen, who finished
first in the preliminaries and so competed
Sunday as the final diver, was in trouble be
fore she ever left the tower. She walked
slowly to the end of the platform and never
once raised her eyes from it.
Somewhere deep inside, Mitchell must
have twitched at the sight. For she had
problems last year with an inward 3Va-tuck
— another high-degree-of-difficulty dive
that brings the diver within inches of the
concrete platform.
So she simply replaced it.
“It made a world of difference. It relaxed
her,” said her father, Anis Mitchell, who ac
companied her on this trip, despite some of
the unpleasant memories it stirred.
The elder Mitchell served with U.S.
Army occupation forces in Japan after
World War II and again in Alaska with the
finance corps while the Korean War raged.
“She’d hurt her shoulder, she fought a
virus,” he said, “and there certainly was
some fear involved with the inward. She
just was not hitting it.”
“Even though it’s a 3.2 (degree-of-diffi-
culty), she realized she could do better get
tings 7s and 8s on a less-difficult dive. It
INTRAMURAL HIGHLIGHTS
showed maturity and it took then
off the rest of her dives.”
And yet Mitchell climbed thet(n
day for her eighth and final 4
wiched between die daredevil Cli
she risked everything on it—a
3'A-somersault — she might catcl
the gold. Given the potential for si
Chen’s final dive, anything lessj
equally risky and bronze at best.
One entire world stretchedbel
another — she is part-owner of,
company in Florida and appearsh.
signed to the world of comm
stretched ahead of her.
Enter the voice of experience.
“1 came into this competition
ing to do 16 solid dives and Idid
said. "1 felt like that was what itwa
take to even get into medal conten.
"When 1 was up on the platfon
thinking, ‘Yeah, this is your last
these. Let’s do it the best wecando
And
die did.
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^McDonmu's
sponsored by
McDonald’s
Breakfast Every Morning • 5 locations • Drive Thru
Post Oak Mall • Hwy 21
Manor East Mall • University Dr.
Texas Ave. at S.W. Parkway
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• Raining ?? Rained Out ?? Not Sure ?? CALL 845-2625.
- There will be an Innertube Water Basketball Officials Meeting September 19 at 6:00 PM in 164 Read.
• Flag Football begins today so make sure you have checked your schedule.
• 16" Softball starts today also, so check those schedules.
• Billiards Doubles will be posted at 1 PM on Thursday.
• Horseshoe Singles will be posted at 1 PM on Friday.
RECREATIONAL ID’S STILL AVAILABLE
The Intramural-Recreational Sports Office is still selling and renewing Recreational ID’s for the faculty,
staff and their spouses. Individuals with these ID’s may have access to recreational facilities during the
evening and on weekends. The cost for the ID is $7.50 for faculty/staff and $15.00 for a spouse.
T-SHIRT DESIGN CONTEST
Entries are being accepted for the Third Annual T-shirt Design Contest. This contest is held to determine an All-
University T-shirt design for the 1989-90 school year. All entries must be received no later than 5:30 PM, Tue, Mar 21.
All entries must be 12" by 12", black ink on white paper and should include the words “Intramural Champion 89-90” or
"All-University Champion 89-90”. It is also recommended that “Texas A&M”orthe block ATM be included in the design.
Entries will be judged by a panel of students, faculty and staff with the entry best depicting Intramural-Recreational
Sports All-University Champions being declared the winner. The winner will be notified April 17 and will receive $50.00
SPORTS CLUBS
• Rugby: The A&M won both sides of its game against Sam Houston. They took the first side winning by
the score of 22-0. Scoring for the aggies was Keven Kuen, Mike Chidress, Kenney Evens, and James
Goodman. The second side they took by the score of 10-3 with Bill Smith doing the scoring for A&M.
• Women's Soccer: The Lady Aggies play Trinity Friday, September 23 at 5:00 PM on the East Campus
so be there.
• Men's Soccer: The Men's Soccer Team is going to take on Baylor Saturday, September 24 at 1:00 PM
on the East Campus.
• Water Polo: For those of you in Dallas this weekend, the Water Polo Team will be playing in a tournament
at North Lake Community College Saturday and Sunday. Play will get underway at 10:00.
TAMU-OUTDOORS
KAYAK ROLL INSTRUCTIONAL
CLINICS
Learn the mechanics of the eskimo roll! Experi
enced guides will be on hand to instruct and assist
you in sessions at the Outdoor Pool. The $8.00
($10.00 non A&M) fee covers instruction, kayak
rental and pool time. Limited to 10 participants.
For more information, contact Patsy Greiner at
845-7826. DATE: Sept. 22, 6:15-8:30 PM
REGISTRATION: Sept. 5-19 DATE: Sept. 27,
6:15-8:30 PM REGISTRATION: Sept.12-26
DATE: Oct. 6, 6:15-8:30 PM REGISTRATION:
Sept. 19 - Oct 3 Date: Oct 11 6:15-8:30 PM
REGISTRATION: Sept. 26-Oct. 10 DATE: Oct.
20, 6:15-8:30 PM.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain bikers! Tired of riding around on the as
phalt trails of campus? Join us for a day of riding the
hills and streams of the tree-shaded Greenbelt
Trail. There is a $5 fee for this mountain biking
adventure. You must provide your own mountain
bike. Sign-up in the Intramural-Recreational Sports
Office, 159 Read. The trip is limited to 10 partici
pants. The trip will be Sunday October 9 and
registration begins September 19 and ends October
3
KAYAKING WORKSHOP
Take the weekend of and learn the fundamentals of
kayaking in a two day class offered by TAMU Out
doors on October 1 and 2. The first day will be an in
troduction to kayak strokes, rescue, and the eskimo
roll. The second day will be spent on the San Marcos
river learning howto paddle the boat and get afeel for
white water. Registration begins September 12-26
but sign up early because class size is limited. The
cost for the class is $40.00 ($45.00 non A&M).
ROCK CLIMBING CLINIC
Join us for an introduction to the thrills of Rock
Climbing. Experienced guides will teach a variety of
climbing techniques and skills. The class will take
Saturday, October 8. The fee is $10 ($15 non A&M)
and registration begins September 19 and goes on till
October 3.
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS: McDonald's Intramural Highlights is sponsored in the Battalion by your local
McDonald's Restaurant at University Drive, Manor East Mall, Hwy 21, Texas Ave. at SW Parkway and Post
Oak Mall. Stories are by Steve Harding, graphics are by Paul Irwin and photos are by Mark Figart and Sarah
Cowan.
IM GAMEPLAN
ENTRIES OPEN: SEPT. 12
ENTRIES CLOSE: SEPT,
HORSESHOE SINGLES Entry fee: Free Play Be
gins: Tuesday, Sept. 27. Tournament: Classes A,B
and C will play single elimination tournaments.
Schedules: Schedules will be posted after 1 PM on
Friday, September 23 on the bulletin boards outside
the Intramural Office, 159 Read. Eligibility: All
TAMU students, faculty, staff, and their spouses
with recreation ID and intramural validation are eli
gible to play if they meet the eligibility requirements
in the Intramural-Recreational Sports Calendar/
Handbook. Location: Horseshoe pits are located
directly north of the Penberthy Intramural Complex
by the Fish Lot and are available for use when not in
use for intramural competition. Equpmen.
shoes are provided for the tournament.
BILLIARD DOUBLES Entry Fee:
Play Begins: Friday Sept. 23 throughi|
Sept. 25. Schedules: Thursday, Sept.2:j
outside the Intramural-RecreationalSpoitsl
Tournament Structure: Double elr l
Competion: Men's and Women's Division!
offered with no class distinction (no A,Bil
Residence Hall teams will recieve pointsnI
were in Class A. Equipment: Provided by t^j
Personsal equipment is allowed. Rules |
Rules with Intramural exceptions.
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ENTRIES OPEN :SEPT 19 ENTRIES CLOSE: SEPT 27
LONG DRIVE Entry Fee;FREE!! Contest
Held: Wednesday, September 28, at 4:00
PM. Location: Driving range at the
Intramural Sports Center west of the Track
Stadium. ** Bring your student or Recrea
tion ID.** Competition: Each participant
will drive 3 balls. The longest of the 3 will be
the official distance. Participants may use
their own clubs. Balls and some clubs will
be available. Awards: Will be given to the
Men’s and Women’s Champions. Late
Entries: Will be accepted at the site only
if space is available.
RAQUETBALL DOUBLES Play Begins:
Tuesday, October 4 Place: Raquetball
courts in the Read Building. Rule: AARA
rules will be used. Matches consist of two
games to 21 points. An 11 point tiebreaker
will be used if necessary. Competition:
Open-All competitive club members must
play in this division. Competitors in other
divisions may also sign up forthis division.
Class A-Highly skilled, single elimination,
t-shirt award to All-University Champion.
NO competitive club members may play in
this division. Recreational and formerclub
members may play in this division. Class
B-Moderately skilled, single elimination,
certificate award to All-University Cham
pion. NO competitive club members may
play in this division. Recreationalorfi]
club members may play in thisdivi
Class C-Novice, single elimination,o
cate award to All-University Champs
one affiliated with the club can coif
this division. Schedules: Willbepi
after 1 PM on Friday, SeptemberSO.t
the bulletin boards outside the Intrai
Recreational Sports Office to see
you play. You will be assigned anc;
nent, a day, a time and a court.
INNERTUBE WATER BASKETS
Enrty Fee: $20.00 per team P/ay$:
Sunday, October 2 Schedules: M
picked up at the Team Captain’sMeei
be held Thursday, September29al
PM in 164 Read. Classes: A-H
skilled, T - shirt awards B - MocW
skilled, Certificate C - Novice, Cel
Division: Men’s and Women’s Resi^
Hall, Men’s and Women’s Indepetf
CoRec.
THANKS TO GENERAL MOTORS
eral Motors is sponsoring theCoRerf
B tournaments in the Intramural!
All Class B CoRec Champions willf^
General Motors T-shirts. We are
appreciative of General Motorssupp !
the Intramural-Recreational Sports
gram.