le Battalion
Sports
Page 7 • Wednesday, April 28, 1999
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Equity Guide
BY JASON LINCOLN
The Battalion
Three months from the start of the fall sea
son, the hunt for a new women’s sport in Ag-
gieland is nearing a conclusion. The search has
been narrowed to seven possible sports.
Currently, Texas A&M offers 10 of the 11 Big
12 Conference women’s sports. The next sport
added will be decided by the athletic depart
ment in early June.
“The whole idea [of the addition] is to give
women an opportunity to compete,” senior as
sociate athletic director Lynn Hickey said, “and
then support it well so they have the opportu
nity to get as good as they can.”
The athletic department’s strategy to com
ply with the Title IX requirements by adding
more women to the varsity program has sever
al steps, Hickey said. Not only will the Univer
sity add one or two new teams, but it also will
feature other adjustments to help the numbers
of athletes in the women’s programs match the
number in men’s sports
Among the changes under consideration is
increasing the number of women’s walk-ons,
the number of scholarships and placing a cap
on the number of men’s walk-ons.
The Big 12 Conference currently sponsors
gymnastics in addition to A&M’s ten women’s
sports. Big 12 representative Bo Carter lists sev
eral factors that come into play in making a suc
cessful varsity team.
He said a successful team requires “good
funding and recruiting of student-athletes and
then translating that into on the field success.”
Several considerations will be weighed by
the A&M athletic department in deciding the
team or teams to be added.
Among the criteria to be looked at is
whether the sport is needed on campus and
whether the campus has the facilities to ac
commodate the needs of the team.
Also, the number of athletes the sport will
accommodate is a key factor, as large squads
are the best and most efficient way for A&M to
meet NCAA proportionality requirements.
Cost value also is vital for the athletic de
partment in finding a sport that brings benefits
to the women’s program.
Finally, the ability to compete is a consider
ation. The sport must be able to recruit and
compete regionally, and other conference
schools with similar programs is a benefit.
“It’s going to be a fun, tough decision for
us,” Hickey said. “It is a real exciting time for
us to find a sport that is good for A&M. The
most important concept is what is the best sport
for A&M and what can excel towards a nation
al championship.”
new women’s sports
The seven programs currently being con
sidered by the A&M athletic office for the 1999-
2000 season, the 25th anniversary of women’s
sports at A&M are as follows;
Archery
The archery team at A&M has a history as
of the most successful club sports on campus.
With the recent indoor national championship,
A&M has captured four consecutive national
indoor wins and three outdoor wins with
1999’s competition yet to come.
A varsity-level team would consist of
four women archers on the compound bow
and four on the recurve bow with a total
squad of 14 to 20 members. The team cur
rently has the premiere indoor facility in the
nation with an 18-meter setup and an out
door range currently is being constructed
by Penberthy Intramural Sports Fields.
“Archery is a mentally challenging sport that
allows an individual to compete in a team set
ting and still set their own success marks,”
archery club president Jenifer Comedy said. “It
is very evident with the club’s past perfor
mances that the talent and ability is there to
make it a successful varsity sport.
Bowling
Despite West Texas A&M University’s rank
as one of the top bowling programs in the na
tion, College Station has had trouble attracting
large numbers of bowlers. Currently, the A&M
club team has six women, led by Dawn
Nichols, who is a 195-205 bowler. There are
three bowling houses in the A&M vicinity, in
cluding the basement of the MSC. Bowling is
considered an emerging sport by the NCAA.
“Bowling gives an opportunity to individu
als who may not be of physical stature to com
pete in Aggie sports,” club coach James Thorn
ton said. “All it takes is desire and
determination. ”
Gymnastics
Another national-championship club
sport, gymnastics offers the benefits of re
cent success and Big 12 sponsorship. In
1996, the Aggies won the national cham
pionship. In 1997, they took second, and
the following year Jennifer Lim won the in
dividual championship.
Five women compete on the team with an
average of 15 members. Facilities are located in
the Reed Building, which houses a complete
gymnastics facility. Four Big 12 schools cur
rently compete in the sport.
“We definitely have the talent to be a great
varsity sport at A&M,” gymnastics club presi
dent Abby Lindemann said.
FILE PHOTO/The Battalion
Soccer, the last sport A&M promoted to varsity status, resulted in the school’s first-ever
Big 12 title. 1998 team leader Nicky Thrasher (above) led the team last season to the
second round of the NCAA tournament and a top-25 ranking.
Equestrian events
The equestrian team adds large numbers at
an event with substantial popular interest at
A&M. The team currently numbers close to 100
riders, the majority of whom are women. The
sport also is under consideration by Big 12 of
ficials and by individual Big 12 schools.
Lacrosse
A newer club sport, the lacrosse team
has emerged as a Texas powerhouse with
two consecutive state championships and
a fourth-place finish nationally in 1998.
A&M competes against eight other schools
in Texas, including three Big 12 schools.
This season, the team ran off to a 17-0
record. The team fields 12 players with a
total squad of about 30.
“There’s a reason lacrosse has been called
the fastest game on two feet,” club president
Sarah Patton said. “It’s an exciting sport that is
fun to watch. We would be excited to have the
opportunity to play better schools with the var
sity status.”
Rifle
Currently, the two women on the A&M
varsity (Level II) rifle team compete on the
men’s team, which finished 21st in the nation.
A&M is coached by Michael Eubanks, the
1998 National Rifle Association’s Outstanding
Service Award to Collegiate Shooting Sports
winner.
A&M joins the University of Nebraska as
the only Big 12 schools with rifle teams. Four
women would compete on a competition
team. The current facility is housed in the
basement of the Trigon, with six firing points.
“Being able to offer a competitive environ
ment and the collegiate experience for all types
of sports is vital for A&M, ” freshman shooter
Jamie Hacked said.
“It is a valuable interest because the rifle
team would add a new dimension to Aggie
sports,” teammate Lynsie Lusby said.
Rowing (crew)
Another of the NCAA’s emerging sports,
rowing offers the opportunity for large numbers
and national competition. Facilities vary from
the Brazos River to Lake Somerville. Crew,
which is not represented by a club sport at
A&M, is being considered by three other Big 12
schools .
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BY DOUG SCHILLING
The Battalion
; nor Hons ( !
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iQuIdeS iFans at oisen Field last night were treated to more than
Audens ■KS-cent sausage dogs that were being offered, they were
games. ‘S o witness to a little bit of Aggie Baseball history.
■■ n secon d baseman Sean Heaney’s lead-off home run
l0 «ir 10tt0m 0 f the eighth tied the Aggie team record for
III., sat Kf rims in a season with 88 as the second-ranked Texas
M Baseball Team defeated the Sam Houston State Uni-
ir Lob,' ersity Bearkats 14-10.
ihddlejBleaney, who was 3-for-5 on the night with two home
]y p a $|t> ps, live RBIs and three runs scored, tied the mark shared
I detaib jy the 1988 and 1995 Aggie Baseball teams.
^Bf 10 said that while tying the home run record was nice, the
am getting their 40th win was a more important accom-
Biment.
11 s nice for our team to tie the record,” Heaney said, “but
Bull out the win and get that magical 40th win, which in
s years has been the key to hosting a regional, it’s a good
vay to start the week.” & & > s
rallld,^ 1 ^ coac h Mark Johnson also said the record was nice
r-u'oi 16 ne ed to not rely on home runs to win
, t 574-jifafies.
^ f y° u keep breaking or tying home run records, you’re
..ESSP : L r !'' M ’ methin g good,” Johnson said. “I’m just really con-
3/1 rnJ e * C f use We h see good pitching and the mistakes we
°' H 0day , W0re on the end of the bat. Eventually we’ll
aHc- ° W0 1 r m iddle and opposite sides of the plate which
SCWl las won a tot of games for ^ ^ past „
-me aofni.i T second straight start, freshman pitcher Khalid Bal-
/ ' ■firsUmring^ Start U P three runs on three hits in
Bearkat second baseman Casey Landers started off the
..Jf ^ting out an infield hit. Shortstop Kelly Eddlemon
6 ntn i da tters later and smashed a Ballouli pitch deep
parents! iP e held for a two-run homer. The Bearkats added their
4aV. °!, e trming when Harrison scored off an error by
y iggic third baseman Dell Lindsey.
e struck right back in the bottom of the first scor-
| two runs to cut the Bearkat lead to 3-2.
IS
i p) ’ (httgle hy Schumacher and walks to sophomore right
jiaer Daylan Holt and senior first baseman John Scheschuk
■ded the bases with
one out in the inning.
MIKE FUENTES/The Battalion
Junior second baseman Sean Heaney hits the grand slam in second-inning action of the Aggies’ game against the Sam
Houston State University Tuesday. The Aggies reached a team total of 88 home runs on the season, tying the A&M sin
gle-season record.
Lindsey then stepped to the plate and lined a shot up the
middle, scoring Schumacher and Holt.
Sam Houston got a run back in the top of the second when
another error by Lindsey allowed Landers to come around to
score and make it a 4-2 game. The damage could have been
worse as the Bearkats had runners at first and second with
one out but Ballouli got designated hitter Tommy Cliffe to
ground into an inning-ending double play.
The lead was short lived as the Aggies made up the lead
and a lot more in the bottom of the inning, scoring eight runs
to take the lead 10-4.
All eight runs scored by the Aggies were recorded before
the first out of the inning.
Junior centerfielder Stephen TVuitt lead off the inning with
his 12th home run of the year to left field. Freshman left field
er Blake Whealy, junior shortstop Steve Scarborough and
Schumacher all had singles up the middle to load the bases
for Holt.
Holt then sent another pitch by Bearkat pitcher Nathan
Boyd up the middle to score Whealy and Scarborough.
A single by Scheschuk that scored Schumacher and a walk
to Lindsey loaded the bases once again for Heaney.
Heaney then sent the payoff pitch from Bearkat reliever
Wes Fritz, who had just entered the game, over the left field
wall for a grand slam.
The Bearkats trimmed the Aggie lead in the top of the fifth
when Jason Harrison hit a two-run home run to left field to
make it a 10-6 game.
The Aggies made it up in the bottom of the inning, how
ever, as Schumacher hit a two-run shot of his own over the
right field wall to stretch the lead back to six at 12-6.
Sam Houston came right back in the top of the sixth as the
Aggies gave up four runs and used three pitchers to get out
of the inning as the Bearkats trimmed the lead to 12-10.
The Aggies got a run back in the bottom of the inning
when Scarborough singled home Heaney to increase the lead
to 13-10.
Heaney’s record-tying homer in the eighth provided the
winning margin of 14-10.
Ballouli (6-1) went five innings for the win for the Aggies.
He gave up six runs, five of which were earned on nine hits.
Boyd (2-4) took the loss for the Bearkats. In one inning
of work, Boyd gave up nine runs on seven hits along with
three walks.
Men place
7th at golf
Big 12 final
BY TRAVIS HARSCH
The Battalion
Despite placing three golfers in
the individual top 20, the Texas
A&M Men’s Golf Team finished
seventh at the Big 12 Tournament
after shooting a final-round 296
at Prairie Dunes Country Club in
Hutchinson, Kan. The Aggies,
who stood in sixth after two
rounds, finished with a score of
296-291-296 = 883.
The University of Kansas won
the team title, going wire-to-wire
to finish two shots ahead of run
ner-up University of Nebraska
with an 857. Eighth-ranked Uni
versity of Texas made a charge on
the final day to take third, and the
two-time defending champions
Oklahoma State University, fin
ished fourth.
The Longhorns’ David Gossett
took the individual trophy with a
one-under par score of 71-70-
68 = 209. Junior Lee Reed posted
the best individual score for A&M
with a 68-74-74 = 217 to tie for
ninth.
The tournament marked
Reed’s highest finish and best 54-
hole score of the year.
With senior Ryan Palmer and
sophomore Casey Cronin tying
for 20th place, A&M was one of
five schools to place three or
more players in the top 20.
Although Palmer posted a
two-over-par 72 Tuesday, he did
hit what was perhaps the shot of
the day on the par-five 17th hole.
After a mediocre drive. Palmer
hit a four iron 220 yards to the
front edge of the green, where it
hopped onto the green and just
missed the hole for a double-ea
gle two. Palmer hit the putt for
an eagle and then parted the
18th.