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3 Aggieland
Sports
The Battalion
Page 5 • Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Walk-on overcomes injury to play V-ball
Wynalda excels on and off the court as an Aggie
By Jeff Allen
THE BATTALION
If everything had gone as planned
,during Rebecca Wynalda\s senior year in
Jiigh school, she’d be in the process of
finishing off her volleyball career at Rice
University in Houston.
Wynalda was a standout at Kennedale
High School, a three-
sport star and valedicto
rian of her graduating
class, toting with her a
list of honors longer
than most people care
to read, but Wynalda
’t seem to struggle
Texas A&M Aggies
Kansas
with patience according to her mother
Wanda Wynalda.
; “She is a real hard worker and does
n’t like to quit,” Wanda said. “Once she
starts, she finishes. She hasn’t required
any coaching on our part. She’s a real
hard worker.”
y Wynalda was indeed a standout as a
/{Wildcat, making her biggest splash in
({softball, a sport she had played since
•'second grade. She was a first baseman
and named to the All-State Tournament
team after helping lead the Wildcats to a
state championship in 1998.
On the hardwood she received first
team All-District honors in basketball
and volleyball. It was in volleyball that
the 6-foot-2-inch outside hitter garnered
the most attention.
She was courted by the likes of
Baylor University, Rice and Texas
A&M, but it was with the Owls that she
had the best shot at a scholarship; it was
on the table virtually waiting for her
until about the second week of basket
ball season Wynalda’s
senior year in high
school when she tore
TONIGHT her ACL.
“It was a shock,”
^ ; Wynalda said. “I could-
£ ^ l1 ' 1 lint * ers,aiu l Lntil
then I had never heard
of anyone hurting their
ACL and missing six months. I was
blown away (that 1) had to miss the bas
ketball and softball seasons.”
Wynalda tore her anterior cruciate
ligament, an ailment that is not all
that uncommon in sports, and with it
comes a painful, long and difficult
rehabilitation.
“It was hard at first,” she said, “but I
was able to do things my senior year I
had never done before. (But) I never
doubted that I’d play again, it wasn’t an
option.
With the loss of the second half of
her senior year, the scholarship was off
the table and Wynalda faced some diffi
cult decisions.
She could walk-on at Rice, or she
could try her hand, and her knee, in one
of the most difficult athletic conferences
in the nation, the Big 12.
“I always liked A&M but thought the
program was too good, I thought I’d
play at a smaller school, but (after the
knee injury) I didn’t want to sit back and
wonder” she said.
Wynalda decided on A&M, a place
that seemed right to her and her family.
“Both her and her father thought it’d
be a better environment,” Wanda said.
“We didn't know what the future held,
but we had a peace about it.”
Wynalda described the peace that
accompanied her decision as a result of
the faith she had placed in God, and
knowing that whatever He had planned
would be done and that she would not
have to take matters into her own hands
or deal with things alone.
“One of the deals for me was the
question ‘What is the Lord doing with
me?’” Wynalda said. “ It was a growing
experiences (from the injury and rehab)
and taught me about trusting God. I
wouldn’t be at A&M if it wouldn't have
happened.”
She made her first appearance on the
diiuiidiiicu me/\ii-ouuc- luunidiiiciu iiounteci that t ci piay again, it wasn i an * • , , • k ■
team after helping lead the Wildcats to a option.” " She made her t,rst a PP earance on the Randal ford • the battalion
State championship in 1998. With the loss of the second half of Senior libero Rebecca Wynalda had her fair share of struggles before shining at Texas
On the hardwood she received first her senior year, the scholarship was off See Wynalda on page 7 A&M. Despite her busy schedule, the walk-on from Kennedale, Texas, maintains a 4.0 GPR.
Taylor takes aim at school receiving record against Nebraska
R T M il because of NCAA eligibility rules,” said Taylor, in that season. receiver position are likely to fall often in the com-
y iroy Miller w ho transferred from Notre Dame after his fresh- Taylor is following in their footsteps, but doesn’t ing years. Junior Terrence Murphy is right behind
THE BATTALION man season. “But 10 months from now it might be figure to end up with just one record when his career Taylor waiting in the wings to pick up the slack
broken again because Terrence (Murphy) has been is said and done at the end of this season. Taylor when Taylor graduates.
Senior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor has only
played in 25 career games in his three seasons at
Texas A&M, but he is poised to take claim of the
most prestigious record for wide receivers.
With 36 more receiving yards, Taylor will pass
former Aggie receiver and current New England
Patriot Bethel Johnson to be the all-time receiving
leader in A&M history. . „
“You look at everybody else on there and they’ve
gone through four years, and 1 only had three years
because of NCAA eligibility rules,” said Taylor,
who transferred from Notre Dame after his fresh
man season. “But 10 months from now it might be
broken again because Terrence (Murphy) has been
playing well and this program has been passing the
ball more than in the past.”
A&M has been passing the ball with much more
fervor the past few years since offenses in the Big 12
have opened up and wide receivers have decided to
make A&M their home.
In 2000, Robert Ferguson broke the single-sea
son receiving mark with 885 yards. Johnson broke
wot only the total receiving yards mark in 2002, but
also the receptions mark by catching his 117th pass
in that season.
Taylor is following in their footsteps, but doesn't
figure to end up with just one record when his career
is said and done at the end of this season. Taylor
needs just 10 receptions in his last six games to
overtake Johnson in that category and 430 yards to
knock Ferguson out of the top spot in receiving
yards in a season.
“We got talented receivers here,” Taylor said.
“Guys who are liable to break the record next year.
Records are made to fall, and especially right now at
this position. I’m just proud to be mentioned in the
same breath as those guys at the top.”
Taylor is right about one thing: Records at the
receiver position are likely to fall often in the com
ing years. Junior Terrence Murphy is right behind
Taylor waiting in the wings to pick up the slack
when Taylor graduates.
Junior Terrence Thomas is also awaiting his
chance at more catches, and sophomores L’Tydrick
Riley and Anthony Wright are two more up-and-
coming playmakers on the Aggie roster.
And don’t forget Taylor’s younger brother
Earvin and redshirt freshman Chad Schfoeder, who
could be the fastest player on the A&M roster. All in
See Taylor on pag^ 7
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