The Wichitan - Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls Texas

MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY | September, 28, 2005

SPORTS

Cross Country team Proud to make MSU History
Latia Banks | For the Wichitan

Before the sun kisses the horizon, they awake. At their destination, the morning dew surrounds them and the sounds of crickets ring in their ears like church bells. There is just enough light from the near by light pole to cast a glow over the bike trail, guiding their path. Their mornings begin early, but their path, by any means, is not just a stroll in the park.
The first MSU Women’s Cross Country team is stretched and ready at 6 a.m. They work out six days a week sometimes twice a day. These nine athletes will begin a tradition and all it takes is 30-plus miles a week.
Many of the girls are upper classmen, all from Texas, all with a common goal in mind: to do their very best.
“I really enjoy that we’re the first girls Cross Country team to represent our school,” said senior Katy Blackwood.
Some girls run to relieve stress, but how much stress can a person have to want to run in the heat of the day for 45 minutes?
James Childers, a.k.a “Coach Chilly” director of strength and conditioning and now head coach of Women’s Cross Country, said the afternoon workouts are usually the lighter of the two, but he makes sure the girls get a variety. Workouts may consist of endurance and sprints. Aside from running at parks, bike trails, and golf courses, the team also participates in 5 a.m. spinning classes at the Outdoor Education Center.
That afternoon at 4 p.m. the girls meet at J.C. Park for a 30-minute run. The team is talkative and full of energy as if they had relaxed all day. Some dress in tank tops, hats, and sunglasses to shield their eyes from the burning sun as the stretch. They all seem to get along despite the heat factor, which can make anyone edgy. Bottles of water and sun-block rest on the bench as Coach Chilly picks the trail they’re to run for the afternoon.
In the girls first meet the team placed seventh out of many other Division II colleges and even Division I. Not bad considering that some of these girls didn’t even run in high school. Right now, their biggest race is the conference meet to be held in Weatherford, Okla. Oct. 22 It’s too early to tell if any individuals on the team will advance to Regionals or Nationals, but Childers has high hopes.
“We can become a national power. This area has great runners and plenty of talent,” he said.
Although the girls must travel by van to each meet, the possibility of an MSU hosted meet is not far away. Unfortunately for the seniors, that may not occur until next year or the year after. The team will also have more scholarships to look forward to. Four scholarships currently exist, but will gradually exist as time progresses.
Adding Women’s Cross Country to MSU athletics may help increase attention on female sports. Not only will recruitment create interest in the sport, but also the school. In the meantime, the girls believe the reward after the race is satisfying enough.
“It’s an exciting challenge, “ said senior Natalie Noblitt.
This challenge won’t last long with only eight meets left, but history of a new athletic program has begun.
After the enduring workout in the blistering heat, the girls finish the trail with a strong sprint. They drip of perspiration. A light cool-down jog brings the practice to a close. Coach Chilly tells the girls to “clap it up.” Exhausted, they cheer out in unison “Hydrate!” and walk away, just to do it all over again tomorrow.

Cross Country Places Sixth
Moses Allen | Staff Reporter

The MSU cross country team registered 128 points to place sixth at the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational Saturday morning in Shawnee Okla.
Oklahoma Christian finished with 62 points, enough for first, while Central Oklahoma totaled 67 for second place.
“All of the girls broke the season-best marks,” head coach James Childers said. “Central Oklahoma was the only school in our conference that finished higher than us.”
Anna Crockett collected a season-best time of 19:23 to lead the Lady Indians with a fifth- place individual finish. Tiffany Stewart finished 11th with a time of 19:52, while Mindy Burns placed 29th with 21:07.
Mariah Cano (33rd, 21:14), Natalie Noblitt (53rd, 22:35) and Mindy Briones (56th, 23:04) also placed for the Lady Indians.

Indians tie UIW in Double Overtime
Josh Mujica | For the Wichitan

Southwest Soccer Conference action couldn’t have been more competitive Sunday afternoon, as the men’s soccer team battled to a 2-2 tie with Incarnate Word in double overtime on the UIW campus.
The No.17 Indians (5-1-1, 4-1-1) and Incarnate Word (5-3-2, 4-1-1) hustled back and forth with UIW scoring first on a penalty kick goal by Thomas Mosely in the 21st minute.
MSU counter-attacked a minute later with the first of two goals by junior Olawale Adelusimi. Adelusimi got his second goal in the 25th minute off a feed from Keegan Hudson.
The Cardinals got the game tying goal in the 51st minute off a feed from Miguel Hurtado to Monday Atigo.
UIW keeper Gil Ben Nahum collected three saves against 13 MSU shots while MSU freshman goal keeper Raul Herrera had one save against 18 shots, allowing two goals.
The game marked the only action for MSU on the weekend as Hurricane Rita posed a threat and Friday’s match-up against St. Mary’s was postponed for another date.
The Indians will host Dallas Baptist at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Indians drop Second Consecutive Road Game, Fall to 2-2
Iggy Cruz | Sports Editor

The number three has served as an omen for the Indians throughout the season.
It is the amount of points MSU has lost by in their first two road games combined and the amount of time Angelo State spared the Indians Saturday night, as J.D. Williams kicked a 20-yard field goal in the closing seconds for a 30-29 ASU victory.
The game-winning field goal capped off an incredible comeback by the Rams (5-0, 1-0 in LSC South), who only managed seven points in the first half before exploding for 23 points in the final 15 minutes.
The loss drops the Indians to 2-2 on season and 0-1 in the LSC South.
The Indian defense provided the game’s first points when Gary Elliott picked-off an ASU pass with 18 seconds into the game, and returned it 50 yards for the score. After a quick three-and-out by ASU, the Indians drove to the ball down to the Ram 47 before Rahsaan Bell sprinted 40 yards on a quarterback draw to give the team a 14-0 lead.
ASU would answer on the next drive by scoring their only points of the half when freshman running back Kyle Fox ripped the defense for a 41-yard touchdown with 10:52 in the first.
MSU would take the 14-7 lead into halftime, as aggressive play on defense and several penalties prevented both teams from scoring in the second quarter. The Indians were flagged 12 times for 103 yards and turned the ball over twice, while the Rams had one turnover and 70 yards in penalties.
The Indians would eventually turn to redshirt freshman Ryan Roberts late in the third quarter after an ailing Bell struggled to lead the offense. Bell finished 6 of 15 passing for 62 yards, while adding 48 on the ground.
With 1:32 remaining in the third, Roberts gave the offense a spark by connecting with Darrius Richard for a 69-yard bomb on his first pass attempt, giving the Indians a 20-7 advantage. Kristian Foster would add to the lead by knocking in a 26-yarder on the Indians next possession.
The potent Ram offense finally got things rolling in the fourth. Trey Weishuhn would hook up with Fox for 35-yard touchdown, but a two-point conversion attempt by Weishuhn fell incomplete as MSU held on to a 23-13 lead.
Weishuhn then found Lamar Hickey for a 15-yard score on the next drive to get the Rams within three points and back into the game. Weishuhn threw for 308 yards on the night and three touchdowns.
With the MSU lead in danger, Ross Harrison stepped to the line and broke free for a 62-yard touchdown with 3:41 left to give the Indians a nine-point edge. But Foster’s extra point attempt failed, giving the Rams the opportunity to capitalize on the mistake.
Starting from their 23-yard line, ASU drove 77 yards and finished the drive with a 32-yard Weishuhn pass to Justin Carter, slicing the lead to two.
The Rams luck carried over to the following kickoff, as the team recovered their onside kick at the ASU 47 with 1:20 left.
ASU worked the clock down to nine seconds before trying their first field goal attempt. The Indians special teams blocked the attempt by Williams, but a costly offside penalty by MSU gave the Rams a second opportunity with six seconds left.
Williams would not miss this time. The field goal lifted the Rams to a one-point victory and left the Indians heartbroken. The team had lost their previous road game to Texas A&M-Commerce by a missed field goal, 27-25.
Harrison extended his touchdown streak to four games and racked up 157 yards rushing, while Roberts completed 5-of-7 passes for 127 yards.
Dezmond Sherrer and Chip Burt led the defense with 9 and 8 tackles respectively. The Indians defense also recorded one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, six pass deflections, and two sacks.
MSU will now shift focus to the surprising West Texas A&M Buffaloes. The Buffs, (5-0, 3-0 in LSC), pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Division II football last week by downing third-ranked Texas A&M-Kingsville, 28-20. After finishing 2-8 last season, first year head coach Don Carthel has guided the Buffs high-powered offense and revamped defense to it’s first 5-0 start since 1995. WTA&M has outscored opponents 240 to 92 through five games and is averaging 501 yards of total offense. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Volleyball ends 15-year losing Streak against Cameron: Improve to 13-5
Iggy Cruz | Sports Editor

In thrilling fashion, the Lady Indians volleyball team outlasted Cameron 30-27, 30-28, 32-30 Saturday afternoon in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The victory marked MSU’s first win against Cameron in 24 match sets, while placing the Lady Indians (13-5, 1-1) within a match of LSC North Division leader Southeastern Oklahoma. The team also topped last season’s win total and are one victory away from the most in a season since the ’96 team.
“We had to come out and beat this team because we both had losses in our conference opener,” head coach Venera Flores said. “In order to stay near the top of the standings, we had to come out here and make statement, and I think we did.”
Shay Velasquez led MSU with 17 kills, two aces, and 14 digs, while Candice Main added 15 kills. Ashley Godwin also posted 20 digs and Allison Schreiber had 54 set assists for the Lady Indians.
Velasquez, a freshman outside hitter, was honored by the LSC this week by being named north offensive player of the week. The Amarillo native guided the team to a 3-1 week by tallying 37 kills, 41 digs, and 11 service aces during the stretch. Velasquez became the second consecutive Indians to be honored, following Main’s accomplishments last week.