OCR Text |
Show A Pag 4B North Edition Review 13 Wednesday, April , 1983 Lakesid Yho VIleybIII, Jovolotni tf Mye Soody tf By HINT SOMERS Raviaw Sport - i Iditor ROY It was a summer day in 1980 when Coach Radene Johnson of Roy High decided to move her volleyball clinic outside because the schools gym floor was being refinished. A few minutes later, a tall young girl r walked into camp and asked if she could play. Johnson had never seen her before, although Niki Nye had played volleyball at Sand Ridge Junior High. "I missed a lot, said Johnson, explaining her reason for not knowing about her future star. High school basketball season is the n r And although the Royals were successful while Nye was there, problems did arise. dur-i- n Johnson said there were times "It (the javelin) was supposed to be tension season that p the volleyball at 5 oclock and it started at 4, said arose because of Nyes aggressiveness Niki. "I got two throws and no warm after balls from her setter in going up. It was disappointing to go all the way down there and then get ripped PButfhe Royals coaches convinced off. each girl that she had a responsibility Strong words for Nye, who rather on the court and the entire team played than answer questions and strain her good volleyball on its way to second arm patting herself on the back, would place. answer "I dont know, I never thought But, said Johnson, "in the several about it. we lost there was that tension. Not that she has trouble thinking, games When problems did occur, Nye said one look at Nyes 3.85 grade point that. will her reactior. was to stay quiet. "I just tell you average transcript She also plans to major in nursing, tried not to say aiythiug to them; just which was one reason for choosing tried to mind my own business. Weber State. Taking second in the state tourna"I never really wanted to go to Utah ment was even more satisfying to the State, Nye said, explaining her Royals and Nye because no one gave choice. "BYU wanted me to redshirt, much of a chance to succeed. and be a setter, not a hitter, and the them We were underrated the whole time University of Utah didnt seem to take and got a lot more respect oi ce we got it seriously. She was also recruited by Illinois close up there, Iye said. State University for track and volleyRespect is somethii g Nye r ever had ball, Boise State for both sports and the to worry about iu the javelii throw, University of Nebraska for track. recordiig a throw of 1496 last year But after a class last year, Nye be- for a school record, and also wir. ning in came interested it. nursing, a demandthe state meet. ing field made tougher by volleyball Johnson said Nyes javelin marks, games and track meets. "BYU said no way you can do both as well as her volleyball skills, should nursing and athletics, said Nye. So improve in college when Nye starts a Nye chose Weber State and is waiting weight lifting program. to see if she is admitted to nursing Which is fine with Nye, who doesnt school this year. when it comes to competing comwilt "But it (school) starts in the summer "I think Im a competitor. I and there is lots of stuff going on in the petition. it my best shot at whatever Im try? give She did, losing only one meet last summers, Nye said. doing. For Nye, thats also true for fall, year and winning the state championJohnson can attest to that. She knew ship. She traveled to El Paso, Texas, winter and spring, and shes lettered in almost from the day a tall young girl it last summer for the TAC Junior Oly- volleyball, basketball and track in into her volleyball camp. walked in the to of Track Meet each her at three compete Roy. mpic years same time as junior high school volleyball, and Johnson rarely got out of the gym to scout her future players. I knew nothing about Niki until that first day, Johnson said. But it o ly took a few minutes of watching Nye play volleyball to make Johnson want much more. to know more The coachs first reaction? VMan, weve got to find out who she is. Shes gonna be a volleyball player. She just showed exceptional ability. But Nye wasnt even sure she wanted to play high school volleyball, and came to the clinic only after she was urged to try by a neighbor who had played for Johnson. Nye began starting for the Royals midway through her sophomore year and hasnt been out of the lineup since. This year, she recorded 71 kills; her t ext closest teammate had 22. Her team finished second in the state, los-- i: g by two points to Weber in the third game and Niki was named first team after gaining honorable mention honors her junior year. Johisor calls her the best high school volleyball player i.i the state. Apparently Weber State Coach Ted e Compoc agrees, offering Nye a volleyball scholarship, and telling people she could be the finest volleyball player ever at Weber State. And to the end the story here would be enough for most people. Nice, pleasant girl makes good, right? But Nye didnt stop there. She needed something to do in the spring and well, since she threw the softball in junior high, why not give the javelin a javelin and discus and took third place iu both events despite being late for the javelin throw. . all-stat- e, full-rid- -- ROY HIGH'S Niki Nye, besides volleyball playbeing an er, won the state javelin champion- all-sta- te Staff phta by Dan Millar ship last year. Nye also averaged 12 rebounds a game in basketball this year. Kaysville Finishes Year With Perfect Record - Newey Considering WSC, Utah State By KENT SOMERS Review Sports Editor Do you know how to tell a i KAYSVILLE Davis High Coach Mike Gardner must have cracked a smile when he heard .the final standings of this years jutior high basketball league. Kaysville Junior, which went 0 on the year, beat Farming-to- n for the champJunior, ionship. The Knights averaged 72 points a game and allowed their opponents only 35 points a 12-- 86-4- 1, game. So why should this make Gardner happy? Kaysville Junior feeds into Davis High, and these Kaysville kids will soon be dribbling under Gard- teams in the district. The junior high leagues are divided into north and south with Kaysville winning the north. Farmington won the southern division but lost in thei final game. Farmington Junior, coached by Vance Downs, is a splinter from Kaysville Junior and is in its first year of existence. Kaysville, coached by Jack Reese, were ahead by only 10 points a halftime, in the final game sprinted away in the secwi a. ond half for the local high School State? I:, aU The University of Utah gymnastics teams win in the NCAA meet over Arizona State and Fullerton wasnt the only upset pulled in the sport last week. Bountiful Highs team received solid performances from every member ot the team to win the Region Four championship, easily defeating second-plac- e East and third-plac- e Reese. That should also make Gard- ner smile. Cal-Sta- te . ' Davis. Bountiful scored 296.20 points and East scored 275.80. Davis ended with a score of 273.95. The Braves have been hurting in past meets because of injury problems, but overcame those to win the region title. "All of our girls just hit their routines today and that made the difference, said Bountiful Coach Jan Whittaker. "I feel even though our team is small, that if our scores were consistent enough, we could place first. But be sure you know it was really a team effort. "Our optional girls are the ones Im really proud of, Whi- ttaker continued. "We needed to score points in all the events, so our gilrs just gave it their best shot. all-arou- "We knew it would be a battle between Peterson and Palmer for us and Sarris of Viewmont for the overall optional title, but to our surprise Peterson pulled it out, said Whittaker. . In the class 111 the Braves won the first spot, with Cindy Shaffer getting a 34.85 score. Jolene Ward of Viewmont finished second with a 34.50 score, and Jill Salmon took third with a 32.80 score. all-arou- Announces Registration Data City Names Champs : LAYTON The Layton City Recreation Department has announced the winners of its little league basketball season. The fourth-grad- e champions are the Lincoln Elementary team coached by Allen The fifth-grad- e Chour-no- s. winners are the Vae View Elementary team coached by Robert Speer. The East Layton Elementary team coached by Jim Batcehlor won the sixth-grad-e championship. T The seventh-grad- e leage was won by Marjo Garcias club. soon be driving towards the hoop as a either at Weber State or Utah State. The collegiate player, national day is today. REID NEWEY will letter-of-inte- nt The "89ers league was won by the Wildcats, who are coached by Vince Black, but the Jazz, coached by Punchy Lee won the tournament. The recreation department is also holding a registration for womens and high school girls softball teams through Friday. The games will be played on Tuesday nights and the recreation department asks that players organize the teams. If you have any questions, call the recreation office at I 544-345- 8. , George or Rexburg, Idaho, hide out in obscurity for a few years in cities where there is little to do but go to classes and make passes and then go to Logan, Salt Lake, Provo or Ogden to play.' And that appears to be what visited Laramie. local athletes are prepared to Area junior colleges are also do. With the exception of Roys interested in Housekeepers Reid Newey, area athletes will teammates, Todd Robinson and probably play junior college Race McCleery, and Wildcats basketball. Coach. Wayne Baker said he Newey said Monday he had thinks they would all be better just visited Utah State, had a off going to junior colleges. "nice time, and had narrowed Bountiful Coach Mike Hall his choices to USU and Weber said.- Gary Seljaas, Blake Izatt State. Ive got leanings, he and Steve Hibbert have been said, but he declined to say contacted by junior colleges. - Drew Trying Comeback As a Drug-Fre- e Player By DAN CARLSRUH Roivaw Staff CLEARFIELD Kim Peterson of Bountiful won the optional tito 35.85 beat Kim tle, scoring Sarris of Viewmont, (35.89) and Jill Palmer, Bountiful, (34.50). No, this isnt a quiz, and no, there is no punch line. In most cases, you would tell them to go to places like Ephraim, St. - nt Brave Gymnasts Win; Davis Finishes in Third basketball big-tim- e, ners direction. And lets uot "Learning to play a good dewas our goal, said fense forget Farmington Junior, which also has a pipeline to Davis, giving Gardner the talent off the top two junior high letter-o- f-intent inplayer the way to state basketball schools, such as Utah State, BYU and Weber . which way his 65 body was tilting before this mornings signing day. Woods Cross center Greg Housekeeper, who helped the Wildcats to a state championship, said he has not set a timetable for his decision and will visit Ricks College in Rexburg Thursday. Dixie College in St. George and Snow College in Ephraim have also expressed interest in Housekeeper. "Im in no hurry, Housekeeper said. The University of Wyoming is also interested in the 69 center, and Housekeeper recently John Drews path to the Utah Jazz was filled with more chuckholes than a Layton road. Drugs and his inability to recognize his problems slowed Drew from one of the better basketball players in the National Basketball Association to fighting for a spot on a losing squad. Drew knew what it was like to be on a rough road, and last week he told all his problems to the students at the Clearfield Job Corps, people who also know a bit about rough roads. Drews problems began when he hurt his knee in a game. "I got some speed for the pain and was told to take one of the pills, but I took all of them at once, it damned near killed me, he told the Job Corps students. But his first shot with drugs was a "one-tim- e thing. Drew said his problems with drugs began in the second year of his NBA career. There was a lot of cocaine floating around sports circles and Drew wanted to find out what was so special about it he said. "I was curious, and I told myself that it wouldnt become a problem with me. I wouldnt get addicted. But what started out as an experiment grew to a twice a week, three times, four times, then an everyday habit. Drew called it his disease, and it began to grow more. "I continued to play pretty good ball, but then I began to 4 get warped, he said. His basketball skills dropped and he was released from playing. His one wall to recovery was his refusal to admit that he even had a problem. "It took me six years before I could admit to myself my problem. He said his depression grew and he even considered suicide. The only thing that kept him going was that he didnt lose contact with God. Sitting in a hotel room in Cleveland, Drew found himself becoming depressed. I found myself crying. I said God, get me out of this. Once he became aware of his problem, Drew admitted himself to a treatment center. His first attempt at a center failed. "I thought I was different than the others because I only shot cocaine and they were heroin addicts. I thought I was better than them. Finally, after he was determined to make it work, he admitted himself to a different treatment center. This time he stayed with the program until he was ready to face the "real world without drugs, he said. Drew, who is only 28, may have stopped himself in time. He still may have a good NBA career. But he warns other athletes who think they wont become addicted, or dont have to worry about it becoming a problem. "Taking drugs is like putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger. . JOHN DREW, forward for the Utah Jazz, spoke about his problems with drugs to students at the Clearfield Job Corps last week. Drew completed treatment at a rehabilitation center earlier this year. |