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Show StatesmanSports Monday, Nov. 30, 2009 Comradery got McKenna to USU Page 15 Lady Aggies bounce back By TYLER HUSKINSON staff writer By DAN FAWSON staff writer Camaraderie and togetherness are widely recognized aspects of team sports long valued by football, basketball and baseball players alike. Probably not with runners, though, right? Cross country running so often seems to evoke more of an individual struggle. Not for Brian McKenna. In fact, according to the Utah State sophomore, camaraderie is not only one of the reasons he initially embraced distance running, but was also the determining factor in his zling sophomore campaign, McKenna not only helped lead the men's cross country team to its fifth-straight Western Athletic Conference championship, but also earned the right to compete in the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship held in Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 23. "I was really excited, because I was going to race with some of the best athletes in the country," McKenna said. "There were so many good runners. Going up against that type of competition was really a treat for me." Comprised of 250 of the top cross country runners in USU DISTANCE RUNNER BRIAN McKenna dashes along the trail, another win in his sights. McKenna recently placed 69th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championship. Now McKenna is readying himself for the indoor track and field season. CHRISTIAN HATHAWAY photo choice to run for the Aggies. "I actually had a good friend I started racing with in junior high," McKenna said. "He was a major influence on me (and) just showed me how much joy and satisfaction you could have from just working hard and getting better every race. That's really what got me into it, and just the camaraderie between athletes." The opportunity to build such running-based friendships eventually brought the former Viewmont High state champion to Logan. "The biggest thing that got me into the program was I came up here and felt camaraderie," McKenna said of his initial impressions of USU. "I felt that the guys (were) really tight-knit, that they were interested in what everyone on the team has to offer." McKenna remembers quite a different feeling when visiting other schools. "I don't want to name any names," McKenna said of other programs, "but it was a cold experience. Utah State focuses on academics. I feel like I'm involved in what the team does, and the direction we take for setting goals, and even dayto-day workouts." Such an emphasis on team values and togetherness is something McKenna hopes to impress upon all Aggie runners. "That's really what I've been trying to continue with the new guys," he said. "Utah State is unique in that it really tries to reach the potential of everyone. We can build a program and not leave anybody behind." During this past cross country season, McKenna found the team success he loves, and turned quite a few heads with his individual accomplishments, as well. In a daz- the nation, McKenna came in 69th overall, finishing the 10k race in 30:36.8. McKenna was pleased with his performance. "I believe I earned my place," he said. "I really had my fastest race of the year and caught as many runners as I could beat that last couple miles." The experience, while aweinspiring, left McKenna eager to improve and return to the national championships next season. He hopes, however, to bring a few more travel partners with him next time. "My hope is that I continue to improve every year," McKenna said. "I definitely want to go again next year, and if it's possible to go with the team – (having) my fellow Aggies alongside – that'd be great." With the cross country season officially behind him, and indoor track and field fast approaching in the spring, McKenna has set a few goals he hopes will carry him to one of his few sought after individual honors. "Obviously the pinnacle for any athlete is to become All-American, and I hope to do that," McKenna said. If not next year, the year after – maybe both years. Cross country is definitely my best chance. It's a year away from me, so right now my goal is to take down my time (by) probably a minute in the 10k, and see where that puts me for outdoor, and then go from there." McKenna ran in the 3000m and 5000m events last indoor season, and plans to do so again come spring. The 5000m race is the longest in the indoor season, which is fine by McKenna. "The longer the distance the better," he said. – majerusforpresident@ yahoo.com The Aggies (3-1) bounced back from a disappointing road loss, defeating the Montana Western University Bulldogs (4-6) 71-34 in convincing fashion at the Spectrum Saturday afternoon. The Aggies scored first on a 3-point shot by junior forward Amber White and led the rest of the game. White bounced back from a poor shooting performance against the San Francisco Dons scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the 3point line. Aggie redshirt freshman center Banna Diop had a breakout performance scoring a career-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting, with 11 of her points coming in the second half. Diop also swatted three of the four Aggie blocks on the night. "Banna has been putting together three or four practices in a row, just good quality basketball, just being the player that we know she can be," Aggie head coach Raegan Pebley said. "I was really, really thrilled to see her be able to benefit from her hard work in a game." The Aggies shot 60 percent from the field and a blistering 83.3 percent from the 3-point line. The Aggie bench matched the Bulldogs' total points in the first half with 17. Junior guard LaCale PringleBuchanan scored seven points and junior forward Stacey Howard pulled down a career-high nine rebounds. Senior Aggie guard TaHara Williams started in place of freshman T.J. Goddard. Goddard scored two points in 13 minutes of action. Freshman forward Devyn Christensen recorded her first collegiate points hitting a 3-point shot in 10 minutes of action. Every Aggie player saw at least 10 minutes of action and at one point almost all the Aggie freshmen were on the floor at once. "There was a point in the game where we had four freshmen on the floor, and I thought we did really well," Pebley said. "Overall, I thought they were ready when called upon." The Aggies were stingy on defense and only allowed the Bulldogs to shoot 27.8 percent from the field and 20 percent from the 3-point line. The Aggies limited the Bulldogs to 17 points in both halves. No Bulldog scored double digits but center Laura Geis led Montana Western with eight points. The Ags travel down south next, to compete in the Arizona State University Classic along with Pepperdine, Idaho State and Arizona State. Utah State will face the Pepperdine University Waves (3-3) first from the West Coast Conference. The Waves have recorded 20-win seasons at least six times and have been to FRESHMAN FORWARD TRISHA JO GODDARD drives to the hoop against the Montana Western Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Goddard scored two points in the game. Coach Raegan Pebley praised the composure of her freshman class of players. CODY GOCHNOUR photo the post season seven times in the past 11 years and may prove to be a difficult opponent for USU. The Waves are head coached by Julie Rousseau, who was head coach of the WBNA's Los Angeles Sparks. Senior forward Miranda Ayim leads the Waves with an average of 15.3 points per game and almost three steals. Sophomore guards Jazmine Jackson and Lauren Bell are averaging more than 11 points per game for the Waves. The Waves are averaging 70 points per game, but are also allowing their opponents to score 70 points per game. The Waves stopped a three-game losing skid Friday night against the Providence Friars, 64-51. Ayim led the Waves with 22 points and finished the night with five steals, two assists and one block. Jackson chipped in 12 points of her own and sophomore guard Katie Menton finished with 13 points. Both the Friars and the Waves shot well in the first half, then shot poorly in the second half Pepperdine won the game with its free-throw shooting. The Friars were 9-of-12 from the free-throw line and the Waves hit 21-of-36. Overall, the Aggies are 1-1 against the West Coast Conference, with a win against Portland and a loss to San Francisco on the road. Tip-off against Pepperdine is set for 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 at Wells Fargo Arena in California. – ty.d.hus@aggiemaiLusu.edu Calvillo leads Allouettes to Grey Cup CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Long a staple of Saskatchewan Roughriders lore, the "13th man" took on a new and forever negative connotation Sunday night. Instead of the loud and colorful Saskatchewan faithful providing a figurative extra man, a real 13th man cost the team the Grey Cup title. The Roughriders appeared to have escaped with a one-point victory when Montreal kicker Damon Duval's field-goal try sailed wide from 43 yards in the final seconds, but the Roughriders were flagged for having an extra man on the field. Given a second chance, Duval nailed a 33-yarder with no time left to give the Alouettes a 28-27 comeback victory over the dazed Roughriders. "The man upstairs gave me a second opportunity," Duval said. Great Summer Jobs in California for the largest family-owned pest control company in the US. 100% commissions up-front. Gas & cell phones paid. Check out "I got the ball through and what can I say, it was all these guys here just fighting back play after play." The Roughriders failed in a bid for a second title in three years. "It was a lack of communication but it should have been recognized," coach Ken Miller said about the critical penalty. "The disappointment of this loss is going to affect us as long as we're on this planet. Total 100 percent disappointment." Montreal, a team-record 15-3 in the regular season, erased a late 16-point deficit. Avon Cobourne, selected the game MVP, scored on a 3-yard run with 7:05 left, and Anthony Calvillo completed a 2-point conversion pass to Kerry Carter to make it 27-19. Calvin() then threw an 11-yard scoring pass to Ben Cahoon. Faculty & Staff Save the Tax ! alb That's Right! 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