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Show COURIER | 7 {| Wasatch PAGE 16 | County’s Source Jury 13, 1999 for News fag sight aon lg i 2002 Winter Games BEORE edge SES to impossible to duplicate anywhere in the world. Living and training year-round here adds to = a. a - team, but wasn’t quite an official team oa Se ene ee “While living here is a benefit for the training, it is a little scary at IN 5 aT ER times,” Wagner said. “There is that added stress of local expectations - nots ee ae. lives in Park City, and is the only local cross-country racer vying for a slot in the Olympic line up. “I don’t really: mind it,” that comes along with racing here. Most of the normal people don’t understand just how hard it is to Wagner said. “I work out with the sa lela, the strengths of the local racer. ‘Winter Olympic Games. Wagner te team iat AD treat and ace aN ta they “The Olympics are me well, like an And I equal. under-. _ stand what the team is doing - ae at Ld that doesn’t stop Wendy Wagner from being anything but excited for the 2002 i ™ focusing on getting the top four into i. ltl member. But the big enough as itis,and to have them here at home, well it is a moti—vator. “Red aI WENDY WAGNER et 9 red. , ~ ud —_"s ons Level” of comU.S. petition. That would free these | funds for four more athletes to use. I hope to be — a — there for the next go-around.” Born in Salt Lake City, Wagner on ee soa City after she graduated from Skyline High School. The move allowed her to focus on the racing Construction scored two runs on this sacrifice fly ball to deep right| center field. that she loved. And now the chance to race at home, in the Olympics is areal one. “I am psyched, HoPpEFUL in the. Other are just so good that we find it is— a huge success to break chair. It shocked me to the core. For the first time in the history of Karl Malone’s Jazz era, Utah made efforts to bring in draftees to replace the Mailman. I know! I had to catch my breath too! Meet a couple of candidates to fill the shoes of the most-famous, non-postal mail- | ‘man in the world. _ Does the name Scott Padgett mean anything to you loyal Utah fans out there? It should. Padgett was the third overall pick by the Jazz at number 28 in this year’s draft. The low-post player from Kentucky, hintmcuinenn hint, comes to Utah at 6-foot-9 and 240- wal pounds. He averaged 9.6 points per game and 5.1 rebounds an outing for the break-down that is very hard to duplicate. If we train well and use of course,” these things to: our advantage will help.” as it is, and to have Wildcats... the same Kentucky Wildcats | At number 19 overall and the top pick for Utah, Quincey Lewis brings scoring in the form of a pure athlete to the Jazz. Lewis tips the tape at 6-foot-7 and 215- pounds on his way out of Minnesota. In his last season as a Golden Gopher, Lewis hit for 12.7 points a game and 4 boards a night. : The final pick for the Jazz came in the second round at number 58 overall. From Virginia Tech Utah gets 6-foot-6, 200- youngest member of a team filled with few pound guard Edward Lucas. Averaging players that can remember 14.9 points and hitting nearly 44 percent from three point land gives the Jazz a baby Jeff Hornacek this season. being a teen. Kirilenko was the number two pick by Utah, number 24 overall. The number one pick this season comes into the line-up and makes a possible trade of Shandon Anderson seem a little, very little, less spooky. By KARI GIBB Not since the 84-85 span have the Jazz _ had as solid a recruiting class as this year. Courter see JAZZ on, page 19 Me soiled an laid — title away from the Runnin’ Utes two years . ago in the NCAA Championships. Padgett is the most likely to make future deliveries in place of Malone. But _ just to make sure, the Jazz picked up - Andrei Kirilenko from Russia. Kirilenko is a 6-foot-9, 205- pound baby-faced boy wonder at the ripe old age of 18 this year. Born in 1981, Kirilenko becomes the Fae ont ror a Se ae ae A A ok mc ae le ot ae tem ela dy nS” me ee Me a the world.” While the competition is fierce and fast, Wagner admits that the . them here at home, well it is a ‘that came from behind to snatch a national into top 20 and others — look at us and ©xPect us to be the best in the at are the Utah Jazz up to? have to tell you, I about fell off of my world. countries | “We have a climate and an altitude Wagner said. “The Olympics are big enough Ski TEAM break into the top 50 racers, let alone the top 20. 2002 games do give the U.S. racers an edge, if they are able to train. here. “The home court advantage is a strong one here,” Wagner said. moved with her parents to Park Burtons Hee -even the U.S. team members. The dry Utah air is next i : 4 Wagner an. locally gives iving an ie lider Sports Eprror it 8 T Si eles aoa — By KARI GIBB t tao see 7] aad 4 |