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Show Page 10 The' Thunderbird Monday April 15, 1985 'vr Moots ewi Birds split with Mustangs by Joe Cartwright The Southern Utah State baseball team split a doubleheader with Western New Mexico, winning the first and dropping the nightcap Saturday afternoon. Were happy with the week that we have had, said Thunderbird coach Bill Groves. We would have been happier to get two wins here today, but thats the way the ball bounces. The put on a hitting clinic during the win in the first game with the 12th ranked Mustangs. If you were to believe the national ratings, Western New Mexico would probably be heavily favored, said Groves. However, (10th ranked) Mesa College was heavily favored last week when we took three .of four games at their place. The Thunderbirds quickly jumped out to a 0 lead in the second inning, and this looked to be another blowout. Western New Mexico showed otherwise. Scoring runs in the 4th, 6th and 7th innings, the Mustangs took a advantage, and the marathon game had begun. 14-1- 3 7-- 2 5-- 9-- 6 The Thunderbirds countered the Mustang rally with Rich Lundhall bunting to first base. After a pop fly by Jayme Esplin, Rob Palm smashed a pitch 375 feet over the left field wall. Not to be outdone by Palm, Doug Alldredge promptly came to the plate and sent the next pitch sailing 390 feet over the center field wall to tie the game at nine. The Mustangs opened a 10-- lead in the top of the eighth only to see SUSC in the bottom of go back in front the inning with Jim Kotkas hammering a home run to center and Esplin driving another pitch over the right field fence. Western New Mexico came back in the 9th with a two more homers only to see Mike Federico and Kotkas collect two more RBI to send the game into extra innings. Palm reached third base in the bottom of the 10th on a mustang error to see Mark Griffin finally end the game by singling home Palm for the winning run. 9 0 (ho-huj- The Thunderbirds now travel to Las Vegas to take on UNLV Tuesday and come back home Saturday for a twinbill against an alumni team. r' remarkable because of the time, dedication, and strict discipline required of the student-athletTo reward these athletes for their dedication and accomplishments in both academics and athletics, each year the NCAA and coaches select athletes from each sport and name them academic This year SUSC is represented by an such an athlete. Nancy Barr, a junior member of the gymnastic team who competes in the competition, was selected for the honor. Her 3.87 GPA, involvement ijjeampus activities, and contributions to the gymnastic team were used as basis for the selection. Academics have always been an important part of Barrs life. During high school she carried a cumulative' GPA of 3.92. At Woodbridge American High School in England she was president of the schools National Honor Society and the named the Valedictorian of her graduating class. Besides being a devoted student, Barr was also involved in student government, serving as class president her junior and senior years, and a member of the International Thespians. Unlike most gymnasts, Barr didnt begin training until she was 14. While living in Las Vegas, she joined the Las Vegas Comets Gymnastics Club. As a member of that club Barr received several honors. In 1978, for instance, she won third in the first in the floor exercise and uneven bars, and named Amateur Athletic Union Gymnast of the Year. During the first quarter of her freshman year at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas, Barrs father, an Air Force officer, was sent to England. After her family Barr joined a British gymnastics club in had Ipswich, England, to stay in shape, but quit competition. Four years later she returned to the states, enrolled at SUSC, and joined the gymnastics team as a walk-oDuring her first two years, Barr was a solid competitor in the floor exercise and balance beam. This year, because the team lacked depth, she volunteered to compete in the e. v '' c , ,, - v - T For the second straight week, Coach Bill Groves team knocked off a nationally ranked school, splitting a doubleheader Saturday. girl All-Americ- an Coach Kathryn Berg was excited with that decision. I knew I could count on her to give the best she could, Berg said. She worked really hard on her weaker events. Nancy is completely committed to the sport. Each time she goes out I know shell give 100 percent. She never slacks off. Berg says Barr is also a good influence on the team. Nancy tries to draw everyone together, she realizes the team goals and makes an effort to make each individual feel they are important to the team. These same views are expressed by sophomore Mil V ' V'; ,s' cyA Nancy Barr: not just an average Carrying a 3.87 grade point average is a credit to anyone, but for a collegiate athlete its even more gvy v- .. teammate, Karen Keyes, who said, Nancy is very inspirational. Whenever someone is down, shes right there to give support. You can always count on her to be positive, even when she is having a hard time. For an athlete to retain such a high GPA during the You season requires extraordinary effort, Berg said. can always count on Nancy to take her books and work on her studies, Berg said. She makes the effort n all of her studies. Its a credit to her and to the reason why she is so successful. This sort of effort is also appreciated by many of Barrs professors. Nancy would always come to me, long before she was going to be gone, to find out what assignments would be due and if any tests were going to be taken, said Blair Maxfield, geology professor. She always had everything taken care of before she left. I appreciate that kind of student. She doesnt expect or ask for favors. Barr is a math major and minors in computer' science. Associate Professor Jim Cot s, who has taught her in such classes as statistics, differential equations, and experimental design, regards her as ...an outstanding student in every way. Shes the ideal student and a very, very fine young woman. This sort of comment is also reflected by her other math professors. She gets As not only because shes bright, but because she puts out the effort, said Professor Richard Tebbs. As a student, Barr said she feels one of SUSCs best features is the personalized attention given by the teachers. The professors will meet with you on a basis. They really care about the student, she said. One of Barrs other campus involvements is being a math tutor at the Learning Center. She said she enjoys helping people and feels its necessary, especially in math. Math is something that you have to keep up on because once you get down, youre sunk, she said. To really appreciate the time and sacrifice it takes to be a student-ahtletyou almost have to be one yourself. In the words of Cotts, Nancys accomplishments are to be recognized and admired. Her selection to the 1985 Academic Gymnastics team was an honor much deserved. pre-pla- one-on-o- e, Nancy Barr proved recently that she is not only a fine gymnast, but an academic star as well. |