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Show Sports WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 8 2012 Qualifying is a new trend Track will send 9 more to championships By Nick Thurgood correspondent I The Signpost The Weber State University indoor track teams competed in the Mountain State Games in Pocatello, Idaho, last weekend. Both the men's and women's teams had impressive showings and ultimately qualified more athletes for the conference championships. The championships will be held later this month in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Wildcat men and women qualified a total of nine new athletes for the fast-approaching Big Sky Conference Championships. Seven of the new qualifiers were from the women's squad. The WSU women also posted 20 seasonal bests in this meet. Senior sprinter Kristin Billings set a career-best time in the 60-meter race by running it in 7.60 seconds. Amanda Alston, a sophomore from South Ogden, was a close second place with a time of SOURCE. WEBERSTATESPORTS.COM Weber State University's track and field team prepares to run a hurdle race. WSU has qualified nine additional athletes for the Big Sky Conference Indoor Championship March 9-10. WSU will host a meet Feb. 24-25 at the Swenson Gym. 7.75. This time allowed her to advance to the conference championships. The Wildcats won the 400 relay event with a time of 3:48.12. Amber Henry, who was named the Big Sky Women's Track Athlete of the Week last week, also added to her many accomplishments this season by posting a time of 2:08.03 in the 800, which was good enough to win and rank as the fifth-fast- est indoor time in WSU's history. Henry, a junior from Wyoming, said she is hopeful that all the team's success will lead to a championship. "We had a really good showing on the weekend," Henry said. "We are coming together and making sure that we are trying our best and striving each practice to get as good as we possibly can. Everyone is very committed to their events. We hope to build off the momentum we have and eventually get a championship." Freshman from Colorado Elisa Isakson posted a mark of 11-3 3/4 in the See Track page 7 WSU hires new assistant coach Playin' on Purple • Cone's Super Bowl Sunday experience Corie Holmes • The Signpost de" columnist SOURCE: WEBERSTATESPORTS.COM Weber State University Head Coach Tim Crompton (left) and new assistant Mike Manning (right) following a match. Manning is the new assistant coach replacing longtime Wildcat Tom VudhiVadhana, who retired last month. Mike Manning added to coaching staff By Kourtney Van Dyke correspondent I The Signpost Following the retirement of former Weber State University women's soccer assistant coach Tom VudhiVadhana, Mike Manning has recently been hired to fill this coaching position. Last year, Manning served as a volunteer assistant coach. Manning brings a lot of experience to the Wildcats' women's soccer team. He currently holds a United States Soccer Federation C license, which requires more than 70 hours of extensive training and testing. He has been a coach for the exclusive Utah Olympic Development Program for seven years. Manning was also a key founder of the Junior Wildcats, a local recreation team in Ogden. Lindsay Ortgiesen, a senior who plays midfield and defense, said she is excited about the change. She said Manning is a great motivator and someone who will cheer the team on and help it to know when it is doing its best. "He brings a very different perspective to our team," Ortgiesen said. "Overall, he is a great coach." Manning said he is happy for the opportunity to coach at WSU and is thankful for the chance that was given to him. "It has been a lifelong goal of mine to be able to coach at the highest collegiate level," Manning said. Graduating senior Jessie Baddley said she is excited for the positive things Manning will bring to the team. "Not only does Mike understand the game and what is needed to succeed within the game, he also is an enjoyable guy," Baddley said. "He knows how to balance working hard with making the game fun at the same time." Baddley said Manning has multiple qualities that will make him a good coach and will help the team continue to succeed. "He is a very approachable coach who is open to any question one might come to him with," Baddley said. She also said Manning puts in the necessary time and effort to help improve each player's skills and knowledge about the game. The 'Cats had a good season last year, almost winning the Big Sky Conference tournament, and look forward to their upcoming spring season. Ortrgiesen said much of last season's See Manning page 7 Let's talk Super Bowl XLVI. After the devastating blow I took two weeks ago, I was not all that into the Super Bowl this year. For example, I did not even know what time the game was going to start until noon that day. My family usually has somewhat of a big hoo-ha for the game. This year was no different. A good chunk of my mom's side of the family gathered at my brothers' house. Most of the adults did not even watch it. Everyone was in the kitchen eating (except me and my cousin). The point of Super Bowl food is more of snack food so that you can sit and eat and watch the game. Not eat in another room. I'm just saying. Anyways, in the first quarter of the game, a few things happened that were rare. First off, Tom Brady got an intentional grounding call in the endzone, giving the Giants two points. A safety in general is rare, but a safety in the Super Bowl is nearly unheard of. Next rare thing that happened in the game was in the first quarter. The Patriots had 12 people on the field. Sometimes this happens. The fact that it happened in both the first and fourth quarters to both teams is ridiculous. By the time halftime rolled around, everyone at my party finally realized, "Oh, hey, the Super Bowl is on." Everyone trickled in, checked out the halftime score, and then something new happened. This year, with the party at my brothers' house and on their TV, it meant that this game was recorded with See Purple page 7 |