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Show , ... THE S I N P'OS T vAr SPORTb O V V -""- 29 FEBRUARY 2 0 DC y" Lady Wildcats work together to win at end of season :MI1Y BUSWELL SPORTS WRITER THE SIGNPOST The women's basketball team has four critical games left in their Hig Sky Conference season. They are looking to come out with asecond-place ranking. "We feel like if we ran win oulright our last four games, we'll be the second place seed," coach Carla Taylor said. "It will just be us taking care of us. We're feeling pretty good about where we are at." The Lady 'Cats need to win the next four games to secure their second-place seed. The greatest advantage to their high seed Is that they will get to rest on the first night of the Big Sky Tournament. WSU will then play in the semifinals on the second night of action, Taylor has divided the season into four different parts. First there Is the preseason, then a first and second half of conference play, and finally the Big Sky Tournament."We're concentrating on these four garnes," Taylor said. "It becomes a new season."The team has recommitted themselves to playing together for the last parts of their season. The younger players have had to step up (heir play throughout the season, and the more experienced players have been looked to for the examples. Each player must continue to 1 t 7 1 'vf 42 i 1 7 r-3 M'u 5 Sophomore forward Crystal Howe (42) continues to improve her play as the Lady 'Cats season comes to a close, improve each day if the team is going to win the Big Sky championship. The NCAA tournament is not weighing heavily on the minds of the Lady 'Cats. Taylor does think that a NCAA berth would be nice. "That is something we all shoot for, but we still need to focus on our conference season and take care of business," Taylor said. The next home game for the Lady 'Cats is March 2 in the Dee Events Center. One tough totem pole Tom Hutchinson SPORTS WRITER THE SIGNPOST Anyone can be a member of the rac-quetball club, but only the top sLx players ever see any action in real play. "Being on the top of the pyramid is not an easy accomplishment," said Karl Jabas, a member of the WSU racquetball club. "I have played for over a year and a half, and I have still never played in any major competitions. With all the excellent athletes at Weber State University, it's hard to be on the top, and only the top players play." "It's a very competitive sport," said Lynn Corbridge, the coach of the racquetball club. "You have always got to be moving and be in the right position at the right time in order to hit the ball back." "Ranking for the team works like this," Corbridge said. 'To move up in the top six players list, you've got to beat the player in front of you on the list." When a player wins, he or she moves up on the totem pole, and if one loses, he or she stays in the same place.Re-challenging is an everyday event. The player on the list must be directly in front of a person if he or she is to play them. There is no skipping of players on the list and no playing against players higher on the list for challenge matches. "I let the players work out who are the best players." Corbridge said. "They have to battle to .win one of those spots." "With over 25 players in the club and only the top sLx players being able to participate, a person has to be exceptional to play." said Jason Barker, a member of the racquetball club. "I have played for more than a year, and I have never been in the top six until recently." Now Barker can help represent WSU Wildcats in tournament play. "It's never an easy accomplishment," said Barker. "You've got to work hard, and the competition level in tournament play is intense."The top players this year are Rob Johnson and Sally Genkins. 'They have put in a lot of hard work and effort to get to the top of the club," said Corbridge. Besides paying a S30 fee for tournaments and a place to practice, Corbridge says that to join the club a player must have the desire to play. 'The competition is tough and lots of time is needed to compete," he said. Keeping the Wildcats in line Emily Buswell SPORTS WRITErthE SIGNPOST . Weber State's athletic department has its own policeman, but he doesn't deal with the security system or with guys getting hit on the football field. Brad Hostetter is WSU's athletic compliance coordinator. He has to make sure that all the athletic teams, the coaches and the community abide by all of the NCAA's 463-page compliance manual. "I set up policies and procedures to make sure we are in compliance with the NCAA rules," Hostetter said. "I monitor all of our activities, recruiting and financial aid to make sure we're following all the rules." He starts his interaction with the athletes at the beginning of the year. They have to fill out packets for the NCAA and Big Sky. They must abide by all of the regulations before they can participate. Throughout the year. Brad acts as a monitor of the players and coaches. He helps them to understand what they can and can not do. Brad likes interacting with the students, as he used to be a baseball player himself. He couldn't imagine being in any other profession."All the rules are there for a reason," said Hostetter. "A lot of people don't understand that we vote about the legislation and pass it." Sometimes there is a question about a rule and the NCAA must interpret the legislation. Jason Allen, a linebacker for WSU, knows that Brad is important to the athletic program. "He makes sure everyone is in compliance with the rules. His job makes him look like the bad guy, but he is just keeping everyone out of trouble." "i-: A JL 1 S H E P H E R D . U N 3 in T TTD "V: UjDtf.i ION BUILDINGS Wednesday Brovn Bagger Lunch 12 p.m. - Ballrooms African-American Readings 7 p.m. Wildcat Theater BIack Emphasis Video 4 p.m. - Wildcat Theater thursday Black History- Month Movie 2p.m. & 6 p.m. - Wildcat Theater SFRC Meeting-Questions & Answers n p.m. -1 p.m. - Wildcat Theater friday Committee Meeting 1-5 p.m. - UB352 ay Karate Class 10:30 a.m. - UB Ballrooms DING, DECKING, RAW G I POST UTAH ENGELMANN SPRUCE! STARTING AT 30$ PER FOOT! Satterwhite Log Homes toll free 1-888-UTAH-MILL (1-888-882-4645) Student Fee Recommendation 1 r 1 A Utah Tradition For over 20 Years! 1 1 A 1 to FV3 PJ 'Tn'.ii.-V-' W m'- -i'i!Jii-$ |