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Show Paae 12 Wednesday, December 6, 2000 PORTS Bittersweet end to men's cross country season By Quynn Tebbs sports writer The Signpost Nineteenth in the nation doesn't sound too bad. unless you're talking to WSU's men's cross country team. Talking with the runners and Coach Chick Hislop, one can sense the feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction. These feelings don't stem from WSU's performance during this year's season, but with the performance at the final meet of the year, the NCAA National Championship Meet. "The team and myself were disappointed with our finish in the NCAA Championships," Hislop said. "But 19th isn't a bad accomplishment.""I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed with how the season ended," said senior Joe Wilson. "If someone would have told us we were going to finish 19th at the beginning of the year, we would have said "you're crazy." "If we would have placed 1 0th to 15th, we would feel different about our season," said sophomore Corbin Talley. All season long, WSU performed at a very high level and competed against the nation's elite teams at almost every meet. "What people don't realize is that we are constantly competing against a team that was seventh in the nation in NAU," Hislop said. The Wildcats were knocking on NAU's door in every meet, but never beat the Lumberjacks. It was this rivalry that drove them all season. "I want to race them again," said Wilson. It was this team's attitude of team first and the desire to get better each day that made this year a success. "This team was fun to be on because there wasn't an aspect of a pecking order," said junior Dennis Lorenz. "No one ever said I'm No. 1, I'm No. 2, etc. ... We just kept on encouraging each other when we had no energy."The Wildcats lose four seniors this year Jason Schoenfeld, Joe Wilson, Hugh Christiansen and Nate Hill. One of the big losses is Schoenfeld, a cross country and track Ail-American and the No. 1 runner for WSU the entire season.Schoenfeld added All Big Sky and All Mountain Region awards to his list of accolades this sea- all year and finished first for WSU in the Idaho Meet and BYU Invitational. Wilson also earned All Big Sky honors for his performance at the Big Sky Championships where he ran his lifetime best of 24:49. The men's cross country team ran terrific races and shared great moments this season, but that doesn't change the disappointment with the way the season ended. For the athletes that return next year, they can only look to the future. "I'm excited for the future," Talley said. "We have unfinished business to take care of next Wilson was a top five runner year.' Hockey club sweeps pair Weber State beats University of Utah and Colorado State; will most likely get No. 1 ranking By Jim Lamb sports writer The Signpost Before this weekend , the Weber State University Hockey Club was ranked third overall in the American Collegiate Hockey Association divisional rankings. However, both Friday's and Saturday's games were against the two teams that ranked first and second. In theory, if the Wildcats won both games vs. No. 1, University of Utah and No. 2. Colorado State University, they would be in first place. However, unlike the college football rankings, the ACHA rankings don't come out every week. The next rankings come out at the end of the semester. Therefore, hockey fans, we won't really know for another two weeks. "I think as long as we win all our games in the next two weeks, we deserve to be ranked No. 1 in the rankings," said WSU Head Coach Rob Larsen. After defeating the Utes on their home ice Friday 8-5, the confident 'Cats knew they could sweep this vital pair of games. At home Saturday night, WSU was pitted against the only Division II team they had not dominated this season. The stage was set for a great game. The Rams and 'Cats had split their pair of games earlier in the season, leaving Saturday's game as the last game' in a best out of three for the eminent leader in the Western division. "This was the most pivotal weekend of the season," said Larsen. "It should give us the lead in the division." Both teams started the game thinking defense, and remained scoreless until late in the second period when WSU scored two quick goals to take a lead that was never surrendered. "This weekend we played how we should play all the time," said forward Brian Allen. Allen scored one of the three J1 IL ' w f & V"""4- wr t V4 .''" Travis Larsen tries to get the puck past a defender in the Wildcats 3-1 win Saturday over Colorado State. WSU goals and assisted on another."We played great, but it will be good to have a small break over Christmas to try and heal from our injuries," said goalie Seth Libby. Libby nearly pitched a shutout holding the Rams to one goal that was scored in the late moments of the game. "It was too bad Libby didn't get the shutout, he played well and deserved it," said Larsen. The final score was 3-1 for the 'Cats. WSU takes these two wins into next weekend where it has another must-win Saturday vs. Utah State at the Ice Sheet. There will also be a game Friday vs. Robert Morris. j SOURDOUGH FlZZALlJ w I PIZZA IS.A.H TITl'S OUT' CIRCLE ONE FROM EACH MATCH-UP lot (VJeberSlateJvs. Montana State Minnesota New Orleans Tampa Bay NY Jets Buffalo St. Louis San Francisco Miami Oakland Indianapolis Tiebreaker: Guess the score of the Buffalo Indianapolis game This week's winner will be announced the first Wednesday of Spring semester. Name GUESS THE SCORE Phone: SIGNPOST PICKS Jose Carvajal Scott Boyson (73-66) (79-60) Minnesota New Orleans Tampa Bay Oakland Buffalo St. Louis New Orleans Miami Oakland Indianapolis Mark Cray (76-63) Minnesota New Orleans Tampa Bay Oakland Indianapolis ' Brody Purser (72-57) Minnesota New Orleans Tampa Bay Oakland Indianapolis RULES: Circle the winner of each game, tear out the entry form and bring it in to the Signpost office in room 267 of the Shepherd Union Building by 5 p.m. this Friday. Only one entry per WSU student, faculty, or staff member. The person who picks the most winners of each of the games correctly wins a large specially pia from Pier 49 San Francisco Sourdough Pi.a. In the event of a tie. the piva will go to the one who picks the closest score of the upcoming WSU game. CONGRATS TO THIS WEEK'S WINNER Cory Duclos |