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Show 6 %r 1 HE SIGNPOST Friday, September 4, 2009 SPORTS Season opener tomorrow Sports in review SOCCER • :-\ The Wildcats continued their ! strong start to the season with, f a 1 -0 shutout of the University. ',, ofUtahUtes. Sophomore Roxy ^ Tebbs scored the 'Cats goal off , of a pass from Ari Wood. With .* the shutout senior goalkeeper , ; Rebecca Ritchie recorded her . "; 19th career shutout and is only „ one game away from breaking *. ^ the school record of 19.5 shutouts held by assistant coach MeaganThunell. Sports Preview : FOOTBALL * The team is going to Laramie, ? Wyoming to take on the ^ University of Wyoming Cowboys" tliis Saturday, Sept. 5. VOLLEYBALL Til f PHOTO Football team faces tough opponent in first week By Lance Lucas correspondant I The Signpost r/// .S/Civn J_W Weber State University senior Trevyn Smith attempts to break a tackle in a win against Dixie State University last season. Smith and the rest of the Wildcats will try to defend their Big Sky title this season. has been picked to finish second in the Big Sky Conference in this year's preseason poll. The Weber State University The Wildcats, coming off Football Team, the Big Sky coa 10-4 record season and a conference champions, will 7-1 record in conference play, open the season on the road claimed a share of the first Big against two powerhouse teams in University of Wyoming and Sky Championship trophy in 17 the University of Colorado. WSU years. The team finished 4-1 in the preseason and had 10 players named to the all conference preseason poll. "We worked hard on the defensive end and the offensive ends of the ball," said Head Coach Ron Mcbride. "Their hard work will pay off this season." Weber State University senior running back Trevyn Smith and his three rushing titles will be key to the Wildcats' running game success this year. Weber State returns 13 s t a r ters from last year's team that averaged 35.2 points per game. WSU quarterback Cameron Higgins takes his offensive MVP trophy into this year's season showing that he is the number one quarterback in the Big Sky. Preseason polls had 10 WSU players named to all-conference. " Trevyn and Cameron are talented kids who feed off each other when the game is in their hands," Mcbride said. "They help to relieve pressure off the defense." The volleyball team will be in' Provo playing in the Brigham : Young University Nike Classic, Their first game will be against Kansas State University Friday, Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. On Sept. 5 they will play BYU at 12 p.m., and then will finish ••! their tournament with a game against California Polytechnic • State University the same day at 5 p.m. CROSSCOUNTRY The Weber State University Cross Country team begins their season tomorrow in the Utah State University Open at the Heritage Farm in Logan at 9 a.m. The women will run a 5k race against USU and the University of Utah, The men's team will be running . a four mile race against the USU team as well as the University of'' Utah's Nordic Ski team. See Football page 8 Cross country picked 2nd FILE PHOTO | Ttlf SICNFOSf Jerry Greybeal coach was head coach of the WSU football team from 1998-2004. Athletic Director steps down Coaches and players reactions to Graybeals changing role By Matt Maynes sports editor 1 The Signpost For the past four years Jerry Graybeal has been the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Weber State University. Now he will step down as Athletics director to fulfill a different role. Jerry Bovee will be the interim Athletics director. Before assuming the athletics director position, Graybeal was the head coach of the football team from 19982004. In his first year as head coach, Graybeal led the Wildcats to a 6-5 support from the community, and that this was a planned event. "Everything's tee-ed up, everything's record. ready to go," He also "He's been pretty Graybeal c o a c h e d much a Weber State said. "To the team to wait clear to a 7-4 record guy for a lot of years. the end of in 2000, Teams under his the year after and, in the plan 2003, was tenure had a lot of is already named Big success/ in place is Sky Coach c o u n t e r of the year - Ron McBride, productive with an 8-4 WSU Head to building record. Football Coach on what we Graybeal already have will in place. now be the Assistant Vice President of I'm a person that likes to be Administrative Support proactive with continuing Services. He said that relationships externally that his plans are being more will help us resource wise." involved in obtaining See Graybeal page 8 FILL PHOTO I TliF. StCNPOS The Weber State University leads the pack in a race last season. Season begins Saturday with race in Logan By Kortney Nipko correspondant I The Signpost In the Big Sky Conference preseason rankings, voted on by all conference coaches, both the men's and women's cross country teams were picked to finish second, following a tough Northern Arizona University team. "Northern Arizona has a great team," said sophomore Natalie Haws. "It's just fun to have a team to beat, to come from behind, and try and take them. I am sure they train hard and work hard. It just comes down to whoever wants it most. I think we have a chance to give them a run for their money." " Haws is a graduate of Davis High School. As a freshman last year, she earned All-Big Sky Conference honors with a fifth place finish at the 2008 Big Sky Championships. Along with Haws, Sarah Callister, a freshman, is expected to run well for the Wildcat; and help them contenc for the title. "Our biggest strength is our depth," Haws said "We have a big grour. of girls that are all righ ; there. With that many girls, with that mucr talent, it has set the bar high. We are a little mon competitive than las year. It makes the tean; work harder and have i greater desire." : See Cross Country page_8. |