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Show Wednesday, June 2. 1993 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Thirteen C J Chronicle Female Athlete MIKKI CCAN E-BAR- IT TON BY TY BRON1CEL Chronicle Assistant Sports Editor Mikki Kane-Barto- remembers n when she was only Mikki Kane, a small tomboy growing up in the cozy, rustic state of Idaho and playing sports under the watchful eye of her first coach, Norman Kane who also happened to hold the position of being Mikki's loving, doting father. One of seven Kane children, all of d whom were raised by the and yet Norman, Mikki was eager to participate in athletics (softball, volleyball and basketball) while spending her youth in Idaho Falls even if reminiscing years later can be a tad bit amusing. "It's so funny to look back at old sports-minde- soft-heart- d, said. "Our pictures," socks were pulled up to our knees. Kane-Barto- n We were so little." Today, many hits, digs and jump shots later, tiny Mikki has become a magnificently developed, extraordi- star athlete at narily gifted the University of Utah. For her first three years at the "U," two-spo- rt C Kane-Barto- Barton was Idaho's Volleyball Player of the Year, and was even more recruited to put a round ball over a net instead of info one. But though she admits that coming out of high school she was better at 1992 - Missy Marlowe 1991 - Missy Marlowe Green 1989 Michelle Mias r 1988 - Tiffany 1990-Charmel- Kane-Barton- le always-hauntin- -- Rogers-Krame- two sports (volleyball and basketball), was simply splendid. For her fabulous feats in both n sports this past year, Mikki has been named the Kane-Barto- Chronicle's of the Year. Kane-Barto- n 1992-9- 3 Female Athlete started her banner year by opting to play volleyball for Beth Launiere's Lady Utes. Kane- - yjuL j Kane-Barto- Kane-Barto- (18-15- scores jn four highest Utah history. Kenoyer added two more honors to run her total to 14, the second most in NCAA history and the most ever all-arou- c WP iFpgiC o o. g, n once had a volleyball coach who told her she was a good enough player to one day make the Olympics. That kind of statement tends to stick with you as you look back on what might have been. "I always had in the back of my mind, "Should I have picked volleyball? Would that have taken me farther?'" said. She realized some of her potential in her second sport this year, providing Utah with improved defense and giving the Utes a new dimension offensively. Kane-Barto- Utah's own 'A Tale of Two Mikkis' was played out this past year as n Mikki showed her athletic diversity by playing both voln spikes like this one helped the volleyball and basketball. in five years. record ) leyball team to their first winning Kenoyer posted nine perfect y c fbs 'What if?" CHRONICLE PHOTOScott Sine 10s on the year and also has the o V 's Kane-Barto- n n Playing middle blocker, had a huge and immediate Kane-Barto- impact, helping the Utes to their first (18-1in five years. "She really brought a lot of things to the program," Launiere said. "She is a super athlete, she is a good leader and she has a great attitude." "I was amazed at what she did this year having not played the last three years," Launiere added. "She probably won't ever reach her potential in volleyball but she did in basketball. But I think she could have been as every bit as successful in volleyball as she was in basketball." Utah's own Does female answer to Bo Jackson, wish she would have made basketball her hobby and concentrated more on volleyball? "I don't regret any of my decisaid. "Because sions," when I look back on it, playing basketball was one of the best things I've ever done." n will be back Besides, this fall, for the 1993-9season, as she still has one more year of eligibility (her fifth) to use up on volleyball. "I'm looking forward to next year when Mikki can be totally committed to volleyball," Launiere said. Meanwhile, another Lady Ute for a Utah gymnast. At the WAC championships in March, Kenoyer called by head coach Greg Marsden "The most consistent gymnast Utah has ever had" scored a 10 on three out four events, another first in NCAA women's gymnastics. As a Ute, Kenoyer helped lead the Utes to two National Championships and one second place finish to go along with this finish. year's third-plac- e Senior Tracy Richard, who has been Kenoyer's teammate for the past four years, collected tw'o awards to more Richard five. to total bring her on the 9.85 career-best a scored with no nationals at bars uneven Ail-Americ- CHRONICLE PHOTOScott Sine 5) n, 4 39.9 in her final home appearance as a Ute. g" Elaine Elliott's Lady Ute basketball team. decision to return to her glory sport of the past centered around one of life's rarely answered questions, that of Kane-Barto- was senior Kristen Kenoyer. Kenoyer set an NCAA record that may never be topped when she compiled a score of o U U spike simply because "I liked basketball better; it was more fun." Still, agreed to play for Launiere and the Utes before Kane-Barto- n season o U J 1 3 U riv llr Kane-Barto- Kane-Barto- undefeated for the regular season on their way to a third place finish at nationals in Corvallis, Ore. Leading the way for the Utes all U beginning her senior season with PAST WINNERS " The University of Utah women's gymnastics team had another great year as they went V ftvt n volleyball than basketball, chose to shoot instead of winning record " the Year Kane-Barto- n L . ! on f ?K l V I displayed terrific talent while helping lead the Lady Ute basketball team to three straight seasons of 20 victories or more. And in both her sophomore and junior years, she made the first team. But if Mikki n was very First her three years good through here, her senior campaign, stretching more than two years (1992-93- ) and Kane-Bart- off head coach, basketball's Elaine Elliott can only look back on the fond memories of No. 15 in action. warmup when a teammate went down with an injury. Suzanne Metz, who missed the second half of her freshman year with a foot injury, came back strong her sophomore year and next to Kenoyer, was probably the g Utes' most consistent gymnast. Metz failed to break the 39 high-scorin- On the basketball court, e Utah's third leading Ute career with three scorer, concluded her brilliant four-yea- r first-teahonors, a pair of WAC Tournament MVP awards and this year's WAC regular season MVP. Kane-Barto- all-tim- n, All-WA- m Elliott knew of Kane, who attended Elliott's summer youth camp here on campus, when she was still in junior high and before she became the result of the Mikki June 1992 marriage to former Ute baseball player Paul Barton. Kane-Barto- n basketball career quickly flourished. She remembers Kane-Barton- 's as a nervous freshman telling herself r to make her shots, then calmly doing just that. She got better and better, improving vastly from season to season. first-eve- free-thro- w n The proof had chosen indeed the right sport after Kane-Barto- all could be found in this year's ster- ling year long performance which included: finishing as Utah's third e e leading scorer and its all-tim- all-tim- leading shot-blocke- capturing both the WAC's regular season and conference tournament MVP honors and leading the Utes to a stunning Feb. 8 victory over Texas Tech, the eventual NCAA champs. "Mikki was just phenomenal," .Elliott said. "I loved every minute of every day teaching and coaching her. r. 72-5- 5 the floor exercise at nationals. Trepanier was the only other Ute besides Kenoyer to score a perfect 10 on the year, as she accomplished the feat on both bars and floor. Trepanier also made the U.S. team that will be at competing the World I'm really going to miss her." After Utah's season and volleyball season, finishing her degree in elementary education, becoming a school teacher or perhaps playing basketball professionally in Europe in the future. Her options are clearly open. For now, though, she can thank her parents, Vicki and, of course, Norman, her fathercoach who "exposed" Mikki to sports, "encouraged" her to participate and was never "gender biased" when it came to sports, lessons she hopes to pass on to her kids. "Parents should be supportive when their children want to try said. "1 something," want to expose them to everything and let them know their options are Kane-Barto- n open." fa University Games in Buffalo, N.Y. in July. Debbie Gibby-Smit- h along with teammate Denise Rathbun helped at lift the women's volleyball team 38.95s) and won the the WAC championships with a "to its best season since who knows when. 39.55. Another sophomore, As an outside hitter for the an had also Aimee Trepanier, leaves her excellent year as she was a conUtes, Gibby-Smite kill leader. as the team on three scorer sistently high Her career highlight came in events for the Utes. Trepanier see "best" on page fifteen status on earned only plateau in the three times (two of those were all-arou- all-arou- h all-tim- Ail-Americ- Kane-Barton- 's basketball career ended bita WAC Tournament chamwith terly loss to BYU, Kane became pionship "very depressed" as she realized her hoop days were over. But she has since become revitalized, looking forward to this fall's Kristen Kenoyer C |