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Show Friday, June 4, 1993 The Daily Utah Chronicle - Page Thirteen 1 L Chronicle 1993 Team the Year off SKIING BY ED WOODLAND Chronicle Sports Writer For University of Utah Director of Skiing Pat Miller and many of his senior athletes, waiting had become a way of life. Of the six road trips Miller's team took this season, five of them were delayed by van breakdowns. The result? Long waits in scenic locations such as Green River and tory the team had won the combined title. For that achievement the Ute ski team has been named the Chronicle's Team of the Year. The Utes scored an NCAA record 783 points to easily outdistance second place Vermont (700.5) and third place New Mexico (685). PAST WINNERS many of his athletes have waited since 1988 to get their hands back on a national championship trophy. After battling through illness and the loss of top skiers to World University and World Games competition, the University of Utah ski team cruised to the 1993 NCAA Ski in Championships held March Steamboat Springs, Colo. It was the sixth time in school his 10-1- 3 It Leaving nothing to chance, "Typically you don't win that many events at a national championship," Miller said. "If you look at all the athletes from the top four schools, they to." "On" would be an understatement. was, to say the least, what the Utes had been waiting for. freestyle (3rd). are all off Olympic and national teams. We just happened to be on those four days of competition and that is usually what it comes down 1992 - Gymnastics 1991 - Men's Basketball 1990 - Gymnastics 1989 - Men's Tennis 1988 - Golf Price. He only makes reference to those trips to emphasize the fact that he and points on the first day of competition), the women's classical and the men's slalom. Utah also finished second in the men's freestyle and men's classical events with their lowest finishes coming in the women's slalom (3rd) and the team won four out of eight disciplines at the championships, including both the men's and women's giant slaloms (giving them an NCAA record 208 Utah dominated every discipline, cruising to victory in the alpine portion of the championship by more than 46 points and winning the nordic competition by 19. Coming along with the team title was a trio of individual championships, including seniors Luke Bodensteiner (classical-cros- s country) and Karianne Eriksen (giant slalom) as well as freshman Mark Bonnell (slalom). For Miller, most of the season was a big "if." The team posed a lot of ques- tions for Miller that could only be answered by seeing the entire team compete on snow at the same time. Every regular season competition, with the exception of the Colorado Invitational, the Utes were without a full compliment of performers, keeping a second-plac- e ceiling on their t regular season record. During the World University Games the Utes were without John Ethen, Heidi Standteiner, Bodensteiner and Erica Alexander. And when the World Games rolled the Utes had around February to give up Marcus Nash, the Western wp! 18-2- Region's top-rate- d skier. While most coaches would no doubt be reluctant to allow their athletes to compete outside the collegiate team, Miller views the "leasing" of his skiers more as an opportunity than a liability. "Anytime the U. can send someone to Europe to represent the country and the school, it is a great honor and opportunity for our program to gain international exposure," Miller said. With everyone back, or yet to go on international competition, the Utes traveled to the Colorado Invitational. - -.- - &rfi& It was NCAA a come. there the Utes gave the little taste of what was to Though much of Miller's team was ill at the time, they were at least together, and that was good enough v" for a victory. Senior Karianne Eriksen, who placed fifth in the women's giant slalom at last year's nationals, returned to claim the top spot at this year's nationals. She also finished 10th in the slalom. "That meet gave us some encouraging perspective for nationals," Miller said in retrospect. "It told me that we successful year that led them to the Utah State, placed two players on team and saw junior the Deb DiMeglio tie the school career-hom- e run record. GYMNASTICS: Greg Marsden's Lady Utes posted their first-eve- r undefeated regular season, on their way to a third place finish at Nationals. The Utes broke nearly every team event record they had during the regular season with the FOOTBALL: It was an historic year for the University of Utah football team. The Utes went to their first bowl game since the early '60s and came to upsetting a nationally-ranke- d Washington State football team that was led by quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the No. 1 NFL draft. pick in the recently-hel- d The Utes started the season strong but stumbled with a couple of embarrassing losses to New Mexico and UTEP. The team came back to crush Wyoming and take a close loss to BYU, both of which helped se the Utes gain an invite to the Copper Bowl. Utah finished the year with a 6-- 6 record. MEN'S BASKETBALL: The Runnin' Utes experienced another second round of the NCAA Tournament. Paced by a senior-lade- n starting five and a thin bench, tied for the WAC Utah Championship with BYU and swept the season series against the Cougars. The Utes climbed into the Top 10 rankings late in the season, finishing with a 24-- 7 record. SOFTBALL: It turned out to be a somewhat disappointing year for the softball team. Their goals of reaching the NCAA Tournament for year fell short as a 2 with a they finished the season e fourth-placfinish record and a in the tough WAC conference. It wasn't all bad though, as the Utes foe won three games against third-consecuti- 23-2- te All-WA- C exception of balance beam. The Utes also held the NCAA record for a team score until nationals, when eventual champion Georgia topped it. Deemed one of the most successful seasons ever by Marsden, the Utes once again broke more attendance records by averaging 13,164 Luke Bodensteiner, pictured here, won the 1993 NCAA Classical Crosscountry event in Steamboat Springs, Colo. The native from West Bend, Wise, also represented the United States in the Albertville Olympics and the World University Games. had a very good team." Though the invite ended the questions surrounding the team's performance, it raised a new series of inquiries regarding Bonnell. The Canadian freshman was not eligible to compete by NCAA stan- dards until the second week of January, already missing two qualifying meets. "Mark didn't get visible until the end of January. It wasn't surprising that he won the slalom but it could have easily been John Ethen, Nick Robichon or Per Johansson. In fact, any of our 16 athletes that competed over those four days could have won their respective events," Miller said. Though Miller led his team to d-place finishes in the nation's toughest conference and region, and and 11 coached 14 skiers this season, he is quick to hand off any credit to his assistant coaches, Gord Perry, Kevin Sweeney and Hans Sjulstad. "During the season we weren't together because of the World secon- ce Championships and the World Games. That left a lot of pressure for the team to come together and I have to applaud Kevin, Hans and Gordon for much of that cohesion," Miller in five meets. That tops the record for average attendance in any d women's sport. The Utes had five NCAA-sanctione- first-tea- m including Kristen Kenoyer, Tracy Richard, Missy Wells-Taylo- r, Aimee Trepanier and Suzanne Metz. MEN'S BASEBALL: The sluggin' 9 LTtes finished the season for best ever. The finish their previous mark of 29 wins was eclipsed in the Utes' second to last game against Wyoming. The Utes finished in third place 30-1- in the WAC East behind division winner BYU and New Mexico. For their effort they had three players pitcher Guy Fowlks, designated hitter Clint Kelson and catch said of his coaching trio. "Our personnel management was amazing this season and more often than not, it is the difference between first and third." Though Miller has traveled the championship road before (probably by van and not without delay) he notes that neither the record nor the championship is as significant as the memories he will have of the team's unity and his seniors. "The record is nice for the books but I remember the meet as a great experience for the seniors who had to wait four years for a title." With yet another title under his belt, Miller begins the reconstruction of a team devastated by graduation. Gone are 12 of the teams 29 skiers, and a over half of its number of significant points. So far Miller's recruiting is "going exceptionally well" but it will be tough to replace such cross country ringers as Kristen Vestgren, Alexander and Bodensteiner. "We need to have a good recruiting summer before we can tell how we will be next season," Miller said. The signing period wraps up at the end of July, so until then Miller will just have to reflect on the season. er Adam Sessions named to the East team. All-WA- C The WOMEN'S TENNIS: women's tennis team posted a successful season once again under the tutelage of head coach John Tsumas. The Utes qualified two players for the NCAA's in Gainesville, Fla. Alison Bradford and Rebecca Smith qualified by virtue of their No. 16 national ranking and Bradford, a top 100 singles player as well, qualified for the singles draw. She was also named the District VII senior player of the year. The Utes upset South Carolina and several times were only one match away from pulling off other upset against ranked opponents like see "teams" on page fourteen |