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Show Page 12 The Tfumderhird Monday , January 23, 1984 1 take third place Gymnasts Injuries hamper performances of several SUSC athletes by Jay Hill Injuries plagued the SUSC womens gymnastic team Friday as it settled for and third place behind Cal Adams State College, who tied for first. Western State College finished fourth, entering only three contestants. were not far behind the The two, scoring 117.9 points compared to 119 for Cal Poly and Adams State. SUSCs loss is chiefly due to the loss of three gymnasts to injuries prior to the tournament. Nancy Barr, who competed on the beam, sprained her ankle last week in a camping accident. Her face showed great pain and frustration as she dismounted for a solid landing, then limped over to her teammates. I thought she did an excellent job for how much pain she was in, said Poly-Pomo- Thunderbird Coach Kathryn Berg. Jenifer Walke, one of the three freshmen, and an all around competitor, learned Tuesday she had stress fractures in both shins. Walke competed only on the uneven bars and, like Barr, executed a solid dismount with obvious pain. Despite a hyperextended elbow, Terri Judd went all around in the tournament and tied for third in the vault. Teri Sodja performed with a chronic neck injury in all around competition and captured a tie for second in the floor exercise with a score of 8.0. The never-say-di- e spirit was carried to Brenda Shaw who got tougher when the going got tough, turning out the best all around performance of any SUSC gymnast that night, taking third place. Shaw garnered a 7.85 in the uneven bars for third, a 7.25 in the balance beam, and 7.7 in the vault and floor exercise. v. the the of the tearmdespite performance injuries and that she still feels the team has a very good chance in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in both team and individual competition. The only member of the team to take first in an event was Karen Smith, who received an 8.2 in the floor exercise. Other women who scored in the top three of their events were Judd, third in the vault with a score of 8.15; Shaw, third in the uneven bars with a 7.85 score and Sodja, who Berg said she was pleased with a V- to V , tied for second in the' floor exercise with 8.2. ' The womens gymnastic team will meet both Cal Poly and Adams State again this year. Berg, along with her gymnasts, is confident for the upcoming year but agrees, We still have a lot of work to do. i 'v' v if; U tea v V ; V taiMiJkMi SUSC gymnast Michelle Goodwin, from Cedar City, goes straight up on the balance beam. The took third place in Fridays competition held in War Memorial Fieldhouse. Cox finds romance on court with announcer by Brooks Washburn Is there basketball after marriage? This question has puzzled many college hoop gurus for years. When that question is put to SUSCs Mary Cox, the answer is a definite yes there is basketball after marriage. Cox, a senior guard, originally from Sacramento, Calif., said she has played basketball for 10 years, single during the first nine, and enjoys the challenges of being the married woman on the team. I first started playing in junior high school and I have been playing ever since, she said. After a successful career at Belle Vista High School, Cox was recruited by Ricks College where she went on to have two very productive years. While at Ricks, she earned many honors and was named as and helped lead Ricks to a district tournament championship as a result of her playing abilities. It was when Ricks played at the Color Country Classic Tournament that Coach Joy Peterson first talked to Cox about coming to SUSC to play. Cox agreed and the following year found her Mary Cox scored more than points as a basketball player ; she also scored with her husband , Ken. While she plays the game he announces it. in the blue and crimson of SUSC. Not all of Coxs stay at SUSC has been a happy one. At the Colorado Mines game last year, she tore the ligaments in her knee which put her out for half of the season. It was pretty depressing to have knee surgery on Valentines Day, Cox recalled. Since that time, she has been working hard to recover and is still somewhat limited by the brace she is forced to wear. But regardless of the brace, as her teammates and those who play against her will tell you, it doesnt seem to slow her down much at all. Cox plays as if theres a fire breaking out, with speed but also with the ability to control the game. Even when shes not playing Mary is constantly yelling encouragement to her teammates. But basketball is not Coxs whole life. One of the best things to happen to her since she arrived at SUSC was meeting and marrying her husband Ken. I first noticed my husband at some of our games when he was announcing the games over the public address system, she recalled. I then asked him out to Sadie Hawkins and things went on from there. As far as basketball and their relationship go, Mary says that Ken is there behind her all the way. He is always there to give encouragement and support when I need it and he isnt critical at all, she said. Being married and playing basketball does take its toll, said Cox. "Working, playing ball, going to school and being a wife can be very tiring at times. But in most ways Cox feels it can be a real advantage. I feel I have someone to play for, she says. I feel that by having my husband as my best freind it eases some of the pressures that might otherwise be there. As far as future plans go the Coxes plan to finish school and continue on with their life. |
