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Show PACE 12 THE THUNDERBIRD MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 1986 Berg begins 18th year with SUSC BY GREG MILES Back when women's athletics at SUSC consisted of a group of girls getting together on occasion and having what was called a play day," a new faculty member was hired on. Along with a full load of classes to teach that she was assigned the task of year 1969 developing an intercollegiate athletics program for women and that she did. It took a lot of time a lot of planning and organizing but todav, her "assignment" has blossomed into something very successful. Kathryn Berg is beginning her 18th year at SUSC. She has nurtured the women's athletic department, from its beginnings, into a highly competitive program. The Lady now compete intercol legiately in several sports, including gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, softball, and track and field events. Berg feels very strongly about the role that women's athletics plays in the community. "I feel that women's athletics are vital to the college community," she explains. "It needs the same amount of publicity and the same amount of funding that any other viable program would have." The Heber City native calls herself "antsy" when it comes to progress in the program. "In my point of view, nothing is moving as fast as it could in women's athletics," she contends. "It seems that we take five steps forward and three steps back, but progress has been steady." Scholarships are one of Berg's big concerns. "We do have some scholarships," she reports, "but we're not nearly at the level that we need to be. We're competing against junior colleges (for potential athletes) and we don't have what they can offer." Another concern for Berg is lack of assistant coaches in the program. "Some of us have student assistants," she says, "but we don't have any assistant coaches. In addition to their teams, all of the women's coaches teach full loads, and their opportunity to recruit is limited." Berg praises the building of the Centrum, testifying that it has done wonders for the program Kathryn Berg enters her 18th year heading the women's athletic department at SUSC. already. "We're really fortunate in having the Centrum," she says. "It really does a lot when we can bring in a group of teams in like we did last year in basketball. The teams are impressed, and coaches end up telling other coaches about us." The decision to go Division in two years has also helped tremendously, affirms Berg. "We have had so many calls from Division coaches wanting to come and play us. Division coaches, at the present time, can play 20 percent of their games with teams below their division. We're finding that they're interested in us, and we're having an easier time scheduling than thought we would." Along with her responsibilities as assistant athletic director, Berg is also the coach for the gymnastic team. Despite the fact that the team will have several new members this year, Berg contends that the team will have a great season. "According to what you can plot out on paper, we should have our best season ever," she says. Commenting on other teams in the program, Berg says that the upcoming year looks promising. "The volleyball team (under coach Joy Peterson) is I I I doing well so far, considering how young it is," she says. "Volleyball has always been a very strong sport for us." Berg muses that the basketball team (coached by Boyd Adams) is going to get its "baptism by fire" this season. "We're playing a very tough schedule," she says. "The softball team will be very strong this year, having only lost a couple of players from last year," Berg claims. "Coach Ooy) Peterson is probably one of the best softball coaches in the country." Berg called track and field "an interesting situation." "Because it's an individual sport, we're always struggling to keep kids interested in it," she says. Above all, Berg said that the women's teams need the support of the students. "We just really appreciate student and community support, and we need all we can get. hope that students will look at the schedules, and put it on their priority list to come and watch the teams. think they'll find that it's good, competitive sports." I I GJUJNCK1(0ME) trJDM THE (ONLY THE TIME EB)0K YOULL HAVE TO GET YOUR OWN LUNCH) Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 11:30 to 12:30 p.m., Thunderbird Editor Deisy Kramer, advertising representatives and ASSUSC publicity representatives will be available in Library 103 to answer questions and to explain procedures for using the newspaper. Club presidents and publicity directors should plan to be in attendance to find out how best to publicize their organizational events. you have a suggestion, complaint, compliment or any other message for the editor, or would like to join the staff, heres your chance! Speak now or... some other time. If |