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Show PACE 10 THE THUNDERBIRD TUESDAY MAY 2b, 1987 (Q' If tmM HW.-- U nwiwup Thunderbird sports year has its ups and downs i BY BROOKS T WASHBURN looking back on this of sports at SUSC it ' ( Jis probably best said in i the words of Dickens that "it was the best of times, and the worst of times" It was a year of I ' triumphs as well as disappointments but overall fans had more to cheer about than usual. The year had it all championships, upsets and, unfortunately, failures The year started out on an optimistic JT Sh, 4 SiU vt note with the Thunderbird football tt& 1 ' I team winning five of its first six games z i i and securing an early top 20 rating in the nation for NCAA Division II Kim Turley smashes one down to help the Lady Bird volleyball cause schools, not bad coming from a team that only a year before could manage I but a season. Under the direction of head coach Jack Bishop the Birds displayed a balanced running and passing game combined with a scrappy defense which made things tough for a number of T- - Bird opponents. This year's team displayed a spirit of optimism and team work that was a pleasant surprise for a number of fans. Although the Birds didn't win the WFC they did finish in a tie for fourth 4 place, and a more than respectable 3 s record the most wins for a squad in recent years. Not a bad year N 9 considering that SUSC was picked to finish last in the conference. While the gridders where chewing 'em up on the field, the Lady 'Birds ' where battling on the volleyball court. t SUSC's volleyball season was not a .aaaay aaaartto AnAa '!SS.jwfc J thing of beauty, but the determined The football team enjoyed a great year finishing at 3 women managed to make a playoff berth in the District 7 tournament "We had a a lot of new people on our squad this year and it just took time to start learning to play together," said head coach Joy Peterson And play they did as the Lady Birds fought to a third place tournament finish for the season With the winter weather comes failing snow and falling basketballs. Both the men's and the women's teams had excellent years. The men started out at a sizzling pace by winning eight of their first 10 games and at one point in the season earned a top 20 ranking for NCAA division II C schools. The 93.2 points a game averaged put the 'Birds among the top UWl scoring teams in the nation for both U-!- -l division and II schools. The team's hard work and dedication paid off as it x r' tied the school's most wins in a season T . 1 sw 'Mr hrk-- m mark, finishing 21-- 6 for the year. I The women's program also enjoyed a great amount of success, beating The Lady 'Bird gymnastic squad SUSC's men's basketball squad tied both division and II schools on a the school record with 2 1 wins in a competed successfully this year taking regular basis. The Lady 'Birds defeated third in the Intermountain Conference season. five division schools to post a 16-- 9 In 1 T Vj X J jyear n xvSjPifc- KW 8-- L vs asA W 8-- V?n !l s I "i4ir is I I season record Perhaps the only fly in the ointment for the women basketballers was losing the District 7 championship game. The women's gymnastic squad enjoyed its most succesful season to date by finishing third in the Intermountain Conference, (a combination of division and II schools) and eighth in the NAIA Championships. Traveling the roads on most weekends from January to March, the women scored thier best team and individual scores ever. The young gymnastic squad has a lot to look forward to as all but one member will return for next season. Track and field, golf, baseball and softball highlighted the spring athletic season. The Hustlin' diamondmen had a season filled with adversity but rose to the challenge to make the season a success. The Birds faced many obstacals in thier bid for a NCAA Division II playoff berth. Long road trips, injuries to key people, and playing an independent schedule all mounted against the team to make the season a difficult one. Although the Birds didn't gain a playoff berth they did have a fine season by winning more than 20 games and defeating some fine Division teams. The posted wins over Temple University and the University of Utah and defeated BYU twice in a season, a first for any Bird baseball team. The women's sofball team also completed a very successful season as an independent competing in District 7. The team compiled a season record of 1 8 going into the District 7 playoffs, with five of the eight losses coming at the hands of Division schools. The Lady 'Birds split games with the University of Utah, and were Utah State in a beaten by ninth-ranke- d marathon. They were also ranked in the top 20 in the NAIA early in the season and managed to sweep rival Mesa College six out of seven games. For the golf and track and field teams this was a year of rebuilding and preparing for the future The golf team had a growth filled year as it competed around the Western region. Altnough they didn't win any major tournaments, they did manage a fourth place finish at the Boise Invitational and had plenty of good experience for next season. Like the golf team, the track team also worked hard to build experienced athletes for next year. Several school records were broken this year by women's team members Sherrie Mitchell in the 400 meter run and Michele Stewart in the 200 meters. Carl Ward is also close to a school record in the men's 200 meters. I 7-- I i |