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Show DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE 8 WOMEN'S TENNIS GOLF Team changes mentality to start strong, finishes on top Chriss Anderson STAFF WRITER The Utah women's tennis team produced two big wins last weekend to give the Utes a 4-2 record for the season. They beat Boise State 5-2 and swept New Mexico 7-0. The team took lessons learned on day one to complete their first sweep of the season. Callie Craig said the team has had to learn to start tough from the beginning, as it's easier to play with a lead than to come from behind. Starting with high energy and remembering to be proactive with shot selection instead of reactive at the end TRACK Continued from page 6 "It was a little disappointing because I was so close to the record, but I accomplished what I needed to," of matches has really made the difference for Utah. "Tennis is about having a strong mentality and knowing you can do it ... then going and making it happen," Craig said. "That's when the wins will come." Craig and doubles partner Sarah Pham were the only Utes able to easily put away their match against Boise State, as they won 8-3. In singles action, Craig, Pham, Tereza Bekerova, Natasha Smith and Paige Miles all notched victories. Against the Lobos, the Utes applied the lesson learned about not coming out strong from the beginning and pound- ed New Mexico in sweeping doubles play. They swept the singles events as well in the 7-0 win. Head coach Mat Iandolo said learning to overcome adversity is a continuous process for his team. Whether Utah wins or loses, starts slow or struggles to play, the trick is to always be fighting and looking for ways to improve. "The world seems a little less brighter when things aren't going your way," Iandolo said. "The key is being able to stay focused and positive and let the little things go and make the game work for you." Iandolo echoed Craig about the team's needing to improve at starting out strong. He still is trying to get all of his players to realize how much confidence they can gain by coming out of the gate quickly. The Utes face two difficult matches coming up. Their next match is at BYU, and despite the fact the schools are no longer in the same conference, Iandolo still sees it as a rivalry. After facing the Cougars, the Utes will take on a traditionally strong Wyoming team. "We've got the talent to beat both of them as long as we believe in ourselves," Craig said. c.anderson@chronicle.utah.edu Twitter: @Chriss Am I Mergaert said. "To be honest, my teammates motivate me to run faster. When I see them run personal bests before me, it really gives me the inspiration I need, not to mention they are the loudest teammates who always cheer me on, and that always pushes me." Klaudia Rokossa also earned All-MPSF honors by finishing third in the pole vault, just missing the 4-meter mark she has been striving for all season long. In the field events, Utah was one of two teams to finish with three athletes in the top io in the weight throw. Anneli Stahl finished sixth while Cynthia Sanchez and Aoife Hickey finished in ninth and ioth, respectively. Because the NCAA has certain standards to qualify for the national championships, last weekend marked the end of the season for everyone except Mergaert. She has to wait for the NCAA to come out with the final rankings, but as of right now, she has qualified for both the Boom and mile runs. Using last weekend as some of the final touch-ups to her training, Mergaert and head coach Kyle Kepler are confident the hard work all season long will bring positive results at the championships next month. "We try to balance what is right for the athlete heading into the NCAA Championships," Kepler said. "This weekend [at the MPSF Championships] we wanted to simulate what it would be like at the [NCAA] Championships by running Amanda in the distance medley and Boo. It was a great setup, and she ran it as close to perfect as anyone could have." g.adams@chronicle.utah.edu Twitter: GriffDoug SOFTBALL ing more aggressive as well as keeping things simple. "When you start to struggle, you tend to overthink things," Sweet said. "Go back to being simple, and you will be more successful." The team has the weekend off and will not be able to continue the momentum they have built into this weekend until Tuesday when they play Utah Valley. After playing the Wolverines, the Utes will have a busy schedule because they will take on seven teams in five days, followed by tournament play. However, don't feel too bad for the players and coaches, as they will be playing those games in California and Hawaii. c.wallace@chronicle.utah.edu Twitter: @connorrwallace JOB POSTING • GROUP LEADERS (10.15 kids) for SLC School District After School program 19.5 hrslwk; M•TH 2:30.5:30/6pm and Fridays 12:30-5:30/6pm. Start at $9.50 per hour. Send resume to: heidi.clarkgslcschools.org or call 578.8275 U Wednesday, February 27, 2013 STUDENT MEDIA COUNCIL THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The Board of Trustees is now accepting applications for members of the Student Media Council. Contact Jake Sorensen at (801) 581-7540 or jake.sorensen@utah.edu for more information or to obtain an application. Completed applications are due Friday, March 15 by 4 pm. Continued from page 6 had one shutout. Hogue said improved pitching has been the unsung hero during the stretch. While she said the team will live and die by hitting, when pitching is doing well it makes everything easier for the rest of the team. "I think we just realized that we have nothing to lose and to just go out there and play," Sweet said. "[We needed to] just play our game, and it showed in the next few games." The team's continued success can be credited to not worrying so much, Sweet said. The team focused on be- Utes seal their tournament fate in two rounds Brandon Barlow STAFF WRITER The Utah golf team ran into obstacles early in the John Burns Intercollegiate in Kahuku, Hawaii. The Utes finished 14 out of 16 teams in the tournament, and their fate was sealed in the first two rounds. No. i Cal won the tournament with an 850 score. "The first two rounds is what really hurt us in the tournament," said FILE PHOTO ERIN BURNS/The Daily Utah Chronicle head coach Randall McCracken. "You Brandon Kida practices on Sept. can chalk some of 17 in Salt Lake City. Kida led the it up to not really Utes by finishing 20th among 88 getting the oppor- individuals in their last tournament. tunity to practice because of the weather here not rattling him heading into [in Utah]. But you can't play next week. too bad even without practic"[I] basically just focus on ing, so the first two rounds is the positive from this finish," what shot us out of the tour- Kida said. "I don't want to nament." dwell on the stuff that I did As a team, the Utes shot 312 wrong. I just want to focus in the first round and 315 in and recapture the positives the second, negating the ef- from last week and improve fect of their final-round 298. on the parts of my game for Brandon Kida led the Utes as this week." he finished loth among 88 inWith tough competition, dividuals. adverse weather and a young "That was a really good roster, the Utes are looking inevent for Brandon," McCrack- ternally for motivation to imen said. "Not that that was prove as they move forward. "I came in my freshman above and beyond his abilities. That was a really good year and wanted to be the event to finish in the top 20 at best on the team," Kida said. that tournament." "I'm sure all the other guys Kida's eight-over-par 224 have that same goal in mind. (75-77-72) was marred by a We definitely push each other penalty in the second round as a group. Being as young as he received because his bag we are, I think that is why our contained too many golf team is maturing faster. We clubs. all are kind of growing as a "But when you look at his group." entire score, he shot well John Weber followed Kida enough to win the tourna- by shooting a 231. Gentry ment," McCracken said. "It Hicks shot a 233 and Daniel was a real eye opener for him, Engle shot a 24o. a tough lesson learned. ObviThe Utes have just a few ously we know the quality of days to work out their slumps player Brandon is. He played before they head to Fresno, very well in Hawaii, which we Calif, to compete in the Lexus are proud to see." Classic. Kida missed an opportunity b.barlow@chronicle.utah.edu to climb the standings, but it's Twitter: @brandonbarlow24 laam_ .dailyutahcWiicle.co T 1 bedroom, 2 bed, fully furnished living space. Well-fenced with great security system. Access to cafeteria and recreational area. Free meals and utilities, but phone privileges restricted. 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