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Show SPORTS VOLUME HI ISSUE 2 JULY 18, 2011 WWW.UVUREVIEW.COM Operation upgrade Athletic facilities in line for improvements Ai Highs and lows abound By Josh Cann Sports Writer By MATT PETERSEN Sports Editor The relationship between sports and drama can be overblown. For every Jim and Jane that eats up all the drama leading up to "Rivalry Week," there's a Fillmore and Gertrude asking, "What's the big deal?" That being said, this committee of one will contest that drama can be found on any level of sport, and UVU has been no exception this summer. Wolverines center fielder Chris Benson is corning off a stellar college career. He batted .400 or better his last two seasons. He was just named All-American Honorable Mention. And he wasn't drafted. This despite getting teasing inquiries from the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. Another story of triumphto-tragedy, again courtesy of the baseball team. Outfielder Kirk Doxey wasn't a pampered high school recruit. He walked on, made a chair for himself at a table of talent that was already pretty full. He started as a freshman, led the team in home runs. His reward? Probably no senior season, because a technicality was noticed just three years too late. Zoom out a little, and the same high-low transition occurs. UVU dominated the Great West Conference for a second straight year. They won their second consecutive Commissioner's Cup and boasted three All-Americans counting Benson. The build-up led to UVU applying for admission to the Western Athletic Conference and a shot at an automatic bid. The WAC's response? Thanks, but no thanks. Stop and think about the emotional impact of each of these scenarios. To go from being the best, defying the odds or impressing your peers to "not quite good enough," "sorry, but..." and "thanks, but no thanks" is a pretty steep fall. And yet that's why sports exist, because all those falls will eventually give way to the jump that makes it. For every Benson, Doxey (maybe) and WAC, there's a Ronnie Price making the NBA, a club rodeo member finishing second in the nation, a wrestler taking fourth in the U.S. It's the defeats of now that make the victories of later worth it, the idea that someday a conference with an automatic bid will say, "Yes, UVU. We recognize your progress and your enrollment of nearly 30,000. We choose you over the triedand-failed school of 8,000 students." And if that sounds a little vindictive, just remind yourself: it's all part of the drama going on right here at UVU. CONTACT: Gerrit Johnson/Fairways Media Stratton Schulz blasted his way from being ranked No. 31 out of 32 to finishing second at the Utah State Amateur Golf Championships. ophomore sensation Stratton Schulz takes 2nd place at Utah State Amateur Championship By JONATHAN BOLDT Asst. Sports Editor Not only did Stratton Schulz come out of nowhere to contend in last weeks Utah State Amateur, he literally came from the middle of nowhere, Vernal Utah. UVU now has another break-through athlete to join Brock Winn (rodeo team) as the most recent rising stars to make headlines this past month. Schulz is a soon to be sophomore and doesn't even turn 19 until November. What he lacks in experience however, he makes up for with determination and poise. He joined the UVU team out of Uintah High School, where he was a three time all-state golfer, state runner-up in '09 and '10, wrestled and, oh yeah, had a 3.7 GPA. Schulz was recruited by Utah State, SUU, and UVU. "I chose UVU because I re- ally liked the coach," Schulz said. "He ended up moving to Arizona, but I liked the school so I decided to stay." After accepting a scholarship and one collegiate season, Schulz made a splash on the local scene at the Utah State Amateur Championship. The Amateur is a matchplay event, which differs from how golf is normally scored and ultimately won. Rather than the lowest score winning, it is a head-to-head match-up, with hole-by-hole scoring. The player with the lowest score on the hole goes up one hole. If the other player wins the next hole, the score is even again. Once it becomes mathematically impossible for a comeback, the round ends no matter how many holes are left. "I'd much rather do matchplay," Schulz said. "It's more competitive and a lot more fun." It almost didn't come down to a final round or even a tournament appearance for Schulz. The first two rounds were comprised of 284 golfers and the top 32 made up Schulz's Road to the Finals No. 31 Schulz def. No. 2 Halliday by 3 and 2 Schulz def. No. 18 Wingert by 4 and 2 Schulz def. No. 26 Edens by 3 and 2 Schulz def. No. 14 Wojtkun by 6 and 5 No. 8 Evans def. Schulz by 8 and 7 the tournament field. Even after the first two "playoff" rounds, it took a true 16-man playoff to determine the final three spots. Schulz nabbed one of them with a week's worth of superb play. Each of the finalists had played seven rounds by the end of the day Sunday and 29 holes that day alone. By the end of the tourney, Schulz had played 90-plus pressurepacked holes. In the round of 32, he won by three holes with two remaining, followed by a 4-and-2 win in the round of 16. In the quarterfinal, Schulz defeated former BYU Cougar Cameron Edens by two holes and rolled into the final by beating Park City native Greg Wojtkun 6-and-5. After amazing play all week, Schulz was finally slowed a bit and lost 8-and7 to Jeff Evans (SUU) in a match that ended up not being close at all, finishing just two holes into the back nine. The Utah State Amateur was the by far the largest tournament that Schulz has ever played in. "It was kind of nerve-racking with all the cameras and people," Schulz said. "You kind of just have to find a way to block it out and play your game." Outfielder could be denied senior season By MATT PETERSEN Sports Editor Wolverines outfielder Kirk Doxey may be ruled ineligible for his senior season by the NCAA. The potential suspension comes due to a summer league Doxey played in just before his freshman year. At the time, he was not yet enrolled at Utah Valley University. Doxey could not be reached for comment and Wolverines head coach Eric Madsen declined to speak on the matter until the NCAA has announced a decision. Doxey, a right-hander out of Springville, UT, batted .289 in 2011 and led the team with an on-base percentage of .445, leading to his 45 runs scored, third on the team. The suspension would force Madsen to either shift an existing player or a new roster addition into Doxey's starting spot. Last season the Wolverines boasted five outfielders on their roster, and none of them graduated this summer. The suspension would prematurely end what had been a positive success story. Doxey made the team as a walk-on before making his way into the starting lineup. As a freshman in 2009, he led the Wolverines in home runs, including three in one game against Air Force. With baseball season some time in coming, the NCAA could wait months before announcing a decision. UVU has won two consecutive Great West Conference titles. Courtesy OYU Sports Intommtion Department A walk-on his freshman year, Kirk Doxey may be ruled ineligible for his senior season at UVU. Renovations are in place to upgrade UVU's athletic facilities this coming year and in years to come. The future is optimistic for UVU athletics, and these upgrades are part of the transition. "We've had plans forever, and we continue to have plans for sure," said Make Jacobsen, Director of Athletics. Planned renovations include more adequate seating for the soccer field, improvements to the softball field and adequate seating, restroom and storage facilities for the Hal Wing Track and Field. "The number one priority at this time is to provide more seating for the soccer field," Jacobsen said. It will be a $300,000 job which will be funded by private Scheduled donations. Other facility upgrades updates are being considered, speTrack and Field cifically replenishSoccer Field ing old equipment and faciliSoftball Field ties as they wear out. The athletic department is currently prioritizing all other planned facility upgrades. Many are to take place right away, though specific dates have yet to be determined. After becoming an official member of NCAA Division I athletics in 2009, there have been recent efforts of joining a different, more local conference. Until that happens, the immediate focus is bettering UVU's home in the Great West Conference from within. There is a definite stir of enthusiasm and dedication in the athletics department causing plenty of reason for optimism In a short span of time, UVU as a school and athletic program has made significant strides, and has plans to continue. "Wolverine athletics is in a really good place." Jacobsen said. "Every year we continue to improve our ability to compete, the quality of student athletes, and improve and build on our athletic facilities." UVU has taken steps the last few years to become more nationally known and respected. UVU currently sports the fastest growing enrollment in the state. According to the Daily Herald's Michael Rigert, Utah Valley is on track to be the largest public university in the state by next year in terms of enrollment. On the other hand, UVU also has the lowest square footage space per student in the state, so facilities in general have been minimal and sparse in light of the evergrowing enrollment. Now that the athletic facilities are in place, improving the quality of them becomes a primary focus to improve the overall goals of UVU athletics. SPORTS EDITOR Asst. SPORTS EDITOR Asst. SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS DESIGNER petersensports@gmail.com jonboldt@gmail.com jacobpartridge@gmail.com gonzamatic@gmail.com MATT PETERSEN JONATHAN BOLDT JAKE PARTRIDGE ERIC GONZALEZ |