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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 1999)
Freshman wrestlers shine for Huskers ■ The NU wrestling team left the NCAAs with three All-American players and a No. 15 ranking. By Brandon Schulte Staff writer Going into the NCAA Championships in State College, Pa., the Nebraska wrestling team had grappled to a No. 4 ranking in the polls by virtue of a 17-6 season. NU came into the meet with seven wrestlers, six automatic berths and one wild card, with only one senior and five underclassmen. The result: 37 points, three All Americans and a not entirely unex pected No. 15 finish, as a strong dual ranking doesn’t always equate to a strong NCAA Tournament team. “A young, hungry dual team is completely different than a national team,” Neumann said. “It takes two years to put together a tournament team. What we did this year was put together a very good dual team to build on for next year.” Of the Top 15 Huskers, only two, All-American Jose DeAnda and Dustin Morris, ended their eligibility this season, while several underclass men stepped up to help lead the team. Namely freshman Brian Snyder, who turned the 157-pound weight class in the Big 12 Conference upside down as he carried NU on his back at the conference tournament and was NU’s only champion. Snyder went up against three of the premier 157-pounders in the country: ISU’s David Maldonado, OSU’s Jimmy Arias and OU’s David Kjeldgaard. Snyder made his way to the tournament final against - Maldonado despite competing the entire tournament with separated car tilage in his ribs. In a rematch of an earlier 3-2 win in January over Maldonado, Snyder came back from a 1-0 deficit by earn ing an escape in the third period to send the match into overtime. In the extra frame, Snyder scored the first takedown of the match with 28 sec onds left to win 3-1. With the win he joined a select group of Huskers to become a confer ence champion as a freshman. “A freshman won a Big 12 Championship - that’s awesome,” Neumann said. “He won the champi onship with superstars at his weight class. Snyder wrestled great, and he wasn’t even 100 percent.” Snyder went on to garner All American honors at the national meet with a fourth-place finish. Sophomore Brad Vering and DeAnda were also honored as All-Americans. Vering lost in the consolation finals and DeAnda finished eighth in the 141-pound weight class. In his first NCAA appearance, DeAnda was the sentimental favorite on the squad. He finished his final year 28-9. “I don’t think there’s ever been an All-American at Nebraska that deserves it more than Jose does,” Neumann said. “He’s worked five years for this chance - this weekend. It was an emotional thing for all of us.” Husker bowlers roll over championship competition By Jason Merrihew StaffWriter There are two words that describe the University of Nebraska 1999 women’s bowling team: national champions. The Cornhuskers finished the season on top by defeating the Fresno State Bulldogs 2-1 in Wichita, Kan., at the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship. The Huskers were led by senior All-American Jennifer Daugherty and Diandra Hyman. Daugherty was selected to the All-Tournament team, while Hyman selected honorable mention All American honors. The Huskers were an inexperi enced team after three under class man left the team for various reasons. Three freshman stepped up to fill the V holes. Along with Hyman, Jenifer Johnston and Amanda O’Hayre made up the talented freshman corps. All came to NU already established with games better than 289. “The freshman performed admirably under the circumstances,” Head Coach Brian Straub said. “Next year looks very good and we will be decidedly better than last year.” Straub was pleased with the team’s performance since it was not expected of them to go all the way. “The national championship was really unexpected,” Straub said. “Fresno State was a better team, the team to beat in the tournament. But once we got rolling, winning came easily.” The national championship match against Fresno State will be telecast on June 12 at 3 p.m. The competition will be aired on ESPN2. CA$H FOR BOOKS Textbook Buy Back Monday-Saturday 9:00-6:00 Thursday 9:00-8:00 Sunday 12:00-5:00 www.nebraskabookstore.com 1300 Q Street • Lincoln, NE 68508 - Cross-country runners hope to rebuild developing teams By Josh Camenzind Staff writer The 1998 cross-country season highlighted a team on the rise and a team looking to regain its form. The women made it to the national meet for the third consecu tive year, while the men failed to qualify. The women were led by fresh man Jeannette Zimmer and sopho more Amy Wiseman. They helped the team finish seventh at the confer ence meet and fourth at the Midwest Regional Championships. Zimmer finished 11th at Regionals while Wiseman placed 20"1. The Big 12 qualified seven teams for nationals from the conference, one of which was NU because of an at-large bid. At nationals, Zimmer and Wiseman finished 70th and 98th, respectively. The Huskers were held down by not having an outstanding No. 1 runner, but still managed to place 23rd. “We really never had a real front runner,” Coach Jay Dirksen said. “So that kind of held us down, but we gained experience and hopefully that will pay off next year.” Next year is looking brighter and brighter for the team, as Michelle Mann will transfer from England to run for the Huskers. “Michelle is that front runner we are looking for,” Dirksen said. “She will provide us with a conference contender and make us very compet itive next year.” The team will be missing Wiseman next year as she has decid ed to transfer to the University of Arkansas. As a freshman she fin ished 98th at the national meet and had high expectations coming into this year. Injury and sickness limited her effectiveness this year. “Amy had high hopes coming into this year,” Dirksen said. “But she was bothered early by a respira tory problem that is still bothering her today.” The Husker men failed to qualify for the national meet after entering the season with high hopes. “We were very optimistic going in,” Dirksen said. “The efforts were good but we were just hurt by a lack of depth and a lack of a front run ner. The team’s lack of a front runner is due to Jeroen Broekzitter being dismissed from the team. Broekzitter placed 20th last season at the NCAA meet, in which NU placed 11th. “Jeroen not being here left us pretty much in a four-on-five situa tion,” Dirksen said. “These guys gave outstanding effort, but it result ed in one of the poorest years since I have been here.” In all fairness to the team, the Huskers lost their No. 1 and No. 3 runners to graduation. All-American Cleophus Boor and team captain Aaron Johnson were replaced by three-time letterwinner Lou Pettrica and a.bunch of young talent. Pettrica, the 1998 team captain, gave his impression of the season. “We had a good season,” Pettrica said. “It had a lot of ups and downs and we struggled a bit, but losing Jeoren hurt as nothing seemed to work out.” The Huskers ended up finishing eighth in the conference and 13th in the regional meet. “We had a lot of good track peo ple last year,” Dirksen said. “They were not really great cross-country runners, but we hope that the recruit ing we have done and experience we have gained will make us competi tive next season.” For a complimentary Engagement Package, call 1.800.642. GIFT. &S • • , ■. ■N - ’ .'^7;?%• v . - 7 ' j. • ' 7v7 ■ .. ■ j>. .. :■ --v- f V ' BORSHEIM'S. Fine Jewelry and Gifts A Berkshire Hathaway Company .' 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