daily nebraskan
f riday, february 20, 1376
y m p i gs run i n F s she r s f a m i I y
page 10
By Dennis Onnen
Being an Olympian seems to run in the family of
Husker half-milcr Ron Fisher.
The 6 ft. 2 in., 165 lb. freshman from Ottawa, Canada,
has a sister who ran the 400-meter dash for Canada in the
1968 Olympics. He also has a brother who has pole
vaulted 17 ft. 4 in. and probably will represent Canada
at this summer's Montreal Olympics.
It appears Fisher is heading in that direction, too, after
his performances so far in the indoor season.
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Husker freshman half-miler Ron Fisher.
He won the 880-yard run in a dual against Iowa State
University and a triangular against the Universities of
Kansas and Oklahoma, beating Cyclone David Korir and
Jayhawk Tommy McCall, who have the fastest Big
8 Conference times in the event this year with marks of
1:51.8 and 1:52.1, respectively. Although Fisherhas not
matched those times, he ran a 1:52.2 in the opening leg
of the distance medley relay which qualified for the
NCAA meet at the Michigan State Relays Feb. 7.
Last weekend, Fisher qualified for the NCAA meet
himself with a 1:10.4 in the 600-yard run at Colorado
Springs, third fastest in Husker history. Only Dave Crook
(1:09.2), Big 8 record holder, and Garth, Case (1:10.3),
three-time Big 8 champion in the event, have run faster.
Unsure about Olympics
But Fisher is not even sure if he will attend the Canadi
an Olympic qualifying trials in late June. '
"It depends on how well I'm running in the outdoor
season," he said. . ,
Right now his sights are set on the Big 8 indoor
championships Feb. 27 through 28. Although he ranks
higher in the conference in the 600, he said he would like
to run just the 880 instead of trying both.
"I think I'll be running the half-mile in the Big 8
meet," he said. "I hope so anyway-I think I can win it."
The physical education major has set no particular
goals for himself-"I just want to make them happy they
got me."
Bplusin track
Fisher was not what would be called a "heavily re
cruited athlete." He was planning to go to the University
of Toronto last fall before running into the- Villanova
track coach Aug. 26. Although Villanova had no scholar
ships left to offer, the coach contacted Husker coach
Frank Sevigne. Sevigne then called Fisher Aug. 28 and of
fered a full scholarship, which he accepted.
Fisher, even though arriving at UNL a week late, did
well in the classroom first semester. He had a grade point
average of 3.89, marred by two grades of B plus. Oddly,
one of those was in track.
Fisher and the rest of the Husker track team are back
in action Saturday at the indoor track under Memorial
Stadium. Nebraska Wesleyan University and Doane Col
lege also will participate in the Husker Invitational, but
no team scores will be kept. Field events start at 1:15
pjn., with running events following at 2.
nebraskan
.8
Injuries plaguing
women gymnasts
Plagued by recent injuries, UNL's women's gymnastics
team will compete in the Big 8 Conference meet in
Boulder, Colo, today and Saturday.
Sophomore Kathi Ruddick, who Injured her neck In a
triangular meet last weekend against Kansas and Washburn
Universities in Tope lea, and junior Karla Gerbig, with an
injured knee, did not make the trip to Colorado.
Also, frtshmarfBarb Baker, usually an all-arounder for
the Huskers, will compete only on the uneven bars
because of a sprained ankle.
Colorado University (CU), Iowa State University (ISU),
Kansas (KU), Oklahoma State University (OSU), and UNL
will participate in the meet. The other three Big 8 schools,
the Universities of Kansas State, Missouri and Oklahoma,
do not have organized teams but may send individual
competitors, according to Balke.
"Colorado and Iowa State are the favorites," Balke
said. "They consistently Score 96 to 99 points." UNL's
highest point total this season was 87 points in the team's
first meet.
She said the race for third should be close between
KU and UNL with OSU fifth.
sports
Eight names have been added to the list of high school
seniors who signed national letters of Intent Wednesday to
attend UNL next fall on a football scholarship.
The most recent signees include in-staters Tom Mat
thies, 6 ft. 7 in., 250 lbs. from Oxford; Jeff Quinn, 6 ft.
3 in., 190 lbs. from Ord, and Kerry Weinmaster, 6 ft.,
190 lbs. from North Platte.
Non-Nebraskans signing letters are Randy Schleusener,
6 ft. 5 in., 210 lbs. from Rapid City, S.D.; Lee Atkins, 6
ft. 1 in., 195 lbs. from San Angelo, Tex.; Calvin Anderson,
6 ft. 3 in., 265 lbs. from Minneapolis; Brian Grace, 6 ft.
2 in., 215 lbs. from Des Moines, and Kelvin Nash, 6 ft. 3
in., 195 lbs. from Riverside, Calif.
Nash in the only person not signing a Nebraska Big 8
Conference letter of intent two weeks ago.
The Lincoln Track Club is sponsoring a 10-mile Fun
Run Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. at UNL's outdoor
track. Maps of the route will be available, and split times
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tion back to the track, also will be available. There is no
entry fee.
UNL students and faculty members interested in ar
chery may practice the sport Saturday mornings from 10
am. to noon in Women's Physical Education Bldg. 301.
Participants are encouraged to supply their own equip
ment, but UNL's Recreation Dept. will have some equip
ment available in the gym.
Those interested are asked to enter through the lower
level north door on the west side of the building.
The men's swimming team, now 2-5 in duals, ends its
regular season this weekend. The squad travels to the
University of Oklahoma Friday and Oklahoma State Uni
versity Saturday.
, UNL's Recreation Dept. is sponsoring a ski trip to
Winter Park, Colo., during spring break. The trip, wi-Jch
includes five full days'of skiing, costs $167. One full day
of Uxors, three days of lift tickets and ifi ski equipment
sirs incited In the trip's cost. A $50 resc.-vition deposit Is
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Huskers loss to Wildcats
could shatter playoff
visions
By Larry Stunkel
Losing to Kansas State University (KSU) 65-53
Wednesday night may have darkened UNL's hopes for a
Big 8 Conference basketball title, but it didn't completely
turn off those hopes.
With some luck (also better offensive rebounding and
consistency) the Huskers could fight back and tie for the
title, or finish second which might be enough for an
NCAA play off berth.
Saturday's game at the University of Missouri is a must
win for either possibility.
The first time UNL and Missouri University (MU) met
this season, the Tigers 'garnered, a 62-57 win in the Coli
seum. The Huskers have revenge as an added motive.
MU had been deemed unbeatable at home, but the
Tigers' lone conference loss to KSU Feb. 4 in Columbia
flawed that legend.
The Tigers also have a number of close wins, the latest
being a 61-60 victory at the University of Kansas (KU)
Wednesday.
Needless to say, Nebraska must win all four of its re
maining games to win the title. The two home games
should not be too much trouble, but Kansas' 5-5 confer
ence record doesn't depict the quality of the Jayhawks,
who will be very tough In Lawrence.
tven if the Huskers win the rest of their games,
MU and KSU both will have to be upset for the Huskers
to win the Big 8.
Missouri has the toughest schedule remaining, with
UNL Saturday, the University of Oklahoma (the most
improved team in the conference, according to UNL
coach Joe Cipriano) at Norman, Okla., Feb. 28, KSU at
Manhattan, Kan., March 3 and the University of Colorado
in Columbia March 6.
. Kansas State plays state rival Kansas in Manhattan
' Saturday, (the game will be televised regionally), Iowa
State at Ames, Iowa, Feb. 27, Missouri in Manhattan,
March 3 and Oklahoma State, in Stillwater, Okla., March 6.
For the Huskers to win the title outright, Missouri
must lose three of it's next four games, and two of those
losses must be UNL and KSU. Kansas State will have to
lose to Kansas Saturday and one of the two games other
than Missouri.
A betting man would have to say the odds are against
the Huskers. If not the odds, then history-Nebraska
has choked In the second half of the conference season
each time it has been a contender.
Then again, Husker losses this season all have been
relatively close-close enough that the right break at the
right time could have changed some outcomes. Those
breaks could start going the Huskers' way. If MU and KSU
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offs for the first time In 25 years.
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