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daily nebraskan
thursday, October 5, 1978
sports
UNL gymnasts hope World Games bring U.S. medal
By Mary Ryan
In the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, American gymnast
Peter Korman won a bronze medal in the floor exercise.
It was the first medal for a United States male gymnast
in the Olympics or World Games in 44 years.
Two members of the UNL's men's gymnastics team
would like to see that it is not another 44 years before the
VS. wins another medal in those competitions.
Senior Larry Gerard and freshman Jim Hartung partici
pated in the World Games trials in Oklahoma City, where
Hartung finished third and Gerard tenth. The competition
decided the team that will be sent to France for the World
Games Oct. 22-29.
The only difference between the Olympic and World
Games is that the World Games are only for gymnastics
and the Olympics have other sports, Hartung said.
"The World Games and the Olympics are as high as you
can go in gymnastics," he said.
The top six finishers made the team but there was only
a one point difference between the fifth and tenth place
scores, UNL Coach Francis Allen said, adding that Gerard
missed tricks on two events, losing "1.50 points on the
horse alone."
"I fell off the sidehorse at the end of the routine," said
Gerard, who broke his, finger in the mishap. "I had
completed the whole routine and then I fell off. My body
got going too fast and was ahead of my mind and that's
what happens."
Was disappointed
He said he was disappointed in not making the team
but felt that he had improved to be able to score 107.6
with two major breaks.
Hartung, who scored 1 12.35 to better his personal high
by exactly two points, said, "I was pretty happy with the
compulsory exercises. I've improved on them from the
USA championships (in June) by two points.
"I was a little unhappy with the optional exercises. I
made a few mistakes that I didn't want to make."
He said he had major breaks on the pommel horse and
high bar because he was trying new tricks, but added, "I
would rather try them here than in France."
Like Hartung, Gerard's other break was also on the
high bar.
"I went a little conservative," he said. "There should
not be changes at the last minute. I didn't do what I was
supposed to do."
Gerard said he found the failure to qualify for the
World Games a disappointment because he had felt he was
ready for the competition before it started.
'Hit routines'
"My inclination was to hit all my routines," he said. "I
felt ready, maybe I wasn't psychologically. I haven't been
in competition in a year (he was redshirted and had an
ankle injury) and maybe it was a hidden psychological
disadvantage because they had been participating and I
hadn't.
"It was a high caliber meet and very important and I
took it like that. . . I really wanted to make the team."
To make the Olympic squad, Gerard said he has to
work on being consistent.
"It is important to hit all six events in every meet I go
to," he said.
Allen said, "One more meet and he will be ready to do
well again. He has all the skills; all he needs is to get the
tumbling back up."
All Hartung needs to do, Allen said, is to "keep pro
gressing the way he has been."
"He's the gymnast the Olympic program is looking
forward to having in the Olympic games," Allend said.
"He could be slated for a medal in the World Champion
ships. He is one of the best vaulters and he has proven
himself on the horse. He won a gold medal in Moscow last
year (in the Moscow News and Riga meet.)"
Hartung wasn't as sure of his chances.
"I don't think I am going to win a medal, but if I had
to choose an event, it would be in floor exercise or the
pommel horse. As far as that goes, I am not thinking of
that, but how to help the team," he said.
The U.S. team has never finished higher than fifth in
the competition, Hartung said.
"Russia and Japan will finish one-two but there will be
a battle for third and we have an excellent chance for the
third place medal," he said.
Hartung has been thinking about 1980 since he was
about 15, he said, when he competed in the Junior
Olympics. He won the title two years in a row and people
started talking to him about it.
Making the World Games team is a major step on the
way to the Olympics and to make the games, Hartung
said, he has to keep doing what he is doing.
"If I just keep improving at the rate I am," he said. "I
don't have to change anything and I could work on my
routines a bit more."
Gerard said he first thought of the Olympics when he
qualified for the semi-trials in 1975 and he was rated fifth
in the nation in the all-around.
"I did well that year in college competition," he said.
With a career high score of 109.55, Gerard is confident
he can make the team after just missing in 1976.
"I haven't seen me at my best yet," he said.
ff
UNL gymnast Jim Hartung qualified for the World Games in France by finishing third in the trials ItOkUhomt City
Disciplined soccer club kicking through rough schedule
r. . ...
By Brad Horky
With 60 percent of its squad new, the
UNL Soccer Club has started the season
with a 1-1-1 record and hopes of
improving.
Head coach Ron Joyce thinks the new
comers eventually will adapt to a different
style of play.
"Most of our new players have come
out of the Omaha school system where
they have a good soccer program," Joyce
said. "But playing on a college level is
much different than high school.
"We've started the season with a loss
to UNO, a tie with Creighton, and a win
over York College," Joyce said. "As the
new players adapt and start playing up
to their potential, well be very competi
tive the rest of the season."
Organization is one of the reasons that
Joyce feels this team can become a good
outfit.
More discipline
"At the beginning of the year I started
requiring more discipline from the players.
We now have physical drills, and have
specific squads play together most of the
time so they get used to playing with
each other.
"Last year the players would just come
out here and get a ball and start playing."
According to Joyce, the soccer team has
a rugged schedule this year and plays about
30 games.
"On Oct. 21, we travel to Boulder,
Colo., to take on Colorado University's
Soccer Club. They're real good, they're
the defending Big 8 champs," he said.
"I feel we can give them a real eood earn
if the players play up to their potential."
Cross-state rival UNO is always a big
contest for the Huskers. In the first
meeting this year, UNO won 2-0.
Grass an advantage
"UNO is a big game for us every time
we play them," Joyce said. "They took us
2-0 the first time but we play them here
later this month. And like I said, if the
players play up to their potential we can
beat them.
"One thing that will help us is when
they play down here it will be on grass.
At UNO we played on their Astroturf and
they are a quick, running team. Grass is
different."
Sixth-year player Dave Egr can also
see the team improving.
"The last game we played (York) we
pjlayed much better," Egr said. "We have
a lot of good players out of Omaha and
they'll improve with experience. When we
played UNO it was on the Astroturf and
under the lights. We're used to always
playing during the day."
"The schedule gets much tougher as
we go," Egr said. "Colorado is probably
our toughest opponent since they're
defending Big 8 champs. Soccer has two
seasons, fall and spring. The spring season
is even tougher."
Soccer funds
Like many of the university club sports,
soccer is self-supporting. Thev cover most
of their uniform costs and travel expenses
with the dues each player pays at the
beginning of the season. Joyce said it
would still be awhile before soccer is a
varsity sport.
"When I spoke to Mr. Devaney (athletic
director) the thought that soccer would be
a varsity sport within three or four years,"
Joyce said. "Scholarships are the main
problem. If you are going to compete on
a varsity level, you have to be able to pass
out scholarships."
Money is also important, he said.
'Two years ago we beat Colorado, but
since then their univeristy has been helping
them with funds. Now they are a real good
team, Egr said. "It could be their new
coach or the money, but it (money)
neips.
Huskers joined by 146 flag football teams
By Brad Horky
The Cornhuskers won't be the only
football team on campus this fall. They
are joined by 146 men's intramural flag
football teams.
The flag football program started Mon
day with fraternities, residence halls and
independent teams competing.
"Well have about a five-week regular
season and then run about a two-week
playoff," said Intramural Coordinator Gale
Wiedow. "We hope to be done a week prior
to Thanksgiving vacation."
The all-university playoffs will include
16 teams at the end of the season. The 16
teams will consist of the top two teams in
the fraternity A, B, and C divisions: the
top two teams in the Residence Hall A, B,
and C divisions: and the top two clubs
in the Independent A and B divisions.
"The biggest problem we have is supply
ing enough refs," Wiedow said. "As of right
now we have some people that are going to
be working long hours."
There have been considerably fewer
injuries in the last three years of play in the
intramural prognm, Wiedow said. He
added he would like to think the flag foot
ball rules are the main reason for the lack
of injuries. There have been some recent
changes in the rules.
Rubber-cleated shoes are now allowed
and this season the major penalties have
been changed from 15 to 10 yards because
of the small playing area.
Wiedow said he feels the teams that
have the most experience together usually
enjoy the most success.
"The teams that have played together
adapt to the rule modifications better,"
Wiedow said. "The last two years an inde
pendent has won the all-university title
and the year before that it was a frat team.
It goes in cycles."
The intramural games are being played
on the fields between 17th and 19th
streets on Vine Strert. Anyone who is
interested in officiating the games should
contact the University Department of Rec
reation at 1 7th and Vine Streets.