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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1985)
PcgolO Friday, February 8, 1G35 Daily Nefaraskan i I 3 dive kJ VVJULB.LMB. FS "CO A. j By Corey Andenrsn Stiff Reporter In what one ccsch says should be the closest, most exciting dual cf the year, Nebrsska'sTswIir.rJng and diving teams will finish their 135 home dual sche dules Saturday at 1:30 p.m. In the Dob Devaney Sports Center Pool when they entertain their traditional swimming rivals, the Kansas Jaj hawks. Kansas will bring a 3 6 men's record Into action Saturday, but Nebraska swimming coach Cd Cents said his team, currently 5-3 after splitting duals with UNO and Arkansas last weekend, won't be tempted to look ahead to the Big Eight Championships a month from now. ' "We're not at that point in the sea son where we can afford to take any body or any swim lightly," Eentz said. According to Eentz, whose club is ranked 20th in the nation, the Buskers are a balanced team. "We've got a lot cf guys who are doing an excellent job for us and are working really very hard," Bentz said. "I really hesitate to single one person cut because I think we're much bigger than that. We feel we have what I con sider to be a very good all-around team. We feel we cover each event pretty well." The newcomers to Bentz's squad , have performed better than expected. "Our freshmen have been a very nice surprise to us," Bentz said. "At this point, the thing we need to do is to feel confident about all of the work that we've done and preparation that we've made and kind of let it flow, so to speak. "Hopefully, we aren't going to be as tired this week and that will translate into some good times. The thing we have to work on is putting our races together a little better, That's a mental thing, and we need to work on that." The 12th-rated Husker women will host 4-2 Kansas, ranked 15th in the nation, in a dual that should provide a preview of the upcoming Big Eight Championships. Coach Ray Huppert, whose team is 8-1 in dual competition this year, said his club is anxiously awaiting the meet. "The athletes have been looking forward to this weekend," Huppert said. "They've also obviously been look ing forward to the conference cham pionship meet." The Jayhjtwks have won all 10 of the Big Eight Championships contested so far. They have won all but one cf the seven duals between the two schools. "Kansas has built a real fine tradi tion," Huppert said. "This may be the year we can overtake Kansas, and once we do, ve feel then we ought to be able to be in the driver's seat and try and dominate the conference. It's not going i 4 Us to be easy because they've got that tradition going, but we're, locking for ward to the chalkr.se." Despite Kansas' tradition, Huppert thinks Nebraska can compete with thera. "They've been such a good team and they've made it very tough on all the conference schools," Huppert said. "We expect a tremendous challenge out cf them. I think 'we're going to be up to the task to at least swim well." xklcSlSlCSi Dy Corey Andersen' EtMI Reporter Alaskans don't get much recruit ing attention in the NCAA, and Nebraska diver Alvin Spencer is no exception. But Spencer, a half-eskimo from Anchorage, has made a significant impact on the Nebraska men's div ing fortunes this season. Spencer is in his third year of competitive diving. After winning the Alaska state title as a junior for Chugiak High School, where he set a state record, Spencer transferred to Long Beach, Calif, for his senior sea son and finished second in the CIF (California Interscholastic Federa tion) championships for Wocdrow Wilson High. Ha went on to qualify for senior nationals. Spencer's per formances prompted Husker living coach Jeff Huber to offer Spencer a half-scholarship. We took a little bit of a chance, especially early when we signed him," Huber said. "But that summer he qualified for the senior nation als. In the beginning it was a little bit of a gamble." But the gamble has paid off. Spencer and freshmen teammates Lewis Myers and Matt Clark have provided adequate support for senior All-American and two-time Olympic participant Reynaldo Castro. Spencer -has finished second or third on the team at most meets this season on both the three-meter and one-meter board. "He's improved quite a bit," Huber ' said. "He's shown that he can learn. He's a real talent and he's done well in some of the big meets for us and we've needed him. He's got talent and he can learn and ha can com pete under pressure, so those are pretty good qualifications." - "I really just didn't have anything else to do' in junior high and high school," Spencer said. "It's not really a big sport, but one cf my best Mends was in it and I was watching i"l6ICiI si Some cf the best races Saturday could be in the sprints where KU Ail American Tammy Pease and defending Big Eight SO free style champion Dana Powers will race head to head. "Dana and Tammy have really built up a great rivalry In the conference," Huppert ssld. Powers beat Pease in the 0 last year at the Big Eight, but Pease hs3 returned the favor twice this season. Eoth n diver makes most of talent c 9 J 1 t .. 1 David 8ourke0&!y fttbrasttaa Biver Alvia Opencer .,. "I never tito-at Fd get tfeis far." him dive so J thought it would be essy." But it was evident to seme Alas-' kans that Spencer had enough tal ent to do well ngU away. Seme . members of the Lion's Club in Bar rows, Ala., supported him in high school and helped Mm get to Cali- Spencer trained under two-time Olympic Coach Glenn McCcraick' - . t . swimmers are ranked nationally In four events: Pease in 50 free, 1G0, 200 breast stroke and 200 Intermediate; Powers in the 50 free, 100 fly, 100 breast and 200 intermediate. Pease was an All-American in the CO last year, while Powers Just missed by finishing 10th. But, Huppert said, Saturday's meet will feature more than Powers and Pease. KU's Karcy Herald will swim against Emily Ricketts, who has NU's best time in five events this year. 0 it t j SI and his wife Debby. . . "It was a big adjustment going to California,' Spencer said. tThat was the hardest part. Bat as far as the training, it was great. I learned quite a bit of diving. I caught up, I'd say, Eve or six years, and crammed it into a year and a half, because of them pushing raa so hard." Continued on Page 11 ... hi3 I i "J V "f "Thls'll be one of the most exciting meets for spectators because there'll be so many close racc3," he said. "If we can get students into that meet, I think we'll hook some cf them on s-.vlr.rr.hig." Huppert said it won't be the end cf the world if the Harpers lore. "Ourwhok philosophy and eurwhda training program is gearing us toward the Big Eight Championship," he said. "This ia just another dual meet. I know that's hard to ssy, ar.J I think our athletes probably look at it a little diiTerent, but it is. It's just encther dual meet, another step cn the lrr which will take us to the Big Eig'.t Championships. Obviously we would like to win thi3 meet and make it the most successful dual meet season. Huppert said he expected Kansas to be "very well prepared." "Hopefully, we will be prepared far them," he said. "Although team depth doesn't come Into play during a dual (teams can only score two athletes in each event), each coaching staff will be looking to see how the other's depth peiibrms. I c?a't think of a mors dra matic or exciting dual meet. It should t be a great one for people to see." Saturday's dual marks the end of the regular season for the Husker women. They will go into their final set cf workouts and begin their tapering pro cess following the meet in order to bring cut their maximum performance at the Big Eight Championships (Feb. 28 through March 2), Huppert said. Cal Bentz's men will travel to Ames, Iowa, for a final dual against Iowa State next Saturday. "Thi3 should be by far the toughest meet we have had to swim all season," Kansas Coach Gar Kempf said, refer--ing to the woraens matchup. 'They have no weaknesses," Kempf said. "They have a lot cf depth in the freestyle sprints and distances." Kemp said every event will be tough, f but agreed that the key matchup will -be between Kansas AH-Anaerican Tammy Pease and. JJcbrsska's defending EI Eight 50-yard freestyle champion Dana Powers. Kempf said his men's team is com ing to Lincoln hoping to jist swim hard and improve their times. "Nebraska is a heavy favorite to win the Big Eight championship and to beat them we are going to have to have an outstanding meet," Kempf said. " The Jayhr&'k men have not beat the Huskers in three years. Kansas is led by senior Brad Coens. Ccens is the Eig Eight champion in the 100-yard back stroke. " Kempf ssid a key matchup will be between Ccens and Ed Jowdy, the Busker's top backstrcker. Jowdys time of 50.87 is cidy .25 of a second elf quali fying for the Big Eight honor list in the .100 backstroke. Wrestler fulfills high school wish . When the Nebraska wrestling tenia takes on North Dakota State Friday night and North Dakota Saturday rdght at the Bob Devaney . Sports Center, -it will need ail the age and - experience it can gel Their t most expe rienced wrestlers, heavyweight Gary Albright and 1 18-poander Matt Campbell, are both ques tionable, and 142-pounder, Bill Feme is doubt&l ' because of injuries. 0ne older wrestler Coach Bob Fehrs will prob-' ably not use is 22-year-old Wallace Dawkins, a 118- to 128-pbunder. If Campbell does wrestle,' and Terry Cock wrestles u expected at 123, Dawkins will sit out, as he has most of the , season. - . 'Tkte is Dawkins' first year as aHusVer a?er spending twp years in the Army and a yeart - - Jvesjnai College in Ds Mars, Iowa, The t.n irea Soutn Sioux City wret''i r.i.n toe Amy end traveled with the Aroy fn at -teumaments in Hew York, New Jcrsc? V-v ton, D.C. and Virsida. Whii8 h ths aUJ, kins won the National Sombo (acoHwf judo and wrestling) toimsment " It