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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 1986)
Wednesday, September 24, 1986 Aussie makes most By Rob White Stafl Reporter This is the ninth in a series of stories that feature foreign stu dents who are athletes at Ne braska. When Ruth Chatwin left Australia for the I'niversity of Nebraska Softball team in January, she was told to meet a man in a red jacket in the Omaha airport. "1 was just hoping there weren't too many people in red jackets," she said. Despite her uncertain start, Chat win, a catcher, said adjusting from Glen Waverly, Victoria, Australia, to Lincoln was relatively easy. "They're very similar, they're both Western society countries," she said. "The big difference is the different values that are placed on sports here. They don't have sports scholarships at home, so it makes it seem more profes sional over here." Softball is very popular in Australia, Chatwin said, and she began playing the game at age 5. Coming to America on a scholarship was always something she thought of doing, she said. "It was something I had hoped to do," she said. "But it's one of those wishes that you don't think will ever come true. Playing in Australia, the chances of even being recruited are so small, it's really wild that I even got the chance." Chatwin got her chance when she made the Australian contingent to the World Youth Series held in North Dakota in June 1985. Her performance there caught the attention of American col lege coaches, who recruited her through her father. She said she decided on Nebraska because it had the best reputation of those pursuing her. "I guess 1 was just in the right place in the right time," she said. After her arrival, Chatwin was able to join the Softball team for her spring season. She said she was surprised at the amount of playing time she saw after missing workouts in the fall. "I was happy with the amount of playing time I received since it was a totally new system and a new country," she said, "but I hope I play a lot more this year." Chatwin also had the unpleasant experience of running into a controver sial situation, when recruiting viola tions led to Nebraska's forfeiting an appearance in the College World Series. "It's really unfortunate what hap pened," Chatwin said. "I thought I had left all the politics behind me in Australia." Nevertheless, Chatwin said she has enjoyed her experience with American sports. "It's been a big learning experience," she said. "Coach Daigle (the Huskers' former coach) really knew his stuff and was a big help to me. Also, the intensity and the team atmosphere is something we don't have in Australia. "It's almost like a job here since we actually get paid with a scholarship. In Australia, the effort you put into it is your only reward, so in that way the intensity is a lot different. It's not as happy-go-lucky." One of the few cultural adjustments Chatwin has had to make, she said, was to watch what she eats while in the United States. "There's a lot of crap," she said of American food, "you really have a lot of Cipriano holds grudge CIPRIANO from Page 7 Besides not being able to recruit in state players, Iba also made the mis take of hiring Joe Cipriano's son. Randy. Despite having limited coaching experience that included a 5-12 record during a one-year stint at Ogallala High School, the younger Cipriano was hired by the Nebraska athletic department in hopes he would carry on the Cipriano tradition. But the strategy appears to have backfired. Besides being ridiculed constantly by the Nebraska players, Randy Cipri ano embarrassed the university he used to be employed by when he chose to ridicule a Daily Nebraskan reporter recently. It seems Randy Cipriano still carries a grudge against the Daily Nebraskan because we chose to report to the NCAA an illegal basketball practice conducted last October. Maybe I should have gotten a taste of the young Cipriano's thoughts towards the Daily Nebraskan when he tried to stop me from doing an interview with former Nebraska center Dave Hoppen. As if that incident wasn't enough, I truly was treated to an incident which set the record straight between Randy Cipriano and the Daily Nebraskan. I was walking through the grand stand ofthe horse racing track recently, when a vaguely familiar voice boomed through my ears. "Nice sweater, nice sweater," the voice said. As I turned around from the pari mutuel window, I noticed the source of this rude remark was you guessed it Randy Cipriano. "Hey Randy," I replied. "Aren't you supposed to be in practice now?" While this isolated incident may seem harmless, it (and things like it) hurt the integrity of the Nebraska athletic department. It's true and I fully realize Randy Cipriano is no longer employed by the Husker athletic department. But former individuals who have been exposed to the public eye such as Cipriano was should be aware of what the consequences of such action will be. Husker Red's Poll Co-Rec Football 1. Harvey Smither's 2. Phi Gamma DeltaPi Beta Phi 3. Connection 4. Kappa SigmaKappa Kappa Gamma 5. Phi Delta Theta 6. A-Beave 7. Shuffling Crew 8. Fat, Slow & Ugly 9. Cather 7Sandoz 6 10. AcaciaDelta Delta Delta Lien's Softball 1. Flex Express 2. Alpha Tau Omega A 3. Delta Tau Delta A 4. The Vets 5. Theta Chi A 6. Selleck 8300 A 7. Off Campus Coalition 8. Ag Men A 9. Lenny's Devils 10. Solid Gold 10. Burr West II A 5-0 5-0 5-0 5-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 4-0 3-0 3-0 3-0 3-0 3-0 3- 0 4- 0 3- 0 2- 0 4- 0 3- 0 Daily Nebraskan chance sweets." While she speaks the same language as she did in her homeland, Chatwin said that she has encountered some problems in that area as well. "When we say someone's pissed, we mean he's drunk. When you say it, you mean he's angry," .she said. Another problem arose for Chatwin on her second day in Lincoln while going through dropadd. When a mis take was found on her form, she asked to borrow a rubber to correct it, rather than an eraser, she said. Except for minor incidents like these, Chatwin said she is happy with her decision to come to America to play ball. "It's been an absolute honor to play with the girls on the team and I respect everyone on it," she said. "I've loved every minute of it." D & p D s f FUSE DELIVEOV 467-3472 2670 Cornhuslccr Highway Buy A Large 16" Pizza Receive A Medium 12" Pizza FREE With This Coupon EXPIRES 102086 r - - -.: " "' ' I lIJiKWA 7 FIBUM IE 7 i - it" . y S Bulova, a truely fine watch. For one day only, Sturdily, September 27 Sartor Hamann Jewel ers and the Bulova Watch Company will be presenting the latest in Bulova watch styles. These Watches Will Be Available at Very Special Prices And for this one day event, put 10 down for lay away (interest free) and we. Sartor Hamann, will match your 10. Prices storting at -ATURDAY, SEPT. 20i Gctci'jny VJcIl Only Page 1 1 J a i t
