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N top recruits
By Andrew Strnad
Staff Reporter
Four new recruits and a new baby.
Wednesday was a busy day for Nebraska Soccer Coach
John Walker.
In what Walker called a transitional year for the Huskers,
NU was able to sign four of the top high school players in
Nebraska and Colorado.
All four recruits signed Wednesday - the same day
Walkerls wife, Mary, gave birth to the couple’s fourth child.
Topping the list for the Huskers are two girls from
Omaha Burke High School.
Walker said midfielder/striker Meghan Anderson is a tal
ented left-footed kicker - a rarity in collegiate soccer.
Joining Anderson is high school teammate Becky
Preston, who has been acclaimed for her explosive speed.
“Last summer at our camp is when we really took notice
to Becky, and she had a great week,” Walker said. “She’s just
a fine attacking player with great speed.”
Striker Kelly Rheem, perhaps die most-heralded recruit,
came from the same high school as former Husker All
American Kari Uppinghouse.
Rheem, an AU-American and member of the US. Under
17 National Team, is regarded as a great technical player with
a strong scoring punch.
“She’s a great one-on-one player, and has that burst of
speed that just makes things happen.” Walker said.
The Huskers fourth recruit is defender Karia Ledford of
Englewood Colo.
Walker compared Ledford to former Huskers Stephanie
Vacek and Tanya Franck, saying Ledford hasthe same strong
physical makeup as many ofNU^ previous defenders.
class of1996, which saw four freshman see significant play
ingtime.
“All four players have a chance to contribute right away,
and sometime during the season may find themselves start
ing.” Walker said
The Huskers may not be done recruiting yet Walker
oqjects to pursue at least one foreign player during the early
summer. / -
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The following players have signed to play soccer at
Nebraska next fas.
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Allen doesn't
accept status
as underdog
-—7T —
ByDabsenIvy
Assignment Reporter
Going into a meet with the fourth
most coaches would accept their
team's role as an
underdog. Francis
Allen, coach of
the ninth-ranked
Nebraska men's
gymnastics team.
is not one of
them.
Competing
with a healthy
team, Allen said,
he didn’t think Letter
Oklahoma or Ohio
State could beat die Comhuskers at
tonight’s meet in Norman, Okla.
“1 don't see them rated ahead of us
(in the polls)," Allen said. “They
aren't better than us.”
Last week at die Rocky Mountain
Open, NU finished second, and pre
season No. 8 Oklahoma came in third.
But Husker gymnasts Jason
Hardabura and All-American
Marshall Nelson were limited because ,
of injuries.
During tonight's competition,
Nelson and Hardabura will be com
peting in the all-around event.
Allen said having Hardabura in
the lineup will raise the Husker^ score
by at least three points, maintaining
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Mountain Open because Hardabura
was hurt
Meanwhile, a healthy Nelson also
will have a big impact on the team.
“It's like putting Jordan back in the
Bulls’ lineup,” Leiter said. “It’saspark
plug for the rest of us when Marshall
hits a big set.”
Although Nebraska defeated the
Sooners in Colorado, Allen said he
was still a bit worried about compet
ing in Norman because he has lost .
there more than anywhere else.
*HTiey think we are their rivals and
get high as hell,” Allen said. “But it is
like the Colorado and Nebraska foot
ball rivalry. We win a lot more than
they do.”
Allen said the gymnastics rivalry
started because of the football rivalry,
and over die years it has been a healthy
one.
Now the rivalry is the only one left
in the Big 12 Conference because no
other schools have men’s gymnastics
programs.
Ohio State has also been a rival of
the Huskers. Leiter emphasized that it
was important to send an early mes
sage to the Sooners and Buckeyes.
ty to walk aw^ with die meet!”1™
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NU Mon vs.
I Kansas State
[ Saturt/ay,
February 7
at 12:45 pm
I af Bob Devanoy Sports Center