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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 1986)
Sports Cougar’s Winkler provides leadership by example II is not often that one reads about the opponent. If ever, it is usually something abstract, statistical or vague. But this opponent is different. He goes under the category of role model.. . maybe even hero. When most people are asked to name someone who influences them, they are likely to blurt out a familiar name like JFK or Magic Johnson. Personally. I have always been tentative to say who my role model is because others might not understand. This time 1 will try to explain. Reporters Notebook By Joe Arndt Chris Winkler plays basketball for Washington State University. That s right, those same guys who beat us by one point Sunday afternoon, dropping the Ducks Pac-10 record to 1-5. It wasn't simply his ten points — six of them via long range jumpers — that pro mpted me to disclose this well-kept secret. It's much more than that. Ever since seventh grade, Chris has been respected for his achievements on and off the court. Besides being the finest all-around athlete I've ever seen, he is one of the finest leaders I have ever known. He was popular in school but not in the adolescent, social sense. He was popular because he is personable, outgoing and in telligent. He leads by example. At Oregon’s McMinnville High School, he developed into a talented three-sport athlete. He could throw a football farther, shoot a basketball better and toss a baseball faster than anyone I’ve ever witnessed. Rumor has it that he also could have been an excellent collegiate swimmer. He has the instincts, natural abili ty and mental toughness the majority of us only dream of. While winning several athletic awards in high school. Chris continued to maintain a high academic standard and an interest in extra curricular ac tivities. He was the student body president when l was a junior, and he helped per suade me to run the next year. Though l never compared myself to him, there was always a sense of pride in follow i n g In his footsteps. As a leader, he had the tact and confidence 1 wished to possess. He taught mo a lot. a When it came to choosing a university, Chris opted for WSU, He decided to concentrate his athletic abilities on basketball, and he has both started and come off the bench enthusiastically since his freshman year. 1 remember watching Chriii for the first time as a Cougar. 1 don't even think he played, but I recall he was the only one on the bench standing and waving a towel to cheer his teammates. That is the.quality of person Chris is. Recently Chris has had his ups. and doyvns. 'Last winter.' while sledding on a snowy mountain, he separated his shoulder, which forced him to redshirt. last season. He came back for his senior season "thanks . to a good surgeon." Chris is now the sixth man for the Cougars, a role he aptly fulfilled Sunday by providing scoring and defense that kept the Ducks behind the Cougars. Chris will graduate this spring with a chemical engineering degree. What is so impressive is that when he speaks — whether it be about school or basketball — he never tries to impress. He speaks to people, not at them. But right now, the Pac-10 season is first on his mind. "Things for me are great," Chris said with his characteristic smile. "This tnam has played well at times though our record (2-4 in conference play) can bo improved on." Why didn’t Chris come to Oregon? "At that time they (former coach Jim Haney and staff) didn't want me," he said. "They wanted Bryan Trendell (then a senior at Marshfield High School)." ' •. 0 The Ducks got Trended, but the recruit never pann ed out. After his freshman season, which he spent mostly on the bench. Trendell left coach Don Munson’s squad in December 1983. After five Pac-10 games. Winkler has produced some substantial numbers. He is averaging 11.B points'. . ■ <3 • conning off the bench, shooting at a .549 clip. Add to that 19 assists' in five games and a’ .750 free throw ■ j percentage. 9. What is so impressive for the nonstarter is that he is . . second on the-team in conference minutes played with 181. Maybe Chris should be starting. '. -."Really,'I don’t mind-not starting as long as I con- : , ° tribute.", said Winkler. ."It’s not who starts but who . -finishes v.. ” . . . .. . ' ■ ,That*s why 1'chose a young man to emulate. Chris • Winkler is both realistic and optimistic, and his ac complishments are substantial — excellent qualities ofo an ideal role model . It’s }mjt too bad he plays for- the other'team;. • . ... —UQ Bookstore— 2 DAYS ONLY Tues, Jan 21st Wed, Jan 22nd All STAEDTLER PRODUCTS NO EXCHANGES NO REFUNDS • No further discounts apply • Cash register sales only • Limited to stock on hand Your store since 1920 13th & Kincaid M F 7 30-5 30 SAT 10:00-3:00 1KST0RE Supplies «ee-4331 OFF Retail Price CO L m Grapplers lose tough one By-Tony Ahern flflkt v The last two weight divisions proved disasterous for the8 Oregon wrestling team Saturday. The Washington StateCougahf.scored’ the maximum 12 points in the final, two matches to edge the Ducks. 21-20 in Richland, Wash, for their first win over Oregon since 1969. ’ After 177-pourider Mike Darter drubbed-Tim Hyman 16-4 for a . superior decision, it appeared the Ducks, leading 20-9, had their 17th-straight win over WSU locked up.; •-. ' . Mike Sudduth. however, riddled Oregon’s lames Terry in the following 190-pound match. 19-4, to earn a'technical fall and six points, for the Cougars, . J 0 ' Sudduth’s-big-win clinched the meet for’the Cougars as Oregon, who lost heavyweight Joe.Rissbnc. for the season with a° knee injury last week, had to forfeit his division, handing WSU another six 'points .— just anpiigh to’pull out the upset. - a Head coach Ron Finlay, who caljed the loss -'a heartbreaker.'V was handed his first defeat ever by WSl;J in his 16 years at the » > Oregon helm. ’ . The loss, leaviiig.the Ducks with a 4-5 dual-meet record. oyer-'' , shadowed some excellent individual efforts, ° Oregon’s two freshmep standouts. Shon Lewis and George Johnston, both pqsted impressive wins at 126 and 150 pounds respectively.-: • . i> Oregon’s Glenn Jarrett edged Ted Parker 4-2 at 1 34 in the even ing’s tightest match. Jarrett arid Parker,.noted Finley, are in a'‘bat tle for the number one seed in the Pac-10 Conference tournament.” ' which takes place March 2nd in Pullman,; Wash. In need of a heavyweight, the Ducks will entertain Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. The meet will be the last home appearance for the squad this year, and the last ever for seniors Terry and Harter, who Is chasing his own single-season win record of 45 this year with a 23-5-1 record to date. 1 r PIZZA ptTe$ ALL YOU CAN eAT < SPAGHETTI SPECIAL WITH GARLIC MIAS <J?0 QC TUESDAY OML 5 P M lo9PH 2673 Willamette, N#xf to the Black Fornal Tavarn 484 0996 DELIVERY SERVICE STARTS AT 5 PM - Limited Area -
