Sports briefs
Williams says nothanK-U
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Roy
Williams’ worst fear — that he would
hurt those he cared about — came
to pass on Monday.
Minutes after an emotional meeting
at 4:40 p.m. EDT at Allen Fieldhouse
where he told Kansas’ players he
would take the men’s basketball
coaching job at North Carolina, one
Jayhawk standout reacted harshly.
“I gave my right arm for him, literal
ly,” said sophomore forward Wayne
Simien, who missed much of the sea
son with an injured shoulder. “I gave
my right arm for that man.”
Williams spent a week considering
his choice between staying at Kansas
— where he coached for 15 seasons
and led the Jayhawks to four Final
Fours — and his alma mater of North
Carolina. He knew his decision would
be greeted with joy at one school, and
with despair at the other.
Three years ago, facing the same de
cision, Williams turned down North
Carolina, saying he would stay at
Kansas out of a sense of loyalty to his
players. This time it was Kansas’ turn
to be disappointed.
—David Scott, Knight
Ruider/Tribune News Service
Wrestling hands out
2003 awards
The Oregon wrestling squad gave
out its 2003 season awards on Sunday
at a team banquet.
Shane Webster was named Most
Outstanding Wrestler. The sopho
more went 31-8 at 174, finishing
with an All-American honor and
sixth place at the NCAA Champi
onships.
Senior Tony Overstake won his
second consecutive Dave Abraham
Award — given to the wrestler ex
hibiting tremendous passion for the
sport — after finishing the season
with a 22-12 record at 149. Over
stake finished his collegiate career
with an 89-48 record, including the
157 Pacific-10 Conference champi
onship as a junior.
Jason Harless also earned an
award for the second straight season
— the Johnny Miller Award, given to
the wrestler who gives 100 percent
in academics, athletics and citizen
ship. The junior finished the season
with a trip to the national tourna
ment and a 17-15 record at 133 after
battling late-season injuries.
Junior Branson Phillips won the
Jed Kesey/Lorenzo West award for
the most improved wrestler. Phillips
earned the starting spot at 157 in
early January and finished the sea
son earning fifth place at the Pac-10
tournament.
Tony Rolen, who became the
Ducks’ only true freshman to start
regularly, was named Most Outstand
ing Freshman. Rolen went 6-15 at
184 in his first season — highlighted
by a winning streak of three matches.
—MindiRice
Kriz named field athlete
of the week
Oregon’s Adam Kriz was named the
Pacific-10 Conference Field Athlete of
the Week in the first 2003 edition of
the awards on Monday. The honor
came after he launched a seven-foot
personal best in the hammer in Satur
day’s Pepsi Team Invitational at Hay
ward Field. The heave put him fifth on
the national list and fifth all-time at
Oregon in the event.
A trio of USC athletes swept the rest
of the Pac-10 weekly awards. Ryan
Wilson won the men’s track award,
Virginia Powell won the women’s track
award and Julianna Tuda won the
women’s field award.
—Peter Hockaday
Rice
continued from page 9
she saw into right field for her
fifth home run of the season.
Harris showed she was hu
man in the top of the fifth, when
she gave up a solo home run be
tween the second and third out.
In the top of the sixth, after a
flawed attempt by Oregon to pad
its 5-2 lead, Vidlund pulled a
Mariners’ bullpen and let the
bases fill with one out. She came
back to strike out the next two
batters on six straight pitches to
end the inning.
The Ducks struck out three
times in the bottom of the sixth
to pull themselves to three outs
away from a win.
Vidlund gave up three singles
and one run to start the sev
enth. She struck out the next
batter with runners on first and
second. UCLA followed with a
single to score another run, and
moved the tying run to second.
On their feet and as nervous as
Mariner fans in September 1995,
327 fans watched as, three pitch
es later, UCLA hit into a double
play. The win for Oregon tied its
combined Pac-10 win total —
three — of 2001 and 2002.
As the major league plays on
outside of Oregon and the Eu
gene Emeralds don’t begin their
season until mid-June, the soft
ball team is the perfect transition
from television baseball to sum
mer minor leagues.
Contact the sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
Her views do not necessarily
represent those of the Emerald.
Mark McCambridge Emerald
Jen Poore (left) can't stop Washington's Rita Roach in the Huskies'9-0 victory at Howe Field on Friday.
Softball
continued from page 9
Saturday, it seems a little motivation was just
what the Ducks needed.
“It was wonderful to hear his view,” Arend
sen said.
Oregon vs. Ducks — the tale of
two uniforms
In their five home games during the past week,
the Ducks wore two different home uniforms.
Against Portland State, Oregon debuted its new
home jersey — with the crisp, Athletic Depart
ment-sponsored font, reading “Ducks.”
While the squad kept that jersey on for the
Washington game and the Sunday loss to UCLA,
Oregon switched it up for Saturday’s win.
The three-year-old “Oregon” jerseys the team
wore date back to the 2000 season — when the
Ducks won six conference games and made their
last NCAA Regional Tournament visit.
Sometimes bringing back the winning
threads can win the games — as long as
they’re thoroughly washed.
Duck of the Week
“Andrea Vidlund had an incredible week
end,” Arendsen said. “Three home runs off of
UCLA’s All-American pitcher.”
Combine her weekend performance with
Wednesday’s Portland State doubleheader and
Vidlund batted .500 — seven for 14, including
five home runs. The senior also had eight RBIs
and scored eight runs. Add in a little flavor with
four innings pitched, where Vidlund earned a
win and a save.
The eight RBIs move Vidlund to only 23
short of Oregon’s all-time top five, while the five
home runs put her seven away from breaking
the school record.
“It was a great feeling to get my offense go
ing,” Vidlund said after Sunday’s game. “I had
been struggling a little bit and this was a great
time to come out of it this way.”
Contact the sports reporter
at mindirice@dailyemerald.com.
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Ultimate
continued from page 9
The Ducks won the first major
tournament of the year, defeating
California in the finals of the Pres
ident’s Day tournament in San
Diego. In three tournaments
since, Oregon was crowned cham
pion and was bounced twice in
the quarterfinals and once in the
finals, losing to North Carolina
State in the Ultimax tournament.
While most would consider this
four-tournament stretch a suc
cess, the Ducks will accept noth
ing but the best.
“We’re not real happy with how
we’ve done,” Parrell said. “Both
quarterfinal losses were disap
pointing.”
Unlike most other competitive
sports, Ultimate relies on sports
manship and honor, as there are
no game officials. Players make
their own calls and are governed
by a “Spirit of the Game” policy.
Though having no game officials
leaves the opportunity to cheat
wide open, players usually follow
the rules.
“We don’t have the culture of,
■■
Jeremy Forrest Emerald
Jeff Trench lays out for a disc over a Cal opponent. The Bears are No. 2 in the nation.
‘Let’s see what I can get away
with,”’ Parrell said.
When playoff time comes around,
games are monitored by neutral ob
servers who are the deciding factor
when a call is disputed.
“We pride ourselves on enforc
ing spirit within our own team.”
Wiggins said.
The Ducks will compete in the
sectional tournament this week
end in Corvallis. After that, it’s on
to Vancouver, B.C., for the North
west regional tournament on May
3 and 4. If the Ducks can win
their region, they will get one of
16 bids to the national tourna
ment held in Austin, Texas, during
Memorial Day weekend.
As May 23 approaches, the
Ducks will look to make all the
plyometrics, weight training and
pool exercises in the off-season
pay off by bringing home a nation
al title.
“We’re one of the top three
teams in the country,” Wiggins
said. “If we make it out of our re
gion, we’ll be highly favored to
win the national title.”
Jon Roetman is a freelance writer
for the Emerald.