Sport in world

Indoor track and field teams picked fourth in preseason polls

ELMHURST, Ill.- The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams were selected by the league’s head coaches to finish fourth in The Summit League preseason poll.

The men’s team received 20 points as five all-league honorees return for the Leathernecks, including shot put winner Sean Delahunt (Pekin, Ill./Pekin Community). Blair Hadnott (Aurora, Ill./West) and Brian Pinta (Wheaton, Ill./North) took first and third, respectively, in both the long jump and triple jump events. Kevin Deegan (Tinley, Park, Ill./Brother Rice) placed second in the 800-meter run, while Mitch Thompson was third in the 60-meter hurdles. Continue reading Indoor track and field teams picked fourth in preseason polls…

Texas road swing opens at UT-Arlington Saturday; three of next four games are on the road

MACOMB, Ill. - The Leathernecks will take a two-game road swing through Texas as three
of the next four games will be played away from home. The squad will fly
into Dallas/Fort Worth Friday for the Saturday game at UT-Arlington,
which tips off at 4 p.m., then take a Sunday flight to McAllen, Texas,
for the 7 p.m. Monday night matchup at UT-Pan American. Edinburg is located in the southern-most tip of Texas, approximately 20 miles from the U.S/Mexico border.

Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-4) at Texas-Arlington Mavs (6-0)
December 1, 2007 Arlington, Texas
Tip-off: 4 p.m. CST
Arena: Texas Hall (3,600)
Television: None
Radio: Western Sports Network (Michael Jones-play by play; Arlen Britton-color analyst) Live audio
Live Stats: www.utamavs.com
Series: Western Illinois leads 1-0 (2006-07)

Western Illinois Leathernecks at Texas-Pan American (4-2)
December 3, 2007 Edinburg, Texas
Tip-off: 7 p.m. CST
Arena: UTPA Fieldhouse (4,000)
Television: None
Radio: Western Sports Network (Michael Jones-play by play; Arlen Britton-color analyst) Live audio
Series: UTPA leads 2-1 (1962-63, 1963-64, 2007-08)

Game Notes
Series History - UTA
The Leathernecks and Mavs have faced each other just once - last year in Macomb. Western Illinois defeated UTA, 74-57, Dec. 4.
The Mavs held a 32-24 halftime lead, but the Leathernecks regained the lead midway through the second half and outscored the Mavs 50-25 after halftime. David Jackson scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half.

Series History - UTPA
The meeting between the Leathernecks and Broncs Nov. 28 was the third in the all-time series, but the first since the early 1960s. The two teams met in back-to-back seasons, with Western Illinois winning the 1962-63 matchup (93-86) and the Broncs taking the 1963-64 meeting (82-77). A win Monday for the Leathernecks would even the series at 2-2.

Jackson Scores Season-High 28
Senior David Jackson scored a season-high 28 points against UT-Pan American, notching 22 in the second half. Jackson scored just six in the first half, while David DuBois accounted for 14 points. But with DuBois held without a field goal attempt after the break, Jackson took over the scoring duties by hitting 10-of-12 from the floor.
It was the first 20-point game of the year for any Leatherneck and the 10th of Jackson’s career. He ended the night four points shy of his career high.

Nurse Held Without a Three for First Time
The Leathernecks’ leading three-point shooter, David Nurse, was held with a trey for the first time this season against UT-Pan American. He had hit at least one three-pointer in all five games prior. Nurse is 13-of-34 (.382) from long range and 22-of-53 (.415) overall from the field.

Last Time Out
The Leathernecks were within three, 26-23, at halftime, but the Broncs utilized a 13-2 run to start the second half and build a lead of 41-25 with 15:58 left to play. The Broncs shot 61 percent (14-of-23) from the field, and 67 percent (4-of-6) from beyond the arc in the second half.

Career Highs for DuBois, Washington
Against UT-Pan American, David DuBois scored a career-high 14 points - all in the first half - and James Washington tallied a career-high eight assists, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the Leathernecks’ 11 assists.

Consistent Starting Lineup
Western Illinois’ starting lineup has looked the same through all six games this season. The lineup includes three newcomers - true freshman forward James Granstra, sophomore guard David Nurse and junior guard David DuBois.

DuBois Continues to Pace Rebounding
David DuBois has led the Leathernecks in rebounding for the last three games, and in four of the six games this year. He grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds at Missouri, and followed that with a team-high eight in the last outing.
The junior leads the team and ranks 10th in the league on the boards, averaging 6.8 per game.

Off the Bench
The Leathernecks have received solid contributions off the bench, especially from Jerryck Owens-Murrey and Nikola Bodic who have both appeared in all six games. Owens-Murrey has averaged 20.7 minutes, 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, while Bodic is averaging 19.8 minutes, 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per outing. Both players have scored in double-digits twice.

Taking Care of the Ball
Western committed a season-low eight turnovers against UT-Pan American, rebounding from a season-high 21 against Missouri.
The Leathernecks are averaging 13.0 turnovers per game and have a turnover ratio of +0.7 and an assist/turnover ratio of 0.9. Continue reading Texas road swing opens at UT-Arlington Saturday; three of next four games are on the road…

Wrestling Flies To Vegas For Invitational

December is not a busy month for the NC State wrestling team. It is, however, a significant month for the Wolfpack. The two biggest in-season college wrestling tournaments serve as bookends for the month of December, and NC State will participate in both. First up is the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational, this Friday and Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is the granddaddy of in-season tournaments. Thirteen of this week's top 25 teams and more than 90 individual wrestlers ranked in the latest NCWA coaches poll will be at the Vegas Invitational.
Originaly from Source

Gymnastics Signs Four in 2009

NC State gymnastics, the 2007 EAGL Conference Champions, has announced the signing of four gymnasts for the 2009 season. Rebecca Teich, Jessica Panza, Brooke Barr and Anna Kronefeild comprise the strong recruiting class for head coach Mark Stevenson, the 2007 EAGL Coach of the Year.
Originaly from Source

Track & Field Opens Season at Liberty Kickoff

NC State Track and Field is competing at the Liberty Kickoff to open the 2008 season this weekend. The event is being held in Lynchburg, Va. and runs Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The Wolfpack is sending 15 female athletes and 14 male competitors and both squads will send sprinters, jumpers and throwers to the meet.
Originaly from Source

Whittington Leads Women's Hoops Past Illinois, 61-47

Khadijah Whittington tallied 19 points, 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks for her eighth straight double-double, the third longest streak in school history, to lead NC State (7-1) to a 61-47 win over Illinois (5-2) in Raleigh. Whittington out-dueled two-time Big Ten Player of the Week Jenna Smith (16 points, three rebounds), who came into the contest averaging 21.3 points and 11.5 rebounds.
Originaly from Source

TIM PEELER: O'Brien Looks Forward to Successful Future

A relaxed Tom O'Brien met with the media Thursday afternoon to wrap up his first season as NC State's football coach and to talk a little about the future. And while he and his players are still stinging from Saturday's 37-0 loss in the season-finale against Maryland, the sometimes taciturn O'Brien was all smiles when contemplating what is in store for his Wolfpack program. “I am optimistic about the future,” O'Brien said. “Sometimes, it's the present that I am not real happy with that's my good Irish-Catholic upbringing.”
Originaly from Source

Four placed on Gateway Academic All-Conference Team

MACOMB, Ill. - Four Western Illinois University student-athletes were named to the 2007 Gateway Football Conference Academic All-Conference Team, including running back Herb Donaldson and linebacker Travis Cherry who earned first-team honors. Defensive lineman Chad Groenhagen and defensive back/return specialist Tim Jackson earned spots on the honorable mention list.

Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 grade point average. Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution. League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 for second-team honors. Continue reading Four placed on Gateway Academic All-Conference Team…

Westerwinds

MACOMB, Ill.- The Western Illinois women’s tennis team has announced the signing of Amanda Griffin.

“We’re happy that Amanda Griffin has decided to join our tennis family this January,” said Western Illinois head coach Michael Hunt. “Amanda is the total package she is an outstanding student and leader and also a talented tennis player. She is a workout animal in the mold of a Joshua Wittenberg and that’s quite a compliment to her.”

Griffin (Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay) joins the Westerwinds after spending her freshman season at Fresno State University. She compiled a record of 5-6 in singles and 2-2 in doubles in her one year at Fresno State. She was a member of the 2006-07 WAC champion team, which reached the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships and ended the season ranked #14 in NCAA Division I. Continue reading Westerwinds…

Twelve earn Gateway all-conference football honors, including 10 underclassmen

MACOMB, Ill. - Twelve Western Illinois University student-athletes earned all-conference honors from the Gateway Football Conference today, including 10 who will be returning to the 2008 squad. All six first-team selections are underclassmen, as are two of the three second-team honorees and two of the three honorable mention picks.

Selected to the 2007 All-Gateway Conference First Team were running back Herb Donaldson, defensive lineman Josh Galloway, fullback Javid Milton, place-kicker Taylor Rowan, defensive back Patrick Stoudamire and linebacker Jason Williams. Nominated to the second team were defensive back Robert Hodges, offensive lineman Drew Sweeney and defensive lineman Victor Visoky. Linebackers Jerome Bennett and Travis Cherry, along with wide receiver Carl Sims, were selected to the honorable mention list. Continue reading Twelve earn Gateway all-conference football honors, including 10 underclassmen…