PSU Magazine Spring 2000

MEN'S BASKETBALL For the second year in a row, the team qualified for the Big Sky Conference record for 109 games played-all of which he started. Tournament. Despite losing in the quarterfinal round, the Viks celebrated their third straight winning season in just four years as a program. (Men's basketball was reinstated in the 1996-97 season.) The team was 15-14 overall and 7-9 in Big Sky play to place sixth. The loss to Northern Arizona in the tournament marked the second year in a row the Vikings were knocked out by the Lumberjacks. eniors Ime Udoka and Derek Nesland were both selected for the All– Conference first team by confer– ence coaches. Udoka was al o named Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year, and Nesland earned Academic All– American honors for the second year in a row. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL The Viks defeated Montana State 76-61 in the regular season finale to pull into a three-way tie for fifth place in the Big Sky, but it wasn't enough to earn a berth in the conference tournament. Under first year head coach George Wolfe, the team placed 7-9 in the Big Sky and 9-18 overall. Two Vikings earned All-Big Sky honors: senior Karrin Wilson was named to the first team and junior Heidi Hatcher made All-Big Sky honorable mention. Wilson, who was PSU's leading scorer with an average of 11.6 points per game, broke the Big Sky all-time career record for three-point field goals during the season. WRESTLING For most of the Viking wrestlers, the season ended at the Pac-10 championships with an eighth– place finish. This was a good showing for the team, considering the Vikings were competing in the tourney for just the second time and lacked wrestlers in two weight classes. Even so, three Vikings extended their eason by qual ifying for the NCAA championships. Freshmen Eric Arbogast and Mike Pierce and sophomore Jeremy Wilson represented Portland State in St. Louis in March. INDOOR TRACK Ryon Edwards and Udeme Elijah led the Vikings at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, where both earned Big Sky All-C nference honor . Elijah became the first female track and field runner to be named All– Conference since the Vikings moved to the Big Sky in 1997. She received the honor in the 55-meter dash after finishing second with a time of 7.07, just .02 seconds off the first-place mark. Edwards received All-Conference in the 200-meter dash after finishing third with a time of21.76, less than .40 seconds off the first-place mark. It is the third straight year that Edwards has been named All-Conference in the 200-meter at the Indoor Championships. Both the men and women's teams finished ninth, but earned their most points in the Big Sky so far. SOFTBALL Under head coach Teri Mariani, the softball team is playing in a conference for the first time in chool history. The team has competed independently in the past, but is now a member of one of the nation's top confer– ences, the Western Athletic. Led by senior co-captains Jessica Guerrero and Alicia Russell, the Vikings take on a tough schedule featuring nine teams that were ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 pre-season poll. Other top returnees for the team are junior Kiauna Anderson and sopho– mores Monica Martell and Kelly Riskey. Senior shortstop Alicia Russell holds the PSU record for career doubles. UPCOMING BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENTS PSU Golf Scramble: May 15, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start, Riverside Golf & Country Club, limited to 144 players, call (503) 725-5639 for reservations. PSU Women's Golf Classic: July 24, 10 a.m. shotgun start, Rock Creek Country Club, call (503) 725-4400 for reservations. PSU Football Coaches Golf Open: Aug. 26, 1:30 p.m. shotgun start, The Reserve Vineyards & Gold C lub - Cupp Course, limited to 144 player , call (503) 724-6804 beginning May 13 for foursome registration. PSU ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2000 The Athletics Department and Viking Booster Club selected seven new individuals for induction into the PSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Named to the class of 2000 is Lee Allen (wrestling, 1952-54), Clint Didier (football, 1979- 80), Jerry Minor (golf, 1975-78), Debbie Myra (track/cross country, 1984-87), Leanne Peters (volleyball, 1990-93), Dave Stief (football, 1974-77) and Mike Tichy (PSU coach and instructor, 1957-92). D Tickets to athletic events are available through the PSU Box Office, (503) 725-3307, or by calling 1-888- VIKTIKS. For a complete schedule of matches see the Web site www.goviks.com. SPRING 2000 PSU MAGAZINE 29