PSU Magazine Spring 2001

SOFTBALL The Viks entered their econd eason as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) this spring. But more significantly, head coach Teri Mariani is in Coach Teri Mariani congrat· ulates Kiauna Anderson after her homerun during a doubleheader sweep of Uni· versity of Oregon April 3. her 25th season at the helm. Mariani reached the milestone of 1,000 game coached in late March and is clo ing in on 600 career wins. The Vikings placed fourth in the WAC in their first season and hope to bet– ter that finish this sea– son. Senior outfielder Kiauna Anderson leads the 2001 squad. She was last year's All-Confer– ence selection. First baseman Marissa Smith and second baseman Megumi Hackett also provide leadership on the field and at the plate. Pitcher Morgan Seibert, just a sophomore, proved to be one of the better pitchers in the WAC la t season and started strong this year with a pair of one- hitters in the season's open ing weeks. Senior forward Hiedi Hatcher earned Big Sky honorable mention. WOMEN'S BASKETBALL The women's team battled attri– tion as a young squad lost four player to injury early in the year. The Vikings were only 4-24 overa ll and 3-13 in the Big Sky. But they won three of their final seven games, and a victory over Cal State-Northridge in the season finale knocked the Matadors out of the Big Sky Conference tournament. Senior Hiedi Hatcher earned honor– able mention All-Big Sky hon– ors, averaging 10 points per game and 5.7 rebounds. MEN'S BASKETBALL The Viking tarted the 2000-01 sea– on with 10 new player on the 13-man ro ter. Inexperience and a lack of familiarity were prob– lems as PSU won just one of it fir t seven games. The team improved a the season went on and played extremely well at home. The Vikings finished the year 9-18 overall and 6-10 in the Big Sky Conference. The team finished seventh in the Big Sky, but took consolation in win over the sec– ond-, third-, fourth- and sixth-place teams. Junior forward Anthony Lackey wa picked for the first team All-Big ky Conference after leading the Vikings at 14.5 points per game and 5.9 rebound . Freshman Seamus Boxley earned co-outstanding freshman honors after averaging 7.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. The Vikings will return with an experi– enced team in 2001-02. INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD The Vikings ran with small squads during the winter indoor track sea on but had some good results at the Big Sky Championships in Febru– ary. Jeremy Park earned All-Conference in the mile after finishi ng third at the championship with a time of 4: 12.62. Li a Gunderson tied for seventh in the high jump, while PSU's distance medley team of Sharon Burnett, Kristen Hall, Jill Salmon, and Jamie Breese also placed seventh. WRESTLING Jeremy Wil on and John Fasana highlighted the Viking wrestl ing ea on by earning berth in the NCAA National Championship Tour– nament March 15-17 in Iowa City. Wilson, a 184-pound junior, placed second at the PAC-10 Championships t advance, while Fasana, a 125- pound senior, placed third at the PAC-10 meet to earn hi trip to nationals. As a team, PSU was eighth of 10 team in the league championships. Quinn Collett, at 174 pounds, and Joe Johnson, at heavy– weight, each placed six at the PAC-10 Championships. wins this season. ON THE COVER OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED It's a first for PSU. Former P U wide receiver James Hundon (1994-95) graced the cover of the February 12 issue of Sports Illustrated. The story was about the new XFL League; Hundon i a starting wide receiver for the XFL's San Francisco Demons. Previously he played for the C incinnati Bengals, an NFL team. UPCOMING BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENTS PSU Women's Golf Classic: July 23, 10 a.m. shotgun start, Rock Creek Country Club; call 503-725-4400 for reservations. PSU Football Coaches Gold Open: August 25, 1:30 p.m. hotgun start; call 503-725-6804 for details. Tickets to athletic events are available through the PSU Box Office, 503-725-3307, or by calling 1-888.VIK– TIKS. For a complete schedule of matches see the Web site www.goviks.com . PRING 2001 PSU MAGAZINE 29