PSU Magazine Summer 1988

Team expects to stay in the limelight The Portland State Football team expects another great season to follow this year's second place national finish, record-breaking crowds and national television coverage. Head Coach Pokey Allen, who led the Vikings to an 11-2-1 season overall - the best in PSU history - was selected as District Coach of the Year and one of five finalists for the na– tional honor. Fourteen Vikings were named to the first or second All– Conference teams and with only three seniors, most will be back next season. Leading the returnees are All– America candidates quarterback Chris Crawford and tight end Barry Naone. The team includes a total of 42 re– turning lettermen and 16 starters. Allen says the team also includes " the best recruiting class in Portland State history." Leading the way are four Portland city league first-team all-stars: Benson's tight end Matt Asay and linebacker Rodney Hicks, and Jefferson's quarterback Jeff Thomas and wide receiver Tony Melson. The 1988 season opens against Eastern Washington University on Sept. 3 in Cheney, Wash. This season's schedule promises to be one of the toughest in Division II, accor– ding to Allen, with the addition of Texas A & I and Indiana University of Pennsylvania to PSU's home game schedule. '88 Vikings Football Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 22 Nov. 12 Home games *Cal Poly, 7 p.m . Texas A & I, 1 p.m. *Santa Clara, 7 p.m . Indiana - Pa. , 1 p.m. *Southern Utah State, 7 p.m . University ofMontana, 1 p.m. *Western Football Conf. All games at Civic Stmlium. Call 464-4000 for tickets. I SPORTS Batting records set For the sixth consecutive season, the Portland State University baseball team completed its season with 30 or more wins. The Vikings were 33-25, losing two close games in the PAC-10 North Tournament to place third in the conference at 12-9. Under Coach Jack Dunn, this year's team packed an offensive punch by setting five team batting records and tying two others. The most significant was the team batting average of .317 which broke the old mark of .316 set in 1985. The team also set new records in most hits in a season, most hits per game, most doubles, and most triples. Sports wrap-up Viking football brought home the biggest trophies, but the University's other teams gained their own honors and became better prepared for next season. Wrestling team member Hiag Brown was slowed by injuries but finished third in Division II after winning the title in 1987. Dan Russell came away with the championship in this weight class in Division II. Both wrestlers competed in the National Division I championships, and although neither placed, according to Coach Marlin Grahn each built up experience for next season. The women's tennis team had more wins then losses, a 14-13 finish and with all team members remain– ing, the future looks good, says Coach Shaun Ball. Women's softball, ending with a 17-27 record, faced one of its toughest road schedules to date with an inex– perienced, freshman-dominated team, according to head coach Teri Mariani. Fortunately, this means only one player, the lone senior on the team, 1s graduating. m 28 The three freshman starters on the Women's basketball team got plenty of court experience this season when the team was cut to only eight players. They finished with a 7-19 record. PSU's volleyball team, ranked eighth in the NCAA poll, is looking forward to next season with recruit Dawn Krenick who is training this summer at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., where PSU Coach J eff Mozzochi is serving as head coach. And javelin competitor Kent Newberry made All-American when he came in eighth in NCAA Division II Track and Field. University applies for Division I Portland State University has fil ed a formal application with the Na– tional Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to advance to Division I membership. The application does not signal an immediate move for PSU but is the beginning of a two-year process of transition for PSU from Division II to Division I. The University must successfully meet the NCAA's criteria plus a series of financi al and community support goals to be monitored by the State Board of Higher Education. The University applied to NCAA headquarters in early June and on June 17 presented a progress report to the State Board . The board will discuss the report at its July meeting. If PSU meets all the NCAA and fiscal goals the Universi– ty could advance to Division I status in June 1990. Approval of Division I member– ship would mean restoration of Men's basketball, which was dropped following the 1980-81 season. The University presently offers a dozen intercollegiate varsity sports, six each for men and women.