PSU Magazine Winter 1999

MEN'S GOLF TEAM WINS FIRST BIG SKY TITLE to a winning season. The men's golf team brought home the University's first Big Sky Conference championship from St. George, Utah, in mid– October. The Vikings had a comeback victory after leading the first day, dropping to third on day two. The final round, two-over 286 on the 6,782-yard, par 71 course, was 12 strokes better than second-round leader Eastern Washington. The dramatic win was also a turn– around from last year's sixth– place finish. Junior Brian Hughes was tournament medal– ist, shooting a final-round, career-low 69. Junior Brian Coury tied for fourth, freshman Brian Miller was 14th, while freshman Matt Logan and sophomore Ben Guinta tied for 24th. FOOTBALL CONTINUES RISE IN BIG SKY PSU improved from seventh to fou rth place in Big Sky football this season and came within nine points of winning three other games. The Vikings lost by three points to league champion Montana and defeated runner– up Montana State. PSU led the Big Sky in total offense with 464 yards per game and placed fourth in the nation in passing. Running back Charles Dunn and wide receiver Orshawante Bryant, both sophomores, earned first team All-Big Sky honors, joining senior offensive guard Bobby Singh, who made it fo r the second year. WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PSU is looking forward to 1999-2000 with four starters and eight letter winners returning. The Vikings completed a disappointing 7-23 season, but battled to the end, taking Montana State to five games in the next-to-last match. Junior transfer Shawna Sears was named Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. WOMEN'S SOCCER The Viks concluded the season with a 7-12-1 record, the most wins since moving to Division I three years ago. The Vikings also produced five shutouts and finished its home schedule with a 5-3 record. How close were they? PSU lost two conference matches in overtime and another in the final three minutes. Junior Joanna Bowns led the team with 10 goals, the second best record in PSU history, and was named fir t-team All-Big Sky. Jennifer Bruno, one of only six seniors, earned second team all-conference. CROSS COUNTRY PSU men's and women's teams ran their best of the year in · the West Regional at Fresno, California The men, led by freshmen Brad Blauch, Jeremy Park, and Will Smith, placed 16th out of 23 teams, and more importantly, outraced three other Big Sky schools that finished ahead of them in the conference championship meet. All-Big Sky Viking Melissa Waggener paced the women's team with a 34th place finish among 197 runners. The women placed 19th out of 28 teams. WINTER SPORTS PSU Wrestling is a member of the PAC-10 this season. The Vikings have eight starters back out of 10 weight classes, Senior Lonnie Eggert and Coach Marlin Grahn wrestles at 184 · added four state high school champions. Feb. 5 Boise State PSU Feb. 6 Pacific University PSU Feb. 12 BYU PSU Feb. 27-28 PAC-10 Championship Stanford Mar. 18-20 Div. I Championship Penn State 7 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. all day all day The Men's Basketball team, which finished third last season, expects to challenge for the league title this year with two all-conference players, Jason Hartman and Brian Towne, and nine lettermen returning. Jan. 30 Eastern Washington Portland Feb. 4 Eastern Washington Cheney Feb. 10 Sacramento State Sacramento Feb. 12 Idaho State Pocatello Feb. 18 Northern Arizona Portland Feb. 20 Cal State-Northridge Portland Feb. 25 Montana Missoula Feb. 27 Montana State Bozeman Mar. 4-29 Big Sky Conference Tournament 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7 p.m. noon 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. The Women's Basketball team, which has four returning starters and 10 letter winners back from last year, is led by all-conference forward Shannon Spies. Feb. 6 Eastern Washington PSU Feb. 11 Sacramento State PSU Feb. 13 Idaho State PSU Feb. 18 Northern Arizona Flagstaff Feb. 20 Cal State-Northridge Northridge Feb. 25 Montana PSU Feb. 27 Montana State PSU Mar. 4-6 Big Sky Conference Tournament 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. TBA 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. , WINTER 1999 PSU MAGAZINE 29 4