Winter sports roundup

MEN'S BASKETBALL

The 2002-03 Ohio basketball season could be one of the best in school history. The Bobcats received votes in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 and ESPN's Dick Vitale lists Ohio as one of his possible surprise teams this season. Most national preview magazines have Ohio among the top 50 teams and a probable NCAA Tournament selection. The Bobcats return three starters from last year's 17-11 team, including two-time All-MAC first team selection Brandon Hunter. The senior from Cincinnati averaged 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds a year ago, both team highs and is a possible NBA draft pick. Steve Esterkamp, one of the top three-point shooters in school history, tallied 13.4 points per game, while Sonny Johnson was the nation's leading scorer off the bench with a 15.8 points-per-game average. Head Coach Tim O'Shea brought in a talented group of newcomers, most notably transfers Marin Bota (Auburn) and Delvar Barrett (Schoolcraft JC). The schedule features the first-ever visit to the Convo by an ACC school - Virginia on Feb. 26 - and games against Kentucky, Wisconsin, Providence and DePaul outside of Athens. Additionally, January signals the start of tough Mid-American Conference play, a slate that led to three postseason bids for league schools last year.

Alum's donation makes Convocation Center a plug and play facility By George Mauzy The old saying goes, "It's always better to give than receive." That's what Ohio University alumnus Jerry Patton of Cleveland, Ohio, thought when he recently donated more than 53,000 feet of broadcast cable to Ohio University's Department of Athletics. "I am always more than happy to give back to my alma mater, because I know how important the Ohio Sports Network's broadcasts are as a recruiting tool," said Patton, who graduated in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in business. "I am very proud to help make an impact on a campus that is one of the leaders in preparing outstanding communicators of tomorrow." Patton is president of Classic Worldwide Productions, a major television production media company he started in 1983. The University received approximately 43,000 feet of coaxial cable, 6,200 feet of triaxial cable, 2,300 feet of audio cable and 2,000 feet of audio snake to use for future broadcasts. The cable has an estimated value of $30,000. It was installed at the Convocation Center this fall and will enable television production trucks to simply park, plug and play prior to broadcasting events from the 13,000-seat basketball arena. The cable also will significantly decrease television crews' pregame and postgame setup and breakdown time, respectively, while also decreasing the university's labor expenses. It also increases safety at the arena because of the absence of large cables running along the interior and exterior walkways and ceilings. Patton's gift is part of Ohio University's Bicentennial Campaign, which has raised more than $150 million toward its goal of $200 million by 2004, the university's 200th anniversary. The campaign will provide money for scholarships, endowed faculty positions, technological enhancements, innovative programs and selected capital improvements. George Mauzy is a media specialist with University Communications and Marketing.

SWIMMING/DIVINGAfter completing the first portion of the 2002-03 schedule, both the women (6-1, 4-0 MAC) and men (1-3, 1-1) look ahead to the Akron Invitational Dec. 5-7. Twelve schools will participate at the three-day event, with Ball State joining the host team and Ohio as conference representatives. Thus far, the women have twice gone undefeated at tri-meets, recording six consecutive victories. Also unbeaten in league competition, they stand atop the MAC standings, one ahead of Miami (7-1, 3-0) in the win column. Senior tri-captain Trisha Kessler has won seven individual events thus far in 2002-03, while 2002 MAC Swimmer of the Year Shannon Kelly stands right behind her with six. On the men's side, defending MAC Diver of the Year Robert Krichbaum has delivered four first places in four meets. Overall, the Bobcats find themselves in the middle of the MAC pack, having won one and lost one in conference action.

TRACK

The 2003 indoor track season should be an improvement on last year for both the men's and women's teams. Both teams have several excellent young athletes, along with a good mix of upper-class talent that will hopefully propel each team to a good outdoor season in the spring. Senior co-captain RJ Redd, a dominant sprinter in the 200 meters, will be one of the main leaders on the men's team this year. Sophomore Jason Linton is coming off a strong cross country season and should be Ohio's biggest threat in the 800 and the mile. Several freshmen are also expected to make an impact this season. Among these newcomers are Colt Thompson (shot put), Austin Schiele and Andy Bittner (distance) and Byron Gibson (hurdles, sprints). As for the women, senior Foli James will be looked upon to lead the team once again. James finished second last year in the 60-meter hurdles, in addition to giving strong performances in the high jump and long jump. Seniors Randi Carter (sprints, jumps), Kerra Brown (sprints) and Mary Reynolds (distance) should also make an impact for the Bobcats. Freshman Melissa Gideon could also make some noise in middle-distance events, after winning the division II high school state title in the 800 meters last year.

VOLLEYBALL

The 2002 Ohio volleyball team goes to the semifinal round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament for the first time in school history. The Bobcats defeated Kent State in quarterfinal action and now advances to play East Division champion Akron on Nov. 29 at Ball State. In moving into a first-place tie with the Akron Zips, the Bobcats (23-7, 13-3 MAC) broke the school season record for most victories. The previous mark had been 21, recorded by the 1995 squad. Ohio subsequently reset the standard for most conference wins in program history, notching its 13th MAC victory of the season against Toledo. An East Division championship in 2002 would mark just the second MAC title for the Bobcats as they have qualified for a third postseason appearance. The team hosted a quarterfinal matchup at the Convocation Center on Nov. 26, where Ohio is 9-1 this season. Junior Laura Hageman, who has moved into second place on Ohio's all-time blocks and assisted blocks lists, stands among the team and MAC statistical leaders, earning three East Division Player of the Week selections this year.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

The Ohio women's basketball team will return two starters and eight letterwinners this season. Attempting to replace the scoring void left by departed seniors Lori Moorman and Cathy Szall, both All-MAC selections a year ago, will be juniors Candace Bates, Andrea Gay and sophomore Andrea Johnson. Head coach Lynn Bria enters her fourth year at the helm for the Bobcats after having taken the team to the MAC quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons.

WRESTLING

The Ohio University wrestling team stands at 2-1 overall. Sophomore Jake Percival (Elyria) - one of three returning All-Americans on the squad - in addition to winning the only individual championship of the season at the Eastern Michigan Open, joined three others as the only Bobcats to finish without a match loss at Edinboro. Prior to that, senior Luke Moore (Springfield) and junior transfer Erik Jones (West Chester, Ellsworth C.C.) placed fourth and seventh, respectively, at the prestigious Michigan State Open. As the only Bobcat to place at two tournaments thus far, Jones also finished fourth at the Eastern Michigan Open. Overall, five of the 15 Bobcats who competed in that first tournament of the season placed in their respective weight classes - Percival (1st, 149), Jones (4th, HWT), sophomores Ed Willis (3rd, 165) and Jon Spires (5th, 141) and freshman Jason Daviaux (6th, 125).