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Tracksters run 'best meet'
By Bill Kramer
Sports Editor CSU takes this week off before traveling to Nor
Head Coach Paul Parent called it the best meet of the year after watching his Central State University indoor track and field team compete Saturday in The Daily Oklahoman Track Classic at the Myriad.
Several Broncho athletes had their best-ever times, senior Kyle Skartwed. The 6-0 distance runner fmished fourth in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:34.41, edging out teammate Gary Richards, who placed sixth with a time of 8:48.33.
Skartwed also placed seventh in the mile run, leading the Bronchos with a time of 4:20.60. Richards finished behind Skartwed with his time of 4:20.65. "Each week we keep improving," Parent said. "We have about six people who are really close to qualifying for nationals. If we continue to have good weather and we can get out and run, we should be in good shape."
Other top individual performances included James Powell's seventh-place time in the 400-meter run. Powell ran the quarter-mile course in 49.98 seconds, just :03 seconds off finals qualifying pace.
Powell's anchoring leg in the 1,600-meter relay was a sizzling 48.61. The team finished fourth in the event with an official time of 3:24.40.
Greg Warlick was sixth in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.72 and ran a split of 1:57.13, helping CSU to a third-place finish in the two-mile relay. The official team relay time was 7:48.86.
Parent said. One among those was Fort Worth, Texas, man Feb. 14 to compete in the rugged OU Invitational.
CSU results
55M Dash:Vince Tolbert, 6.86; Cleve Adamson, 6.93;. 55M HH:Randle Rodgers, 8:46. 400M :James Powell, 49.98; Ronnie Lucas, 51.20; Vince Tolbert, 51.52; Cleve Adamson, 59:91. 800M :Greg Warlick, 1:58.72, Doyle Arbuthnot, 2:00.40; Daniel Gutierrez, 2:03.38. Mile Run:Kyle Skartwed, 4:20.60; Gary Richards, 4:30.65; Bill Uptergrove, 4:36.20; Gary Hamer, 4:40.50; Danny Walker, 4:43.30. 3,000M:Kyle Skartwed, 8:34.41; Gary Richards, 48:48.33; Bill Uptergrove, 9:08.01; Calvin Acothley, 9:18.50. Shot:John Dragoo, 46'1.5"; Earl Shannon, 43'8.5". High Jump :Rick Tracyk, 6'3". 2-Mile Relay:(7:48.86) Greg Warlick (1:57.13), Kyle Skartwed (1:58.43), Kenneth Lemons (1:56.31), Gary Richards (1:56.64). 1,600M Relay:(3:24.40) Vince Tolbert (51:09), Greg Warlick (51.66), Kenneth Lemons (52.82), James Powell (48.61). v
Cagers paddle ACU 108-89
By Bill Kramer
Sports Editor
Forward David Foote scored a personal best 40 points as Central State University handed Abilene Christian its 33rd-straight loss 108-89 in men's basketball action Saturday in Abilene, Texas.
The New Albany, Miss., senior also had 12 rebounds. Teammate Marlon Brown, a senior out of Wichita, Kan., scored 29 points and had 14 rebounds as the Bronchos cruised to a win without the services of leading scorer (22.2) and rebounder (10.3) James Morris, who was called to military duty in the Persian Gulf.
CSU (15-5, 5-3 in the Lone Star Conference) topped the century scoring mark for the 13th time this year, a school record as the Bronchos continue to be in the top five nationally in scoring.
The Wildcats were led by Trey McKinley's 27 points and Jim Reynold's 20.
Abilene Christian, which has not won a game since midway through last season, still holds a firm lock on the LSC cellar with its 0-8 conference record and overall record of 0-19.
The Bronchos return home Wednesday to play host to longtime intrastate NAIA rival Southeastern Oklahoma State University at 8 p.m. in the Broncho Field House. V
Game Summary CSU 108, ACU 89
ACU CSU 36 53 57 51 89 108
CSU-David Foote 40, Marlon Brown 29, Gerald Richardson 19, Shawn Williams 10, Stanton Davis 4, John Rollman 4, Ezell Calvin 2.
ACU-Trey McKinley 27, Jim Reynolds 20, Marc Johnson 11, Dell Anderson 11, Clint Fletcher 10, Geoff Linder 4, Clay Halla 2, Ryan Christian 2, Jerry Bishop 2.
Lady cagers slapped by Abilene Christian
By Bill Kramer Sports Editor
Host Abilene Christian used a 10-0 second-half run, breaking open a close game, and went on to hand Central State University its fifth-straight loss 71-51 in women's basketball Saturday in Abilene, Texas.
ACU leading scorer Anita Vigil poured in 16, second only to teammate Melinda Armstrong's 17. The Lady Wildcats improved to 7-13 on the year.
CSU, 4-12, trailed only 31-29 at the half but were outscored 32-12 in the final 13 minutes of play.
The Lady Bronchos were led by junior forward Lisa Lowden's 11 points and senior forward Kristi Heglin's 9.
CSU returns to action Wednesday, playing host to Southeastern at 6 p.m. in the Broncho Field House. V
Game Summary
ACU 71, CSU 51
ACU CSU 31 40 29 22 71 51
CSU-Lisa Lowden 11, Kristi Heglin 9, Gwen Porter 9, Shene Murphy 7, Kim Martin 6, Bobbi Hardy 4, Ton'Nea Cox 3, Yolonda McCurtain 1, Albertine Jennings 1.
ACU-Melinda Armstrong 17, Anita Vigil 16, Lathe Crow 13, Michelle McDaniel 5, LaConya Pie= 4, Angela Birchfield 4, Erica Smith 4, Amy Franklin 3, Diana Diaz 2, D'Ann Vander Loan 2, Tiffany Bryant 1. James Morris
The Broncho freshman has made a big impact in LSC hoops, averaging 22.2 points and 10.3 rebounds, but was called to active military duty last week. Hurry home, James. You'll be missed greatly! Paul Parent
CSU earns 8th in OSU mat classic
By Bill Kramer
Sports Editor
Moore senior Greg Oplotnik captured third place at 190 pounds as Central State University's wreslters took eighth place in the rugged Cowboy Classic Saturday in Stillwater.
The defending national NCAA H champion Oplotnik defeated Wyoming University's Bill Codgill 11-7 in the consolation finals for third.
CSU's 134-pound Jeff Gowens took fifth place, receiving a forfeit from Wyoming's Mike Donovan. Redshirt freshman teammate Keith Cunningham narrowly missed fifth place, losing to Oklahoma State's Derek Fix 5-3 at 158 pounds.
The No. 3-ranked Bronchos finished with 19 team points compared to first place Oklahoma State's (NCAA I No. 3) 123.75.
The host Cowboys claimed three individual titles as the squad outdistanced ten other teams for the overall championship.
OSU was followed by Minnesota and Ohio State, each with 84.50. Fresno State was third with 62.50, followed by Arizona State (58), Wisconsin (47), Boise State (21.50), Central State (19), New Mexico (14.50), Wyoming (13), and Northeastern A&M (11).
In the 134-pound final, Oklahoma State's Alan Fried, ranked No. 2 in the nation (Div. I), defeated teammate Chris Owens with a 7-3 decision. Fried was named the tournament's outstanding wreslter, finishing with two decisions and a fall.
Ray Brinzer took the 167-pound title for OSU by defeating Arizona State's G.T. Taylor by a 4-3 decision. The Cowboys' Chuck Barbee, defending 142-pound NCAA I champion, decisioned Fresno State's Jon Pierro 7-2. v
Sports Rap
26-year wait for nationals may be over
Twenty-six. That's the number of years since the Central State University men's basketball team has By Bill Kramer Sports Editor gone to a national tournament.
The Bronchos do not have a prestigious basketball tradition such as fellow NCAA II foe Kentuckey Wesleyan, who has won six national titles in the last quarter century (second only to mighty UCLA's 10).
CSU moved up to the NCAA level only three years ago as dual members of NAIA and NCAA and its 36-40 record since then has hardly been enough to set the world on fire.
Last year the hopeful Bronchos boasted much talent but still finished 12-17. Nevertheless, CSU came within eight points of getting a national berth in the finals of the Lone Star Conference post-season tournament, losing to nationallyranked West Texas State 94-86. 1991 may mean the start of a new tradition-winning. CSU is 15-5 overall and 5-3 in one of the top conferences in Division The high-octane Bronchos are averaging 103 points a game, among the best in the country and have record-breaking potential.
Their 13 games of 100 or more points is a school record. The last time a Broncho team made such an impact was 1988 when coach Jim Seward's team had nine 100-point efforts but faltered in the end, finishing 9-18.
The Bronchos received bad news last week when the announcement came that leading scorer and rebounder James Morris was activated to military duty to prepare for deployment overseas.
Count the Bronchos out? Hardly. This group still has five players averaging double figures in scoring, and they will continue to be exciting.
Two teams stand in the way of a national berth this year. One of them is of course West Texas State, who has beaten the Bronchos twice. The other is Texas A&I, whom CSU has yet to play.
Wednesday marks the Bronchos return to Broncho Field House for an 8 p.m. tip-off with NAIA infra-state rival Southeastern, winner of only nine games.
Look for another up-tempo affair as CSU warms up for a twogame road stint before returning home Feb. 16 for a season-ending three-game homestand.
Wrestlers knock off New Mexico
By Bill Kramer Sports Editor
Third-ranked Central State University split wrestling duals Thursday with NCAA I foes Fresno State and New Mexico in the Broncho Field House.
The 1990 Division II runner-up Bronchos slapped an 18-15 loss on the Lobos of New Mexico in the nightcap, following a 27-14 rally by the Bulldogs of FSU.
CSU fell behind 6-0 in the dual against NMU, dropping the first two matches. The Bronchos took the lead for good, however, as Andover, Kan., senior Todd Drake earned a 5-3 decision at 142 pounds, putting CSU ahead 7-6.
Tulsa Union product Chance Skidgel followed with his 30th win of the year, defeating NMU's Scott Dotson 6-4, to put the Bronchos on top 10-6.
CSU's top winner, Mustang redshirt freshman Keith Cunningham followed at 158 pounds and earned his 32nd win of the season with a 5-2 decision against the Lobo's Mike Neuman.
Following a CSU loss at 167, University of Oklahoma transfer Wayne Cole earned a 10-5 decision at 177, setting up the clincher for defending 190-pound national champion Greg Oplotnik.
The Moore senior took care of NMU's Karl Logan, 9-3, and put the Bronchos on top 18-9. CSU forfeited the final match.
Oplotnik lost his bid to become CSU's first-ever undefeated wrestler in the opening match against Fresno State's Ray Roso, a returning national Divison I qualifier.
Roso earned a takedown with :09 seconds left in the second period to go on top 3-2. He then held off Oplotnik during the final two minutes for the victory.
Fresno State (12-4-1) led early 11-2, but CSU rallied to take a 14-10. The Bulldogs won the fmal four matches, escaping the upset.
CSU (8-4) now looks to Friday's final home dual of the year as Central Missouri University invades Broncho Field House at 7:30 p.m. in CSU's final tune-up for the NCAA II Midwest Regional next week in Edwardsville, Ill. V FRESNO STATE 27, CENTRAL STATE 14 118—Jantz Kinzer, CSU, drew with Robbie Sordi, 6-6. 126 Harold Zinkin, FSU, dec. Will Evans, 6-0. 134—DeWayne Zinkin, FSU, pinned Jeff Gowens, 3:36. 142—Todd Drake, CSU, pinned Jon Pierro, 1:49. 150—Chance Skidgel, CSU, dec. Anthony Camacho, 5-2. 158—Keith Cunningham, CSU, dec. Scott Sisemore, 7-6. 167—Robbie Dicks, FSU, tech. fall Zane Stapp, 23-6. 177—Scott Boness, FSU, dec. Wayne Cole, 10-3. 190—Ray Roso, FSU, dec. Greg Oplotnik, 3-2. Hvy—Lorenzo Neal, FSU, inj. def. Fay Barnett, 2:23. CENTRAL STATE 18, NEW MEXICO 15 118—Man Guinn, NMU, dec. Jantz Kinzer, 5-0. 126 Doug Dewald, NMU, dec. Will Evans, 6-0. 134—Jeff Gowens, CSU, maj. dec. Edwin Barela, 26-13. 142—Todd Drake, CSU, dec. Chalie Dotson, 5-3. 150 Chance Skidgel, CSU, dec. Scott Dotson, 6-4. 158—Keith Cunningham, CSU, dec. Mike Neuman, 5-2. 167—Chris Cordero, NMU, dec. Zane Stapp, 6-1. 177—Wayne Cole, CSU, dec. Dave Wells, 10-5. 190 Greg Oplotnik, CSU, dec. Karl Logan, 9-3. Hvy—Jerome Howes, NMU rec. forfeit.
Broncho grapplers in final dual Friday
By Bill Kramer Sports Editor
Fans will see Central State University's No. 3-ranked wrestlers for the last time Friday as the Bronchos entertain Central Missouri University in the final home dual of the year.
CSU (8-4) has never lost to CMU, owning a 14-0 series record against the NAIA school. Central Missouri lost its closest battle with the Bronchos during the 1979-80 season when CSU won 22-18, coming off a national championship season the previous year.
The Bronchos expect to have back returning national champ Howard Moore (167 pounds), who has been nursing a sore shoulder.
A champion at work!
Defending 190-pound national champion Greg Oplotnik battles with Fresno State's Ray Roso Thursday. Oplotnik is 20-1 on the year, seeking a repeat title March 2. (Photo by Tim Parham)
Black box psychs wrestler
By Ray Dozier Sports Information Assistant
Picture in your mind a little black box. Now imagine yourself putting all your negative thoughts in that box, trapping them.
Sounds like a passage from Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking," doesn't it?
Instead, it's a method used by Central State University wrestler Jeff Gowens to get an edge on his opponent. "Dr. Virginia Peters (professor of health and physical education) showed me that technique," Gowens said. "If your're getting ready to face a tough opponent, this voice in your head says 'well I don't know if I can do it.' "You know physically that you're ready, but your mind says you can't beat this guy because he's really tough. You take this box, open the lid and visualize taking this little guy talking to you and shove him in the box. "The more you do this, the less prevalent he is in your mind. I was skeptical at first, but it worked for me."
If all that sounds crazy to you, just look at Gowens' accomplishments on the mat.
The 134-pound Del City senior, a starter throughout his CSU career, is one of the winningest wrestlers in school history with a 119-51-4 career record, fourth on the all-time won-loss chart.
Gowens was an NAIA national runner-up as a sophomore, helped the Bronchos win the 1989 national championship. He was third in NCAA II last year as the Bronchos were runners-up to twotime defending champion Portland State.
To win the national championship in the 134-pound division, Gowens knows it will "take a lot of hard work."
CSU has won five national titles and crowned 13 individual champions in Head Coach David James' eight-year tenure, and Gowens said he thinks James has been an inspiration in his career. "I look up to Dave a whole lot," he said. "I've known he and his brother, Ronnie, since I was an ankle biter. Dave is more of a friend than a coach. He's like a dad to us." V
