Lady Apps ace Lady 'dogs 
Brian Meadows  Varsity Sports 

The Appalachian State women’s tennis team did not let the cold temperatures outside Tuesday afternoon keep them from getting hot, as they scorched UNC Asheville 7-1. 

The Mountaineers (1-1, 0-0), who have not played since losing to North Carolina State back in mid-January, looked to get their first victory of this young season against Big South conference opponent Elon last Saturday afternoon. 

But because conditions outside kept them from playing, they had to wait until Tuesday to knot that first win against UNCA, another of the six Big South teams that the Appalachian women will face this season. 

“ We barely started, but we were winning every match, and our team really wanted to keep going,” said second year women’s tennis coach Colin Crothers about the cancelled match against Elon.”It was disappointing, but conditions weren’t good. It got too slick on the courts.” 

The women, who defeated UNCA last season 5-4, wasted no time getting ahead in Tuesdays match. 

The ASU women won five of their six singles matches and both of their doubles matches against Asheville, which was a big turnaround from their 9-0 lopsided loss to the Wolfpack. 

“We played really well, and this (Asheville) is a tough team. They were tougher than I thought they would be,” said a pleased Crothers about his team’s performance. 

Sophomore Alex Chong set the stage for ASU. She was the first Mountaineer to win, defeating Laura Hastay in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. 

Freshman Allison Lane and sophomore Jennifer Fayad continued the Mountaineer success, putting ASU ahead in the match 3-0. Lane defeated Nancey Livesay also in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Fayad needed all three sets to beat Ashley Jones 6-0, 3-6, 6-3. 

UNC Asheville’s Janelle Watson was the only bright spot in singles competition versus the Mountaineers. She defeated junior Tonya Eberhart in straight sets 6-2, 6-4. 

Appalachian senior Vanessa Manicom won her first set 7-5 against  hard serving Stephanie Shuba, and then won her second set 7-6, on a lob shot for the ninth point to break a 6-6 tie. 

Freshman April Fitzsimmons was the fifth Mountaineer to win her singles match. 

She defeated Cathy Rhoney by outscoring her 10-2 in a needed tiebreaker to decide the winner of the 4-6, 6-4 match. 

The ASU women allowed no slack in their performance during both of their doubles matches. 

 Lane and Chong made quick work of UNC Asheville’s Watson and Hastay, while Manicom and Eberhart also had no problem putting away Shuba and Jones 8-2. 

When asked about the difference between his team’s performance in the N.C. State match and this match against UNC Asheville, Crothers said, “I noticed we were a little more nervous in this (match) because this is more our competition level, whereas against an ACC school like N.C. State, there is nothing to lose.” 

About facing several of the Big South conference teams, Crothers said, “ It’s nice because they are comparable in talent, so we have good matches.” 

The Appalachian women’s next tennis match is at home against Lees-McRae on Monday, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m.. 
 
 

Lady Apps cage Lady Cougars in their own den 
Chris Boyce Varsity Sports 

The Appalachian State University women’s basketball team took its recent frustrations out on the College of Charleston Monday night at John Kresse Arena in blowout fashion, winning 73-54. 

ASU’s Karma Edwards led the Mountaineers with 18 points while Jamie Gagliano and Jaymi Wilson added 16 and 10, respectively. The win keeps the Mountaineers in a tie for sixth with Davidson in the Southern Conference. 

The Cougars were led by Brittney Scarberry, who had 12 points while Amber Stegelin and Wilma Simpson added 10 points each. With the victory, the Mountaineers swept the College of Charleston two games to none for the season series. After two straight heart-breaking losses, it was an impressive rebound for the Apps. Appalachian State improves to 8-9 in the conference and 12-14 overall with only one game remaining on the schedule. 

The Cougars fell to a conference worst 1-16 and 4-21 overall. 

The Mountaineers, despite being outshot by the Cougars, led 37-26 at the half and never lost steam. The Cougars shot 42.1 percent (eight of 19) from the floor while the Mountaineers shot 40.6 percent (13 of 32) from the floor in the first half. 

By the game’s end, the Mountaineers shot 41.3 percent from the field opposed to Charleston’s 42.2 percent and ASU hit an impressive 43 percent of their three point attempts.  

The Appalachian State women’s basketball team concludes its season this Saturday when they travel to Spartanburg, S.C., to face Wofford at 7 p.m.  

The College of Charleston will finish out their regular season on Saturday as well when they face Western Carolina in Cullowhee at 2 p.m. 

The Apps hope to finish out the regular season on a good note with the Southern Conference tournament scheduled to begin on March 2 in Greenville, S.C. 
 

Gaglliano to missremainder of the season 
Compiled from ASU SID 

Appalachian State women’s basketball player Jarnie Gagliano will miss the remainder of the 1999-2000 season after suffering a blood clot in her right arm on Feb. 22. 

Gagliano, a junior from Hermitage, Tenn., suffered the clot in the subolavian vein of her right arm. She awoke on Tuesday morning noticing a difference in the arm and immediately sought medical attention. 

 She is currently receiving treatment at Boone’s Watauga Medical Center following an invasive medical procedure to eliminate the clot. 

“Our first and only concern is Jamie’s health,” head coach Barbie BreedIove said. 

A 6-1 post player, Gagliano has started all 26 games this season for the Mountaineers.  

“Jamie faced a potentialy serious situation and received expert medical care, both on campus and at Watauga Medical Center,” said Breedlove. 

‘’The most important thing is Jamie is going to be okay; the unfortunate thing is we’ve lost Jamie for the rest of the season. Throughout this entire ordeal, Jamie has displayed outstanding strength and characrer. This is a severe blow to our program, but we will pull together as a team.” 

 She is the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder and leads the team in blocked shots. 
 

News and Notes around the Southern Confrence 
Jackson takes over on ASN 
Compiled from ASU SID 

David Jackson will assume on-air broadcast duties for the Appalachian Sports Network (ASN) for the remainder of the academic year. Jackson will handle play-by-play duties for men’s basketball through the end of the season. 

Jackson, a senior at Appalachian, will graduate in May. Jackson has served as both a play-by-play and color commentator for ASN men’s basketball broadcast and has been the sideline reporter for ASN football broadcasts over the past three seasons. He also handles play-by-play duties for selected ASN baseball broadcasts. 

Last summer, Jackson served as broadcast intern with the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. With the Warthogs, Jackson broadcast games and handled media relations duties for the team. Jackson has also been a four-year student assistant with the ASU Sports Information Office, serving as an interim assistant SID during the summer of 1998. 

Furman coach reprimanded 
Compiled from SOCONSPORTS 
 

Southern Conference Commissioner Alfred B. White issued a public reprimand to Furman University men’s basketball coach Larry Davis on Feb. 21 for comments “detrimental to the Southern Conference and its basketball institutions.” 

Davis had publicly accused a Wofford College men’s basketball player of punching a Furman University player during a game at Wofford on Feb. 14. His comments appeared in The Greenville News before the game film arrived at the Southern Conference office for review. Further inquiry by the Southern Conference office and a review of the game film were inconclusive as to whether the player in question had thrown a punch. 

“The conference has a specific procedure for filing a grievance and discussion in a public forum is not a part of that procedure,” said White. “By going to the media, coach Davis discredited the reputation of Wofford College for a situation that had not been given its proper due process.” 

A review of the game film by White and Jim Burch, Coordinator of Officials, did not reveal conclusive evidence for a different application and interpretation of NCAA Basketball Rule 10-8, regarding fighting, than was applied by the game officials. 

Wofford coordinator dies 
Compiled from SOCONSPORTS 

Defensive Coordinator Bruce Johnson of the Wofford College football team died Feb. 17 of a heart attack while observing conditioning drills. 

Johnson collapsed while standing on the Snyder Field track, outside the Richardson Building, watching the Terrier players work out. Efforts to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead upon arrival at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Johnson had been on the job with the Terriers for just over a month. 

A 1970 Wofford graduate and a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, Johnson was a three-year starter at defensive end for the Terriers and co-captain his senior year. 

“We’re in shock,” said Wofford head coach Mike Ayers. “He’s going to be missed and will always be a part of the Wofford family as a player and coach.” 

A veteran of collegiate football, Johnson served as the defensive line coach last season at The Citadel. 

“Coming back to Wofford, he was at a place he wanted to be. He was at the point where he wanted to give back to a school he loved. He was excited about it. He talked about being here with his daughter,” said Ayers. 

He previously spent three seasons as the secondary coach at the University of South Carolina, (1996-98) and six years in the same role at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1990-95).  While with the Tar Heels, Johnson coached five defensive backs who went on to play in the National Football League. In 1995, North Carolina’s defensive unit led the ACC and ranked number 6 nationally in total defense. 
Johnson was the defensive coordinator for six years at Air Force (1984-89) under Falcon head coach and 1960 Wofford graduate Fisher DeBerry. He also had stints at North Carolina State, Furman, Marshall and Louisiana State. 

A native of Reidville, Johnson coached in 11 bowl games, including victories in the 1977 Peach Bowl, 1978 Citrus Bowl, 1984 Independence Bowl, 1985 Blue Bonnet Bowl, 1992 Peach Bowl and the 1995 Carquest Bowl. 

“This is obviously very tragic,” said Wofford Athletic Director David Wood. “He had such a positive impact on our student-athletes during the few short weeks he was with us. Everyone was excited to have him back on campus. Our hearts go out to his family and friends.” 

Johnson is survived by his wife Connie and daughter Jessica.  Jessica, a senior at Chapin (SC) High School, has signed to play volleyball at Wofford next year. 

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Kauffman and Harmon in Lexington, S.C.  Plans are incomplete at this time. 
 

We are the Champions  
Anthony Holderied Varsity Sports 

The Appalachian State University men’s basketball team found out Tuesday night that the third time’s a charm. 

In their victory against UNC Greensboro, the Mountaineers finally clinched the North Division title they had unsuccessfully tried to obtain in their previous two games against VMI and Davidson, by dispatching the Spartans 78-69. 

The win gave ASU its second straight North Division title and third straight regular season Southern Conference title. Appalachian is now 12-3 in league play with a 19-8 overall record, just one win short of its third straight twenty-win season. 

The Mountaineers were able to knock off Greensboro using double-digit scoring from four players. Rufus Leach paved the road to victory for App with 18 points, including 11 in the second half. 

Appalachian rebounded from back to back shooting nightmares against Davidson and VMI by firing a 48 percent field goal percentage, including 60 percent in the second half. 

Varsity Gym will make its final appearance as host to Appalachian State basketball games on Saturday afternoon as the Mountaineers take on rival foe Western Carolina at 1 p.m. 
 

Track Stars 
Compiled from ASU SID 

Senior Omari Francis and junior Shonte Pinkston added their names to a  distinguished list by qualifying for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track Championships this past weekend at the Tennessee Indoor Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn. 

Francis recorded a 7.24 clocking in the 55m hurdles which converts to a 7.75 for the 60m hurdles.That clocking places him six on the NCAA list for the hurdles and virtually assures he will make the NCAA Division I Championships held at the new Tyson Track and Field Complex at the University of Arkansas. This marks the first time he has qualified for the nationals. Francis attended High Point Andrews High School in High Point. His father, Dr. Rudolph Francis currently resides in the Bahamas. 

Pinkston clocked a speedy 6.92 in the 55m dash which converts to a 7.42 60m time and places her 18th nationally. She will have to wait until final declarations on March 4 to determine whether she will make the nationals. If she can improve this time and move into the top 14 nationally, then she will assure her place. Until that time, she must wait to see. Pinkston is from Kannapolis and the daughter of Robert and Shelia Pinkston. Pinkston attended A.L. Brown High School. Francis and Pinkston join senior long jumper Charles Mahatha who made a qualifying mark of 25-0 earlier this season which currently ranks him 18th nationally and places him in the same situation as Pinkston. Francis was only one hundreth from automatically qualifying, which is why his chances of making the nationals is very high. The Southern Conference bestowed the honor of Athlete of the Week on two more Appalachian State track and field athletes this indoor season. Francis and Pinkston join ASU teammate Kirsten Bowden as Southern Conference Athletes of The Week during the 1999-2000 season. Francis earned this honor after running a conference leading and fifth ranked time in the nation 7.24 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles. Francis looks forward to defending his conference crown in the 60 meter hurdles this weekend as he will compete at the Southern Conference Championships at East Tennessee State University. 

Pinkston also will look to win a conferene title this weekend in the 60 meters dash and the 200 meter dash. Pinkston was awarded athlete of the week honors as she sprinted to a NCAA qualifying time in the 60 meter dash this past weekend. Pinkston’s time of 7.42 ranks her 18th nationally among Division I athletes. Pinkston and Francis joins Mahatha as NCAA qualfiers that hope to compete at the national championships. For more Appalachian Track and Field news go to www.asutrackandfield.com. 
 

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