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November 1996 The News Argus - Page 15
SPORTS
Lady Rams Picked
To Finish In First Place
News Release
The Lady Rams have been picked by
CIAA coaches to finish in a ihree-way lie
for first place in the Southern Division.
The tie is between WSSU, Shaw
University and Fayetteville State
University.
Lady Rams Chellia Nelson and Erica
Leggett, were named to the preseason All
CIAA Women’s Team. Nelson, a
senior, is a two-time all conference
performer; while Leggett was named to
last season’s All-Rookie Team.
On the men’s side. The Rams were
picked to finished seventh in the men’s
division. Otis Attucks, who plays in the
guard position, was named to the
Preseason Men’s Team. He is the lone
starter returning to the team and was the
only Ram named to the team
The Lady Rams will play their first
home game December 1, against Bowie
State University, at 5:30 p.m., in the C.
E. Gaines Center.
The Rams will play two home games
before the Christmas Break. Bowie State
University on December 1, at 7:30 p.m.,
and Greensboro College on December
13, at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be
played in the Gaines Center.
Rams Are Ready To
Hit The Court
BY MONICA ALEXANDER
Sports Editor
“We do the best that we can to help
the players. Basketball is a tough sport
because it is shared between two
semesters,” said WSSU’s Head Men's
Basketball coach.
Samuel Hanger, who is beginning his
second year as coach, says a winning
season is his goal for the 1996-1997 Ram
Basketball Team. Otis Attucks, Casey
Simmons, Nicholas Goodson, Darryl
Hardy, and CC Whitaker, veteran
players, are returning to the team.
Thirteen new players, Johnny Watkins,
Dee Mitchell, Larry Patterson, Michael
Dunn, Donald Cureton, Bradley Taylor,
Toby Jordan, Chuck Jones, Michael-
Broadnax, Anthony Peake, Wendell
Owens , David Howerton and Torrian
Wynn will join the veterans.
The team’s new players have made
such an impact on the team that the style
of play has changed. Hanger is hoping to
change to a quicker and more man-to-man
style of play. The Rams have been
picked to finish in seventh place in a
preseason poll. Hanger says this
preseason ranking will not stop their
determination to win at least 13 of their
25 games.
“ I am pleased with the new recruits.
They have picked up the plays quickly
and have a better basketball sense,” said
Hanger. “Wc are light years ahead of last
year, but we haven't stopped recruiting
because we can use a few more big guys
that can play and will work hard, so we
can continue to get belter.”
The Rams have been practicing seven
days a week for 2 1/2 hours to shape their
game. To shape their minds they have
study hall where tutoring sessions are
available. Progress reports from their
professors concerning their classes arc
also being reviewed.
On October 14, men and women
collegiate basketball players across the
nation officially began the season with “
Midnight Madness.” Approximately 350
Ram fans went to WSSU’s C. E. Gaines
Center to be formally introduced to the
Lady Rams and Ram 1996-97 Basketball
Teams. “ I loved it,” said Hanger. “I
thought it was fantastic!”
The Lady Rams and the Rams began
their season by playing in a tournament
in Atlanta, at Morris Brown College on
November 15-16. The tournament
included teams from WSSU, Morris
Brown, Ft. Valley, and Livingston.
Attucks Wants To Win!
BY MONICA ALEXANDER
Sports Editor
“1 want to win. Last year was all
right, we played hard, but I want to win!”
said one of the returning Ram basketball
players.
Otis Attucks, a Winston- Salem
native started playing basketball in the
7th grade, but feels he should have started
playing as soon as he was able to dribble.
When he attended Carver High
School, this talented young man not only
played basketball; but he also played
football and baseball. During his senior
year, he even tried his hand in running
track. Not being sure about what sport he
should concentrate on , since he was so
athletically inclined; he decided to stick
with basketball. His mother and coaches
also helped him with his decision. This
decision lead him to a scholarship at
Winston Salem Slate.
“I like it here at WSSU because it’s
a black university and it’s helped me to
grow,” Attucks said.
Attucks, is a junior biology major, is
planning to pursue a medical career.
Hewas influenced by his pediatrician at a
very young age. “This is something that
always interested me, and the money in
this profession is decent as well,” he said.
This shy down to earth 20 year old,
also known as “Oshay," loves poetry,
relaxing by playing video games and
listening to music.
This is totally opposite from the man
we sec on the court. When he is playing
the game he becomes intense and more
vocal. Attucks says, “1 express myself
more when I am on the court.”
This 1996-1997 basketball season
will be his third year playing for WSSU
and his first year as a co-captain. His
basketball goals this season are to become
a morevocal leader, “ 1 always set
examples instead of voicing them. 1 want
to be player of the year, everyone wants
that, and of course I just want to win,”
says Attucks.
Attuck’s personal goal is not to
become that “NBA player," but to
continue his education in the medical
field.
Volleyball Team Comes Up Short
BY DANIELLE PROPHETE
Staff Writer
The Lady Ram Volleyball Team
came up short for the CIAA
Championship Tournament. They placed
fifth place in the Southern Division.
“Overall 1 think we did a good job.
We just didn’t gel as soon as we would
have liked too,” said Aronda Frenzley,
head coach for the Lady Ram volleyball
team. The team was one game away from
being tied with North Carolina Central
University for a playoff spot.
According to Frenzley, “It’s a
whole lot harder to compete in the
Southern Division bccause the talent is
greater.”
Four schools competed from the
Southern Division: Fayetteville State
University, Shaw University, North
Carolina Central University and Saint
Augustines College. Fayetteville State
walked away with the title.
The team was led by Captain
Kenisha Williams, a freshmen to the
volleyball court; but a sophomore on
campus. Other key contributors
included: Kenya Bridges, Keisha
Broadnax, Nekesha Simmons, Kelli
Armwood and Tasheia McEachum.
“It was a pretty nice season but I
wish we would have at least made it to
the playoffs,” said Williams.
The Lady Rams ended their season
on October 29 with an overall record of 8-
12. “It was still an improvement from
last year," said Coach Frenzley.
Good Luck
Lady Rams and Rams
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