Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1 / Page 60
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* ? * '/ Fitzgerald's hot shooting helped Vikings saO to top of standings Elizabeth City's long \ distance bomber took round-about route to C1AA Not too long ago, CIAA teams,had little problem recruiting the nation's top African American student athletes. Because of limited opportunities, historically black colleges and universi ties were the haven for African American students who wanted to pursue their careers beyond high school. But those days are long gone. Today, HBGU's have to beat the bushes to find prospective student-athletes for their programs. Although some schools i 1 have managed to go heads up with majority programs that as a rule have more resources, that is the excep tion and not the rule these days. Consequently, many HBCU's have had to rely on tranfer students to fill the void. Some times the results have been positive and oth ers negative. ^ In the case of Elizabeth City State, the Vikings hit the jackpot when they land ed .William Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, who transferred from West Virginia's Fair mont State, has burst onto the scene like few players before him. The 6-8 Fitzgerald has already set several school records and is on track to etch his name among CIAA greats. Among Fitgerald's accomplishments thus far is a 39-point performance against St. Paul's and 13-of 14 shooting from the field in a game against Columbia Union. During that game, Fitgerald connected on nine of niqe shots from beyond the 3-point arc. With Fitzgerald leading the way the Vikings have ascended to the top of the CIAA Eastern Division standings. Coach Barry Hamler's team will t>e one of the favorites when the CIAA Tournament tips off. "I feel that Fitzgerald is the biggest impact player in the CIAA," Hamler said. That very well may be true. Few players in the league have made as big a splash as has Fitzgerald. He needed very little time to adjust to the CIAA after becoming eligible to play for the Vikings. His 23.5 scoring average is tops in the league. He is also first in free throw percentage (83.9) and in 3-pointers made per game (3.5). With Fitzgerald leading the way, the Vikings have sailed to the top of the CIAA's Eastern Division heading into the final week end of play.-The Vikings are also ranked in the top 25 among the NCAA's Divi sion II programs. /Fitzgerald makes very little of his accomplish ments. "I just try to go out every game and give it my best," he said. The addition of Fitzger ald to the Vikings' lineup gives the team a legitimate chance of Capturing the CIAA Tournament. The Vikings haven't captured a league title since 1981. Barry Hamlar s\ - ? ? /' v Mechanics and Farmers Bank Welcomes I * ' jg||gjk *v ' Your Future Is Our Business When it comes to solid investments, our most important asset is the future of our community. We know that strengthening the economy of our community improves the quality of life for us all. That's why for 90 years we've made it our business to provide opportunities for home ownership, business development and education. Come talk to us and watch your future grow. M&F MECHANICS AND FARMERS Wfrr herefor you. Member Federal DepoaH Inmiranre Corporation Durham ? Raleigh ? Charlotte ? Winston-Salem www.mfbonline.com
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1
60
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