The Pilot I Oct. 22 Page?
Football team stopped on the road, falls to 5-2 overall (2-2 SAC)
KAREN BROWER/stafT
Robye DeWitt tries to turn the comer in Gardner-Webb's 32-0 Homecoming victory over Lenoir
Rhyne. DeWitt, a junior from Chesterfield, VA, has stepped us his play in recent weeks to help
pace the Runnin' Bulldog offense.
Men and Women's Tennis
teams gearing up for spring
by Randy Capps
sports editor
Men and women's tennis is a spring
sport, but both teams are playing fall
schedules in preparation for the coming
season.
Coach Andy Smith, who leads both the
men and women's squads, is happy with
the performance of his players so far.
In fact, this year's women's team could
be the most talented group that Smith has
seen.
A major factor in the success of the
Lady Bulldogs is the arrival of Hagar
Levy, a sophomore transfer from the
University of Tulsa and a native of
Ramat Gan, Israel.
Levy has already made some serious
noise in her new home. She won the
second annual Limestone-GWU
Tournament, and was the runner-up in
the prestigious Rolex Invitational
Tournament.
On her way to the finals. Levy knocked
off the number one seed in the East
Region, Kim Hampton from SAC rival
Presbyterian, 6-4, 6-0. Levy's success in
this event was the best in school history.
Junior Lindsay Spradley is having a
spectacular fall season in her own right.
The native of Peachtree City, GA lost
in the third round of the Rolex to the
eventual champion. Spradley will be
counted on to provide leadership for the
Lady Bulldogs this season.
Every woman who participated in the
Rolex won a round, and the importance
of this is not lost on Coach Smith.
“We were probably the third-best team
there, right Iwhind Barton and Presbyte
rian,” Smith said.
The ladies have been impressive in
match play as well, as they traveled to
Banner Elk, NC for a match against
Lees-McRae. GWU returned home with
a 6-2 victory and a sense of confidence
heading into the spring season.
“We have the potential to finish in the
top three in the SAC this year. With the
addition of Hagar (Levy) and our
freshman class to the core of our
returning players, we should be right
there,” Smith said.
The men are not having as much
success as the women, but they are
gaining valuable experience for the
coming season.
Murray Wellington and Jason Allen
won two rounds at the Rolex in doubles
competition, including a victory over the
number two seeds in the East Region's
Southern Division.
The Bulldogs have had more than their
share of problems this fall, but everyone
is back from last year's squad that
finished third in the SAC Tournament.
Jason Allen, a junior from Palatka,
Florida, and Murray Wellington, a
sophomore from Perth, Austrailia, will
have to step up and accept a leadership
role for this team.
Coach Smith is still optimistic that his
team can build on last year's success.
“Right now the men are working hard.
We've had some injuries and some
NCAA Clearinghouse problems, so we're
at about half-strength. Our goal is still to
finish in the top three in the conference
like we did last season,” Smith said.
The South Atlantic Conference is very
strong in tennis, with Presbyterian
College the odds-on favorite to win both
the men and women's titles.
But with all of the talent on both the
men and women's squads, don't be
surprised if these teams challenge PC for
the conference crown.
by Randy Capps
sports editor
The Runnin' Bulldogs found out first
hand how tough life on the road in the
South Atlantic Conference can be as they
lost to Catawba (5-2, 2-2 SAC) 34-6 in
Salisbury, NC on Oct. 18.
The story of this game was the Indians'
defense. This unit came into this game as
the top-rated defense in the SAC,
allowing less than two yards per carry on
the ground.
Gardner-Webb simply could not get
their rushing attack going, as the
Bulldogs were held to just 30 yards
rushing.
CoCo Henderson, who gained 178
yards in the 32-0 Homecoming victory
over Lenior-Rhyne, was smothered in
this contest as he ran for negative two
yards.
The passing game didn't go much
better. Sophomore quarterback Clint
Conner was off of his game as he
connected on just 10 of his 23 pass
attempts for 79 yards.
While the Runnin' Bulldogs' offense
sputtered, Catawba's was in high gear.
Senior quarterback Kevin Brown, the
1996 SAC Offensive Player of the Year,
had his best game of the season.
Brown completed 13 out of 20 passes
for 4 touchdowns and 218 yards. Tight
end Jeff Cochrane was on the receiving
end of two of those scoring tosses, while
J.R. Gibson and Ryan Millwood
combined for the other two scores.
an editorial by Randy Capps
sports editor
Some things are just wonderful.
For some, it's sleeping in on rainy
mornings. For others, it's a $100 gift
certificate to The Gap. For me, it's high
school football.
There's something magical about
Friday nights in Cleveland County.
Whether it's Crest or Bums, Kings
Mountain or Shelby, the atmosphere is
tremendous.
The rhythm of the band, the crash of
helmets and pads and the smells. Where
else can you get the mixed odors of
grass, popcorn and teen spirit.
Don't get me wrong. I like college and
pro football as well, but there are
important differences.
ftos make too much money. Most
college players either don't go to class or
pay someone else to do their work,
probably with a booster's money.
In high school, if a player doesn't
succeed in school,they don’t play. And
when they play, they play for love—not
money.
In high school, everything matters just
a little bit more. In football, it's almost
not a game anymore. It's an all out fight
to the finish.
A couple of weeks ago, my job as a
renorter for ShelhViHe^dline News tnnk
Gardner-Webb was only down 10-0 at
the half, but the third quarter was all
Catawba.
The Indians scored touchdowns on
three of their first four possesions of the
second half.
After a fumble recovery by Kareem
Jordan set the Runnin' Bulldog offense
up inside the Catawba five-yard line,
Clint Conner scored on a one yard TD
run.
But the snap on the extra point attempt
sailed over the head of the holder. Trey
Greene, and GWU trailed 17-6 at that
point.
However, they could pull no closer.
The schedule gets no kinder for
Gardner-Webb as they will host the
number one ranked team in NCAA
Division II, Carson Newman, on Oct. 25.
The Eagles, led by tailback Tyrone
Westmoreland, boast the league's best
offense and the second-rated defense.
The Eagles are 4-0 in the SAC,
including a 26-7 thrashing of Catawba in
Jefferson City, TN.
Carson-Newman will be trying to
wrap up a share of their fifth straight
South Atlantic Conference
Championship.
CNC has owned the series between
these two teams, having won 23 out of
27 of the meetings. GWU's last victory in
the series was in 1992.
It's tough for Coach Steve Patton and
his staff to be too disappointed in the
play of the Runnin' Bulldogs, after all,
this is basically the same squad that
finished 2-9 last season.
me to Morganton, NC for a game
between Crest and Freedom.
Right after the national anthem, a
Freedom fan stood up and said, or should
I say screamed, “We're gonna win! I
know it!”
Crest fans responded with some PG-13
language and then they played football.
There are many more moments that I
can't tell you about, this being a Christian
school and all—but you get the point.
The best thing about high school
football is that there is something for
everyone.
Like a good marching Jiand? I've never
seen one better than the one at Crest
High School. The majorette spins a
flaming baton and the music is great too.
If you are partial to tradition and days
gone by, go see the Shelby Golden Lions.
They have the old school, H-style goal
posts, and the quarterback runs more
than he throws.
If you thought Rudy was the greatest
movie ever, make the trip up to
Lawndale to watch the Bums Bulldogs.
They are small and slow, often
outmanned and understaffed, but they
play the game with the most heart and
desire I've ever seen.
And Kings Mountain has the only press
box that I know of that serves oysters.
Even if you don't like football, make
the trip to a local high school game.
Ynn'll he plaH voii HiHI
Local high school football
providing terrific action