Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / May 1, 2003, edition 1 / Page 7
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The News Argus, May 2003 2003 WSSU Football Schedule w.s.s.u. Aug. 30 Carson-Newman Home 6 p.m. Sept. 6 Fort Valley State College Macon, Ga. (Henderson Stadium) 5 p.m. Sept. 13 Virginia State University Home 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at West Virginia Tech Montgomery, W.V. 7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Virginia Union Richmond, Va. 1;30 p.m. Oct. 4 Open Date N/A Oct. 11 at Fayetteville State Fayetteville 6 p.m. Oct. 18 at Livingstone College Salisbury 6 p.m. Oct. 25 North Carolina Central Atlantic City, N..J (Boardwalk Classic) 3 p.m. Nov. 1 Johnson C. Smith* Home (Homecoming) 2 p.m. Nov. 8 St. Augustine's College Home 2 p.m. Nov. 15 CIAA Championship Site To Be Announced 1 p.m. Season Wrap-up Most WSSU teams had tough year, looking to future STAFF REPORT VOLLEYBALL When you think of Winston Salem State's volleyball team, the first word that comes to mind is teamwork. The volley ball season was definitely filled with hard work, dedication and a whole lot of teamwork. And when all these things are mixed together, it places the team high on the totem pole when it comes to winning matches. Their season was com pleted with a 3-0 defeat from North Carolina Central University's Lady Eagles, but they left their match with their heads held high. The team also competed in one of the two CIAA Volleyball championships, compet ing against Fayetteville State's Lady Broncos and St. Augustine's Lady Falcons. Don't sleep on Winston Salem State's volleyball team when it comes to consistency. The team strongly defeated North Carolina Central University's Lady Eagles three consistent times during their successful season. Although they did not come out quite on top in the CIAA volley ball championships, they fought a good battle on the court. The match started off with a strong lead and was not quite enough when the Lady Eagles prevailed, winning the match 30-21 and 30-19. Some of the top leaders of the match were Ebony Douglas with six kills and teammate Kyra Pridgen with four kills. But they definitely met a good match when they were battling against CIAA Rookie of the Year Porche Williams with 18 kills. The Lady Rams fin ished with a victorious record of 19-12. Two of the Lady Ram players placed in the CIAA — Chasity Clark and Ebony Douglas. Riquita Quick and freshman Rachel Clark were selected to be on the CIAA team. Clark and freshman Kyra Pridgen were put on the all-rookie team. TENNIS The Lady Rams of Winston-Salem State University's Tennis team finished the CIAA season with winning their sev enth victory with a score of 6. The Lady Rams ended the season at 7-9 overall and in the CIAA. The women had a good sea son. When playing the Lady Panthers from Virginia Union University on April 17, they won five out of the first six singles matches, therefore eliminating the doubles matches. The men's tennis team finished their season 4-10 overall despite the post poning of four games due 'to weather. In their last game, against St. Paul's Tigers, the men's tennis team easily defeated them with the scores 9-0 and 8-1. With three of the tennis team members graduating, there will be room for some great tal ent on the court for the next season. The men's tennis team, along with the Lady Rams, went to Charlotte recently for the CIAA tennis champi onships. SOFTBALL Football season is over, and the CIAA Tournament has come and gone, so what's left for the Rams to get excit ed about in the world of sports? If you ask any of the 13 women on the Lady Rams softball team, the obvious answer would be them. After having a record of 21-2-2 last season, (19-2-1 in CIAA play), the Lady Rams came into this spring looking to avenge last year's early playoff exit in the tournament semifinals. The Lady Rams are led by junior Heather Davis, who pitches the majority of their opening games, (the ladies play a double- header, the first counting toward their CIAA record). Last season Heather recorded 93 strikeouts in 16 games, with an era of 2.61. This year, through 7 appear ances she has 40 strike outs. In 2001 Heather was the CIAA Rookie of the Year. Junior Amber Nance is also one of the Rams' leaders, pitching and swinging a big bat. She leads the team with a .460 batting average, 23 hits, 30 total bases and is sec ond with 5 doubles on the season. If you think for a sec ond that these girls don't get into their sport, then you are sadly mistaken. The Lady Rams most vocal leader is easily sec ond year catcher Shannon Davis. Aside from starting cheers for each player as they step up to the plate, you can catch Davis yelling out to the mound to sister Heather. "It's just like were at home playing catch," she said. She also gives opposing batters a little close range chatter. The Lady Rams finished the season 19-9, (9-3 in the CIAA). They recently played in the CIAA tournament in Charlotte. Lataya Hilliard and Aaron Patrick coach the ladies. BASKETBALL Ram basketball had its ups and downs this past season. The Lady Rams returned this year with three starters, led by point guard Lori Shelby. With a new coaching staff consisting of head coach John Williams and assis tant coach Leslie Rowls, Lady Rams had a suc cessful year, finish the 2002-03 season with a record of 16-11 overall and 11-6 in the CIAA. This year with wins against Virginia State, Shaw and St. Augustine's, the CIAA tournament looked promising. Their first opponent in the tourna ment was St. Augustine's. This time the Lady Rams lost 61-54. Poor shooting cost them the game with only 28.2 percent shoot ing from the field. On a positive note, Shelby was selected to participate in the 2003 CIAA/NYCAC Senior Basketball Challenge. With four seniors leaving, the Lady Rams plan on focusing on the next season and what the future of the team has to offer. The men ended their season on a moderate note, with a record of 15-14 overall and 10-7 in the CIAA. This is their seventh consecutive sea son finishing .500 or bet ter. The young team was lead by seniors Jonathon McIntyre and Juston White with four new freshmen. The team had highs and lows with wins against Johnson C. Smith, Virginia Union and Virginia State. On the other hand, with losses to Fayetteville, St. Augustine's and North Carolina Central, the Rams seemed somewhat prepared for the CIAA tournament. In the first round of the tournament, the Rams beat Virginia State 54-49. A boost of energy seemed to renew the team. The opponents for the second round were Virginia Union, which was a loss for the Rams, 81-59. Next season, the Rams look to ad some size and experi ence to the team to excel as they have done in the past. BOWLING The most tedious sport at Winston-Salem State University: BOWLING! The bowling team has been known to bowl from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on week ends with little or no break. They traveled to Petersburg, Va., Durham and Fayetteville twice under the leadership of coach Leon Kay who was assisted by Tyrone Scales. The team consisted of Latoya DesChamps (senior/captain), Natash Garret (senior), Tianya McMillian (senior) LeAndrea Suggs (sopho more), Janell J. Lewis (sophomore) and Shannon Davis (sopho more), who all maintain a 2.5 or better GPA. DesChamps was named not only to the Center Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) all tournament team and as the Most Valuable Player on that team, but also to the All-CIAA Bowling Team. Last fall was only the second year WSSU enter tained a bowling team, so the 9-3 record they ended with was impressive. The Rams were only two vic tories away from captur ing their first CIAA Bowling Championship. FOOTBALL The football team at Winston-Salem State ended their season a dis appointing 4-6. Led by a core of young talent the Rams struggled to find their niche before the end of the season. The offense, led by sec ond year quarterback Josh McGee, had a hard time finding the end zone. An early season injury to Sherman Rigsbee caused the Rams to dig deep into their pile of reserves to fill the void. The offensive line showed promise, at times, but generally showed deficiencies in stopping the top defen sive lineman in the con ference. The running backs were the bright spot in the offensive scheme. Running back Willie Byrd gave hope to Ram fans rushing for over 1,000 yards. Freshman Martin Hicks also added a back- field spark including a 97-yard touchdown at the beginning of WSSU's game against North Carolina Central. The defense of the Rams did well consider ing the loss of virtually the entire line, and major pieces from the previous year's secondary. The departure of coach Andrew Faison to Virginia State proved near fatal to the defense, but first year defensive coordinator Gregory Richardson did a com mendable job of keeping his defense focused. The Rams football team is well on there way to becoming a major force in the CIAA again. With the addition of some key recruits and a cast of bat tle tested returnees, the Rams look to be in great position for the upcom ing season. New recruits brighten the horizon for football team By George Croom ARGUS SPORTS EDITOR After the WSSU Rams football team's dismal 2002-03 season, they will seek for a boost next sea son from two incoming freshman recruits. Jeffrey Romanelli and Dale Autrey, both from three time 4-A state champion Charlotte Independence High School, will provide help for both the offensive and defensive units next year. Autrey could possibly provide instant impact for a receiving core that will be without the ser vices of graduating senior Sherman Rigsbee. "I like teams that throw the ball, and the coaches said that is what [WSSU] they do," said Autrey about what attracted him to Winston-Salem State. "I played tight end and wide receiver in high school, and they said they might put me on the out side to go against some DBs [defensive backs]. And I feel like I can block, so they can throw the toss my way." Unlike most college freshman receivers, Autrey had the good for tune of catching balls from the best high-school player in the nation, Chris Leak, for three years. "I don't know what it is with Chris," said Autrey. "I don't know how he has it like that, but if you can catch his ball you can catch anybody's ball. It's coming hard, and it's coming fast but after you've locked it up a cou ple times, it's like noth ing." Autrey also said he is always ready. He will need to carry that attitude into summer workouts in order to compete for a starting job that has wide-open possibilities. Romanelli will be a great addition on next year's linebacker squad. Entering as a highly recruited athlete, he also will be counted on to fill a lot of gaps on the defen sive side. "I liked everything about the school," Romanelli said. "Everybody was involved in what was going on with the sports. I went to the games and everybody was in to what was going on and I liked that. I went to a basketball game and the gym was packed. Everybody in there was getting up, and I just liked that atmosphere." Romanelli could be a huge impact in the CIAA See RECRUITS, Page 8
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