ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Jessica De La Rosa, a University of New Mexico track athlete and girlfriend of a missing Baylor basketball player, says the NCAA has declared her ineligible for next season. She said Tuesday she broke NCAA rules by accepting money "from a member of the Baylor coaching staff for a cab ride from Waco (Texas) to Dallas" after visiting Patrick Dennehy last season.
Staff Report Former Lobo basketball player Chelsea Grear recently signed a contract committing her to the Perik Jumpers, a professional basketball team out of the Netherlands. Grear is expected to be a major asset to the Jumpers, which were co-champions last season in the Dutch women's professional basketball league.
In a summer full of solid performances and good finishes by Jay Reynolds, the UNM junior golfer says the highlight has simply been playing without pain. "I'm just so glad to be able to get out there and compete without having to worry about my back," said Reynolds, who missed a large portion of the Lobos' 2002-03 season because of a recurring injury in the lower-lumbar region of his back.
by Matt Hemmendinger Daily Lobo Last year the Lobo soccer team spent only one week in the National Soccer Coaches Association Top-25. This year it has already received national attention with the release of CollegeSoccerNews.com's preseason Top-30. "Initially it's really exciting, but then you start to question it and try to figure out whether it is a good or bad kind of pressure," head coach Jeremy Fishbein said.
NARBONNE, France (AP) - Halfway through the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong has yet to dominate cycling's showcase race as he has in the past. He didn't shine in the Alps and their monstrous climbs - although he rode well enough to take the overall lead.
Baseball Slugging Albuquerque Isotope right fielder Robert Stratton took home the Old Navy Home Run Derby title in Memphis on Tuesday. Stratton cranked out 10 homers in the final round including a 470 foot drive to outpace Louisville's Brandon Larson in the final round 10-5.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 220 pounds, sophomore Hank Baskett III is the biggest receiver on the Lobo football team, which is loaded with senior leadership at that position. "He's got great size and ultimately he will be a leader," offensive coordinator Dan Dodd said.
by Matt Hemmendinger Daily Lobo Johnson Center is more than just a place to work out and play intramurals - those are just two of the numerous opportunities provided by the center and its staff. While intramurals is the first program most students may think of, it is just the beginning of a long list of chances the student body as well as faculty staff and area youth have to enjoy what Johnson Center has to offer.
The Albuquerque Isotopes are returning to their home park this week undoubtedly feeling confident after sweeping the division-leading Omaha Royals and winning 11 of their last 15 games on the road. Players hope that success will translate into some home victories during a four-game series against the Memphis Redbirds starting Thursday.
Men's Basketball The University of New Mexico men's basketball team was found in violation of NCAA by-law 13.1.1.3 and will have minor sanctions imposed upon it - but recent recruit Danny Granger has been reinstated to begin play at the end of the fall semester.
The UNM men's basketball team received good news and bad news last week. Sean Phaler, considered one of the nation's top high school recruits, committed to the Lobos on Friday. However, the 6-foot-9-inch freshman-to-be got into a serious car accident just days before he made his decision.
UNM Athletics UNM athletes improved in the classroom for the ninth straight semester with a cumulative 3.04 GPA. For the men, track, skiing, soccer, golf and tennis all had team averages above 3.0 with tennis having the highest at 3.52. The women's teams scored highly in the classroom as well, with basketball, golf, skiing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball each scoring above the 3.
For the UNM men's basketball program, the recent presence of a legitimate inside threat has been few and far between. Since current rising NBA star Kenny Thomas departed the Lobo program in 1998, UNM has seen promising post players swiftly fall off the radar screen.
Staff Report Track and Field UNM long distance runner Matt Gonzales ran to an 11th place finish in the 10K at the USA Track and Field Championships in Stanford, Calif., last weekend. The junior All-American ran his slowest race of the year. He said that the short time between NCAA Championships and USA Nationals contributed to his slower time.
Highly recruited high school basketball star Sean Phaler made an official visit to UNM last week. Although still undecided on which school he will attend next year, Phaler said he liked what he saw in Albuquerque. "I like it a lot," he said. "It's not gloomy like Washington was, it's nice weather and stuff like that.
The Isotopes beat the Edmonton Trappers 2-1 on Tuesday, snapping a three-game losing streak, salvaging a victory in the four-game set. "There's some pride in that room and you never want to be swept in a series, especially at home," head coach Dean Treanor said.
Beyond the unforgettable story of Tom Watson and his ailing caddy, Bruce Edwards, coverage of the 103rd U.S. Open left one lasting impression on the world of golf - the media have gone too far. The buzz surrounding this year's version of golf's most exacting test was, how will the "slumping" Tiger Woods fare? Will par be a good score? And how will a golf course that had not played host to a major championship since 1962 stand up against the best players in the world? In grand, trashy-tabloid style fashion, the collective pundits dropped the ball on each and every issue du jour.
The past few summers in Albuquerque have been a time for Lobo sports enthusiasts to go into hibernation. Sure, we could talk about the football team's chances next year or delve into the prospects of the basketball squad's new recruits, but those of us who thrive on live action are out of luck - until now.
Staff Report Two UNM track athletes will go for gold at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. this week. Sophomore distance runner Matt Gonzales qualified earlier in the year to compete in the 1,500 and the 10,000.
While most of the attention of UNM athletes going pro this summer has gone to basketball standouts Ruben Douglas and Jordan Adams, two players from the Lobo baseball team have gone under the radar in their quests to reach the next level. In the June 4 Major League Baseball draft, James Vermilyea and Chris Alexander were selected in the ninth and 15th rounds, respectively.
Solutions by The State News
