The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 38, Ed. 1, Sunday, February 16, 1997 Page: 10 of 19
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By Jennifer Ficrro
Sports Writer
ACU claimed eight of the 10 Lone
Star Conference championships
which brought the All-Sports title back
to the university for the first time since
1994-95.
The 1995-96 year was one of the best
in terms of LSC titles and postseason
appearances. The Wildcats were second
nationally in the Scars Director Cup
awarded to the top all-around athletic
program in the country. California
State-Bakcrsfleld took first.
ACU announced plans for a Softball
team early in the year. The team Is
coached by Carol Tabor who was an
All-Amcrican at ACU in the 1980s.
Football under first-year head coach
Jack Riser led the Wildcats to their first
winning season in three years. The
Wildcats were 6-4 and 4-3 in the con-
ference and tied Texas A&M-Com-mcrcc
and Angelo State for third place.
Highlights included a Homecoming
game win against Angelo State 17-14
and defeating Eastern New Mexico
University 25-6.
Volleyball finished seventh In the con-
ference with a record of 6-12. The
Wildcats took conference champion
West Texas A&M to three close games
15-8 15-5 17-15. Jessica Mayes senior
from Thornton Colo. lead the league
with 13 blocks per game and was fifth
in digs with 3.53 per game. Emily Hale
Junior from McPherson Kan. was sec-
ond in the conference in hitting with
4.02 per game. At the end of the season
Kent Wieb resigned as coach. A replace-
ment has not been named.
Thc mens cross country team
returned to the NCAA Division II
national meet after a one-year absence
to finish eighth. The Wildcats captured
their sixth straight LSC title and fin-
ished third in the South Central
Regional Meet. Coach Jon Murray was
named Coach of the Year by the LSC.
Runners Musa Gwanzuna senior from
Chinhoyi Zimbabwe; Thomas Korlf
senior from Eldoret Kenya; and Fallody
Moonga senior from Mazabuka
Zambia earned all-conference honors
by finishing one two and three at the
LSC meet. The top seven runners arc
given that distinction. Dustin Hawcs
freshman from Alta Loma Calif. was
named LSC mens freshman of the year.
The womens cross country team fin-
ished seventh at the rtational meet. The
team added its fourth straight LSC title
and went to the national meet because
of their third place finish at the regional
Men's track: Indoor and outdoor champions
Women's trad: Indoor and outdoor champions
Women's cross country. Seventh in the nation
Men's cross country; Eighth in the nation
Football: Third In ISC
Volleyball: Seventh In LSC
Men's basketball: sixth in the LSC
Women's basketball: first In the LSC
Women's tennH: second in the nation
Baseball: First in LSC
season has two games remaining
meet. Runners Vivian Ruijters fresh-
man from Eindhoven Netherlands;
Josie Martinez sophomore from
Petersburg; Miranda Boonstra freshman
from Alphen aid Rijn Netherlands; and
Katl O'Harran freshman from Mill
Creek Wash. earned LSC all-conference
honors Boonstra was named LSC
freshman of the year.
Mens basketball led by first-year head
coach Shanon Hays is fighting for a
position In the Lone Star Conference
tournament The Wildcats are in sixth
place in the league with road games
against Eastern New Mexico University
and West Texas AfiiM remaining.
Newcomers Lawrence Gardiner junior
from Los Angeles and Billy Gamer
junior from Pamona Calif have added
a combined 26.2 points per game.
Veterans like Broderick Bobb junior
from Navasota; Kevin Starks senior
from Memphis Tenn.; and Jason
Millwce senior from Visalia Calif. have
also had a serious Impact on the
Wildcats' season.
Womens basketball continues to build
on its winning tradition. It posted the
nations best winning percentage last
season 31-2 and shared the LSC regu-
lar season title. The team also won the
LSC postseason and South Central
Regions and won third place at the Elite
Eight National Tournament. The
Wildcats are 21-2 this season 14-1 in
conference play. They are tied for first
place and arc ranked No. 5 in the NCAA
Division II poll and No. 2 in the South
Central Region. Forward Caroline
Omamo junior from Nairobi Kenya
was a preseason All-Amcrican selection.
Mens and womens track captured
four national titles in 1996 making
NCAA history as the only programs to
successfully win them in the same year
representing the same university. Head
coach Wcs KitUey was named NCAA
Division II Coach of the Year.
Baseball under first-year head coach
Britt Bonneau began its season defend-
ing its 1996 LSC title. The Wildcats
opened the season ranked No. 9 in the
nation and the preseason favorite for the
LSC championship. The team finished
41-18 last season after losing to Delta
State in the South Central Region tour-
nament. The golf team completed the fall sea-
son without finishing outside of the top
10 in any of its tournaments. A high-
light was ACU finishing first in the
University of Texas-Pan American Golf
Classic.
Mens tennis returned to the national
tournament only to lose in the second
round In 1996. Ron Elston who
coached the Wildcats for six years
resigned at the end of the season He
was replaced by Hutton Jones.
Womens tennis captured second at
the national tournament In 1996. No. 1
singles player Allena Cano became a
part-time student which forced her to
quit the team.
fair ik ilS"'' ' rfff"mllftffi !? maHiPBiBBsiptpBMHHl
Mithtel Woods
Strechinq your abilities
Brooke Freeman freshman from Sedalia Colo. and Jessie Mayes senior from Thornton
Colo. reach for a dig. The volleyball team finished seventh In the LSC this season.
MKhael Woods
Train wreck
James Henderson sophomore from Kaufman tackles an opponent while Stacey
Brown senior from Hillsboro comes in to finish the play.
Dustin' off the competion
(far left) The men's cross coun-
try team begins a race. The
team finished eighth in the
national meet.
Rising to the challenge
(left) Jennifer Havard senior
from Huntington prepares to
shoot.
t Muted Woods
'A
Wildcat Hall of Famers inducted
By Jennifer Fierro
Sports Writer
Four men were added to the ACU Sports Hall of
Fame in a ceremony in Hart Auditorium In the
Biblical Studies Building Saturday.
The men honored were Alton Green captain of
the 1950 football team the only undefeated
untied squad In ACU history; Willard Tate menls
basketball coach from 1973-80; Larry Cox All-
Amcrican football player In 1965 who played pro-
fessional football for six years; and Dr. Orval
Fllbeck retired professor from the Department of
Education will receive a Lifetime Achievement
Award for special contributions to ACU athletics
Green a running back for the 1950 team said
the friendships he made with his teammates
made a huge impact on his life.
"You can't believe how close we were In 1950 and
even now" he said "We were known as The
Singing Christians. At the drop of a hat we would
sing anywhere anytime."
During his four-year playing career two of his
favorite plays occurred in the '50 season he said.
ACU leading Southwestern by only a touch-
down allowed the Pirates to score. But thanks to
EJ. "Tiny" Moore who blocked the extra point
the Wildcats continued their undefeated streak
Green said.
In the Refrigerator Bowl against Gustavus
Adolphus at Evansvllle Ind. Green said he was
used as a decoy In a running play. After he had
gained some yards the play was whistled dead
and players were being unstacked. Green said the
defense was shocked to see he did not have' the
ball. It was downfield.
"I was probably the only player in history who
made five yards without having the ball" he said.
"We did score and win the game."
Green said he appreciated beln inducted into
the Hall of Fame.
"I was greatly honored and elated the minute I
heard the minute that I was going to be honored"
he said.
Tate coached the Wildcat mens basketball team
to their best record In history 27-5 during the
1979-80 season.
Tate said he was honored by his induction and
thanked several former players and coaches from
ACU.
"I am standing on the shoulders of giants" Tate
said.
Tate had a record of 119-79 in his seven seasons
as head basketball coach and lead the Wildcats to
the NAIA national tournament In 19804
Tate associate professor of communication lias
lritten a series of books on life learning skills. He
also Ls a minister for the Hamby Church of Christ
and speaks at seminars around the country.
Cox said he was deeply humbled by his induc-
tion to the hall and because this induction is
not voted on by media.
"This is something I hadn't really anticipated" he
said. "Its probably the greatest honor I ever had. 1
don't feel this Is publicity pushed. I feel honored I
have friends who recognized me."
Cox began his professional football career with
the Denver Broncos in 1966.
"You're surrounded with people who were stars
on their teams" he said. "The qualities and abili-
ties was so much different. The Intensity of making
the team that was the key thing."
One of the games at ACU he remembers most Is
a loss to McMurry In 1965 he said.
"Wc beat Fresno State and we beat some good
teams" he said. "That was exciting. McMurry
beating us probably stayed with me."
The time he spent at ACU has helped him in his
career after football as well rje said
"Its given me good preparation for a career" he
said. "The playing experience has given me the
opportunity to advance in my career and dealing
with people."
Cox is now a principal at Baker Junior High' In La
Porte outside of Houston.
Fllbeck is the eighth recipient of the ACU Hall
of Fame lifetime Achievement Award.
"The most Important criteria must be support
and encouragement" Stan Lambert athletic direc-
tor said "We look at the range of supporters we
have had. Dr. Filbeck is certainly one who has been
arouhd our athletes and throughout campus."
Fllbeck who was on a national council for
teacher certification has served on 19 teams and
chaired 11 of them In 11 states. Because of his
efforts the Department of Education lias state and
national accreditation.
"Thais kind of a highlight" he said. "The one
thing l enjoyed was the students and I think the
development of students Is the most Important job." ;
When Filbeck was told he would be inducted :
into the hall he said "1 didn't believe it. I hadn't '
done anything."
The football team he remembers most he said
was the 1950 team.
And during his 37 years of teaching at the uni-
versity he said he has taught hundreds of athletes
Fllbeck mentioned an incident that occurred just
outside his classroom he said.
"One of the big 260-pound linebackers put his
big old body in front of my door so I couldn't go
to class" he said "1 just went In through a window
and we both came in at the same time and just
laughed.
"I had more fun than they did" he said. "But over
the 37 years of teaching nearly 14000 students in
classes 1 never sent one to the dean That just
shows the respect and courtesy."
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 85, No. 38, Ed. 1, Sunday, February 16, 1997, newspaper, February 16, 1997; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth99726/m1/10/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.