SPORTS
Letters from the Edge:
Teeing Off
Alison Stolz
Sports Editor
Dear Male Western Athletes,
I know you're all extremely talented athletes and you've done well
this season. Nevertheless, maybe you should consider taking some
lessons from your female counterparts. Females have outwitted, outplayed
and outlasted most of you this season -I just hope you recognize
them for their contributions.
Let's start with soccer. The women had an outstanding season with
a perfect 10-0 record. They've managed to score 45 goals with only
three against. They are competing in the Ontario University Athletics
Championship this weekend and will probably go to the nationals.
Boys, you've won quite a few games and you've made the semi-finals,
but think about the numbers. You came in fourth in the OUA and seventh
in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, both impressive marks. But the
women were No. 1 in both.
The women's rugby team also had a perfect season -they won 100
per cent of their games while the men won 67 per cent. The women
are currently in Alberta competing in the CIS championships. Kristen
Ferguson was named the Divisional MVP and an OUA All-star for the
second year in a row. Teammates Jen Kryszak, Sarah Vandergaast and
2002 CIS Rookie of the Year Barb Mervin also became OUA All-Stars.
Even though rugby guys look great in short shorts, they haven't
equaled the women's success yet.
Since men don't compete in field hockey at university, let's compare
the women's field hockey squad to the football team. The field hockey
team was sixth overall in the regular season and the ladies brought
home a silver medal from the finals and will compete at the nationals.
Meanwhile, the football team ran into some bad luck against the
Lancers: as we all know, the Mustangs were beaten by Windsor in
the OUA quarter-finals. The worst part about it was that Windsor
hadn? won a playoff game since 1975.
Then there's Shannon Gerrie. Gerrie recorded a personal best time
of 17:25 in the 5 km run last weekend, winning a silver medal and
being named an OUA All-Star for the second straight year. The women's
cross-country team placed second in the OUA Championships and they've
been ranked in Canada's top three all season. They'll finish in
Moncton at the National Championships. The men, on the other hand,
ranked fifth after the OUA championship and will not advance to
the nationals.
The women's rowing team is second overall after the OUA finals;
the men finished with a third place OUA title. The ladies placed
high in most categories and will be heading out to British Columbia
for the Canadian University Rowing Championships this weekend.
Finally, the women's golf team went undefeated this season as well.
Western entered only one three-player team in the OUA championships
but were able to win gold. Lindsay Edmunds won a sliver medal with
a score of 155; closely behind was Lisa Volchoff, earning a bronze
medal with 158. Mustang players also placed sixth, seventh and eighth.
In sum, the Mustang women had three undefeated seasons, countless
OUA titles and medals and they are far from finished.
Just to quell any male frustration, I don't think poorly of any
of the male varsity teams. You could all kick my ass in any sport
and I realize many men's teams will win OUA medals and contend for
national championships. However, I wanted to emphasize the success
of the Mustang women this year. They are in the midst of winning
titles and earning respect as you read this.
It seems the only major support for varsity teams is the numerous
fans attending football games. Why pay $8 to see the football team
lose a key playoff game when you can watch the women crush their
opponents for free? It's entertaining, you can pre-drink and you
can bring a flask to the game. Men of Western: you may like to ogle
female athletes in uniform at their games, but you should realize
they'l probably win, allowing you to actually celebrate a Mustangs
victory.
