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Two of a kind: Siblings stand out on respective athletic teams

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By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor When he was a small boy, Creighton Bryan would practice baseball in the backyard with his dad. But he wasn't the only one. "I was working with Creighton," said Jim Bryan, a former professional baseball player with the Orioles and Yankees in the late '70s, "and Katie came out and started practicing with him. She ... [Read More…]

Women need just one more victory: ACU makes playoffs if it wins one of last two

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By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Fresh off a four-game winning streak, the women's basketball team has its eyes set on the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament, which it can qualify for with one more victory in its final two regular season games. "Right now I definitely think we've put ourselves in a position to make the playoffs," interim ... [Read More…]

Ephedra ban not the answer

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By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer While taking a dietary supplement ended Caro-lina Panthers' defensive end Julius Peppers' season, it cost Kiley Belcher something much greater: the life of her husband. Steve Belcher, a pitching prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, died Monday of heat stroke after he collapsed the previous day at the Orioles' ... [Read More…]

From Ukraine to the fast lane: Freshman Stashkiv making immediate impact on track

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By Steve Holt, Copy Editor While Abilenians curse the 50 degree days and pray for an early spring, Yuliya Stashkiv is out training in and enjoying the heat wave. The distance runner considers Abilene warm compared to her native Lviv, Ukraine, where daily highs only reach the mid 20s with frequent sub-zero wind chills. Or maybe Stashkiv just ... [Read More…]

Wildcats clawing for berth: Men’s basketball team in must-win situation

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By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer The road to the postseason couldn't be much harder for the men's basketball team. After falling on the road Thursday night to West Texas A&M 79-64, the Wildcats need some help to clinch the No. 4 spot in the Lone Star Conference South Division and reach the LSC postseason tournament for the first time since the ... [Read More…]

Cats a step closer to playoffs: ACU records key road victory

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By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor The women's basketball team's road win Thursday over West Texas A&M improved the Wildcats' chances of reaching the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament, as the Wildcats improved to 14-12 overall and 5-6 in the LSC South Division. WTAM dropped to 16-8 overall and 6-5 in the South. If the Buffaloes lost to ... [Read More…]

King of her castle: Hot-shooting freshman worked to get starting role

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By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Thank God Ashley King doesn't play basketball the way she takes care of her room. "She has her messy days," roommate and teammate Kier-stan Barbee said of the tidiness issue in their Gardner Hall dorm room. But messy days come as a rarity for the true freshman on the basketball floor. "She's very much a ... [Read More…]

The Rance of a lifetime: Bench player puts God before PT

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By Joshua Parrott, Sports Writer Rance Bland isn't typical. But Bland isn't bland at all. Just look at his basketball shoes. Written on the three white stripes of each of his black adidas basketball shoes are three numbers: 3, 2 and 3. The numbers are a visual reminder of his favorite Bible verse: Coloss-ians 3:23. His shoes show his trust in ... [Read More…]

Two chances remain to qualify nationally

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By Steve Holt, Copy Editor As the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships app-roach quickly, head coach Jon Murray knows that his main responsibility right now is getting people qualified to participate. On the men's side, 13 athletes have qualified either provisionally or automatically in eight events. Twelve women have ... [Read More…]

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