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Spring 2002 sports recap

Four athletes named Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars
Several Drake athletes have been nationally recognized as nominees for the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Award. The award is given annually to one minority male and one minority female athlete nationwide who excel in academics, athletics and service to the community.

Junior Cindy Skogerboe made the first team in women's tennis while junior guard T.J. Welton made second team in men's basketball. Junior defensive end Desmond Carr was third team in football while sophomore forward Maureen Head received honorable mention.

Stone selected as Assistant Coach For USA Basketball
Head Women's Basketball Coach Lisa Stone was named an assistant coach of the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Women qualifying team.

Under Head Coach Marsha Sharp, who has enjoyed 20-years of success at Texas Tech University, the coaching staff led the 12-member U.S. squad in the Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament.

Hosted by Brazil in July and featuring teams from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, the top three nations qualified for the inaugural International Basketball Federation World Championship For Young Women, played in Croatia in July 2003. The 2002 USA World Championship for Young Women's Qualifying Team brought home the gold medal in late July with convincing wins over Puerto Rico 123-50 and Brazil 81-50.

Stone also has reached a new long-term agreement with Drake University that will keep her at the helm of the women's basketball program through the 2006-07 season.

Former Drake golfer Johnson ties for 17th at BellSouth Classic
Former Drake standout golfer Zach Johnson tied for 17th in the BellSouth Classic in April and earned his biggest paycheck yet on the professional tour at $57,000. Johnson posted a 5-under 283 to tie with Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Mike Weir.

Johnson, a member of the NGA/Hooters Tour, was the most surprising player during the tournament. During the first session he shot a 3-under 69 -- his third straight sub-par round -- and was at 8-under 208 overall entering the final 18 holes.

But Johnson, a native of Cedar Rapids, three-putted from 3 1/2 feet on the final hole, costing him a top 10 finish. If Johnson had made the first putt, he would have tied for eighth, good enough for an exemption into the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic.

"The experience from this weekend was priceless," said Johnson, a member of the Drake golf team from 1994-98. "I will remember it forever."

Not bad for a guy who didn't get into the tournament until earning his spot with a qualifying round the Monday before the meet, beating out 141 other players. It was just his second PGA Tour event; he missed the cut in the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, VA, last year.

"I thought I would be a little more nervous," said Johnson, who was named the Hooters Tour player of the year in 2001. "It feels a little more natural than I thought it would. Every once in a while, I'll think to myself, 'Look where you are.' But I try not to look at the scoreboard too much. Mentally, that can screw me up."

Cundiff sSigns as free agent with Dallas Cowboys
Drake All-American kicker Billy Cundiff, AS'02, signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League in May.

"The Cowboys told me if I perform the way I have been kicking then I have a chance to compete for the starting job," said Cundiff, who graduated in May, ranked 14th on the NCAA I-AA career field goal list with 49 field goals.

Cundiff is the career-scoring leader in the Pioneer Football League with 284 points, and became the first player in league history to be named first-team All-League four consecutive seasons. He set 15 school records and five Pioneer Football League marks, including a 62-yard field goal against San Diego in 2000 which is the second longest in NCAA I-AA history.

"I am very happy for Billy, because he has really paid the price over the last two years to prepare himself for this (NFL) opportunity, " said Drake Head Football Coach Rob Ash. "He has attended camps, worked with pro kickers, and practiced diligently on his own to become the great kicker that he is today."

Last year, Drake defensive end Mike Foster signed a free agent pact with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while former fullback Pete Sylvester signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins in 1999.

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Last Modified: 9/13/2002
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Sports News Spring 2002 sports recap Four athletes named Arthur Ashe Sports Scholars Several Drake athletes have been nationally recognized as nominees for the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar Award. The award is given annually to one minority male and one minority female athlete nationwide who excel in academics, athletics and service to the community. Junior Cindy Skogerboe made the first team in women's tennis while junior guard T.J. Welton made second team in men's basketball. Junior defensive end Desmond Carr was third team in football while sophomore forward Maureen Head received honorable mention. Stone selected as Assistant Coach For USA Basketball Head Women's Basketball Coach Lisa Stone was named an assistant coach of the 2002 USA Basketball World Championship for Young Women qualifying team. Under Head Coach Marsha Sharp, who has enjoyed 20-years of success at Texas Tech University, the coaching staff led the 12-member U.S. squad in the Confederation of Pan American Basketball Associations World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament. Hosted by Brazil in July and featuring teams from North, South and Central America as well as the Caribbean, the top three nations qualified for the inaugural International Basketball Federation World Championship For Young Women, played in Croatia in July 2003. The 2002 USA World Championship for Young Women's Qualifying Team brought home the gold medal in late July with convincing wins over Puerto Rico 123-50 and Brazil 81-50. Stone also has reached a new long-term agreement with Drake University that will keep her at the helm of the women's basketball program through the 2006-07 season. Former Drake golfer Johnson ties for 17th at BellSouth Classic Former Drake standout golfer Zach Johnson tied for 17th in the BellSouth Classic in April and earned his biggest paycheck yet on the professional tour at $57,000. Johnson posted a 5-under 283 to tie with Scotland's Colin Montgomerie and Mike Weir. Johnson, a member of the NGA/Hooters Tour, was the most surprising player during the tournament. During the first session he shot a 3-under 69 -- his third straight sub-par round -- and was at 8-under 208 overall entering the final 18 holes. But Johnson, a native of Cedar Rapids, three-putted from 3 1/2 feet on the final hole, costing him a top 10 finish. If Johnson had made the first putt, he would have tied for eighth, good enough for an exemption into the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. "The experience from this weekend was priceless," said Johnson, a member of the Drake golf team from 1994-98. "I will remember it forever." Not bad for a guy who didn't get into the tournament until earning his spot with a qualifying round the Monday before the meet, beating out 141 other players. It was just his second PGA Tour event; he missed the cut in the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill, VA, last year. "I thought I would be a little more nervous," said Johnson, who was named the Hooters Tour player of the year in 2001. "It feels a little more natural than I thought it would. Every once in a while, I'll think to myself, 'Look where you are.' But I try not to look at the scoreboard too much. Mentally, that can screw me up." Cundiff sSigns as free agent with Dallas Cowboys Drake All-American kicker Billy Cundiff, AS'02, signed a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League in May. "The Cowboys told me if I perform the way I have been kicking then I have a chance to compete for the starting job," said Cundiff, who graduated in May, ranked 14th on the NCAA I-AA career field goal list with 49 field goals. Cundiff is the career-scoring leader in the Pioneer Football League with 284 points, and became the first player in league history to be named first-team All-League four consecutive seasons. He set 15 school records and five Pioneer Football League marks, including a 62-yard field goal against San Diego in 2000 which is the second longest in NCAA I-AA history. "I am very happy for Billy, because he has really paid the price over the last two years to prepare himself for this (NFL) opportunity, " said Drake Head Football Coach Rob Ash. "He has attended camps, worked with pro kickers, and practiced diligently on his own to become the great kicker that he is today." Last year, Drake defensive end Mike Foster signed a free agent pact with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while former fullback Pete Sylvester signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins in 1999.
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