Web posted
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Busy sports day in Ark City on tap
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Photo By David Wolman
click image to enlarge
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By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
Looking for something to do today?
Here are a few suggestions.
There are several local sporting events taking place today.
The Cowley College tennis teams will host Seward County in their first home dual of the season at 1 p.m. at the J.C. Louderback Tennis Center at Wilson Park. It is only one of two home events this season for the tennis team, the other on April 7 against Johnson County.
Kasia Siwosz, who recently signed with Baylor, is aiming for back-to-back national titles this season. She capped off a dominating 2007 season by winning national titles at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles with Karolina Porizkova. So far this season, Siwosz is 1-0 in both singles and doubles -- scoring wins in Cowley's March 1 season opener against Washburn.
Also competing for the women's team are Monica Medina, Thea Lonewolf, Elizabeth Galindo and Cassie Powell -- all 0-1 on the season. Cowley lost to Washburn 7-2 in the season opener.
Like the Cowley women, the men's team lost to Washburn 7-2. Boomer Saia, who made up one-half of the defending back-to-back Class 5A state champion doubles team at Arkansas City, scored the only point in singles play this season for the Tigers. Ignacio Velez and Sean Cobble have scored the only doubles point on the season -- at No. 2 doubles against Washburn. But take a look at the competition -- both losses this season for Cowley have come against NCAA Division I (Arkansas) or II (Washburn) schools.
Richard Filkuka and Diego Motivar , both ranked in the top-5 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings, return this season and will look to make a run at national titles in both singles and doubles.
Also competing for the men's team are freshmen Ignacio Velez and David Whitley.
The Cowley track and field teams host their first of three home meets today at noon.
On March 8, Kelsey Poljansek and David Starnes won indoor national championships -- Poljansek in the shot put and Starnes in the pole vault. Only five days later in the outdoor season opener at Southwestern College, Poljansek and Starnes hit national qualifying marks in the same events. Poljansek also broke the meet record and tied the school record in the discus, throwing for a winning distance of 154 feet, 2 inches.
Baseball, anybody?
The Cowley baseball team caps off an eight-game week at 2 p.m. today, with a doubleheader against Fort Scott at 2 p.m. The Tigers enter today's doubleheader at 19-11 overall and 13-3 in Jayhawk East play.
Earlier this month, the Tigers weren't even close to .500 as they started the season 2-8. But since Jayhawk East play started, Cowley has turned things around.
Cowley is 5-1 on its current home stand, and would like nothing better to do than end the week in strong fashion.
In Thursday's sweep over Independence, Curt Simpson recorded a five-hit shut out in game one of the doubleheader -- a 5-0 win over the Pirates. In game two, Chase Roten allowed no earned runs in 5 2/3 innings, as Cowley completed the sweep with a 7-4 win.
Don't forget about the Cowley softball team?
The Lady Tigers are on roll -- winners of seven straight, and have out-scored the opposition 63-17 during that stretch. Cowley hosts the Kansas State University club team today at 2 p.m. at Lady Tiger Field.
Kashilia Young broke Lacey Pendry's single-season home run record on Tuesday, connecting on her 15th home run this season. It took Young just 24 games to break Pendry's record.
Racing?
Mid America Dragway is hosting its first Gamblers' Races of the season today and Sunday.
Gates open at 9 a.m. Test and Tune races start at 10 a.m. Admission is $5. Children $12 and under are free.
How about a Mixed Martial Arts event to cap off the day?
First Council Casino will hold its inaugural MMA cage fight, Battle on the Border, at 6 p.m.
The Oklahoma City Storm will face the Kansas City CageKings.
Wayne Cole will face Edwin "Babyface" Dewees in one of the feature bouts. Mark "The Smashing Machine" Kerr, of Syracuse, New York, will square off against Chuck Huus, of Anaheim, Calif., in the main event. Kerr is a former UFC and Pride champion. Huus, a Jujitsu champion, enters tonight's match at 4-0 in MMA fights.
Joe "Daddy" Stevenson, who won Ultimate Fighting season two and is the current number one UFC contender, will be on hand and sign autographs.
Tickets are $25, and are available at First Council Casino, online at tickets.com or by phone at (800) 511-1552.
Above: Colby Hart, pictured in a previous home game, and the Cowley College softball team host the Kansas State club team today at 3 p.m.
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