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| 04/29/03 |  |
Boris Penchion Honored By National Football Foundation Hall of Fame (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Boris Penchion graduated from the University of Memphis with an undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science in the summer of 2001 and received a master's degree in Health Administration at the conclusion of the spring 2003 semester. He had a 3.51 graduate grade point average in health administration and maintained that that GPA while participating as a member of the Tiger football team. A four year letterman, Penchion finished his career as a starter at defensive tackle and developed into a strong steady player who had over fifty career tackles, six tackles for lost yardage and two quarterback sacks. He was also a member of the Tiger Academic 30 and the National Honor Society. He is the nephew of former Tiger defensive lineman Anthony Penchion and the son of Robert Penchion and Clara Smith of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Penchion's father Robert played five years in the NFL. |
| 04/28/03 |  |
Lady Tigers Add Former WNBA Assistant to Coaching Staff (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis women's basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced today the hiring of former Detroit Shock assistant Tom Cross. Cross will replace long-time Lady Tiger assistant coach Blair Savage-Lansden who will head to Murfreesboro, Tenn., after nine years at the U of M. Savage-Lansden's husband Bill has served as the assistant athletic director for marketing and fundraising at MTSU for the last year. A native of Dallas, Texas, Cross spent five seasons with the WNBA's Detroit Shock. Cross joined the squad as a staff assistant from the inception of the team in 1998. He was promoted to assistant coach beginning with the 1999 WNBA season, before being elevated to assistant coach/director of scouting after the completion of the 2000 WNBA season. Considered an excellent evaluator of talent, Cross has scouted prospects in North America, South America, Europe, Australia and China. He also served as player personnel director for the second half of the 2002 season. Prior to joining the professional ranks, Cross worked as an administrative intern at Game Plan, Inc., a Miami, Fla., based marketing firm that was responsible for producing and selling sponsorships for the University of Miami's football coach's show. While employed with Game Plan, Cross completed his master's degree in sports administration from St. Thomas University in Miami in 1998. Cross, 30, earned his bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. He played one season of Division II basketball at Abilene Christian University during the 1991-92 season before transferring to UT. This past week, Cross wed the former Jae Kingi of Australia. Kingi was a point guard for the Detroit Shock in 2001. |
| 04/28/03 | |
Tigers Have Five Players Join NFL Teams (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Offensive tackle Wade Smith and receiver Travis Anglin led a group of five Tiger players who were either drafted or signed free agent contracts with NFL teams on over the weekend. Smith, who lettered for two years at tight end and two as an offensive tackle, was drafted in the third round by the Miami Dolphins. He was the 78th player taken in the draft and became the highest drafted Tiger offensive lineman since tackle Jeff Walker was taken as the 70th player in the 1987 draft. Anglin, who served as the Tigers' quarterback for three seasons but played receiver in 2002, was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round. The speedy receiver was the 260th player taken in 2003 and was the first Tiger drafted by the Lions since Tony Semple was selected in 1994. Anglin led the Tigers in receiving in 2002 with 55 pass receptions for 740 yards and five touchdowns. The University of Memphis had three players from the 2002 squad who signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Center Jimond Pugh, who started for three consecutive seasons, signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while offensive guard Joe Gerda inked a free agent agreement with the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive tackle/end Tony Brown signed with the Carolina Panthers where he will join with former Tiger teammate Reginald Howard. |
| 04/23/03 |  |
Weant Named to All C-USA Third Team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| CHICAGO- University of Memphis Men's Golfer Alan Weant was named to the All C-USA Third Team the league office announced Wednesday. Weant (Germantown/HS) was the lone Memphis golfer named to the all-conference team. Weant has led the Tigers this year with a team-low scoring average of 74 in 27 rounds of golf. Weant won the Blue Demon Invitational last fall in which he had a low round of 67. He has had five top ten finishes for the Tigers in 2002-03. Members of the All C-USA First Team are: Adam Robinson, TCU; David Schultz, TCU; Adam Meyer, TCU; Chris Wheeler, Tulane; Jonathan Hill, East Carolina. The C-USA Player of the Year is Robinson of TCU and the C-USA Freshman of the Year is Colby Beckstrom of TCU. |
| 04/23/03 | |
Alan Weant Places Third at C-USA Championships (GoTigersGo.com) |
| DADE CITY, Fla. - University of Memphis golfer Alan Weant placed in the Top-five in individual competition as the Memphis Men's Golf Team finished in seventh place at the C-USA Golf Championships. Weant shot a final round 68 to finish at 213 (even) for the tourney. His third place finish was the highest for a Memphis golfer at the C-USA Championships since Blair Scurlock placed second in 1999. Wean shot a final round 68 (3-under) to move into third place. Appropriately he was named to the All C-USA Third Team today for his great play all season in which he averaged a score of 74 per round. Weant was also named to the C-USA All-Tournament Team. Michael Prieur shot a 224 (11-over) to finish in 34th place. Clayton Ellis short a 74 (3-over) in the final round to move up to 36th place with an overall score of 225 (12-over). Tiger golfers David Jeans and Richard Jones shot a 230 (17-over) and 232 (19-over) to finish in 49th and 54th place respectively. Memphis shot an 888 (36-over) as a team 26 strokes behind tournament champion TCU. Guided by second and sixth place individual finishes from Adam Meyer and Adam Rubinson, the No. 5 ranked TCU men's golf team turned in a 285, its best round of the championship, to claim its second straight Conference USA Tournament title. Charlotte's Russell Killough claimed medalist honors, following rounds of 68 and 70, Monday and Tuesday, with an even-par 71 for a tournament best 209. Finishing in a three-way tie just behind Meyer's second-place score of 212, South Florida's Oscar Fraustro, Houston's Brett Callas and Memphis' Alan Weant all turned in 213 finishes, with Fraustro and Weant sharing day three low score honors of 68. All five Horned Frogs came in with rounds of 73 or better. Freshman Colby Beckstrom led the final charge with a round of 69. "We were very excited to win this tournament, said TCU's Bill Montigel, who was named Conference USA Coach of the Year on Wednesday. "There are a lot of great teams and individuals in this league. We knew it was going to come down to the final day and the final holes, and we're happy to come out with the win. We started out great (four birdies on No. 1) and played consistently down the stretch. It was a total team effort all week." "This team really played well all three days, and I'm proud of them," added Montigel. "This is a tough championship course, and we hung in there and played hard. It was a great tournament and a strong test for us heading into the NCAAs." UAB and South Florida finished second and third, respectively, seven and 14 strokes behind TCU's 862. Houston and Louisville rounded out the top five. All-Tournament team members are: Russell Killough, Charlotte; Adam Meyer, TCU; Oscar Fraustro, South Florida; Brett Callas, Houston and Alan Weant, Memphis. |
| 04/23/03 | |
Women's Golfers Ruud, Reilly and Jaszek honored by C-USA (GoTigersGo.com) |
| CHICAGO-The University of Memphis placed three women's golfers on the C-USA all-conference team the league office announced Wednesday. Danielle Reilly (Bishop Gorman/HS) was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team. Reilly, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nevada emerged this spring as one of the Lady Tigers top golfers competing in every tournament. In four tournaments this spring she had a 79 scoring average with a low round of 73 at the LSU/Cleveland Intercollegiate. Reilly is the first Lady Tiger to be named to the C-USA All-Freshmen Team since Meghan Franchella in 2001. Marianne Ruud (N.T.A.S./Oslo, Norway) was named to the All-C-USA Second Team. Ruud led the Tigers this spring with a 77 average in four spring tournaments and a low round of 73, which she earned on two different occasions. Ruud placed in the top-five in three different tournaments this year. Jennifer Jaszek (Ancaster HS/Ancaster, Ontario) was named to the All C-USA Third Team. Jaszek averaged a 78 scoring round with a low round of 72 at the Edwin Watts Intercollegiate. She won the Memphis Women's Intercollegiate in Sept. 2002. Members of the C-USA First Team are: Brooke Tull, TCU; Carolin Landmann, Tulane; Lindsay Hulwick, Tulane; Liliana Alvarez, Tulane; and Fany Schaeffer, South Florida. Tull of TCU was named C-USA Player of the Year and Liliana Alvarez of Tulane was Named C-USA Freshman of the Year. |
| 04/23/03 | |
Women's Golf Places Sixth at the C-USA Championships (GoTigersGo.com) |
| DADE CITY, Fla. - The University of Memphis Women's Golf team finished sixth at the C-USA Golf Championships. The Lady Tigers shot a 957 (93-over) as team for the week. Memphis' low round was round one when the players combined to shoot a 312. They followed that with a second round score of 324 and shaved three strokes off that score in the final round with a 321. Marianne Ruud, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, shot a final round 86 (14-over) and ell to 16th place at 236 (20-over) for the tourney. It was still the highest finish of any Memphis golfer. Ruud was named to the All C-USA Second Team culminating her stellar senior year. Appropriately, the second Memphis golfer that was named to the All C-USA Team finished with the second lowest score finishing in 21st place. Jennifer Jaszek shot a 238 (22-over) for the week. She was named to the All C-USA Third Team. Danielle Reilly earned accolades as well. Reilly, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nevada was named to the All C-USA Freshmen Team. Reilly shot a 244 (28-over) this week at the C-USA Tournament and finished in 29th place amongst individuals. Senior golfers Abby More and Josey Edwards, playing in their last tournaments shot a 252 (36-over) and a 246 (30-over) respectively. Edwards finished in 32nd place and More placed 37th. For the fifth time in Conference USA's eight years, South Florida has captured the women's golf championship. The Bulls shot a tournament-low 302 on the final day to finish with a three-day total of 912, edging out second place TCU by one stroke. The Bulls won three straight league championships from 1998-2000 and also captured the league's inaugural crown in 1996. TCU produced the top individual performer, as D'Rae Ward shot a 74 on the final day to finish with an 8-over-par 224, edging out a pair of USF golfers, Katie Ruhe and Jill Crowe, who each fired a nine-over-par 225. Through 52 holes of the 54-hole Conference USA Women's Golf Championships at Lake Jovial Golf & Country Club, not a single eagle had been carded by any of the 45 golfers. But with the team championship on the line, South Florida's Crowe, playing in the final group, holed a shot from the 17th fairway for an eagle two on the 320-yard hole. It proved to be the difference in USF's one-shot win over TCU. "It really could not have been a more exciting finish", said South Florida head coach Susan Holt. "I was standing off the 14th green really feeling bad for my seniors, and that's when everything turned around. Katie (Ruhe) chipped in an unbelievable birdey on 16 and then I was told that Fany (Scaheffer) had just birdied 16 ahead of Katie. Then I drove to 18 and found out Megan (Cushman) had finished strong with a 75." "On Jill's eagle, she said she hit it a little thin from 130 yards and it hit right between the bunker and the pin and rolled down and in," added Holt. "It was really an unbelievable finish and I'm really proud of our team because it looked bad at the 14th." TCU's Ward nearly pushed the Horned Frogs even on the 18th hole, when she made a 20-foot birdie putt before Crowe finished the hole with a par four. Ward's birdey did give her medalist honors with a 54-hole 224, one shot ahead of Crowe and USF teammate Katie Ruhe, who tied for second place at 225. USF and TCU entered the final round tied for the team lead and it remained that way even after each team's three golfers had finished their final round. TCU's Crowe and USF's Ruhe and Ward headline the 10 all-tournament selections. South Florida's Megan Cushman and TCU's Brooke Tull and Shannon Barr also were named, as the Bulls and Frogs combined for six of the 10 spots. The other honorees were UAB's Brooke Mangan, Tulane's Lindsay Hulwick and a pair of East Carolina golfers, Adrienne Millican and Margaret Mitchell. |
| 04/22/03 |  |
Volleyball Inks Second Signee (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- - The University of Memphis volleyball head coach Carrie Yerty announced the signing of Christen Clayton from Houston, Texas, to a National Letter of Intent, Tuesday. A 5-8 outside hitter/defensive specialist from Clear Lake High School in Houston, Clayton was a two-year letterwinner at Clear Lake High School. She was named the Clear Lake Defensive Player of the Year in 2001 and was top 10 in the Houston area for digs that same season. She was also a first team All-District honoree as a junior. Under head coach Nicole Blakeman, Clear Lake finished as the 24 5A District runners-up in 2002, finishing with a 19-14 overall record. "Christen is a player who has the ability to make an immediate impact as a libero or defensive specialist for us," Yerty said. "She will compete with Lauren Berg for time at the libero position because she is a very experienced passer. She is also the type of person who is very positive and who does not take any opportunities for granted and works hard everyday." Clayton also plays club volleyball under coaches Jerry Hulla and Jeff Ham on the South Shore Mizuno squad that is ranked 14th in the state of Texas by lonestarvolleyball.com. The 5-8 senior has also played club basketball and softball, playing two years as a point guard and wing with the basketball team and three years as a catcher and outfielder for softball. Clayton is a player who is very familiar to one Tiger volleyball member, as she and current freshman Kristen Hardee (Sante Fe, Texas/Sante Fe) are friends from their prep and club playing days. "Christen and Kristen are two very similar personalities," Yerty said. "Christen is a really hard worker and is a glass is half full kind of person." Outside of athletics, Clayton has a 3.3 GPA and is a volunteer staff member with the Silver Dollar Ball, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She was also the treasurer for the Clear Lake Christmas Committee. Clayton is considering majoring in business when she starts at Memphis in the fall. The daughter of John and Brenda Clayton, Christen has also played club volleyball with the Gulf Coast A Team and the Bay Area Juniors. She was also selected to the Tour of Texas Spring 2002. Clayton becomes the second signee for Yerty in the spring signing period, joining Melissa Nance. That duo will join setter Hristina Stancheva in the fall of 2003. Stancheva joined the Tigers in January at the semester break. |
| 04/16/03 | |
Volleyball Inks One Signee on Day One of Signing Period (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball head coach Carrie Yerty announced that Melissa Nance (Frankfort, Indiana/Clinton Prairie) has signed a National Letter of Intent to play college volleyball at The U of M beginning in the fall of 2003. Nance, who is currently a senior at Clinton Prairie High School, is a 6-1 middle hitter who played volleyball under head coach Connie Garrett. A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, softball and basketball, Nance was a member of the 2002 Class A softball state championship team. In that championship game, Nance pitched a one-hitter, striking out seven while walking three and driving in the game-winning run with a first inning double. "Melissa Nance is a gifted athlete with a lot of volleyball potential," Yerty said. "She is one of the best softball pitchers in the state of Indiana, as well as being one of the great volleyball players there." Nance helped her volleyball squad to a 25-10 record as a senior and was named a 2002 J&C All-Area and All-County honoree. She was also a 2000 all-state volleyball honoree and is a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, Pep Club, Letterman's Club and Honor Roll. "She is really young in the sport of volleyball," Yerty said, "but she is a fast and explosive player who is also a great competitor. She reminds me a lot of (current volleyball assistant coach) Jenni Rosselli when she played here. We're just really excited to have Melissa join us in Memphis, she has a wealth of untapped potential in volleyball." Nance is the daughter of Rick and Marsha Nance. |
| 04/09/03 |  |
U of M Shooter Takes Title at Junior Olympics (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Colorado Springs - University of Memphis rifle coach Butch Woolbright has a lot to be proud of this week. His top shooter, freshman Beth Tidmore, won the 2003 National Junior Olympic Championship Women Air rifle competition at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. A native of Decatur, Ga., Tidmore posted a score of 881.2 and defeated 91 competitors from all over the United States. |
| 04/04/03 |  |
Memphis Soccer Gears Up For Tim McCage Seven-A-Side Tournament (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - The University of Memphis men's soccer team will host the Third Annual Tim McCage Seven-A-Side soccer tournament on Sat., April 5. The 16-team tournament will be held at Echles Field and Game 1 kickoff is slated for 10:00 a.m. The all-day event will take on a pool-play format with four teams divided into four groups. The top two finishers from each Group will advance to the Quarterfinal Round. Semifinal and Championship action will follow. The Championship match is set for 6:00 p.m. This year's field features the University of Memphis-Blue, Memphis Express 1, Bethel College, CBU-White, University of Memphis Alumni-Blue, CBU-Red , Lambuth-White, Hinds Community College (Miss.), University of Memphis-White, Lambuth-Blue, Lyon College (Ark.), Harding University (Ark.), University of Memphis Alumni-Orange, Memphis Express 2, Huntsville and Busby's Babes. The Memphis Express of the Professional Development League claimed the tournament crown last year, led by current Tiger standout Dayton O'Brien, who garnered MVP honors. Former Tiger Tommy White led the University of Memphis Alumni team to the championship en route to earning MVP honors in the 2001 Inaugural Tournament. Tim McCage donned the blue and gray as a forward in the 1990 season. He scored five points on a goal and three assists in his only year of action for the Tigers. "We dedicate this day to celebrate Tim's contribution to Memphis Soccer." said Tiger head coach Richie Grant. Memphis will face its last final of the spring season on Thurs., April 17 against the Atlanta Silverbacks of the professional A-League. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. |
| 04/04/03 | |
Lady Tigers Add Three Signees To Round Out Soccer Class Of 2003 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis head women's soccer coach Brooks Monaghan announced the addition of three new signees Friday to push his number of signees to nine for the class of the 2003. Monaghan rounded out the Lady Tigers' signing class with the addition of Candace Halvorson, Yuiko Konno and Beth Keating. "To add these three recruits to the six we have already signed really gives me a good feeling going into next season," Monaghan said. "We added some offensive-minded players and improved on the defensive side as well. All of these players should help our team achieve our goals for next year." Halvorson is a midfielder/forward who prepped at White House, Tenn., High School and played on the Tennessee State Team. Under the guidance of White House head coach Michael Felzien, Halvorson earned all-state honors all four years and finished her scholastic career with 97 goals and 53 assists. She also helped guide the Tennessee Football Club to a state championship in 2002. "Candace played midfield in high school, but she has the potential to be an excellent front-runner at the collegiate level," Monaghan said. "She will give us depth at the midfield slot, but could easily be a contributor up-top for us. Each time I have seen her play, she does something special. She will be a great addition to our squad." Keating is a defensive midfielder from Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada who was a member of the Canadian Under-17 National Team. She did not play high school soccer because of commitments to her club teams. Her Southwest United Under-16 and Under-18 club teams were Provincial champions. This past year, Keating's Women's Major League club team finished second in the province. "Beth will give our team vocal leadership on the field," Monaghan said. "She is a tough defender who is strong in the air. She has a great work ethic and she brings international experience to our team. Beth will come in right away and challenge for a spot in our starting line-up. Konno is a forward who comes to Memphis from Chiba-prefecture, Japan where she was a member of the Japanese Collegiate National Team. With Japan not able to field university teams, Konno made her mark as a member of the Japanese National Pool and she should bring instant offense to the Lady Tigers. "I expect Yuiko to contribute right away," Monaghan said. "She brings a lot of maturity and experience to the team. Most of the recruits we signed this year our offensive-minded and Yuiko should lead that pack. She is great technically with both of her feet and she has a knack for scoring goals." Halvorson, Keating and Konno join Katy Buckner (Germantown, Tenn.), Isabel Briones (Gadsden, Ala.), Madison Cheek (Tigard, Ore.), Amy Clunie (Houston, Texas), Brittany Strung (Westerville, Ohio) and Melissa Savage (Arlington, Texas), who have already signed to play for the University of Memphis next season. |
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