CHAMPAIGN, IL. – Lewiston native Maureen Stankus LaChapelle is among a list of 200 former athletes to be honored for outstanding sports achievement by the University of Illinois.
A formal recognition brunch will be held Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Assembly Hall to mark the occasion.
The University of Illinois is in the midst of its 30th season of women’s sports in 2003-04, and now the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics is ready to honor those pioneers who paved the way with a Varsity I Award.
Bates hoop team set for opener
LEWISTON – The Bates College men’s basketball team opens the 2003-03 season this weekend at the Rivier Tournament in Nashua, N.H. The Bobcats face Lyndon State in the opening round Saturday at 8 p.m.
Head coach Joe Reilly hopes to match last year’s early season success and climb towards the top of the New England Small College Athletic Conference standings.
Bates returns eight players from last season’s 16-9 squad. Brian Gerrity of Augusta was the team’s top perimeter shooter last season, converting 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts to rank third in the NESCAC.
USM names ice hockey captains
GORHAM – Chad Lauze has been named captain of the University of Southern Maine men’s ice hockey team, while Brandon Cordura and John Lounsbury will serve as assistant captains.
Lauze has averaged almost a point per game during his first two years with the Huskies.
In 51 career contests, he has scored 24 goals and added 26 assists for 50 career points.
A year ago, he led the club with 15 goals, 17 assists, 32 points and three game-winning goals.
Milloy’s fine
down to $2,500
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Buffalo Bills safety Lawyer Milloy’s fine for bumping an NFL official during a game was reduced from $25,000 to $2,500 after an appeal to the league.
Milloy said on Wednesday he was informed of the reduction a day earlier, which the NFL confirmed.
In its initial finding, the league ruled Milloy made “impermissible physical contact with a game official,” during Buffalo’s 24-7 win against Washington on Oct. 19. He was the second Bills player in consecutive weeks to receive the same fine. Safety Izell Reese is still awaiting his appeal after he was fined for impermissible contact during Buffalo’s 30-3 loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 12.
Bryant defense slams request
DENVER (AP) – Kobe Bryant’s defense team ridiculed the prosecution’s request for an investigation of media leaks Wednesday, saying even the judge in the Oklahoma City bombing trial considered such a probe a waste of time.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, asked the judge to begin sealing certain evidence-related requests by attorneys in the sexual assault case against the NBA star. They contend such details could influence the jury pool.
The court filings are the latest salvo in what legal experts expect to be a sharp fight as attorneys try to determine what evidence will be admitted at Bryant’s trial.
Judge Terry Ruckriegle has scheduled hearings Dec. 19 and Jan. 23 to discuss requests by both sides, and he could make decisions then about the evidence.
Sorenstam ready to go against men
Annika Sorenstam is playing against the men again, and she thinks her chances are at least a little better this time.
Sorenstam will compete against Fred Couples, Phil Mickelson and defending champion Mark O’Meara next week in The Skins Game at the Trilogy Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif.
The skins format, in which each hole is a separate competition for the combined prize of $1 million, offers a better chance for success than Sorenstam had when she competed in the PGA Tour’s Colonial in May.
Pleau, Waddell
to lead US team
St. Louis Blues general manager Larry Pleau was chosen Wednesday to be the U.S. national team’s GM at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Pleau was the assistant general manager when the United States won the silver medal at the 2002 Olympics. He has been involved with U.S. hockey as a player, coach and administrator. He picked Atlanta Thrashers GM Don Waddell to be his assistant at the eight-nation tournament next summer. Pleau and Waddell will also head the American team for the world championship earlier next year in the Czech Republic.
Wayne Gretzky and Edmonton Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe were recently chosen to lead Canada’s World Cup team. The World Cup is returning after an eight-year absence. The United States won the first tournament in 1996.
Pleau was GM Craig Patrick’s assistant for the Salt Lake City Olympics. It was the first Olympic hockey medal for the United States since the “Miracle On Ice” team won gold in 1980.
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