January 2003
Happy New Year!
I'm excited about the current basketball season. Both the men's and women's teams are off to good starts and are nearing the start of the WCC season. Randy Bennett and his staff recruited some new faces to a group that increased their win total by seven last year and reached the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament. The Gaels are currently 6-5 on the year with two games remaining on the non-conference schedule. They will host Yale on January 2 and travel to Utah on January 6 before opening up WCC play at San Francisco on January 11.
Through the first 11 games, I have been impressed with the improvement and hard work of Ross Benson, Chase Poole Samuel Saint-Jean, and Anthony Woodards. Tyler Herr is back and so is his shot. Scott O'Hara is healthy and ready to contribute on both the offensive and defensive end. Aussie sophomore Adam Caporn has a year of experience and a new teammate from Australia, Daniel Kickert. Daniel is off to a great start and will continue to see significant playing time. Other newcomers who are beginning to shine are Frederic Adjiwanou and Jonathan Sanders.
Season ticket sales have increased by two fold and I believe it is my obligation to encourage everyone to see this team. The foundation is being established through the commitment and hard work of the staff and student-athletes. We're currently selling season ticket mini-plans for the WCC season that start as low as $48 for adults and $30 for children. I promise this group will be worth the price of admission. If you would like more information about tickets, please go to: http://smcgaels.ocsn.com/tickets/stma-tickets.html
Michelle Jacoby, and her women's basketball team, have taken on a new look this year. With the graduation of Jermisha and Jerkisha Dosty, coach Jacoby and her staff have revealed a more up-temp offense and defense that contests the ball a little more. The Gaels are 6-5 on the year and travel to Sacramento State on January 2 and host Colorado State on January 4 before tipping off WCC play at home against San Francisco on January 11. Seniors Danielle Ferris, Julie Morris, and Katie Davis have provided great leadership thus far. Triola Jackson has proven that she is fully recovered from a knee injury that sidelined her last year, as proven by her conference-leading 17.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
This team has a lot of balance and several other players are contributing, including Carey Noakes, Lindsay Lopez, and Savannah Williams. Newcomers entering the mix are freshmen Katie Ludwick, Evynn Van Burger, and Erika Urmonaite. Additionally, look for Megan Bryan, a former standout lacrosse player at Saint Mary's, to add leadership and minutes as she learns the system.
Both the men's and women's teams are ready to compete with the WCC's elite! I am confident they will represent us with competitive play, class, and dignity throughout the season. Please join me in McKeon Pavilion to support their efforts. I am confident you will be pleased to see the progress both teams are making.
Go Gaels!
Carl R. Clapp
Director of Athletics
