Sailing
The UCSD sailing team hit the beaches in Hawaii last weekend to compete in the Pacific Coast Championships.
In its season finale in mellow 80 degree weather and hard winds in the Keehi Lagoon, the UCSD team of R.J. Ward, Kimberly Leung and Ben Lazare competed in the A Division, and Chris Nilsen and Erica McClure took on the B Division. UCSD took eighth place overall.
Dancesport
Both UCSD dancesport teams — the competition team and the show team — hit the road to compete in the annaul Cardinal Classic, held at Stanford University last weekend.
The event marked the team’s last formal competition of the season; certain invididual dancers will compete at the Emerald Ball this weekend, the West Coast’s largest dance competition.
The UCSD dancesport team ended its year on a high note, finishing first and second over the two other Stanford area teams.
The win bumps the UCSD dancesport’s final record on the year to 6-1, its one loss coming in the San Francisco Open, where they finished in second place behind Claremont College.
On the individual level, UCSD’s John Stillwagen and Pam Thomas grabbed fifth place in the advanced 3-dance and seventh in the all-level cha-cha competition.
Stillwagen also competed in the blindfold West Coast swing, an event in which blindfolded dancers trade their usual partners for those from another school. He took top honors in the event.
UCSD’s Kevin Ball and Janelle Bouey also placed in the nightclub dance category, finishing second the hustle and second in the lindy hop competitions.
Badminton
The UCSD badminton team receeived an unlucky draw in the nationals tournament last weekend and started off facing last year’s national champions in both the men’s and women’s divisions in Howard University.
Hurt by facing the tough defending champions, the men’s team finished 10th place overall, and the women’s team managed to battle its way to fourth place behind the strong play of Dede Davis and Stephanie Obayashi.
Triathlon
The UCSD triathlon team joined with the West Coast Collegiate Team and traveled to Memphis, Tenn., to participate in the 2002 National Collegiate Triathlon. The Collegiate Triathlon is an Olympic distance rance composed of a 1.5 kilometer swim, 40 kilometer bike, and a 10 kilometer run.
The West Coast Team battled through sweltering 95 degree Memphis heat to place 16th in the open men and women’s race.
UCSD’s top female finishers included Esterh Merki at 2:22.53, Jean Schenkkan at 2:43.55 and Laura Blevins at 2:46.08.
The top UCSD male finishers were Brednan O’Brien at 2:02.14, Eric Mellers at 2:15.38 and Jeff Owen at 2:17.41.
The UCSD triathlon team will travel to Lake San Antonio, 50 miles northwest of San Luis Obispo, Calif., this weekend to compete in the Wildflower Triathlon.
Men’s Ultimate
The UCSD men’s ultimate Air Squids battled unfamiliar conditions of high winds and snow, as well as the high altitude of Colorado during the College Ultimate Southwest Regionals last weekend.
On Saturday, UCSD easily dispatched the Colorado School of Mines’ B team to begin the tournament before facing rival University of Arizona.
In a game featuring much trash-talking between the two sides, UCSD couldn’t adjust to the 30 mph winds and was knocked off by U of A 15-8. UCSD ended the day with an easy victory over Air Force.
Sunday saw the Squids earn another easy win, this time against the University of Colorado at Boulder. Next, UCSD took on the University of New Mexico and triumphed 15-8 to set up another showdown with University of Arizona after it lost to UC Santa Barbara.
This time facing University of Arizona in much milder weather conditions, UCSD silenced U of A with a convincing 15-3 victory.
With the University of Colorado at Boulder team having already won the tournament, the Squids moved on to face UCSB for the backdoor finals.
UCSD jumped ahead to an early 5-1 lead, but UCSB quickly came back and tied the score. The two teams then battled back and forth for the remainder of the game, ending regulation in a tie. In the overtime period, errors crushed UCSD’s hopes and UCSB nabbed a 15-13 victory from the Squids.
Upcoming Events
Friday, May 3
Stacy Sakai of equestrian team heads to nationals in New York.
Saturday, May 4
Waterski faces UC Santa Barbara.
Triathlon heads to Lake San Antonio.
— Compiled by Isaac Pearlman
Sports Editor
