Too Much to Handle
Wichita State's Angela Buckner, above, has been too much for opposing teams to handle. To cite two examples: Buckner scored 18 points in the Shockers' 67-63 win over Drake on Jan. 12, and she led all players with 15 rebounds in WSU's defeat of the defending Missouri Valley Conference champions, Creighton, 74-73, on Jan. 10.
Her athletic feats are even more impressive when set in context: the Shockers trailed the Creighton Bluejays 44-29 at half time before charging back for the win, and they rallied from a 14-point deficit early in the second half against Drake to defeat the Bulldogs. With that win, the Shockers improved to 9-4 for the season, 3-1 in The Valley.
The Missouri Valley Conference Tournament is slated for March 13-15 in Des Moines, Iowa.
— WSU Sports Information
Most Outstanding
Wichita State's Randy Lewis finished second in the long jump at the 2002 ncaa championships, a performance coach Steve Rainbolt called "unbelievably good." Lewis also placed 10th in the triple jump. The St. Andrews, Grenada, native is the school record holder in both events.
Lewis, who was named Most Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet at the mvc championships in 2002, has compiled an impressive list of athletic accomplishments, dating back to his high school days when he won the Grenada National Championship in three consecutive years — 1996, 1997 and 1998 — and became the Grenada national record holder in the triple jump.
Hall of Famers
Two-time 800-meter national champion Einars Tupuritis and baseball All-Americans Bryan Oelkers, Casey Blake and Braden Looper will be inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame during a Jan. 31 ceremony in Wichita.
For details about this event, as well as news about all Shocker sports, visit www.goshockers.com.
