UW roundup: Cowgirls tie Idaho State

By Wyoming Sports.org

POCATELLO, Idaho -- Wyoming fell behind early to Idaho State, but came back to tie the Bengals 1-1 on Sunday afternoon. The tie puts the Cowgirls at 5-4-1 on the season, while Idaho State is now 2-5-2.

Wyoming has played one overtime game earlier this season against Montana, but this was the first double overtime match for the team this year.

“We came out slow to start the game today and gave up an early goal,” said UW head coach Danny Sanchez. “After the goal, we responded well and matched it with a score of our own.”

The scoring started when ISU player Ryan Lauren scored in the 31st minute. Wyoming came out fast after giving up the goal when senior Amanda Lathrop was able to tie the game at the 35:52 mark. Seniors Tamika Wilson and Laine Hubbard were credited with assists on the play.

“We played better in the second half and had some decent opportunities, we just weren’t able to get the game winning goal,” Sanchez said.

The Cowgirls out-shot the Bengals 22-12 for the game and 7-3 in the two overtime periods. Jamie Scarcliff went the distance for the Cowgirls at goalie and made one save in the overtime periods.

Wyoming returns home this weekend after going 3-0-1 in the past four road games. They will take on Utah State on Sunday at noon at the Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex.

Rico in sixth at Ron Moore Invite
DENVER -- The University of Wyoming Cowgirl golf team took to the fairways of the Highlands Ranch Golf Club to compete in the Ron Moore Invitational in Denver, Colo., and find themselves tied for third place after one round of play.

In the opening round, the Cowgirls shot a team 302 (+14) which has them currently tied with the University of Kentucky and 15 strokes behind the host University of Denver.

The Cowgirls are led by freshman Juanita Rico with her personal best 70 (-2). Her round ties the second-best in Cowgirl history. On the par 72 course, Rico had two bogeys and four birdies, including three birdies in a row.

“Juanita played great today,” Cowgirl head coach Josey Stender said. “She was more confident with her putter and she was able to string some good birdies together.”

Junior Sarah Fogerty shot an opening 74 (+2) with two birdies of her own and is currently tied for 11th-place after day one. Fellow junior, Jonelle Martinez kept up her consistent play with a first-round 76 (+4), to keep her within striking distance in 18th place.

“Coming off the tournament in New Mexico, we knew we could play with these teams,” said Stender. “I am very proud of our continued focus and I am very excited to see how we come out and play tomorrow.”

The Cowgirls will continue action Tuesday, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Tennis wraps up play at CU Invite

BOULDER, Colo. -- The Cowgirl tennis team concluded play Sunday at the Colorado Invitational.

“We played a lot of matches this weekend,” said head coach Kati Gyulai. “We are excited about the improvements we made and are anxious to start practicing to get ready for our next tournament.”

It was a tough day in doubles play, as Wyoming could only manage two victories out of seven. In their only match of the day, Rebecca Berger and Sarah Summerfield earned an 8-3 win against Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier of Northern Colorado. Berger and Summerfield are 6-2 so far in doubles play this far. The other team to come away with a win were Brittany DeFelice and Jamie Nelson, as they defeated Jill Kappel and Luiza Xavier as well, 8-6. They would fall in their second match against Shivani Dave (Illinois) and Megumi Voight (Air Force), 8-6.

In other action, Ronnie Spencer and Carly Van Hollen lost twice against Tabatha Knop and Manuela Santos (UNC), 8-6, and Amy Allin and Marisa Lambropoulos (Illinois), 8-1. Carolina Chaix and Virginia Iwinski fell to Tiffany Knop and Hannah LaForest (UNC), 8-2, and Christiane Pheil and Abbie Probert (Colorado), 8-4.

Wyoming continues action on Oct. 3-4 at the Air Force Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Clower named UW assistant tennis coach

University of Wyoming head women’s tennis coach Kati Gyulai announced on Monday the hiring of Dean Clower as an assistant coach with the Cowgirl tennis program. His duties will begin immediately.

Clower joins the Cowgirl coaching staff after spending the last two years as an assistant coach at Lamar University (Beaumont, Texas). His duties included assisting with practice sessions, on the court training of both singles and doubles teams, creating and maintaining data bases for prospective players, along with ensuring compliance with recruitment regulations. Prior to that, he spent one season as a volunteer assistant with the program and an adjunct professor for kinesiology.

He also has worked as an assistant teaching Pro at The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City (2002, 2004, 2007). Clower trained juniors players and was responsible for tournament travel and preparation for competition, while providing private and group lessons to juniors and adults. Prior to that, he worked at the Indian Springs Country Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Clower began his collegiate career as a student-athlete at Cowley County Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas. He was a two-year team captain and was ranked fifth in the nation in doubles as a freshman and sophomore. Clower then moved on to a two-year career at Lamar University. He finished with a season-best 14-7 record in singles play and 9-9 in doubles at the number one spot as a junior. During his senior season, he posted a 9-10 overall record and a 12-6 mark in doubles-play. Clower also was ranked 48th in the country in doubles play, the first ranked doubles player in Lamar history.

A native of Broken Arrow, Okla., Clower earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in general studies with a minor in history and kinesiology from Lamar University in 2006. He recently completed his master’s in exercise science from there as well in 2008.

“I am very excited to have Dean on our staff,” Gyulai said. “I have known him for a few years and watched him grow as a coach. He loves tennis and the college setting. He is an immediate asset to our program.”