Starting in early 1994, I worked for my first-ever newspaper, The Northern Student, the student newspaper at Bemidji State University, where I attended and received my bachelor's degree in mass communication. Over three years, I would be a staff writer, news editor, managing editor and editor. I wrote everything from news stories to feature stories to sports stories to opinion pieces. It was the greatest training ground a journalist could ever have, and I am grateful to the many talented people I worked alongside in my years at The NS.
Jan. 31, 1996
By Devlyn Brooks
With a mixture of strong leadership and a generous crop of freshmen, the BSU women's and men's indoor track teams are in a position they have not been in for a while. They are contending for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title.
In the past, BSU has placed second several times behind perennial conference favorite University of Minnesota-Duluth. Historically, because of a lack of participants, BSU's track teams have not been able to compete in as many events at the conference meet; therefore, they have fewer opportunities to score points. This often left the team a short distance behind the first place team.
However, this all may change said Craig Hougen, head coach for both the men's and women's teams. Due to increased recruiting efforts, higher retention rates and additional athletes gained from the new women's cross-country team, Hougen said both track teams have the ability to win the 1996 indoor track conference meet, which will be held at BSU Feb. 23 and 24.
"The men's team has orientated itself around a goal: To win the conference meet," he said. "They know they will be right in the middle of everything, and they're going to get after it."
The women's chances are greater than previously also, Hougen said. The team is anchored by a few experienced seniors, and in addition, has an excellent group of freshmen contributing to the team, he added.
"The younger women need to make the transition from competing in high school to competing at the collegiate level," he said, "but they'll get there."
Both teams' participants are up considerably this year, coach Hougen said. The men's team has more than 35 members, up about 10 from last season. And the women have about doubled the size of their team to 35 members.
The indoor track season is four meets old, and according to Hougen, both teams have competed well, while improving. Track meets are not scored on a team basis, but Hougen said he kept track unofficially, and if they would have been competing as a team, the BSU men would have defeated UMD at the BSU Super 8 Indoor Track and Field meet Jan. 20.
"Our main competition is UMD," he said. "And the men would have won 69-59. I scored the women, and we lost by 10 or 12 points. But a year ago, that could have been as much as 30 points. I think we're competing very well."
At the Super 8 Invitational hosted at BSU, there 18 BSU relay teams or individuals who placed in the top six places, including a second-place finish by senior pole vaulter Todd Williams, a second-place finish by senior LeEarl Rugland in the 800 meter run and a third-place finish by Jennifer Pehling in the women's shot put.
BSU also fared well in the third meet they attended at UMD.
"We competed strongly against Duluth with both teams," Hougen said. "If we would have scored that, we would have beaten (UMD) again."
The fourth meet BSU competed in was in Ames, Iowa, but there were only a few individuals who qualified to compete in the meet. Between both teams, BSU only brought 10 members to the competition. Although, senior Kim Algoe said that the teams did well against the strong competition and improved from an early showing at the University of Minnesota.
Considering the Beavers were competing against several Division I schools, there were a few impressive finishes. Williams placed third in men's pole vault, Megan Scott placed sixth in the women's high jump and there were several seventh-place finishes. And, in the highlight of the day, freshmen Amber Bohman set a school record in the 200 meter dash.
"As a team, we've gotten stronger. We've shown improvement," Algoe said. "I think that the recruiting has had a lot to do with it, but I hope that it also is a reflection of how our program has been improving ... a reflection of the older members' hard work."
Coach Hougen said he thinks one of the keys to this year's success is the leadership present on both teams. Both the women's and men's teams have veterans who have previously qualified for the Division II nationals, Lori Leibhan in the shot put and Williams in the pole vault. Williams has provisionally qualified for nationals again this year, Hougen said, but it will depend on how well the rest of the nation jumps for the next month.
"Lori (Leibhan) is pretty humble about her accomplishments," Algoe said. "It's a quiet confidence she adds to the team. She knows how to get the job done, and the younger members look up to her."
Rugland voiced the same opinion about Williams.
"Leadership like that brings up the intensity of the track team. We're starting to pull together more this year," he said. "People look up to individuals like Todd (Williams) and start to think that with a team effort, more people could go to nationals."
"It's always in the back of your mind to win the conference meet," Algoe said. "I think the leadership Lori (Leibhan) provides to us gives us more confidence going into the conference meet."
The Beavers' next home meet will be Feb. 17, the weekend before the conference championship.
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