Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

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Creighton ' s year in sports included command performances from (clockwise from tlie left) Gumby and Tina Otterstedt at Homecoming ceremonies; All-Missouri Valley performers Benoit Benjamin and Vernon Moore; and Lady Jays ' floor leader Tanya Warren. 23

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The Ifear at Creighton campus. The advantages of fast service, free room delivery and being located in Kiewit ' s lower deck made pizza more readily available than ever before. In 1985, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, suspended in 1983, was reinstated and allowed to participate in rush activities because of ac- tive service and involvement in the community. SAE president Pat Walmsley said he hoped to improve the group ' s image and continue its service to the community. The Creighton community also celebrated Creighton ' s first football homecoming in more than 40 years. Although there was no real football team to speak of, the four-day series of homecoming festivities would never have given it away. The homecoming was celebrated to corres- pond with a mythical football schedule con- ceived by the Stanek Distributing Co. parallel- ing the Bluejays ' 1941 schedule, the last full season Creighton played intercollegiate foot- ball. The homecoming activities were organized by the Sigma Nu fraternity and included the election of King Mike Murray, Arts junior, and Queen Merilee Krueger, Arts senior; a sock hop; a 1941 costume contest, and a float contest and pep rally. The four days of festivities culminated with a parade attended by the coach of the mythical football team, Father Morrison. Creighton ' s quest for excellence also con- tinued in athletics. Highlighting the year was the return to prominence of the Bluejay basketball team. Under Coach Willis Reed, C.U. was a again a force in the Missouri Valley Conference. At one point in the season, the Jays were one victory away from a national ranking. However, a few bad breaks and six straight losses forced the team to finish short of its goal to qualify for the NCAA or NIT tournaments. The team was led by senior guard Vernon Moore, who ranked third nationally in field goal percentage, and by junior center Benoit Benjamin. Benjamin, proclaimed as one of the nation ' s best centers, led the nation in blocked shots, and ranked high in rebounding. Success on the basketball court wasn ' t limited to the men, as the women enjoyed their best season ever. Coach Bruce Rasmussen ' s team won more games than any previous team despite losing two star players, juniors Connie Yori and Donna Chvatal, to injuries. Freshmen Tanya Warren and Pam Gradoville, along with junior Amy Allard, picked up the slack for the Lady Jays, who finished the regular season 21-6. Meanwhile, other teams were striving for ex- cellence. I n soccer, seniors Jim Dalla Riva and Robert Addington paced Coach Don Kloster- man ' s team to a 4-9-2 record. After a slow start (0-4-1), the Jays rebounded to finish the season strong. What Coach Ed Hubbs ' cross-country team lacked in numbers, it made up in enthusiasm, sweat and hard work. Throughout an injury- plagued season, senior Dave Boes and junior Paul Beckel paced the men, while sophomore Mandy Malburg was the top woman runner. Swimming saw the hiring of a new coach, Justin Kohll, and assistants John Apker and Pete Lamara, who instilled new dedication in- to the swimmers. The co-captains, junior Jim O ' Connor and senior Craig Fredericksen, along with freshman sprinter Rob Wentland 22 i led the Jays. The season was highlighted by a third-place finish at the Buddha Invitational. The women ' s team was paced by senior Susan Kammer. The Lady Jay softball team was once again headed for a good season. They finished their fall campaign 15-8, highlighted by a second- place finish in the Iowa State Invitational. The 13-member team had only one senior, Florence Mannix, with four freshmen whose specialty was hitting. After spending the winter months lifting weights and participating in aerobics. Coach Mary Higgins ' team looked forward to a successful spring tour. The men ' s baseball team had a new coach in Jim Hendry and was expecting a good season. With a relatively young team, the Jays were to depend on seniors Dave Thomas and Andy Holt along with junior shortstop Elvis Dom- inguez for hitting power and leadership. Hop- ing Mother Nature would be more cooperative this season after 30 rainouts the previous year, the Bluejays were anxious to get back into win- ning form. Tennis was another bright spot for Bluejay sports fans. The women were nationally rank- ed in Division III and led by senior Peg Connor and sophomore Molly Murray. The men ' s team was led by hard-working senior Scott Cawley. Of course, athletics wasn ' t limited to the in- tercollegiate level as intramurals played an im- portant role. New Kiewit Center Director Suzanne Slepit- za and intramural coordinators Kate McRae and Bob Jackson organized many different sports to fit anyone ' s taste. Highlighting the intramural competition was the involvement of more than 80 basketball teams in various leagues. An exciting championship game had the Neuroleptics crowned as the All-University champs in the men ' s division and the Double AA team as the women ' s champion. The 1984-85 year will not go by easily forgot- ten. It faithfully carried out Creighton ' s quest for excellence with progress that will influence many tomorrows. Creighton met the challenges of the year by delving into new undertakings to meet the growing and chang- ing needs of the university. Shaped by yesterday ' s decisions, meeting to- day ' s expectations and anticipating tomorrow ' s needs, Creighton is ready to meet the challenges the coming decades will bring. Sue O ' Hanlon and Pat Meyers

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Lectures. Films f 24