The Columbus Telegram from Columbus, Nebraska • 9

Columbus, Telegram E3 Barnes sparks Pens 0 Wistrom Z7 gets if crash lij course in 1st days at Rams' camp CHS drops pair of games to Lincoln High to playoff victory over Canadiens Page 6B Page 7B Page 1 Sunday, April 26, 1998 Page 3B CHS girls tie for title; boys get third at Norfolk ij5 1 By The Telegram Staff COLUMBUS Five gold medals were enough to get the Columbus High girls their first team track and field title of the year Saturday. But it wasn't enough for the Discoverers to earn the crown outright. The Discoverer girls finished in a tie with Norfolk for the top spot at the Norfolk Invitational track and field meet, with both teams scoring 104 points. Millard North won the last event of the day, the relay, to pull within two of the co-champions, finishing third with 102 points in the seven-team meet. The Columbus boys, meanwhile, finished third with 82 12 points, 3 12 points behind second-place Fremont with 86 points.

Norfolk ran away! with the team title, scoring 174 Three of the Discoverers' five golds were won by Jennifer Epley, a sophomore, who ran to wins in the 100, 200 and 400. Her times of 12.4 seconds in the 100 and 26.2 in the 200 shot her to the top of both events in the Telegram-area charts. And her 59.4 clocking in the 400 improved her second-place area time. "Jennifer really had an excellent day," CHS assistant coach Diane Oppliger said. "She ran a better time (in the 400) last year, but that's her best so far this year." Columbus also received a strong performance from Joan Talbott, who won the 800 with a personal-best time of 2:25.0.

Talbott is currently third in the area in the event. "Joan really came through and competed well," Oppliger said. "That was kind of a milestone race for her." Laura Pilakowski, the area leader in the long jump, came within 3 172 inches of her season-best effort, winning the event with a leap of 17 feet, 4 inch es. Capturing seconds for the CHS girls were Pilakowski in the 100 hurdles; the 400 relay team of Epley, Pilakowski, Amanda Meredith and Tonya Heng; and the 1,600 quartet of Heng, Meredith, Talbott and Kelly Randies. Bronze medals went to Tracie Fehringer in both the shot put and discus and to Talbott in the 400.

The Columbus boys, meanwhile, captured a pair of first-place finishes. Sam Gutz lowered his area-leading time in the 400 with a 51.1 performance, leading a 1-3-4 finish by the Discoverers in the event. Andrew Klutman, the area shot put leader, came up with a toss of 53-7 to win that event by more than 8 inches. The Discoverer boys also won a pair of silver medals. Dustin Vermeire used a personal-best attempt of 12-6 to get second in the pole vault, and the 1,600 relay team of Bob Petersen, Regan Woodrick, Lamont Braithwait and Eric Kozisek also placed second.

Getting thirds for CHS were the 400 relay team of Petersen, Gutz, Mitch Helms and Lee Jennings; Woodrick in the 400; Justin Epley in the high jump and Brittan Rosendahl in the triple jump. 3 V. i Newcombe makes statement to be Buskers' starter 1 I v. 41 tUf'V. fk' fff.

Goebel leads CHS to 2nd at tennis meet By The Telegram Staff OMAHA Columbus High parlayed a championship medal, a runner-up finish and two thirds into a second-place finish at the Millard West Invitational tennis meet Saturday. The Discoverers finished with 52 points, one point shy of tournament champion Lincoln East, while Bellevue West was third with 45. Laura Goebel gained the championship, going 5-0 in winning the No. 2 singles title. Goebel raised her season mark at No.

2 singles to 9-0 with four pool victories and an 8-3 win over Brianna Germer of Lincoln East in the final. "LAURA HAS been playing in a very workmanlike manner so far this season," Columbus coach Doug Terry said. "It's really nice to have a couple of singles players doing so well." The Discoverers' other singles player, Kristen Sanborn, was second in the No. 1 singles division. Sanborn, 5-4 at No.

1 singles, won her first four matches before falling to Ginger Wachter of East 8-2 in the final. "Kristen did a great job for us," Terry said. "Though she lost in the finals, she showed much improved play. I'm very pleased with her progress so far this season." COLUMBUS TWO doubles teams finished in third place in their respective divisions. The No.

1 team of Kim Louis and Kelli Greenlee went 3-2 on the day, downing the East doubles team of Jessica Jones and Carmie Zink 8-2 for third place. Carol Lee Brodecky and Nikki Johnson teamed up to take third at No. 2 doubles. They went 4-1 on the day, winning 8-6 over the Bellevue East team of Sara Wustrack and Jennifer Peterson in the final match, to raise their record to 8-3 on the season. 4" LINCOLN (AP) Nebraska's coaches are still saying they haven't selected a starting quarterback, but Bobby Newcombe went a long way Saturday toward helping them make up their minds.

a sophomore who saw playing time last season at wingback and on kick returns, was the leading rusher and passer for both sides as the White squad beat the Red 24-21 in Nebraska's annual spring game. Newcombe got off to a blazing start, breaking his first carry for a 91-yard touchdown. Later in the first quarter, he scrambled and threw to a wide-open Casey Van-derhoef on a 43-yard sideline route 1 for another TD. THE THREE quarterback contenders each spent time directing both squads, but Newcombe distinguished himself before 60,498 sun-soaked fans with brilliant speed and agility. Under Newcombe, the offense scored five times, compared to twice under junior Frankie London.

"I think I helped myself quite a bit," Newcombe said. "The coaches really wanted to see what each quarterback could do in a pressure situation under game conditions. That was going to weigh the decision a little bit at least that was my understanding." NEWCOMBE FINISHED with 175 yards on 13 carries and one rushing TD and one fumble. He was 6-of-13 for 84 yards and the passing TD. "I made some good plays, but I also made some mistakes," Newcombe said.

London carried 17 times for 68 yards and one TD while complet- "I think I helped myself quite a bit. The coaches really wanted to see what 1 each quarterback could do in a pres- sure situation under game conditions. i Bobby Newcombo Nebraska quarterback 1 Ji ing 3-of-7 passes for 28 yards. Freshman Eric Crouch gained 48 yards on 16 carries and was 3-of-6 for 52 yards. The Cornhuskers need a replacement for Scott Frost, who as a senior last year led Nebraska to a 13-0 record and a share of the national title.

London is probably best remembered for replacing Frost in the first half of Nebraska's 38-24 win over Central Florida last fall. After London led the Huskers on a TD march, some fans booed when Frost re-entered the game. THE OTHER quarterback candidates, Newcombe and Crouch, both arrived at Nebraska last fall as highly regarded high school stars. Crouch spent last season as a redshirt. Prodded by reporters seeking to know whether Newcombe would be the starter entering fall camp, Nebraska coach Frank Solich said the depth chart won't be drawn up until early next week.

"Until I look at film, you're going to find me a very boring coach," Solich said. L3- PITCH OUT Nebraska quarterback Bobby Newcombe (12) pitches the ball to a trailing l-back, while linebacker Carlos Polk (13) dives toward him during Saturday's Red-White spring game at Memorial Stadium. AP Photo Nebraska honors Osborne with naming of field LINCOLN (AP) Nebraska fans, players, coaches and administrators took turns praising the Cornhuskers' retired coach Friday night in a two-hour ceremony where players received championship rings and the playing field was renamed after the coaching After al two-hour outpouring that included fireworks, an overflight by military fighters and plenty of laughs, cheers and tears, Tom Osborne offered his thanks to family, players, coaches and fans and said he would miss them. "The relationships are the things that count," Osborne said. "The rings have been fine, the championship all are great.

But the things I always carry with me are the memories of the players, the coaches and the people Fve come to know. "It's really been a tremendous thing for me, and IH never forget any one of you. So thank you very much," he said. Bird's Pacers fly to 2-0 advantage 1 SETTING THE PACE Indiana Pacers guard Reggie Miller, right, and Travis Best, hidden, congratulate Mark Jackson (13) as he comes off the floor during a fourth quarter timeout in the second game of the Pacers' NBA first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Indianapolis on Saturday. The Pacers took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series with the Cavaliers following a 92-86 victory.

AP Photo Lakeview boys take third at soccer tourney By The Telegram Staff YORK A fast start and a hard-fought finish in the consolation match helped the Lakeview Vikings clinch third place in the York Invitational soccer tournament Saturday. The Vikings captured third place in the tournament with a 3-2 victory over the Grand Island Northwest Vikings after falling to Schuyler 5-1 in the opening round. The Lakeview girls weren't as fortunate, falling to Schuyler 2-0 in the opening round and suffering a 6-3 loss to Northwest in the consolation match. See SOCCER, Page 3B INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Pacers expected a struggle, and they got it. After beating Cleveland by 29 points in the first game, the Pacers had to come from 17 points down on Saturday for a 92-86 victory and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-5 Eastern Conference playoff series.

"We knew they were going to come out with a lot of emotion," said Reggie Miller, whose 18 points led six Pacers in double figures. But we didn't anticipate them hitting nine of their first 10 shots. That took us by surprise. "Our defense wasn't all the way there early. They really beat us up in the first half," Miller said.

The third game will be in The Pacers struggled with poor shooting and poor defense early before taking control in the third quarter. Mark Jackson had eight assists and eight points in the third period, including two 3-pointers that brought the Pacers within Cleveland, hurt by turnovers, managed only three baskets during the next five minutes. Chris Mullin then; hit a 3-pointer his only basket of the game to give the Pacers their first lead at 65-63 with 2:38 to go. "Nine critical turnovers in the second; half led to our downfall," Cleveland coach Mike Fratello said. "Timing is everything.

5 "The bottom line is Indiana played harder and smarter." Saturday's Games Indiana 92 Cleveland 86 Indiana leads series 2-0 Phoenix 108 San Antonio 101 Series tied 1-1 Charlotte 92 Atlanta 85 Charlotte leads series 2-0 Houston Utah, late Today's Games New York at Miami, 11:30 a.m. (NBC) Portland at L.A. Lakers, 2 p.m. (NBC) New Chicago, 4:30 p.m. (NBC) Minnesota at Seattle, 8 p.m.

(TNT) Cleveland on Monday night. "To tell the truth, the real playoff series begins when you lose the homecourt advantage," Miller said. "Right now, we're sitting nice. But Cleveland is throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us. They're prepared and executing well." Racers set to make more noise in 2nd season at Thunder Lake Lcla i BOYS GOLF Fremont at CHS, 4:30 p.m.

et Elks Country Club Schuyler at Central City, 4:30 SOCCER Fremont at CHS, 5 p.m. at Wilderness Park TRACK FIELD Lakeview, Scotus at Schuy'er triangular, 4:30 p.m. Clarks, Fullerton, St. Edwa-d, Silver Creek at Central Nebraska Championships, 5 p.m. at Grand Island David City at Milford invito, 3 p.m.

RISING CITY Thunder Lake Speedway is hoping to make some noise again when it begins its second season of stock car racing Friday at Rising City. The Butler Country track, located six miles north and one mile east of Rising City, will again feature Modified and Thunder Stock racing each week, along with other new and special events. The main features from the last year's card will remain intact, as drivers from around the area will chase the season points championship. Last year's champions included Mike Meyer of Green Modified or Thunder Stock driver. A model car contest is scheduled May 8, with the winner earning a special prize.

For the more venturesome, June 12 will be the kids bike races, and July 3 will be Kids Night. Fans will also be eligible for a variety of prizes each night. Racing action begins each Friday at 8 p.m., with the gates open at 6 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $3 for children 12 and under. wood in the Modified division and Dami-an Smith of Osceola in the Thunder Stock class.

The $1,000 NAPA Summer Series prize money and 5-foot trophy that goes with it will be featured again. The NAPA prize money and trophy are awarded to drivers based on consecutive feature wins. Thunder Lake will also feature 'the "Lightning Modified Special" on Aug. 14, which will pay $1,000 plus a trophy to the top driver. New to the track this year will be a "Powder Puff Challenge which will feature women racing for points and a trophy.

The points champion at the end of the series will win a trophy. The Good Ole Time Racing Association (GOTRA), featuring cars from the 1950s, will make an appearance once a month to provide action and memories of yesteryear. A different celebrity will pilot one of the cars each month, with former drivers from the '50s, '60s and 70s to be featured. One lucky youth will be awarded a child's trophy each racing night by a.