Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph from Colorado Springs, Colorado • Page 9

World Skaters in Final Practices By GLENN URBAN Gazette Telegraph Spgrts Writer One more day of practice today and then the 1975 World Figure Skating Championships open at the World Arena with the U.S. among the four out of 19 nations with entries in all four categories. The competition will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday when the men figure skaters begin cutting patches skating the compulsory figures. Wednesday it will be the women who do the compulsory figures.

This year, singles will do only three compulsory figures instead of six, then do a short program and complete, I heir performances with a free skating exhibit. The three-part program is graded 40 percent figures. 20 percent short program and 40 percent free skating. Men singles championship is wide open because 1974 champion Jan Offman, East Germany, is not back. He is recovering from surgery he underwent on a knee injured last year while working out on a trampoline.

The other East German champion is back though. She is Christine Errath, ladies singles crown winner. In pairs, veteran Irina Rodina of the Soviet Union is back as a champion with her partner for the last two years, Aleksandr Zaitsev. She was a world champion for four years with another partner Alexei Ulanov and now is in world competition for the third time with Zaitsev, and the two are favored to retain their championship. The ice dance title has been I tied up in an even tighter package for years.

Liudmila Paknomova and AI- exandr Gorshkov first won the ice dance title in 1969 and have retained it every year since. In world figure skating it is difficult to upset a world champion, but despite that great hope in the American team that the reigning ladies singles champion can be dethroned. She seems to be heavier than she was last year and some observers claim she move with quite the same grace. If she is upset, the skater who does it perhaps will be America's Dorothy Hamill, who finished second last year, or Dianne deLeeuw, a gril with citizenship who lives in Los Angeles and skates for land, the home of her parents. Hamill repeated as national champion in Oakland earlier this winter even though she was suffering from an injured right leg.

She said Sunday night that her leg injury is healed and then went on the ice to prove she meant what she said. Hamill said that while in Denver for the past month to practice for the world event she was treated by the Denver University trainer. thought I pulled some ligaments, but he told me that my injury was a pulled hamstring. He treated me for that, and now my leg is she explained. She will have to come on I strong in the second and third I event to win, but then Errath has the same pattern.

excels in compulsory figures. not quite ready, I wish 1 had another week or so for she said, explaining that when she went to Denver from Oakland she began doing very well on figures, but that since then she has returned to customary pattern of excelling in free skating and not doing as well as like in compulsory figures. Twenty-seven women from 15 nations will be entered in the ladies singles. In men singes, 23 competitors Monday, March 3 1975 Gazette 9 -A come from 13 nations, and the strongest skaters may be from the only four nations with full competitive teams only the United States, Canada, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union have entries. The skater given the best chance to win the singles crown is Toller Cranston, Canadian who finished third last year.

Two competitors from this continent who may skate as welt as he does are second best male skater, Ron Shaver, and Gordon McKellen America's national champion. Shaver pulled a groin muscle earlier this season which has slowed him. Word from the Canadian team when it came here from Aspen over the weekend was that Shaver plans to go full speed and if the injured muscle holds up fine and if it doesn't that is the way it goes. McKellen figures he has as much of a chance as anyone if he can put together three near perfect performances. He is in excellent condition for the competition.

Some hours after the men have completed the compulsory figures, Tuesday, 16 sets of pairs skaters from nine nations will begin their first competition with short program performances. Pairs begin at p.m. i top pairs team is; Meli.ssa Militano and Johnny The Russian, Canadian and East German teams are here with three teams each and the odds seeon to favor those three countries again picking up the gold, silver and bronze medals. Following is a list of com- petitiors in the two events tnat begin Tuesday Men singles Giles Beyer of France; Paul Cechmanek, Luxumbourg; Robin Cousins. Great Brtain; Toller Cranston.

Canada; John A. Curry, Great Britain; i i Gailhaguet, France; Ronald Koppelent, Austria: Vladimir Kovalev. Soviet Union; Terry Kubicka. United States; Mitsuru Matsii- mura, Japan; Gordon McKellen, United States; Yuri Ovchinnikov. Soviet Union: Zdenek Pazdirek.

Franticek Pechar. Czechoslova-; AF kia; Bob Rubens, Canada; Minoru Sano, Japan; William Schober, Australia; Hermann Schulz, East Germany; Ron Shaver, Canada; Flemming Soderquist, Denmark; Laszlo Vajda, Hungary; Sergei Volkov, Soviet Union; and Bernd Wunderlick. FJa.st Germany. Pairs Ursula and Michael Nemic of Austria: Cronna Hal- kc and Eberhard Rausch, West I Germany: Sandra and Val IBczic, Candace Jones and Don and Kathy Hutchinson and Jamie McGrigor, all of Pestova and Jiri korny, Czechoslovakia: Romy Kcrmer and Rolf Oesterremh, Manuela Gross and Uwe Kagelmann, and Kerstin Stolfig and Kempe, all of East Germany; Grazyna Kostrewinska and Adam Brodecki, Poland; Irina Rodnina and Aleksandr Zaitsev. Irina Vorobivea and Aleksandr Vlasov, and Marina Leonidova and Vladimir Bo- all of the Soviet Union: Karin and Christian Kuenzle, Switzerland; Melisa Militano and John Johns, and Tia Keina Babilonia and Randy Gardner, United States.

Soviets Boast Large Contingent The Soviet Union, Canada and the United States have the three largest delegations at the World i Figure Skating Championships that open Tuesday at the Broadmoor's World Arena and run through Saturday night. Denmark, Luxembourg and South Korea have only one skater here while the Soviet Union will have 16, if they all show up, Canada 15 and the United States 13. Following is a list of the competitors by country: Australia William ober. men's singles: Sharon Kay Burley, singles, and Hopkins and Bagor UNIQUE Norman McLean, right, a trustee of the McNuughton Cup, presents the cup to thi.s year's Western Collegiate Hockey Association champion, the University of Minnesota. The Gophers are represented by trainer Gary Smith, left, after Friday night's game with Michigan Tech.

Minnesota had ju.st suffered a 7-0 defeat to Tech. last league champion and the runner-up this year, and sent their trainer out of the dressing room to accept the trophy. (AP Wirephoto) Radakovich Strict; Satisfied With Team By JOE NAVARRO Gazette Telegraph Sports coach Mike Radakovich stood back out of the limelight with a slight smile on his face While Colorado College hockey coach Jeff Sauer was getting congratulations Radakovich they call him Radar was deep in thought, probably looking ahead to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) playoffs. A strict disciplinarian, Radakovich said, just want you to know that proud of the team every single player in pointing to the locker room. CC had just won 8-4 over He joined the CC coaching I staff this year, but been I seen often because of his re- on the road, mostly in Next season he! I hopes to spend more time in' I Colorado Springs which will nat- i urally mean more time with the I team.

i Sauer and jled the Tigers to third place in I the WCHA with a 21-11 record iand 23-14 overall not bad for a team that was picked for 10th he said in a satisfying, pleas- voice. have to ibe satisfied with our perform- iance and I want to give 'kids credit. I SPECIAL PRICE-the rest O.MA.CH FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENTS 1968 and NEWER BUSES (Type II) Normol charge if done individually Don't Pass Up This Service Offer! "USE OUR SHUTTIE BUS IN CITY LIMITS" 473-1373 730 N. CIRCLE MIKE RADAKOVICH CC Assistant Coach in athletics, and my, I business, I feel that onj and ability we should be' satisfied. Friday night, wc icame up here trying for second I place and we lo.st 5-4.

I think the players related properly to the challenge and responsibility. While satisfied I still feel we could have gone a bit Recruiting can be hard, Trating responsibility 'out Rada-i ikovich hasn't found the task I difficult. really encountered; many he said. amazing the way the (CC) has spoken for it- i self, the academic reputation of school. always had a reputation, especially inj where had igood tradition of getting along; with the players in the area.

of the stars in Min- Jiesota said it better than I ever could. He said, here Cblora-; do College really means some-; thing to us so that well sums it i (Continued on Page 10-A) Here's how the top-ranneo teams tii me ASOCIATED Press rankinas of Colorado high school basketball teams fared in games last week: Class AAA 1. Westminster beat Thornton 88-63 Tuesdav, beat Broomfield 67-53 Friday. 2. Pueblo South boat Pueblo East 71-58 Friday, beat Harrison 78-43 Saturday, 3.

Denver Mullen beat Ault-Highland 6662 Tuesday, beat Thornton 84-53 Friday. 4. Cherry Creek beat Arapahoe 91-61 Friday. 5. Denver AAanual beat Lincoln 81-62 Friday.

6. Alamosa beat La Junta 81-61 Friday, beat Fountain 94-78 Saturday. 7. Denver South lost to Washington 6657 Tuesdav, beat Thomas Jefferson 105-75 Friday. 8.

Loveland beat Greeley West 53-37 Tuesday, beat Poudre 85-75 Friday, beat Fort Collins 88-54 Saturday. 9. Pomona beat Wheat Ridge 77-56 Friday. 10. Coronado lost to Palmer 62-53 Friday, beat Pueblo Central 86-58 Saturday.

Class AA 1. Del Norte beat Center 55-33 Friday. 2. Brush lost to Julesburg 66-65 in overtime Friday, beat Burlington 70-60 Saturday. 3.

Glenwood Springs beat Steamboat Springs 83-66 Thursday, beat Rifle 50-43 Friday, beat Roaring Fork 78-76 Saturday. 4. Lewis-Palmer beat Buena Vista 74-65 Thursday, lost to Florence 68-52 Friday. 5. Holy Family beat Summit County 7668 Thursday, beat Clear Creek 98-60 Friday, beat Denver Christian 70-50 Saturday.

Class A 1. Custer County beat Cripple Creek 79- SI Friday, beat Platte Canyon 104 67 Saturday. 2. Caliche beat Fleming 64 48 Friday. 3.

Debeque beat Grand Valley 87-61 Friday, beat Plateau Valley 84 68 Saturday. 4. Walsh lost to Kim 76-70 Friday, beat Springf eld 85-69 Saturday. 5. Pritchett beat Springfield 70 65 Friday, beat Kim 70-64 Saturday.

Scores Prep Basketball Arriba 80, Flagler 71 Hi-Plains 76, Stratton 70 Aurora Central 74, Aurora Hinkley 56 Genoa 79, Limon 73 Niwot 65, Greeley West 60 Greeley Central 71, Centaurus 52 Brush 70, Burlington 60 Wray 44, Julesburg 36 Fairview 103, Englewood 94 Clear Creek 83, Lutheran 75 Holy Family 70, Denver Christian 50 Douglas County 77, Arapahoe 73 2 OT Fruita 43, Durango 41 Debeque 84, Plateau Valley 68 Paonia 75, Nucia 62 Olathe 72, Cedaredge 65 Palisade 68, Hotchkiss 59 Pritchett 70, Kim 64 Ouray 60, Silverton 47 Norwood 87, Telluride 61 Arickaree 65, Liberty 46 Idalia 68, Woodlin 63 Peetz 81. Briggsdale 72 Pawnee 70, Nederland 59 Weldon Valley 54, Prairie 45 Widefield 73, Pueblo East 50 Palmer 69, Wasson 61 Pueblo County 72, Trinidad 53 Lamar 51, La Junta 50 Walsh 85, Springfield 69 Creede 53, Mountain Valley 48 Sargent 58, Sangre de Cristo 50 Primero 65, Hoehne 53 Trinidad Catholic 77, La Veta 46 Hugo 70, Plainview 66 Kit Carson 68, Karval 53 5 Eads 88, Cheyenne Wells 48 Wiley 79, Swink 60 Vilas 65, Campo 58 Grand Junction 78, Cortez 58 Montrose 56, Delta 35 Air Academy 50, Canon City 58 Pueblo South 78- Harrison 43 Custer County 104, Platte Canyon 67 Cotopaxi 55, Cripple Creek Victor 54 University 77, Roosevelt 72 Glenwood Springs 78, Roaring Fork 76 Rangelv 75, Rifle 66 Alamosa 94, Fountain 78 Pueblo Centennial 56, Mitchell 64 Erie 74, Ault-Highland 64 Eaton 51, Weld Central 46 Boulder 68, Gateway 54 Heritage 72, Littleton 66 Coronado 36, Pueblo Central 58 Loveland 88, Fort Collins 54 Arriba 80, Flagler 71 Hi Plains 76, Stratton 70 Somlai, ice dance. Austria Ronald Koppelent, singles; Sonja Baiun, singles; and Ursula and Nemec, pairs. German Federal Republic (West Germany) Isabel deNavarre, Gerti Schanderl and Dagmar Lurz. all singles; Corina Halke and Eberhard Rausch, pairs; and Christina Henke and Udo Donsdorf, ice dance.

Canada Toller Cranston, Ron Shaver and Bob Rubens, singles; Lynn Nightengale, and i Alletson, singles; Sandra and Val Rezic, Jones and Don Fraser, and Kathy Hutchinson and Jamie McGrigor. pairs; Barbara Berezowskl and David Porter and Susan Carscallen and Eric Gillies, ice dance. Czechoslovakia Zdenek Pazdirek, and Franticek Pechar, singles; Lian Dra- hova and Hana Knapova, singles; Rijana Hartmanova and Petr Starcc, pairs; Eva Pestova and Jiri Pokorny, ice dance. German Democratic Republic (East Germany) Bernd Wunderlich and Hermann Schulz, singles: Christine Errath, Marion Weber and Anett Potzsch, singles; Rom Kermer and Rolf Oesterreich, Manuela Gross and Uwe Kagle- mann and Kerstin Stolfig and Viet Kempe, pairs. Denmark Fleming Soderquist, singles.

France Didier Gailhaguet and Gilles Beyer, singles; and Marie-Calude Bieere, singles. Great Britain John A. Curry and Robin Cousins, Hungary Laslzo Vajda, singles, and Krisztina Rc- goczy and Andras Sallay, ice dance. Segei Volkov, men's singles; Liudmila Bakonina. sing 1 Irina Rodnina and Medsandr, Irina Vorobieva and Italy Susanna Draino, Vlasov and Marina ladies singles; and Matilde and Vladimir Bo- cia and Lamberto Ceserani, icc dance.

Japan Minoru Sano and Mitsuru Matsumura, singles; and Emi Wantanbe singles. LUXEMBOURG Paul Cechmanek, singles. Netherlands Dianne de Leeuw, Anne-Marie Verlaan and Sophie Verlaan, singles. Poland Grazyna Kostrz.e- winska and Adam Brodecki, pairs; Teresa Weyna-Urban and Piotr Bojanczyk and Halina Gordonand Wojciech Bank- singles; Gail B. Keddie, owski, ice dance.

goliubov, pairs; Ludmila homova and Alcdsandr kov, Natalia Linichuk and Gennadi Karponssov and Irina seeva and Andrei Minenkov, ice dance. Switzerland Karen Iten, Evi Koepfli and Michelle Haider, singles; Karin and Christian Keunzle, pairs. United States Gordon McKelien Jr. and Terry Kubicka. men's singles; Dorothy Hamill, Wendy Burge and Kath Malmberg, singles; Melissa Militano and Johnny Johns and Tai Reina Babilonia and singles; Hilary Green and Glynl Republic of Korea (South iRandy Gardner, pairs; Colleen son and IKorea) Hyo-Jin Yun, and Jim Miilns and Watts, Janet Thompson Warren Maxwell and Kay I singles.

Bardsdell and Kenneth Foster, 1 Soviet Union Vladimir ice dance. 1 Kovalev, Yuri Ovchinnikov and i Genovesi and Keith Weigle, ice dance. GLEN URBAN Falcons Eye Winning Year By GORDON CRANDELL Gazette Telegraph Sports Writer DENVER come down to the final game of the season for Hank Air Force basketball team. Can the Falcons compile a winning record, their first in two years? Air Force is coming off a TOSS victory over California Irvine Friday which evened its season record at 12-12. Nothing would be sweeter for Egan than to have his Falcons register a victory tonight.

Air Force started fast but slumped at mid-season. crew built a 6-1 record in December. But the Falcons have managed only a 6-11 mark since then in facing six ranked collegiate powers including Notre Dame, Creighton, Stanford, Oregon, Pan American and Utah State. Air last winning season came in second year at the helm of the Falcons in 1973 with a 14-10 standard. Last season the Falcons were 11-13.

Four seniors will be closing out their Air Force careers. captain guards Dan Kraft and Jeff Graves and front liners Jim Eken and Jeff Thomas. Kraft is the leading scorer as well as the top free throw shooter in the country. Graves leads the club in assists as well as being a stalwart de-i clubs with Denver winning the fensive player, Eken has been during his Air Force career and is the second leading scorer as well as a top rebounder, Thomas has been used sparingly during the season. Friday night, Kraft came off the bench to lead the Falcons to their victory over Irvine.

It was called by some, the finest game of the season. Kraft hit nine straight buckets and finished with 24 points 12 of 15 from the floor for one of his better outings of the winter. Eken had 10 rebounds. encounter will be the second meeting of the two initial contest 68-59 at the academy. Air Force shot 40 percent from the floor against the Pioneers, but it enough to subdue the club, many figure has the best talent in the region.

Denver is 10-15 and aI.so will close out its season. The Pioneers lead in the series with Air Force 19-10. CUSTOM BUILT STORM WINDOWS REPAIRED-REPLACED OLOACH HOME IMPROVEMENT CENTER Gazette Telegraph Miising? Dial 632-5511 before 8 m. weekdays: 2 p.m. weekends.

Canon City 275-2818. District Tourneys This Week on to district competition 0 Florence, Lewis-Palmer, Canon City Abbey, Ellicott and Simla. For the area Class AAA basketball teams, there are still league to be fought. The South Central League wraps up regular season play Tuesday night with the primary objective breaking up a three- way deadlock for third. Pueblo South, the SCL champion, will be looking for a perfect season as it travels to Palmer.

The Colts have run away with the SCL crown, chalking up a 17-0 record in the process. Coronado, with second place locked up at 12-5, visits Mitchell. The big logjam is for third place witii Widefield, Harrison and Pueblo East sporting 9-8 records. Should all three win Tuesday night, positioning in the league tourney (Thursday and Friday at Widefield) would be determined by records in the second round of action. I Th second through fifth place teams square off in the tourney.

The tourney champ then advances to the state festival March 12-15. Tuesday. Harrison hosts Cen- Widefield is at Central! and East draws Wasson. All are '8 p.m. games.

The Souhern League kicks off (Continued On Page 11-A).