SPORTSBRIEFS

Author: RYAN REESE, SPORTS EDITOR

Guza '05 knocks out NESCAC

Senior Lauren Guza pounded her way through the past week and her efforts did not go unnoticed. While putting up otherworldly numbers on the diamond, the senior led the Panthers through the last seven days and notched four important conference wins and a 5-1 record for the week as the native Californian was recognized as the NESCAC's Player of the Week. Guza's .667 batting average summarizes this impressive six game winning stretch. Within this run, Guza hit .643, scored five runs, knocked in five more and simply dominated this weekend's conference road sweep. The senior will lead the Panthers into action against the Bates Bearcats this Tuesday before they head into battle against rival Amherst this upcoming weekend. Guza helped lead the team through an intense transition that has seen the Panthers accomplish some amazing things. The team notched the best record in school history last year and this year's squad seems poised to live up to lofty expectations. With NESCAC glory on the horizon, Guza will play an important role in the remainder of Middlebury's season.



Women's golf kicks off season

The Ralph Mhyre Golf Course opened up this past weekend and golfers of all abilities turned out to dust off the firesticks and attempt to correct the chronic slice. The Middlebury women's golf squad, who started off their spring campaign this past weekend, would make quick work of the amateur duffers in no time flat. The Panthers traveled to Wellesley in order to participate in the six-team invitational. Middlebury started the year off fairly well with a finish in the middle of the pack. The women ended the weekend occupying the third position. Heather Gallagher '07 carded in the team's best overall score with a two-day total of 160. Sophomore Kerry Ortega turned in a 180 for the team's second best finish with Karen Levin '08 right on her heels with a 182. First-year Tory MacNeill, fresh off Middlebury's national championship women's ice hockey team, contributed to the effort with a 185, and Allison Ortega '07 rounded out the team with a solid 190. The women's squad will be in action again this upcoming weekend and the Jack Leaman Championship at Amherst before concluding the season at home on April 30.



Tennis Golf finds its niche

The creative minds of Middlebury's sports enthusiasts have concocted yet another amazing activity that can serve as a crosstraining tool for any kind of athlete or a truly competitive endeavor that requires complete and utter dedication. The sport combines finesse and precision with power and strength in order to synthesize a beautiful game that already has a devoted following and will soon catch on with many others. The game: Tennis Golf. While using tennis rackets and balls, a hole is specified and then completed to the exact rules of championship golf. With extreme distances involved, holes can become quite lengthy and quite innovative. One group of players has a grueling fifth hole that tees off from the recycling center, winds along Bicentennial Road, enters John McCardell Bicentennial Hall, catches the elevators to the third floor and ends at the building's main entrance. The game is highly competitive and exciting. Truly gifted players are able to chip in from incredible distances while crushing drives halfway across campus. The sports editors of The Campus highly recommend the game to all, so you better grab your Prince or your Head and start wailing.