Messenger - Vol. 1, No. 3, Page 12
Spring 1992
Scoreboard Winter athletic roundup

Men's basketball (27-4, 14-0  North Atlantic Conference (NAC), NAC
Champions, NCAA Tournament)
     Blue Hen men's basketball head coach Steve Steinwedel called it a
"once in a lifetime" season. And it was.
     The Blue Hens electrified fans all season long: Winning a school
record 27 games, including 20 straight wins at one point, shattering
attendance records, going 14-0 in NAC play and sweeping through the
NAC playoffs with a 92-68 win over Drexel at Delaware Field House
before a live national television audience on ESPN. The team advanced
to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history before
falling to Final Four participant Cincinnati. More than 50 school
records were set in the process.
     Senior forward Alex Coles (14.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) was named
first-team, All-NAC and NAC Tournament Most Valuable Player; senior
guard Mark Murray (13.9 ppg) also earned first-team, All-NAC
recognition; and 6-2 freshman sensation Brian Pearl (10.5 ppg, 4.5
assists per game) was named NAC Rookie of the Year. Starters Anthony
Wright (11.3 ppg) and 6-11 Spencer Dunkley (10.7 ppg, 8.8 rpg, school
record 44 blocked shots) and top reserves Denard Montgomery (7.2, 5.2
rpg) and Ricky Deadwyler (7.6 ppg, 38 three-pointers) also played key
roles in making 1991-92 the greatest season in U.D. basketball
history.


Women's basketball (15-14, 7-7 NAC)
     The women's basketball team also excelled in its first year in
the NAC, posting the team's fifth straight winning season (15-14)
under head coach Joyce Perry. The team was led by NAC Co-Player of the
Year, 5 foot-11 inch senior forward Jennifer Riley (16.0 ppg, 7.2
rpg); and NAC Rookie of the Year, 6 foot-1 inch freshman center
Colleen McNamara (11.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.8 blocks per game). The Blue
Hens defeated Boston University 77-75 in the quarterfinals before
falling to NCAA tournament participant Vermont 82-66 in the
semifinals.


Women's swimming (8-4, second place NAC Championships)
     It was also a banner year in the water. The women's swimming team
posted an 8-4 dual record and finished a strong second at the NAC
championships hosted by Delaware Feb. 28-March 1 at the Harry Rawstrom
Pool. Led by NAC Coach of the Year John Hayman, the team set seven
school records at the NAC meet with junior Chris Helondovitch leading
the way. Helondovitch placed first in the 50 freestyle (U.D. and NAC
record time of 24.52) and teamed with Liz Wilson, Rachel Berkowitz and
Kim Castellanos to win the 800 freestyle relay (U.D. and NAC record
7:52.71) and with Castellanos, Wilson and Liz Coogan to win the 400
freestyle relay (U.D. and NAC record 3:34.93). The Hens also finished
second with school record times in the 200 freestyle relay (1:38.93)
and the 200 medley relay (1:52.02). Individually, Castellanos placed
second in the 200 backstroke with a U.D. record 2:09.57, while
Helondovitch was second in the 100 freestyle with a record time of
53.44.


Men's swimming (5-7, second place NAC Championships)
     The U.D. men swimmers also had plenty to cheer about this winter,
placing second in the NAC championships, which they hosted Feb.
28-March 1 at Harry Rawstrom Pool. The Hens won just one event, the
200 medley relay team of Mike Brown, Andy Palmer, Pete Holcroft and
Clint Tracy in a NAC record time of 1:35.02, but it was depth that led
the squad. Palmer placed second individually in the 100- and 200-yard
breaststrokes; Tracy was second in the 50 freestyle; and the 400
medley relay team of Pat Mead, Palmer, Steve Blanchard and Holcroft
also placed second.


Women's indoor track and field (7-2, fourth place NAC Championships)
     Head coach Susan McGrath-Powell's women's indoor track squad
posted its 13th straight winning season with a 7-2 dual mark, placing
fourth at the NAC championships. Blue Hen records include four by
junior Jill Riblett in the 800 meters (2:18.05), 1,000 meters
(2:54.47), 1,500 meters (4:46.10) and in the two-mile relay (9:35.14)
with Amy Oppermann, Mary Caceres and Marnie Giunta. Riblett earned
All-East honors by placing fourth in the 1,000 meters at the ECAC meet
at Syracuse.


Men's indoor track and field (11-2, third place NAC Championships)
     Head coach Jim Fischer's squad posted a third-place finish at the
NAC championships Feb. 22 in Boston, capping another strong season by
the Blue Hens who posted their 18th straight .500 or better dual meet
season with an 11-2 mark. Long jumper Rob Graham was virtually
unbeatable in his event as he won the NAC title (23-8) and also placed
first in the Delaware Open and Delaware Invitational. Other NAC
champions for the Hens were high jumper Bob Bechtold (6-7 1/2) and Tim
Jacobs in the 55-meter dash (6.43). Graham and Jacobs established new
school records in their events.
                                        -Scott Selheimer