They Might Be Young, But They're Good
With three All-Americans turning pro at the conclusion of the 1998 season, the women's tennis team is serving up one of the youngest squads in NCAA history. The lineup that is looking to defend its Pac-10 championship: four freshmen, a sophomore and two juniors. The team is anchored by junior Teryn Ashley, an All-American, and freshman Marissa Irvin, who was ranked 50th in the country before ever playing a collegiate event. The women started the season with six straight wins, three against Pac-10 opponents.
Men Swimmers Paddle to Another Great Season
The men's swimming team seems to be on its way to claiming its 18th consecutive Pac-10 title. The squad already holds the conference record for the most consecutive titles in any sport; that mark was previously held by UCLA's men's basketball teams under legendary John Wooden. Ranked No. 1 in the nation, the Cardinal swimmers were undefeated with just one meet left in a regular season that included a dramatic win early on against No. 2 Texas in Austin. The team later posted road wins at No. 5 Arizona and No. 10 Arizona State. Eight seniors will graduate this spring, including four NCAA champions.
Recruiting Report: Standout Quarterback
Stanford snared letters of intent from 16 football recruits, including quarterback Chris Lewis, one of the most honored high school players in the country. Lewis, whose sister Robyn plays volleyball at Stanford, set a California record for 107 touchdown passes in his career at Long Beach Poly High School. Coach Tyrone Willingham also recruited two top players from Canada, running back Kerry Carter and defensive end Louis Hobson. Most analysts place the recruiting class -- which includes 13 prep All-Americans -- among the nation's top 20.
After Hitting Rough Water, Women Swim Strong
Ranked No. 1 at the start of the season, the women's swimming team encountered some deep water early on. Slowed by illness and injuries, the Cardinal lost to No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Arizona. Coach Richard Quick, who began the season with a 74-1 overall record, steered the swimmers to victory over highly ranked USC, SMU and Texas. By early February, the women had posted 13 times that qualify for postseason competition -- five of them belonging to sophomore Misty Hyman.
