1995_11 Insight November 1995

              NOVEMBER 1,1995
Sports
Swim team looks
to build on success
by Todd Warshaw
Staff Writer
•   Altitude is everything.
That motto is written across a chalkboard overlooking the Fresno State swim
team's practice.
Soon after a Ihird place finish al last
year's Wesiern Athletic Conference championships, 15 reluming team members
met wiih Coach Danielle Irle lo discuss
how the team would approach the current season.
The entire group agreed lhat to improve
at the national level, work had to start
immediately, in mid-April.
With almost no
break, the team
has trained harder    ^^^^^^™«"
and with more intensity than previous seasons, according to Irle.
"Six weeks inlo
thc season, we're
faster now than at
any point last season." Irle said. __^^^___
breaking into a
smile while intently watching a mid-afternoon practice.
"And I thought last season was great."
she said.
The limes being reached this early in
thc season are exactly what the coaching
stall" has aimed for. A big part of this
season's motivation came from lasi season, when the team defeated two nationally-ranked teams.
Despite the victories. Fre>no Stale remained unranked.
"Put this team al Noire Dame or Tennessee, they would be ranked" Irle said
of her Bulldogs.
National recognition doesn't come easily in collegiate swimming. It takes strong
showings all season long. Fresno Slate
team members have reached mid-season
form early."-
Coming inlo fall training, the biggest
concern facing Irle and assistant coach
Tara Brady was the incoming freshman
class. New to both Division I athletics and
the college atmosphere, getting freshman
team members into the How of practice
and school was crucial.
Alter last week's tri-tneel at Berkeley
against Cal and San Jose State, the Bull-
tk ig freshmen pn >vcd to their coaches and
their team they were a vital pan of the
program.
Nicole Brushey (freestyle) and Mary
Comstock (breasuiokc) made thc transition to Iresno Stale quickly, according to
Irle.
Reaching the NCAA championships is
extremely challenging in swimming.
Junior Justyn lliff conditionally qualified last season, and is aiming lo reach
an automatic qualifying time in her spe-
aliy. lhe 50-mctcr freestyle
Middle
ier Karen
Gallagher and
individual medley specialist
MarLyn Julian
are bolh striving
to reach the
NCAA meei in
Iheir respective
The      most
team-oriented
        events, the relays, have been
producing extremely well for Fresno Stale in recent
seasons. These events raise team intensity.
"We've been swimming great in individuals, and amazing on relay; "
"Six weeks into the
season, we're faster
than at any point last
season."
— Swimming coach
Danielle Irle
Irle
In order to improve on last season's
third place finish at lhe WAC championships, lhe Bulldogs will depend on
their depth in several events.
Fresno State is strongest in the
brcastrokc. with lhe Bulldogs reaching
six of the lop eight spots in the WAC.
In the backstroke, sprint freestyle and
distance freestyle, the Bulldogs are
posting three to five of the top ten WAC
One of thc strongest 200 and 500 free
irios in the conference. Karen
Gallagher. Patti Glosecki and Becky
Stover; will be called upon for big performances.
After last season's butterfly standout
Yv cite Tristan graduated, this seems to
be a weak event. Taking Tristan's place
is Tricia Stanard. who has already
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equaled her personal best in-season
time from last season.
Ami Bodas has also contributed in the
butterfly, reaching tunes m the 21K) tlv
close to Tristan's.
Two of the lop backstroke specialists.
Katie Henry and Amalia Gonzales, liav e
also been helping in the butterfly events.
The improvement at each swimmer's
lop event has lead to greater confidence,
which improves team depth even more.
"We can swim in our third and fourth
events and still be as gixid as any in the
conference." Irle said.
Better recruits choosing Fresno State in
recent years have alsohelped with the
ability lo swim multiple events, giving the
group even more diversity
With three down and 11 more meets ami
invnationals to go. the Bulldogs have
shown depth, confidence ;ind great mental toughness.
One of the biggest meets of the seasi >n
will be at Reno on Dec. 9. Reno has defeated the Bulldogs tha-e years in a row.
Irle is very confident going into the meet
this time.
"Mercy on Reno." she said noting the
intensity the team has been maintaining
throughout the still-young season.
The rest of the schedule provides no
breaks for the team, alter competing this
past weekend al the USC invitational.
Sneedo Cup Inv iiauonal in early December and the WAC championships in February.
A little over one-third of the season has
passed and these swimmers have earned
the respect and admiration of Bulldog
coaches.
"And I don't admire very many people."
Irle said with a confident smile and intense eves, "but I admire this team."
Casner maintains success
after change in position
•*► This is the 2nd story
in a series foe using on
Fresno State athletes
by Brent Liescheidt
Sport! lull tor
For lhc average human, a (v-loot. 3-
irx:h. 245-pound frame is intimidaung.
But when you're playing on the decisive line m Division I football, that
si/e is anything hut scary
When vou're lined up against offensive linemen w ho arc 6-6.310 pounds.
it> lough to out-play them at 6-3. 245.
Bulldog lineman Steve Casner can
attest to that.
After his first four seasons at Fresno
Stale al outside linebacker. Casner
found himself cast into a new role
There was a vacancy at lhe right defensive end position on the line.
Casner found himself filling that v old.
The lineman spot isn't anything new
for Casner. In high school, hc played
varsity tixiiball for 3 years in Vacaville.
Calif. His junior year ended with an
all-league selection. His senior year hc
earned bolh All-Northern California
and All-Slate honors for small schools.
The transition to the defensive line at
Fresno Stale has been tough for Casner.
"I'm not particularly happy or sad
about my performance |this vear].*'
Casner said. "I don't pass nish as well
as I'd like, but my run-defense is pn.it>
good
"Overall there are still improvements
I need to make."
Pletty giHxl run-defense doesn't do
Casnerjusrjce. Casner iseurrenily third
on the team with 50 tackles.
Photo courtesy Sports Information
Lineman Steve Casner has made the position switch smoothly.
about every home game." he said.
"My brother Hew to Hawaii lo see
us play in the Aloha Bowl."
Casner is planning on graduating
from Fresno State this spring with a
degree in criminology. He would like
to continue play ing at the next level
next vear. hut he's honest when discussing his chances.. | playing in the
pros.
"Yeah. I'd like to plav al the next
level, but I'm not stupid." Casner
said. "I know that I'm. for the most
part, average at best"
"In football I'm not the strongest
player, or by any means the biggest
plav er. I try to make up for it by play -
iiil' as intelligent]), and as hard as I
His sack numbers aren'l quite as a >m-
purablc: 2 sacks for 17 yards |< >si. I Ii iw -
ever, it's enough to be ued for second
on the team, only i xk-sack shv ot Br> an
Robinson's team lead
Casner has his own opinion of the
team's season. "As far as wins go. we're
quite where we wanted to be."
Casi
■ still C.
rota
own destiny.   The last two years.
when we vvon shares of the WAC.
lost two games in the conference.
11 t w
Who's to Si
five games, and have the same avord
as those years." he said.
Casner's family has always been
supportive throughout his football-
pl.iv ing career. They've been tojust
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