The NCAA News - Briefly in the News

May 18, 1997

Champions can learn a lot from each other.

While members of this year's University of North Dakota women's basketball team were defending their Division II national championship, they found someone to encourage in an even more important struggle.

One of their fans, Barbie McCambridge, a 10-year-old girl from nearby Grafton, North Dakota, suffers from clear-cell sarcoma, a type of cancer. Team members developed a relationship with McCambridge after she had a birthday party with them before the North Central regional.

As the season went on, the team drew strength from McCambridge and she drew strength from it. She made visits to the locker room after games, team members visited her and she even named her birds after team members.

After North Dakota won the regional title and a berth in the Women's Elite Eight in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, arrangements were made to keep McCambridge connected with the team's success.

A generous gift from employees at Altru Health Systems and the Grand Forks Kiwanis Club allowed McCambridge and her mother, Gail, to travel to Arkansas.

"Barbie is an inspiration to all of us," said sophomore forward Katie Richards. "She has taught us all to be grateful for all things in life and not to be worried about all of the little things.

"Barbie has taught me that you should be happy for where you are now and be grateful for what is yet to come," Richards added. "Barbie is my hero."

Richards carried McCambridge on to the court as the Fighting Sioux received their national championship watches after their 92-76 victory over Emporia State University.

And, while the season has ended, the encouragement continues. McCambridge has undergone several procedures as her fight against cancer continues. The Fighting Sioux have been right by her side, patiently waiting to see her.

"Having Barbie around is a blessing in itself," said senior forward Elisha Kabanuk. "She has shown all of us how to be strong mentally and physically against something so unexpected and undesirable."

Sometimes a little champion can make a big difference.

Steroids and swing sets?

Some children as young as 10 are taking illegal steroids to improve their performance in sports, according to the first survey to look at the use of the drugs as early as fifth grade.

The Associated Press reported that the survey found that 2.7 percent of 965 youngsters questioned at four Massachusetts middle schools are using anabolic steroids.

The use among middle-school girls was almost as prevalent as it was among boys. Steroid use was reported by 2.8 percent of boys and 2.6 percent of girls.

Experts report that these statistics represent a significant problem.

"We have thought that it has been a problem primarily of high-school and college students," said Robert W. Blum, professor of pediatrics and director of adolescent health at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Charles E. Yesalis, a Pennsylvania State University expert on steroids, said the results of the anonymous survey were consistent with his observations. "I'm not shocked, I'm sorry to say," he said.

How's this for a streak?

The Kalamazoo College men's tennis team recently captured its 60th consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title.

The Hornets scored 108 points to win the title, their 68th overall.

Kalamazoo has won the MIAA men's tennis title every season since 1936, except for the 1944-46 seasons when no champion was crowned because of World War II.

Senior Steve Nasson helped keep another streak alive when he was named the MIAA's most valuable player. Nasson became the 13th consecutive Hornets player to win that honor. Hornets coach Timon Corwin started that streak by winning the award in 1986.

--Compiled by Kay Hawes

Division II notes

Facilities: Texas Woman's University has named its new athletics facility Kitty Winter Magee Arena in honor of a woman who dedicated more than 30 years to elevating women's athletics. The arena is part of the university's $17 million Pioneer Hall. Magee, now 85, is an alumna and retired professor. Over her career, she developed course outlines for sports and taught such courses as field hockey, horseback riding and fencing, among others. She also was instrumental in developing the university's intercollegiate athletics program and was a founding member of the Texas Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women ... Bryant College has announced plans for a 2,000-seat football stadium. The design for the project, expected to cost between $600,000 and $700,000, is nearly complete. The facility also will be used for intercollegiate soccer. Bryant is expected to play a full schedule in football beginning with the 1999 season.

Sports sponsorship: Regis University (Colorado) has announced that it will add women's lacrosse to its varsity sports lineup, effective with the 1999-2000 academic year. Regis has fielded a women's lacrosse squad at the club level for the past two seasons. Current coach Jake Young will head the varsity program ... In addition to football, Bryant College is adding other sports as part of its strategic plan for intercollegiate athletics. Field hockey will begin its first full season in fall 1999, and programs in men's and women's lacrosse and women's golf are expected to augment the college's 14 current sports programs by 2002.

Milestones: Irish O'Reilly, Lewis University, 800 victories in baseball. O'Reilly is the 21st Division II baseball coach to win that many games ... Nancy Roby, Eckerd College, 100 wins in women's softball.

Miscellaneous: The College of Saint Rose baseball team hit nine home runs in a 20-4 victory over Queens College (New York) April 4. The Knights fell just short of the all-time Division II record for home runs in a game (11, Francis Marion, 1993).

-- Compiled by David Pickle