Clemson guard T.J. Sapp is driven to become a better player in 2012-'13. Photo by Rex Brown
By Philip Sikes
CLEMSON — Clemson’s five scholarship freshmen combined to average 14.1 points and 6.4 rebounds in an average of 56 total minutes per game. For the Tigers to show improvement in 2011-12, Head Coach Brad Brownellknows this group’s development is arguably the program’s biggest storyline in the offseason.
Clemson's Josipa Bek closes out a fairy tale career by setting the school record for career wins. Photo by Dawson Powers
By Will Vandervort
ATHENS, GA — Though her team lost 4-3 to No. 6 Georgia in the second round of the NCAA Tennis Tournament Saturday at the Dan Magil Tennis Complex in Athens, GA, Nancy Harris said watching Josipa Bek was like watching the final chapter of a fairy tale movie.
Hunter Harrington returns a back-hand winner in a match against Virginia Tech last month. Photo by Rex Brown
By William Qualkinbush
CLEMSON — Men’s tennis coach Chuck McCuen made it a point this season to challenge his team with a rigorous schedule and numerous
individual challenges. While the Tigers fell short of reaching the NCAA Tournament, there were tangible signs that McCuen’s strategy helped to grow the program in important ways.
Clemson defenisve end Andre Branch celebrates a sack against Auburn last September. Branch was selected as the No. 38 pick Friday night in the 2012 NFL Draft. Photo by Rex Brown
CLEMSON — Andre Branch does not feel like he can be blocked, and at times last year he proved that.
The former Clemson star ended his college career with 10.5 sacks in 2011 to lead the ACC, while helping the Tigers win their first ACC Championship since 1991.
Clemson's Keri Wong has won 24 matches this year. Photo by Rex Brown
Wong accepts her role as Clemson’s No. 1
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — When Duke challenged Clemson on March 30 and requested Josipa Bek, who had been struggling due to an injury, drop to the second flight in singles, Keri Wong knew it was her time to step up.
However, moving up from flight two was not an easy task at first. In her first two matches at No. 1, she struggled, dropping both to Duke and North Carolina.
“That was a big jump for me,” the senior from Jackson, MS said. “I know it is just one position, but right when I moved up to one, I lost those two matches and then I kind of got it going.”
Wong started rolling. She rolled off four straight victories to end the regular season, helping the Tigers to a 15-8 record and the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament.
“Keri is fueled by brains and hard work,” Clemson head coach Nancy Harris said.
Both of the elements have allowed Wong to become one of the best female players to wear Clemson’s Orange and White. A two-time All-American, Wong has won 102 matches in her four-year career, including an impressive 24 victories this season.
Though off the court Wong is bubbly and full confidence, on the court she is a master craftsman as she dices up her opponents with precision like shots to the corners and then hits them with a drop shot that has them gasping for air as they try to play catch up.
She does all of this without showing any emotion. Like a good poker player, Wong rarely shows her hand.
“She is like a surgeon with a tennis racket,” Harris said. “She is just so smart and she places the ball as well as anyone I have ever coached.
She is so fun to watch.”
Wong has also become a good leader, especially on a team that has so many young players. Alongside Bek, who is also a senior, she has
helped set a great example by working hard and by being enthusiastic with everything they are asked to do.
“They have set a great example for our freshmen, who we love,” Harris said. “They will remember this season and when they are seniors they will look back and remember how this group of seniors responded in certain situations and how they handled themselves.
“We challenge our young players all the time to step into the shoes of our seniors and be as good as you can be, whatever that is.”
If they do that, maybe they can have the success Bek and Wong have had as individuals and as doubles players. As double partners, the two
teamed up to be the No. 1 ranked team in the nation at one time. They finished as runner-ups in the NCAA Championships last year, while compiling a 39-14 record.
Though the two did not play with each other until they were juniors, they have combined to become the two most successful doubles players
in Clemson history.
“It took us a little while to get used to each other, but in our junior year, things just clicked,” Wong said. “I feel confident with Jo and I hope she feels confident with me.”
Bek does.
“It was tough at first, but we have had a lot of good moments,” Bek said.
Moments that are still in the making for the Tigers. Clemson will prepare for the NCAA Tournament, which will begin on May 11 at a site that
has not been determined, and then its on to the individual championships, which will begin later next month in Athens, GA.
“We still have a ways to go so it isn’t over yet,” Wong said.
And Wong is sure to do her best to make sure it does end any time soon.
ACC Champion April Sinkler will try to help Clemson win its sixth straight ACC Championship this weekend in Charlottesville, Va. Photo by Rex Brown
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — When you win multiple championships and have athletes on your team that are competing for National, World and Olympic gold,
it can be difficult for a coach to keep his squad focused on what the No. 1 goal is as a team.
With a core group of seniors that have won three straight ACC Indoor titles and two Outdoor championships, plus a group of up-and-comers that are making a splash on both the conference and national level, Clemson track coach Lawrence Johnson has the task of keeping his women’s track program hungry for both individual and team success at the same time.
Clemson will host the ACC Rowing Championships for a third straight year. Photo by Rex Brown
By Chandler Carver
CLEMSON — The ACC Championship is always one of the highlights of the season for the Clemson rowing team, especially when it takes place on their home water.
For the 10 time since it’s inception in 2000, and the third consecutive year, the ACC Rowing Championship this coming Saturday will be held at Lake Hartwell.
The Clemson Spirit squad finished third at the National Cheer competition last week in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Rex Brown
Rally Cats finish fifth
By Will Vandervort
CLEMSON — At eight months pregnant, it’s probably not a good idea for Clemson Spirit Squad Coordinator Kristin Kropf to jump up out of her chair and celebrate with her cheerleaders. But, that’s exactly what she did last Monday night at Jervey Gymnasium after her squad nailed their performance during the Spirit Squad and the Rally Cats Exhibition Show prior to last week’s National Championships.
“I know, she is really pregnant, she doesn’t need to be doing that. She is going to go into labor,” senior cheerleader Jalonna Kearney laughed. “But she was really proud of us. That was the first time we hit the routine.”
