Sidelines

Fleet on his feet

Heptathlete Todd Joki was selected as the Mid-American Conference's men's track and field athlete of the week for his performance in Buffalo's first meet of the season, the Black Squirrel Invitational at Kent State University, held last week. Joki's total of 4,842 points in the seven-event competition gave him an easy overall victory. The next closest competitor was more than 400 points behind him. Joki won four of the seven events, finishing first in the first three events of the competition: the 60-meter dash, the long jump and the shot put. The other event that Joki won was the 60-meter hurdle event, which kicked off the second day of action.

In addition to the MAC honors that he won, Joki's score qualifies him for the IC4A Championships that are held in March in Boston. This marks a good start for Joki, who ended last season on a strong note when he was named the indoor track team's MVP after posting a third place finish in the heptathlon at the MAC Championships.

Triple play

UB head softball coach Marie Curran recently announced the signing of three student-athletes to national letters of intent to attend the University at Buffalo. Dana Carter of Williamsville, Kim Hanzlian of Cheektowaga, and Erin Zilka of Benicia, Calif. have all committed to attending UB as student-athletes.

Carter is a first baseman and a pitcher for Williamsville South High School. She was a big part of the school's undefeated season last year, and was an All-Western New York and first-team all-State selection, as well as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School all-American. She has been the captain of both her high school softball team and soccer team.

The other local player the Bulls picked up, Kim Hanzlian, is a catcher for John F. Kennedy High School in Cheektowaga where she captains the softball and volleyball teams. She was a second-team all-State selection last season, and was named the ECIC Conference Player of the Year.

Erin Zilka is an outfielder for Benicia High School in California. She was a first-team all-Conference selection in the Southern California Athletic Conference last year. Zilka is the fourth player from California to join the UB softball roster.

Steps toward AD

The University at Buffalo has hired Gene Corrigan to serve as an athletics consultant. Corrigan's main job will be to assess the progress of the University at Buffalo's athletics programs and make recommendations to the University towards achieving its specified goals within the MAC.

Corrigan has served as the commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Athletic Director at Notre Dame, and the President of the NCAA. In addition to helping the University achieve its athletic goals within the MAC, his report will become a main factor in UB President John Simpson's search for a new athletic director, a search expected to commence in March of this year.