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June 2005
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Volume 1, Issue 9 |
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Jumpin' with Jas
Grizzly Times made a trip to Dornblaser Field in late May and caught up with junior high jumper Jas Gill as he was practicing for the NCAA Midwest Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Norman, Okla. MORE
Summer Vacations: Griz Head Coaches
Grizzly Times asked each of UM's mentors what big summer plans they have scheduled in order to get away from the daily demands of their jobs, and what they do at home and around Missoula on a regular basis to clear their minds. MORE
A letter from Athletic Director Don Read
You should know one thing for sure, that being, I am feeling younger than it says on my driver’s license! MORE
GSA and other Announcements
Check out the announcements for the UM Athletic Department and the Grizzly Scholarship Association. MORE
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Click below for complete statistical capsule
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| Jumpin' with Jas |
Grizzly Times made a trip to Dornblaser Field in late May and caught up with junior high jumper Jas Gill as he was practicing for the NCAA Midwest Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Norman, Okla. Gill, the school record-holder who has six Big Sky Conference high jump titles (three indoor, three outdoor), took some time out of his preparations to give GT an instructional on how he is able to jump over seven feet with regularity.
THE MARK: You want to have a starting mark that you can be consistent with. Consistency is one of the biggest things that you need in high jump because you are pretty much doing the same motion every jump. The only thing that is changing is the height of the bar.
My starting mark is 45 feet, three-quarters inch back and 12 feet, six inches out from the standard. That gives me nine running steps on my approach. I use the center of the standard for my measurement because that reference point is always going to be there. It doesn't matter how long the crossbar is.
Once I'm at my mark, I build up adrenalin for the jump and go through the steps of the jump in my head. You've got to picture what you are going to do. I just try to focus on being fluid and relaxed.
THE RUN-UP: I know this sounds weird, but you want to have a run-up where you can be both aggressive and relaxed. For me the run-up is five strides, then I go into the bar. That's something that I've made consistent from my off-season training. Previously I just used a mid-mark and no starting mark. I would run into that mark and then get into my strides, so I had a different approach nearly every time. With the consistent starting mark, and no mid-mark, I've really felt like it's helped me improve my jumping.
THE APPROACH: This is where you put yourself in a great position for takeoff. For me, I'm coming from the right-hand side, so my focus needs to be on the far back corner of the mats. The foot you eventually take off with should be facing that direction.
When you reach the bar, you want to be about an arm's length away and try not to get too sideways. If that happens, you know you are going to go up, but you are not going to have the velocity to carry you over the bar.
THE KNEE DRIVE: The knee drive should be loose and relaxed and that should bring you up to vertical.
THE ARCH: When you reach the bar, as soon as you feel your center of gravity get over the bar, you go into your arch. Arching is mostly flexibility, so you've got to have great flexibility to be a great high jumper.
GETTING OVER THE BAR: Getting over the bar is pretty much knowing when to pull out of your arch. Then you've hit the mats and you've completed your jump.
AT THE NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL: Down to his last jump at Norman, Okla., on Friday, May 27, Gill came through with a jump of 7-1 to claim the NCAA Midwest Region's fifth and final spot for June's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Gill finished ninth with a jump of 7-1.5 at the NCAA's final meet in Sacramento, Calif.
Gill hopes to compete for Canada at this summer's World University Games in Izmir, Turkey.
THE TESTIMONIAL:
"Jas has been jumping at a consistently high level for his three years at Montana," Griz track and field coach Tom Raunig says. "That he has not lost a Big Sky Conference high jump competition - either indoor or outdoor - during that time is a pretty good indication that he is very sound in his technique. Even more impressive is that he is not as tall as a lot of other high jumpers, so he does not have much room for error, technically-speaking.
"Even so, he's got more in him."
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| Summer Vacations: Griz Head Coaches |
Between camps, clinics, GSA commitments, recruiting and preseason planning (among other things), there really is no off-season for Montana's head coaches. Grizzly Times asked each of UM's mentors what big summer plans they have scheduled in order to get away from the daily demands of their jobs, and what they do at home and around Missoula on a regular basis to clear their minds.
Nikki Best - volleyball
(husband Dave)
Summer vacation plans: “We're heading to northern Minnesota in June for a fishing vacation with Dave's family at Leech Lake.”
Ways to relax near home: “I go to yoga class. I like to garden. Dave and I like to go to the Farmers Market and do some short camping trips. Basically we just enjoy doing all the unique things that Missoula offers.”
Bobby Hauck - football
(wife Stacey, children Ali, Robby and Sydney)
Summer vacation plans: “We don't have anything major planned, but we'll try to get up to the lake (west of Kalispell) as much as possible.”
Ways to relax near home: “I spend a lot of time at little league baseball games watching the kids play. I'll try to get out fishing as many days as I can. Right now, looking at my schedule, I'll have maybe four days for that (laughing). I'll also get in a round of golf here and there."
Larry Krystkowiak - basketball
(wife Jan, children Cameron, Luc and Ben)
Summer vacation plans: “We plan to get to either Florida or California and jump into the Disney celebration. We'll probably also get to San Diego to partake in some beach activities.”
Ways to relax near home: “It's mostly involvement with the kids. We try to keep them busy. And I work out every day for peace of mind.”
Kris Nord - tennis
(wife Robi, children Anders and Isak)
Summer vacation plans: “We have two goals. One is to get the kids up to Glacier Park. The other is to get to the coast, maybe in Washington. But neither of our kids have been to Glacier Park, so that is our first priority.”
Ways to relax near home: “Get on my mountain bike. We live up the Rattlesnake, so I just head out the door and go. Also, just working around the house.”
Tom Raunig - cross country, track and field
(wife Katie)
Summer vacation plans: “I'm planning to go to Seattle for five days to visit family and friends. We'll also spend some time up at our cabin at Swan Lake.”
Ways to relax near home: “I get in a run every morning. We've got lots of relatives in the area, so there are a lot of family events going on almost all summer.”
Neil Segwick - soccer
(wife Riki)
Summer vacation plans: “I'm doing the Coeur d'Alene Ironman in late June. We'll go up a couple of days before the race, and that will be my time to get away from things.”
Ways to relax near home: “Running and biking and training, just getting ready for Coeur d'Alene. I'm a one-dimensional guy.”
Robin Selvig - basketball
(wife Janie, adult sons Jeff and Dan)
Summer vacation plans: “I've already done it. We took a nine-day trip to Brazil to meet the family of my son's fiancée.”
Ways to relax near home: “I like to garden and mountain bike.”
Joanne Steele - golf
(husband Cory, children Alexis and Sydnie)
Summer vacation plans: “Nothing real spectacular. We always go to Spokane every summer. We usually don’t take the golf clubs, and the girls like to go swimming. It just gets us out of Missoula.”
Ways to relax near home: “I go golfing. I know, that’s pretty sad. And we do whatever the kids want to do. They are into every sport right now, and they are still at the age where they want to be around mom and dad. They still think we’re pretty cool, but I know that won’t be the case in another five years.”
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| A letter from Athletic Director Don Read |
Montana A.D. Don Read |
You should know one thing for sure, that being, I am feeling younger than it says on my driver’s license! No doubt the Geritol this (never could beat the U of M Alumni) football coach of yesteryear consumes is influencing his thinking. So please temper the thoughts in this letter as you best see fit. It’s my way of attempting, nonetheless, a youthful impression of the old coach’s mental state and what he thinks to be important. Accepting my status or not, my time of serving the Griz is rapidly coming to a halt. This being said, you should understand, good friend, it is with a tear in my eye and a pounding heart I end my tenure here at this great University.
More than anything else, however, this now senior citizen will miss the literally thousands of wonderful folks that are part of our Grizzly family. To you I say thanks, for your time and for caring –for believing with your unwavering faith in our mission. You must know, believe me, you have played a large part in our efforts. No institution of higher learning could possibly have more enthusiasm and pride among its supporters. Truly, Grizzly Athletics are special and you, plus individuals like you, are the reason why this is so.
This year we in athletics (coaches, athletes & staff) have also been blessed with much support and positive guidance from main hall. To this fact I want to tell you the efforts on our behalf by the President and his staff toward our department has been exceptional. How very fortunate we are to have the vision and commitment we do from President George Dennison. His dedication and never ending encouragement has moved athletics forward year after year. The leadership he has provided, as well as his continuing vigilance in attempting to make Grizzly Athletics all they can be, is extraordinary. President Dennison has been a champion for our cause and receives little credit for his on-going labor. So fellow Griz, I say to you, let’s recognize the great help this man has given us. Few University Presidents provide the quality of guidance we too often take for granted here at the University of Montana. A winner he is!
My letter to you would be incomplete without mention of the tremendous coaching staff we currently have in place here in Grizzlyville. All fourteen sports programs have top of the line coaches. Your coaches continually do things right and with great energy. They, to a person, reflect well on themselves and our school. The goal as a department has always been to operate with class and to this end our coaches do just that! To each and every one of them, this Medicare recipient soon-to-be, offers his sincere thanks to these colleagues. My exposure to them has brought me much satisfaction and extended my level of self-esteem for Grizzly Athletics and the current guidance each of our sports programs receive.
It would not be appropriate if I didn’t also pass my assessment of the quality of athletics presently in our sports program. Our young competitors are the best, as they compete in an accelerated manner on the field/court as well as in the classroom. I would add UM athletes are flat out great people! How proud they make me and I am sure you too appreciate them for they are truly special.
The components previously mentioned has made possible the superb athletic year the Griz experienced. Based on all of the aforementioned, there is every reason to be optimistic about the future, for the sports program at The University of Montana as they are on firm ground. Your continued help and support is the best insurance the Griz can have to be dominant in the world of Intercollegiate Athletics. It’s as simple as that!
I have heard it said there is no place like Note Dame, Nebraska, Michigan or USC. Yes, these are terrific schools and we could name many others, too, that are outstanding institutions. Agree, you bet, but the truth be heard; however, give this old Grizzly Montana anytime! The words, the last great place, which is the title of a book about our fine state expresses my feelings about this magnificent land I’ve called home for so many years.
My departing words are it’s easy to be a Griz, and it’s what I am and will always be. So like you, Don Read will receive much satisfaction out of expressing passionately to future friends, that he is a Grizzly. Once a Griz always a Griz!
Please accept enthusiastically the new “soon-to-be named” Athletic Director with open arms and stand with this person as you have with me. With your assistance, this individual can’t help but be successful.
God bless you and yours, always – GO GRIZ
Don Read - Athletic Director
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| UM Athletic Department and GSA Announcements |
University of Montana summer sports camps taking applications
The University of Montana Athletic Department and its coaches have a full slate of clinics and camps for the 2005 summer months. The Griz football, track and field, volleyball, soccer, and men's and women's basketball programs have printable applications and online registration (football and soccer only) available at the UM sports camps webpage.
GSA takes show on the road in June
UM Athletics, in conjunction with the Grizzly Scholarship Association and its state-wide chapters, has a number of functions planned across Montana over the next few weeks. Following is a listing of upcoming events in the various areas. For more information, contact the GSA at 406.253.6487.
Friday, June 3 – Butte (Griz-Cat Golf Tournament, noon)
Friday, June 10 – Flathead (Griz Golf Scramble/Dinner, Eagle Bend Golf Course, noon)
Friday, June 17 – Missoula (GSA/Conoco Golf Scramble, 10:30 a.m., Phantom Links Golf Course)
Friday, June 24 – Ronan (Mission Mountain GSA Golf Scramble/Barbecue, Mission Mountain Country Club, noon)
Griz Nation wristbands on sale
Buy the Griz Nation wristband and help support Grizzly Athletics.
PURCHASE GRIZ NATION WRISTBAND AT THE GRIZ SHOP
GSA apparel available
Grizzly Scholarship Association apparel is available at the GSA offices in the Adams Event Center. Stop by to check out the selection and help support the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association.
GSA sponsoring 'Griz Prowl' fundraiser
* Mark your Calendars! Save the Date! September 16, 2005 *
You are not going to want to miss this event! Along with the auctioning off of the 35 Grizzly Prowl bears (which will only comprise of an hour or so of the evening) will be great tasting food and fun entertainment. The auction marks the end of the Grizzly Prowl fundraising effort put forth by the Montana Grizzly Scholarship Association. Since Homecoming 2004, these bears have been available for the public to see and have been welcomed with open arms by the people of Missoula! Now, it's time fo find them permanent homes. Don't have room for one at your home? No worries! We have a long list of businesses that are willing to take these beautiful works of art - and that makes a great tax deduction for the buyer! Please visit our web site - www.grizzlyprowl.com - to watch for details. Or call CJ Merrill at 531-9444.
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