Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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George Morris Sports Columnist A YEAR WORTH SMILING ABOUT Not too many people know Alan Gentry, or even know of him, for that matter. But that's the way it is with swimming coaches, even the successful ones. In fact, most people probably know Gentry only as the man they see sitting on the steps at the USC Pool. He can often be seen sitting there, and the people who pass by know him only as a friendly man with a big smile. The Carolina swim teams have given Gentry plenty of reason to flash that smile lately. After finishing with an 8-3 record in the dual meet season, the men's swimming team scored one of the biggest accomplishments in the sport's history at Carolina by winning the National Independent Championship over favored Miami, of Florida. And the women's team posted a perfect record in nine dual meets and scored impressive victories in the Southern Intercollegiate Championships and the South Carolina State Championships. What Gentry has done with the swimming program at Carolina can be favorably compared with what Frank McGuire did with USC basketball. When Gentry came here from his alma mater Georgia in 1970 Carolina swimming was a nothing program going nowhere. All that's changed now. Last year USC finished 22nd in the NCAA Championships, the first time a Carolina swim team had ever placed in that meet. Every school swimming record is now held by 3n Alan Gentry coached swimmer, and all but one of these records is held by members of this year's team. That's not bad for five years work. 'YOU HAVE TO LOVE TO RACE' What explains the success Gentry has enjoyed here? Talent, of course, is a major factor, but talent has to be recruited. South Carolina has no swimming to speak of on the statewide level, and the antiquated pool the Gamecocks swim in is hardly a good recruiting tool. True, a new pool is nearing completion that will rival any other pool in the nation when finished. but all he could show recruits was a big hole in the ground where it was being built. So Gentry, a former Southeastern Conference swimming champion at Georgia, had to sell himself as a coach and Carolina as a school. His success can be illustrated not only by his record (36-15) but by the number of athletes he has lured from such distant places as California, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware and Wisconsin. Of the 22 swimmers on the roster 20 are from out of state. But another reason for the success is Gentry's ability to Continued on Page 13 - SPECIAL OLYM" VOLUNTEER NEEDED!! The Voluntary Action Counci volunteers to help with the MidlIan Special Olympics for retarded kic USC track on April 10th. PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND FIELD EVENTS ARE ESPEC If you have a few hours to gi 10th and would like to woric retarded kids in this great prograr call VOLUNTEER SERVICES Amherst, Netmen f BY MARK LEARY Asst. Sports Editor The Carolina tennis team upped their record to 15-2 on the season as they shut out Amherst 9-0 Friday and then downed 'Ohio State 8-1 Saturday afternoon. The Gamecocks took every match in .their victory over Amherst on Friday. Carolina's first seed, Clyde Skaflestad, started the -day off as he downed Jon Bates 6-3, 6-3. Jeff Kefalos dominated as he defeated Paul Fennell 6-0, 6-0. Andreas Hufschmid beat Gerry Grown 6-1, 6-0. In the remaining singles mat ches Phil Dukes, Mark Rosenblum and Nathan LeGrand all gained victories. In doubles competition Kefalos and Jeff Hull downed Bates and George McGovern 6-2, 6-3. In the other matches Dukes and Steve Geller and Declan Heavey and Rosenblum gained impressive victories. C Ron Snarr attributed the team's success on Saturday to an excellent performance in the singles competition. Skaflestad defeated Ohio State's number one seed 6-2, 7-5 in the opening match. Kefalos, who now is undefeated through 18 matches, had a tough- time, losing the first set, but went on to win the match 4 6, 6-2, 6-2. Hufschmid defeated the Buckeyes' number three seed 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. Hull, also uneefeated thii season, won his 16th match of thi season 6-3, 7-5. Dukes downed Johz Braschi, fifth seed for thq Buckeyes 6-1, 6-0. In the fina singles match Geller downe( defeated Jim Bailey 6-3, 6-1. The only loss of the day came it the doubles compettion ai Skaflestad and Hufschmid wen down to defeat 7-6, 6-2. In the fina ICS needs 's area s at the IN TRACK IALLY NEEDED! with i lust Buckeyes ace Tigers ks Jeff Kefalos two matches Kefalos and Hu defeated the Ohio State's secon seed 7-6, 6-0. Dukes and Geller wo im ressively in the final match c WmIux'6 Educai P.O. Box 4618 Women's Edueation " Free Pregnant " Problem Pregi * Free Abortion 0 Contraceptive * Family Planni If you're a woman Women's Educational someone who cares. Th GAMECOCK Ciayce.,S.C./796- 0022 "ONEOFTHE OFII --Gene Shi "THE DEEP PLI CARNEY'S CC THE ODYSSI AND TONT( A RI -Charles Champi nominated rrBi fall; today .__. '.X Jeff Hull Il the day 6-2, 6-2. d Carolina takes on arch rival n Clemson today at the Maxcy Gregg f Courts at 2:15. ioxe Seuwina,9Ke. Canadia. S.C. III ser%vie4s(.% is a hat offers: -y Testing iancy Counseling Referrals Clinics ng ind need assistance call Services to talk with e number to call is 779-8355. 3 DAYS ONLY Tue, Wed, Thur BEST MOVIES 174." ilt, NBC-TV OASURE OF ART IMPANY MAKES EY OF 'HARRY )' A CHEERING IIVAL." In, Los Angeles Times IST ACOR ..