Sports Shorts Sports Shorts (May 25, 2005)

NEW SWIM COACH . . . Former Stanford All-American and one of history's finest backstrokers, Lea Loveless Maurer, has been named head coach of the Stanford women's swimming and diving team. The 34-year-old Maurer will take the reigns of Stanford's nationally prominent program from her former collegiate coach Richard Quick, who announced his retirement last month after leading Stanford to seven national titles in his 17 seasons as the school's head coach. "The Stanford head coaching position is a dream job, and I'm honored to take on the challenge of continuing the tradition that so many people have helped create," said Maurer. "I'm excited to return to my alma mater to apply the lessons I have learned both as a student-athlete at Stanford and in more than 10 years since that time. I want to help the dreams of Stanford student-athletes come to fruition." Maurer swam on three of Quick's national championship squads (1992, '93, '94) when she competed on The Farm from 1990-94, adding 10 NCAA individual and relay titles during her collegiate swimming career. After finishing her collegiate swimming career at Stanford, she started in the coaching profession as an assistant at Northwestern for a program that placed third in the Big 10 in 1995. In 1996, she began a prep dynasty as the head boys' and girls' coach at Lake Forest High School (Lake Forest, Ill.), leading the boys' squad to the 2002-03 mythical National Championship and the girls' team to the mythical 2003 Public School National Championship.

BISHOP WINS TWICE . . . While Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps was busy winning six individual titles last weekend at the Stanford University International Grand Prix, Stanford freshman Brooke Bishop was busy winning a couple of titles of her own. Bishop won the 50 free in 25.91 and the 100 back in 1:03.60. She also finished second in the 100 free in 56.99 and the 200 back in 2:16.59. Stanford grad Tara Kirk was third in the 200 breast in 2:30.46, while Stanford junior Dana Kirk was second in the 200 fly in 2:12.88 and third in the 100 fly in 1:01.17. Junior Laura Davis was third in the 200 fly in 2:18.09, and freshman Elizabeth Durot was third in the 400 free in 4:21.95 and sophomore Morgan Hentzen placed third in the 800 free in 8:57.01. On the men's side, Phelps won the 100 back in 54.92 but the next three finishers have Stanford connections. Stanford grad Randall Bal finished in 55.03, followed by Cardinal sophomore Hongzhe Sun was third in 56.04 and grad Peter Marshall was fourth in 56.05. Senior Gary Marshall, the 100 breast NCAA champion, won the 100 breast in 1:03.97. Junior Ricky Eddy was second to Marshall in 1:05.55. Sun also finished third in the 200 IM in 2:06.50, while sophomore Ben Wildman-Tobriner finished second in the 50 free in 22.89. Senior Jayme Cramer was third in the 200 fly in 2:02.60. Bal and Peter Marshall finished third and fourth in the 200 back.

ON THE LINKS . . . The annual Palo Alto High Sports Boosters Golf Tournament will be May 27 at Sunnyvale Muni. The cost of $125 covers green fee, food and prizes. The first tee time is noon. Interested golfers should contact Palo Alto Athletic Director Earl Hansen at 329-3886. Proceeds from the event benefit Paly athletic programs.

COACHING CORNER . . . Menlo-Atherton is looking for coaches for the 2005-06 school year: wrestling, girls' frosh-soph volleyball, track and field assistant, varsity football assistant, JV boys' and JV girls' water polo and cheerleading. Those interested should contact M-A Athletic Director Pam Wimberly at 322-5311 (ext. 5706) or e-mail resumes to pwimberl@seq.org . . . Menlo School is looking for a girls' varsity basketball assistant coach and girls' frosh-soph basketball coaches. Call 330-2001 (ext. 2282) or e-mail bmckinney@menloschool.org.

ON THE FARM . . . Stanford Taekwondo is hosting a tournament on Saturday, May 28 in Maples Pavilion for adults and children of all ages and levels. Competition begins at 9 a.m. with a Poomse (forms) competition, followed by sparring in the afternoon. Electronic scoring systems will be available in every ring. Registration for competitors is $50 by mail and $40 if done online. Admission is $5, or $3 with a student ID card and for kids under 18. Stanford students will be admitted free. For more information, call 650-482-9727 or visit tkd.stanford.edu/spropen2005/index.html . . . Stanford is hosting a Youth Sports Festival and Seminar on Saturday, June 25 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 pm. The event features sports clinics hosted by Stanford University student-athletes and coaches for children ages 8-14, two seminars on the impact of sports participation, a panel discussion with former Stanford student-athletes and numerous interactive exhibits in a festival atmosphere. All events are free and open to the public. The first 1,000 children to register will receive a free Youth Festival t-shirt. For further information, call (650) 724-3910.

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