Spring Break
OSU dominates in racquetball national championships
Beavers score 600 points more than second place Alabama, win third USAR National Intercollegiate Championship
Mark Pedersen
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Sports
By Mark Pedersen
The Daily Barometer
"We win, you lose," echoed an enlightened Oregon State co-ed after James Rodgers and the Beavers handed Oregon their devastating 2008 Civil War loss. These words were appropriate then and remain appropriate now. Only now, the Oregon State Racquetball team can be heard murmuring these words to every other university in the nation.
From a pool of 46 schools, including University of Oregon, our Beavers emerged victorious at the 2009 37th USAR National Intercollegiate Championships.
"We've won three national titles and deserve more recognition," said David LaForest.
OSU posted a combined scored of 2849 points, a 600 point edge over its nearest competitor, University of Alabama. Not only did Oregon State win the title, the girls overall title was taken by OSU with a margin of victory of more than 100 points.
It's become somewhat of a tradition. Oregon State has taken home the national championship three of the last four years. With stunning play and a great team vibe, the Beavers battled through and claimed their rightful crown.
"We did what we went there to do, that was win a national championship," said captain Dan Arnold.
Arnold is the co-captain and leader of this cohort of Beavers. Fourteen members made the pilgrimage to compete in the desert. The play was ferocious and OSU fit right in. They delivered fore strokes and backstrokes with such tenacity that some schools grew weary of entering the box with members of Oregon State's squad.
Oregon State Racquetball had the opportunity to enjoy its change of scenery for close to a week as the preliminary rounds were played throughout the week. The weekend brought the tournament to a whole new level as the many competing schools played semifinal and final matches. The Beavers entered the weekend with almost every eligible player or doubles group vying for a shot at winning their bracket.
"We're such a close group," Arnold said. "We're always hanging out together."
The Daily Barometer
"We win, you lose," echoed an enlightened Oregon State co-ed after James Rodgers and the Beavers handed Oregon their devastating 2008 Civil War loss. These words were appropriate then and remain appropriate now. Only now, the Oregon State Racquetball team can be heard murmuring these words to every other university in the nation.
From a pool of 46 schools, including University of Oregon, our Beavers emerged victorious at the 2009 37th USAR National Intercollegiate Championships.
"We've won three national titles and deserve more recognition," said David LaForest.
OSU posted a combined scored of 2849 points, a 600 point edge over its nearest competitor, University of Alabama. Not only did Oregon State win the title, the girls overall title was taken by OSU with a margin of victory of more than 100 points.
It's become somewhat of a tradition. Oregon State has taken home the national championship three of the last four years. With stunning play and a great team vibe, the Beavers battled through and claimed their rightful crown.
"We did what we went there to do, that was win a national championship," said captain Dan Arnold.
Arnold is the co-captain and leader of this cohort of Beavers. Fourteen members made the pilgrimage to compete in the desert. The play was ferocious and OSU fit right in. They delivered fore strokes and backstrokes with such tenacity that some schools grew weary of entering the box with members of Oregon State's squad.
Oregon State Racquetball had the opportunity to enjoy its change of scenery for close to a week as the preliminary rounds were played throughout the week. The weekend brought the tournament to a whole new level as the many competing schools played semifinal and final matches. The Beavers entered the weekend with almost every eligible player or doubles group vying for a shot at winning their bracket.
"We're such a close group," Arnold said. "We're always hanging out together."
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