Amanda Ouverson
Sports Editor

"There is no I in team," represents a classic motivational clichˇ used by many coaches. It can also be used to sum up the attitude of NIACC freshman shooting guard Cory DeShaw.

"It's a team game," DeShaw said regarding his individual goals for the upcoming season.

"He is very unselfish," NIACC head coach Steve Krafcisin said. "It's a great quality to have." But as an unusual twist, both his high school coach Gordon Rundquist and Krafcisin have told DeShaw that he needs to be more aggressive offensively.

"I've told Cory that he needs to be more selfish in a good way," Krafcisin said. "I didn't recruit him to pass the ball. I recruited him to be an immediate threat off the dribble or by the catch and shoot."

During a scrimmage earlier this season, Krafcisin told DeShaw that next time he passed the ball he was going to be taken out, his reasoning was as follows.

"Nobody can shoot better than Cory," Krafcisin said.

DeShaw prepped at Maquoketa Valley High School in Delhi, before bringing his all-state basketball skills to NIACC.

Basketball is not the only sport that DeShaw excels in; he was also an all-state football selection while in high school.

He is only one of two men in the history of Maquoketa Valley to receive that honor.

As a player at Maquoketa Valley, DeShaw led the Wildcat basketball team to a 20-4 record and the conference championship in his senior campaign.

On the football field, the Wildcats were an impressive 9-2.

DeShaw left Maquoketa Valley as the all-time individual leader in pass interceptions in one season with eight in 2001.

Since arriving at NIACC, Krafcisin said that DeShaw has become a much-improved defensive player.

"Defensively he's done a good job on perimeter defense," Krafcisin said. "I think defensively he has surprised himself."

Besides improving defensively, DeShaw has also grown physically.

"Working out, lifting weights and running has helped Cory become stronger," Krafcisin said. "He keeps improving every day."

DeShaw's skills have increased since arriving at NIACC, but everyone else has improved as well.

"In college everybody is a good athlete," DeShaw said.

Krafcisin said he saw DeShaw play for the first time at an all-star game, within minutes he knew that DeShaw was exactly what he was looking for.

"I knew after the first three minutes of the game, that Cory was exactly what I wanted for our team," Krafcisin said. "He fit the bill."

DeShaw's teammates have also been impressed with DeShaw's basketball ability.

"Cory's a good player, coming into practice he displayed a lot of skills," teammate Cory Adams said. "He's a talented player, he can do it all."

DeShaw began his college career at the Kansas City Kansas Community College Classic, where he scored 15 and 9 ponts in the first two game of the season.

Krafcisin is one of the main reasons DeShaw said he chose NIACC over Wartburg and Marshalltown Community College.

"Coach K is a nice guy," DeShaw said.

DeShaw's not the only one saying nice things; both coaches Rundquist and Krafcisin have high praise for DeShaw.

"Cory DeShaw is the role model you would like to have your son/daughter emulate, a hard working, dedicated young man with a positive attitude and a tremendous enthusiasm for the game of basketball," Rundquist said.

Krafcisin seconded that feeling.

"Everything everyone has said about Cory is true," Krafcisin said. "He's a great guy on and off the floor. He's a good student, good listener, good looking, personable and a great guy to coach."

His former coach has little doubt about what DeShaw's future will hold.

"Regardless of his future plans, I am sure Cory will enjoy a great deal of success in whatever endeavor he may choose," Rundquist said.

After his playing days are done at NIACC, DeShaw said he plans on transferring to a bigger university and hopes to continue playing basketball.

As for now, he has one major goal he'd like to help the Trojans accomplish.

"I want to get another banner hanging in the gym," DeShaw said.

A goal not only for him, but for his team as well.

NIACC had six football players named to the first-team all-Iowa Community College Athletic Conference selections.

Those selected for the first-team on offense included quarterback Mike Lawrence, running backs Robert Anderson and Donnie Harris, and offensive lineman Gabe Vargas.

Those named to the defense included Craig Edwards as a first-team linebacker and defensive lineman Jirey Siner.

Kristy Crowley
Staff Reporter

NIACC isn't always first for some people, as women's sophomore basketball player Kylee Burt found out.

Burt started her post-secondary education at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo for a year after high school before becoming a nanny in New York for the fall semester of 2001. After that she enrolled at NIACC for the spring semester 2002 and fall semester 2002. Burt said she came back to NIACC because she wanted to play on the women's basketball team. The 6' 3" forward said it took a little while to get back into the same playing condition she was in during high school.

"Last year, I practiced with them (the women's basketball team) and I didn't play in any games so that I would be in condition for this season," Burt said.

Her coach John Oertel said he thinks Burt will make a significant contribution to the squad this season.

"She is a good player, very interested in working hard and has impressive skills for not playing the last two years," Oertel said.

Burt said she hopes to couple her return to the court with a strong performance in the classroom.

"I want to play well, do well academically and I want the team to have good team chemistry," Burt said about her goals for the season.

Oertel is optimistic about Burt's potential.

"Burt is a motivated player and has a bright future if she keeps the desire to continue to play basketball. That will pull her through as her skills keep improving," Oertel said.

What is unique with Burt is that after two years off the court she wanted to come back and has the type of motivation to play again that no one can destroy.

Burt is leaving her options open for her life after her career at NIACC is over.

"It all depends on my basketball career, but my choice for a school is UNI because I want to teach," Burt said.

Oertel said Burt will give the Trojans some much-needed height as the tallest player on the squad.

"I expect Kylee to be a very strong player, she has good defense and offensive skills and is almost unstoppable at 6'3''," Oertel said.

Samantha Truka
For the Logos

Motivation, dedication and discipline have become important elements for this year's NIACC cheerleading and dance squad.

This year the squad found itself coachless due to the fact that it was unable to find someone who could make the kind of commitment needed for the job.

That doesn't stop the nine team members from doing what they love.

As one walks through the lobby they may hear the loud beat of music or the steady counts of the girls as they struggle to perfect their routines.

"Even though we don't have a coach we look like we do, and we have been very disciplined to get that far," Erin Surat, one of the current captains of the squad, said.

With no supervisor at the practices the four squad captains, Reenie Hasapopoulus, Erin Surat, Julieann Jacobson and Jessica Fraust accepted the responsibility.

In fact, a lot of the dances and cheers are choreographed by Surat.

"We definitely have to be a lot stronger and disciplined because there is a lot of butting heads, and there is no coach saying this is what we are going to do," Amy Woodward, a first-year squad member, said.

Despite these differences, the squad still manages to pull through their obstacles together. "It's a lot of fun. It's different to be your own coach," Woodward said.

Throughout the school year, the NIACC cheerleaders can be seen performing their routines at home games.

Meanwhile, Ryan McGuire, NIACC athletic director, is still searching for a coach for the next school year.

Amanda Ourverson
Sports Editor

Andy Rooney, famous for his commentary on the CBS show 60 Minutes, was targeted recently after an interview with Boomer Eiason.

According to an article on ESPN.com, Rooney had this to say about female reporters on the sidelines at NFL games.

"The only thing that really bugs me about television's coverage is those damn women they have down on the sidelines who don't know what the hell they're talking about," Rooney said. "I mean, I'm not a sexist person, but a woman has no business being down there trying to make some comment about a football game."

I do not agree with any part of Rooney's statement.

Women have every right to be not only on the sidelines, but to be the head commentators, such as Al Michaels, John Madden, Marv Alberts and so on.

Granted men dominate the sporting industry, but thanks to Title IX women have been given the opportunity to be treated equally.

Young girls looking to go into the sports industry need to have female role models to look up to.

Ever since I was a little girl, I knew that some how I wanted my career to be involved in the sports world.

I grew up watching Willow Bay co-host NBA Inside Stuff, reading Melissa Isaacson write about the Chicago Bulls in the Chicago Tribune and listening to Linda Cohn and Robin Roberts dish out the latest sporting news.

These women and others have paved the way for women wanting to enter the sports industry. Granted there are some women who don't know what they're talking about, but that can also be true for a handful of men.

Obviously, Mr. Rooney doesn't know what he's talking about.

Turn on the television, pick up a newspaper or listen to the radio. Women are making a statement in a male dominated field.