THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Lawson plays well beyond Tennessee freshman major reason By Josh Daeche COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER Kara Lawson bench presses 235 pounds. She also scored three touchdowns for a peewee team and played middle linebacker when she was only 8 years old. But this season Lawson led the Ten nessee women's basketball team back to the national championship game. And she is only a freshman. The point guard from Virginia plays for a team that expects victory and rarely tastes defeat. While the average 18-year-old might buckle under this much pressure, Lawson's strength proves she is far from average at that age. "Freshman, what freshman? I think Kara has stepped up her role all season," All- American teammate Tamika Catchings said. "Coming onto a college team, you can't play as a freshman. When you think of a fresh man, you think of someone who is scared of handling the ball in pressure situations and I think Kara has given us everything we need to handle the pressure." Catchings ends her career among By Josh Daeche COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITER As a freshman Tamika Catchings shat tered every rookie record Chamique Hold sclaw set when she was at Tennessee. The woman referred to as the female ver sion of Michael Jordan when it comes to women's basketball, now can only watch her protégé run a team she once led to three national titles. "She hustles on defense, great rebounder, offensive game in there and now that Chamique is gone people are starting to see her stand out," Tennessee center Michelle Snow said. Living in the shadows and wait ing her turn has been a part of Catchings' life, the three-time All-American and this year's NCAA Player of the Year has followed the shadows of great athletes even in her own family. Her father Harvey Catchings played 11 years in the NBA and older sister Tajua spent the past four seasons at Illinois. So being blessed with a lot athletic ability is no surprise. But it's the story that evolves off the court that makes this All-American so special. The All-American has a hearing problem in her left ear and it has forced her to wear a hearing aid much of her life. Announcing... ALL YN (Al EAT PAM $3.95 -VOTED BEST PASTA your choice of 7 homemade sauces, including vodka sauce BM NEM Maims 1113 Sid6~rA. COLOR SELLS In Friday's Women's Final Four victory against Rutgers, where Lawson scored 19 points, the freshman showed the nation what Tennessee fans have witnessed all sea son. During the game, Lawson has showed poise in creating offense off turnovers and finding her teammates for open shots. That goes to show what a fast learner she is, as she was quick to pick up coach Pat Summitt's style of play lead with an aggressive defense and opportunities on offense will come. Lawson showed she could capitalize by playing that way Friday, but could not repeat it in Sunday's champi onship game. As much of a passer and floor general as Lawson has been all season for the Vols, she also has been looked at as a mentor. "Kara, I mean, she's a great player," teammate Kristen Clement said. "She's sort of like the second coach. She basically will reiterate what coach says, but with a straight face and different demeanor." While growing up, Lawson studied some of the best at their positions, including leg- Though the hearing problem is evident when she speaks, the junior is open to talk ing about the problem. "I had it my whole life and I remember wearing hearing aids when I was growing up," she said. "I don't think I receive any special media attention about it." But like most kids growing up, Catchings had to overcome the adversity of being picked on for wearing the hearing aid. Eventually she stopped wearing it. Catchings did not wear a hearing aid from seventh grade until Tennessee coach Pat Summitt recommended she wear one, which was hard at first but she gradually agreed. "The support of my teammates and coach es it kind of made me feel not self-con scious of wearing it," Catchings said. While her on-court ability has the potential to take over games, Catchings' work has found the hearts of her teammates. This year she scored in double digits in all but five games, making her the third leading scorer in NCAA history. "She's obviously a blessing," Tennessee point guard Kristen Clement said. "She's brings a lot of energy to the team, a lot of emotions. You can tell she's a true competitor she hates to lose even if we are The two-semester internship (Fall 2000 and Spring 2001) provides an introduction to book and journal publishing through hands-on experience under the direction of professional staff. The program covers the entire operation of a publishing house, including acquisi tions, manuscript editing, design, production, and marketing. The objective is to prepare the intern for a possible career in publishing. • Applicants must be Penn State—University Park undergraduates in good academic standing with an interest in publishing. • Excellent communication abilities required and computer skills (Macintosh) preferred. • 10-15 hours a week required. $6.25 per hour paid bi-monthly. The Penn State University Press Internship Program in Publishing is funded by a grant from Penn State's Equal Opportunity Planning Commission, which is an outgrowth of the desegregation man date issued by the U.S. Department of Education to all public insti tutions within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Send résumé and letter of interest by April 14, 2000, to Shona R. Foster, Marketing Manager Penn State University Press USBI, Suite C University Park, PA 16802 Minorities strongly encouraged to apply. her years for Vols run endary Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Sin gletary. Lawson watched his eyes and how he focused the whole time on what was hap pening around him. At her young age, Kara knows and under stands the game better than some juniors and seniors her age. This is why she appears unfazed when the term "freshman" is labeled to her. "Freshman can do it. I think there have been just as many freshmen and sopho mores that have led their team," she said. "Mike Bibby did it in for Arizona and I think there was a freshman at North Carolina that did it, too." While labels and comparisons always seem to be placed on younger players who produce in big games, Lawson appears unfazed and handles herself with a tremen dous amount of composure for a freshman. This season she was a freshman who won the respect of her peers, coaches and team mates. Next season she has one goal in mind to bring Tennessee back to the champi onship and help her team cut down the nets. Lady Vol greats Catchings runs back after scoring playing pick-up games in practice she's always yelling and trying to get her team mates rallied up." Adversity, enthusiasm and the athletic ability is something that comes with hard work and is something she has experienced her whole life. • y and Are Nem PPORT or Them sn't Have O Be 1. I 0111,14 I SITION OPEN enn State University Press seeks an undergraduate student interested in a :areer in publishing for its ip Program in Publishing. SPORTS Mark Humphrey!Assoctated Press Rusty Kennedy, Associated Press Tennessee's Kara Lawson celebrates after hitting a shot earlier in the NCAA Tournament. MERISTAR HOTELS & RESORTS, INC the nation's leading hotel management company, has the following openings at its Toftrees Resort & Conference Center property. The team-oriented candidates we seek will energetically represent this exclusive resort, utilizing excellent people and customer service skills -Banquet Servers -Banquet Houseman -Host/Hostesses Competitive wages & excellent benefits package. Apply in person to Joe Zuravleff at One Country Club Lane, Mon-Fri from 2 p.m.- 4 p.m. MERISTAR a HOTELS & RESORTS. INC Collegian FAX: News: 863-1126 Business: 865-384& -Outside Services Attendants -Restaurant Runners -Housekeepers TUESDAY, April 4, 2000 13 ot 111 111
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