Brandon Coward

Sports

Brothers, Sisters Find New Home on Tar Heel Swim Team

By Brandon Coward | November 27

Many teams claim the closeness of family, but few have the actual blood ties to back it up. In his 26 years as coach of the North Carolina swimming and diving team, Frank Comfort has coached 18 pairs of siblings. "I think it says a lot about the team and how close we are and how satisfied everyone has been with their experience at North Carolina," said Stephen Mohr, whose brother, Eric Mohr is his teammate. "If you weren't, you wouldn't let your younger brother or sister come here."

Sports

Stephen Mohr Balances Swimming & Academics

By Brandon Coward | November 20

If you hear "Good job, Johnny 5" while strolling through Koury Natatorium, don't expect to see the loveable little robot from the "Short Circuit" movies. He might not be a robot, but North Carolina senior swimmer Stephen Mohr has coordinated academics and athletics with an almost mechanical consistency during his past four years at UNC. "They called him Johnny 5 because he came in freshman year with 63 hours," said teammate Reid Owen. "He was so smart it seemed like he could do anything, just like Johnny 5."

Sports

Field Hockey Falls to Maryland, Fails to Qualify for NCAA Tourney

By Brandon Coward | November 11

DURHAM -- With the continuation of the North Carolina field hockey team's season hanging in the balance, winning the ACC tournament was UNC's last chance to earn a berth in the NCAA tournament. Against No. 4 Maryland on Friday, the Tar Heels built a two-goal lead, but saw it evaporate as the Terps scored three unanswered goals to win the match 3-2, ending the Tar Heels' season early for the first time since 1982.

Sports

Junior Swimmer Attempts to Outpace Teammates, Coach

By Brandon Coward | November 4

North Carolina swimming team distance coach Bill Tramel said he has always wanted to coach a woman who swims faster than him. Tramel might have that chance in the form of junior Whitney Smith. "She's definitely looking to do some big things and I have some big goals for her," Tramel said. "My personal best time is one of them." Smith originally planned to set her goal around the team best of 16 minutes, 17 seconds.

Sports

Field Hockey Splits Games After Weekend Double OTs

By Brandon Coward | October 7

Going into this weekend, North Carolina probably didn't anticipate it would play more than 200 minutes of field hockey. The Tar Heels put in a lot of extra time on the field this weekend, falling to Kent State 2-1 on Sunday and defeating Duke 5-4 on Saturday, with both games going into double overtime. "I feel pleased with the weekend," said UNC coach Karen Shelton. "I feel to a certain extent that this was a breakthrough weekend for us.

Sports

Field Hockey Regains Confidence After Wins

By Brandon Coward | September 23

The North Carolina field hockey team needed to be reassured this weekend. The Tar Heels needed proof that their new offensive system worked, and that their 1-3 record against top 20 competition this season was just a fluke. The Tar Heels got what they were looking for this weekend, topping No. 11 Virginia 3-1 and No. 2 Old Dominion 2-0. "I'm absolutely thrilled to come out of that tough weekend with two wins," said UNC coach Karen Shelton. "(Sunday) wasn't pretty, but we found a way to win, and I think that's important."

Sports

UNC Improves on Loss, Outlasts Iowa in OT

By Brandon Coward | September 3

Only three seniors on the North Carolina field hockey team were on the roster the last time UNC won an overtime game on its home turf two seasons ago. Since then, however, the Tar Heels have accumulated an 0-3 losing streak. Sunday, the team halted its slide with a 2-1 victory in extra time against Iowa at Henry Stadium. "We came out, we fought hard and we fought to the end," said midfielder Katy Potter.

News

Blue Devils Strive for Elusive Win

By Brandon Coward | August 30

This year's Duke football squad will need the energy of youth to shore up a decided lack of experience. After last year's second winless season in a row, Coach Carl Franks said he is hopeful that summer practices and scrimmages will be enough to ready the Blue Devils to play in their first game against East Carolina on Aug. 31. This year's defense will look to the team's lone returning senior, outside linebacker and team captain Jamyon Small, as well as junior inside linebacker Ryan Fowler, for leadership. The team hopes to improve on last year's ACC record of 491 points allowed.

Sports

Field Hockey Offense Tries New Formation

By Brandon Coward | August 30

The North Carolina field hockey team might have lost three of its best players to graduation, but don't expect the team to be intimidated by defending NCAA champion Michigan on Saturday. The departure of former stars Abby Martin, Abbey Woolley and Carrie Lingo has left UNC with only three seniors and one junior this season. But the young squad has set a high standard for itself.

Sports

UNC Putters Key to ACCs, NCAAs

By Brandon Coward | April 17

Since 1996 the long shadow of a Blue Devil has covered the face of ACC women's golf. This weekend at the conference championships in Clemmons, North Carolina hopes to cast a shadow of its own. "We are capable of winning the ACC," said UNC junior Meghan Adams. "A big part of being able to beat Duke is to believe that we can do it. "If we can all believe it and trust ourselves enough to shoot what we know we can, then we have a good shot at giving Duke a run."