David Andrukonis

News

Seminoles Anxious for Redemption

By David Andrukonis | August 30

A year after finally letting the ACC come up for air, Florida State is ready to dunk the conference right back into the pool. "We didn't win the ACC last year for the first time, and changing that will be a priority," said Coach Bobby Bowden. "When you've got players who have talent and will give you effort, you've got a chance to be successful. We've got that combination going into 2002." Chris Rix, returning quarterback and 2001 ACC Rookie of the Year, will lead FSU's versatile attack and will be rejoined by veteran receivers Robert Morgan and Anquan Boldin.

Sports

Punchless UNC Swept in Doubleheader

By David Andrukonis | April 30

For a team that has done well all season at the plate, the North Carolina softball team is ironically in danger of flunking the final exam. Monday marked the second straight doubleheader in which the Tar Heels have scored just one run. They lost 3-0 and 4-1 to East Carolina at the UNC Softball Complex. "Our bats have left us, and our confidence up at the plate has left us," said UNC coach Donna Papa. "We're in a big funk. Big funk. And we need to get out of it tomorrow and before the ACCs."

Sports

Rowing Coach Journeys West in Cross-Country Trip

By David Andrukonis | April 12

Think your little sister travels heavy? Try this one: You're packing a 2-ton 2002 Ford pickup truck with a crew cab and an 8-foot bed. It's attached to a 39-foot trailer, which holds the boats from every ACC rowing program, Ohio State and several boat manufacturers, all of which extend another 10 feet off the back. From the front of the truck to the back of the last boat, it's 75 feet long and 15,000 pounds. Are we there yet? Not a chance.

Sports

Softball Cruises in 2-Game Sweep

By David Andrukonis | April 5

North Carolina's softball team might have beaten Elon anyway, but after falling twice to No. 23 Georgia on Wednesday, the Tar Heels turned the Phoenix into a nine-woman punching bag. UNC beat Elon 18-1, tying a school record for runs, and 5-0 Thursday in back-to-back games at the UNC Softball Complex.

Sports

Rowers Narrow Gap Against Duke

By David Andrukonis | March 4

It didn't look like a team that had just lost every event of its season-opening regatta. As North Carolina's rowing team packed up Saturday after racing Duke at University Lake, one would have thought it was the Tar Heels which had beaten the Blue Devils in all five events and 14 of 15 pieces, rather than the other way around. Coach Joel Furtek sidestepped a stampede of cheery rowers and explained, "Don't try to get between novices and donuts." Furtek said the Tar Heels are vastly better now than they were in the fall, when they also lost every event to Duke.

Sports

Wrestling Misses Opportunities, Drops Home Match

By David Andrukonis | February 11

North Carolina's wrestling team didn't just have a good chance to beat Navy on Saturday - it had three. The Midshipmen clipped the Tar Heels 18-16 at Carmichael Auditorium for UNC's first home loss this year. Any of three matches could have been the difference in the defeat. With UNC heavyweight Ryan Adams and Navy's Steve Kovach tied at one at the end of the first overtime, Adams won the toss and chose bottom. If he escaped in 30 seconds, he would've won. But he didn't, and Kovach won.

Sports

Wrestling Dominates Overmatched Duke

By David Andrukonis | February 6

An unusual lineup produced usual results for North Carolina's wrestling team Tuesday night. Continuing its domination of the ACC, UNC beat Duke 33-6 even without three of its starters. The Blue Devils (5-3, 0-1 in the ACC) struck first, with Luke Palmisano nipping Mike Booth 4-3 at 149 pounds. But UNC 157-pounder James O'Connor quickly put the Tar Heels (11-2, 4-0 in the ACC) on top with a 12-1 major decision over Ben Balmages. Chris DiGuiseppe, normally a 157-pounder for UNC, filled in at 165 for Jake Reynolds, out with an injured shoulder.

Sports

Wrestlers Dominate, Roll Over Camels

By David Andrukonis | January 28

Points were rarer than water in a desert for the Fighting Camels of Campbell on Saturday against North Carolina's wrestling team. The Camels found Chapel Hill bone dry until the eighth of 10 matches, when Lantz Nixon nipped UNC 174-pounder Mark Canty 7-5 for Campbell's first win, making the team score 34-3. But with a decision and pin in the next two matches, Tar Heels Nick Richmond and Austin Wall made the win Campbell's last, and the Tar Heels dismissed the Camels from Carmichael Auditorium with a 43-3 victory.

Sports

UNC Wrestlers Prevail In Back-to-Back Meets

By David Andrukonis | January 22

Even with the rare chance to tag team against North Carolina's wrestling team, neither Ohio nor Cumberland could top the Tar Heels. North Carolina defeated the Bobcats 21-17, and then on no rest held off Patriots 32-18 in back-to-back meets Saturday at Carmichael Auditorium. "Those were two good wins," said UNC coach Bill Lam. "Ohio's a good team. I wish we hadn't gotten the second one scheduled right after; it kind of took the wind away from the Ohio win."

Sports

UNC, Wake `Mix It Up'; Physical Play Dominates

By David Andrukonis | October 15

Motivated by revenge, sibling rivalries or both, the North Carolina women's soccer team stepped up the hits Sunday in an exceptionally physical soccer game against Wake Forest. After a third-minute goal from the UNC's Maggie Tomecka, the Tar Heels and the Demon Deacons spent the next 87 scoreless minutes shoving, slide tackling and diving across a wet Fetzer Field.