2001-2002 Sports Season Round-ups
June 19, 2002
Men’s Baseball: 34-29
The baseball team put together yet another magical postseason run in 2002 falling three outs shy of earning a return trip to the College World Series in Omaha, NE, following a 6-4 rally loss to South Carolina in a decisive third game of Super Regional play in Columbia, SC. The Hurricanes, who finished the 2002 season at 34-29, came on strong late winning the last five regular season games to extend their NCAA-record streak to 30 consecutive years playing in the postseason. Miami would be seeded third in the Gainesville Regional and went on to defeat FIU in the opener, then win two of three games against host and top-seeded Florida to earn Head Coach Jim Morris’ ninth regional championship in nine seasons in Coral Gables. The Gainesville Regional championship was won on Jim Burt’s ninth inning two-out, two-strike, two-RBI double for the 8-7 victory.
Season highlight:
Miami 8 vs. Florida 7
Sophomore Jim Burt wrote Miami a ticket to the Super Regionals with his bottom of the ninth, two-strike, two-out, two RBI double to left center that elevated the Hurricanes past host and No. 1-seeded Florida, 8-7, in front of 2,533 fans Sunday afternoon at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium.
Men’s Basketball: 24-8
With its selection to the 2002 NCAA Championships, Miami recorded its fifth NCAA Tournament appearance all-time and its fourth appearance in the last five seasons. It also marked the sixth consecutive postseason appearance for Miami (NCAA – 1998, 99, 00, 02; NIT – 1997, 01) and the seventh appearance in the last eight seasons. Miami finished the season with a first round loss to Missouri in the NCCA tournament. The Hurricanes ended the 2001-2002 season ranked No. 21 in the nation.
Season highlight (taken from the Miami Hurricane):
Miami 68 vs. Connecticut 66
John Salmons’ 20 points led the ‘Canes to a thrilling two point victory over the Huskies in front of 10,000 plus fans at the Miami Arena. The win marked the sixth straight season that Miami has topped the Huskies at least once.
Football: 12-0
A perfect 12-0 record marked the end of a glorious season for Hurricane Football. For the first time in over a decade, Miami won the National Championship. This was Larry Coker’s freshman year as Head Coach, and he succeeded in leading the football team to greatness.
Season highlight (taken from the Miami Hurricane):
The Rose Bowl
Miami 37 vs. Nebraska 14
Miami came out on fire and was up 34-0 at halftime. Ken Dorsey threw three touchdown passes, two to Andre Johnson, as both were named Co-MVP’s. Tailback Clinton Portis rushed for 104 yards and a touchdown. On defense, linebacker Jonathan Vilma led the Hurricanes with nine tackles and a quarterback sack.
Men’s Swimming and Diving:
This was a year of many accomplishments for men’s swimming and diving. Following in a twelve-year tradition, diver Imre Lengyel won Miami a national title at the 2002 NCAA Championship with the score of 620.25 in the final round. Junior Kyle Prandi, who won last year’s national title, broke an 11-year-old American record with a score of 104.76 at the 2002 World Cup Trials on his second dive. Lengyel, Stephen Ahrens, and Miguel Velazquez won All-American titles, and Wesley Stoddard, who holds the fastest swimming times of the season, was named the team’s Most Valuable Swimmer.
Men’s Tennis: 12-10
The men’s tennis team wrapped up their season with a 4-1 loss to South Florida at the NCAA Regionals in Gainesville. Freshman Todd Widom went on to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tennis Championships, marking the first time a player has made it that far under head coach Jay Berger. Widom is also the first All-American since Mike Russell (1996-97) to be awarded the title in his freshman season.
Men’s Track and Field:
Sophomore Dan Andrews broke his own parathlete World record in the 800-meters and set an American record in the 400-meters at the Disabled Sports International Challenge. Senior Aaron Moser qualified for the decathalon at the NCAA Tournament, but failed to clear his opening height the second day, taking him out of contention. He was, however, alnog with Senior Gus Martin, named the team’s Most Valuable Men’s Track Athlete. Tanard Davis was named most outstanding newcomer, Jabari Ennis was named the Most Improved Athlete, Matt Mulvaney and Jeff Gaulrapp were named Most Improved Cross Country runners, Aaron Bass was named most outstanding walk-on athlete, and Andre Johnson recieved the Coaches Award.
Women’s Basketball: 19-12
The women’s basketball team finished the season with a second-round defeat versus Houston (83-76) at the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. Meghan Saake marked a Miami first when she won the title of BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after leading the BIG EAST in steals.
Season highlight (taken from The Miami Hurricane):
Miami 57 vs. Texas 55
Chanivia Broussard scored 23 points and added six blocks and five steals to lead Miami to a 57-55 victory over No. 17 Texas that was decided by a video replay after time expired. Texas’ Tracy Cooks appeared to hit a game winning 3-pointer as time expired, but it was waved off. Sheila James’ 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining sealed the win for the ‘Canes. Miami (19-12) finished the season with a second round loss to Houston in the NIT.
Golf:
The golf season came to an end at the NCAA Women’s Golf East Regional tournament when sophomore Camilla Hilland fired a final-round 76 finish to tie for 34th with a three-round total of 223. Hilland was also the first Hurricane since 1988 to take home the state individual title at the Ryder Championship. Her 19th season, Head coach Lela Cannon also received honors this (her 19th) season, after she was inducted into the National Golf Coaches Association Hall of fame last January.
Soccer: 10-8-1
The soccer team finished out the season with a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Georgia. This was the first time Miami had ever advanced to an NCAA tournament, and it was also the first time three Miami players were named to the BIG EAST team (Deidre Bass, Vonda Matthews, and Britney Butcher). Junior Lisa Gomez was named as a starter to the Mexican National Team.
Season highlight (taken from the Miami Hurricane):
Miami 1 vs. Florida 0
Deidre Bass scored the biggest goal of her career as she led the University of Miami soccer team to a 1-0 shutout over the No. 20-ranked Florida Gators. The early season victory built momentum for a young ‘Canes team.
Women’s Swimming and Diving:
This year, Manon van Rooijen, Michelle Davison, and Katie Beth Bryant were named to the Women’s All America Swimming & Diving Team. Van Rooijen was named BIG EAST Outstanding Women’s Swimmer and team’s Most Valuable Swimmer. Davison was named BIG EAST Diver of the Year and team’s Most Valuable Diver.
Women’s Tennis: 14-7
The end to an impressive season for women’s tennis came in the second round of the NCAA tournament when Miami was defeated by Florida, the number one team. This was the first year for Paige Yaroshuk as head coach, and she led the Hurricanes to their seventh BIG EAST Championship title, while earning BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors.
Season highlight (taken from The Miami Hurricane):
Miami 4 vs. Notre Dame 1
The Miami women’s tennis team won the Big East championship by defeating rival and top-seeded Notre Dame four sets to one. Sophomore Mari Toro was named Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament. The victory earned the ‘Canes an automatic bid in the NCAA Championships.
Women’s Track and Field:
This was a season of many accomplishments for women’s track and field. Three individual athletes and one Miami relay earned All-America honors at the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge. Lauryn Williams and Wyllesheia Myrick became the first Miami athletes to ever win All-American in the 100-meters, and senior Kareen Clarke finished her college track and field career with a triple jump mark of 13.32 meters, delivering her fifth All-American title. The Hurricanes’ 4×400-meter relay of junior Saraque Whittaker, junior Jamillah Wade, senior Jenise Winston, and sophomore Kitoya Carter also earned All-America honors finishing seventh with a time of 3:32.74. The time is the second fastest in school-history.
Volleyball: 17-7
In the team’s first season since 1981, Head Coach Nicole Lantagne led the ‘Canes to a great start. UM finished the season on an 11-match win streak and compiled a 13-1 home record at the Knight Complex. After competing independent this season and defeating the two BIG EAST opponents it faced, the volleyball team will join the BIG EAST Conference next fall.
Season highlight (taken from the Miami Hurricane):
Miami 3 vs. St. Johns 0
The ‘Canes dominated the Red Storm with a 3-0 sweep (30-26, 30-21 & 30-28) at the Knight Complex on the UM campus. The win over a Big East opponent gave Miami a glimpse of its future, as they will enter the league next fall.
