Gehret ninth in high jump... C'mon Courier...

SUNDAY CARDINAL COUPLE

-Gehret takes top ten honors in high jump

-Cutbacks at Courier-Journal beginning to show

-We read your mail

cardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscards

Congratulations to UofL senior Rachel Gehret for her 9th place finish in the U.S. Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Gehret cleared 5'10" to acheive top ten honors.

That was not her best jump in her career..she's cleared 6 foot before...but still a great effort against the nation's best. The Cards had a very strong field compliment on the women's track and field team this past season and Coach Ron Mann will be looking to replace such standouts as Gehret, Chinwe Okoro, and D'Ana McCarty. He's got a deep and talented roster of throwers returning, though...in Khadija Abdullah, Amashi Kendall, Patrice Gates, Jenna Wargo and Hannah Baker.

cardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscards


WE realize that cutbacks at the Courier-Journal have made things a lot tougher down there but gotta wonder which chimp handled the story of former CAL and Murray State women's basketball player Brooke Willoughby transferring to Indiana University Southeast.

According to the Courier-Journal, she was a former UofL guard. No doubt she might have helped out a couple of seasons ago when Walz was short on back court players...but we never remember her playing for the Cards. In fact, has there ever been a UofL women's basketball player named Brooke?

We do remember Bill  "Poodles" Willoughby from the early 80's...who went directly from high school to the NBA...gotta love the nickname! One would think there has to be someone left at the Courier's Sports department who would be able to confirm the basketball players who have performed at UofL since 2008, though.

cardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscardscards

FROM THE MAILBOX

Jeff K (Louisville) writes:

Cardinal Couple:

Do you remember a basketball player at UofL from the mid 80's named Deborah Philpot? What kind of career did she have? Thanks!

Thanks for writing, Jeff.! Deborah Philpot was a center-forward at UofL from 1982-1985. She had the leading field goal percentage for the Cards in the 1984-85 season going 200-414 from the floor and still holds the second most field goal attempts in a game...firing up 28 attempts against North Carolina her senior year. She also led the Cards in rebounding that year...with 268 grabs... 

Connie (Georgia) asks:

Do you have a UofL women's basketball schedule for 2011-12 yet and will they be playing anyone in the Atlanta area?

We don't have one yet, Connie. We know that Louisville will visit Texas A&M for their second game of the year and are going to Lexington for the annual clash against UK. As far as any Georgia opponents...none we know of yet.

Merle (Shephersdville):

Is Rebecca Greenwell considering UofL?

The Lady Cards are on her list so far...along with dozens of other schools. Way too early to tell what the Owensboro Catholic junior-to-be is listing as favorites...but speculation is that UK, Tenn., Louisville and Notre Dame are schools wanting her services.

Gehret in USA Championships, Moscato playing for Team Canada

.
THURSDAY FROM THE NEWSROOM AT CARDINAL COUPLE

-Rachel Gehret goes for the gold in Eugene

-Carmelina Moscato chases Women's World Cup

-Churchill Downs closed today, plans to re-open Friday

We hope that everyone got through the rough storms that pounded the Louisville area last night. Scary stuff and that weird almost glowing pinkish purple sky was freaky...

University of Louisville track and field athlete Rachel Gehret has had her highs and lows in four years on the campus...after all, she's a high jumper...but her biggest high could be in store this week in Eugene, Oregon...as she competes in the 2011 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Gehret finished first in the
BIG EAST Championships

Gehret will be one of nineteen competitors Friday in the high jump event. She had a successful senior year at Louisville...garnering first team All-America honors and finishing fifth at the NCAA Outdoor track and Field Championships. She also won the high jump at the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships.

ESPN 2 will show highlights from Friday's action from 11 p.m.to 1 a.m. Friday night.

Good luck Rachel and "stay away from the bar!"

**************************************************************************************************************

Former UofL women's soccer assistant coach Carmelina Moscato has been selected to participate on the Team Canada soccer team at the FIFA Women's World Cup. Moscato coached with the Cards until the end of the 2008 season when she left the program to pursue a career playing soccer. She had a successful collegiate career at Penn State from 2002-2005, leading the Nittany Lions to the Final Four her senior year.

A midfielder, Moscato and her teammates will open play against Germany in Berlin on Sunday, June 26th. They'll compete in Group A competition and hope to advance to the title game July 17th. in Frankfurt.

Current UofL head soccer coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes had this to say about Moscato:

"We certainly want to wish Carm good luck as the Women's World Cup is quickly approaching. She was a tremendous coach who was very dedicated to the players' development and passionate about coaching and teaching. Her goal after leaving here was to make the Canadian National Team and play in the World Cup and we're thrilled that her dream has come true. Although we were sad to see her leave her program, we were excited for her as she fully dedicated herself to becoming a pro and making the Team Canada roster. I'm extremely proud of her and we'll certainly be watching and cheering her on."

*********************************************************************************

Racing at Churchill Downs has been cancelled for Thursday because of the storms that damaged nine backside barns and forced the relocation of around 200 horses stabled at Churchill. As track sportsman John Asher commented:

"It's one hell of a mess back here. Fortunately, no two legged or four legged beings were damaged in the storm."

A decision has been made about Friday night's scheduled Downs After Dark racing and it will go on as scheduled. There was no live racing Wednesday when the storms rolled through the area around 8 p.m. but a poker tournament and simulcasting being held inside the facility was suspended when power was lost.

(Thanks to Gretchen for the picture...)

CARDINAL COUPLE Co-Owner Paul Sykes was in the area when the storms hit and watched in amazement as utility and telephone poles "just tumbled to the ground like they were pins getting knocked over by bowling balls." A confirmed tornado touched down at the corner of Central and Floyd, damaging Levee Lift Equipment Supply.
.

Clint Hurtt...what we like at UofL...Gehret 5th in high jump...Ky Girls Softball first round

FRIDAY at C.C.

-Clint Hurtt....a reason to believe.

-Gehret gets 5th in NCAA finals

-Kentucky Girls High School softball tournament first round results.

-Hoopin' it up tonight at Bellarmine!

-Another O.T. loss for the Atlanta Dream


Editor's note: Our special correspondent David Watson will be offering the commentary on Saturday and Sunday here at CARDINAL COUPLE. Be sure to "click him".

WE don't stray too often from our commitment to be "the fan voice for UofL women's sports"... but after hearing Clint Hurtt speak to a capacity crowd at the June Sportsmen's Supper Club meeting...we are fired up about UofL 2011 football.

Clint Hurtt is what is what is right about UofL athletics and the passion involved toward the sports provided at Louisville. To hear him speak about college athletes in general is awe-inspiring. To hear his story on the path that led him to UofL as the football teams defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator is magical.

Clint Hurtt "gets it" and isn't shy about telling you about it.

We've heard the raves and rants about how well he sells himself, the University of Louisville and life itself to potential college athletes. Until Thursday night, though, we never had the chance to hear him pour his heart out about his passions and beliefs.

I wish I was 18 years old again and a D1 prospect worthy of his attention. This man is for real. I'd follow him to Alaska.

Fortunately. he is here in Louisville. And, serve notice that however long Louisville will be graced with his skills, talent and abilities is a bonus...each hour, minute and second. We hope it is a very long time.

Charlie Strong, it is said...is a good judge of charatcer and dedication. He brought Clint Hurtt to Louisville. We believe, Charlie...oh, yes...we believe. You brought UofL the best apple in a full tree with Mr. Hurtt...

Thank you. Both of you. Like our intrepid Women's Football Camper Margaret Richards wrote a few days ago here at CARDINAL COUPLE..."I can't wait for football season to get here."

We understand. We're ready, too. If you have ANY chance to ever hear Clint Hurtt speak...don't pass it up.
You'll walk out of the venue eight feet high and feeling good about the world. And, that ain't bad...friends.

**********************************************************************************

Rachel Gehret took fifth in the
NCAA Championship. Not bad...

UofL high jumper Rachel Gehret wasn't quite eight feet high yesterday like we were after hearing the electrifying Clint Hurtt...but her six foot jump over the bar was good enough for fifth place in the high jump finals at the NCAA Championships at Drake University. Her leap was the second best in UofL track and field history.

Rough weather delayed some of the activities Friday but a full schedule of events are planned for Saturday. Good luck to the remaining Cardinals and their upcoming events.


**********************************************************************************

Kayla Fairley is
Ballard's outstanding
pitcher.

Some excellent pitching efforts in yesterday's first round of softball....

Louisville Ballard bashed Letcher County Central 15-0 in the first round of the Kentucky High School State Softball tournament in Owensboro yesterday. Kayla Fairley tossed a one-hitter for the Bruins. The game was stopped after three innings because of the "mercy rule". Ballard advances in the winners bracket and faces Ryle today.

Louisville PRP blanked Montgomery County 9-0...getting six runs in the bottom of the sixth...to advance to the winner's bracket also. They allowed just four hits in their win yesterday and will play Allen County-Scottsville this morning at 10 a.m.

Other results:

-Allen County-Scottsville got a perfect, no-hit game out of junior Kelsi Pardue to defeat East Jessamine 10-0. She struck out eleven East Jessamine batters.

-Hopkins County Central blanked Walton-Verona 5-0 behind the four-hit pitching of Ali Austin.

-Central Hardin slugged their way to the winner's bracket with a 10-2 win over North Laurel. Central jumped out to an early 7-0 advantage and held North Laurel to just three hits.

-Calloway County sent Ashland Blazer to the consolation bracket with a 3-0 win. Lindsay Rucker tossed a one-hitter for Calloway.

-Lexington Lafayette survived a slugfest with Owensboro Catholic 11-8. The teams combined for 27 hits.

-Ryle "run ruled" Magoffin County 12-1 in five innings yesterday...holding Magoffin County to just three hits.

**********************************************************************************

Kentucky vs. Indiana All-Star games tonight at Knights Gym over at Bellarmine. Tickets are $20. The girls start it up at 5:30 p.m. and the guys take the court at about 7:30 p.m. They go to Indy tomorrow and play at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Kentucky Girls team has UofL signee Sara Hammond on the roster and three girls from the Louisville area...Mecheal Guess (Manual), Juliann Miller (Mercy) and Maddie Peabody (Sacred Heart). They'll need to find a way to stop Indiana's Bria Goss (signed with Kentucky) and 6'2" Liza Clemons (Purdue).

The Kentucky boys and girls team also did a tour of Churchill Downs yesterday. They are dressed in blue in the center of the photo. They move quick...they were gone by the time I got down to the paddock area and I couldn't get a closer photo of them. Let's hope they move as quickly tonight and tomorrow against the Hoosiers.

**********************************************************************************

Former Atlanta Dream guard Kelly Miller came back to haunt the Dream last night, nailing a three pointer with seconds remaining to tie the score 85-85 and force overtime. Second overtime game of the year for Atlanta, second loss in overtime for Atlanta. Final...Washington Mystics 98 - Atlanta Dream 90. The Dream are 0-2 so far this year. We're beginning to see a trend here...

Kelly and Coco Miller are twin sisters that play baketball
in the WNBA. Last year they both played for the Atlanta
Dream. Kelly was traded to Washington this year. The Dream
are probablty wishing they hadn't done that...now.

Angel McCoughtry, still hobbled by a knee injury, saw just three minutes of court time. 1 out of 4 from the field and two points. The Dream got 20 and 14 boards from Erika DeSouza...who missed the final couple of minutes of the extra session with a nose injury. Miller nailed the first basket for Washington in the overtime session and the Dream never got the lead.

Kelly, of course, was on the Dream last season with her twin sister Coco. Both the girls were starters and stars at the University of Georgia before going to the WNBA. The Dream received point guard Lindsey Harding in exchange for Miller and draft signee Ta'Shia Phillips (Xavier).

We'll see how that works out as the season progresses....
.