The Not-So-Little Wrestler That Could

Its being called the Miracle on the Mat and the biggest upset in wrestling history. An on-line poll on MSNBC rates it the second biggest Olympic upset ever, behind the 1980 US Hockey Team win over Russia. LDS super-heavyweight wrestler Rulon Gardner told the Associated Press, "When did I think I could beat him? About 10 minutes ago. I kept saying, 'I think I can. I think I can.' But it wasn't until it was over that I knew I could." Gardner's shocking win over Russian Alexander Karelin Wednesday has caught the attention of the US news media, which is hungry for this kind of underdog win.

Sept 25: US Womens Volleyball, Basketball & Softball Move On to Finals

Mormon athletes on the US Volleyball, Basketball and Softball teams moved on to the finals during the past two days. The Softball team will play for the gold medal against Japan, which beat the team in extra innings in the preliminaries. Charlene Tagaloa will play with the Volleyball team in the quarterfinals, despite losing to powerhouse Brazil in the final game of the preliminaries.

Sept 26: Laura Berg Wins Gold With US Softball Team

US Softball Team centerfielder Laura Berg has become the first LDS gold medalist of the Sydney Olympics as the US beat Japan 2-1 in extra innings. To get the gold, the US team had to beat all three teams that it had lost to in the preliminaries.

Sept 27: Gardner Wins Gold! Maybe Mormon Hero of Olympics

If there is a Mormon hero for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, it will probably be Wrestler Rulon Gardner. Gardner surprised everyone by beating long-time world champion Alexander Kareline in what Reuters calls "the biggest shock in the history of Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling." Kareline was the undisputed world champion in the 130kg class and was known as the "Toughest Man in the World."

Sept 28: Tagaloa to Play for Bronze; Additional Mormon Athlete Paewai Already Finished

The US Women's Volleyball Team, including LDS player Charlete Tagaloa lost to Russia yesterday, putting the team in a match against Brazil for the Bronze medal. The loss was the US team's second of the tournament.

Sept 29: Track & Field Athletes Finish; US Women's Basketball to Play for Gold

The competition of Mormon athletes in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games will finish tomorrow with Jared Deacon and the British track team competing in the final of the 4 x 400m relay. Also competing earlier in the day tomorrow are Natalie Williams and the US Women's Basketball team, playing in the gold medal game against Australia after beating Korea yesterday, and Charlene Tagaloa and the US Women's Volleyball team, finishing their competition in the bronze medal game against Brazil.

Edwards Isn't Only BYU Coach with Record Wins; Michaelis gets 850th

More than 2,500 Cougar volleyball fans watched Saturday as BYU coach Elaine Michaelis reached yet another milestone. Already the second-winningest division I coach of all-time, Michaelis achieved her 850th career win Saturday in front of 2,578 fans when her Cougar team swept San Diego State 15-11, 15-7, 15-4 at the Smith Fieldhouse.

BYU's Staley, Nelson, Dyson Named Mountain West Conference Players of the Week

Luke Staley (BYU), Corey Nelson (Air Force) and Patrick Dyson (Utah) were named Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for their performances on the football field last weekend. Nelson and Dyson are named Player of the Week for the second time in their careers, while Staley is recognized for the first time in his career.

BYU Travels East to Face the Orangemen

After picking up a crucial 10-7 win on Saturday over Mountain West Conference foe UNLV, which ended a two-game losing streak, the Cougars travel to the East Coast for the third and final time this season, taking on Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 8 p.m. (EDT). The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

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