Hawking Earns More Time to Win

Cal State Fullerton made the right move when it gave Bob Hawking a new two-year contract as men’s basketball coach.

Based on the problems Hawking faced when he took over four years ago after Brad Holland’s quick exit for San Diego, Hawking deserved more time to get the program back on the winning track.

It isn’t easy attracting talented players to a program that hasn’t made an NCAA tournament appearance in 20 years and has an outdated facility. A student referendum that would have funded a new recreation center, including a 5,000-seat arena, was voted down recently.

But even though the Titans were 12-16, losing five games by three or fewer points, the last two seasons (25-30) are an improvement over Hawking’s first two when Fullerton was 13-40.

The Titans also won their first game in the Big West tournament since 1990 last season, another indication of progress.

Getting to the next level and producing a winning season won’t be easy, but Hawking is optimistic that the Titans will be improved next season.

“We have a good group of guys who have played at this level returning,” Hawking said. “I’m pleased with the way we finished the season and hope it will set the tone for next year.”

Hawking says he’s also pleased with recruiting and the Titans could still add two or three more players.

The two players from the St. Louis area the Titans signed in the fall had solid senior seasons. Forward Josh Helbig of Belleville (Ill.) averaged 17 points and five rebounds, and Brandon Campbell of Cardinal Ritter High in St. Louis averaged 14 points and shot better than 50% from the field.

Ronnie Dean, who recruited both players as a Titan assistant before resigning to take a similar job at the University of New Orleans when Hawking’s status was uncertain, said he saw Campbell play in a high school all-star game in St. Louis last weekend.

“He scored 22 points, and I thought he was the best player on the floor,” Dean said.

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Back problems were costly to Titan freshman gymnast Marianne Griffen last weekend in the individual competition in the NCAA West Regional in Seattle.

“It sort of typifies our whole season,” Titan Coach Lynn Rogers said.

Griffen, who qualified for the all-around by taking sixth in the Big West Conference meet, began having back spasms in practice last week, and they continued into the weekend. She managed to compete in two of the four events before the injury forced her to stop.

The team failed to qualify for the meet for only the second time in the program’s 23 years, largely due to injuries.

Katy Maty and Alexis Lott had to retire from competition, and junior Cortney Bogart wasn’t able to compete in the conference meet because of a shoulder problem. Sophomore Gracie Millard competed only on the uneven bars the last two weeks of the season because of a sprained ankle.

Rogers and associate head coach Julie Knight are confident the Titans will do better next season if the team can avoid so many injuries.

Knight believes sophomore Tammy De la Cruz, a former member of the Philippine national team, will be stronger next season with more time to adjust to the differences in technique and coaching styles in the United States. De la Cruz also was slowed this season by a sprained wrist.

Knight has signed two gymnasts--Kati Antolin of Huntington Beach and Megan Berry of Mesa, Ariz.--she thinks will be of immediate help next season. Fullerton has two more scholarships available.

“We’re hoping that it will be a lot healthier season next year,” Rogers said.

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Fullerton has the nation’s ninth-best won-lost record among college baseball programs in the 1990s, according to statistics provided by the NCAA.

The Titans have a .699 winning percentage, compared to .777 for the leader, Wichita State.

Other schools in the top 10 are Miami (.756), Louisiana State (.752), Florida State (.752), Delaware (.746), Clemson (.743), Notre Dame (.728) and Oklahoma State (.724). Texas, where Augie Garrido is in his second season as coach after leaving Fullerton, is 10th at .696.

Titan Notes

Three former Titan baseball players opened the season in the major leagues: Mark Kotsay with the Florida Marlins, Brent Mayne with the San Francisco Giants and Phil Nevin with the Angels. . . . The Titans had some good performances in last weekend’s Big West Challenge Cup track meet at Long Beach State. TraShawn Banford won the women’s triple jump with a meet record 37 feet 3 1/4 inches. Jason Pfaff won the men’s high jump at 6-6 1/4, and Quincy Sims won the triple jump at 46-2. . . . Fullerton also had some good efforts in the distance events. Phil Sitner was third in the 1,500 at 3 minutes 55.35 seconds and Francisco Vazquez was third in the 3,000 with a time of 8:38. . . . Christy Sears had the first double homer game of the season for the softball team against New Mexico State last week, but the Titans lost, 4-2.

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Coming Attractions

Here’s a look at key events this week for Cal State Fullerton:

* Baseball against Nevada at 7 tonight and Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. The Titans (26-11) are ranked 17th in the nation and have won six in a row.

* Softball against Sacramento State at 5 p.m. Friday and against Pacific at 4 p.m. Saturday, all at Titan softball complex. The Titans are 18-21, 6-10 in the Big West.

* Men’s and women’s track at UC San Diego Invitational Friday. Running events begin at 9:30 a.m., field events at 10 a.m.