Sports

Austin Graham doesn’t remember life before golf. Chelsea Stelzmiller can’t imagine life without it. The two freshmen share a rare love for the game, and this season they shared it for the first time with UC Davis. Graham and Stelzmiller paced the Aggie men’s and women’s golf teams this season, helping to lead them to second-place finishes last week at the Big West Conference Championships. Graham earned second-team All-Big West honors while Stelzmiller captured Big West Player of the Year, freshman of the year and first-team all-conference recognition.

Maybe a third time would have been the charm. The UC Davis men’s tennis team was tossed from the Big West Conference Tournament after losing to Cal Poly in the quarterfinals. It was the second time the Aggies fell to the Mustangs in as many chances this season. “We came up short,” said senior Justin Garcia. “It was a disappointing end, but I am proud of what we accomplished this season.” The Mustangs, who first defeated the Aggies on Apr. 5, blanked UC Davis to advance to the semifinal round of play, 4-0.

Amid the constant dugout ditties, chanting player names – “Meesh-ka! Meesh-ka!” – and the melodious renditions of “Rocky” and “Marco Polo,” the UC Davis softball team showed that it ismore than just a group of sweet voices. For thethird straight weekend, the Aggies won a Big West Conference series, this time taking two of three from the Gauchos. Their record improved to 22-31 (7-8) while UCSB’s fell to 26-22 (9-6) for the season.

For the second straight year, the UC Davis women’s rowing team owned the Sacramento waters. The Aggies’ varsity eight reclaimed the Jean Runyon Cup on Saturday by rowing to a time of 6 minutes, 44.68 seconds at the Port of Sacramento to defeat Sacramento State (6:55.57). “Our goal was to have a strong start,” said head coach Carissa Adams. “We got a good start and maintained it. Although I felt we’d do well, I was nervous because it was important for us to keep the Cup.”

Teams:UC Davis vs.No.15CalStateFullerton Records:Aggies,25-13 (6-3); Titans,24-14 (9-3) Where:Goodwin Field – Fullerton,Calif. When:Today at7p.m.; Saturday at6p.m.; Sunday at1p.m. Who to watch:Senior right-hander Eddie Gamboa’s second complete game of the season last Friday earned him Easton Big WestConferenceCo-Pitcher of the Week honors.The Aggies will look to their ace for another qualityperformance to get an early leg-up in the crucial weekend series.

Event:Big West Conference Championships Teams:UC Davis vs.Cal Poly Records:Aggies,10-12 (1-4); Mustangs,12-11(3-2) Where:IndianWellsTennisGarden– Indian Wells,Calif. When:Today at3p.m. Who towatch:Last week against UC San Diego,senior No.5singles player Daniel Elefantended his home career inpicture-perfect fashion.

Teams:UC Davis vs.UCSanta Barbara Records:Aggies20-30 (5-7); Gauchos25-20 (8-4) Where:La Rue Field When:Saturday atnoon and2p.m.; Sunday at2p.m. Who towatch:Coming off a sophomore season33-for-158 (.209) with23runs and13RBI,Julie Stauderhas made a complete180in2008.

Event:Causeway Classic Dual Teams:UC Davis vs.SacramentoState Where:Woody Wilson Track at Toomey Field When:Today at3p.m. Who to watch:Could it be three? Junior Sirena Williams broke the school record in the100-meter hurdles for the second-straight week at the Woody Wilson Classic on Picnic Day,and maynot be done tearing up therecord books.TheFresno,Calif.native became the first female Aggie to post a sub14-second mark in the event,clocking in at13.96.

Event:Big West Conference Championships Teams:UC Davisvs.CalState Northridge; TBA; TBA Records:Aggies,11-11 (3-5); Matadors,13-7 (6-2) Where:IndianWellsTennisGarden – Indian Wells,Calif. When:Today at3p.m.; TBA; TBA Who to watch:JuniorRandi Schuler will see a familiar face when she steps onto the court this afternoon.

Western Water Polo Association Championships Teams:No.10UC Davis vs.TBA; TBA; TBA Records:Aggies,23-8 (12-1) Where:BurnsCenter– Los Angeles When:Today at5:15p.m.,SaturdayTBA,SundayTBA Who to watch:Only twocurrentAggies have received All-WWPA team recognitions three years in a row.This year,for the first time in both their careers,seniors Jessica Soza and Christi Raycraftwere selected to the All-WWPA first team.

Heading into the final round of the Big West Conference Championships Tuesday,theUC Davis men’s golf team was tied with top-ranked UC Irvine at5-under. The rest of the season hung on this last round of golf. AndAggies junior Nate Pistacchio wasn’t ready to go home. TheFresno native shot a68in his final round,en route to a third-placeindividualfinish with a final score of5-under-211.Pistacchio would later be named First Team All-Conference for the first time in his collegiate career. “Nate has always been the hardest worker on the team and he deserves it,“ head coach Cy Williamssaid. “He had a great tournament.

When the postseason awards were announced on Tuesday after the final round of the Big West Conference Championships, freshman Chelsea Stelzmiller wasn’t expecting it. But one by one, all the awards seemed to go to her. Stelzmiller earned Player of the Year honors, Freshman of the Year and a spot on the First Team All-Conference roster in her standout inaugural season with the UC Davis women’s golf team. She tied for first at the conference championships with a 222, helping lead the Aggies to a second-place finish behind UC Irvine. “I was standing there, listening to them announce all of the awards and I wasn’t really expecting anything,” Stelzmiller said. “Then they say, ‘Player of the Year, from UC Davis…’ and still, I’m not expecting anything – I think it’s someone else. But they called my name and it was pretty cool.”