Sports

UH's top athletes battle in 'best-of' list

Max Welles

Cougar Pause

Everyone loves a list. People use them to shop. Santa Claus uses them to find out whois been naughty or nice. The E! Channel even has a whole show devoted to them. And I do too, since this is the second consecutive week Iive tabulated a list instead of a column.

Pin Lim/The Daily Cougar

This weekis list will crown the greatest UH athlete of all time. The formatis somewhat simple. So that each of UHis 11 varsity sports (I combined cross country with track and field, and swimming with diving) are represented equally, the best player or whoever I feel is the best player from each sport will go head-to-head to crown the winner. No professional or Olympic accolades or fame will be tabulated, just UH achievements. 

No. 11) Arelis Ferreris, softball, catcher, 2001-current

Because of the programis infancy and overabundance of good players, this was the most debated and contested sport. But because she plays one of the toughest positions in all of sports, catcher, (try squatting for more than hour without a toilet under you, see how much fun it is) and has been the best power hitter since the teamis inception in 2001, Ferreris catches the honor. Honorable mentions: Riane Netardus, Jamie Falco.

No. 10) Kara Bullinger, soccer, midfielder, 1998-i01.

Made an all-conference team every year at UH. Honorable mention: Laura Repp.

No. 9) Brandon Caraway, baseball, 1997-i00 

The Cougar career leader in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, total bases, stolen bases and hits by pitches. Also holds a 40-game hitting streak -- thatis Superman-type stuff. Honorable mention: Kyle Crowell.

No. 8) Chandi Jones, womenis basketball, 2000-current

When itis all said and done, maybe the best male or female to ever dribble a basketball in Hofheinz Pavilion. Reigning back-to-back Conference USA womenis basketball player of the year. Already UHis all-time leading scorer with one season of eligibility remaining. Honorable mention: Pat Luckey.

No. 7) Margaret Redfearn, tennis, 1982-i85

UH tennis fans know where the "Redfearn" grows. Holds record for most singles wins and total career victories (including doubles play). Honorable mention: Kathy Foxworth.

No. 6) Keith Fergus, golf, 1973-i76

Missed team glory by not winning a national title, but didnit miss much else. First-team All-American from i74-i76. Honorable mention: Billy Ray Brown.

No. 5) Wilson Whitley, football, 1973-i76.

Honors read like a rap sheet of greatness. Lombardi Award winner (i76), Southwest Conference Player of the Decade (only played one season in SWC) and Consensus All-American (i76). Honorable mention: Andre Ware.

No. 4) Debbie Vokes, volleyball, 1994-i98

Top-five in numerous statistical categories -- kills (No. 1), digs (No. 2), attack attempts (No. 1). Honorable mention: Jennifer Wittenburg.

No. 3) Elvin Hayes, menis basketball, 1965-i68

The career leader in total points and rebounds. Made it cool to wear short-shorts. Not really, but outplayed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor) in the "Game of the Century" between UH and UCLA. Consensus national player of the year in 1968. Honorable mention: Otis Birdsong. 

And a tie for the No. 1 spot, because it was too tough to choose:

No. 1) Carl Lewis, Track & Field, 1980-i81

Won seven NCAA championships between i80 and i81. Honorable mentions: Carol Lewis, Leroy Burrell and Jolanda Jones.

No. 1) Yulia Pakhalina, 

Five national championships. iNuff said. Honorable mention: Diane Johannigman.

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