Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991 TAG: 9104180469
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Doug Doughty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Epperly decided she was interested in Cal State-Fullerton and virtually recruited the school, preparing a tape of some of her most impressive routines.
"Late in my junior year, I started writing colleges with gymnastics programs about a possible scholarship," Epperly, a senior at Cave Spring, said. "I was interested in Cal State-Fullerton because one of my teammates, Tammi Elliott, who was Miss Virginia, had gone there."
Epperly took recruiting visits to Cal State-Fullerton, James Madison and Kentucky, and she said she also considered Florida, Radford, Utah and Louisiana State.
"Tammi was a big influence," said Epperly, who received a full scholarship from Cal State-Fullerton. "Plus, the coaches were real attentive. They sent newspaper articles on their gymnasts and they made me feel needed."
Epperly, born in Roanoke, lived in Richmond for three years when she was 8-10. She later spent a year in Allentown, Pa., at a national training center. She now represents the Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics.
Epperly won the state high school championship as a ninth-grader, but Cave Spring no longer has a team.
"Not having high school gymnastics hasn't affected me," said Epperly, who has qualified for elite status for the past six years. "There are higher levels of competition."
Epperly said she no longer thinks of competing in the Olympics, although that was one reason she spent a year at the national training center.
"Since I didn't accomplish my goal of the Olympics, I set my goals a little higher," she said. "In college, gymnastics is a team sport. I want to go out and do well for the team."
\ Bill McCaffrey, the second-leading scorer on Duke's NCAA championship team, said Wednesday he has decided to transfer to another school.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said McCaffrey, a 6-foot-3 sophomore guard, was granted his release and will leave Duke at the end of the university's spring semester.
McCaffrey, from Allentown, Pa., averaged 11.6 points for the Blue Devils. He started 21 games this season, led Duke in free throw percentage (.832) and scored 16 points against Kansas in the NCAA final. He also was an All-Final Four selection.
McCaffrey lost his starting job to Thomas Hill late in the year, but he played 26 minutes and scored 16 points in the Blue Devils' 72-65 victory over Kansas. McCaffrey was third on the team in minutes played (24.8), but his father said playing time was a factor in his discontent.
"Billy is concerned, but he's always been concerned - all year," Ed McCaffrey Sr. said before his son had made his final decision. "Playing time is part of that. So is getting the opportunity to handle the ball more, to play more point, just to be a greater factor. He's been asked to fill the catalyst's role, and he has done that."
The Herald-Sun of Durham reported in Wednesday's editions that Stanford has been suggested as a possible destination. Ed McCaffrey Jr., Bill's older brother and a Stanford senior, recently completed his football career as a wide receiver.
McCaffrey must sit out one season and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
\ Jimmy Mason, who started six games in basketball for Clemson as a freshman, has transferred to Furman. Mason, a guard, shot 29.4 percent from the field and had more turnovers than assists.
\ In 1990, Clemson signed six guards, one of whom, Willie Shears, never enrolled and another of whom already has left. The Tigers have signed three guards this year: point guard Chris Whitley from Lincoln Trail (Ill.) Junior College, 6-foot-4 Keith Woods from Hagerstown (Md.) Junior College and 6-1 Anthony Smith from Monroe, Ga.
Clemson has signed four players this spring, including Desi McQueen, 6-8 brother of former North Carolina State center Cozell McQueen, and 6-7 Corey Wallace from Hagerstown Junior College.
\ After a slow start in recruiting, first-year N.C. State basketball coach Les Robinson has added three players this spring, including previously unreported 6-5 Mark Davis from Utica, Miss., and 6-3 Lakista McCuller from Americus, Ga.
\ Derrick Hicks, a 6-9 post player, will accept a basketball grant-in-aid with Wake Forest pending satisfactory completion of his second year at Anderson (S.C.) Junior College. The Deacons also are among the finalists for 7-foot Alonzo Johnson from Marion, Ala.
\ Old Dominion has landed 6-4 Mike Jones from DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., who had considered VMI. . . . Vladimir Cuk, a 6-11 Yugoslavian transfer student, has signed with James Madison. Cuk played one year of high school basketball in the Lancaster, Pa., area. . . . David Cox, a 6-foot guard from St. John's High in Washington, D.C., has signed with William and Mary. . . . Liberty has added 6-5 Keith Ferguson from Three Rivers (Mo.) Community College.
\ Tech football trainer Eddie Ferrell said the Hokies' coaches are encouraged by the progress of inside linebacker Brian Williams, who tore knee ligaments during a scrimmage last August. He had surgery and missed the season.
Ferrell said Williams, who will be a fifth-year senior, is running while Tech conducts spring workouts and the Hokies expect him to be close to 100 percent by August. Williams graduated from Liberty High School in Bedford.
by CNB