If there is one thing that the past couple of years at Sac State have taught me, it?s that women?s sports rule our campus.

It?s not just a generalization, just look at the facts. The only winning men?s team, not including club sports, of note in the past two years has been the football team, and they haven?t made the playoffs.

The women on the other hand, with the exception of the basketball team, have consistent programs that not only contend, but win divisions and make it to the playoffs. This semester, the gymnastics and rowing teams will look to continue that pattern, which was also kept up by last semester?s women?s soccer and volleyball teams.

Gymnastics will be an exciting team to watch. After winning their division, breaking nearly every Sac State gymnastics record in the books, and narrowly missing the NCAA tournament, Kim Hughes? group of young ladies placed second in the NIT. Second, but that was to a Central Michigan team who not only hosted, but turned down an invite to the NCAA?s to compete in their hosted event. Not bad! Especially when you compare it to the men?s basketball team who hasn?t had a winning season in?well have they ever had a winning season?

Look for gymnastics to be even better this year. They started the year ranked 29th in the nation, the first time that they?ve ever been ranked. Returning will be star all-around team member Toni Petersen, the best all-around performer in the history of Sac State. Jolane Parr, Jami Scoville, and well, actually they all came back because there were no seniors on their team last year. Add to the mix, highly recruited freshman Binta Coleman, who is extremely strong on the vault, one of the team?s weaknesses, and the equation adds up to excitement. The only other question is how they compete on the beam, and with the talent they have, improvement is also expected there.

The rowing team is also one to pay attention to. The team is led by Bill Zack, who was selected WIRA coach of the year, and is one of the top coaches in the country. He has worked with the U.S. national team, and by the time he retires from Sac State, I believe that he will have his program among the top five in the nation on a regular basis. The varsity eight will be strong this year, as Breanne Hart takes over at coxswain for the graduated Becky Devcic. The strong core of returning rowers, which includes Mieke Boynton and Tammy Forbes, should help them become faster than they?ve ever been. And that would be pretty fast when you consider that this team was ranked in the nation?s top 25 last season, won their first Cal Cup, and came very close to the NCAA?s. Their goal will be to make the NCAA?s this year, and don?t be surprised if they do.So while the men?s teams will flounder this spring, it might be wise to go check out a few of our winning teams. It won?t be basketball, it won?t be baseball, and while the women?s softball team may not be a contender, they do host the biggest tournament of the year in the “Capitol Classic.”

Yeah, I guess it?s true, the ladies rule Sac State. They don?t bring in the big bucks, and they don?t get the biggest headlines, but they get what truly matters in sports: wins!Questions or comments? Email [email protected]