Gavin Off

Sports

A Pumped-Up Problem

By Gavin Off | April 25

Beyond the daily iron-pumping, vein-popping routines of the Student Recreation Center lies a secret life. It's a life of syringes and pills, illegalities and thousands of dollars. It's a life obvious to a few, hidden to most. Illegal anabolic steroids, the drugs that helped bring Arnold Schwarzenegger fame and Olympian Ben Johnson shame, are no strangers to UNC's SRC. In fact, some say they're right at home in the student gym.

Sports

MVP McPike Leads Tar Heels to Title

By Gavin Off | April 23

With a little more than eight minutes to go Sunday, North Carolina senior midfielder Christine McPike charged the Maryland net, lost the ball, regained control and fired a shot past goaltender Alexis Venechanos without losing stride. The game-winning goal gave UNC's women's lacrosse its first ACC championship and helped McPike to her first tournament most valuable player award. "It just got knocked away from me, and I still realized there was a whole path to goal," McPike said. "I had time to pick it up, gather myself and shoot it."

Sports

Questions Abound for UNC Track

By Gavin Off | April 19

Heading into this weekend's ACC championships, North Carolina's track and field teams hope to keep one trend going and end another. After grabbing seven consecutive first-place conference finishes from 1992 to 1998, UNC's women's team finally reclaimed its position atop the ACC last year. The team is hoping for an outcome this weekend in Charlottesville, Va., similar to 2001's down-to-the-wire conference victory in Orlando, Fla. The men, however, don't want a repeat of recent past.

Sports

Cleveland's Bat Leads UNC Past 49ers

By Gavin Off | April 10

Despite going 3-for-3 prior to the eighth inning, North Carolina's Jeremy Cleveland saved his best stuff for last. With the Tar Heels clinging to a one-run lead Tuesday against Charlotte at Boshamer Stadium, Cleveland stepped up to the plate and smashed a solo home run directly over the 355-foot mark in right-center field. The homer, Cleveland's third of the year, put UNC up by two and capped the Tar Heels' scoring in their 6-4 win. It also atoned for an earlier offensive blunder by the Tar Heel first baseman.

Sports

UNC's McPike Shrugs Off 5-Goal Explosion in Win

By Gavin Off | February 26

With perspiration dripping from her forehead and her lacrosse stick hanging from her left hand, UNC senior midfielder Christine McPike described her play as "fine." McPike finished Sunday's 17-3 win against Davidson one goal shy of UNC's single-game record. She netted five goals, two of which were separated by less than a minute. And McPike didn't even play the whole game. UNC women's lacrosse coach Jenny Slingluff Levy played her reserves for most of the blowout's second half.

Sports

Tech Dethrones Tar Heels in Championships Upset

By Gavin Off | February 18

When the 1,600-meter relay finished, the entire team exploded, pumping their fists, jumping off the ground and hugging each other. Then the chant began, "Whose house?" But the familiar reply of "Heels' house!" didn't answer. Instead, a thundering "GT's house!" followed. And minutes later the official results sounded over the loud speaker. "For the first time in 10 years, we have a new ACC championship team," the voice said.

Sports

Tar Heels Tune Up For ACCs

By Gavin Off | February 11

It was the last chance for North Carolina to iron out the wrinkles before the ACC Championships. It was the teams' last chance to perfect their techniques, their last chance to get a taste of competition. And it was their last chance to catch a break before the conference finals. The men's and women's track and field teams took to the Eddie Smith Fieldhouse on Friday in the Carolina Fast Times meet, the last of the regular season. Fewer than 10 teams entered the meet, most of which were from North Carolina.

Sports

Track Has Weekend Success

By Gavin Off | January 22

The gun fired, and before the smoke cleared, North Carolina freshman Erin Donohue sprinted from lane seven to lane one, where she led the pack of eight around the first turn in the women's mile run. Donohue never faded, winning the race in 4 minutes, 56 seconds and claiming her first collegiate victory. Throughout the eight laps, only Georgia Tech's Nicole Campbell tested her. Donohue's first-place finish helped power the UNC women's track and field team to its first victory of the year in the team-scoring season opener.

Sports

Track Teams Open Seasons, Fieldhouse With Success

By Gavin Off | January 14

Family and friends cheered from the second- and third-floor balconies. Teammates, clad in brightly colored warm-ups, stretched and jogged on the red surface surrounding the track. And finally, sprinters raced along the brand new lanes of the new Eddie Smith Fieldhouse. Sunday's Carolina 5 Team meet kicked off UNC's indoor track and field season and served as a warm-up for the Tar Heels, which didn't run many of their top runners.

Sports

Penn State Goalkeeper's Solid Game Not Enough

By Gavin Off | December 3

Oh, the thoughts that must have run through the head of Emily Oleksiuk. Sure, the Penn State senior goalkeeper is a two-time All-American. And sure, she has a net full of other accomplishments, like being named the team's most valuable player and first-team all-Big Ten for the past three years. But on Sept. 9, the Tar Heels solved Oleksiuk, winning 3-0 at Fetzer Field. And with Friday's rematch against UNC, there was even more pressure on Oleksiuk in the fourth round of the NCAA Tournament. She found that out quickly.