After losing two of its top swimmers in Josh Kercheval and Nic Cheviron last year to graduation and having a dozen freshmen on the roster, not much was expected from the 2003-04 men's swim team.

For the first time in history, Cape Girardeau, Mo., will host a game for all the marbles.

With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, I, like everyone, am thankful for many things. So I figured I would stray from the usual column format to list the eight items I'm most appreciative of. Since this is a sports column, I'll keep this related to athletics on the collegiate and professional front.

The Eastern women's soccer team has a bitter taste left in its mouth. At the beginning of the season, the Panthers had a goal to get to the NCAA tournament for a third straight year.

The Eastern volleyball team signed its only scheduled recruit for the year as Mother McAuley senior Kera Griffin signed a National Letter of Intent Monday.

Let the madness begin. Well, it's not March but November is here and I've already heard the maniacal voice of Dick Vitale so college basketball has obviously begun.

An up and down season for the Eastern volleyball team ended this past weekend with the Panthers failing to make the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the second straight year.

Three Eastern swimmers got two first place finishes as the men defeated Evansville 140.5-90.5 Saturday at Lantz Natatorium. The women were unable to get the same results as they fell 143-100.

Eastern head basketball coach Rick Samuels liked what he saw from an inexperienced mystery squad after its 79-76 loss to the CAP's Academy All-Stars.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Eastern head coach Bob Spoo watched an opposing coach experience something he felt one year ago.

Looking forward to two to three weeks of rest and recovery, the Panther cross country teams return to Eastern this weekend with one more season behind them. Although the runners put forth some season-best races, none advanced to the NCAA Championship race. Eastern had one runner, Jeff Jonaitis, finish in the top 25, earning him All-Regional honors.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A few inches. That's how close Eastern was to tying the game after it fell behind 1-0 to Missouri in the early minutes of the second half of their first round Women's College Cup game.