Laxcat senior Lochridge emerges as team leader

When the UA men's club lacrosse team dropped seven of its last nine games in 2003, the cliques that had formed the team's foundation began to conflict and unravel, sending the team into disarray.

"We had bad team chemistry," said then-junior attackman Jeems Lochridge, who led the team with 4.24 points per game last season. "Everyone yelled and got down on one another. There was fighting and bickering between players, between coaches and players." [Read article]

Although Amanda Beard moved on from the UA swimming team to the pro ranks three years ago, the retail and consumer sciences junior is still enrolled and trains with the team at the Hillenbrand Aquatics Center. The four-time Olympic medallist and current 200-meter breaststroke world record holder took time out from training for the approaching Olympic trials to tell the Wildcat how to properly store a gold medal, debunk urban myths and protest the picture choice in ESPN's Hottest Female Athlete contest. [Read article]

In two days, Tucson's most fan-friendly time of the year begins when the Arizona Diamondbacks throw out the first pitch against the Chicago White Sox at 1:05 p.m. local time.

Lest any of you miss out on the glory that is spring training in Tucson, here's a guide to spring training, college-style.

We'll start with the basics. Though Tucson Electric Park's modernity, grass outfield lawn and superior concession variety may lure you, don't be fooled: Hi Corbett is the place to be. It's a much shorter drive from campus, and a $2 sandpile ticket gives you access to scores of empty bleacher seats in a setting intimate enough for you to reach out and touch the players. However, actual touching of the players is strongly discouraged and will probably result in ejection from the premises. Or so I hear. [Read article]