USD Magazine, Spring 1993

I'm from USO, they say 'Where the heck is that?' and, 'What the hell is a Torero?"' Despite the ribbing, Whitmarsh says if he had to do it over again, he'd still pick USO. "The small class sizes, the access I had to my professors and, of course, my basketball experience were irreplaceable." Even though the 6-foot-7 Whitmarsh has enjoyed considerable success on the tour-in 1990 he was named the AVP Rookie of the Year and this year he's ranked 10th-he says nothing he's expe– rienced can match the emotion he felt playing in the 1984 NCAA playoffs as a Torero. "The gym was rocking; the excite– ment level was incredible. I've played professional basketball in Europe, tried out for NBA teams (the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blaz– ers) and played the volleyball tour for three years, but nothing has come close to what that game meant." It was a sheer coincidence that took Whitmarsh from wooden, indoor courts to sandy, outdoor ones. During his three-year stint playing professional bas– ketball in Germany, he longed for the warmth and beaches of San Diego, so whenever he was stateside, he'd head for the ocean. Pick-up volleyball games with friends led to play in a few tournaments, and then a spot on the tour. It didn't happen overnight, however. Whitmarsh's height (he's the tallest player on the tour) and athletic ability gave him an advantage, but he was still a novice to the game of volleyball. "I remember the first time I faced Kiraly and Steffes (the dominant two– some in beach volleyball for the last two years). It was hot and windy, and Karch had just hammered a ball. I thought to myself, 'What the heck am I doing here?"' he laughs. But when Whitmarsh and his partner battled Steffes and Kiraly to a 17-15 loss in that game, other players on the tour noticed. Some of the players, including Mike Dodd and Tim Hovland, took the rookie under their wing. "They were really great," Whitmarsh says of bis mentors. "They invited me to come practice with them, and were will– ing to give me tips on strategy." But now that Whitmarsh is a ranked player and has placed in a number of tourna– ments, the tips have stopped. "They fig– ure they've told me enough!" he laughs.

Whitmarsh has also proved a winner with the fans on the tour. Volleyball Monthly magazine reports that Whit– marsh's laid-back demeanor and sense of humor make him a favorite with the crowd. Two of his biggest fans are his grandparents. "They enjoyed coming to my basketball games," he says. "But I think they really love coming to the vol– leyball tournaments." Whitmarsh thinks he has about five more playing years left, then it will be time to hang up his trunks and do some "real work." "I've been fortunate in that I've been able to make a living doing two things I love: volleyball and basketball. But that's going to end soon," he says, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I'll need to set– tle down."

FROM DUNKS TO SPIKES: Mike Whitmarsh

When Mike Whitmarsh '86 was a stand– out on the USO men's basketball team, he had a very definite idea about guys who played volleyball. "I thought they were wimps," he says sheepishly. Ah, how things change. Whitmarsh now knows that if volley– ball is for wimps, then, well, Kareem– Abdul Jabbar has hair. That's because Whitmarsh has spent the last three years on the AVP Men's Professional Beach Volleyball tour with the likes of Olympic gold medalist Karch He has eaten his share of sand and been "six-packed" more often than he cares to remember, so he's the first to testify that this blatantly California game is not a wimpy sport. "It was an awakening for me once I started playing," Whitmarsh laughs. "Just because there aren't guys to bang around, like on the basketball court, doesn't mean it's not a tough game." In addition to the physical skills needed to pass, set, spike and block the ball, the natural elements of heat, sand and wind have proved tough opponents for Whitmarsh. He's had so much trouble with heat– induced muscle cramps during tourna– ments that other players have dubbed the tournament ambulance the "Whit– mobile." "It was embarrassing at first," he admits. "Especially when I had to go to the hospital." Whitmarsh isn't only teased about his tendency to cramp. His alma mater is fair game, too. "Most of the guys on tour are from big schools like UCLA, USC or Pepperdine. When they hear Kiraly and perennial powerhouses Randy Stoklos and Sinjin Smith.

Mike Whitmarsh now knows volleyball isn't far wimps.

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