On the sidelines

Players to compete in elite field\nHoosier doubles players junior Linda Tran and senior Karie Schlukebir will compete in the Riviera ITA All-American Tennis Championships in Pacific Palisades, Calif. through Sunday.\nThe pair, ranked No. 13 in the latest ITA poll, will compete against a field of 15 of the best doubles pairs in the nation.\n"We definitely can go out there and compete," Schlukebir said in a statement. "We have seen the preseason rankings and some of the girls that are ranked high are ones that we have already faced in juniors and we know that they are not invincible."\nSchlukebir and Tran are 4-0 on the year, with all their wins coming at the Hoosier Classic Invitational Oct. 6. \n"If they get a decent draw and get some matches under their belt, I think they'll do pretty well," coach Lin Loring said in a press release. "They aren't seeded out there, but as long as they don't get one of those top teams, I think they'll do fine."\nRowing ready for Rock Regatta\nThe Hoosiers will be hitting the water Sunday with high expectations after finishing fourth overall in points last year at the Head of the Rock Regatta. Coach Mark Wilson has done some adjustments this week in practice to emphasize the power and strength of each stroke. \n"We've continued to work on strength," Wilson said. "We've been doing a lot of low rating-hard stroke type of practices, and we've been rowing in pairs in fours. We're continuing to focus on mental toughness, and I believe we've had a good week of practice so far."\nSenior Stephanie Mast said the team is prepared to race Sunday.\n"We've already got one race under our belt," Mast said. "Our goal is just to race well. We just have to go after teams as hard as we can."\nColumbus downs Chicago in opening game\nRick Nash, the first player selected in the NHL draft, scored on his second shot as the Columbus Blue Jackets beat Chicago 2-1 Thursday night in the opener for both teams.\nSillinger scored on a backhander at the 17:03 mark of the second period to put Columbus ahead 2-1.\nNash swooped in on a rebound for his first goal. Jocelyn Thibault was handcuffed by Sillinger's blast from the point, the rebound bouncing out to Nash who was all alone with an empty net.\nIt was the first time Columbus had won an opener.