Filter records by default

<p>I have a SearchSort integrated with a template and have looked at all the parameters available, but I need the ability to filter records by default until the user enters their own search term. If I use a WHERE clause in my SELECT statement, it limits the recordset, which I can't have. I need all records available for the search, but when the page first loads, show only a certain subset by default. Anyway to accomplish this?</p>