I The Behrend Beacon
PORTS - YEAR IN REVIEW
Softball team ready for
season after spring training
By Crystal Chisholm
from the March 29 issue
During spring break, the soft
ball team, consisting of 12 mem
bers, headed down to Kissimmee,
Fl„ for spring training. In prepa
ration for the games, the team
began practicing in February, and
put in two more practices before
heading to Florida.
While at spring training, the
team played eight of the ten
scheduled games, competing in
two games daily. This year the
team had what seems as though a
streak of bad luck on the field.
leaving spring training with a
record of 0-8.
The team’s misfortunes contin
ued when they were rained out of
two of their scheduled games in
Florida, better known as the
Sunshine State. Though the team
suffered a terrible loss, they man
aged to hold their weight against
top ranking teams.
“My ladies held off a top
ranked team scoreless for four
straight innings, said Head Coach
Stacy Pondo, ‘They played a
good game.”
Though they were not very
successful in dominating their
competitors, the women’s softball
team stayed strong throughout the
week. “They played tough teams
during training, very good athlet
ic teams, while holding down a
very busy schedule,” said Pondo.
While in Florida, the team was
able to get a clear view of some of
their weak points as well as their
strong points, which will aid them
in the upcoming season. “The
team overall just needs to brush
up on the basics. The
Fundamentals, and their hitting, “
said Pondo
Even without the wins they had
Women’s water polo gains three wins
The Lady Lions water polo team picked up three wins this week
end at the Behrend Invitational, but may have lost their top scorer for
the rest of the season.
After a rough 0-7 start to the season, the blue and white took three
out of their five matches, including two from Utica and one from
Colorado College. The team also kept it close against Division I
school, Sienna, losing 8-7.
Behrend’s first win of the season came March 18 night against
Utica, with a monster 11-2 victory. Freshman Amanda Wiest and
sophomore Cara Ludwig led the lions with three goals apiece. The
team then made it two in a row, with a win over Colorado, 7-5,
Saturday morning. Ludwig led the way with three goals. Later that
day, Behrend fell 8-7 against Sienna, with three goals from Britney
Yost to lead the squad.
The Lady Lions started their Sunday stint of matches with a 12-4
loss against lona, but finished the tournament Sunday night with
another big win against Utica, 7-3. Ludwing and Yost each had a pair
of goals for Behrend.
After a productive weekend, the women dropped their home match
against Gannon 14-1. Erin Troester scored the lone goal for Behrend
as the Lady Lions fell to 3-10 on the season.
Despite the slow start, Head Coach Joe Tristan saw a lot of posi
tive things this weekend, including the important first win.
“It builds confidence for the athletes to get that first win under then
belts,” said Tristan.
He also points out that the first seven games came against Division
I schools, such as University of Michigan and Colorado State
University. Tristan says these matches are meant to help his team
develop.
“You need to compete at a high level in order to play at a high
level,” said Tristan.
Tristan said he stresses defense and saw an improvement from
where it was lacking before. The team still needs to work on filling
holes and minimizing weaknesses
“Any great offense needs an even greater defense,” said Tristan.
And while he is happy with the offensive performance, defense still
remains the team’s main focus.
“We just need to come out and play the best game we can play,”
said Tristan.
Tristan said the team will take it one game at a time. The absence
of Ludwig will cause some to shift positions and adjust to new roles.
Next week, Behrend will travel to take on Grove City College on
March 29. The Lady Lions will then spend the weekend at the
Sienna Invitational, to get rematches against lona and Maryland.
hoped for, their losses shined
light on the fact that through
everything, they are still a very
close-knit team, which Pondo
considers to be one of the teams
best assests. By playing compet
itive teams, they learned a lot
about themselves and the team as
a whole.
Even with the losses suffered
during spring training, the team
remains positive going into the
conference games.
“Despite our record, Florida
was a great starting block for our
season,” said Team Captain
Shelle Roberts. “We played some
really tough teams, and although
we didn't win, we are much better
prepared for our conference
games. Now that we have Florida
behind us. we need to stay posi
tive and play softball the way we
know how.”
The team now knows what is
needed in order to get the job
done, and dominate out on the
field.
“Even on Tuesday, their first
practice since coming back up
North, I can see they have
stepped up their play another
notch and they realized what
they’re capable of doing,” said
Pondo.
“With our first game coming
up on March 29,1 want to let it be
known that our record doesn’t
portray what they did down in
Florida,” said Pondo. “They’re a
strong willed team with a desire
to play hard and will compete
well once they are back up North,
during the season. It is essential
that we keep positive. The team
needs to keep their heads up, and
continue to work hard and do the
best they can.”
By Rachel Lyon
From March 25 issue
Baseball
By Sara Kamber
from the March 18 issue
The baseball team retured from spring
training in Port St. Lucie, FI. with a 5-3
record. The blue and white saw strong
performances from several players who
are earning their first real opportunity to
play on a daily basis. After seven seniors
graduated last season, there are some big
shoes to be filled.
“We are pleased with our team effort in
Florida,” said Head Coach Paul Benim.
“Our performance was solid during an
extremely demanding week where we
played eight varsity and three junior varsi
ty games in six days. Spring training is
honestly about survival and we did that
and a little more.”
Junior pitcher Ray DcVaul helped start
things out the right way by earning this
season’s first AMCC Pitcher of the Week
honors. DeVaul was 2-0 in his first two
starts of the season, picking up a pair of
shutout wins over Susquehanna and
Eastern. Over 12 1/3 innings, he allowed
no earned runs, struck out 8 and walked
only 3.
Senior Jason Shaffer and junior Chris
McCartney were each 1-1 on the mound.
McCartney fanned 5 over 10 innings of
work while Shaffer struck out 9 in 13
innings
“The pitching staff really excelled,”
said Benim. “In several instances they
were dominant and controlled the game
from start to finish. We ask that they give
us a chance to play defense and hit a little
Swim teams rewrite record books
By Samantha Cibula
From the Feb. 18 issue
Feb. 10-12 marked the final
team competition for both the
men’s and women’s swim teams.
It also marked a three-day period
of team excitement, best times,
and new records. The Lion’s
traveled to Grove City for an
invitational where they competed
against 11 teams. The men fin
ished fourth overall and first in
AMCC competition. The
women finished fifth overall and
also placed first in AMCC com
petition.
“We had nine men swimmers
and divers and placed fourth
overall,” said Head coach Jen
Slack. “Everyone stepped up to
competition, swam fast, and got
back into finals and consola
tions.”
At the meet, the men went on a
record breaking rampage setting
three new individual team
records, two relay records and
one AMCC record. Top finishers
for the men were sophomore
Brandon Thiel, freshmen Dustin
Fairchild, Matt Seiferth, Anthony
Streeter receives Outstanding Athletic Director award
Behrend Director of Athletics, Brian Streeter, is the 2004-05 recipient
of the General Robert R. Neyland Outstanding Athletic Director Award,
which is given out by the All-American Football Foundation. Streeter
was presented with the award at the 66th Banquet of Champions.
Streeter was chosen because of his dedication to not only Penn State
Behrend Athletics, but to the advancement of many other athletic pro
grams as well. He serves as President of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic
Conference and has been involved with ECAC for 24 years, serving on
many different committees.
Streeter feels it is important to be professionally active outside of
Behrend because it gives him the opportunity to see what does and does
not work at other schools and bring that back to our own athletic pro
gram.
“It’s important to serve both on and off campus to get ideas from other
professionals,” said Streeter. “This benefits not only the athletes, but all
students and the school. In order for our program to get ahead, there has
Spoto and diver Dan Wiltrout
Fairchild set one new AMCC
record in the 500 freestyle with
the time of 4:53.14; that time also
set a new team record.
Fairchild’s 200 freestyle per
formance was good enough to set
yet another team record with the
time of 1:48.34. Spoto’s 100
freestyle time 40.71 added to the
record breaking performances.
hi relay action the combination
of Fairchild, Sciferth, junior
Steve Schleicher and Thiel broke
the 800 freestyle relay record
(7:24.13). On Saturday, the four
man team of Spoto, Fairchild,
Sciferth and Thiel ended the meet
setting the 400 freestyle team
record (3:18.58). Both relay
records wiped out records that
were originally set in the 2001
season, which was the men’s sec
ond varsity swim season.
“They were lough records to
break,” said Slack. “It was excit
ing to see them work together to
break those records.”
The women had just as an
exciting meet as the men. The
blue and white teamed up, setting
a record-breaking nine new indi-
By Sara Kamber
from the Frebr. 25 issue
off to solid start
Senior Vince Canzano makes the tag against Case Western. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
bit. They gave us a chance to succeed
each and every game.”
Last season's AMCC Newcomer of the
Year, Brian Hart was back at work during
the trip. Hart was 12 for 26 at the plate
scoring 3 runs and 7 RBIs. He leads the
team in baiting average at .461 for the
week.
Coming in behind Hart in batting aver
age is senior captain Vince Canzano.
Canzano averaged .423 with 11 hits in 26
at bats. He brought in 3 RBIs and had 5
runs. Canzano shares captain duties with
fellow seniors Shaffer and Matt
Szymanski. Canzano holds down short
stop for the blue and white while Shaffer
and Szymanski are both pitchers.
“Canzano. Shaffer and Szymanski all did
vidual team records and four new
relay records. To put the icing on
the cake, the Lady Lion’s set
seven new AMCC individual
records and four new AMCC
relay records. The record break
ing performances were surround
ed with team best and Behrend’s
first-ever individual event
Champion at the Grove City
Invitational.
Morales placed first in
both the 500 and 1650 freestyle.
She mixed in a second place fin
ish in the 1000 freestyle.
Morales, who made history ear
lier this year making ECAC cuts,
once again gave Bchrend swim
ming something to record in the
history books. She was the first
Lady Lion to take home a first
place finish not in one event but
two. Adding to her performance
were record breaking swims in
the 500 free (5:12.15), 1000 free
(10:43.53) and the 1650 free
(17:54.67). Each record was a
team and AMCC record.
Marshall also had a standout
meet. The sophomore captain
broke records in the 200 free
(1:59.11), 200 fly (2:18.80), and
to be professional development and involvement.”
The award was given out by the All-American Football Foundation,
which is even more of an honor for Streeter since Behrend has no foot
ball program. This proves the committee looks at all- around service
and dedication to the entire athletics profession and not just what goes
on at one director’s school. When asked about the possibility of having
football at Behrend, Streeter smiled happily at the chance to answer this
question.
“I would love to see football be a part of our program here at
Behrend,” said Streeter. “Economically, this may not be the right time
to add a football team, but it’s on the to do list along with many other
things that are important in the growth of Behrend. A college grows
together, and when the time comes, the university will make the right
decision.”
Until Behrend does get that football team, they can take satisfaction
in knowing the school has an “outstanding” athletic director who is ded
icated to not only what is best for the athletics department, but the entire
college.
Friday, April 29. 2005
quite well, but 1 think they will be even
better down the road at crunch time,” said
Bcnim. "We always look for upperclass
men to step up and perform. Players
should improve every year and develop
different aspects of their game and as sen
iors, be at their best and have their best
Although spring training was very suc
cessful, there were a few sets backs,
including a nasty loss to Bethany College,
3-10. Over the eight game road trip, the
Lions recorded 22 turnovers.
“Florida is an early preview of the sea
son. almost a mini-sesaon,” said Benim.
“But one good or bad game doesn’t make
a year or a career. Our guys did good
things and we strive to get better daily.”
100 tree (55.59). Marshall’s
times in the 200 free and 200 fly
set AMCC records. Her 100
freestyle time just missed the
AMCC record set by Kim Love
(55.15), Penn State Altoona in
2002. Marshall’s largest time
drop came in the 200 fly.
“Whitney dropped six seconds
in the~2oo fly,” said Slack. “I
knew she had it in her. It is so
exciting to sec someone do so
well in a race that can be so
tough.”
Pilcwski’s bread and butter
events guided her to two record
breaking performances as well.
Her 200 breaststroke time of
2:38.63 and 100 breaststroke
(1:11.34) set both team and
AMCC records. Sophomore
sprinter Brittany Yost also
knocked down a record in the 50
backstroke (30.21).
The Lady Lion’s also rewrote
four of five AMCC and team
relay records. The quartet of
Marshall, Pilewski, Morales and
Yost broke the 400 free relay, 200
medley relay and 400 medley
relay AMCC and team records.
Marshall, Yost and Morales
teamed up again, this time with
sophomore distance swimmer
Alexis Puhala to set the 800 free
relay team and AMCC record
with the time of 8:17.72.
“For some of the relays we
weren’t expecting to swim as fast
as we did,” said Yost. “But when
you put four girls together behind
a starting block, combined with
intensity and determination, you
realize anything can happen.”
After a physically and emo
tionally wearing three-day meet,
both teams find their seasons
over. Morales, however, made
ECAC cuts and will be traveling
to the University of Pittsburgh
where she will compete in the
1650 and 500 freestyle.