The Behrend Beacon
PHOTO BY MIKE BELLO / BEHREND BEACON
Freshman Jen Osbourne, left, attempts to field a throw from the outfield to tag out freshman Lindsay
Patton. Junior Emily Allen, right, backs up the play at the Lions’ brand new field.
Softball team ready for spring
training despite inexperience
by Zoe Rose
staff writer
The sun is starting to shine and a
new season has arrived for the Penn
State Behrend softball team. The ex
citement is brewing as the Blue and
White will not only welcome nine
newcomers, but first-year coach
Kellie Diehl.
After going 6-6 in league play last
season and finishing 12-17 overall,
the Lions look to rebuild themselves,
which also includes replacing seven
starters. Despite this fact, they are
ready to start the 2001-2002 softball
season.
Returning senior Kelly Woods
gives the Lions a boost with experi
ence and leadership. Woods, an out
fielder, hit .358 with 14 RBIs last sea
son, and is a three-time all-conference
selection.
“I feel that my responsibility as the
only senior is to motivate the new girls
to be aggressive and take charge,” said
Woods on leading the pack.
Adding punch to the lineup for the
AMCC Men's Basketball
All-Conference Honors
First Team
Matt Beacom Pitt-Bradford
Pierre Bowery Frostburg
I Sean Brown Frostburg
| James Curren Behrend
| Brandon Henderson Lake Erie
I Second Team
' Eric Goodson PS Altoona
Jason Luther Pitt-Bradford
Jabari Matthew La Roche
Doug Schneider Bradford
I Marcess Williams La Roche
i i
us prepared for the start of our
season when we return back to
Erie,” said Pifer. “But also in
Florida, with each game, we try to
improve and play better than we did
in the one before.”
“Florida is a time when the new
players familiarize themselves with
the returnees and the team begins
Water polo team ready to hit sophomore season with full force
Freshman Christine Williams practices with weights in the Junker
Center pool on Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming season
Lions are junior outfielders Emily
Allen, who hit .464 last season, and
Cheryl Peterson. Peterson, who also
catches, was named to the honorable
mention all-conference team as a
freshman, and labeled all-conference
left fielder as a sophomore, hitting
.458 with 19 RBIs and 12 doubles.
Other sophomores include pitchers
Stephanie Covert, and Becky Corbin,
and outfielder/second baseman
Brandi Polinick.
Skilled freshmen include infielders
Roberta Baker, Erika Mack, Charity
Marsh, Jenny Miller, Jennifer
Osborne, Lindsay Patton, and Domi
nique Petergal. Contributing in the
outfield are Kara Daniel and Aleigha
Powder.
Having a young team is a vital as
pect which the squad needs to use to
pull together early on in the season.
"I think that it is wonderful to have
so many new players,” said Woods.
“Being a young team, all of our up
perclassmen have stepped up to help
lead,” said Peterson, “but also our
rookies have stepped up to strive for
Honorable Mention
Kenny Edwards Altoona
Steve Merrill Behrend
Ryan Moye
Casey Ponsoll
Tony Tibayan
Most Valuable Player
Matt Beacom Bradford
Newcomer of the Year
Ryan Moye Greensburg
Coach of the Year
Karl Radday Greensburg
FROM PAGE 11
to gel into one distinct unit fighting
for the same goal,” said Boyle. “We
hope to come back readily prepared
to attack AMCC play.”
The Lions are hungry for a title
and for revenge after last year’s
ninth-inning fallout. For the seniors,
finishing their careers at Behrend
with a title, and possible ECAC
a common goal, a great season.”
Playing until April 23, the Lions
have a long season ahead of them.
First up is a series of 10 games in Fort
Myers, Fla. during spring training.
“It will be a very good chance for
our younger players to get some play
ing time and get comfortable with
playing at the college level against
very good teams, before having to
come back and go right in to our con
ference games,” said Polinick.
“We feel prepared and eager to step
on the field,” said Peterson. “Work
ing on running plays for different situ
ations and hitting and bunting helps
to bring the team focused and ready
to take on the upcoming challenges.”
Conference action begins on March
16, when the Behrend softball squad
hosts Pitt-Greensburg. The Lions host
Pitt-Bradford on March 19 and then
Penn State Altoona on March 23. Ev
ery one of the Lions’ games after
spring break are doubleheaders (seven
innings).
Greensburg |
Behrend j
Lake Erie j
BEHREND BEACON
Sophomore Stephanie Covert
will be counted on to carry the
load on the mound for the Lions
postseason berth, is the only way to
go-
“There is always work to be
done,” said Bundy, “and if we keep
working the way we are there
should be no reason that we don’t
bring home an AMCC title this
year.”
Last season, Penn State Behrend
had its first look at women's collegiate
water polo. Now, with a year of ex
perience under the belts of six veteran
players, and the addition of seven
newcomers, the Lions have a positive
outlook entering the 2002 season.
“Last year we just got our feet wet
with this program, and this year we
have an opportunity to make a big
impact,” said coach Josh Heynes. “It
is only our second year, and we are
already better than we were last year
at this time.”
This year’s squad returns six sec
ond-year players who will rely on
their experiences from last season to
lead the team. The veterans include
Sarah McGarvey (Butler/Butler), Ann
Marie Havey (Bethel Park/Bethel
Park), Hollie Stash (North
SP 3 RTS
Friday, March 1, 2002
by Kate Levdansky Petrikis
assistant sports editor
This week’s— —
senior athletic p
David Cooper: Hero
let anything keep him
by Kate Levdansky Petrikis
assistant sports editor
Dave Cooper lived in Almy Hall
his sophomore year, which is near
the Wintergreen Gorge. One after
noon, Cooper said he heard a fire
truck coming up Jordan Road. He
quickly learned that someone had
fallen into the water, and he ran to
the Gorge to see if he could help.
The person had fallen into the wa
ter and was unconscious. Three vol
unteer firemen, a teacher, and Coo
per walked him out on a stretcher,
where they met more firemen and
a life flight helicopter. The victim
made a full recovery, and Cooper
became a hero by saving a person’s
life.
These days, Cooper said he is
simply enjoying his last semester at
Behrend. Cooper came to Behrend
with the intention of going to Uni
versity Park after two years.
“After only my first year here, I
changed my major so that I could
stay. I love pretty much every thing
about this school, and the people
that I have met here. That is, with
the exception of the parking,” said
Cooper. “Over the past five years I
had seen some great improvements
to the athletic programs at Behrend,
such as the new facilities and new
coaches. I hope the programs con-
tinue to grow.”
Cooper started hitting tennis balls
when he was 6, but actually started
playing tennis at the age of 13. He
then continued to play at Mt. Leba
non High School in Pittsburgh. His
high school tennis team competed
very well.
In his senior year, Cooper’s high
school tennis coach, Chuck Stal re
tired after 27 years. At the team’s
lettering banquet, Cooper intro
duced Stall and presented him with
an award for his service over the
years. Cooper said that this was his
highlight in his high school tennis
career. Cooper also played soccer,
wrestling, and track at Mt. Lebanon.
“I wanted to play soccer for Penn
State Behrend, but it would inter
fere with classes too much,” said
Cooper. “But, I wanted to stay in
volved in sports, and tennis was the
best fix.”
Today, Cooper is the captain of
Behrend’s tennis team.
“As a leader of the team I want
everyone to have fun, but I also
want their best effort on the court,”
said Cooper. “I like tennis because
there is no time limit. As long as
you can win the last point, you can
never lose a match.”
Cooper holds the No. 1 position
on the team. He plays first single
and first doubles. He has to play the
best player from the opposing team.
The place an athlete is on the team
is determined by how they do
against teammates. Before the sea-
Huntingdon/Norwin), Amanda
Tuscan (Warren/Warren), Amanda
Brown (Corry/Corry), and Lauren
Packer (Fleming/Bald Eagle Area).
McGarvey and Brown return as the
leading goal scorers from a year ago,
while Packer led the team from the
cages with 164 saves.
Newcomers include sophomore
Tara Braden (Fairview/Fairview), a
transfer from Gannon University,
Moe Moe NG (Erie/McDowell), Katy
Benak (Newport, WA/Newport), Jana
Bahnak (Arcadia/Norwin), Samantha
Cibula (Bradford/Bradford), Erin
Troester (Erie/ Mercyhurst), and
Christine Williams (Pottsville/
Pottsville). Williams will lead the
team from the 2-meter offense posi
tion, while Braden’s scoring ability
could make a big difference from the
outside.
Six of the 14 women are on the
swim team, and the other eight have
PHOTO BY ROB WYNNE / BEHREND BEACON
In order to calm himself during matches, Dave Cooper sings
songs to himself, especially “American Pie” and “Jack and Diane.”
son started, they played each other This could be why Cooper said
to determine the ranking on the team, his best characteristics are that he
During matches, in order to stay is a team player and gives 110 per
calm between points, Cooper sings
songs
“I do this so the last point does not
affect the next,” said Cooper. “I do
not know what my favorites are, but
I find myself singing “American Pie”
by Don McLean, and “Jack and
Diane” by John Cougar Mellencamp
a lot. Both are great songs that I grew
up on, but why I related them to ten
nis I may never know.”
The highlight of Cooper’s tennis
career at Behrend occurred at the end
of last season. Behrend had its
awards lunch to honor great players
such as Cooper. But Cooper intended
on missing the ceremony in order to
study for finals.
“Coach called me and ask why 1
did not sign up to go,” said Cooper.
“Then he told me that I should re
ally try to make it.”
On that advice, Cooper decided to
attend the lunch and was awarded the
Most Valuable Player award for the
tennis team last year.
“It was a total surprise. I did not
even know there was such an
award,” said Cooper.
Another memory Cooper reflects
on from college is something he said
he will never forget. The Friday night
before two conference matches
against Lake Erie and Frostburg,
Cooper broke a rib.
“The next day, I played and fin
ished both matches,” said Cooper.
“Ouch! I knew we were going to be
short handed and the team needed
me, so I played through the pain.”
been training and working hard by
themselves since January. Everyone
came together this past Monday for
their first team practice.
Practices are Monday through Fri
day from 4 to 6 p.m., and Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday mornings
from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Plus, the ath
letes are giving up their spring break
to stay at Behrend and train for the
first tournament.
The Lions will begin the season at
the Southern Tournament at Slippery
Rock on March 9 and 10 against
Grove City, Slippery Rock, and the
University of Michigan. The Lions
then host Cornell, Colgate, Penn
State, lUP, and Gannon in Behrend’s
own tournament March 15-16.
“Beating teams is not in the plan.
We just want to have a good show
ing, or a better showing than last
year,” said Heynes. “Since it is our
first tournament, we will be a bit rusty.
behrcol!s @ aol.com
rofile
doesn't
down
Cooper said in order to manage
time, he plans out his weeks ahead
of time, making sure that he has
time set aside for everything. Prac
tices are held indoors at 8:30 p.m.
when the weather is bad, but when
the weather breaks practices will be
outdoors at 4 p.m.
Cooper is majoring in electrical
engineering, because he loves
working with cutting-edge technol
ogy. After graduation, Cooper is re
turning to Pittsburgh to spend the
summer fishing and working cars
with his brother whom he has not
seen much of during the last five
years. After a summer full of re
laxation, Cooper will be off to
work.
He hopes to work in Pittsburgh,
but said it is hard to find work
there. So, he has decided to take a
job in California with NavAir, just
outside of Los Angeles.
“I wanted to do hardware design,
and they had an opening in this
area,” said Cooper. “Plus, I do not
want any more snow.”
Dave’s nickname, Cooper, is
nothing special. But it works for
him. “There are lots of Daves, but
there is only one Cooper,” he said.
As far as the season goes. Coo
per sees Behrend near the top.
“We have a good chance to win
ning the conference,” he said. “We
are stronger than last year, and the
conference has gotten weaker.”
p* ■* ■ *'
PHOTO BY JEFF HANKEY /
BEHREND BEACON
Sarah McGarvey uses an
unusual, everyday item for
weightlifting practice,
but wc should come out just fine.
Game experience is what we are look
ing for. We need to have intensity, and
be aggressive when we play.”
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