Friday, March 23, 2007
The Fornari factor
"It's a lot of time, and a lot of effort, but in the end it's always worth
it," says Behrend's women's basketball head coach, Roz Fornari.
Fornari just finished up her fourteenth season as head coach, sealing
over 243 victories. She gladly holds the title of Behrend's all time
leader in women's victories.
In her 14 seasons, Fornari clenched the 1995-1996 ECAC Southern
Region Championship and has twice been the AMCC Tournament
Champions in the 1998-1999 and 2003-2004 seasons. To add to her
list of accomplishments, Fornari has been named AMCC Coach of the
Year by her peers four times.
"If it was up to me and the team, she would have won again this
year," said junior basketball player Meagan Bielanin.
Fornari didn't start her career coaching at Behrend, and she didn't
start it by playing basketball. During her four years of college at
Hofstra University, Fornari played softball on a scholarship.
"Basketball was my passion, but softball was how I was going to
school," said Fornari.
During her junior season, Fornari became a student assistant to the
basketball program. Fornari completed graduate school at Alfred
University, becoming strongly involved with the basketball program
there. After the completion of her graduate degree, Fornari made her
way to Behrend, where she would become an institution for the bas
ketball program and start her long career within the walls of Erie Hall.
It's a small compact space," Fornari said. "I didn't have to yell as
hard."
With live years spent in Erie Hall, the original gymnasium on the
Behrend campus, the construction of the Junker Center was a big deal.
Fornari explained that having a larger gym was good for the team but
harder on her voice. If she wanted to talk to one of her girls on the
other end of the court, she had to scream to get their attention. After
several seasons of constant yelling and not talking, it took a toll on
Fornari's voice.
Fornari had strained her vocal chords over the years of intense
coaching. To fix the problem, doctors went in and placed a voice
enhancer under the skin. The enhancer helps her to speak for a long
period of time without much strain. Yet the problem isn't completely
fixed, her voice will still go after an intense game or a long season.
The off-se tson gives her time to rest. However, Fornari does have
some remedies f help her through practices, games and lectures.
"I have a huge Supply of gum and suckers always on hand," said
Fornari.
Fornari's voice has changed the way she speaks to her team during
games
"It's a way to keep calm, and by the time I get to what I need to say,
it comes out nicer," said fornari laughing.
Since she can not yell across court when she wants to critique
something or suggest improvement, 11.1 - team has to come to her. It
allows for time to get her point across.
Fornari is not just a stapleip the basketball community, but to the
Behrend community as well. Fornari .and , hec team effer•mini camps
and clinics in the off season. They also make a hoge effort to support
the mens' basketball program at Behrend, trave!ing together and
cheering each other on. Her hard work and dedicaticn at Behrend just
keeps going.
"She helps each player individually and as a team," said Bielanin.
"She does an awesome job of developing team unity every season."
Fornari has had an outstanding impact on the basketbal; program.
She continues to keep it growing and becomes more successful with
each year. At the end of her fourteenth season, all Fornari had to say
was, "I can't wait for next year."
Women's water polo struggles to stay afloat
By Jessica Carlson
staff writer
The Penn State Behrend women's water polo
team has had a rough start to its season this year.
The team started off the 2007 season with a loss to
Grove City, but bounced right back at the Behrend
Invitational with a victory over Utica.
Unfortunately, it is the only win thus far for the
women. However, with a record of 1-6 and more
than 10 games remaining, there is plenty of time for
a turnaround
Competition is not ea,
for the women's water poi
team. The team is a part
the Collegiate Water Po;
Association (CWPA), ani
often plays against Divisioi
One schools such as the
University of Michigan an(
Indiana University.
"Our toughest compe
tions will be against natioi
ally ranked University
Michigan and Indian.
University," said Hea'
Coach Joe Tristan.
After an unfortunate ear'
end to their season last year. men.
the Penn State Behren( "The freshman to look
team is more than ready out for is Amanda
be back in action. With fivk Bradford," says Tristan.
returning players and nine CONTIRIBUTED PHOTO Some of the teams the
newcomers, hopes of a suc- Alexis Puhala looks to pass to a teammate. women will be facing this
cessful season have been on season include Gannon
all the players' minds. University, Slippery Rock University, Washington
"With the many freshmen in addition to the tal- and Jefferson, Siena, Carthage and Queens.
ented upper classmen, I am, hoping to have a win- "After having to end the seasoh early due to in
ning season," says sophomore Kaitlyn Rinn. ness and injuries last year, we are looking forward
Joe Tristan coaches both the men's and women's
water polo teams and assists the swimming and div
ing teams. This will be Coach Tristan's fourth sea
son returning as head coach.
"I am looking forward to a fun season that will
allow our program to excel and be competitive,"
says Tristan.
By Nicole Bane
contributing writer
CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
Above: Team Cake Eaters Garrett Richardson, Jameson Curtis, Ryan Smosna, and
Jacoby Curtis pose after winning the Arena Football Championship
Right: Islnlay Ul Haque and Manah Malik capture Co-ed Ping Pong Championship
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
Want to get involved on campus? Want to make a positive difference in other people's lives? Looking for a reward
ing experience? Behrend's TOPSoccer is a community-based program aimed a giving special needs children the
opportunity to learn and play soccer and needs more volunteers!
For information and a chance to help contact Men's Soccer Head Coach Dan Perritano at dpp2@psu.edu!
Along with being in a tough division, the women's
team is fairly young. The team includes five return
ing starters and nine newcomers. Of the five return
ing starters, Cara Ludwig, Brittany Yost and Alexis
Puhala are the three seniors. Ludwig is the career
leader in goals and in 2005 she became the first
water polo player to be named to the CWPA
Western Division All-Conference Team. Yost is the
team captain and Puhala was last season's most
improved player.
to a successful season this year," says Wiest.
The Lions will be home for their next two match
es. On Saturday, March 24 they face Indiana
University at noon and Sunday, March 25 they will
play Michigan at 9 a.m. They will remain in the
area for a game at Mercyhurst on Wednesday,
March 28 at 7:30 p.m.
-r)
INTRAMURAL UPDATE
DEADLINES:
6 v 6 Volleyball-Last call for entries!
E-mail your team to rww3@psu.edu ASAP!
League play begins March 26
Outdoor Soccer - Friday, March 23
Track Meet - Friday, March 23
RECENT NEWS:
Team Cake Eaters were crowned Arena Football Champions
Ishtiaq Ul Haque and Manal Malik were named Ping Pong
Co-ed Champions
The only junior con-
tributing to the team is
Amanda Wiest, who has
racked up a total of 22 goals
during her first two seasons.
There are two sophomores
this year, Kaitlyn Rinn, who
was named 2006 rookie of
the year, and Sarah Breese,
a transfer student from
Allegheny College.
Amanda Bradford, Mary
Baumer, Katie Knight,
Morgan Pasi, Christie Ryan,
Karyn Thornberry, Danielle
Wilson and Jenny Zeyfang
round off the team roster as
the eight incoming fresh-
Hockey fights: Violence on ice or team tactic?
By Andy McLachlan
contributing writer
Throughout the history of ice hockey, the sport
has had to deal with the controversy of fighting
Accepted by the sport and only
punished with a five minute penal
ty or a game suspension, fighting
is not only practiced a lot in the
sport, it is considered a major com
ponent to the game.
Whether people like it or not,
fighting in hockey is a huge part of
the game. Like car crashes in
NASCAR, fighting not only gets
fans in the stands, but it can help a
team win a game. An essential part
to a professional hockey team, or
even a junior team, is a tough
enforcer that brings fear to the
opposing team
Even though hockey is the only Hollweg's face, which was seen
professional non-combat sport to CONTRIBUTED PHOTO many times a day on ESPN. With
accept fighting, they do have writ- Former goaltender, Patrick Roy more unfortunate acts of violence
ten rules that fighters have to fol-
low. Like boxing, if fighters do not follow certain
rules, their penalties can be extended or they could
end up receiving a sus
pension
Some former profes- Team, believes that fight
sional players have made ing in hockey is just a part
careers out of being of the game and can be
excellent fighters on the used to help a team.
ice. Former Pittsburgh "It's always been an
Penguin Rick Tocchet aspect in hockey, so not
came into the league as only do I think that it's ok,
an undrafted fighter for but most teams use it to
the Philadelphia Flyers. get intensity back into
Through his toughness, their team," said
he gained a spot on the Thiessen.
Flyers team and worked
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO It is unlikely that hock
on his skills to become a ey will ever ban fighting.
Retired Maple Leaf player, Tie Domi, duking it out
lower forward The NHL has put their
foot down for any serious issues involving fights,
in the league
So why would fighting in hockey still be contro- but for the most part, it is just part of the game. It
versial if there are written rules to prevent serious is the nature of the game of hockey to have a cer
injury and it has been a part of the sport for years? tain edge to it, so it stands out from the pack. The
Basically, it's due to violent acts on the ice from fighting aspect of hockey keeps the game interest
professional players that have people questioning i ng and intense.
The Behrend Beacon I
the sport. Though there have been many violent
acts over the years, certain ones, especially fights,
have given hockey a black eye in the media.
In 2000, former Pittsburgh Penguin Marty
McSorley was arrested and banned from the
league for one year when he swung
his stick and struck, then Vancover
Canuck, Donald Brashear in the head
with his stick. Brashear suffered a
grade three concussion and returned
to continue his career. Former all
star Todd Bertuzzi almost did jail
time when he attacked forward Steve
Moore from behind. The attack on
Moore not only led to a year suspen
sion, but he ended the career of the
young Moore.
Just recently this year, enforcer
Chris Simon of the New York
Islanders took a baseball swing at
New York Ranger forward Ryan
bad rap that the game has received
Eric Thiessen, a freshman at Penn State Behrend
and a goalie for the Penn
State Behrend Ice Hockey