BEACON SPORTS
TOPS Soccer Program returns to Behrend for the eighth time
By Jessica Carlson
sports editor
ik'YUlXfi' psu.cdll
It you come to the Junker Center between the hours of 6-8 p.m. you
may think that the circus has come to town. You will see children run
ning around w ith soccer balls, playing on the mats, shooting hoops,
playing duck-duck-goose, and being chased around the track by
Behrend students. No. the gym is not turning into a daycare center;
what you are witnessing is TOPS Soccer.
TOPS - The Outreach Program for Soccer is a program that reach
es out to disabled children and gives them the opportunity to partici
pate in a recreational activity. U.S. Youth Soccer, whose mission
statement is "to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth and
development of America’s youth through the sport of soccer at all lev
els of age and competition" designed the nation wide program. The
program is geared more towards the development of a child as
opposed to the actual competition of the game.
Dan Perntano. head coach of the men’s soccer team, brought the
program to Behrend in 2000. The first year started off with 12 chil
dren and has since grown close to 70.
The program is comprised of children with varying disabilities rang
ing in age from three to young adult. Disabilities amongst the partic
ipants may include autism. Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and
cerebral palsy. The program takes place once a week on Wednesday
evenings in the Junker Center.
Children are paired with a Behrend student volunteer who becomes
their "buddy" for the entire eight-week program. Volunteers for the
Student athletes recognized for their hardwork
By Jessica Carlson
sports editor
|ks(l|SO psu.cdll
There are over 300 student-athletes at Penn State Behrend
\\ ho know how difficult it can be to excel in athletics, as well as
juggle a heavy course load, and even find time to contribute to
the community in some way. Sunday, April 6 marks the 21st
annual celebration of National STUDENT-Athlete Day, an
undermined yet noteworthy day where student-athletes are rec
ognized for their efforts on the field/court/rink, etc, their excel
lence in the classroom, and their contributions to the local com
munity. In the spring of 2007, 83 Penn State Behrend student
athletes were named with academic all-conference honors. In
order to be eligible, student athletes must maintain a cumulative
Men’s tennis on four-game winning streak
By Jessica Carlson
sports editor
jlc/SIlINC" p'.u.aiu
The Penn Slate Behrend men’s tennis
team is on a four game winning streak,
three of which were conference matches.
On Tuesday. Mareh 25. they began their
eonference play with a victory over Pitt
(ireensbure.
They then had three matches over a
three-day span. On Friday, March 28, the
Blue and White gave Alfred University
their first loss of the season by defeating
them 6-3 and improving their overall
record to 5-6. On Saturday. March 29,
the men took on Frostburg State
University, resulting in a 7-2 victory. The
tennis team continued to prevail on
Sunday. Mareh 30. when they defeated
l’enn State Altoona 7-2.
With the strong performances over the
weekend, the men sit atop the AMCC
with tin undefeated record of 3-0 fol
lowed by Penn State Altoona with a
record of 3-1. Frostburg sits in the No. 3
spot with a 0-2 conference record and an
11-game losing streak. Pitt-Greensburg
sits at the No. 4 spot with zero wins and
three losses.
The roster is comprised of 16 players,
eight returners and eight freshmen. For
the returners there are three seniors.
Miles Boyea. Trevor Dougherty and Jim
Palmer. Boyea was named the 2006
Need a Ride to the Mall?
www.BmtMrio.com EMTA RkteLine: 452-3515 RUB Desk: 898-6242
AMCC Player of the Year. Boyea and
Dougherty are the captains for the Lions
and will be looked upon to provide lead
ership for the young team. James Getty is
the lonely junior on the team accompa
nied by four sophomore competitors
Kelly Manning, Shane Mosier, Brad
Nagel and Evan Shaffer. Getty was
named the 2006 Rookie of the Year while
Nagel was honored as the 2007 Most
Improved Player. Nagel, Mosier and
Manning provided a handful of key dou
bles victories for Behrend in the 2007
season and will look to excel again in
2008. Shaffer will be working for a few
strong wins throughout the season as
well.
The eight freshmen are Kyle Amy,
Sami Badri, Elliot Blackstone, Jacob
Fling, Jason Grosch, Jon Henderson,
John Michalko and Erkin Nasirli.
Blackstone is this weeks Enterprise Rent-
A-Car athlete of the week. Blackstone
contributed to the Lions three-game
weekend winning streak by tallying up all
three singles and doubles victories.
Nasrili is named the AMCC player of the
week for the week of March 31.
On Thursday, April 3 the Lions lost at
home to Juniata College 7-2. giving them
an overall record of 7-7.
The Blue and White will have one
more home match on Tuesday, April 15,
against Bethany College at 4 p.m. Prior
to that, however, the men will have a hec
tic few days when they travel to Pitt-
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
TOPS participant Brett Ferrell became involved with the program
after watching his brother Jordan, who’s been involved since 2000.
program vary from student-athletes (not just soccer players), to non
athletic students. “The volunteers are what make this go and they have
always committed and done a great job connecting with the player
they are working with,” says Perritano.
The objective of the program is not necessarily to teach the child
how to play soccer, but to give them the opportunity to be active. Each
child receives a t-shirt and their own soccer ball the first day. but more
importantly, there is hope that each child will form a close bond with
the student volunteer they are paired with.
Deanna Ciccarelli has been a volunteer for TOPS all four of her
GPA of 3.0 or better and partake in activities throughout the
local community.
The annual celebration began in 1987 by the National
Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) and the
Northeaster University Center for the Study of Sport in Society.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
are co-sponsors of the event. Throughout the years, over 2.5
million high school and college student-athletes have been hon
ored for their accomplishments on and off the field.
Along with recognizing the student-athlete, parents, teachers
and coaches are acknowledged for putting forth the effort and
providing the materials and means for every individual to
exceed and become a part of the commendable organization.
Captain Trevor Dougherty will be
looked upon for leadership this season
Catch the bus to go
shopping this Saturday:
Dtptrt AfrivtfDtptrt Arrtvt
Bohitnd MiHcrnk HUH Bfthmnd
945 am 10:20 am 10:50 am
10:55 a.m. 11:30 am, 1200 pm
12:05 pm. 12:40 pm 1:10 pm
1:15 pm, 1:50 pm 220 pm.
2:25 p.m. 3:00 pm 3:30 pm.
3:35 p.m. 4:10 pm 440 pm.
4:45 pm. 5:20 pm 5:50 pm
555 pm 630 pm 700 pm
7,05 pm, 7:40 pm 810 pm. 1
8:15 pm, 8:50 pm 920 pm, I
Greensburg for the first of three matches
over the weekend beginning on Friday,
April 4. They will then head further
south into Maryland to take on the
Frostburg Bobcats on Saturday, April 5.
To finish off the regular season confer
ence matches the men will then travel to
Penn State Altoona on Sunday, April 6,
for a match 10 a.m. The post-season
AMCC Championship tournament will
be held the following week on Sunday,
April 13, at the Oxford Athletic Club in
Wexford, PA.
years at Behrend. The last three years she has worked with the same
ehild, Jordan Hitzgcs who is autistic. “I look forward to seeing Jordan
each week and trying to make him have fun while being around oth
ers." says Ciccarelli. Hitzges, who is now 15, has been coming to
TOPS since its start in 2000. When asked why she decided to get her
child involved with TOPS, Hitzges’ mother, Pam Ferrell says, “I want
ed to get him active in sports, and 1 liked the idea of him spending one
on-one time with his own coach." Hitzges has a younger brother, Brett
Ferrell, who is also in the program.
Jacob Silva is another player who has been involved with TOPS for
its eight-year existence. Silva's mother, Bonita Silva, says she “was
wanting an exercise for Jacob to be involved with and a group-type of
sport to learn how to work with other people." In regards to having a
volunteer working with her son who has never had experience with a
disabled child Silva says. “I'm always watching. I am pleased that
there are so many people who are willing to work with this population,
give their time, and show they are really interested in my kid."
Although the program is called TOPS soccer, this does not limit the
activities to revolve only around soccer. Some children prefer to play
basketball, run around the track, or simply sit on the floor and roll the
ball with their buddy. The point of the program is for the child to have
fun and be active. “The program is about fun and getting kids to work
towards their physical potential whatever that is," says Perritano who
has a daughter. Emma that participates in the program each year.
"Jacob looks forward to this every year, so the program must be
doing something right," says Silva. More information on TOPS can
be found at www.usyouthsoccer.org. or contact Coach Perritano at
dpp2@psu.edu.
ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
NAME:
SPORT:
CLASS:
DATE:
Penn State Behrend freshman Elliot
Blackstone (Wexford/Pine Richland) has
been named the ENTERPRISE RENT-
A-CAR athlete of the week for the week
of April 4, 2008.
Blackstone helped contribute to the
Blue and White’s three-game winning
streak for the weekend of March 28.
Two of the matches
opponents Frostburg
Altoona.
The next match for the Behrend Lions is
Friday, April 4 at Pitt-Greensburg. They
then travel to Frostburg on Saturday,
April 5, followed by a match on Sunday,
April 6 at Penn State Altoona.
The Behrend Beacon I
Friday, April 4, 2008
Elliot Blackstone
Men’s Tennis
Freshman
April 4, 2008
included AMCC
and Penn State