its o eotenotpottr,6 WOMEN'S SWIMMING Ladies startin KAELA BISHOP senior reporter The women's swimming season has begun. The season kicked off at Pitt-Bradford where Behrend competed against five other teams. The women's 500-yard freestyle relay team finished first with a time of 5:10.28. The team consisted of Meghan Ste fanko, Anne Lawrence, Hill ary MacManus and Rachel Regen. "The season is starting off well because we all push each other especially when we're tired," MacManus said. "We need to take on race at a time at meets to come and clear our mind of other races. It is really important that we keep on each other about having a positive attitude." The 300-yard relay team was composed of Stefanko, Lawrence, MacManus and Mary Ellen Spooner. The team finished in 3:15.51. Ragen, Lawrence, Spooner and Julia Pfund also competed in the mixed 200-yard relays. The Lions finished the meet sec ond out six. "I think the season has got ten off to a good start," Pfund said. "I think how everyone cheers for one another is a very positive effect. Also all the hard work we put into practices definitely help us out in the long run." Behrend Baller takes his talent to the Biglo to live in the gym, and was constantly playing basketball in summer league. "I got involved with every summer league that I could," Colella said. "Then basically be came a gym rat. It was basketball 24/7." Colella continued this work ethic at Uni versity Park as he practiced with the Nittany Lion's women's team. When he was not doing that or in class, Colella was once again work ing out in all his spare time. By the time try-outs came around, Colella did what he felt he needed to, but was left waiting for a call to see if he made the team. "I felt like I played good fundamental bas ketball," Colella said. A few days after the try-out, Colella got a call while he was (not suprisingly) at the gym. After meeting with the coaches, he found out he had made the 15-man roster. Now He was dis- after all the time and missed from the effort Colella put into team for reasons achieving his goal, he not specified later will be looked to pro in the season, but vide depth in the Nit- Colella had goals tany Lion back court that were more due to his solid ball than he could ac- handling ability and complish at Beh- PSBLions.com his defensive pressure. rend. He wanted to Nick Colella in his sophomore season at Behrend. And while many play D 1 basketball. people like to write off Just a year ago, Nick Colella could be found shooting hoops in the Junker Center with his Behrend teammates. This year, though, Colella has made the step up to a bigger court. While he still will be suited up for the Blue and White his new home will be Bryce Jordan Center at University Park. Colella, a 6'3 guard from New Castle, spent his first two years at Behrend. He was a large part of the success seen by the Lions as they went 21-8 last sea son. An Academic All-Conference se lection, Colella saw time in 16 games off the bench as a sophomore aver aging 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds a game Colella, a physical education major, trans- fairy tale endings as they get older, Colella ferred to University Park the fall semester of sure gives people a glimpse of what can re -2010. But his training took place way before ally happen if they refuse to give up on their he stepped foot onto campus. dream. All summer, Colella worked out, seeming Behr end Fleury or Johnson? Who should be the Pen's goalie? Full story on Page B 4 The women got their meet win in Bethany. Behrend started off the meet capturing the win in the 200-yard med ley relay. Swimming on this team was Spooner, Brittany Tanilli, Lawrence and Julie ELESE MERKOVSKY sports editor la:tol Eric Dye / The Behrend Beacon Women have made great strides early on in the season with a win agaisnt conference opponent Pit-Bradford. SEE MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE B 3 Cook who finished in 1:59.68. a time of 2:49.26. Cook also Later in the meet, Spooner, earned a second place spot Tanilli and Lawrence each tal- in the 100-yard freestyle in lied an individual win. 1:01.37 while Pfund followed Pfund earned the best time just behind with a time of for the Lions in the 200 IM, 1:09.71. MacManus swam the coming in second place with 200-yard freestyle in 2:11.33 November 15 2010 their season out strong Bott om MI! The Browns are making a run at the AFC North division this season. Full story on Page B 3 MEN'S WATER POLO Freshman Brian Shapter helped lead the Lion's to their best season yet, due to his previous experi ence between the posts while playing polo in high school at McDowell. ' ECORD-BREAKING Team breaks record with seven wins in season It looks like the men's water polo team is changing pace; they have recently set a new school record for wins. The team seems to be turning things around and moving in the right direction. Improvement is the number one fac tor for this team, and that's exactly what they are doing. Everyone has been stepping up their game, and they have also been working together as a team a lot better. This was a huge factor in this team's success. "I couldn't have asked for a better season this year than the one we had," said team cap tain, Chris Dunleavy. "We were just fortunate to have a good group of guys with a lot of and earned first place. Ragen collected four straight wins to open the meet. Behrend fin ished 120-86 over Bethany. "My times aren't where I want to be, but with more hard practices to come I MIRANDA MCCORMICK staff writer ATHLETE or THE wrrir Junior Chris Bolea makes successful start at Behrend. Full story on Page B 3 know my times can easily be improved," Pfund said. "I feel like just getting back into shape is our biggest problem since we haven't been in the pool since March." The team traveled to Bald win-Wallace for their third road meet. Katie Van Epps and Ragen were double win ners for the Lions during the meet. Van Epps and Ragen were also on the winning 400 free style relay team with MacManus and Stefanko. The team finished the relay first with a time of 3:57.63. "Each swimmer has very high expectations of them selves even early in the sea son which really contributes to our performance at ev ety meet," MacManus said. "Teammates who come to practice and meets with con fidence make it easier for the rest of the team to feel the same way." Spooner finished with the best time in the 200 yard back stroke with a time of 2:26.39. Tanilli swam it in 2:44.90 and Cook followed her finishing in 2:45.33. These times weren't enough to get the edge over Baldwin-Wallace though, and fell short 129-93. "My goals are to get my times where I want them to be and just to do my best and have fun with it," Pfund said. "Also getting everyone just to do their best." chemistry in and out of the pool, which really allowed for us to have the best season that we could this year." He is very proud of his teammates for all of their accomplishments this season and has said that their success would not be possible without every person on the team. Coach Joe Tristan agrees with his team captain. Tristan was impressed with what his team brought to the table this season and hopes to see it con tinue in the future. "We had a great group of guys that want ed to play and be a part of a growing team," Coach Joe Tristan said. "We had a great fresh man class come in and that really helped our See Record-breaking on page B 2 Line