PAGE EIGHT
Behrend Short on Basketball Players
By: Michael Ross
Collegian Staff Writer
Dave Adams, the Assistant
Women's Basketball Coach at
Behrend has been involved with
the coaching of women's sports
for 11 years. We asked him what
his feelings were on the subject.
Q. With your involvement in
women's sports do you see a lack
of participation by women in col
lege level athletics?
A. Yes; however, this lack of
participation does not occur at
every level, so we'll limit our
discussion to women's sports at
Penn State-Behrend and division
111 schools.
Gorge Cafeteria
11-2 Mon.-Fri. Lunch
4:30-7 Mon.-Thurs. Dinner
Pizza Shop 8-11 Sun.• Thurs.
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
ASSOCIATION
ELECTION
Reed Union Building 9 ammo to 3 p.m.
Q. What do you attribute this
problem to?
A. Since Behrend is a division
111 school there isn't as much fan
interest or support as there would
be with the larger division I
schools.
Futhermore, no scholarships
are given at the division 111 level,
so many players need to work to
finance their education and
therefore, it is up to the coach, to
go out and recruit players, and sell
them on the benefits of athletic
competition.
Last year our women's basket
ball coach, knowing she was going
to leave at the end of the year, did
New Hours
Tuesday & Wednesday
September 25 & 26
S.G.A. 'B4 I.D Required
THE BEHREND COLLEGIAN
not recruit any players.
So far this year only ten players
have expressed an interest in par
ticipating in basketball. The four
returning players from last year's
squad, along with six interested
newcomers with no collegiate ex
perience leaves the team short, of
numbers.
Q. Do you think there are other
factors such as the desire for a
social life that take priority over
sports at the college level?
• A. Certainly, if a woman in col
lege has to make a choice among a
social life, academics, work, and
athletics I think in most cases she
would find athletics to be of least
Spikers Set
The girls volleyball team is all set for the 'B4 season. It will begin
Sept. 14 & 15 when they venture to a tournament at Malone College
in Canton, Ohio. Six other teams from the surrounding Ohio area
will also compete.
Coach Jan Wilson feels real confident about this year's team. Five
veterans will be returning as well as four ambitious new players.
Returning players included: sophomores Julie Pletz, Renee Har
rison and Julie DeFrancisco, junior Mary Toboz, and senior Kathy
Ott who has been elected_team captain for the second consecutive
year.
New faces on the team include: freshman Tracy Zurasky,
sophomores Terri Ballantine and Carolyn Shudy and senior Joan
Baker.
The girls practice during the week from 4 to 6 p.m. They are
preparing for district playoffs which will take place on Oct. 20, in
Fredonia. The girls were last year's district playoff champions.
We wish them the best of luck this year. So remember to support
our team and come cheer them on!
importance to her.
Also, there is the burnout issue.
After years of playing scholastic
sports, many find themselves
"bdrned out" by the time they
reach college. They are no longer
interested in dedicating their time
to laity practice. •
Q. Do you feel that there is any
pressure by men on women to not
join athletic teams?
N. Not necessarily; I. feel the
woman puts a lot of pressure on
herself. If she tries to balance her
time between boyfriend and
athletics she feels pressured that
her boyfriend won't understand
her dedication to the sport.
By: Paula Penco
SEPTEMBER 14, 1984
Sometimes, this pressure would
keep a women from even becom
ing involved in athletics.
Q. What would you do to en
courage women to participate in
college sports?
A. I'd point out to them the
benefits of meeting new people,
and going to new places, and hav
ing new experiences. Four years I
had a team that won districts and
was able to fly to Portland, Maine
for. the area playoffs. Some
players had never been on a plane
before and even though we did
not win it was a great learning
experience.
s. Athletic competition teaches a
woman to.be a leader, something
that is beneficial in any profes
sion, and helps if she chooses to
become a coach in the future.
Look for future issues with in
terviews with other athletic
coaches dealing with women in
sports.
WOMEN'S VARSITY
VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach Jan Wilson
Sept:l4/15 Malone Tmy. A
22 Waynesburg A
West Liberty
25 Carlow
Lake Erie College
27 Grove City A
Mercyhurst
Oct 2 Geneva A
Seton Hill
9 Westminster A
Waynesburg
13 Villa Maria
Seton Hill
16 Thiel
18 Mercyhurst
20 Fredonia Trny. A
23 Grove City A
25 Geneva
Pitt-Bradford
30 Gannon A
1 Westminster H
3 NAIA District *lB
6 Villa Maria A
Allegheny
8 Thiel
6 p.m.
6 p.m.
10 am
6 p.m.
6 p.m.