Sporting events lack Penn State pride Rob’s Reaction A Sports Editorial by Rob Rejmaniak The 1983 sports season was continued proof of the amount of student apathy which exists here at Capitol Campus. Here, when it comes to suppor ting sports teams, the expression, “Be Penn State proud,” is worth about as much as is an ice cube in the arctic. Last winter, I took the position of Statistics Information Director with the Athletic Department. During my tenure, 90 percent of my job was spent trying to obtain Capitol soccer team wraps up first season Now that Capitol’s first ever varsity soccer season has come to a close, much can be said of the team’s accomplishments. It was a season of firsts. It was the first time Capitol had a soccer team compete in District 19. Halfback Tom Ganard scored the first goal in the history of the campus. When Capitol tied with Berks campus 1 to 1, it was the first tie ever recorded by a Capitol soccer team. Against Lancaster Bible, Capitol recorded its first soccer win in campus history, winning 4 to 0. The game was also the first time that a Capitol goalie, Jack Boyczuk, ever shut out an oppos ing team. Although the team’s final record stands at one win, nine losses and one tie, Head Coach Bill Miles claims he is not em barassed by the record and was pleased with the accomplishments of his team. “We were in eight of the games we lost,” said Miles. “Spring Garden was the only team that beat us badly.” Spring Garden, a scholarship school, beat Capitol by a score of 9 to 0 during the regular season. With as many firsts as the team had this season, Miles is looking forward to more firsts next season. “Next year we will fair much better in competition,” Miles said. “We plan to gear our schedule around teams which are closer to our level of play.” more recognition for the sports teams on campus. I wrote press releases, called radio and television stations, and printed pamphlets in the hopes that the teams at Capitol would become better known by the students and the area. I even went so far as to print the remaining basketball home games in the Jan. 24, 1983 issue of Capitol Times, hoping to bring more students out to watch the games. However, with the basketball Miles refers to nullifying t&e games against Spring Garden and Eastern College in which Capitol was out played by scholarship talent. “We will have nine returning players next year,” said Miles. “With that strong group of players and eight or ten new juniors, we should be able to set our sights on a winning season.” Miles thinks there were many skilled soccer players in the dorms who never came out this past season. “If we can get those players out as seniors next year, we’ll be in good shape as far as interest goes.” When asked what the“ biggest change in next year’s team will be, Miles foresaw a change in offense. “The biggest problem we had this year was putting the ball in / COMPLETE BICYCLE SALES & SERVICE RALEf&H V^Aoawwa ★ WINDSOR ★ RAMPAR MX ★ LOTUS mmm umm ONE OF THE LARGEST I M m 9 m HISShH SELECTIONS OF BICYCLE |%K^# h / /(>|l HWIWn COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES | \#Wfc f fW W WMrJJJJiUSwM IN THE METRO AREA! season coming to a close and stu dent apathy still thriving, I realiz ed that my pleas for student sup port were left unanswered. As a member of the baseball team last spring, it seemed as if the students were unaware that the campus even had a team, well enough come out and support it. The baseball team, under Head Coach Ron Melchiorre, enjoyed its finest season in the history of the campus in total silence. The District 19 play-offs,in which Capitol competed, were held right here on campus, yet the opposing teams had more fans at the games than did Capitol. This semester, as a member of the soccer team, I was amazed at the small number of students who “dropped by” to see the games. Soccer Coach Bill Miles even made the comment that “in order to build a better program, we need more backing from the pro fessors and the students.” I realize 60 percent-of the the back of the net,” said Miles. “Next season, seniors John Coff man and Majid Marza will be eligible for league competition • and should accomplish just that.” This past season, Coffman was a transfer student from Elizabethtown and league rules kept him from competing in league competition. Marza failed . 1 SOUTH UNION STREET MIDDLETOWN, PA HOURS: Mon-Thurs: 9-5 ' Friday: 9-8 Saturday: 9-4 ALMA AND 808 KIEH students here are commuters, and I understand that it isn’t realistic to expect that 60 percent to com mute back to Capitol Campus every time a home game is. played. However, I do detest the lack of student and professor support the sports teams receive here at Capitol. It’s hard on a team when one of its key players cannot make a game because a professor refuses to be flexible and allow that player to make up 30 minutes of missed class time, or when the team plays a home game only to find that the opposing team has more fans than they do. If the performances of these players have a direct reflection on the reputation of the school, the faculty, and the students of this campus, certainly the faculty and students can sacrifice a couple “hours every other other weekend to attend these performances. to declare his major irf be®* eligible to play under Penn State rules. “All in all, I’m enthusiastic about the soccer program here,” said Miles, “with a little more support/rom the professors and students on campus, next season should bring more wins than losses.” 3796 WALNUT(RI, 2J)HARRIBBURQ 944-3526
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