Student athlete of the week: Erin Davis
BY WILLS KING
STAFF WRITER
WPKSOO4@PSU.EDU
As the beginning of the
college basketball season draws
closer, athletes are preparing
themselves for another year
of experience. School work
must be completed sooner, job
schedules are tightened and time
management creates more stress
than ever. However, for Erin
Davis, a second year veteran
of the Penn State Harrisburg
women's basketball team, the
excitement of another season of
collegiate sports provides enough
motivation to handle changes
such as these with no problem.
Davis, a sophomore, faces
the struggle of a time crunch
in college like so many college
students. Between maintaining
strong academic success, holding
a part-time job and keeping up
Weight room, CUB set for update
BY MORGAN DYSINGER
STAFF WRITER
MEDSIS2@PSU.EDU
Here at Penn State Harrisburg,
many changes are being made
all over campus to adapt to
the desires of our prospective
incoming student population,
and the needs of the current
community as a whole. We have
already seen vast improvements
made to the Olmsted Building,
and now the attention has been
focused upon another part of the
property.
One of the integral changes
currently in progress is the
work being done to the athletic
facilities in the upstairs portion
of the Capital Union Building.
In an attempt to try and unify
our Health Services and Athletic
Department, new offices for the
nurses and doctors on campus
are being constructed on the
second floor near the old weight
room facility. The idea behind
this change is that the "Wellness
Services" on campus are all
under one roof, as opposed to
with the commitments of being
on the basketball team, the native
of Cranston, RI., must prioritize
tasks in her daily life. But these
being spread out between the
Olmsted Building and the CUB.
Recreational, intramural, and
fitness coordinator Julie Stoehr
spoke of how it made sense to
bring the medical staff who are
available to the community into
the CUB so that they may be a
more effective resource to the
athletes and anyone else who
requires medical attention.
In addition to creating the
medical office space on the
second floor, there is also work
in motion to improve the quality
of the weight room facilities.
By the beginning of the spring
semester, the weight room will
have been completely repainted
and the floor covered in a rubber
material that is commonly used
in fitness buildings. It not only
provides a durable surface to
exercise on, but it also absorbs a
wealth of sound and weight from
those tread upon it.
Stoehr 's next big project revolves
around the actual equipment in
the weight room. With the use of
funds from the SFA, the budget,
and memberships from non-
changes are not necessarily
negative or inhibiting.
"The time crunch really
provides me motivation to keep
PSH community members, she
hopes to gradually replace all of
the fitness equipment within the
next two years in order to attract
more people to make use of it.
Not surprisingly, the rising fuel
prices have also affected thi3
process, but she is doing all that
she can to make changes with the
current resources at hand. The
relationships with the affiliates
of the gym who are outside the
realm of PSH are highly valued,
as their generous contributions
through their gym passes greatly
help the finances of the CUB.
Many students look into what
type of athletic facilities a college
or university can offer them
before they make a decision,
and Stoehr hopes to make ours
at PSH much more appealing.
Stoehr will also be relocating to
the second floor of the CUB, and
wishes to stress her openness to
suggestions regarding the weight
room, and warmly welcomes
general visitors.
up to date with everything,"
said Davis. "I understand how
it could seem difficult for some,
but it actually helps me to focus."
Davis has been playing
basketball since falling in love
with the sport in elementary
school. An avid fan of the
Boston Celtics, she enjoys the
competition, the thrill and the
teamwork that is involved with
the sport and has provided her
with a passion.
"I'm a big sports fan in
general, but basketball is the
one that I really enjoy watching
as well as playing," said Davis.
Playing both the guard and
forward positions on the
court, experience has helped
Davis to develop the skills to
compete at the college level.
She began playing on the
varsity team in high school as
a freshman, and she carried
that over when she came to
Penn State Harrisburg. The
result is a player with a focused
mindset and a strong work ethic.
Team-oriented attitudes and
a hunger for improvement are
necessary for any sports team
to be successful, but Davis is
particularly encouraged for this
year's squad because the team
from lastyearhad a limitednumber
of players. With 11 players this
year, five more than last season,
the women's basketball team is
revamped and ready for a good,
competitive season in the NEAC.
"We have a bunch ofnew talented
players who should help us out
a lot," said Davis. "We should
have a better year than last year."
With a mindset so positive, it
should come as no surprise that
Erin Davis embraces the changes
that occur in everyday life with
the beginning of the basketball
season. When the season
begins, she will finally have the
opportunity to see how much it
will all pay off.
Photo by DIANA LE / The Capital Times