Soccer Team Enters Playoff Stretch
By David A. Scopinich
This year’s Hazleton soccer team is a very
interesting club to follow. The team is loaded
with potential, but there are only three return
ing players. The team had a rough time
adjusting to each others’ styles of play. This
has caused 1-2 in the conference and a 2-4
overall, but their record does not show the
enormous amount of talent on this team.
Coach Chris Kokinda has brought the
team along very far in a very short amount of
time. Coach Kokinda brought together twelve
sophomores and five freshman. Coach
Kokinda hopes that his team can continue
what has already been a successful beginning
Volleyball Hits Hard, Plays Hard, Wins Big
By David A. Scopinich
The Volleyball team has been winning so
consistently that it’s tough to miss them. The
Volleyball team by far is the strongest sports
team on the Hazleton campus. The team is 13 -
3 and is in a close race for a playoff berth.
The team, coached by Mrs. Jago, is one of
the strongest in their conference and team to
be reckoned with. The team is loaded with
veterans with seven of the ten players being
sophomores. The team consists of: Heidi
Rittenhouse, Beth Reibeling, Liz Munford,
Lions Roar Back to Gain
Playoff Berth
By David A. Scopinich
The Penn State Hazleton baseball team
finished their baseball season in a big way.
They won all of their last four conference
games to gain their first playoff birth in eight
years. The team ended up finishing a very
respectable third place in the CC AC Confer
ence. The Lions lost to Penn State Berks 11 -
1 but both Coach Falatkoand the team believe
that with playoff experience trader their belts,
the team will be stronger and much improved
next year.
When asked about what brought the team
together in the final stretch of the season,
Coach Falatko said that it was the attitude of
the team that was the key. Coach Falatko said
that this season’s success was because of a
total team effort and that all of the players
were to be commended.
Coach Falatko also mentioned that credit
should be given to Anthony Scotese for com-
for him at Hazleton.
Coach Kokinda has been here for two
years and he has already played for the cham
pionship and also went to the semi-finals.
When asked about this year’s team Coach
Kokinda said, “We have a good squad with
players with great potential. The team has key
players at key positions which makes the
transition from offense to defense very fluid.
The team plays aggressively, and hustles at all
times but has just gotten some bad breaks.
This makes them an enjoyable group to
coach.” Coach Kokinda also said that the
team should make the playoffs if they play
Sue Francis, Sharon Reilly, Connie Cardillo,
Jennifer Zeifass, Michelle Metz, and Aprille
Davis
When asked about the team, Coach Jago
said that this year's volleyball team is one of
the best that she has coached .Also, she stated
that they are a great group to coach. When
asked who is the team leader, Coach Jago
replied that it would have to be Sue Francis
who leads the team in kills. Good luck to the
Volleyball team in the playoffs.
ing on strong in the final stretch of the season
and also to Jason Molli for consistently being
the most solid player on the team.
The team is stocked with Freshman talent
and this leads Coach Falatko to believe that
the team will be a dominating force in the
CC AC next year. The freshman on the base
ball team are: Mike Behr, Paul Chiodo, Paul
Battaglia, Kyle Kubica, Michael Kresge, Ri
chard Carter, Anthony Scotese, Shawn Shank,
Howard Clinese, and Anthony Cusat. The
sophomores, who are the veteran leaders of
the squad are Jason Wishnefsky, Roger Andras,
Chad Schaeffer, Scott Hoffman, Jeff Angstadt,
and Jason Molli.
Coach Falatko also mentioned an injury to
Anthony Scotese who pulled a knee ligament
in the end of the season. Hopefully Anthony
can return next season. Congratulations to
the whole team and coaching staff for a suc
cessful turnaround.
intelligent ball.
The team consists of sixteen players: Ryan
Schlagheck-goalkeepcr, Aaron Diehl, Aaron
Hort, Frank McCormick, and Mike Green street
are the fullbacks. The halfbacks are Todd
Duelly, Jed Slezak, Ryan Smith, Joe Chyko,
Dorothy Barret, Rob Vcnema, Gary Cornelisse
and Sean Ott. The positions of striker are
filled by Lea Robinson, Neil McGillis, and
Brian Brushwood. Chris Kokinda is the head
coach, Doug Harders is the Assistant Coach
and Ellen Van Haute is the manager. The
team has three games left and student cheer
ing sections are always a plus.
ports Profile:
[ rushwo o d
Outstanding in
[is Soccer Field
By David A, Scopinich
The purpose of this feature is to profile a
sports player who sets an example towards
other players and students by his or her work
ethic on and off the field.
Brian Brushwood is from Phoenixville,
PA and is a freshman at Hazleton and also a
starting striker ott the soccer team. Brian
says the adjustment to college soccer from
high school has been lessened by the fact that
he played Center Halfback, the most de*
tnanding position, in high school and now he
plays striker, which is less complicated posi
tion than halfback. Brian says that the hard
est part about going from high school to
college is adjusting to a whole new group of
players and their different styles.
When Brian isn’t hustling to score goals
on the field, he is back in his dorm hustling
to keep up his grades as an engineering
major. Brian deserves a lot of credit for not
only being able to be a very good soccer
player but for also keeping his grades as good
as his performance on the field.
WANTED: REPORTERS-The
Pottsville REPUBLICAN is seeking
part-time correspondents to cover news
and sports in the Hazleton area. Inter
ested students should send a resume to:
The Pottsville REPUBLICAN, 111
Mahantongo Street, Posttsvilfc, PA
17901, attention Vicki Tcrwilligcr.