Page 8 — LION’SEYE — December 9, 1993 Scrappy Lady Lions Start New Season ‘By Nicole Gibbs The women’s basketball team, met up with Bucks County Community College for their first league game this season on Saturday, December 2. The Lions lost 57-28 victory against the Bucs at our home court. Performance and team work in the game fell short as the women’s basketball team lost their first game that counts toward their season record. The Delco Lady Lions started their preseason play with an away scrimmage at Lincoln University. Although they came out with a 42-37 loss against Lincoln, their athletic abilities and potential showed through as this was their first organized practice as a team. Their performance at Lincoln indicated a promising future for the women’s basketball team. Outnumbered 13 - 6, Delco held on to the final minute. The team felt that, although they were defeated, their game was played well. Rita Varano, a freshman on the team, stated, “I feel a lot of hard work and dedication from the team will pay off in the end, rewarding us with a great record.” Mary Varano, a Penn State alumna, is the new coach for the women’s basketball team at Delco. Varano graduated from Sun Valley High School in 1989, then attended Delco for two years before going to University Park. While she was at Delco, she was chosen to receive the John Egli Award, naming her the Outstanding Female Student/ Athlete in the Commonwealth Campus system. Besides coaching the women’s basketball team, she has a job as an RN on the neurological unit at Temple University Hospital. Assistant coach Ron Freeman is a veteran here at Delco, this being his fourth year coaching the women’s basketball team. = Coach Freeman graduated from Nether Providence High School, then attended a technical school. Both coaches are happy with the athletic ability of this year’s team. Coach Freeman stated, “I'm pleased with the progress and commitment the young ladies have made. If they have patience with each other, they will become something special. We have the pieces of the puzzle there; we just have to put them together.” Freeman loves the idea of commonwealth campuses having teams. The players are out there on the court because they want to be there, not because they have a scholarship and have to be there. He says, “The thing I like about student athletes is you can’t force them to play. They play for the love of the game, not because they have to. These girls make a lot of sacrifices; some have jobs and others have late class.” Because of conflicting schedules, the team rarely gets to practice as a whole, but due to their athletic abilities and knowledge of the game, the Lady Lions are able to pull it together at game time. With an 0-3 regular season record, the team has high spirits and is looking forward to notching their first win. "WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 1993-1994 DATE DAY OPPONENT LOCATION TIME Dec. 11 S Northampton C.C. A 4:00 Jan. 4 T . ‘Phila. CC. H 4:00 Jan. 6 R DCCC. A 6:00 Jan. 15 S PSU-Schuylkill A 1:00 Jan. 18 T PSU-Mont Alto H 6:00 Jan. 19 Ww Luzerne CCC. H 7:00 Jan. 21 F Bucks CC.C. A 6:00 Jan. 25 T Manor J.C. H 6:00 Jan. 29 -S PSU Ogonz A 1:00 Feb. 2 w Northampton C.C. H 7:00 Feb. 7 M D.CCC. H 6:00 Feb. 9 Ww PSU-Schuylkill H 6:00 Feb. 12 S PSU-Mont Alto A 1:00 Feb. 19 S EPCC Tournament Luzerne TBA Men's Basketball Team Repeats Winning Ways By Wes Tomlinson Can the Penn State Delco Men's basketball team repeat last year’s historic 25 straight win performance this year? That was the first time in 26 years that any Penn State center basketball team has won that many consecutive games without a loss. But this year’s team has lost ten players from last year’s lineup. However, the . four returning players and seven new players look good in practice, especially on defence. Thus far, the team has extended their regular season consecutive wins to 27 by defeating Williamson Trade School 38 to 44 and Manor Junior College 69 to 53. Coach Bill Wiley said, “Seventy percent of games are ‘won by rebounding. We have four kids who are over 62” who are very good in getting rebounds, so we should do well on defense this year. Since we only have four returning from last year’s team, it’s going to take a while for the team to get to know each other's moves on offense. Also, we lost two weeks of practice due to a new NCAA rule that we could not start practice until November 1 this year.” Returning guard, Jeff Danzi, third semester business major said, “We're a scrappy team, tenacious on defense.” John Amoroso, also a third semester business major added, “ We work well together as a team; we have good team chemistry and we have fun,” while Craig Perry, another of the returning big four and a third semester communications major said, Our team strength is rebounding and pressuring the ball.” Forward Shawn Cortes chimed in, “I like our chances for this year.” Andre Harris, first semester marketing major, added, “Our defence will be the key to another successful season.” a ‘ 3 Bae a Cheerleaders: Standing 1. tor. T. Mayer, V. Varrasse, J. Smith, K. Masters. Kneel- ing lL. to r. S. Shisler, C. Romanisko, M. Blackburn. Absent: C. Gatchell. photo by: WES TOMLINSON Delco Cheerleaders — A Vivacious An old idea was recently brought out of the closet, and Delco is giving it a cheer! For the first time since the 1988 - 89 school year Penn State Delco has cheerleaders. Until this semester the uniforms were packed away in a closet and little talk of cheerleading was going on. A couple of girls on the campus, who were interested in the idea of starting the activity back up, put up posters advertising their idea. Cindy Romanisko, a sophomore cheerleader explains how she and two others girls brought cheerleading back to Delco, “Vicki Varrasse did the paper work with the S.G.A., and Michelle Blackburn and I called up the girls on the list and set up a meeting with Mr. Coleman.” Fourteen girls showed interest in the activity, so the campus decided to give cheerleading another shot. Eight girls actually participate on the squad: Kara Masters, Tiffany Mayer, Cynthia Romanisko, Victoria Varrasse, Michelle Blackburn, Jessica Smith, Courtney Gatchell, and Shannon Shisler. Revival The program is considered a club and not a sport, so it is funded by the S.G.A. Without the interest that it has gotten this semester, there would be no cheerleading this year. The girlson the squad are excited to make cheerleading work. “We're really strong headed about it and determined. I'm just happy we got a squad after all these years. It is hard to put eight girls together and make them look the same and have the same attitude about it,” says Cindy Romanisko. Right now the girls are getting their squad together. Kara Masters sums it all up with, “It's coming along.” With the help of a male cheerleader from University Park, Kristine Williams and Kathy O'Connell the cheerleading coordinators and advisors, the girls plan to boost school spirit at the boys and girls basketball games and also at the soccer games next fall. ; Practices have already started, - but any girls or boys interested in the club should see Kristine Williams in 105 main. SAA Tries Intramural By Mike Doyle On Tuesday, November 16, The Student Athletic Association began holding indoor soccer pickup games in the gym during common hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tom Pfleger, President of the SAA, hoped to have Intramural games, but turnout was too low. The idea was first raised to hold intramural indoor soccer when this event was included in the “Olympics” last semester during Spring Week. This was a week long competition where teams competed in four events. Basketball, volleyball, and team handball were the others. Turnout has been good for the pickup games but even more people are encouraged to come out. Plans for organizing a intramural roller hockey league have been put off until next semester. Tom is confident this league will materialize eventually. Also next semester, The SAA is going to try to hold intramural games for indoor soccer again. And because of the high turnout for the flag football, it will probably be held again in the spring. # Penn State Delco Men’s Basketball Team make it 28 straight regular season | game wins. k 3 phogo by: WES TOMLINSON
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