February 10, 1998 — LION’S EYE — Sports Campus Intramurals: Everyone Gets Involved You Don’t Have to Go to Nagano for the Olympics By Rob Coyle The second semester is in full swing, and what a better way to usher in the new year than to beat your friends in a friendly game of ..wiffleball? Spring intramurals are about to get underway, with plenty of options for everyone. After an extremely successful fall program, the Student Athletic Association (SAA) is gearing up for they hope will be another eventful season of intramurals at Penn State Delco. The schedule for this season includes basketball, hockey, and a series of Olympic events in honor of the Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. First up is basketball. It will be played in a three - on - three format, and everyone is welcome to play. Talent is not a prerequisite, and neither is gender. However, each team must have at least one female player and no more than one varsity player. There might even be another faculty team, which has graced the courts in season’s past. Next up will be Penn State’s own Olympic Games, which will include volleyball, basketball, indoor soccer, European handball, and track and field events. And maybe they will include some rousing games of wiffleball, sure to be a favorite. Finishing up the year will be the ever popular hockey games, to be played outdoors on the old tennis courts. This was a major attraction last season, and the wicked battles are sure to carry over to this season. “These games are for the students to enjoy and relieve a little stress from classes,” says SAA president Vince Screnci. “Instead of going home for a couple hours, we encourage all students to participate in these events.” Even though the SAA tries to organize a wide variety of sports for the students, ideas are always welcome for different sports that may have been overlooked. Julie Kiley, a second semester archaeology major, has played lacrosse for six years and was upset when she found out PSU Delco did not offer a women’s lacrosse program. “I wish Delco would start a girl's lacrosse team. I'm feeling all fat and nasty now thatI can’t play!” Ideas like that are what lead to new programs at PSU. | For more information about campus intramurals, contact Vince Screnci or Athletic Director Tiz Griffith, in the common’s building, room 136. Lost Faith in Pro Sports? Maybe the Olympics Can Help By Ed Blackburn I'm beginning to lose faith in hometown sports. I lost myself in the pomp and festivity, like other Penn State students, cheering on the Nittany Lion football team earlier in the year, only to have my hopes smashed, seeing them lose in the big game and end with a relatively shameful 9 and 3 record. Then I momentarily suspect we've found a new savior for the Eagles in Bobby Hoying, and what happens? He fizzles like an old can of Coke before season’s end. While the Sixers seem to be playing valiantly at the moment, and the Phillies are on the verge of rebuilding, I can’t see cither of them winning anything, anytime soon. The Flyers, on the flip side, look very promising and can almost guarantee a Cup if they acquire a goalie (no more of that bluffing about Hextall and Snow, Mr. Clarke). Unfortunately, the playoffs don’t start until May, and my broken heart needs something to cheer for now, something that won't add yet another crack. And something worth cheering for is our country, which began its Olympics quest in Nagano, Japan, on February 6. One aspect I've been looking forward to is the performance of our ice hockey team, predicted to battle it out with, among others, Canada, Sweden and Russia for the gold. What will be especially interesting during this Olympics is the format of men’s ice hockey, which will incorporate NHL stars - a novelty (the NHL has actually shut down during the Olympics). This means that teams may use their full potential; each may form their own Dream Team. While seme NHL participants have expressed some reluctance, saying that this will overburden the professional, every-day players and make them injury-prone, this setup makes for some thrilling hockey. Team USA is chock-full of NHL stars, among them Flyer John LeClair. Team Canada isn’t far behind, with their usual load of marquee players (“hockey” and “Canada” are virtually synonymous), including Wayne Gretzky, Paul Kariya, and Flyer Eric Lindros (difficult to imagine him as an adversary). Sweden is led by former- Flyer Peter Forsberg, now a member of the Avalanche. Russia likewise looks to win gold, featuring many current NHL’ers who grew up playing college and pro hockey in a declining communist society. Though the Cold War is over, memories will surely surface from times past, unearthing this great rivalry which has existed between Russia and North America. Perhaps this is a stage upon which old scores will be settled, upon which the world finally learns who is greater. It’s as if the great belligerents of the world sat down at a peaceful game of chess instead of achieving an end result by less-peaceful means. Varsity Tennis Sign-Ups Rowll oee Tiz Griffith in C136 Instead of Running for Home, Get Ready to Have Some Fun By B. Ray It’s 12:20. Your class is over and yetagain you are faced with a situation " that has become one of the most difficult and depressing dilemmas that a student like yourself has to face on a daily basis. You don’t have class again for at least another hour. You've done just enough homework that you can get away with sounding like you know what you're talking about, should the teacher call on you. You could go over to the library and act as if you are one of the most studious people on campus, but really, how many times can you look at the Jenny McCarthy home page before you realize you have no shot. There's always the new and improved cafeteria, but the Fruit Loops you ate a few hours ago aren't sitting well, and you think they might figure out that you aren't really a food critic. You're just the person who sits by themself and makes abstract art with ketchup, napkins, and left over french fries. There is one thing I failed to mention. Itinvolves getting to know a lot of people, having a lot of fun, and actually becoming physically fit while doing it. No, we are not opening an arcade. One word: INTRAMURALS. Vince Screnci, the student director of intramurals, makes the decision short and sweet for you, “There is no excuse for people to say there is nothing to do on this campus. It’s a great way to meet people and a great way to get a release from class and school work.” The lineup for spring intramurals is one of the biggest ever on this campus. There are team sports, individual sports, coed teams, and even non-competitive sessions. Anyone who wants to be involved can be, no matter the size, strength, or sex. You could sign up by yourself, or if you and your high school friends want to relive the past glories, sign up a whole team. The competition as well as the competitors, are both friendly and serious at the same time. Of the two indoor sports slated for the spring, basketball is the first to start (about the time this is published, so hurry up!). The teams for basketball will be 3 on 3, and there must be at least one woman on every team. So this is your chance. Come out and enjoy the competition and camaraderie with your fellow students, or sit alone and make happy faces in your sloppy joes. The choice is yours. chat in the trainer's room. SAA President Vince Screnci and Women’s Basketball Coach Brian Donoghue Photo by Lea Anne McGoldrick Intramural Anyone Interested In Playing Basketball 3on3 Sign up in Room 134 Commons or see Barb Rostick or Vince Screnci ASAP
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