Page 8 All PSU Delco teams will have four-year athletes By ANTHONY IEZZI1 Lion’s Eye staff writer API103@psu.edu Sports programs at the Penn State Delaware County campus are making a significant transi- tion, from two-year to four-year sports. "The move marks a big change for sports teams at Penn State Delco. Until last year, all sport teams except men's basketball and volleyball were two-year programs, meaning athletes had only two years of playing eligibility. Once their two years were up, athletes had to transfer to four- year programs, or accept the fact that their college athletic careers were over. No longer. Athletes will now be able to get the standard four years of collegiate eligibility right here on the Penn State Delco campus, and the impact that change may have could be significant. hs _ The reason for = the change is the growing amount of n" ; four-year = majors We are looking offered at Delco, meaning students forward to see how many Students we can acquire and keep over a four- year period.” again on — Athletics [223i “5 . recruiting athletes Dir ector Joe looking for a com- . . plete athletic career DiAntonio on one campus, can soon be competing with other four-year . iG hes are e coaches looking for the opportunity to keep student/ath- letes for more than two years," Athletics Director Joe DiAntonio said. Students having the ability to finish their col- lege careers on the campus they started out at will could also greatly help the recruiting process. "We haven't seen the effects of the four-year program at our campus," Diantonio said. "We are looking forward to see how many students we can acquire and keep over a four-year period." __ At the very least, coaches can now build better relationships with their athletes, because theyll have them for a longer period of time. That could result in making team chemistry stronger than before, when a player entering only his or second now have a larger selection of majors that can be complet- ed here on campus without having to transfer. What that means, basically, is \ The Lion's Eye into the Ig ime April 5, 2005 Photo by Matt Kelly Athlete Stacie Mann, a former member of Penn State basketball and volleyball teams, goes over her future with Athletic Director Joe DiAntonio, thanks to the institution of more four-year pro- grams. season would be a “veteran.” Players will have a new sense of stability and confidence with their school and coaches, Diantonio foresees. The switch from a two-year program to a four also makes way for tough competition, with sched- ules possibly including such local four-year col- leges as Neumann, Widener and others. It could also make a thing of the past rivalries with Delaware County Community College and Williamson, which don’t have four-year eligibility. "Playing better teams will only make our teams better,” said sophomore Mike Thornton, who plays for the Delco basketball team. "Our teams will be stronger, as well as the com- petition," said DiAntonio. Men's soccer, baseball, and women's basketball will no longer play in the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference as a result of the switch in competition. The EPCC is a league of teams two- year eligibility programs. Games against EPCC teams can still be played, but will not be counted as a league game for Penn State. The switch also makes way for certain aca- demic standards for the student-athletes, accord- ing to DiAntonio. A student-athlete looking to pur- sue four-year eligibility will have to take on full- time student responsibilities. The change can make PSU Delco's athletic pro- grams stronger, and they could continue to grow for many years to come, according to athletic department officials, who also indicate that stu- dents should take part in the transition by show- ing their support at the sporting events.
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