Thursday, March 5, 1992
Senior Lions close season, look ahead
Matt Cissne
The Collegian
The Lions received the good
news that they have been waiting
for. On Monday the Lions were
extended an ECAC playoff bid.
No one on the team was
happier than seniors Rick Clark
and Rich Buzalka.
"We were happy to get a
playoff bid. We were disappointed
to end the regular season die way
we did at Keuka," said Clark.
"I'm very happy that we have
another game or two games to
play."
"If the season would have ended
at Keuka, it would have been hard
to swallow. Now we have
another chance to prove ourselves
and hopefully this time we will
be able to win them both," added
Buzalka.
The Lions start the playoffs
Saturday against Frostburg. Both
players are optimistic about the
team's chances.
"If we play tough defense, I
don't think there is a team that
can beat us," commented
Buzalka
"The playoffs are a whole new
season. The previous 26 games
don't mean anything. You can't
afford to take anyone lightly,"
remarked Clark.
"If we execute well, we will be
a very tough team. As long as we
come in with the frame of mind
that we are going to do what we
have to do, we will win," he
continued.
The Lions had to deal with the
roller-coaster effect this season.
"We had games when our shots
fell, but our defense and
rebounding were weak and we had
games where the opposite was
true,” said Buzalka. "When we
Beisler
—Jg gt
Five up high: Senior forward Michele Beisler
receives the congratulations from the team after
finishing her final regular season game.
clicked and got our whole game
together, we were tough to beat.
When we are firing on all
pistons, there are not too many
teams that can beat us."
Although the playoffs will be
tough, they will not be satisfied
unless they win the title.
"There is no other way to
complete the season but with a
win. When I am out on the court,
I won't be thinking that this is
the last game of my career, I'll
only be thinking about winning,"
added Buzalka.
"We both need to focus on
what we have to do for our team
to win. The season ending will
take care of itself, it will be
thrilling for us to end our career
with an ECAC tournament win,"
added Clark.
Although both players agreed
that winning is very important to
them, they said that being with
the team is more important than
wins or losses.
"A few years from now if you
ask me how many wins we had, I
won't be able to remember. But,
if you ask how many friends I
have made, I'll be able to tell you
right away," Buzalka said.
"I'll take the friends that I made
here and remember them all my
life. Looking back, I will
remember how great it was being
with all the guys," added Clark.
"The games are great but, the
things I will remember is the
guys and how much fun we have
had together," Clark commented.
Buzalka and Clark are the team
captains and it is a job that they
cherish.
"The guys on the team call me
'pops' or 'old man'. I joke with
them about it, but I really like
the nickname. I joke around and
tell them what time they have to
looks to justify the struggle
ports
be in their rooms and stuff, like a
father would," Buzalka said.
"It was fortunate that both
Rich and I were captains," said
Clark.
"We are good friends and we
have been through some of the
same things, yet we have such a
wide background that we can
cover a lot of different things that
could happen to people," he
added
Clark and Buzalka have a
mutual respect for each other off
and on the court.
"Rich has a great attitude and
he does what it takes to win. He
works hard and tries to get others
around him to work hard," Clark
said.
"To watch somebody day in
and day out hit the floor, dive for
balls is incredible. He is a team
leader and has a desire to win.
With this attitude, I see him
being a success later on in
whatever he does in life.”
For both players, they have
learned a great deal about life
from playing basketball.
"It teaches you how to work
and be with others. It teaches you
how to be a winner and how to
go after something and put that
extra effort into everything you
do. Basketball is so positive. It is
why I am who I am today,"
Buzalka commented.
"You make so many friends
and you learn how to work with
them. It teaches you work ethic
and how to deal with criticism.
There are no negative aspects.
You use the work ethic every day
in life at home, on the job, at
school. I'll take the lessons with
me wherever I go," added Clark.
"There is so much respect for
each other among the players on
Matt Cissne
The Collegian
Imagine being a star athlete
going into your senior season
with a team stocked with talent
and a winning attitude.
Now imagine tearing your
anterior cruciate ligament during
the preseason. For Lady Lions'
senior Michele Beisler, this is
more than just imagination.
Beisler overcame arthroscopic
knee surgery and rehabilitation
"I would love to finish with a tournament win. It will be tough
though. If we lose, we will just have to go on, but I don't plan
on losing."
this season and is now ready to
provide the Lady Lions with the
experience and leadership they
will need to win an ECAC title.
Beisler has donned the Lady
Lions' uniform for four years.
Her collegiate career is coming to
an end and she has a lot of
memories.
"The best moment I can
remember on a basketball court
Easy two: Senior forward Rick Clark turns his
hard work into an easy two points after stealing
the ball.
this team. They are a bunch of Clark and Buzalka are eager to
great guys and I have enjoyed play Frostburg and hopefully
playing with them," Buzalka finish their stay at Behrend with
added. an ECAC title.
was during my sophomore year. I
made two clutch free throws late
in the game to win a tight
game," she said.
"The best moment overall was
when I played my last game at
Erie Hall. My friends and family
came up to see me play," she
added.
Beisler almost quit the team
during her freshman year.
"My worst basketball moment
was during my freshman year. I
almost quit the team because of a
breathing problem. Coach
Banker talked me into staying and
I've been happy since."
For Beisler, this season has
been tough.
"Ironically this season has been
the best one because we are
winning but, it also has been the
worst because of my injury," she
mentioned.
Beisler would love to finish the
Page 11
Greg Geibel (The Coßegian
season with an ECAC title.
"I would love to finish with a
tournament win. It will be tough
though. If we lose, we will just
have to go on, but I don't plan on
losing," she added.
Beisler feels that her role on
the team is to get rebounds.
"I love to get rebounds,
especially offensive rebounds. I
feel that is my job. I don't worry
about scoring, if I score, well,
that is great," 'commented
Beisler.
-Michele Beisler
Senior Forward
"She (Beisler) is someone we
can all look up to in both
athletics and academics. We all
admire her for her strength and
courage in coming back from her
injury. The title would be
justification for her struggle,”
remarked sophomore forward
Missy Thompson.