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(04/30/08 12:00pm)
After four years of pouring my energy into the College, The Signal and other organizations, I still find myself unsatisfied with my collegiate experience. Like there is some kind of unfinished business I haven?t taken care of.
The thing is, everything is taken care of. I?ve done everything I can to enjoy my final year on campus. It?s the fact that I?m not ready to leave that makes me feel like I?ve missed something.
Like most of the seniors in my class, I?m not ready to graduate. I?m not ready to go out on my own with my journalism degree and my starting salary of 12 grand a year.
Once the hangovers of Senior Week have passed and the caps have flown only to fall onto the unearthed football field, being without school will take a lot of getting used to.
Until that point I intend on soaking up every bit of senior year I still can, as I hope my classmates will too.
Thinking back, there?s so many memories about the College I will hold dear. Like for instance that one time they decided to go under construction. I?m sure they?ll be done those apartments by my 15-year reunion.
I have to hand it to them about one addition to the College. Those revolving doors will save so much money. You know ... they?re the ones that open to automatic sliding doors. Awesome.
At least Senior Week wasn?t canceled this year. I?m pretty proud of our class council for making it happen. But in all honesty, if Henry Winkler doesn?t visit the Rat and make the jukebox play with a simple pound of his fist, I may have to leave.
(04/09/08 12:00pm)
The Trenton Devils ended the season with an upset win over the first-place Cincinnati Cyclones Saturday night.
Though the T-Devils did not qualify for playoff contention, the 2-1 win kept their fans satisfied.
Cincinnati scored the first goal 0:21 into the game.
Down 1-0 entering the third period, Trenton rallied for two goals to pick up the comeback win.
Cincinnati finished the regular season with a 55-12-5 record, ahead of the No. 2 team by 26 points. Trenton finished sixth out of the seven teams in the North Division with an overall record of 22-43-7, 64 points behind Cincinnati.
Head coach Rick Kowalsky must have struck inspiration into the T-Devils during the second intermission because they entered the final period with an extra burst of tenacity.
Just 6:10 into the final frame, Eric Castonguay scored the tying goal off a pinpoint pass from Jim Henkel that Castonguay fired into the back of the net. Stephen Wood also contributed on the assist.
With 1:09 of Castonguay's goal, rookie Chris Poli knocked in the game-winner for Trenton thanks to a three-on-two led by Poli.
Goaltender Jason Smith made 24 saves in the win.
The previous two games were split between home and away with the Elmira Jackals as Trenton led a 3-2 charge last Wednesday and a 3-1 mark Friday night.
Trenton ended the season on a three-game winning streak against the top two teams in the North Division.
(04/02/08 12:00pm)
The Trenton Devils won their first game ever in Elmira as they took down the Jackals 5-3.
Forward Chris Poli had the game-winner in the contest after the T-Devils put up four unanswered goals in the third frame. With less than five minutes left in the game, left wing Jason Paige and Poli created a two-on-one and Poli converted on a Paige pass.
Poli scored again after finding the Jackals goaltender's five-hole from the boards.
Right wing Joe Rooney tied up the game just over five minutes into the third period when he and left wing Tony Zancanaro took advantage of an odd-man rush.
Goaltender Maxime Oullet had 34 saves on 37 shots in the contest to earn his second win. Oullet hadn't been in net since March 2.
The T-Devils are dominating the power play after going 3-for-8 in the contest against the Jackals and have scored seven goals in 21 chances over the last three games.
The rest of the week wasn't as successful for Trenton as they were shut out by the Johnstown Chiefs 5-0 and were denied a comeback victory against the Reading Royals 4-2.
Next up for Trenton is a visit to Elmira tonight, where the Jackals will try to get some redemption. Friday and Saturday, the T-Devils will play host to the Jackals and the Cincinnati Cyclones, the current first-place team by 24 points.
(03/26/08 12:00pm)
The T-Devils went 1-2 last week, keeping them in sixth place in the ECHL North Division with a 24-33 record.
The T-Devils pulled out a convincing 7-2 win over the Dayton Bombers Friday.
Center Jim Henkel led the charge with two goals and two assists on the night to gain a game on the fifth-place team.
Henkel opened scoring on a power-play goal, and the T-Devils never allowed the Bombers to lead. The Bombers came close when they tied it up in the first, but center Trevor Kell answered back as he found the five-hole off of a pass from defenseman Ryan Gunderson.
The second period opened with four straight Trenton goals beginning with one from right wing Joe Rooney 1:04 into the frame. Henkel then scored his 22nd goal of the season.
Afterward, forward Colin Pepperall notched a goal and left wing Tony Zancanaro scored two goals of his own to finish off the scoring for the T-Devils. The seven goals were the most Trenton has had in a game all season.
Goaltender Jason Smith stopped 37 of Dayton's shots.
Last Thursday, the T-Devils lost 1-0 to the Wheeling Nailers despite putting up 38 shots to the Nailers' 21. The only goal of the night ricocheted off a skate and broken stick before sneaking through Smith's legs.
Trenton also dropped a decision on Saturday to the Reading Royals 3-1. Henkel scored the first goal of the night but Trenton could not find the back of the net afterward.
The T-Devils start a four-game road trip in Elmira at 7:05 p.m. to face off against the Jackals before heading to Reading and Johnstown over the weekend.
(03/19/08 12:00pm)
The Trenton Devils went .500 over the last two weeks, with one of their three wins coming against the then first-place Cincinnatti Cyclones.
Goaltender Jason Smith recorded his first shutout victory with the 6-0 pounding of the Cyclones this past Thursday.
With the shutout, Trenton halted Cyclones' center David Desharnais' 27-game point streak, the fourth-longest in ECHL history.
The six goals scored were the most the T-Devils have tallied all season. The six goals were scored by five players.
The T-Devils swept the Dayton Bombers in a two-night series Friday and Saturday night as they took them down 2-0 and 4-1, respectively.
The three-game winning streak followed a three-game losing streak as the T-Devils fell to the Elmira Jackals, 6-4, Wheeling Nailers, 4-2, and Johnstown Chiefs, 4-1.
(03/05/08 12:00pm)
The Trenton Devils ended their road trip this weekend with two wins over the Wheeling Nailers.
Taking down Wheeling 4-2 on Saturday and 5-1 on Sunday, Trenton may have gained the momentum to catch up to the Johnstown Chiefs who sit in fifth place, the final playoff spot.
Right wing Brad Mills scored two goals in the first four minutes of regulation.
Goaltender Maxime Oullet earned his first ECHL win after keeping the Nailers scoreless for the first 53 minutes of the game. He turned away 31 total shots on the night. Left wing Aaron Clarke played spoiler as he scored the Nailers' only goal with 6:18 left in the game.
Defenseman Bill LeClerc also scored for the T-Devils 13:42 into the second frame with a slap shot from the high slot. Center Jim Henkel notched his 17th goal of the season with 10 seconds left to go in the second period.
In the third period, left wing Tony Zancanaro continued the attack with a wrist shot in the top right shelf after receiving a pass from forward/left wing Joe Rooney for the fifth and final Trenton goal of the night.
On Saturday, the 4-2 win over Wheeling saw more impressive goaltending as Jason Smith held the Nailers for 58 minutes.
Center Trevor Kell gave a tough offensive effort, scoring two goals for the T-Devils and tallying one assist.
Kell's assist resulted from a shot taken 9:25 into the second, a rebound that left wing Andrew Leach followed up on to make the score 2-0. Kell's second goal was the eventual gamewinner as Mills found the end of Kell's stick on a perfect pass.
A four-on-four generated two straight goals for the Nailers as Clarke and center B.J. Radovich found the back of the net. Up 3-2, the Nailers pulled Darling in a last-minute effort to even things up until defenseman Matt Cohen forced a turnover that allowed Henkel to get the empty-netter with 57 seconds left in regulation. The short-handed goal was the first of Trenton's season.
The Devils hope to continue their momentum in this weekend's three-game homestand.
(02/27/08 12:00pm)
The Trenton Devils snapped a 10-game losing streak when they scored four straight goals to take out the Johnstown Chiefs 4-3 Sunday night.
It looked as though the losing streak would continue until a power play goal began a rally for the T-Devils. A charging center Jim Henkel scored his 15th goal of the season off a pass from forward Jason Bonsignore 9:31 into the second period to climb to a 2-1 score under the Chiefs. Left wing Eric Castonguay also assisted on the tally.
Henkel's goal broke an 0-for-43 power play streak that Trenton has been fighting to break.
Less than one minute later, left wing Jason Paige scored on open ice after receiving a strategically placed pass from left wing Tony Zancanaro with 10:13 left in the period to tie the game at two.
Center Trevor Kell struck next after converting on a defenseman Stephen Wood pass to get past goaltender Andrew Penner to go up 3-2 on the Chiefs and to get goal No. 12 on the year for Kell.
With 2:48 left in the second period, forward/left wing Joe Rooney completed the rally for the T-Devils 13 seconds after Kell's goal when he received the puck from Kell and Wood to get his 10th goal of the season.
Down 4-2, the Chiefs battled for a comeback, but one goal was all they could claim when center Jean Desrochers scored on a six-man advantage during a power play with 1:25 left in regulation to finish off the scoring at 4-3.
Trenton goaltender Jason Smith made 13 saves on the night, two on breakaways.
The game was No. 11 in a 13-game road trip for the T-Devils. No. 10 took place in Reading, Pa., last Friday when Trenton fell to the Reading Royals in a disappointing 7-2 loss.
Kell scored the first goal of the night off a pass from right wing Matt Radoslovich. Zancanaro also scored on the night.
Goaltender Maxime Ouellet made his ECHL debut for the T-Devils and made 21 saves on the night. Most of the goals given up by Ouellet were on odd-man rushes or on power plays.
The T-Devils finish their road trip this week as they visit the Wheeling Nailers Saturday and Sunday before returning home to face the Elmira Jackals.
(02/13/08 12:00pm)
The Cincinnati Cyclones, Dayton Bombers and Johnstown Chiefs were all too much for the Trenton Devils as they went 0-3 on the three-day road trip last weekend.
All ECHL North Division rivals, the victors struck harsh blows to the T-Devils' record. Now standing at 18-25-1-4, Trenton is clutching onto the fifth place spot with only a one-point advantage in the rankings over Johnstown.
The Chiefs gained the point on the T-Devils Sunday night after getting the 3-1 win. Left wing Jason Paige scored 4:12 into the first to tie the game at one when he surprised Chiefs' goaltender Ryan Nie with a quick shot. The goal was the offensive high point for the T-Devils as they proceeded to give up two power play goals as the night went on.
Right wing Matt Radoslovich and defenseman Jay Pemberton picked up the assists on Paige's goal.
The T-Devils could not convert chances into goals as they picked up their third straight loss on the road.
Defenseman B.J. Crum, defenseman Mike Knight and center Jean Desrochers added to the offensive effort for the Chiefs as they tallied a goal apiece for the game. Caruso saved 22 of 25 shots in the loss for the T-Devils.
Trenton managed to pick up one point over the course of the week due to a 4-3 shoot out loss against Cincinnati.
The Cyclones, currently in first place in the division, struggled to gain a dominant edge over the T-Devils as they fought back after each Cyclone goal.
Cyclones forward Travis Fuller began the scoring after sending one past Caruso in the first period. Right wing Joe Rooney retorted with a goal in the second as he found the back of the net off passes from defensemen Ryan Gunderson and Zach Tarkir.
Trenton was the next team to get back on the board 2:13 into the third when left wing Andrew Leach connected on a one-timer from Radoslovich from out front of the net coming in from the top dot. Radoslovich made a steal to get the puck back in Trenton's possession.
The 2-1 lead didn't last long when after only three minutes forward Matt Syroczynski just edged the puck over the goal line. One minute later, the T-Devils had a charging two-on-two and a rebound from center Jason Bonsignore's shot gave left wing Eric Castonguay a shot opportunity for a go-ahead goal.
Another Cyclones goal forced the scoreless overtime and led to a shoot out where only Cyclones forward Jason Deitsch could find the back of the net to get the win.
The losses to the Cyclones and Chiefs and a 1-0 loss to the Bombers have the T-Devils coming home to some unfinished business as they host Cincinnati on Friday night.
(02/06/08 12:00pm)
The local Trenton Devils broke down the Elmira Jackals for the second week in a row as the Devils outlasted the Jackals in a 4-3 overtime win.
The Jackals were the first place team in the ECHL's North Division before losing to the T-Devils 5-2 last Friday. Since then, the Jackals have slipped to second place behind the Cincinnati Cyclones trailing by one point, while the T-Devils are looking to gain ground in fifth place out of seven teams.
In the win Friday, defenseman Bill LeClerc tallied the first goal of his ECHL career over the goaltender's shoulder to take the victory into overtime. LeClerc's goal also marked a multi-point game for the rookie.
LeClerc also notched an assist on the game-tying goal that sent the game into overtime when he sent the puck up to left wing Jason Paige in Elmira's zone. Left wing Tony Zancanaro converted a rebound off of Paige's eventual shot into a goal to tie the game at three.
It wasn't all clean fun for the T-Devils and Jackals as the teams collaborated for 106 total penalty minutes, a record for Trenton this season.
The first goal of the game came from Elmira when right wing Pierre-Luc Faubert one-timed the opening goal 2:50 into the second period. It wasn't long before Trenton answered back as center Trevor Kell scored off a pass from All-Star defenseman Ryan Gunderson from behind the net just 30 seconds after Faubert's goal to tie the game at one.
Defenseman Stephen Wood struck next for the Devils 10 minutes later when he sent one past goaltender Joel Martin to take a 2-1 lead.
Elmira then scored two unanswered goals thanks to right wing Chaz Johnson and center Benoit Doucet, who both took advantage of rebounds in the crease.
After Friday's win, the Devils dropped a 2-1 game to the Cyclones Saturday night. This time, Trenton scored first when Kell found the five-hole on a pass from right wing Matt Radoslovich 7:08 into the contest. The Cyclones answered back with a power-play goal 3:28 into the second period.
With just three minutes left in regulation, center Barret Ehgoetz kept the game out of overtime when he knocked in a shot from inside the crease.
Next for the Devils is a visit to the Cyclones this Friday evening.
(01/30/08 12:00pm)
Last Friday night, the Devils hosted the then-first place Elmira Jackets in a game that saw five separate fights break out between the teams, not including the fights referees broke up before they escalated.
"(Elmira is) a physical team," head coach Rick Kowalsky said. "They've got big forwards who can skate, and they get in and they finish their checks. They're very physical and that's the style we play, so we talked about matching that."
Just five minutes away from campus, the Trenton Devils hockey team takes to the ice each year to compete for the Kelly Cup.
The Devils, a part of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) perform on the AA level.
Two levels below the NHL, the ECHL is a breeding ground for future AHL and NHL stars and features an intense hockey-viewing experience, since fans are closer to the action at Sovereign Bank Arena and the atmosphere is always exciting.
The Devils let one goal slip by just 2:33 into the first period of their game Friday night but answered back with five goals over the course of the game to claim a 5-2 win.
Center Jim Henkel, one of the Devils' veterans and co-assistant captains, tallied a hat trick on the night while All-Star defenseman Ryan Gunderson picked up four assists in the win.
When a Gunderson shot during a power play resulted in a free-for-all in front of the net, Henkel was able to sneak the puck through goaltender Dan LaCosta's legs.
Henkel's second goal came off a feed from left wing Eric Castonguay and Gunderson, as Henkel stuck one in the back of the net from the middle.
Henkel also notched an open-net goal for the Devils after the Jackals pulled their goaltender in an effort to use the one-man advantage and put together a comeback.
The Jackals attempts were futile as the Devils came away with the upset victory.
"There's no question it's a confidence-booster," Kowalsky said after the win. "We just have to figure out how to reciprocate this tomorrow night and not have a hangover."
On Saturday night, the Devils could not avoid a hangover as the Reading Royals managed to sneak out a win in the 3-1 contest.
Scoreless through the first period, the Royals found the back of the net 3:07 into the second period. Just 10 seconds later, Castonguay tied up the game at one with a one-timer. The Devils had plenty of chances after putting together 43 shots against the Royals' goaltender.
However, the Royals prevailed when a third-chance rebound found the end of right wing Kevin Suarette's stick, giving the Royals the lead 2-1.
Suarette scored again on an open net as the Devils looked for a one-man-advantage goal in the waning minutes of the game.
Despite the loss to the Royals, the Devils have plenty of confidence facing the rest of the season and look forward to playing out the rest of their schedule. The team plans to tweak its strategy depending on the opponent it plays.
"We don't really have a style," Henkel said. "We'll play any game (our opponents) want to play."
(12/05/07 12:00pm)
Talk of body fat, bad breath and stalking filled the Rathskeller (Rat) Monday night when four comedians set out to get the most laughs out of the crowd.
Part of the New Jersey Comedy Festival, the Rat played host to the first round of a competition between college students all over New Jersey trying to become the "King of Campus Comedy."
Adam Mamawala, junior communication studies major, was the highest-scoring comedian of the night and was the first of three to break into the next round. Besides material and delivery, judges also based scoring on audience reaction.
"There's nothing I enjoy more than having a good crowd response," Mamawala said.
Mamawala was a crowd favorite as his jokes received eruptions of laughter from fellow students. His biggest crowd pleaser was a line of impressions of Jerry Seinfeld, Samuel L. Jackson and Borat, as well as Indian and Irish accents, all to the tune of a GPS navigational system's voice.
In his bit, Mamawala suggested using different ethnic or celebrity voices for the GPS instead of the generic female voice. Mamawala impersonated an Irishman's voice for St. Patrick's Day saying: "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you've gone too far," in a thick accent that had the audience cracking up in approval.
Also making it into the next round was Jason Cantor, sophomore business management major, who spent most of his time on-stage teasing southern New Jersey folk and his sister's bad breath.
"The No. 1 place (people from southern New Jersey) go to is Wawa. ... The second place is the tutoring center and the third place is Planned Parenthood," Cantor said. Cantor also asked why people would want to study abroad or travel to "third world countries ... when you can just go 20 miles south to south Jersey."
Daniel Neyman, sophomore psychology major, also punched his ticket to the next round after getting his fair share of laughs out of the crowd. Neyman took advantage of entertaining facial expressions and took jabs at himself during his allotted five minutes on stage.
"Know how much money I save in the winter on heating?" Neyman said, referring to his girth.
Annie Raczko, senior English/elementary education major, also performed. Though Raczko did not make it to the next round, she kept the crowd giggling at the expense of her former freshman year roommate.
Teasing her weight, smell and looks, Raczko kept crowd members interested as they listened in on her terrible freshman year experience.
Overall, the night was a success as each comedian drew a commendable amount of laughter from the crowd. The Rat was filled to capacity, with many finding seats on the floor in front of the stage.
Mamawala, Cantor and Neyman will face off against 36 other comedians from 12 different colleges in New Jersey this Saturday, Dec. 8, at Monmouth University. Besides bragging rights, the winner will receive $1,000, a scholarship to a renowned comedy school, a trip for two to Cancun and an opening spot at a New York City club.
(11/28/07 12:00pm)
Jounce took the stage last Friday night at the Rathskeller (Rat) to a crowd unaware of the band's musical capabilities. Featuring self-described "Jersey Boys" Dan Tambarelli on lead vocals and bass, Matt DeSteno on lead guitar and backup vocals and Joe Ciarallo on drums, Jounce played a montage of impressive guitar-heavy songs that left the crowd speechless.
A handful of the songs featured on Jounce's set list were instrumental, which gave the concert a jam session atmosphere. Songs like "Hypoglycemic" had no vocals but didn't need any either, as Tamberelli and DeSteno rocked out on their guitars and Ciarallo kept the music pumping.
"I want more vocals," Ciarallo said. "None of us are really lyricists. Sometimes the songs become instrumental because they never get written and just become an instrumental song."
Most students filled the Rat anxiously awaiting 'Danny' Tambarelli from Nickelodeon's "The Adventures of Pete and Pete," "Figure it Out" and "All That," but what the audience got was unlike anything they had seen on Nick.
DeSteno spent the night doing some inspiring shredding on his guitar to maintain the songs' enthusiasm and kept the audience entertained with his edgy solos and catchy riffs.
Tambarelli led the vocals for Jounce with his melodic voice that captured the Rat's attention while Ciarallo kept the guitarists' solos in check with his steady beats that had most of the crowd members bobbing their heads or tapping their feet.
Though the specific genre of Jounce is hard to define, it is easy to see that a lot of energy and excitement goes into each note they play.
"There's sort of an improvisational element to it," Ciarallo said. "I played a lot of jazz . Matt played some classical . It just sort of melds into each other. A lot of songs change as we play them live so we can see what works in front of an audience."
Ciarallo added, "The biggest thing we feed off is the crowd. It elevates us; in the moment you don't even realize it."
It was easy to see how Jounce was feeding off the crowd as Tambarelli's dance moves propelled the band's stage presence and DeSteno's facial expressions changed with the tone of the music.
DeSteno also utilized several foot pedals to change the sound and, in most cases, the mood of the music. Employing everything from standard distortions to a 'wah' pedal, DeSteno experimented with different sounds that continued to raise the anticipation of the crowd.
Jounce began to form during the members' high school years and got serious during college when, according to DeSteno, they decided to give it a shot. However, they did get plenty of practice in before high school.
"I've always been playing music since I was 11," Tambarelli said. "During 'Pete and Pete' I was playing bass in my dressing room."
Since many of the audience members were unfamiliar with Jounce's music, the audience's excitement rose when Jounce played the two covers of the night: "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones and "Black Betty" by Ram Jam.
Jounce closed its set with a pounding rendition of "Black Betty" that left the crowd wanting more. Luckily, a new album is on its way from the band.
"Our sound has changed a lot," DeSteno said. "We're overdue for another recording (which should happen) in the near future . (Our first album) helped us to get some better gigs and get taken more seriously."
"We all work full-time jobs so we can't work in the area just being musicians," Ciarallo said. "We're going to start recording a new album in spring (and hopefully get) a really cool label, someone to invest in the band. We can do a lot of it on our own online. That's what we really focus on."
Structurally, Jounce's songs remain dynamic as they change time signatures and speeds. A few of Jounce's songs rolled into what the crowd thought was a slow, soulful ending only to break back into a fast tempo and more guitar shredding. With sounds that can resemble Yes meets Bob Marley and song styles resembling Led Zeppelin, Jounce has a sound anyone can enjoy.
(11/28/07 12:00pm)
On Nov. 15, I was graced with news that preserved one of the few pure things left in this world: baseball.
Barry Bonds was indicted on four counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice. These counts were made based on Bonds' December 2003 testimony where he said he didn't knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs obtained from his trainer, Greg Anderson, who just happened to be released from prison the same day as Bonds' indictment.
According to ESPN.com, the indictment "cites 19 occasions in which Bonds allegedly lied under oath." Based on these counts of perjury and several tests, it can be deduced that Bonds knew exactly what he was doing.
If convicted, Bonds could face up to 30 years in prison.
Bonds has been tarnishing the name of baseball for years now, stealing home run records he probably doesn't deserve and being the least personable player in the Major League, saying he would boycott Cooperstown if they put an asterisk anywhere near his career highlights.
People make the argument, "Steroids don't help you make contact with the ball. His batting average would still be awesome." Sure that's true. But if you take out the steroids all he has is a good batting average, which, last I checked, still isn't in the realm of deserving Hall of Famers' averages, like Ted Williams.
This indictment of Bonds signifies professional sports getting one step closer to making the game what it was in the beginning: fair. Also, it probably keeps Bonds out of the Hall, a triumph in the recent sports world.
The weekend of Dec. 7 will be a celebrated one in sports, not for championships or record-breakers, but for justice. Bonds will go to court for his recent charges on Dec. 7, while Michael Vick is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10 for his alleged crimes. His trial date was set for yesterday for his animal cruelty and dogfighting charges.
The last few months of professional sports haven't been something to be proud of. The NBA saw referee Tim Donaghy betting on games. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was caught cheating in a game against the Jets. Even if they go undefeated for this season and go on to win the Super Bowl, I'm not sure if anyone could call it perfect.
With all of the controversies occurring among our sports heroes, it's hard to stay excited and find someone to look up to. But the announcement of Bonds' indictment is a stepping stone toward turning the controversies around. Finally, fans have something they've been looking for and hoping would turn up for a while: proof.
Here's to the asterisk.
-Lauren Kohout, Editor-in-Chief
(11/14/07 5:00pm)
After finishing the 2006-2007 season with a 7-6 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) record and an overall record of 13-14, the women's basketball team has come back stronger and ready to bounce back against this year's competition.
"We'd like to win the conference this year and get that automatic bid to the (NCAA Tournament) and hopefully make some noise in that tournament," head coach Dawn Henderson said. "The women's basketball games have always been an exciting place to be. The team gives 100 percent every game and they work until the end."
"We're going to play aggressive this year and score fast break points," she added.
Anchoring the Lions this year is 6-foot-3 junior center Hillary Klimowicz. Last year, Klimowicz led the team and conference with a 58.4 field goal percentage and was in the second in the conference and first on the team with an 81.0 free throw percentage.
"I think we should expect more from (Klimowicz)," Henderson said. "She played well last year but started with an injury. . In February, we got to really see what she can do for us. She is determined and she is going to be the compass for this team."
Klimowicz also led the Lions in points with 336 - a 12.4 average per game - and tallied a team-leading 76 blocks for the Lions, good enough for second in the conference. Picking up 200 rebounds (74 offensive, 126 defensive), the center received notoriety last season when Sports Illustrated featured Klimowicz in a special about her transfer from St. Joseph's University to the College.
Also returning to the Lions this year is the only senior on the team, guard/forward Sara Best. Best averaged 8.7 points a game and had 236 total points last season. A clutch player, Best scored in double digits in each of the last 14 games of the season.
"(Best) is going to be a big part of any success we have this year," Henderson said. "We only have 13 girls, which is a good thing. I expect everybody to contribute."
Both Best and Klimowicz picked up NJAC honors last year, as Best received an honorable mention and Klimowicz picked up an NJAC First-Team award.
"We were such a young team last year and in many ways we still are since we only have one senior," Henderson said. "We struggled for longer than I anticipated (last season), but watching them play now I can see how much they have matured. . Everyone is going to have an impact."
The Lions also have junior guard Lisa Koch to look to. The returning letter-winner not only led the team in assists with 74 and was second in touches with 70 but notched 156 points last year.
Sophomore forward/center Alexandra Gregorek returns to the Lions after racking up 164 rebounds, 177 points and a .443 shooting percentage.
New to the team is freshman forward Kelsey Kutch, who Henderson said should have an impact right away for the Lions.
"This team is going to get better everyday," Henderson said. "The team we are today is not the team we are going to be tomorrow, and not the team we'll be in February. I think this team will be right in the hunt."
(11/14/07 12:00pm)
There is nothing college students appreciate more than advice from professionals in the industry they are studying.
"You have the world in the palm of your hand. You just don't know it," Dominic Ambrosio, vice president of studio operations for HBO, said. "You have to follow your heart. You should be in a business that makes you happy."
Ambrosio visited the College to talk about his career path and give advice to communication studies students about their own opportunities. Though it was a lecture format and setting, the event was more like a conversation between Ambrosio and the introduction to television studio class he was visiting. However, he did share some good lessons with the students.
"I'm speaking to you the way it is, not the way you may read it in chapter nine," Ambrosio said.
Suzanne Carbonaro, professor of communication studies, invited Ambrosio to speak to her class. On Monday, Nov. 12, the class was open to the public to hear Ambrosio speak.
"I knew he would be dynamic and he has a lot of good tips and excellent experience to intrigue the college audience," Carbonaro said.
Because the majority of the class is interested in different aspects of television production as careers, it was easy for Ambrosio to keep the students entertained with stories and anecdotes that he has collected over his 24 years of work in the field. As an added bonus, Ambrosio distributed posters featuring popular series from HBO such as "Flight of the Conchords" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." However, students had to earn them.
Because of the classroom setting, Ambrosio joked with the students and made them work for a poster by either asking a significant question or answering one about the field.
During the time with the students, Ambrosio discussed what was really important to him. With his wife of over 25 years and his four daughters, he has a lot to be proud of.
Ambrosio spoke specifically about the day he was promoted to his present position with HBO and the responsibilities he then had. He said, "This history, legacy and quality of what we do was entrusted to me to carry as a torch. It was an honor. I was humbled by it and grateful for it and that opportunity is something I am very fortunate to have."
Ambrosio added, "My goal when I'm 50 is to be the best husband, father and leader I can possibly be in my life and contribute in that way. ... There are people who sacrificed a lot for me and I want to do the same for others."
A trend in television, Ambrosio has changed job positions and locations throughout his career. Besides HBO, Ambrosio has also worked for Showtime, HSN, the Entertainment channel, Unitel Video and others. According to Ambrosio's biography, some of his duties for HBO include overseeing the technical staff and interfacing with the creative teams, engineering and program divisions.
Ambrosio encouraged the students sitting before him to be creative and to not let money hold them back as he repeated throughout the lecture that, "It was the idea, not the technology, that made the difference."
Ambrosio has a knack for speaking in front of an audience as he cracked jokes and shared funny stories. One was about a conversation between Ambrosio and a friend of his who was getting recruited by the newly-created channel ESPN.
"A 24-hour sports channel, who's going to watch that?" Ambrosio recalled from the conversation. "What do you think they're going to do next, weather?"
During his lecture, Ambrosio showed clips of different trailers seen on HBO. These included trailers for "Inside the NFL," "The Departed," Justin Timberlake's live concert and "The Wire." Through this, Ambrosio showed that when you are trying to sell a show, you are actually selling a feeling that you hope the audience gets while watching the piece.
"Every great cinematographer tells a great story with what they paint," Ambrosio said. "You're buying a feeling. ... If you do it without letting them know you're doing it, then you'll be successful."
(10/03/07 12:00pm)
As I sit here in my Jimmy Rollins t-shirt pondering what the postseason has in store for my Phillies, I can only say that at this point it doesn't matter.
1993. That's all I have to say to explain why Sunday was one of the most exciting moments I've witnessed as a sports fan. 1993. 14 years have passed without the Phillies being eligible to enter the playoffs. In recent years, they have made late runs, getting fans' hopes up only to choke in the final days of the season.
After watching Brett Myers throw that final pitch at Citizens Bank Park, and seeing Pat Burrell run out of the Phillies' dugout to practically tackle Myers, running faster than he has ever run in his career, I realized just how significant all of it was as my eyes watered with the thrill of the victory and the realization that the monkey is finally off our backs.
So what if they have lost 10,000 games in their history? So what if Ed Wade plagued the team for years? So what if they decided to bring Jos? Mesa back? None of it matters because the Phillies have finally done what we Phillies fans thought was impossible, the simple act of making the playoffs. Not only did they get in, but they actually won a division, edging out the Mets in the final day of the season.
I would apologize to the Mets fans for what they have suffered in the past two weeks, but all I can say is 1993. We've been suffering those same feelings year after year in our red pinstripes and we can finally be satisfied with the season the Phils have played.
Not only can we be satisfied, but we can be damn proud. Rollins played an MVP-worthy season and got his team to the playoffs. Heck, we actually have a working bullpen and a decent starting rotation!
This win is so monumental for Philadelphia sports fans; I don't even care that McNabb just got sacked 12 times by the Giants!
All that matters now is the Phillies actually have the potential to ride this out far into October. At some point, perhaps in January when the Eagles don't make the postseason, I'll stop smiling about this win. But for now, I've got goosebumps for the fightin' Phils and the fact that 1993 doesn't seem so far away anymore.
(09/26/07 12:00pm)
In his new book, "National Lampoon's Balls! An In-Your-Face Look at Sports," comedian Steve Hofstetter turns the light on a side of sports that people rarely see.
"I'm a huge sports fan and I feel like there's always been something missing," Hofstetter said. "Most sports coverage is sports with a little bit of funny - I wanted to focus on the funny."
Hofstetter breaks down the origins of sports, throwing in his own satirical spin. In a conversational style, the book allows its readers to feel more like they are reading notes on one of Hofstetter's stand-up acts rather than the 216-page book it is.
Easy to read and hard to put down, "Balls!" comes full-circle in the world of sports, connecting the various sports through one thing they have in common: humor.
"(Sports) are supposed to be fun," Hofstetter said. "You lose yourself in the game and live vicariously through the players. If that's not happening, you should get out."
In the book, Hofstetter pokes fun at the founders of their respective sports and the events that have followed the sports' beginings in a style all his own.
"This book will actually teach you a bit about sports, mainly that sports are funny," Hofstetter writes. "Where else can a grown man play a children's game in a jumpsuit for a million dollars and complain that he's not getting paid enough? That's comedy, no matter how you slice it."
Hofstetter teases a few individuals and teams more than others. His favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers, suffers one of the worst beatings as Hofstetter finds ways to incorporate the Rangers' losing streaks in most of the chapters of the book.
"The odds that any one of the (original) six teams (of the NHL) will not win the Cup two seasons in a row is 5/6 times 5/6 - or 69 percent," he writes. "So, all things equal in a six-team league, the odds that the Rangers would not win a Cup for 25 years are approximately 1 percent. Congratulations, boys - you defied the odds."
No one is safe from his jabs at the sports industry, from WNBA athletes to the stereotypical "super fan."
"I appreciate the super fans of my teams, I wonder what a super fan's life is like outside the game," he writes. "I'd imagine that under that fire helmet, there is a lonely man just wanting a hug. So feel free to volunteer because I'm not going near that freak."
Hofstetter mocks the vast majority of sports teams, players and management and leaves no stone unturned. Everyone gets a mention, from Barry Bonds to Christopher Columbus.
"There are teams and players who just deserve it more than others," Hofstetter said. "I really try to write it from the perspective of 'this is what fans think.'"
Hofstetter is working on transforming the book into a television show, but for now readers will have to indulge in the harsh-but-true humor of "Balls!" and read his syndicated Sports Minute (or so) while waiting for his next great moment of comedic prowess.
(09/19/07 12:00pm)
This past Saturday, all of the clubs and organizations at the College were asked to send at least three people, including two executive board members, to Passport to Programming, a conference lasting from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. that is supposed to teach leaders and other members of organizations the skills they need to be successful in their clubs.
Tim Asher, director of Student Affairs and Leadership Development, greeted the students in the morning, commenting on the wonderful turnout by the organizations. Asher seemed to forget that everyone was there because it was mandatory.
The Student Finance Board (SFB) required attendance by all of the College's organizations or, according to an e-mail from Carol Willis of the office of Student Affairs and Leadership Development, "Organizations who do not send a minimum of three members for the entire day will lose access to their budget until training can be made up. The first make-up date will not be until mid to late November."
Who decided that SFB has the power to hold everyone's budgets hostage until attending this conference? And if some emergency were to keep students from attending this seminar, they wouldn't be able to access their budget until there is less than one month left of classes.
I wish I could say it was a useful experience. Not only were these "interactive workshops" thrust upon us, but they often did not relate at all to the majority of the organizations.
Generally, if the leaders of this campus are not ready to take the helm of their respective organizations four weeks into the semester, then that organization is in trouble.
Leaders who are in charge in the fall are most likely elected the previous spring and are trained until the end of the year in their position because the predecessor is most likely leaving the organization or graduating.
As a student leader of this newspaper, I have already dealt with the problems and situations that SFB presented to the leaders of this campus on Saturday because I, along with the rest of the editorial board, have already been in my position for five weeks.
For instance, one seminar titled "8 1/2 x 11 Flyers, Publicity or Painful?" offered no guidance to anyone who wanted to build a flyer campaign from the ground up. The presenters were from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and could not even tell us the basic guidelines for submitting a flyer for campus advertising and getting approved, something you would think would be necessary to discuss.
Of the four sessions students were required to complete during the day, one was mandatory for club presidents and treasurers, a presentation by SFB. Basically, SFB took a packet of its guidelines and read from it for the entire length of the presentation.
Each of the seminars presented at Passport to Programming could have easily been replaced with an e-mailed question from organization leaders to the contact they are seeking.
Instead of spending campus dollars on lecturing and feeding the leaders of our community by requiring them to take away a Saturday of their busy schedules, leaders of organizations can simply e-mail a question to the appropriate person, such as contacting student services to find out how to book a room on campus or calling a recent alumni for advice on leading an organization.
The program offered little help to leaders on campus because the general population already knows what they are doing. The one group that might benefit from this experience is new members to an organization, but those people could probably learn more from the experienced members in their organizations than from vague, broadly-defined seminars.
For next year's class of leaders, I suggest being less creative with the seminars and finding more ways to make them relatable to more organizations.
For instance, give a presentation on the correct way to deal with the administration when faced with a problem, give the leaders a supplemental packet of what is going to be covered ahead of time and let them decide if they need to attend or if it would be better for the organization to send younger members to ensure long-term success.
The student leaders of this campus cannot benefit from a leadership workshop until that workshop is tailored to the specific needs of their organizations.
(08/29/07 4:00pm)
Among other accomplishments this summer, the lacrosse team was featured on ESPN.com as one of the many "great college sports programs that don't garner the attention that they deserve."
The team is the most successful team at the College in terms of national championships and is a powerhouse in NCAA Division III.
The Lions have been able to maintain its high level of competition thanks to head coach Sharon Pfluger, recent inductee of the 50th class of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
"I'm just really flattered," Pfluger said. "I think it's wonderful to be thought of for something like that. I credit all the players and the assistant coaches."
Pfluger is also head coach of the field hockey team and has led it to seven NCAA Championships since 1985.
Since NCAA lacrosse began in 1985, the Lions have placed third four times, placed second five times and won 13 Division III titles. According to ESPN.com, the Lions are 318-26-1 under Pfluger with an NCAA record .923 winning percentage and six undefeated seasons, including a 102-game winning streak.
All of the lacrosse team's recognition is not thanks to Pfluger alone. The College has produced 60 All-Americans who have received a total of 95 All-America titles. Twelve of those players went on to win Division III National "Field" Player of the Year awards while one player, midfielder Katie Wagenblast, received the Division III National Overall Player of the Year award in 2004.
In order to continue the lacrosse team's successful run, Pfluger holds a high standard for the prospects she recruits. Among other aspects, she takes into account success in high school, ability to read the game, speed and strength.
"I think we do the best recruiting we can," Pfluger said. "It's a lot of responsibility to develop an athlete in college. It's got to be a kid who believes in the program. They have to sacrifice a lot of precious time and work really hard in the off-season."
The team's long history of success also puts pressure on the players to continue their winning habits.
"Every time we step on the field, we are expected to play to the standard of the program," senior midfielder Toni-Anne Cavallo said. "There is a tradition to uphold every time we step on the field to play good solid lacrosse, and that's what we try to do. I think every team that has played for the program every year feels that pressure to maintain that standard."
Over the summer, members of the team racked up even more awards. Senior midfielder Karen Doane and Cavallo were named Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Americans for their performance on the field. Alumna defender Tara Withers and Doane were put on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll for maintaining above a 3.2 GPA during the demanding lacrosse season.
Doane was also named the 2007 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Women's Lacrosse Player of the Year, while Cavallo and junior Katie Reuther were named to the ECAC Division III All-Star Team.
Doane, a second-time All-American, led the team in both points (62) and goals (49) last season. She managed to tally a point in every single game last season and is currently riding a 21-game scoring streak.
Standing at 130 career goals, Doane is 17th on the College's all-time scoring list and 19th in points with 167. She was also named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District at-Large Second Team.
Cavallo led the Lions in assists last season with a total 15. She also netted 32 goals after having just 20 and 22 goals in her freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively.
"I think the difference between the number of my goals my sophomore and junior year has to do more with the role I needed to play this year," Cavallo said. "Every year, your role changes depending on the makeup of the team and you grow as a player. I just went out there and worked harder on what I needed to do ... in order for us to be successful."
Cavallo spent last summer at the Marine Corps Officer's Candidate School. Only 75 percent of the 800 participants graduated from the six-week course. Not only did she graduate, Cavallo was one of 14 to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement and was named the Most Physically Fit Female in the program.
Also a member of the women's soccer team, Cavallo has been and will remain a defensive force for the Lions who fell in the NCAA Division III Championship game last year to Wheaton College.
"I have always played more than one sport," Cavallo said. "I think playing sports keeps me grounded in my academics, and I think throughout the years it has helped me learn to be very productive at managing my time. I really don't know what it would be like any other way."
This year's senior players already have two NCAA Division III Championships under their belts, but it looks as though they still have some unfinished business this spring:
"This season's goal is the same as the last three: to win a national championship," Cavallo said. "Every year the team is different and things change, but our goal always remains the same."
(05/02/07 12:00pm)
As of March 16, the College stood in third place for the United States Sports Academy Director's Cup for NCAA Division III competition. This spring, six Lions varsity teams will see playoff action and look to move the College up in the standings.
Lacrosse leads the pack as it will vie for a three-peat NCAA Division III championship this year. After winning in 2005 and 2006, the Lions lost several key players to graduation but those who were left picked up the slack and the team has been just as successful as last season, repeating the 15-2 record held in 2006.
Junior midfielder Karen Doane took charge of the Lions this season and led the team in goals with 42 and was second in assists with 11. Junior midfielder Toni-Anne Cavallo led the team in assists with 15 and erupted for 29 goals this season. Sophomore attacker Rachel Gordon and junior attacker Kate Neese have also left an impression on the Lions after Gordon scored 22 goals with four assists and Neese tallied 15 goals with eight assists.
Junior goalkeeper Cailtin Gregory has shown her strength in net with only 86 goals against this season. Gregory had a save percentage of .497.
The Lions lost their best player in midfielder Lauren Dougher last year. Dougher received many accolades including MVP of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Though anyone will have a hard time filling Dougher's shoes, together the Lions create a powerful force in the NCAA that will be hard to contain.
The Lions have held a perfect 6-0 record at home this season, scoring an alarming 169 goals and holding opponents to 90. The team is ranked No. 3 regionally behind No. 2 Gettysburg College (13-2) and No. 1 Franklin and Marshall College (15-0).
The College fell to Gettysburg earlier this season on April 6 by a score of 9-8 but beat them 10-4 in last year's championship game. The same went for the College's only other loss of the season to Salisbury University. The Lions fell to the Sea Gulls 13-12 this season but beat them for the national championship 9-7 in 2005.
With one game remaining on Friday against Frostburg State University, the NCAA Division III Tournament will begin on May 9 and the championship game will take place on May 20 in Geneva, N.Y.
After posting a 1:51.65 in the 800-meter run at the Larry Ellis Invitational on April 21, senior Jeff Zodda earned an NCAA qualifying time and was the top Division III runner in the event. Zodda took the NCAA Division III crown in the same event last spring and will try to defend that title this season.
Junior Galen Johnson took second place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:42.12 to take an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifying time, while the men's 4x400 relay team finished third with an ECAC-provisional time of 3:19.94. The team was comprised of sophomores Rob McGowan and Woodrow Prevard and freshmen DeShard Stevens and Steve Murray.
The Lions also racked up three ECAC times in the 400-meter race. McGowan took fifth with a time of 49.30, Murray came in ninth at 50.14 and Prevard placed 10th in 50.33. Junior Brian Donatelli was the top Division III performer in the hammer throw with a distance of 46.18 meters. He took fourth place for the throw and qualified for the ECAC Championships. He followed it with an ECAC distance of 14.60 in the shot put.
Sophomore Stephanie Herrick will look to join Zodda as she posted an ECAC qualifying time in the same event with a time of 2:15.79, a meet record. Senior Angela Tecco and junior Sara Best followed Herrick in the event and also recorded ECAC qualifying times. Tecco placed second as she crossed the finish line at 2:15.96 and Best took fourth with a time of 2:17.91. Herrick joined with Tecco, freshman Jennifer Caratola and junior Jessica Bonelli to grab an NCAA provisional time of 3:53.01 in the 4x400 relay.
Bonelli added her own ECAC provisional time after running a 57.64 400-meter race to take fifth place.
After hosting the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships on May 5, the Lions will participate in the Tuppeny Twilight meet on May 14 and the ECAC Division III Championships May17-18 before reaching the NCAA Division III Championships May 24-26.
The men's tennis team will also move on to the playoffs after posting an 11-2 record. Ranked No. 10 regionally in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll, the Lions look to improve on last season after being one win away from making it to the playoffs. Junior Michael Klimchak is ranked No. 9 in the Northeast Region and he joins with Roger Mosteller to catch the No. 4 ranking in the Northeast. The doubles team is a perfect mix of power and finesse and continues to take control over its opponents as it looks to continue that trend in May.
Though not individually ranked, the rest of the Lions tennis team is key to its success. Senior Corey Ball is finishing out his stellar career at the College with a 16-4 record. Sophomore Jeremy Eckardt also has a hand in the team's success after posting a 17-4 record this year. Leading the Lions, however, is junior Eric Ferriere, who continues to overpower his opponents in unsung fashion. Currently at 19-3 overall, the Lions will look to Ferriere to edge them past NCAA opponents to come.
The women's tennis team continues to impress the crowds this spring as it holds a 14-1 overall record this year. After reaching its 116-0 record in the NJAC this past fall, the Lions now stand at No. 7 in the Northeast Region. Freshman Jackie Shtemberg is also ranked No. 7 in the Northeast Singles bracket with a 26-3 record while junior Christina Contrafatto, 11-2 on the season, holds the No. 23 Regional ranking. The pair is ranked No. 1 together in doubles as they stand at 23-5 together overall this year.
Besides the leading pair, the Lions are backed by strong play in freshman Stefanie Haar, who has a 21-4 record on the year, and by Haley Kutner, who currently stands at 19-5 in her sophomore season. Senior Kristen Turturiello is completing her campaign at the College with a 15-4 overall record.
Tennis playoffs will begin on May 5 at the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament and will conclude May 19-21 at the NCAA Championships.
The Lions also look to propel the baseball team to an NCAA Division III Championship. Currently 28-8, the Lions hope to improve on last year's 38-8 record. After falling short in the NCAA Regional Tournament in 2006, the Lions' goal all season has been to get a national championship.
With returning All-Americans senior catcher Gerard Haran and senior first baseman Blake Bullis leading the pack, the Lions have a strong chance of making it to the title game this year. The Lions boast the NCAA Division III Position Player of the Year in Haran, who holds the home run record at the College with 47.
Senior Jeff Botti leads the team with a .381 batting average, while sophomore Jeff Toth follows close behind with a .377 average and 21 stolen bases this season. Toth has knocked out six home runs and leads the team in hits with 55. With five doubles and five triples, Toth's slugging percentage is a chilling .603. Other notables on this team are members of the dominant pitching staff. Senior Dave Waseleski leads the team in ERA with 1.47. With a 5-0 record, batters hit only .196 off of the hurler.
Junior Mike Oliver also stands at 5-0 on the season with a 2.90 ERA and is second on the team in strikeouts with 38. Junior Bob Buskett is putting up stellar numbers as well this season. Despite a 3.83 ERA, Buskett is tied for pitching the most innings, 49-1/3, and has handed out 30 strikeouts with batters hitting .251 off of him. Senior Blake Ortiz is also having a standout year with a 2.19 ERA and a 5-1 record. Ortiz has also pitched in 49-1/3 innings and leads the team in strikeouts with 42 while batters struggle to hit .212 off of him.
The Lions are ranked No. 1 in the NJAC with a 14-4 record and are No. 2 in the Mid-Atlantic NCAA Division III Region.
The Lions are just behind the Kean University Cougars, whom the College lost to twice this season. Kean stands in the College's way in the NJAC playoffs, which are scheduled to take place May 3-7. With many key players graduating after this season, 2007 may be the right year for a Division III National Championship.
After taking second place overall in last year's Director's Cup, the Lions hope to gain some ground during the playoffs and improve on last season's accomplishments.