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(09/01/09 4:53pm)
The glitz and glamour of the quarterback position can consume even the most humble of athletes.
Under the Friday night lights, these leaders of the pack are the center of attention, yet often distant from the action. On passing plays, they stand in the pocket waiting, clean and untouched while bodies flail and fly around them. During rushes, they hand the ball off to another prepared for the trench, as they move from the play. They do not block, they do not tackle. They fake, they roll, they scurry, they scamper. They are the celebrities of the field, their own greatest show on turf.
After their battle, they sit with their often un-scuffed helmets, providing postgame interviews while lineman ice their knees and elbows.
For many quarterbacks, the above is a shameful reality. For Lions senior quarterback Chris James, the above is lunacy.
Unafraid to run, dive, sweat and bleed, James is the face of a blue and gold tradition not for his pretty face, but for his willingness to take the hit and keep pushing forward.
“He plays his position almost like a linebacker, not afraid to deliver the big hit or take one. He actually might even enjoy them,” junior wide receiver Mattan Hoffman said.
He is serious. He is level-headed. And as the season grows near, he and the rest of his team grow restless.
“It’s scary, the potential of what we can put out there offensively and defensively,” James said. “We are a hard-nosed team. We are going to punch you in the face sometimes, and we are going to get punched too. But it’s about how you rebound from a hit like that, and you can really tell what type of person someone is on the football field. You can tell what they have inside of them. Deep down, fourth quarter, last drive, you know who the gamers are.”
On the field, James is a gamer. In his fourth season at the helm, he has amassed more than 4,000 total yards from scrimmage (more than 700 rushing yards) and 31 touchdowns. He begins his final campaign within reach of both the College’s single season and career passing marks. Although James may soon be on the edge of school history, his concern, as it should be, is the team.
“This year it’s not just a team, we are part of a family,” James said. “We bleed and sweat together on a daily basis. And it’s those same guys who you will depend on next to you during a game. That’s trust right there. And that’s what we work on in the preseason to build that trust.”
James and the Lions began their training in the spring, working out twice a week at Notre Dame High School in Lawrenceville, lifting kettle bells and flipping tires to increase the team’s explosiveness, James said.
After a summer break, the squad arrived to their home field on Aug. 14, fighting the heat through drill after drill.
“It’s a very strict camp but it allows people to learn to be mentally tough,” James said.
Senior wide receiver Cameron Richardson admires James’ on-field mentality.
“His mental makeup is a key for the offense. He can analyze situations on the field and react to them very quickly,” Richardson said. “And anytime I've seen him make a mistake, he remains unphased and doesn't dwell on what's going wrong. He's always ready to make the next big play and constantly picks up his teammates when they've made mistakes too.”
The senior QB requires himself to exemplify a work ethic he wishes to see in his teammates, that winning spirit which never leaves him.
“Both in-season and offseason Chris is always working to become a better player,” Hoffman said. “Whether it is in the weight room, watching film, or just always giving 100 percent in practice; his love for the game is seen through the amount of work he puts in and that is all you can ask for in a teammate.”
Although none can question James’ ability to work hard, his drive to win alone has not always translate to wins, as the Lions were plagued with injuries last season and finished 4-6 overall and 4-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC).
He expects a stronger campaign this year, and although he loves the pressure it will bring, he understands it must be a team effort.
“It’s just not yourself out there, it’s about leading the guys around you,” he said. “It’s about the look in their eye, getting on people when they’re down, pumping them up when their happy, just staying at an even keel throughout the game. Stay as a team, win as a team, lose as a team. When one side is slacking, the other side has to pick it up.”
Like most leaders, James has his pregame rituals and superstitions. Prior to home games, a whole wheat bagel with two eggs from New York Bagel is tradition for the quarterback, along with a certain Sports Paradise shirt, cut off at the sleeves and worn under his uniform during each game of his collegiate career. Before each contest, James reviews his playbook, confirms details with lineman and receivers, listens to music and relaxes.
On the field, he has matured from a bruiser looking to lay a hit on the ground, to a poised general in the pocket.
“The biggest change that I’ve seen in Chris’s game over the past few years is his ability to stand in the pocket and deliver a strike,” senior defensive back Ryan Flannery said. “He is a natural athlete so you know he is a good runner but now he looks to stand in the pocket and hit the open receiver.”
Returning senior receivers Richardson, Mark Gardner and Colin Weber have stood beside James for the last two seasons, and he feels more than comfortable for the upcoming season.
“They know what I am going to do before I do,” James said.
“To make a successful quarterback-receiver combo, I think it's really important to be on the same page and for Chris and me, that's never been a problem,” Richardson added. “Over the years here, we've been able to hone our skills together and have become very comfortable with each other's play on the field.
That comfort and confidence that we have in each other has generated a lot of success on the field.”
Off the field, James is fun-loving socialite, engaging in video games and fast food with his friends.
“We live together off-campus with some of the guys from the team and it's been a lot of fun. He's always looking to have a good time and is never too serious about anything,” Richardson said. “Chris has a really likable personality; he's very sociable and welcoming to others. I always enjoy myself whenever we're hanging outside of football.”
“He is always there when you need something and does things out of the goodness of his heart,” Hoffman said. “It seems like he is always in a good mood and always there to pick somebody else up.”
Long before his days and nights at the College, James was a boy on the shores of Brick, NJ learning the game he would come to love.
“My grandma always says she thought I would be a good football player,” James said. “I used to go over her house; she lived two houses away from me. When I used to go over, I would bring my little notebook and draw football plays in it. I have always loved the Giants, ever since I was little, watching their Super Bowl tapes and stuff. I just always wanted to play football.”
James’ family has always supported his passion, with his parents and grandmother attending every game of his college career.
After this season, James looks to finish his health and exercise science degree, and look toward a career in law enforcement. He hopes to eventually get back to his first love though, and possibly coach football when he retires.
Once he walks away from his field, James hopes to leave a positive memory for classes to come.
“I want to be remembered that I gave it my all,” he said. “I’ve been with all of the rest of the seniors for four years and we have great memories together and I just want to say that we all busted our asses hard enough to come out on top and have a winning program. We just want to win.”
For now, James is focused on his final season at the College.
“These are my last ten games, or as many as it is, it’s my last,” he said. “So playing football ever since you were 5 years old playing flag football, its coming down to the end, and I’m excited for every single one.”
(04/29/09 4:00pm)
After two weeks which showcased surges of power and nine wins in 10 games, the Lions took a step in the wrong direction at the wrong time.
The Lions finished their regular season on a three-game losing streak, ending their year with a record of 20-16-1 en route to the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament beginning this week.
Besides not getting the big hit, we gave up big innings in each of the losses," junior outfielder Chris Esperon said. "If we minimized damage and didn't give up as many runs, the outcome of those games would be different."
The College hosted NJAC rival Kean University in a doubleheader at George Ackerman Park on Saturday, but were unable to hold off the Cougars in either game of the twin bill.
In game one, a pair of doubles by senior infielder Ryan Anzelone and freshman catcher Mike Galeotafiore gave the Lions an early 2-0 lead and senior shortstop Jeff Toth's eighth homerun of the season increased the lead to three. The Lions would gain another run but Cougars erased the deficit and pounced in the sixth, tallying nine runs in the inning for the 9-7 victory. Sophomore Connor Henderson had pitched five scoreless innings until things unraveled in the sixth as he recorded his first loss of the season.
Following their lackluster matinee, the night cap did not bode well for the Lions either as they were edged out again by a score of 5-4.
The College trailed for the entirety of the game as Kean jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second. The lead grew to 5-1 before the Lions answered back, plating two runs in the seventh on a Toth RBI single and Kean error at third base. The Lions crept back in the eighth, scoring another on a sophomore outfielder Anthony Palmiotto groundout to make the score 5-4.
Threatening with base runners in the ninth, the College was shut down by Kean senior reliever Pedro Rivera, securing in the win for the Cougars. Senior pitcher Sean Stewart allowed five runs over seven innings in the loss.
Following the doubleheader, senior pitcher Dan Ramos-Dominko said, "Even though we have been hitting some bumps on our way to playoffs I still believe we have been playing well. Our hitters and pitchers have done a great job, but sometimes the game just doesn't turn out the way you would expect it to."
One day prior to their double loss to Kean, the Lions were unable to match Ramos-Dominko's strong outing as they fell to the Roadrunners of Ramapo College 3-0 on the road. Ramos-Dominko struck out an impressive 10 batters over eight innings for the College but a lack of offense could not gain him the victory. Toth, Anzelone and senior second baseman Adam Tussey each finished with multiple-hit games but the Lions were unable to score a single run against junior Mike Murano who threw a complete game shutout in the win.
The Lions now look ahead to start fresh in the NJAC playoffs at William Paterson University on Tuesday and appear to be optimistic about their chances.
"We stay positive by knowing that we can play our best baseball of the year in the playoffs and win the conference tournament. There's still time left for us to make our mark and make a run in the post season," Esperon said. "Our team is resilient and know that these upcoming games are going to the biggest of our season and we're definitely prepared to play our A-game come playoffs."
(04/29/09 12:00pm)
It was a warzone.
Shots from the snare rang out in the night as bass and toms pulsed the Izod Center, shaking the ground on which the soldiers stood. Shrill screams of guitar poured from speakers, sending them into a frenzy. The infantrymen dressed in black circled the floor wildly, screaming and flailing in response to their field general's arrival, the man around which all of this chaos revolved.
Disturbed vocalist David Draiman, dressed in gray, descended from the ceiling of the Izod Center on a massive re-creation of Disturbed's metallic emblem, his dual labret piercing shining off the spotlight. After welcoming the crowd, Music as a Weapon IV's headliner opened with an all-too-appropriate piece. "Voices," the first track off of their debut album, 2000's "The Sickness," kicked off last Wednesdays' performance as Draiman's finely tuned vocal chords blasted fans with the power they paid to hear.
Fantastic fretwork by guitarist Dan Donegan and bassist John Moyer highlighted Disturbed staples early in the set. Following "Voices," the foursome stuck to their roots, predominantly playing songs from "The Sickness" as well as their second studio album, "Believe." "Liberate," "Prayer," "Stupify" and "Shout 2000" were fan favorites early but the show reached new heights once the lights dimmed.
A spotlight opened on Donegan plucking away at an acoustic guitar as he and Draiman began a subdued version of "Remember." Lighters and cell phones alike lit up across the arena before Disturbed kicked the song into its usual octane level midway through.
Fans continued to mosh and move as the band progressed into more recent tunes. "Stricken" off their "Ten Thousand Fists" album and "The Night" of 2008's "Indestructible" shined in the second half of their set but the stars aligned for fans once Disturbed left the stage.
After several minutes of encore chants, the hard-rock heroes returned to the stage to perform "Indestructible," their newest album's title track, but as the lights fell, a final performance would certainly leave the crowd satisfied.
As the drums for their original masterpiece, "Down with the Sickness," began to surge through the center, Draiman ascended from the center of the crowd on an illuminated platform, rising several stories in the air as he sang his final piece of the night.
Ending the show as they always do, Draiman led the crowd in a chant. "My brothers, my sisters, my blood. We are! Disturbed!" he exclaimed.
Metalcore titans Killswitch Engage opened for Disturbed and did not disappoint as their mix of deep screams and clean lyrics left the crowd wanting more after a relatively short set. Vocalist Howard Jones orchestrated a "Wall of Death" as the group performed songs from their two most recent albums, "Daylight Dies" and "The End of Heartache." They also played a new song off of their self-titled album to be released June 30.
Preceding KsE was Italy's most successful gothic metal band, Lacuna Coil. The dual vocals of Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro wowed the crowd, preparing them for the bigger acts to come.
Chimaira, a metalcore group from Cleveland, opened Music as a Weapon IV with their brand of heavy vocals and throbbing guitar riffs. The crowd pent up with energy showed the band a good time during their relatively short performance.
A day of standing in cold rain showers as second-stage metal bands played on throughout the April afternoon was well worth the wait as the Izod Center's main stage housed a performance not soon forgotten. Disturbed showed thousands of metal heads what their music can do: inspire, invigorate and most important, induce countless devil horns to immerge from the darkness.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(04/22/09 4:00pm)
It was a point to remember. Far away from home and with her family and teammates looking on, Jackie Shtemberg roared.
"Come on!" she screamed in relief as the reality of the moment set in. She had done it.
She had won her point, a long and painful one against No. 1 seeded Siobhan Finicane of Pomona-Pitzer College whose drop shot had the No. 2 Shtemberg scampering across the court. She had taken the match, 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets, ending the day's final Alabama battle. Her training, her conditioning, her determination, everything had paid off. She had made history. She was a champion.
Within hours, the College's athletic Web site posted the sophomore's grin on Oct. 13 as she posed with her 2007 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Singles National Championship trophy, the first Lion to claim the prestigious honor. More than 18 months removed from her time in the champion's spotlight, Shtemberg has a new milestone to add to her ever-growing résumé.
In a match against Skidmore College last month, Shtemberg gained her 100th career win at the College, an accomplishment not often achieved. Much like her final championship point, the current junior's triple-digit winner was no cakewalk.
"I wouldn't say I was struggling," Shtemberg said, "but it wasn't the easiest of matches and I was like, 'I'm not waiting for the next one,'"
Shtemberg did not wait as she and freshman doubles partner Felice Trinh won the match 8-5 to reach her landmark victory.
Commenting on the big win, Shtemberg said, "Whether or not it's a big deal on record, to me it feels good especially because I'm not done yet."
Like many great athletes, Shtemberg's success can be somewhat credited to her own sport-relation eccentricities, certain superstitions that factor into each match. Such behavior includes using a certain combination of tennis balls that she has been playing well with or compulsively stepping on out-of-bounds lines around the court in addition to many others, according to her.
A few blasts of techno music prepare Shtemberg for battle but it is truly her off-court work that sets her apart from other players. Miles of running each week in the gym coupled with a personal trainer and a typically healthy diet lead Shtemberg to believe that she can outlast any opponent, especially in heavily heated conditions. Commenting on her preferred playing conditions, Shtemberg said, "the hotter the better."
Since freshman year, Shtemberg's success has always been admired but she never seems to feel the pressure of being a team leader.
"Not to sound weird, but people have always kind of looked up to me. I love the pressure and stepping up for the team," she said.
As the season continues, Shtemberg looks to continue her journey toward the NCAA Division III National Championships, a feat she wishes to accomplish before graduation, as well as working on her health and exercise science and business double major.
Although she still has more than a full season of time to dominate opponents, Shtemberg wants to be revered when her screams no longer echo through campus. She wants to be the one everyone is compared to, the standard of greatness at the College.
She is on her way but attributes her success to not only hard work but her family as well. Taught at a young age by her father and always playing with her sister through high school, her family has centered around tennis since Shtemberg was a child.
After all of her accomplishments, Shtemberg still calls her mother after each match to tell her what happened. "I forgot to call my mom after this one match," Shtemberg said. "She was like 'oh you didn't call me' and I was like 'it was a stupid match though, their team was sick and didn't play well' and she was like 'I know but I still like to know.'"
"I couldn't have done any of this without my friends and family," Shtemberg added. "I'm not alone in this."
(04/22/09 4:00pm)
With a newly-solidified pitching staff to match their potent offense, the Lions are a force to be reckoned with.
"They have done a better job of throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters," head coach Dean Glus said. "Once they get ahead, they are in control instead of the other way around."
The Lions have been in control of late, tallying eight consecutive wins and rising to second place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) with a record of 19-13-1. During the win streak, Lions pitchers averaged just over five runs per game as the Lions offense continued to punish opponents. Scoring more than eight runs in seven of eight games, the Lions bats maintained their heat led by senior shortstop Jeff Toth and junior outfielder Chris Esperon.
"Our approach at the plate has been a huge factor in our recent success," Esperon said. "We're working the count and waiting on good pitches to hit instead of swinging at the first strike."
The College exerted their dominance on Saturday, as the home crowd watched the Lions pummel William Paterson University 13-5, 11-5 in a doubleheader at George Ackerman Park.
In game one, freshman infielder James Ruzich posted a strong showing with four hits and three RBIs including a two-run game-winning homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning. Also performing well were freshman catcher Mike Galeotafiore and sophomore outfielder Anthony Palmiotto. Each added two hits and an RBI each.
Senior pitcher Dan Ramos-Dominko allowed four runs over six innings but it was sophomore Joe Marchitelli who took the win with 1.2 innings of work, his third of the season.
In the night cap of the twin bill, the Lions flexed their muscles again as Esperon connected for his fourth homerun of the season while senior second baseman Adam Tussey added his first four bagger of the year.
The Lions waited again until the later innings to dethrone their opponents, tacking on eight runs in the eighth inning to give senior reliever Pat Johnson his second win after junior Sean Stewart worked seven innings for the no decision.
The Lions' hurlers shined last Wednesday, stifling the Profs of Rowan University 9-2 on the road. Sophomore ace Connor Henderson ascended to 5-0 on the year as he fooled his opponents for a complete game eight-hit victory. Toth added three hits in the win.
Commenting on the team's play,
Esperon said, "The pitching has been great and when you're starting
pitching and bullpen is throwing as well as our pitching staff is it gives everyone confidence."
Following their decisive win against rival Rowan, the College managed to squeeze past Richard Stockton College 6-5 last Thursday. The Lions led throughout the game on the strength of seven Osprey errors but a four-run surge in the ninth brought the score to within one. Senior pitcher Eric Gertie bared down for the close win.
To conclude their busy schedule, the Lions split a doubleheader against Montclair State University on Sunday, winning the first game 8-7 and getting throttled in the second, 15-6. James Ruzich cracked his second homer of the season in game one but a potent Red Hawk lineup outdid the Lions in game two.
With only a handful of games remaining before the NJAC playoffs, the Lions are still taking things as they come.
"We are taking one pitch, one out and one inning at a time," Glus said. "Because we didn't have a great start to our season, they know where we were before and where we can drop to so they keep the same enthusiasm."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(04/15/09 4:00pm)
A potent offense led by the electric play of their senior shortstop Jeff Toth has the Lions finding their stroke midway through the season.
"We've changed our approach at the plate to hit more as a team, meaning doing situational hitting, and that has helped produce a lot of runs," junior outfielder Chris Esperon said. "Also, it seems everyone is contributing and catching fire."
The College rattled off three wins this week on the shoulders of Toth who crushed three four-baggers in two games for the Lions and recorded nine RBIs on the week. The former All-American is now batting a stellar .509 on the year with six homeruns and 24 RBIs.
"When you are a great player and get into a zone, you are so focused and seeing the ball well. He is just doing what he is capable of," head coach Dean Glus said.
The senior turned in his most productive performance of the season on Thursday against Rutgers University-Camden as the Lions punished the Scarlet Raptors 12-3 at home, scoring early to give sophomore pitcher Connor Henderson his fourth victory of the season. The Lions improved to 14-12-1 on the season while Henderson remains undefeated at 4-0 with an ERA of 3.56 and 38 strikeouts in 43 innings.
The Lions jumped on their opponents in the first inning, plating three runners as Toth blasted his fourth homerun of the year over the left field wall of George Ackerman Park. Toth later homered in the eighth inning once the game was already out of reach. Junior first baseman Ryan Anzelone also contributed with three hits and three RBIs on the day while freshman catcher Mike Galeotafiore and Esperon plated two runs each.
The day before, the College outlasted Richard Stockton College 12-11 away from their home field last Wednesday, rallying in the seventh inning to erase a four-run deficit. Esperon led the Lions past the Ospreys, turning in a 5-5 performance with one homerun and three RBIs.
"I've been seeing the ball well lately and we've turned things around as a team which is giving everyone confidence," Esperon said. "When it comes to pressure I try to view the situation as an opportunity to succeed rather than fear failure because you have to have a positive frame of mind."
Toth and senior third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro each added a pair of hits in the win as both batters claimed an RBI double in the five-run seventh inning. Freshman infielder James Ruzich also added a pair of RBIs on the day.
Lion pitchers have appreciated the surge of power at the plate.
Senior Dan Ramos-Dominko said, "When our offense performs the way they have been, it makes pitching a lot easier. Our pitchers know they can go out there and just throw strikes when we jump on teams early in the game. It takes a ton of pressure off of us as a staff and makes our job much easier."
In their latest game, the Lions provided more power courtesy of Toth whose grand slam in the third inning propelled the College past the Roadrunners of Ramapo College 8-3 on Friday. Toth went 2-3 with four RBIs, relieving senior pitcher Dan Anderson who allowed only two runs through six innings of work.
The Lions have won five of their last six games and hope to continue their winning ways.
"The past six games have definitely started to turn our season around," Ramos said. "We are finally above 500 and look to improve with every game we play. We have a tough schedule coming up with 10 games in the next eight days which will really show us what we are made of."
Glus said, "As long as everyone is consistent, we should be there in the end."
The Lions will look to continue their winning ways on the road against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rowan University. The College will look to Toth as well as the rest of their offense to continue to pack a potent punch against the Profs.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(04/15/09 12:00pm)
It was a conflict left unnoticed, a fight no one would see.
As fans ripe with adoration assembled at the foot of a quiet Kendall Hall Tuesday night, Demetri Martin sat in his greenroom on the far end of the building, calmly clashing with an unlikely foe.
As Martin discussed his wardrobe choices for his piece in New York Magazine, he chewed a roast beef sandwich. Once half of the sandwich was consumed, Martin rose from his armchair, apologized for being rude, and proceeded to withdraw a large bottle of Seagram's ginger ale from a cooler. Martin sat back down with the bottle and explained his surprise when he learned he had graced the cover of New York Magazine's Feb. 16 issue.
As Martin turned the cap of the bottle, the bubbling liquid rushed to the top, eager to spray the man sporting a light red sweatshirt and five o' clock shadow. The ginger ale had a purpose, but Martin was obviously a veteran of carbonated quarrels. He did not waver as he began the familiar sequence of opening and closing the bottle quickly to let out the gas and avoid a preshow shower. He did not acknowledge the battle which was taking place (it took no less than five tries before he could safely unscrew the bottle cap) and continued the interview.
For most, such an occurrence would seem insignificant, or at the very least, not newsworthy. For Martin, whose comedic genius is based on such typically uninteresting things as chairs and ice cubes, the ginger ale incident was all too appropriate. Normally, this would be a quickly forgotten occurrence. The only difference between Martin and anyone else is that this occurrence might just be the next joke in his repertoire of specially crafted comedy, discussing the little things no one thinks twice about.
If with no prior knowledge of his celebrity, someone was to meet and have a short conversation with Martin, they would likely describe him as articulate, intelligent and sincere. They would mention his plain sense of fashion, his Beatle-mania haircut and his unassuming disposition. They would estimate his age in the mid-20s, a stereotypical youth fresh from college with the world in front of him.
"Demetri Martin was exactly the kind of person I hoped he would be: down-to-earth, friendly and approachable," senior philosophy major and Martin's student opener Kevin "Vegas" Lancaster said. "Making small talk with him felt perfectly natural, as if he was any other guy, and I think that's because he's not some crazy egomaniac, he understands that he's a human being like the rest of us."
With these relatively ordinary notions, they may overlook his comedic sensibilities.
They would be correct in their assumptions, except two misconceptions. The first would be that they ventured more than a decade away from his age, but the 35-year-old Martin enjoys the mistake.
"A lot of people think I'm younger, which is cool for now," he said.
The second would be bypassing his comedic impact over the past decade.
When speaking to Martin, it is nearly impossible to determine that this "normal guy" hosts his own television show, "Important things with Demetri Martin" on Comedy Central, has performed on "Late Night with Conan O' Brien," "The Daily Show" and "The David Letterman Show," has acted in several films and has headlined numerous comedy specials. Martin does have the world in front of him, but with the world as his oyster, he has already accomplished more than comedians twice his age.
As Martin fought with the bottle of Seagram's at the College, he was not far from either of his homes - his current residence in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y., and his childhood home in central Toms River, N.J.
Growing up in the large New Jersey town of nearly 90,000, Martin lived the typical life of a Greek-American adolescent. He attended Toms River North High School, worshiped at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church of Ocean County (where he is now a star when he returns), and worked at his family's Greek food stand in Seaside Heights, shoving pieces of marinated meat onto a rod.
"I just wanted to skate and surf but they were like 'no you have to skewer shish kabobs,'" he said with feigned frustration. "It really pissed me off."
Martin got a late start in comedy at the age of 24, but never regrets his decision to drop out of New York University law school only one semester away from graduation.
"My worst day in comedy is better than my best day in law school," he said. "It wasn't terrible but when it's not the right fit it's just so grueling. But when it's the right fit, it might be hard work but I feel like 'hey, I'm lucky I found something I love doing and I'm not bored doing it.'"
Although his "Important Things" show now consumes the majority of his time, Martin still claims his love for the stage. "Stand-up is always the best for me, I love it the most. It's really direct and it's the purest form of getting your comedic sensibility out there because once you're on stage, it's just you and the microphone. It's really nice that you can communicate directly with your audience and you get feedback immediately."
Martin will likely have to wait to get feedback on his newest project, a book he plans to finish over the summer and submit in September.
"It's like writing a major paper," he said. "It'll be essays, poems and drawings, maybe some short stories, maybe a couple of jokes. Some things I think might work better on a page."
With a hefty bank account, millions of fans in his corner and a great future ahead of him, Martin does not appear affected by his fame in the least.
While in an empty Kendall Hall hours before the show, Martin went through the motions of his sound check. As he prepared his stage, he politely and awkwardly asked the sound technicians, always using "please" and "thank you," if he could receive more sound out of certain speakers and if he could position microphone stands in certain spots, almost as an amateur would.
He then skittishly sat at his keyboard, tinkering with different sounds, trying to find the perfect pitch for the approaching performance. He never did find the sound he was looking for but it was not time wasted, because much like with his comedy, it's the little things that count.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(04/15/09 12:00pm)
Armed with a large pad of paper and a slew of musical instruments, New Jersey native Demetri Martin unloaded his arsenal of quick-hitting, side-splitting comedy onto a sold-out Kendall Hall crowd last Tuesday.
"I prefer college crowds and I feel lucky that I get to do shows at colleges," Martin said. "The college crowds are really supportive and usually really patient and encouraging so if I want to try something new or different, college crowds are good to try it on."
Martin unleashed line after line of his latest edition of dry, observational comedy, leaving his fellow statesmen repeating his one-liners as they exited the building last Tuesday night. His short jokes clearly packed a punch, moving quickly from his lips to the funny bones of students who left Martin with a standing ovation as he exited the stage.
Martin opened the show by commenting on what has become a favorite topic of visiting comedians, the College's seemingly generic name. Referring to the "The College of New Jersey" as "the laziest college title ever," Martin suggested the name be changed to "One of the colleges found in New Jersey," a more fitting name, but a more difficult title to fit on a sweatshirt.
Martin continued his set with a combination of College-related observations and jokes used in his TV show, "Important Things with Demetri Martin." As he discussed yearbook photos and how the large hair of his high school classmates did not fit in the normal-sized frames, a piece of paper was thrown on stage. When he learned that it was in fact his eighth grade class picture, Martin appropriately said, "You fucking psycho."
After touching on topics such as how black and white cookies should be segregated and how his peanut butter allergy could be his immediate demise, Martin moved to his famous large pad of paper, which housed his latest drawings. Such works of art he had recently created backstage included blueprints for a baby silencer, an inverse juggler and a graph regarding the funniness of karaoke.
The set then moved to Martin playing guitar and piano while still telling jokes. Martin strummed notes and tapped keys as he listed interesting ways to propose. "You could go out with your lady, walk up to a tree, and then you climb up a tree and the ring's in the tree and you say 'will you marry me?' . and you're dressed like a bird," he said.
The Toms River native finished the show with a few older jokes and then left the stage to catch a train he nearly missed afterward.
The show opened with a short set performed by senior philosophy major Kevin "Vegas" Lancaster, an amateur comedian who was well received by the audience. As he discussed John McCain and ways to be passive-aggressive, his spastic and slapstick comedy had the hall laughing and warmed up for the upcoming acts.
"With such a welcoming, cheering, laughing, supportive crowd, I felt wonderfully confident on stage," Lancaster said. "I really appreciate the support I've gotten from the College community. Without that I wouldn't be able to do any of this. It's difficult for me to tell how a performance goes, and I'm usually harshly critical of myself, but I really think I genuinely entertained 800 people that night."
Following Lancaster was Hannibal Burress, a featured comedian on Comedy Central's "Live at Gotham" and an opener chosen by Martin himself. As the comic commented on the lack of African Americans in the room and how his love for apple juice overtook his ability to notice racial intolerance in a supermarket, the crowd roared with laughter, giving him a warm welcome.
?"I think this was one of the best comedy shows in my four years at (the College).? I think students will remember this as the show that they chose since we sent out a survey at the beginning of the year," College Union Board Director Katerina Gkionis said. "(Martin) was the top choice on the survey and we were able to bring him here. With him being from New Jersey, it was exciting to have one of our own at the College."
Christina Burt, the organizer of the event said, "It was so exciting having such a big name comedian from New Jersey come to the College. We've been throwing his name around in CUB for a few years and we were all really happy that he was able to come."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(04/08/09 4:00pm)
After spending several weeks in barren doldrums of inconsistency, a few gusts of fresh spring air may have been all the Lions needed to right their ship.
As the College migrated north to Newark on Saturday, the Lions were met with more than just fastballs and bad attitudes. Following rain storms on Friday night, 40 mph winds whipped in from Newark Bay and swirled across New Jersey City University's Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex. The Lions needed a change of offensive strategy to combat the weather, a strategy which would bode well for them throughout the doubleheader.
"They had a good approach going into each at bat," head coach Dean Glus said. "With the winds they had to hit more ground balls and line drives and did a nice job of that."
Along with warmer weather, the winds seemed to bring an air of change to the Lions, breathing new life into the bats of an offense that had averaged fewer than five runs in their past 10 games. With this new surge of production, the Lions punished the Gothic Knights in each game, rallying late for a 13-8 win in game one and taking control for a 17-10 victory in the night cap. The Lions improve to 11-11-1 while the Gothic Knight fall to 11-14-1.
"It just seemed as if everything really came together for the team," sophomore third baseman Evan Surgan said. "We have been working recently in practice on taking good mental approaches to our at bats. We have all the physical talent in the world and I feel the mental aspect came around and things clicked for us."
Freshman catcher Mike Galeotafiore led the Lions in game one, recording two doubles along with his third homerun to plate four Lions in the victory. Galeotafiore's second double came in a six-run eighth inning which would put the Lions ahead and secure the victory for senior pitcher Dan Ramos-Dominko. The College's pitcher was not dominant, allowing eight earned runs through seven innings but was able to pick up his second win on the year.
In game two, the Lions' offense took charge, pummeling five Gothic Knight pitchers for 17 runs on 19 hits. The second game was called due to darkness after eight innings but stellar performances several College batters provided more than enough offense.
Galeotafiore recorded three more hits and two more RBIs while freshman first baseman James Ruzich three hits and four RBIs of his own. Junior outfielder Chris Esperon stole the show in the night cap, going 5-6 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Esperon is now batting .365 on the season with two homeruns and 15 runs driven in.
Esperon credits his teammates for his latest hot streak.
"The guys ahead of me do a great job of working the counts so I can see all of pitches that the pitcher has," Esperon said. "Also, my teammates are getting on base more often and putting me in good situations to hit the ball and help the team be successful."
Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, the College found itself in Bethlehem, Pa., taking out frustrations on Moravian College. The Lions jumped out to an early 10-0 lead on the Greyhounds courtesy of homeruns by Galeotafiore and freshman outfielder Andrew Priece. The early cushion gave sophomore pitcher Connor Henderson an easy victory as he pitched eight innings in the 15-4 rout.
Esperon tallied three hits on the day and senior shortstop Jeff Toth recorded four hits to continue his onslaught at the plate. Toth is now batting an absurd .505 on the season with two homeruns and 23 RBIs.
Commenting on Toth's production, Glus said, "He's taken his game to another level. You can see it in his eyes and his body language that he is in a different zone right now. He's a former All-American and if he keeps playing this way he can be All-American again. He's also becoming a team leader."
The Lions expect to continue their solid play as they face off against Richard Stockton College today at 3:30 p.m. before they begin their home stand against Rutgers University-Camden on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
"This is a huge week for us, and with our hot bats we are feeling very confident as a team," Surgan said. "Right now momentum is on our side and we are a dangerous team to handle, and with this high confidence hopefully we can keep the ball rolling and continue to turn the season around just like we have always been capable of."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu
(04/01/09 4:00pm)
Not even an inspiring performance by a grieving teammate could right the Lions' ship as they continue to frustrate their critics as well as each other.
Junior pitcher Sean Stewart, who suffered the loss in his family only days earlier, returned to George Ackerman Park on Friday to pitch eight strong innings for the Lions, stymieing the Profs of Rowan University for only one run on three hits with eight strikeouts.
One would think that the Lions may perhaps rally around such a moving performance, but Stewart would not factor in the decision as the Lions could not put away the Profs in the final inning. The College nursed a 2-1 lead heading into the top of the ninth but a pinch-runner would tie the game at two and a miscue by the Lions, coupled with a single by Prof sophomore outfielder Scott Weaver would secure the 4-2 win. The Profs improved their record to 11-3-1 while the Lions fell to 7-8-1.
Both runs scored by the Lions were RBI singles, courtesy of senior shortstop Jeff Toth who went 3-4 on the day. The offensive leader for the College is currently batting .486 with two home runs and 19 RBIs.
Following their loss to rival Rowan, the Lions were back on their home field and prepared for their doubleheader against the Rutgers University-Newark. Each of the two games between the Lions and Scarlet Raiders was decided by one run with the Raiders taking game one 5-4 and the Lions claiming game two 2-1.
Senior Dan Ramos-Dominko started the first game for the Lions under the overcast Saturday sky. Ramos-Dominko took the loss for the Lions, as a four-run fifth inning would tarnish his otherwise strong performance.
In the fifth with the game tied at one, sophomore outfielder Steve Giordano smashed a triple down the right field line to score junior first baseman Matt Lingo from first. A past ball along with an opposite field home run by sophomore shortstop Patrick Reitemeyer accounted for three more runs and the Lions would not recover. A strike-out, throw-out double play finished the Lions in the ninth as they moved on to game two of the twin bill.
In game two, the College was led by sophomore pitcher Connor Henderson who held the Scarlet Raiders to one run and six hits over eight and 1/3 innings.
Defense was also key for the Lions, as they turned four double plays and sophomore first baseman Lenny Racco made a diving grab of a line drive which would have scored a run.
Racco also scored a run for the College following his first hit of the season. In the sixth inning, the Lions took the lead with an RBI single by Toth which scored senior second baseman Adam Tussey. Senior Eric Gertie recorded his fourth save of the season for the Lions, as he ended the game by claiming the final two outs.
Prior to their rocky weekend, the College gained a bit of confidence as their offense came alive against Gwynedd-Mercy College. The Lions came from behind last Wednesday to upset the Griffins, rallying in the bottom of the eighth for four runs.
The Lions held on to win 11-9 while several players had strong days at the plate. Senior third baseman Vince Mazzaccaro went 3-4 with three RBIs while sophomore outfielder Anthony Palmiotto recorded two hits with a run scored and an RBI.
The Lions hoped to gain momentum against the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers University-Camden but a late rally would plague the College again.
In the sixth inning, with the game tied at one, Rutgers-Camden pulled ahead with a two-run home run to upset senior pitcher Dan Anderson's otherwise smooth afternoon. Following the homer, the Scarlet Raptors tacked on runs in the following innings, but with an 8-1 deficit, the Lions attempted a comeback in the top of the ninth.
Led by Palmiotto and Toth, the Lions scored four times before being silenced for a score of 8-5.
The Lions now rest at 8-10-1 as they will try to gain momentum at Moravian University on Thursday.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/25/09 4:00pm)
While trying to erase memories of an unforgiving Arizona road trip, the Lions caught more snags in the asphalt.
"We have been struggling to get some momentum going this year but it is still early," senior pitcher Dan Ramos said. "We have the talent to compete with any team in the country but we've had a hard time putting all the pieces together."
Following a rain-out on Thursday, the College squared off against Ursinus College Saturday afternoon at Ackerman Park in what would be a long and arduous campaign.
The Lions would use five pitchers against the Bears, but would eventually fall 5-3 in 15 innings, dropping their record to 6-7-1. Sophomore Connor Henderson started the game for the College, pitching six innings with six strikeouts and three earned runs. Junior Greg Spatz, sophomore Joe Marchitelli and senior Eric Gertie combined for seven innings of scoreless baseball for the Lions before the Bears broke the 3-3 tie.
Junior Sean Flanagan suffered the eventual loss for the College, as he began the top of the 15th inning with a walk to Ursinus junior Tommy Clarke. The Bears' outfielder came around to score on two singles to give Ursinus the 4-3 lead, and a run scored on a wild pitch would lead to the knockout blow for the Lions.
The College came into the game against Ursinus content with a strong victory against Haverford College the day before. The Lions bested the Fords, 5-4 on the strength of Ramos' first win of the season as the senior fanned eight batters and allowed only one run over six innings.
Timely hitting by senior infielders Adam Tussey and Vince Mazzaccaro was key for the Lions as Tussey went 3-5 with an RBI while Mazzaccaro drove in a run in the third inning, giving the College a 3-0 lead and their pitcher a bit of breathing room.
Ramos stressed the importance of getting ahead early.
"There have been many games this year where we have let up a run in the first inning or the other team struck first," he said. "When that happens it feels like you are fighting an uphill battle. The game becomes a lot easier when you are able to pitch with a lead."
The Lions opened their current home stand with a 3-3 tie against Muhlenberg College last Wednesday. Due to the fact that Ackerman Park does not enjoy the luxury of lights, the game was called, much like a little league game, after nine innings on the grounds of darkness.
Mazzaccaro drove senior short shop Jeff Toth home in the third inning to give the Lions a 1-0 lead but a solo home run which soared over the College's Townhouses South would pull the Mules even at one. Muhlenberg would take a 3-1 lead in the fifth but a Toth single in the bottom of the ninth tied the game at three, and the game ended there.
Toth has been an offensive powerhouse for the Lions thus far, batting .500 in 14 games for the Lions with two home runs and 15 runs batted in. Toth is an early favorite to repeat his 2008 All-America honors.
Even with Toth's other-worldly production, the Lions have not yet hit their stride but are confident that things are coming together.
"Our pitching staff has definitely shown improvement since the season started," Ramos said. "We have been hitting the ball well recently but have not done a great job getting those clutch hits when we need them. All of our hitters are capable of producing at this level and I look forward to seeing all of them achieve their potential."
A fulfilling win sandwiched between an unsatisfying tie and a marathon loss has left a bad in taste in the Lions' mouths as they try to gain momentum through the remainder of their home stand. The Lions look to bounce back with a win over Gwynedd-Mercy College, who they will host today at 3:30 p.m.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/18/09 4:00pm)
They appeared to be superior.
They were seeded. They had better records. They were expected to win. They were the favorites.
They gave in.
Senior Dan DiColo did not, and as he faced each highly ranked opponent, he wrestled on, often waiting until the final moments to claim his victory. These last few moments would eventually grant DiColo a sixth-place national finish and All-America honors.
"Dan is a hard-working kid," head coach David Icenhower said. "If you do not wrestle him for the full seven minutes, you're in trouble."
DiColo was one of five Lions who made the trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the NCAA Division III National Championships, held in the U.S. Cellular Center.
Although each of the College's wrestlers in the tournament had strong showings in the Metropolitan Conference Championships, which gained them spots on the national stage, only DiColo made it out of the first round. Senior Tyler Branham, sophomore Justin Bonitatis, freshman Scott Kelley and sophomore Ed Broderick all fell in the opening rounds of their respective weight classes before falling again in their consolation brackets.
"They did what they were predicted to do," Icenhower said. "I felt like they could have done more and hopefully they can do more next year."
While the rest of his teammates succumbed to their seeded foes, DiColo fought on, creating upset after upset.
DiColo began his tournament by defeating Gettysburg College's Andrew Goldstein 7-6. Goldstein was seeded fourth with a regular season record of 31-0 heading into the match. Just as he narrowly defeated Goldstein, DiColo narrowly fell to fifth-seeded Jesse Milks of University of Wisconsin-Platteville by a score of 4-3.
Facing his third consecutive seeded opponent, DiColo squared off against sixth-seeded Erik Hanson of Loras College and pulled out another 7-6 win in the match's final moments. The senior then moved on to Ithaca College's eighth-seeded William Horwath and prevailed with a 5-0 win.
"What gave me my edge was the ton of work I put in during the summer and during the whole regular season," DiColo said. "Not only do I push myself as hard as I can, but I have my coaches and teammates pushing me as well. Every match is going to be close and you need to have the courage to win the close ones."
In the consolation semi-finals, DiColo was undone in an 8-0 shutout versus Augsburg College's Jason Adams, the third seed. Fighting for fifth place overall, DiColo ended his season with a rematch against Milks who
claimed victory again, besting DiColo 4-2. DiColo finishes the season 31-7, his second straight 30-win season.
The 2009 wrestling season has come to a close for the College as they finish with a record of 16-1-1 and five Academic All-Americans. These five, who achieved at least a 3.2 GPA and represented the College in at least 50 percent of their matches, were DiColo, Branham, sophomore John Barnett and seniors Greg Osgoodby and John Dinan.
The Lions will soon begin a weight lifting program and start to prepare for the next season. "Now that this season is over I plan on taking a break from wrestling for a month or so but then getting back on the mat and in the weight room to get ready for next year," DiColo said. "Although I'm happy with becoming an All-American, I always push myself to be the best and that means winning a national title."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/18/09 12:00pm)
With sun-scorched necks and sweat-stained caps, the Lions' trip to Arizona was not quite fun in the sun. Following their 11-game road trip, which spanned the duration of Spring Break, the College returned home with an uninspiring record of 5-6 as they now look ahead to their in-conference schedule.
"Our performance in Arizona has not been what we expected it to be. We had a slow start and lost some tough games. However as all good teams do we bounced back and have started to play up to our capabilities," sophomore third baseman Evan Surgane said.
An inconsistent offense both rewarded and plagued the Lions as they battled throughout the week. Their bats created either an onslaught of scoring and run production, as they averaged more than 13 runs in their victories, or were silenced into a draught in the southwestern heat, averaging slightly more than two in their losses.
After falling in two of their first three games, the College punished Dickinson College with a 15-8 win, led by senior short stop Jeff Toth's 5-5 performance with five runs scored and two batted in, coupled with junior infielder Ryan Anzelone's five RBIs. Freshman catcher Mike Galeotafiore also gained a blue-and -gold memory, connecting for the first Lions four-bagger this season.
"Having the first homerun seems cool, but I'm pretty sure it messed with my swing. It's an honor to have but all I really care about is winning," Galeotafiore said. "Whatever it takes to win I will do, and I know our team feels the same way."
The Lions were 2-2 and prepared to ride their latest swing of momentum through the rest of the trip but their freshest ally, their offensive surge, became their enemy. The Lions' bats fell cold and solid pitching by senior Dan Ramos-Dominko was wasted as they dropped their next two games against Wheaton College (MA), 3-5 and 0-6.
"In Arizona we have hit some tough patches thus far losing some hard fought games to good teams," junior outfielder Chris Esperon said. "But our team is tough and will definitely bounce back and play to the level we all know we can compete at."
Esperon and the Lions rebounded in a big way as the bats exploded against Wheaton College (Ill.) for an 18-10 win. Esperon's two-run homerun gave the Lions an 8-7 lead and they did not look back. Toth and senior second baseman Adam Tussey combined to go 8-10 at the plate with nine RBI's versus the Thunder as the College recorded their largest run-total since April 5's 20-0 smashing of New Jersey City University.
The Lions went on to win two of their next three, scoring 11 and 16 runs in their victories, but a sub-par performance would leave a sour taste in the team's mouth. Unable to produce any runs after the second inning, the College was bested by Division II St. Cloud State University 1-8.
"Focus is the most important word I could use to describe our team's success and failure," Galeotafiore said. "When we focus, we achieve the goals we set out for ourselves. It is the lack of focus that we need to improve on in order to be a successful baseball team."
As the Lions progress through the season, veteran leadership will help them gain that focus.
"Being a senior there is definitely more pressure to be a leader on the team, but this is something I have been looking forward to since my freshman year," Ramos-Dominko said. "Luckily we have had great senior leaders in the past and I have been able to learn from them on how to lead a team through the good and bad."
Although the early goings of their season has not gone how they would have liked, the Lions are optimistic about the trip and their season.
"Playing at such a high competition level at the very beginning of our season will in the long run be very advantageous," Surgan said. "Playing good teams and having to play hard from the first pitch to the last in order to win will have nothing but positive effects for us in the long run. Playing at a high level day in and day becomes a necessity and starting our season against good teams helps us accomplish that."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/04/09 12:00pm)
One is a camouflage-clad lyrical sharpshooter, a whirlwind freshly blown in from the windy city. The other is a highly accomplished living legend, raised through hot Atlanta summers, sporting a gray-and-white varsity jacket.
Alone, they are Grammy Award winners, film stars and international celebrities. Together, the electrifying combination of Lupe Fiasco and Ludacris injected the Student Recreation Center crowd Friday with a nearly lethal dose of rap and hip hop, as the poetic powerhouses performed deep into the cool February night.
Although tickets were sold in advance, students began lining up in the drizzle more than an hour before the doors opened at 7 p.m. to see one of the the biggest concerts in school history. Energized by free cans of Red Bull distributed before the show, 2,500 students packed the Student Recreation Center to full capacity, awaiting what would be a stellar performance.
Following the opener, a burst of flashing light erupted from the stage and over the crowd. One by one, Lupe Fiasco's posse came to the stage and the first man of the hour flew from darkness into view and immediately into his opening song, "Instrumental."
The raw energy generated by Fiasco spilled into the crowd as hands stayed up, waving and pulsing to such songs as "Hello Goodbye," "Go Go Gadget" and "Little Weapon."
Following his song "Streets on Fire," Fiasco said he would begin singing songs that were nominated for Grammy Awards.
Crowd participation skyrocketed when "Kick Push" and "Paris Tokyo" were performed but when the opening piano notes of Fiasco's monster hit, "Superstar" began to play, there were few who were not singing along with the superstar.
Fiasco closed the show with his Grammy award-winning "Daydreamin,'" leaving the student body excited and ready for the next act.
Not long after Fiasco concluded, the Rec Center was set for Christopher Bridges, a.k.a. Ludacris, to ascend the stage.
With the help of his DJ, he prompted the crowd to scream as loudly as their larynxes would allow before he came out.
Once decibel levels reached their maximum height, Ludacris arrived onstage and kicked off his set with "Southern Fried Intro/Blow it Out."
Ludacris then proceeded to make everyone in the crowd raise their middle fingers and shout "Fuck you Luda" at him for making them wait, which led into the song, "Everybody Hates Chris."
Ludacris performed the majority of his biggest hits throughout the night, including "Get Back," "Stand Up," "Move Bitch," "One More Drink" and "Pimpin' All Over the World."
The clear highlight of Ludacris' set was his performance of "What's Your Fantasy."
During the song, Shawna, the original female voice on the track, came out to perform as well, and following the end of "What's Your Fantasy," Luda handed her his microphone.
Shawna then went into a rap of her own, alternating back and forth quickly between the microphones for an impressive performance.
Ludacris finished his set with the well-known "Money Maker," and although the crowd screamed for several minutes for an encore, he did not return to the stage.
Attic, a rhythm and blues band comprised solely of students from the College, opened the show with Stevie Wonder's classic, "Superstitious." Attic covered several other songs and played two originals.
Senior biology major and vocalist Mina Greiss described the originals as "a blend of classical themes mixed with modern styles."
The crowd was receptive, energetic and excited for the openers, singing along to the songs they already knew, and listening intently to the ones they did not.
"I thought it went well. We put a lot of hard work into this and were really nervous at first, but when we got on stage, we let loose and everything just fell through," senior biology major Jeremy Bernardo said.
"We put our best effort into it and we got the best thing out of it," Greiss said. "This was the best opportunity I've ever had. I think they all loved it and I hope they want to see us again."
For only $15, students were able to see two huge artists, each with their own original style and engaging music perform on their campus - a massive bargain.
College Union Board (CUB) director, senior Katerina Gkionis said, "This was the smoothest and best-run concert that we have ever had. I feel that Attic, Lupe Fiasco and Ludacris all had great energy and really got the crowd pumped up."
Gkionis also said, "I think students will recognize this as the concert that put (the College) on the map. This definitely made students proud of their school. This is only the beginning of the events that CUB hopes to plan in the years to come."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/25/09 5:00pm)
Spring has sprung for Lions' tennis. The women's team opened their warm-weather schedule on Sunday as they hosted Muhlenberg College in their indoor tennis complex. The No. 17 Lions handed the Mules a decisive loss, disposing of them by a final score of 8-1.
"Going into it, we knew Muhlenberg was a strong team and didn't take them for granted," junior Jackie Shtemberg said. "We showed an excellent performance, and I think it really gave the whole team a big boost."
Shtemberg, an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Champion last year and ITA All-American, competed for the first time on Sunday since she returned to the College after studying abroad for the duration of the fall semester. Quickly shaking off the rust, Shtemberg handily defeated her opponent in first singles (6-1, 6-4) and won again in doubles, pairing up with freshman Felice Trinh for an 8-2 victory. Shtemberg currently sports an impressive career record of 98-27 at the College, just a few slices and drop shots away from her triple-digit milestone.
"I really did miss it while abroad, and it feels really good to be back with my team and competing and trying to keep everyone pumped up," Shtemberg said, commenting on her return. "It was hard at first getting my rhythm and strokes back, but I think they are slowly coming back."
The rest of the squad followed suit as Trinh, junior Stefanie Haar, freshman Christie Pollin and seniors Haley Kutner and Lindsay Katzel all won their singles matches in straight sets. In doubles action, Pollin, an ITA Nationals participant in the fall, teamed up with junior Tamra Wroblesky to claim an 8-3 win. The lone blunder for the women's team on the day was Haar and Kutner's 9-7 loss in the third and final doubles match to spoil the perfect victory.
"(The women's team) played tremendously," head coach Scott Dicheck said. "They showed a lot of positive energy before and during the match. They are clearly excited for the season."
The men's team did not fare as well, however, as they were outmatched at the Salisbury Invitational. The Lions squared off against host Salisbury University as well as Averett University during the two-day event which featured flighted singles and doubles play.
The Lions opened play on Saturday with round-robin style singles matches, and most were defeated by both the Seagulls and Cougars. A shining light for the men in blue and gold was freshman Dan Lee, who won both of his matches on the day.
"I think what gave me an edge is that I never give up, I never back down," Lee said. "I think it frustrates my opponents because I'll never just give away a match. As a freshman, there isn't much pressure, so I'm just out there competing my hardest."
Lee also had success on the second and final day of the invitational, joining forces with fellow rookie Bill Carrig to win twice more in the round robin doubles competition before falling in the final round of the contest. Also showing promise in the first event of the spring season were sophomore Jonathan Yu and freshman Steve Fernandez who went 3-0 during doubles.
Although they got off to a somewhat rocky start, Lee is still confident in days to come.
"(The invitational) gave us a feel for the competition and got us more mentally prepared for the upcoming season," Lee said. "The weekend tested our limits physically and mentally and has brought our team closer on the court and off."
Next on the agenda for the men's team is another away match in the Big Apple as the Lions will take on the Violets of New York University. The men will meet the women for what will be their first match since Muhlenberg, as both teams will square off against host Skidmore College.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/25/09 5:00pm)
The cornfields are calling.
Following stellar performances at Sunday's Metropolitan Conference Championships, the College will be sending five grapplers to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the NCAA Division III Championships in two weeks.
The Lions crowned three individual Metropolitan champions on Sunday, and two others competed in the final match in their respective weight classes to earn bids to the big show at U.S. Cellular Center.
With a 7-3 victory over York College's senior John Niedrich, senior Dan DiColo was the first champion of the day for the Lions at 157 pounds.
Sophomore Justin Bonitatis, currently the No. 5 nationally-ranked grappler in Division III, followed DiColo with a pinfall in 2:15 in the 165 pound weight class to give the Lions their second Metropolitan champion.
The third and final individual champion came in the form of freshman Scott Kelley at 184 pounds as he shut out Wilkes University's freshman William "Buddy" Grouger, 4-0.
Head coach David Icenhower was impressed with his athletes. "They brought their 'A' game and their conditioning was good as well. They kept pushing the pace," he said.
Joining DiColo, Bonitatis and Kelley will be senior Tyler Branham and sophomore Ed Broderick, who each finished second in their weight classes. Branham was bested by Wilkes' senior Eric Smith in the final, 4-1 at 149 pounds, while Broderick fell to top-seeded Wilkes junior Zach Pizarro, 5-2 at 197 pounds.
"I feel fortunate to have earned a spot to nationals, but I wasn't overly pleased with my performance," Branham said. "Luckily I can put the Conference tournament behind me, and concentrate on the biggest tournament of the season."
Lions senior Greg Osgoodby had a strong showing on the day, finishing fourth overall at 174 pounds, and heavyweight sophomore Adam Koziol claimed third place in the 285 pound weight class, pinning his opponent in 2:48 in the consolation bracket.
Although strong individual performances were the theme of the tournament for the College, the day was somewhat bittersweet, as they were unable to defend their Metropolitan title. After standing atop the podium for the previous two years, the Lions finished second with a team score of 86.5, unable to match Wilkes' score of 98.
"We went there to win and it was disappointing when we didn't win," Icenhower said. "A couple of guys didn't have their best days and we could have wrestled better."
Icenhower said he was especially impressed with Bonitatis who had recently come back from surgery to repair an injured meniscus to win his weight class. The Lions' coach was also pleased that the No. 7 seeded Koziol was able to finish third.
The College's coaching staff will now focus on their five potential champions and prepare them for the national stage which will take place on March 6.
"We are going to focus on individual work and coach them as individuals opposed to how we would as a team. We are going to focus on the things they are good at," Icenhower said.
DiColo added, "Physically, we have to continue to do what we have been doing all year and just work on perfecting as much as we can. Since there are only five of us going to Nationals, we will all be able to work individually with coaches every day. As we work hard physically, the mentality of doing well in Iowa will come naturally."
According to Branham, "All of our coaches reminded us before the tournament that we have put in so much hard work this year, more than other teams throughout the country. This is the time of year to make it all pay off."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/18/09 5:00pm)
He knows everyone. Every name that I could possibly throw at him. High school wrestlers with whom I graduated, some I had known, some I had not. Coaches I had interviewed before. Coaches I had not even spoken to but knew were associated with my high school wrestling program. Past Jackson Jaguar athletes whose names I only recalled due to the fact that they were brazenly printed atop my high school gymnasium's list of divisional, regional and state champions.
He knew them all and he knew more about them than I. He knew where my classmates were wrestling, what they were ranked nationally, where grapplers of old were coaching and how they were doing.
Humbled by the immense amount of knowledge that this man possesses, I sat in the award-laden office and listened while David Icenhower leaned back in his armchair and reflected on a career by which even he is taken aback. It became quite obvious to me that this legend, whose history in the sport has spanned more than twice my lifetime, has been the primary gear in the winning machine that is the College wrestling program for years.
After 33 years of coaching at the College, "Ice" has amassed five NCAA Division III national championships ('79, '81, '83, '84, '87), two NCAA Division III Coach of the Year awards ('79, '87), 122 All-Americans, a Division I national champ (Tom Martucci, '81), and is now on the cusp of possibly his greatest personal milestone. With a 54-0 win over University of Scranton last week, Icenhower is only one dual-meet win away from the nearly impossible achievement of 500 career wins - a feat only surpassed by three other coaches in Division III history.
This feat will have to wait until next season, however, as the Lions have completed their dual meet schedule and are looking ahead toward the Metropolitan Conference Championships on Feb. 22, a tournament where Ice and his blue and gold grapplers are two-time defending champions. They will then prepare for a trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to compete in the NCAA Division III National Championships on March 6.
"This year, we had a very strong dual-meet team," Icenhower said, discussing his most recent squad of Lions wrestlers. "We don't have a sure All-American, but we can have three or four, and that is our goal along with being a top-10 team."
That feat is within reach as the Lions have finished in the top 25 in each of Icenhower's seasons as coach and have finished in the top five 19 times. The College is currently ranked 17th nationally and finished the 2008-2009 season with a record of 16-1-1. The highlight of the season for the College's finest was, ironically, another impressive milestone. With a 24-12 win over Roger Williams College on Jan. 31, Ice and his team won their 600th dual meet in program history.
"To be part of a team that has 600 career wins is amazing," senior and former All-American Greg Osgoodby said. "To win 600 matches speaks volumes about the coaches and the student athletes (who) take pride in the continued from page 32
College's wrestling tradition and it is a honor to be part of that tradition."
Although matters at hand are on Icenhower's mind at the moment, he discusses the significance of what will be his newest landmark achievement.
"It means you lasted which a lot of people didn't do," he said. "Obviously you had to have good teams and good success because there's people that have coached as long as I have that haven't come close to this. To me winning 500 right now isn't that big of a deal. It's something I'll appreciate more when I retire."
Beyond the mats, the 1971 Lehigh University graduate is conscious of how his athletes receive him as a coach and a person. "Hopefully they perceive me as pretty fair and pretty easy to listen to," he said. "At the beginning of the year I explain to them you are not always going to like what I say or what I do but you are going to understand why I did it. They know that everything we do is to try to make them better."
Icenhower describes his coaching style as fair, intense and competitive, and at least one wrestler tends to agree. "Ice creates a close team environment which makes it an enjoyable season," freshman Scott Kelley said. "Besides various wrestling techniques, he has taught me to believe more in my own abilities. He cares about us more as people than just wrestlers."
Sophomore Dan Hughes said, "Coach Ice has made me better by pushing me to new levels to succeed. Having him in my corner is a big confidence booster on the mat. The reason he's a great coach," he added, "is because he doesn't just make us better wrestlers, he makes us better people. He really cares about us and that's why we work so hard for him."
Even though the thrill of winning is addicting, Icehower looks ahead several years to his retirement. "The College has been very good to me and very loyal to me," he said. "Once I got into the service and coached, I knew that's what I wanted to do. I want to be remembered that I was fair to my colleagues and gave back to the school as much as it gave to me and that we created a legacy here and a program that stands for excellence."
Wrestling has been in coach Ice's blood since his high school years. This self-proclaimed "funk and junk" wrestler (he wrestled at 134 pounds for Lehigh) made it clear that the sport is intertwined with every aspect of his life.
"My financial planner wrestled for me, my car salesman wrestled with me, my insurance broker wrestled for me, even the guy that did the carpet in my house wrestled for me," he said. "Wrestling is such an integral part of my life and my family's life."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/11/09 5:00pm)
When the College's latest opponent helplessly forfeited their first match of the day, they had the right idea.
The unchallenged Lions spearheaded a coup d'état against the Royals of the University of Scranton, using brute strength and superior finesse to control each weight class. The College gained its final victory of the season with ease as they shut out Scranton by a score of 54-0 on Saturday, their second win on the day.
Although a flawless victory such as this would give many lesser teams a large boost, the 16-1-1 Lions find that obliterating a minor opponent is less than satisfying.
"They are in our conference and it's a match we had to wrestle but it's not the most enjoyable thing in the world," head coach David Icenhower said.
Due to the fact that this was the College's final regular-season dual meet, Icenhower will remain stranded at 499 wins, just short of 500. The milestone which only three other Division III coaches have acheived will have to wait until next season.
"As great as it would of been to be part of winning 500 this year while I was still on the team, I still know that my team and I helped contribute to this great milestone," senior Greg Osgoodby said. "It has been an honor to wrestle for coach Ice for all four years."
Following Scranton's forfeit at 125 pounds, the Lions physical dominance began to manifest itself in sophomore Dan Hughes, who took the win via technical fall at 133 pounds with a score of 20-4. It only got worse for the Royals when Lions junior Tyler Branham pinned his opponent in 0:23 at 149 pounds.
The final five matches for the College were equally dominant as the Lions showed no signs of mercy against their unranked foe. Stellar seniors John Dinan and Osgoodby recorded back-to-back technical falls at the 165 and 174 pound weight classes while freshman Scott Kelley as well as sophomores Adam Koziol and Ed Broderick each pinned their adversaries to seal the deal for the Lions.
Earlier in the day, the College bested Oswego State University 29-10 on the strength of six consecutive victories. The No. 18 Lions were challenged early by the Lakers, as junior Danny Franke and senior Bill Tenpenny both fell and the squad dropped two of their first three matches.
Branham boosted the team with a 7-3 victory and like clockwork, five more wins followed. Sophomore Joe Falco scored a 12-4 major decision win at 157 pounds for the Lions and junior Justin Bonitatis followed suit with 16-5 major decision victory at 165 pounds. Osgoodby, Kelley and Dinan each earned victories to secure the win for the Lions.
The College had five dual winners on the day - Falco, Branham, Osgoodby, Kelley and Dinan - but now all eyes of the blue and gold grapplers turn to the Metropolitan Championships which will be held on Feb. 22 in York, Pa.
To prepare for this team tournament, the Lions will begin two-a-day practices on Tuesday following their two-day layoff after Saturday's matches. "We will then go real hard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Icenhower said.
Beyond the prestige of winning a conference tournament, the Mets have significantly strong undertones for the Lions and all other teams involved as they decide who will be representing their schools in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the NCAA Division III Championships beginning on Mar. 6.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/04/09 5:00pm)
Following their 600th victory coupled with a pair of ranked wins, the College's wrestling team is riding high on its way to the postseason.
"To be part of a team that has 600 career wins is amazing," senior Greg Osgoodby said. "To win 600 matches speaks volumes about the coaches and the student athletes that take pride in TCNJ Wrestling tradition and it is a honor to be part of that tradition."
The Lions would reach this milestone in their second match of the New England/Metropolitan Conference Duals hosted by Hunter College on Saturday.
Squaring off against unranked Roger Williams University, the No. 18 Lions left little doubt on the mats that they were the superior squad as they ravaged the Hawks, 31-9. After junior Danny Franke fell 9-7 at 125 pounds to begin the match, the Lions rebounded by rattling off eight consecutive victories to devastate the RWU sideline.
During this rout, the College recorded two pin falls, courtesy of sophomore Justin Bonitatis at 165 pounds (2:15) and freshman Scott Kelley at 184 pounds (0:44). Other wins for the Lions included senior Bill Tenpenny at 141 pounds (9-2), sophomore John Barnett at 149 pounds (6-0) and Osgoodby at 174 pounds (6-0).
Freshman Kyle Falzone fell in the final battle of the match by a score of 11-8 at 285 pounds, but the College had made their mark in history a decisive one.
Prior to their milestone victory, the Lions were on the mats earlier on Saturday matching up against a considerably tougher opponent. No. 26-ranked Williams College gave them an obvious challenge, but the College's grapplers persevered and stole the victory from the Ephs 24-12.
"The team performed well this weekend at the duals," senior Tyler Branham said. "It is always nice to knock off another ranked team such as Williams, and it is more impressive that we did so with some guys out of the lineup."
After the first five of 10 matches, the Lions had fallen behind, but a three-match surge completed by Bonitatis, Osgoodby and Kelley gave them the lead as they each went undefeated on the day. A heavyweight pinfall victory by sophomore Ed Broderick at 2:35 sealed the win for the Lions as they looked ahead to another ranked match on the following day.
The College's Packer Hall was the site of the Lions' third match in two days as they celebrated Senior Day with an impressive win over visiting No. 27-ranked Springfield College.
The Lions handed their opponents an embarrassing loss as they tore into the Pride for a 47-6 victory and improved their record to 14-1-1. The College finishes their home schedule with a flawless 4-0 record and is now 7-1-1 against ranked opponents.
On this day, seniors Jon Biango, John Dinan and co-captain Dan DiColo were honored while Osgoodby and Branham fought to display why they were being recognized as well. In proper fashion, each of the two seniors won, Osgoodby by a technical fall at 5:13 (17-1) and Branham by pin fall at 3:24. Younger Lions followed suit as they took every weight class, excluding heavyweight.
As the Lions continue to impress critics and reach milestones, another moment is approaching for the men in blue and gold. It is not an award or accolade for the team, as it is an achievement for their leader, head coach David Icenhower. Icenhower now has a career record of 497-78-4 at the College and is only three wins away from the prolific accomplishment of 500, a feat only achieved by two other coaches at the Division III level.
"I am proud for the program and proud for the school," Icenhower said regarding the upcoming landmark. "It says that we had a lot of success and done things right for a long time."
The Lions will attempt to give their coach two of those wins as they travel to the University of Scranton on Saturday to take on their hosts as well as Oswego State University.
Beyond their upcoming matches, the Lions are looking ahead toward their postseason schedule. Following a two-week matchless streak after the upcoming Scranton contest, the College will return to York, Pa., for the Metropolitan Championships held on Feb. 22.
After the Mets, another two weeks will pass before the Lions will send the finest to wrestle at the NCAA Divison III Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, beginning March 6.
"We are moving into individual tournaments," Icenhower said. "We are concentraing on getting individual champions and All-Americans."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(01/28/09 5:00pm)
With only a handful of matches remaining, the College's wrestlers are hitting their stride at the right time, adding another decisive victory to their already impressive record. Winning their final seven weight classes, the Lions silenced the Cyclones of Centenary College by a score of 34-7, dropping their in-state opponent to a record of 9-4. After their fourth consecutive victory, the Lions ascend to 11-1 and are ranked 18th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll.
After junior Danny Franke's win by forfeit at 125 pounds, the Cyclones tied the match at one with a major decision victory at 133 pounds and pulled ahead as the College's senior captain Bill Tenpenny fell to Centenary's Dave Alsieux at 141 pounds. The junior took the win in overtime by a score of 6-4.
Trailing in the match, fire swelled in the eyes of the Lions and they began to take charge of their home mats, refusing to surrender another victory. Sophomore John Barnett recorded a 3-1 overtime win at 149 pounds to put the College back in the driver's seat, and they remained there for the duration of the contest.
"I feel like I wrestled decent against Centenary," Barnett said. "My conditioning felt great, and I felt like I got my opponent pretty tired towards the end of the match, which helped me out in overtime."
Following Barnett's performance, the points began to pile up as junior co-captain Tyler Branham posted another solid win for the Lions at 157 pounds, taking down his opponent for the 10-5 victory. Lions' sophomore Justin Bonitatis claimed another win for the team, scoring a 13-4 major decision at 165 pounds.
"I wrestled a strong first period, scoring four takedowns," Bonitatis said. "My match slowed a little into the third period, but I am looking forward to getting back after it this Tuesday."
The College continued to overpower Centenary as senior Greg Osgoodby scored a 17-1 technical fall in 4:59 in the 174 pounds weight class. Freshmen Scott Kelley (12-6), Ed Broderick (fall, 1:12) concluded the trouncing of the Cyclones were 1:12), and Kyle Falzone (12-4). The College will be tested by nationally-ranked grapplers this week when the Lions will travel across the Delaware River to face No. 19 ranked Wilkes University.
"(Centenary) was good preparation for Wilkes in the respect that we wrestled really well," Barnett said. "We are going to have to bring the same intensity in order to make a statement on them."
Osgoodby said, "To beat a good team like Centenary that way is always a confidence booster. Now we just need to carry the intensity we had against Centenary into our match vs. Wilkes."
Beyond their next ranked dual-meet, the Lions have even steeper hills to climb as they begin to prepare for the Metropolitan Championships at York College on Feb. 22. "METS being a month away really excites our team," Bonitatis said. "It is what we look forward to and the reason we train as hard as we do all year. We need to turn it up and starting getting hungry for victory."
"The team has begun to prepare for the postseason by pushing one another as hard as we can in the room every single day," Barnett added. "We know that if we take days off from working as hard as we can, it will affect us all in the long run. Also, there is not much of the season left so this is the time when we have to make a name for ourselves."
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.