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(01/21/09 5:00pm)
After two road victories this past weekend, the College's wrestling team has shown poise against yet another ranked opponent. The 18th-ranked Lions took on the 28th-ranked Spartans of the hosting York College on Saturday and narrowly bested them 18-17.
This victory was one of several strong performances for the Lions against the nation's elite as they are now 5-1 against ranked opponents on the season. This 10th win for the College marks their 23rd double-digit win total in school history.
Winners for the Lions in this hard-fought battle included senior Bill Tenpenny at 141 pounds (9-2), co-captain junior Tyler Branham at 149 pounds (9-3), junior co-captain Dan DiColo at 157 pounds (10-4) and sophomore Justin Bonitatis at 165 pounds (fall, 2:50).
"I was happy with our team's and my personal performances at the York matches," Tenpenny said. "There's always room for improvement, but I think we wrestled pretty tough overall."
The final winner, which sealed the match for the College, was a 9-3 victory by sophomore Ed Broderick.
Since their loss against University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Jan. 10th, a fire has been lit underneath the College's grapplers as they have won each of their last three matches.
Commenting on this surge, Bonitatis said, "At the end of the match we lost on the final score, but accomplished some good things in every individual match."
Along with their strong showing against York, the Lions also faced off against Elizabethtown and won decisively, downing the Blue Jays 25-15. Taking seven of nine matches, the College had several players go 2-0 on the day, winning against both York and Elizabethtown. These double winners included Tenpenny, DiColo, Bonatatis and Broderick. Other Lions who wrestled for a win were senior co-captain Greg Osgoodby at 174 pounds (13-3), sophomore John Barnett at 149 pounds (8-2) and freshman Scott Kelley at 184 (3-2).
The Lions will try to capitalize at home as they host Centenary College on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. in Packer Hall.
Discussing the team's status going into this dual meet, Bonatatis said, "As a team we are in great shape, due to the work ethic that our coaches demand from us. We are capable of being a top 5 team in the country and that is the goal we are after."
(12/03/08 5:00pm)
After their latest showings against Division I and II schools, the men's and women's swimming teams may be feeling like big fish in a small pond. Each team participated in the Bucknell University Invitational, a two-day event which began on Nov. 22 and pitted the Division III Lions against four Division I foes in the men's meet, and five opponents in the women's.
"We turned a lot of heads," head coach Brian Bishop said, regarding the men's teams' fourth-place finish. The Lions finished the tournament with an overall score of 599 to overtake Towson University, but were not able to overcome host Bucknell, Binghamton or LaSalle Universities.
In the men's meet, the top performance for the Lions was rookie Mike Vernoia who set two new College records on the night. Vernoia set new standards as he won the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events, finishing in 1:40.68 and 4:32.40, respectively.
"I am really trying to work on my under-waters coming off my flip turns without taking a breath," Vernoia said. "For this weekend, our invitational, we are going to be very sore and tired from a long week of practicing, but I have a lot of confidence that we'll still swim fast."
The College also took first in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:06.98. Contributors to the winning time were freshman Ryan Clark, Vernoia, senior Thomas Nawrot and sophomore Shawn Kircher. Junior Myles O'Connor also took first in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke, finishing the 100-yard in 56.68 and the 200 in 2:05.28. In women's action, the College was not able to overtake its adversaries as they finished sixth in the meet. Besides gaining valuable experience for more difficult future meets, the Lions had a bright light in freshman Leah Varvaro. The rookie swimmer tied the school record for the 100 backstroke (1:00.01), finishing seventh in the event.
Also with an impressive performance for the Lions was freshman Traci Hofer who finished third in the 50 freestyle and posted a NCAA Division III provisional time of 24.09.
"Against Bloomsburg, I thought we did great. We came together as a team and performed well," Hofer said.
Earlier in the week, both squads took on Division II Bloomsburg University and sent the Huskies scurrying with their tails between their legs. On Friday, Nov. 21, the men's team defeated Bloomsburg 121.5-82.5 improving their record to 6-0, while the women's team also took home a victory, besting their opponents 112-93.
In men's action, the Lions opened the meet with a win in the 400-yard medley relay as senior tri-captains Mike Heaney and Ted Yoa as well as sophomore Aaron Moskovich and freshman Jesse Taylor posted a time of 3:40.79 for the early victory.
In individual events, sophomore Tom Medvecky took first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.02), Nawrot came in first in the 50 freestyle (22.11) and freshman Ryan Clark added a win in the 200-yard individual medley (1:59.82). To continue the Lions' winning trend, Vernoia won the 200-yard butterfly in 2:00.90 and junior Eric Rohrs was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:02.60.
The women's team also performed at an impressive level to defeat an opponent that typically comes down to the final relay event, according to women's head coach Jennifer Harnett. The women's team improved their record to 6-1 on this day as Hofer added to her remarkable weekend with three first-place finishes for the Lions.
Hofer finished first in both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events (25.17, 54.66) and also contributed to the College's winning 400 freestyle relay team. Other Lion swimmers involved in the relay event were freshman Melissa Hessler, Varvaro and sophomore Margaret Molloy, who helped post a time of 3:43.22.
Molloy also finished the 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:53.85 for the win while fellow sophomore Katie Morgan was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke as she finished in 1:09.47. To continue the winning trend, Varvaro won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:01.31. Senior Stefanie Rashti was a winner in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:17.04.
Both squads are currently looking ahead to the Lions' Invitational this weekend. The three-day dual tournament against Springfield University will assist in preparation for the College as they train for more difficult meets in the future.
"We are preparing for it like any other meet," Hofer said. "We're training hard in practice and focusing on doing well at the meet."
(12/03/08 12:00pm)
The feelings of a child are universal and do not suffer lingual barriers. An audience equipped with various levels of Spanish-speaking ability looked on, beginning to understand this concept as Marimar Huguet-Jerez, assistant professor of Spanish, and her dedicated students evoked their inner children.
Their performance, titled "Criaturas" or "children," discussed not only the hopes, dreams and fears of children, but also the issue of growing up and becoming an adult.
Held in the Don Evans Black Box Theatre on Wednesday Nov. 19, the presentation was performed by Huguet-Jerez's "Masterpieces of Spanish Theater" class, a senior capstone for Spanish majors.
Although the performers volunteered, all students in the class needed to participate in some way to gain credit, whether it be ushering, designing music or making brochures.
Students prepared for the production for the duration of the fall semester, reading Spanish plays and learning different styles and techniques.
"The students just loved the experience," Huguet-Jerez said. "They saw much more closely the fact that a play is written for being performed, not just read. Some have realized they had a hidden talent for acting and might try other acting venues."
Huguet-Jerez's students felt they benefited from the performance and were able to display their efforts. "The play not only helped me work on my Spanish pronunciation, but allowed me to show off four years of hard work of acquiring a second language," Brittany Chadziutko, senior Spanish major, said.
"By means of this play, we were able to show the campus community what we had learned, and how hard we've worked on our Spanish fluency," she said.
In addition to personal gains, the performers also felt a sense of accomplishment and were satisfied with the results.
"The overall performance was a huge success," Meghan Mekita, senior Spanish major, said.
"Everything went smoothly on the big day and we had a much bigger turnout than we expected," she said. "It was also nice to get so many compliments after all of our hard work."
"The fact that they had to perform in Spanish made their experience doubly worthy," Huguet-Jerez said.
"Their Spanish oral skills were greatly benefited and so was their confidence in the language," she added.
Beyond the typical benefits of this presentation, the new actresses relished the fact that they were able to bring forth their inner child.
Elizabeth Moody, senior Spanish major, said, "Because this play invokes the child within all of us, I feel I had to learn how to represent that part of me on stage."
She said, "Because its theme is so universal and the language so accessible, it appealed to all audience members - from native Spanish speakers to the beginner Spanish student."
(12/03/08 12:00pm)
Busloads of neighboring Trenton high, middle and elementary school students braved the frosty bus ride to the College on Nov. 19 to be met by the College's Bonner Community Scholars and begin what would be an eye-opening day at the Youth Development Institute (YDI) Program.
The students, who are receiving scholarships for countless hours of community service, organized the Youth Development Institute and acted as guides for the high school students.
Workshops discussing topics from masculinities to racial stereotypes to creative writing were conducted for the Trenton students. The college-style classes were taught by College freshmen as they satisfied their Community Engaged Learning requirement.
Eight Freshman Seminar Program (FSP) classes created the workshops for the 200 inner-city pupils. They felt strongly about their contribution to the community.
"We are trying to lay out the stereotypes and what goes on in the media," Brian Roddy, freshman open options business major, said before his workshop titled "Does race matter?"
"It was a good learning experience for both us and the students. It's important to reach out to them and show that what they think is not the case," Nick Hvasta, freshman criminology major, said after a masculinities workshop dealing with the stigmas attached to traditional gender roles.
"It's a classic win-win situation," Michael Robertson, professor of English, said regarding the YDI program. "The only way to learn something well is to teach it. This program gets students excited about the topic."
The YDI had a dual purpose. Tied with educating students on social issues was the underlying tone that a higher education can be a realistic future for many would-be first generation college freshmen.
"We are taking a step forward in improving the quality of life for students around here," Andrew Amadeo, junior finance major, said.
Patrick Donahue, Director of the Bonner Center, summed up the program, as well as the center, best.
He said, "As a public institution and a neighbor, we are concerned about the education of the next generation and we want to share our resources to help out Trenton colleagues to put the students on the path to success."
(12/03/08 12:00pm)
On a Monday morning in midtown Manhattan, two men - one sporting a New York Giants sweatshirt, the other a New York Jets cap - meet at a sidewalk newsstand to buy the New York Post. They notice each others' rival sports apparel and begin a friendly conversation while waiting in line to pay for their periodicals.
Giants Fan: "Ay yo buddy, did you catch the Giants game last night?"
Jets Fan: "Nope, was having lasagna at my ma's house. They won, right?"
Giants Fan: "Yup, they're goin' all the way again this year."
Jets Fan: "Are you kiddin' me? They ain't got a shot. The Jets got the better team this year."
Giants Fan: "Psh, who loses four games? Their D-line sucks anyway."
Jets Fan: "They could stop that big lug you's got runnin' the ball! Just throw a doughnut over his head and he'll go an' chase it. The Giants can barely throw the ball. Without that Plaxico guy, they ain't got nothing."
Giants Fan: "Listen to dis guy! The G-Men won the Super Bowl last year and you're talkin' about team gangrene having a better year? Go get your own stadium and bow to the champs, ya idiot."
Jets Fan: Expletives omitted.
Giants Fan: "Oh yea? Well I bet ya motha's tomata sauce tastes like ketchup and her lasagna tastes like Chef Boyardee!"
Jets Fan: "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?"
Giants Fan: "Did I stutta?"
A fight ensues.
Although the spilled blood of Giants and Jets fans is not something to cheer about, it is a prime example of how the fabric of New York football fandom is beginning to change. For the first time since generation iPod started watching football, both the Jets and Giants have a legitimate chance to make it to the Super Bowl and, as exemplified above, fans have plausible reasons to argue about which New York team that plays in New Jersey is the best.
The argument among Giants aficionados is one of past and present. Still on a high from their upset victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots, Giants fans are harboring the "We did it before and we'll do it again" mentality. This mantra may hold true, as the Giants are easily the top team in the NFC and arguably the best team in the NFL. Their ground attack is stronger than ever with plus-sized halfback Brandon Jacobs running the ball and quarterback Eli Manning looking more poised with each passing week. Their secondary has been stellar and their overall defense has been solid as they are currently ranked fifth in the NFL in total yards and points allowed per game. Big Blue has a great chance of breezing through the playoffs and playing for all the marbles again this year.
The Jets, on the other hand, have become the Rocky Balboas of the NFL by staying hungry, refusing to lose and making a name for themselves. Before this week, they had won five in a row and seven of their last eight games against competitive division rivals. The cornerstone thus far for Gang Green was achieved last week as they dethroned the previously undefeated Tennessee Titans in decisive fashion to prove the Jets may be the team to beat in the AFC.
The shot of life Mesozoic artifact Brett Favre has injected into the Jets' offense has given them a spark, and an improved running game has the team feeling momentum going in their favor as they progress through the meat of the season.
When talking about New York football, a mention of the hickory-smoked cousins up near Canada-Land is necessary. The Buffalo Bills had their chance as they started the season 5-0 but blew it just like the wind coming off Lake Ontario. Another mediocre season is in order.
Within two months, all New York football fans will know if their adversaries will be challenging their 55 favorite men they have never met in Tampa this February, and if it so happens that there is a Blue vs. Green Super Bowl, here is a question: What color will they light the Empire State Building?
(11/19/08 5:00pm)
Junior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke recorded two shutout victories for the College this weekend, as the Lions kept their national championship hopes alive. Clarke had six saves in the College's 1-0 double-overtime win over Moravian College and added eight more saves in the 3-0 victory over Western Connecticut State University. Clarke now has eight shutouts on the season.
(11/12/08 5:00pm)
A successful showing in a dual-meet weekend has the College's men's and women's swimming teams prepared for the remainder of the season. The teams traveled to Franklin & Marshall College on Saturday, with each team taking home a win, improving their undefeated records to 4-0. The men's team, led by sophomore Joe Tseng's two individual wins, defeated the Diplomats 121-81, dropping their record to 0-2.
Tseng took first in the 1,000-yard freestyle, finishing in 10:33.15, and in the 100-yard backstroke, where he finished in 54.60. Tseng also took part in the first place 200-yard medley relay team, which included senior Ted Yoa, sophomore Tom Medvecky and freshman Mike Vernoia. The team finished the event in 1:38.71 to open the meet. Medvecky also finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.47), while freshman Jesse Taylor placed second in the event (1:50.87).
Rookie Ryan Clarke finished the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.10 for the first-place finish, and sophomore Shawn Kircher took first in the 50-yard freestyle (22.27) to keep the Lions rolling through the meet. Other highlights included wins by junior Eric Rohrs in the 500-yard freestyle (5:13.72) and senior Tom Nawrot in the 100-yard backstroke (48.34). To seal the victory, the Lions' 200-yard freestyle relay team, consisting of Clarke, Kircher, Medvecky and Nawrot, scored a win, finishing the event in 1:27.38.
The women's team was equally dominant on Saturday, besting Franklin & Marshall by a score of 124.5-80.5, dropping them to 0-2 as well. The Lions began the meet with a 200 medley relay win as the team of freshmen Leah Varvaro, Laura Pierce, Traci Hofer and sophomore Katie Morgan finished in 1:51.96. Morgan finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke as well, completing the event in 1:09.16.
Continuing the winning trend, Hofer took first in the 50-yard freestyle (25.29) and the 100-yard freestyle (56.14). Capturing first, senior Stefanie Rashti completed the 200 freestyle in 2:02.13. Junior Brittany Collyer also finished first in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.78. The Lions finished the meet on top, taking first in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a team comprising junior Ashley Robb, Collyer, Pierce and Varvaro.
Sunday, the men's and women's teams traveled to New Haven, Conn., to take on Division II opponent Southern Connecticut State University. In the men's meet, the Lions clipped the wings of the Owls, defeating them 162-120. Medvecky and junior Myles O'Connor each won two events to lead the College to its fifth win of the season. Medvecky took first in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events (52.43, 1:56.99), while O'Connor bested the competition in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke (57.82, 2:10.54).
Other highlights from the men's meet included a 1,000-yard freestyle victory by sophomore Tim Rauch, who won the event in 10:07.19, and a 3-meter diving event win by freshman TJ Burns, who scored 212.15 in the victory.
"I think the one thing that is driving everyone is the opportunity to become better than we were last year," Medvecky said. "We placed seventh at NCAA's and that got everyone excited. This year we know we are capable of much more."
When asked how the swimmers relate to each other around this time in the season, coach Brian Bishop said, "It's like a domino effect, when one guy steps up and the rest follow."
In a close meet, the women's team suffered their first loss of the season, falling to the D-II Owls, 156-142, dropping to 4-1 on the season. Freshman Traci Hofer recorded three wins for the College, despite the loss. Hofer finished first in the 100 freestyle in 54.64 and was also part of winning 200 and 400 freestyle medley teams for the Lions. Also on the 200 medley team were Varvaro, Morgan and Pierce, while the 400-yard medley team comprising Pierce, Varvaro and freshman Melissa Hessler. Pierce also took first in the 50 freestyle event, finishing in 25.13.
"It is very physically and mentally challenging to swim two big meets back-to-back," Delahanty said. "But I am so proud of each and every one of the girls."
Next up for the Lions is a trip to Bloomsburg University on Nov. 21.
(11/12/08 12:00pm)
Junior defensive back Justin Beres intercepted three passes against Western Connecticut State University to lead the Lions to a 30-20 victory on Saturday. Each of Beres' interceptions came in the first half off three consecutive Colonial possessions. The College is now 4-5, and Beres' play will be key in the Lions' upcoming rivalry game against Rowan University this weekend.
(11/06/08 5:00pm)
Senior cross country runner Chris Guerriero won his third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship this weekend, finishing the 8-kilometer race in 24:39.87. Guerriero is only the third runner in the 48-year history of the NJAC to win at least three conference championships. He also led the Lions to their 15th consecutive NJAC championship and 20th overall league championship.
(11/06/08 5:00pm)
Dominant victories over Ramapo College this weekend have the Lions' men's and women's swimming teams rolling through the early season. After Saturday's meet, both teams hold an undefeated 3-0 record and a 2-0 mark in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
Winning easily by a final score of 111-72, two of the men's squad's 200-yard medley relay teams opened the meet with a tie for first place, finishing in 1:39.46. The first winning team included junior Ryan Kearney, sophomore Aaron Moskovich, sophomore Tim Rauch and junior James VanBiervliet. The second team to post the winning time comprised sophomores Shawn Kircher, Tom Medvecky, Joe Tseng and junior Myles O'Connor.
Medvecky also took first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:44.44, while Kircher came up victorious in the 50-yard freestyle, finishing in 22.49. Sophomore Peter Goldsmith won the 1,000-yard freestyle event, completing the race in 10:34.40.
As the meet continued, so did the dominant performances, as senior tri-captain Mike Heaney finished first in the individual medley (2:04.34), O'Connor won the 100-yard butterfly (56.58) and senior Thomas Nawrot took first in the 100-yard freestyle (49.44).
"We have a special group of guys this season and whether we lose a meet or win them all, I know we are going to go through with the rest of the season as hard as we can," Medvecky said.
In women's action, the team took home a convincing 138.5-48.5 victory, over the Ramapo Roadrunners. Lions' sophomore star Margaret Molloy finished first in the 100 freestyle with a time of 55.31 and was also part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team that included freshman Melissa Hessler and seniors Sara Casciano and Stephanie Rashti.
In the 200 medley relay, the College took first as well, winning the event in 1:59.12. The winning foursome comprised senior Stacy Delehanty, sophomore Katie Zavoda, junior Christina Falcone and freshman Laura Pierce.
Other highlights included wins by Zavoda in the 200 freestyle (2:05.56) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.44), junior Ashley Cobb in the 50-yard freestyle (26.12) and freshman Kelsey Herchenrider in the 200-yard individual medley (2:23.34).
"The girls were really confident going into this meet," coach Jennifer Harnett said. "They really went after it placing and time-wise. It was good to race without having to think too much."
Following this trend of success, Hessler was victorious in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 1:02.18, while junior Stephanie Seto won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:06.00. Rounding out the winning ways for the squad was freshman Traci Hofer, who took the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:32.65.
Next up for the Lions is a dual-meet weekend at Franklin and Marshall College and Southern Connecticut State University.
Harnett said, "This weekend will be a great opportunity to get two meet experiences heading towards our championship tournament."
(11/06/08 12:00pm)
As relief pitcher Brad Lidge fell to his knees in awe-inspiring celebration, the city of Philadelphia fell out of a 25-year title slump and into utter joyous hysteria.
Days of bliss and rejoicing have followed, packed with parties, parades, days off from work and perhaps even a playful hint of (legal) substance abuse. For the first time in nearly 30 years, Philadelphia fans can live vicariously through their champion players in the way that normally satisfied New York fans like me have grown comfortably accustomed to.
Phillies supporters can now finally say "We are World Champions" - even though they ended their baseball careers in Little League when they got hit by a pitch, developed a brain-splitting fear of the ball and walked away from the game they loved at the ripe age of 7 and three-quarters.
Upon visiting Philadelphia during the final weekend of their World Series run, I found the city anxiously waiting to erupt into a whirlwind of red (not blood) and white (not paramedic uniforms).
As I entered Philly via Route 676 and sat in a hopeless mess of traffic only the City of Brotherly Love could provide, I set my eyes on the focal point of the city skyline. A well-lit building, easily 25 stories tall, had offices illuminated in such a way that it created the Phillies' "P" on the broad side of the building.
As I ventured farther into the city, flags, homemade banners and the occasional sign in the window only emphasized the idea that Philadelphia was in desperate need of a championship - and no one could really blame them. They had not housed a national champion in one of the four major sports since the 76ers finished first in 1983, the longest drought of any of the top 10 most-populated cities in the United States.
A quarter-century gap of losing as the Phillies became the most unsuccessful franchise in American sports (most losses by one team in history), only added to the celebratory relief felt by every Phillies fan. With the final breaking pitch thrown to Rays' pinch hitter Eric Hinske, elated mobs of fans formed outside the stadium and around Philadelphia as the city rejoiced.
Finally, millions of fans no longer need to place all of their hopes on the arm of Donovan McNabb and the legs of Brian Westbrook. Instead, they can rely on the bats of hometown heroes Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to bring them happiness and contentment.
Finally, Philadelphians have more to boast about than some meat on a bun and a big bell with a crack in it.
(10/29/08 4:00pm)
Sophomore swimmer Tom Medvecky won six events in two meets this weekend to lead the Lions to their first two victories of the season. On Saturday, Medvecky took first in the 400 medley relay, as well as the 500 and 1,000 freestyle events against Montclair State University. Medvecky was also victorious in the 100 butterfly, 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle. Medvecky's performance has the Lions off to a great start.
(10/22/08 4:00pm)
After an undefeated fall season fi lled with convincing victories against NJAC opponents, the College's women's tennis team fell short on the national stage. Lions' tennis stars senior Haley Kutner and freshman Christie Pollin competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Small College Championships this weekend as doubles partners after their victory at the ITA Regional tournament on Sept. 28.
The untouchable duo, who went 12-0 this season and 7-0 in tournament play, were fi nally defeated in the opening round of the tournament, which was held in Mobile, Ala. Kutner and Pollin fell to No. 4-seeded sophomores Elizabeth Lewis and Kelly Fox of Chapman University, 6-1, 6-4.
"After a loss you always go over how you could have approached the match differently," Kutner said. "However, at the end of the day (Pollin) and I were content with how we played. You can't go back and change the outcome, although you might like to."
Pollin and Kutner competed again on Friday in a "super breaker" match but were again unable to overcome defeat at the hands of University of Texas-Tyler's senior Beth Laurius and sophomore Michelle Hagler. The Lion pair fell 5-7, 6-3, (10-7) and then moved on to the 7th-8th place match against Emory University for their final competition of the tournament.
In the match against Emory University, Kutner and Pollin could not produce a victory against Emory's sophomore duo Lorne McManigle and junior Sabra Rogers 6-1, 6-3. After the winless weekend tournament, the duo finished the season 12-3 together.
"As one of the only first time teams in the tournament, we can't complain with how we played and are proud to be part of this select group of teams," Kutner said. "It was a wonderful experience despite the difficult competition."
"This was one of the greatest experiences," Pollin said. "Just being involved in that tournament was a learning experience. I would love to get there again in the future."
Discussing the impact of the tournament, Kutner said, "After the tournament was over, both Christie and I recognized where we need to improve. Furthermore, the tournament was a good indicator of how top teams play.
Although we lost our matches we were pleased to know that we are in the mix with the rest of the teams."
With the fall season complete, the Lions will begin their offseason training to prepare for upcoming matches in the spring.
"During the offseason the entire team will be working together to improve both our fitness and tennis skills," Kutner said.
"As far as my preparation goes, I will definitely be focusing on my serve and my transition from the baseline to the net."
"Training is the key to a successful season," Pollin added.
"It's who can outlast someone or mentally stay with the match that will put them a step above someone else."
The women's season was full of success this fall, but the shortcoming in Alabama will leave the team wanting more in the spring.
(10/22/08 12:00pm)
Sophomore Leigh Mitchell scored a game-winning goal to give the Lions a 2-1 victory over Salisbury University on Saturday. Her score against the ninth-ranked Sea Gulls was her second game-winning goal of the season. Mitchell also netted a goal in the Lions' convincing 6-0 defeat of Ramapo College. Mitchell's play has helped the College achieve a 11-1 record thus far in the season.
(10/08/08 4:00pm)
The College's men's tennis players believe they gained valuable experience at the ITA Regional Tournament in Willingboro, N.J., over the weekend.
This inexperienced squad brought six players to the tournament at Miller Creek Park Tennis Club on Friday, four of those being freshmen. The highlight of the tournament for the Lions was the play of junior Jeremy Eckardt, who was seeded third overall in the singles bracket. Eckardt was defeated in the quarterfinals by freshman Patrick Wittner of New York University, 6-1, 6-1.
Eckardt and sophomore doubles partner Jonathan Yu advanced to the second round of the doubles tournament before falling to Ithaca College's tandem junior Taylor Borda and sophomore Josh Rifkin, 8-3.
"The ITA tournament gave us a foundation our team can build upon," Yu said. "The tournament showed each of us how we were playing currently and what we needed to work on in the offseason."
Freshmen twin brother doubles partners Steve and Stewart Fernandez also advanced to the second round before losing to sophomore Julian Oribe and freshman Michael ?apozzi of Manhattanville, 8-6.
(10/08/08 4:00pm)
For the past 25 years, the College has developed an autumn tradition as consistent and definite as the brisk, cool air and multi-colored leaves falling around campus. The women's tennis team claimed their 26th consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship (NJAC), along with their 126th consecutive in-conference victory with a win over Ramapo College on Sunday.
To conclude their fall 2008 regular season, the Lions shut out the Roadrunners 9-0 to improve their undefeated record to 5-0. With this victory, the Lions' NJAC Championship streak, which dates back to the conference's creation in 1982, is kept alive for another year as the College looks ahead to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Nationals on Oct. 16.
"Since my freshman year, the goal of the fall season has always been to retain our conference title," senior Haley Kutner said. "Each year we begin the season with the intention of building on the success of the year before. We don't take any match lightly and use each to help us with the next match in preparation for the main season's competition and ideally for nationals in the spring."
It has become quite clear that no match is taken lightly by this team, as they defeated Ramapo with ease. Each of the six singles players and all three doubles teams were victorious, but the most dominant performances were put on by junior Stefanie Haar, who defeated junior Kristine Austria 6-1, 6-1, and Kutner, who got the win over freshman Laura Strandberg 6-0, 6-1.
Freshman Emily Petersack also had an impressive showing, defeating senior Liza Wyble 6-1, 6-0. In doubles action, Kutner and freshman Christie Pollin had the most impressive performance of the day as they shut out Roadrunners' juniors Alison Tukel and Wyble 8-0.
What makes the College's shutout of the 9-4 Ramapo squad all the more impressive is this was the team's fourth match in three days. The Lions faced off against William Paterson and Kean University on Saturday, and traveled north to take on Rutgers University-Newark Friday. The College opened its congested schedule with a 9-0 thrashing of the Scarlet Raiders.
Out of the 12 individual singles sets, eight were shutouts, giving the Lions a decisive victory. Pollin, Petersack and senior Lindsay Katzel posted complete 6-0, 6-0, shutouts, while Haar, freshman Felice Trinh and Kutner also had strong victories.
The Lions were overpowering in doubles as well, handing Rutgers-Newark their third NJAC loss of the season. This win was number 100 for Coach Scott Dicheck, who is in his ninth season of service for the College. Dicheck is now 100-30 in dual meets as head coach of the Lions.
"We've had a lot of good players over the years and with their hard work the credit goes to them," Dicheck said.
After a night of much-needed rest, the Lions went back
to work Saturday morning, taking on the Kean University Cougars on their home court. The College earned its second shutout in as many days, taking down the Cougars 9-0. The Lions dropped only two games in 12 sets.
"I have never played so well in my entire tennis career," Pollin said. "College tennis really brings out competitiveness and you find out what kind of player you are by playing teams that have very different styles. You are forced to pull out everything you have."
In their second match of the doubleheader, the College dispatched the Pioneers of William Paterson University 9-0, completing their conference dominance.
Kutner and Katzel posted flawless victories in their singles matches, and the duos of Haar/Trinh and Petersack and junior Tamra Wroblesky were perfect in their doubles matches. Haar's performances in the first singles and second doubles slots have been key to the success of the team all season. Haar finishes her fall 2008 season with an outstanding combined career record of 112-36.
The College's women's tennis team has beaten and shut out each opponent they have faced, and with Pollin and Kutner headed to the ITA Nationals in Mobile, Ala., on Oct. 16, the team has plenty to look forward to.
Pollin and Kutner's ITA doubles regional championship was the standout of the season, but there has not been one blemish, mistake or letdown for the Lions this season.
"Winning doubles and becoming an All-American has definitely been the greatest reward for all of the time and energy I put into tennis over the past years," Kutner said.
Discussing her future, Pollin said, "It was shocking, I had doubts about even making the team, but I really surprised myself. I now look forward to four more years of being with this great group."
(10/08/08 12:00pm)
After suffering an elbow injury in the first scrimmage of the season, senior defenseman and team captain Jackie Gelinas came back into the Lions' lineup this week and scored a pair of goals to lead the College to two victories. Although her return for this season looked doubtful a few weeks ago, Gelinas' resurgence has the Lions ready to continue their winning ways .
(10/01/08 4:00pm)
After trouncing Richard Stockton College, an all-Lion doubles Regional Final has the College's women's tennis team on a roll early in the season. Freshman Christie Pollin and senior Haley Kutner defeated Lion counterparts junior Stefanie Haar and freshman Felice Trinh to win the ITA Northeast Small College doubles championship Sunday.
The tournament, which spanned the weekend, was held at William Smith College in Geneva, N.Y., and featured six Lions competing in singles and doubles events.
In the singles tournament, three Lions made it to the quarterfinals but each fell in the round to end the College's bid to have a repeat singles tournament champion.
Sixth-seeded Haar fell to 15th-seeded Danika Robinson of Skidmore College, 6-0, 6-3. Pollin, a 12th seed, was defeated in the quarterfinals by Lia Wiener of the University of Rochester, 6-1, 6-2. Following suit, the 16th-seeded Trinh came up short in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-4, against Skidmore College's Tori Engros.
Senior Lindsay Katzel won her opening-round match against St. Lawrence University's Mackenzie Hall, 6-2, 6-2, but fell in the second round. Kutner also played well, opening with a 6-1, 6-2 win over RIT's Sarah Paduanon, but losing in the third round to Lindsay Willeford of Brockport College, 6-3, 6-4.
In the doubles tournament, the Lions shined as three of the four semi-finals pairs were from the College. In the semis, Kutner and Pollin defeated teammates rookie Emily Petersack and junior Tamra Wroblesky 8-2 to move on and face Haar and Trinh in the finals.
"Playing teammates is never easy," Kutner said. "In order to stay focused on the match we had to separate our friendship from the competition. I always want to see my teammates play well and succeed, however this time there could only be one winner so it was tough in the end knowing that only two of us could go on to Nationals."
"Once we got through our first match and we were able to calm down and not let our nerves get the best of us," Kutner said. "Overall we knew the semifinals and finals were in our reach but had to make sure that we played smart and remained positive even if we were down."
Coach Scott Dicheck was extremely happy with his charges' performance.
"It was unbelievable," he said. "I knew we had potential to do well but to do that well was unbelievable. This was the first time we have had three doubles teams in the finals in my seven years as a coach here and all three teams were impressive."
Earlier in the week, the Lions hosted Richard Stockton College and turned the Ospreys into another tally mark on their impressive NJAC win streak. The 9-0 shutout victory over Stockton extended the Lions' streak to 122 NJAC matches dating back to the conference's creation in 1982.
Haar, Trinh, Pollin, Kutner, Katzel and Petersack were all two-set winners in their singles matches.
The Lions were just as dominant in doubles play as Kutner and Pollin defeated Stockton players Christa Phillips and Kristianne Fernandez, 8-2. Haar and Trinh shut out Kelli Williams and Christy Alexander, 8-0, and the tandem of Wroblesky and Chrissy Principe came out victorious over Ashley Boyd and Stephanie Krupa.
"For me, as a freshman, this is a big win," Pollin said. "It was my first real college match but for the team it seems business as usual, especially looking back at the NJAC record."
"The key was the doubles teams," Dicheck said. "We concentrate a lot on doubles in practice and with our new combos that has been the focus and the reason for a convincing win."
The Lions will hope to continue their NJAC dominance against Rutgers University-Newark on Oct. 3.
After their tournament win Kutner and Pollin will be competing against Divsion III's best in the 2008 ITA National Small College Championships in Mobile, Ala., on Oct. 16-19.
(10/01/08 4:00pm)
Junior forward Kevin Luber scored three goals to lead the Lions to victory over Rowan University Sept. 24. Luber scored the first two goals of his hat trick in the first half, one coming off of a penalty kick. Passes from brothers Ray and Chris Nelan led Luber to his final goal of the game as the College defeated the Profs 3-0. Luber's performance helped the Lions improve to 6-3-1 on the year.
(09/24/08 4:00pm)
Junior quarterback Chris James scored five touchdowns to lead the Lions to victory over Buffalo State College on Saturday. James completed 24 of 31 passes for 303 yards against the Bengals, throwing three touchdowns for the College and rushing for two more in the 42-32 victory. James now has seven touchdowns on the season as the Lions prepare for their home opener against SUNY-Morrisville.