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(03/02/16 3:07pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
“What is your major?”
Depending on your course of studies, this one question could elicit a wide spectrum of emotions. A sudden burst of pride would likely follow for any prospective engineering students. Business students might crack a casual smile while trying to downplay their aspirations of bossing around other people’s parents. For anyone that has constantly found their own majors on every “Worst Paying Majors of 2016” list, this question might fill the air with a sense of unnecessary awkwardness. Be it art, communications, drama or English, major shaming is a real problem facing many liberal arts majors around the country.
Having faced my fair share of skeptical friends and relatives, I understand the struggle of constantly defending my life choices. Although salary and employment opportunities are genuine concerns, the notion that one should steer clear of their life’s passion is absurd. With the right mentality and some hard work, anyone can turn a “useless” major into a fulfilling career. Creative minds shouldn’t be trapped in an office. After all — what’s the point of earning a six-figure salary if your entire life is an endless cycle of trying to “get by” until the weekend?
The motto “follow your dreams” now has an added disclaimer: “only if you’re dreaming about STEM.” Otherwise, society has placed an expectation that only “safe” majors — like business and education — are financially viable.
That isn’t a knock on business or education majors. Teachers and businessmen are vital contributors to society. However, I fear this pressure to conform has the potential to stifle the creativity of an entire generation. Imagine if Bob Woodward — The Washington Post reporter who helped uncover the Watergate scandal — studied buisness in place of English. Having the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist cooped up in a sea of cubicles would likely have massive implications on our nation’s history.
For me, working through a good story brings out a sense of accomplishment that no desk job could ever replace. A major in journalism may require a solid portfolio and strong internships, but shouldn’t any worthwhile career require some effort?
If you’re concerned with your major in the humanities, arts or social sciences, consider the wise words of the late professor Randy Pausch, “The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
Bumbling through college with a liberal arts degree is a great way to find yourself as another unemployment statistic. It’s people like that who give your major a bad reputation. Having a plan and making the right connections is important to proving the doubters wrong.
For the anyone else: if you’ve ever faked a smile and said, “that’s nice, but how will you ever get a job?” after an English major shared their ambitions with you, then you are part of the problem. After all, judging someone for committing to their dreams is a good way to end up in their best-selling autobiography.
(03/01/16 10:02pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
The men’s tennis team hosted Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Saturday, Feb. 28, in a six-hour marathon that was ultimately decided in the final singles match of the day.
The Lions (2-1) managed to deconstruct the Rensselaer Engineers’s 4-1 lead by rallying to win the final four singles competitions and securing a 5-4 victory.
“We were well prepared,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “All three doubles matches could have gone either way. It was just a back and forth day.”
The Engineers’s blueprint for success relied on their high-caliber doubles pairs, which included the nationally-ranked duo of McKinley Grimes and Sherman Uyeno.
On court one, seniors Pierce Cooper and Billy Buchbinder were tasked with facing off against Grimes and Uyeno. Grimes established himself from the start, unleashing a lightening-quick serve that was often difficult to return. As their energy waned, both pairs vented some frustration with their own play.
The intensity between both teams met its peak with the score tied at eight. The Rensselaer duo escaped the tiebreaker with a victory, in large part due to Grimes’s consistently tricky serves. Although they expressed an obvious sense of frustration, Cooper and Buchbinder accepted their defeat with class and respect for their opponents.
Juniors Mike Stanley and Jack August kept the Lions alive in doubles with a razor-thin 9-7 victory on court two. Unfortunately for the team, another 9-7 score went in favor of RPI on court three, handing the College an early 2-1 deficit heading into the singles competition.
“Obviously, we were disappointed being down, 2-1,” Dicheck said. “We knew we’d keep fighting. We knew it was going to be that kind of battle.”
Singles competition looked dire for the Lions, as Cooper fell to Grimes again in their third set. Court two yielded a two-set defeat for the Lions, increasing RPI’s lead to 4-1.
“We needed to win the last four,” Dicheck said. “The guys on the court knew what was going on, so they kept asking.”
August’s singles matchup on court three seemed grim after he dropped the first set, 1-6. As the magnitude of his matchup began to unfold, August managed to win a set of his own to force a third set. This burst of momentum proved effective enough, as August handed Sherman a loss of his own in the final set.
As his doubles partner rallied from behind, Stanley earned a three set victory, bringing the overall score to 4-3, in favor of RPI.
The fate of the entire match rested on freshman Omar Bokhari and sophomore Chris D’Agostino. Although Bokhari is still a freshman, this wasn’t the first time his singles match had the potential to lose his team the match. With the Lions down, 4-3, Bokhari won his matchup in two sets to keep the Lions alive against Chestnut Hill.
“Omar was ready,” Dicheck said. “He was in the same situation against Chestnut Hill and came out with a win. I think that helped him.”
With players on both teams camped in the stands to give their teammates much-needed support, Bokhari managed to pull out a two set victory (6-4, 6-3), while battling the intense emotional playstyle of his opponent.
Although the Lions had overcome a 4-1 deficit, they weren’t out of the woods yet. All eyes were on D’Agostino’s singles competition, as the Lions desperately wanted to avenge losses to RPI from the previous two years.
“I haven’t been playing my best recently,” D’Agostino said. “I was definitely feeling nervous.”
After he won the first set, D’Agostino found himself down, 2-0, to start the second set. A taxing deuce had the potential to shift the momentum in favor of RPI.
“I wasn’t gonna let one game lose me the match,” D’Agostino said. “I could have been annoyed that I had the chance to take the lead. I just stuck with it.”
D’Agostino collected himself, rallied and he eventually swiped the lead in the set. With the score locked at 6-5, he managed game, set and match, erupting the Student Recreation Center into a frenzy of celebration.
After sticking with the College for over six hours, fans were rewarded with a victory.
“The support from my teammates was great,” Dicheck said. “There were more than teammates. There were family members, too.”
The Lions (2-1) will look forward to their first road match of the season, as they face-off against Haverford College on Saturday, Mar. 5.
With a renewed sense of confidence, D’Agostino is ready to see what the future holds for him and his team.
“It’ll be a tough match (against Haverford),” he said. “But we’re a resilient group. I’m sure we’ll win.”
(03/01/16 10:02pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
With the success of their 18-3 dual match record in the rearview mirror, the wrestling team traveled to Washington and Lee University to compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (D-III) Eastern Regional Championship — which took place on Saturday, Feb. 27, and Sunday, Feb. 28.
The College earned one first-place finish and three second-place finishes, securing the Lions four NCAA National Championship qualifiers and second place overall team honors out of 18 schools.
“I wanted the guys to wrestle hard and to have fun,” head coach Joe Galante said. “If we do those things, then the accolades and placements take care of themselves.”
The tournament began on Saturday, where the Lions’s talent was on full display. Sophomore James Goldschmidt (133) and senior Steven Schneider (149) both earned opening round technical falls.
Sophomore Ryan Budzek (141) began the tournament with a major decision (13-1) and a decision (2-0) to propel himself into Sunday’s semifinals. Budzek is currently ranked No. 6 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) D-III poll.
Looking to add “two-time All-American” to his list of accolades, senior Antonio Mancella (157) proved to be as reliable as ever, winning both decisions on the opening day.
“I expected myself to place and proceed onward onto nationals,” Mancella said. “It’s what our coaching staff and team have been training and improving all season to do and I think most of us went out expecting the same thing because that is the way we trained.”
Ranked No. 4 by the NWCA, junior Nick Herring punched his ticket to the semifinals with a major decision and a technical fall of his own.
In total, five Lions proceeded to the semifinals of the winners’ bracket. With an automatic bid to the NCAA D-III Championships at stake, all wrestlers understood the magnitude of their upcoming bouts.
Sunday’s action yielded mixed results for the Lions. Having dealt with his fair share of injuries and adversity this season, Budzek was prepared to fight for his bid to Nationals. In a bout that included blood time, Budzek managed to carve out a second-place finish, setting him up for his own run at nationals.
“He wanted to continue to compete,” Galante said. “There’s just something in him that’s tough and mean.”
Senior Doug Hamann (174) won his quarterfinals bout in a rematch with Phil Woods of Stevens Institute of Technology. Although he barely escaped Woods with a tight 3-2 decision in November, Hamann’s growth was visible by bringing home a 10-5 decision in the semifinals.
“Doug Hamann beat his opponents really bad on Saturday,” Galante said. “He woke up and had a great match against a tough opponent.”
Hamann did not escape his bout unscathed, as he was forced to sit out the finals with an injury — settling for second place at 174. Hamann is expected to be ready to go at the nationals, according to Galante.
Mancella worked for a 15-8 decision in the semifinals, setting up a First-Place match with Logan Meister of Ferrum College. With his bid to nationals already secured, Mancella lost his final bout by a 7-3 decision.
Junior Dan Wojtaszek and Schneider were sent to the consolation bracket by wrestlers from Stevens. The local rivals managed to earn top team honors at the competition, setting the stage for a clash in the upcoming National Championships. By battling through the consolation ladder, both wrestlers were able to earn a shot at third place. Unfortunately for the Lions, neither third-place match went their way, cutting both wrestlers’ seasons short.
“Stevens wrestles tough, and kudos to them,” Mancella said. “In the weights where we ran into them, I’m sure there is a sense of rivalry, but that comes with the nature of the sport.”
Although Stevens had its fair share of reasons to celebrate, Herring proved the Lions won’t go down without a fight. In his first-place match with the Stevens Ducks’s Colin Navickas, Herring brought home the gold with an intense 6-3 decision.
“I think there was disappointment, but that is to be expected when you train for months on end for a goal and you come up short,” Mancella said. “Naturally, a couple guys were bummed out and that is perfectly OK to be, in my opinion. All in all, I believe everyone was happy for those who qualified.”
With four Lions placing and a second overall team finish, the Lions will have a week off to prepare for the NCAA D-III Championships on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
(02/23/16 9:54pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
The men’s tennis team opened their season by splitting their first two matches of the year.
The Lions were locked in a tight battle on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with Chestnut Hill College, a Division II opponent, before eventually losing a heartbreaker in the final singles competition.
With a new swagger from knowing they can compete with high-level competition, on Saturday, Feb. 20, the Lions swept their first Division III opponents, Dickinson College, 9-0, in a match that saw major milestones for both rookies and veterans alike.
“You want to test yourself against a higher level,” head coach Scott Dicheck said.
The Lions certainly had a lot to prove, going against a Chestnut Hill College lineup that consists mostly of international players with athletic scholarships that helped draw them to the school, according to Dicheck.
On court one, seniors Pierce Cooper and Billy Buchbinder went up with the French duo of Jonathan Ducretot and Pierre Koehler. The brash and animated Frenchmen were breeding tension in an already taxing set. Having traded games throughout most of the matchup, the Americans found themselves behind one game down the stretch.
The doubles team of Cooper and Buchbinder managed to keep the home-crowd invested until eventually dropping a heartbreaking tiebreak loss, 9-8 (9-7).
“We knew it would be a good test,” Dicheck said. “I was really impressed with the effort.”
While the “Battle of the Atlantic” on court one gave the Chestnut Hill Griffins a lead, juniors Mike Stanley and Jack August defeated Chestnut’s Brazilian doubles team with an impressive 8-4 victory on court two.
Chestnut Hill ended doubles competition with a 2-1 lead, after an 8-6 victory on court three.
Cooper — following his grueling defeat in doubles — bounced back in singles competition with a comeback win on court one (3-6, 6-3, 6-3). The victory in three sets put him one win away from fifth all-time in combined singles and doubles career wins at the College.
The Lions traded wins on courts two through five, resting the pressure of the entire dual on Buchbinder’s second matchup of the day. In a battle that included two tie-breakers, Buchbinder came away with a 6-7 (4-6) win during the first set, but his opponent, who is from Duderstadt, Germany, stormed back to win the following two sets (7-6 (8-6), 6-4).
“We’re always disappointed in losing, but it was a good battle,” Dicheck said. “You lose, 5-4, but that’s just to kick off the season and see where we’re at.”
The men’s tennis team had the choice to dwell on the taste of bitter defeat or to use the loss as an ignition for something special.
On Saturday, Feb. 20, the Lions chose the latter, unleashing a fiery passion that could not be matched by their Dickinson College opponents.
The Lions swept doubles competition, 3-0, with Cooper earning his 113th win to put him tied for fifth all-time in the College’s record books.
As Cooper added an important chapter to his historic career, freshmen Mitchel Sanders and Matt Puig began page one of their own — both partners earned their first collegiate wins in the doubles competition.
“We’ve got good milestones and starting things (for the freshmen),” Dicheck said. “We just got a good team effort from everyone.”
With a chance to move into sole possession of fifth all-time in combined wins, Cooper opened his first singles set from behind before eventually finding his footing for a 7-5 set. Now one set away from a historic milestone, Cooper was dialed in, cementing his place in Lions history by winning the final set, 6-2.
After continuing to thrash their opponents in singles, the Lions went on to sweep the match with a final score of 9-0. Tim Gavornik joined his fellow freshmen with a first victory of his own, winning his singles match (6-1, 6-3).
Now 1-1 on the year, the Lions will prepare for their Saturday, Feb. 27, matchup with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
“They’ve beaten us two years in a row,” Dicheck said. “We’re trying to get over that hump.”
According to Dicheck, the Lions will be working hard to prepare for RPI’s tremendous doubles squads.
“We’re going to have to put in some extra work into doubles,” Dicheck said. “I think our guys are ready. Now we just see what we can do.”
As for Cooper, it’s unclear how close he’ll come to the all-time combined wins record of 144. Regardless, the men’s tennis team will have an entire season to chase milestones and to make history.
(02/19/16 1:31am)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
While most students have been bundled inside during the past few weeks, waiting for frigid temperatures to pass, both the men’s and women’s tennis teams were hard at work, preparing for the start of their spring seasons.
“This is the deepest team I’ve had in a long time,” head coach Scott Dicheck said.
Dicheck, who has coached both the men’s and women’s team for 15 seasons, has lead the men to qualification for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament for seven of the past eight years.
“We feel like we’re going to get great opportunities,” he said.
The women’s tennis team earned their 33rd straight conference title last fall. With the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title under their belt, the women’s team will use this time to prepare for their run in the NCAA Tournament.
“We have an incredible schedule with a lot of nationally ranked teams,” Dicheck said. The women will open their spring season at home on Friday, March 11, against Chestnut Hill College at 2 p.m.
The women are lead by three captains — seniors Jasmine Muniz-Cadorette and Emma Allen and junior Anna Prestera.
“We’re getting a lot of hitting in, working on conditioning, and they’re in the weight room three times a week,” Dicheck said. “Come May, the team should be well prepared.”
While the women’s team has already clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament, the men’s team must fight an uphill battle if they want to achieve their goal of making the cut this year.
“We’re facing a lot of nationally ranked teams — teams from Virginia, Carolina, upstate New York,” Dicheck said. “These teams are traveling to come and play us because of what we did last year in the national scene.”
While there may be single matches, the team focuses on working together as much as possible.
“Our goal is to win as many matches as possible,” sophomore Sean Fernandez said. “It’s important to put the team before yourself.”
The men must qualify by NCAA rankings due to their status as a nonconference team and are currently ranked at No. 37, according to Dicheck.
“Our ultimate goal is to make it to NCAAs,” Dicheck said. “We’ll go in as underdogs for half of our schedule, if you look at the rankings. We’re hoping to prove them wrong come year’s end.”
The men’s team will also see the return of last year’s starters, providing them with a strong sense of established team chemistry.
“We get along great,” senior Jason Prezant said. “You can find us all together in (Eickhoff Hall). People always trip on our tennis bags while trying to get by.”
Although all the starters will return from last season, a talented freshman class will help build the foundation for success down the road.
“Other teams know we have the same starters with such strong young talent coming up,” Dicheck said. “They want to play us and that’s perfect for us.”
The men will face off against a number of teams, but their matchup on Monday, April 25, with Stevens Institute of Technology stands out as a chance for redemption.
“We almost beat Stevens the last time we faced off,” Prezant said. “I’m confident this is the year.”
The Lions will face off against another rival, New York University, on Wednesday, March 30. Both matchups will take place on the Lions’s home turf.
According to Prezant, teams will often opt for road matchups in order to use the College’s facilities. With so many matches at home, the home crowd will likely help tip the scales in favor of the Lions.
“Having the fans come out and support us has a huge impact the players,” Prezant said. “A lot of the game is just mentality. It can really change the outcome of a game… The vibe around the team is very positive. We definitely have something special.”
The men’s tennis team will open their season at home on Wednesday, Feb. 17, against Chestnut Hill College.
(02/16/16 8:51pm)
By Connor Smith and Sean Reis
Social Media Editor and Production Manager
The wrestling squad battled adversity during its final matches of the regular season. The Lions ended their home schedule in exciting fashion — clinching an undefeated record at home on Friday, Feb. 12, by edging out Delaware Valley University (DVU), 21-20, on scoring criteria. The Lions — still ranked 10th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III poll — were back in action on Saturday, Feb. 13, falling to No. 4 Messiah College, 29-10.
“We work hard in the room and it shows on the mat,” sophomore Stephen Boncimino said.
The Lions honored seniors Jimmy Gill, Joe Paton, Steven Schneider and Antonio Mancella prior to the match on Friday. All four seniors were in action in the team’s back and forth effort against DVU.
The College was forced to fight from behind after an early 1-0 decision at 125 gave the Lions an early 3-0 deficit.
Sophomore James Goldschmidt tied things up at 133 with a tight 3-2 decision. This weekend, the Lions were without sophomore Ryan Budzek, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the nation at 141 by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, as he is currently dealing with some swelling in his knee.
DVU scored a 23-9 technical fall at 141, snagging an 8-3 lead over the College.
Schneider, who celebrated Senior Night with his last win at home, fought for a 3-2 decision at 149. Mancella also won his final bout in Packer Hall with a 7-2 decision at 157.
Delaware Valley ended the seniors’ short streak at 165 by scoring a 9-2 decision.
With only four bouts remaining, the 11-9 deficit grew more and more urgent. Senior Doug Hamann stepped onto the mat with all the intensity you’d expect from a seasoned veteran. Hamann made his last home match of the season count, as he completed a dominating 18-0 technical fall of his opponent at 174. He’ll be back next year to compete, as he only completed three seasons of the allowed four due to injury.
Delaware Valley would not go down without a fight, though, something that became evident when the team tied the match back up with a 5-2 decision at 184.
On a night dedicated to the seniors, it was sophomore Stephen Boncimino who broke the tie with a game-changing pin at 197.
“I just went out and did what I had to do,” Boncimino said.
With the score at 20-14, DVU could only hope for a tie at 285. Proving to be the most persistent pest the Lions have faced all season, DVU managed a pin in the final bout and put the match in the hands of criteria at 20-20.
The Lions had already suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of criteria against No. 3 Roger Williams University, so another tie-breaker could have put a damper on an otherwise exciting Senior Night. Luckily for the College, the scoring criteria gave the wrestling team a 21-20 win, thanks to a razor-thin 48-45 lead in match points.
Having been pushed to the limit during the previous night, the Lions faced a rematch with No. 4 Messiah College on Saturday, Feb 13.
Messiah’s wrestlers proved their strength with an early technical fall at 125. Goldschmidt replied with a 15-2 major decision at 133. Messiah then managed its own major decision at 141, before Schneider and Mancella scored back-to-back decisions to tie up the match at 10-10 heading into the final five bouts.
That would be the closest the Lions would come, as Messiah scored three straight decisions, a technical fall and a pin down the stretch to hand the College its worst loss of the season, 29-10.
With their second loss to Messiah, the Lions closed the regular season with a 18-3 record in duals.
“I’m just trying to get ready for regionals,” Budzek said. “I’m trying to get better at every position.”
The Lions will have ample time to regroup and prepare for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) East Regional Championships, which will take place at Washington and Lee University on Wednesday, Feb. 27, and Thursday, Feb. 28. Each wrestler will battle for top three finishes, which yield an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Championships in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, March 11, and Saturday, March 12.
(02/10/16 9:45pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
Packer Hall was filled to capacity on Friday, Feb. 5, as the hometown crowd awaited the wrestling team’s first home match since Winter Break. The Lions — currently ranked 10th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Division III poll — lived up to their billing, dispatching No. 18 Wilkes University, 26-9, with relative ease.
“This is the first time we’ve had a group quite like this,” senior Antonio Mancella said. “The sense of unity on the team is one of a kind. It’s never really happened in my time here.”
The Wilkes Colonels displayed strength at 125, scoring a 12-8 decision for a 3-0 lead over the Lions. Although the opening bout gave Wilkes fans hope for an upset, sophomore James Goldschmidt silenced the critics with a 7-1 decision at 133. That would be the last time the College failed to hold a lead during the night, as the Lions swept a total of six straight bouts to amass a dominating 20-3 lead heading into the final three bouts.
“I think they make little improvements,” head coach Joe Galante said. “It’s the guys — they’re doing a great job. You can’t ask any more of them.”
Sophomore Ryan Budzek improved to an overall record of 24-2, following his 4-2 decision at 141. Budzek is putting together an impressive season and it will be interesting to see where his collegiate career takes him in the coming years.
“All the young guys came into their own pretty quickly,” Mancella said. “Even the freshmen aren’t really freshmen. In my eyes, they’re already a part of the team as if they’ve been there for a while.”
The Lions continued to bleed out their opponents at 149, as senior Steven Schneider shut out his opponent by scoring a 6-0 decision.
Mancella looked strong early in his bout at 157. However, an untimely mistake nearly put Mancella on his back towards the end of the second period.
“It was someone that I had wrestled before and I was pretty confident I was gonna win,” Mancella said. “I took a risk and it really didn’t pay off. That happens, sometimes.”
Mancella managed to collect himself in the third period, eventually breaking the 7-7 tie after two periods open and scoring a 13-9 decision.
“I had to refocus and wrestle a little bit tighter and a little bit smarter,” Mancella said. “I had to try and not be so flashy.”
Mancella wrestled like he had something to prove during the third period, scoring points early and often throughout the final period.
Junior Nick Herring (165) and senior Doug Hamann (174) scored back-to-back major decisions to cap off the College’s point-scoring fiesta. The Colonels broke their losing streak with a 4-1 decision at 184. Unfortunately for Wilkes, the damage had already been done with the Lions still leading, 20-6.
Sophomore Constantine Rissiotis scored his seventh pin of the season at 197. Rissiotis is now one pin behind team leader and junior, Dan Wojtaszek. The 1:47 pin dashed any hope of Wilkes College making the match close, as the Lions would eventually drop a 7-2 decision at 285 to end the night with a 26-9 win.
“There are some tough teams out there,” Galante said. “ We want to have respect for them, but at the same time, we don’t want to give them too much respect.”
Galante has a lot to be proud of this season. The Lions — still undefeated at home with a 5-0 record — will host Delaware Valley University on Friday, Feb. 12, in Packer Hall.
“I think we’re gonna do well at nationals,” Mancella said. “I think we’re gonna send a lot more people than others expect. I think everyone that goes is gonna be on that podium.”
When asked for any bold predictions for nationals, Mancella simply smiled and gave an innocent chuckle, eventually declaring, “I say we’ll send the whole team to nationals!”
(02/02/16 9:21pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
The men’s wrestling team — currently ranked 10th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Division III poll — found itself engaged with some heated competition on Saturday, Jan. 30, at the Metro/New England Duals hosted by Roger Williams University. The College returned to action on Sunday, Jan. 31, facing off against Springfield College and bringing their record in duals to a historic 16-2.
“We wrestle at a high level against every competitor,” head coach Joe Galante said. “We need to keep wrestling with confidence, poise and intensity. I believe in our wrestlers.”
The College has made a name for itself by dominating unranked competition this season, but their performances against ranked teams have been some of the best in the nation. This weekend was no different, as the Lions battled 16th-ranked Williams College and third-ranked Roger Williams University.
The Lions jumped into action on Saturday by defeating Bridgewater State University, 49-3. The landslide victory included three technical falls, four pins and a major decision — the College even maintained a shutout until the final bout, eventually losing 285 by a 3-2 decision.
Senior Doug Hamann added to his impressive season, scoring a technical fall at 174. Hamann ended the weekend, 3-1, with two wins by technical fall.
“We have very strong leaders this year,” Galante said. “(The late Lions wrestling coach) Dave Icenhower told me, ‘When you have good leadership, you can have a good team. When you have great leadership, you can have a great team.’”
The College was locked-in during their rematch with 16th-ranked Williams College — the Lions defeated Williams College, 24-17, in their last dual on Saturday, Jan. 9. The Lions found themselves tied, 9-9, this time around, when Hamann scored his second technical fall. The College dropped a major decision at 184, but sophomores Constantine Rissiotis (197) and Kyle Cocozza (285) combined to put the Williams Ephs to bed by scoring a 5-2 decision and a technical fall, respectively. The final score was 22-13 for another Lions victory.
Third-ranked Roger Williams University was the College’s fiercest opponent of the weekend. The Lions opened the dual in exciting fashion with 6-4 overtime victory at 125. The Hawks fired back by scoring a 5-2 decision, tying it up at 3-3. The College amassed a 12-6 lead, thanks in part to an overtime victory at 157 by senior Antonio Mancella.
Although the Lions carried a 15-9 lead into the final two bouts, the Hawks eventually rallied by scoring decisions at 197 and 285. Now tied 15-15, Roger Williams University was awarded the winning point due to scoring criteria. Now 15-2, the College was forced to regroup, despite the heartbreaking loss.
“We have knocked off highly-ranked teams before,” Galante said. “We were pleased, but not satisfied — beating the third ranked team in a dual is not our goal. Our goal is to be top four in the country at Nationals in March.”
On Sunday, Jan. 31, the Lions found themselves down, 13-15, to Springfield College, but three straight wins flipped the dual in the College’s favor. Junior Dan Wojtaszek capped off the match with a 4:12 pin.
The College will face off against Wilkes College on Friday, Feb. 5, in their first home match in Packer Hall since Winter Break.
(01/26/16 11:00pm)
By Connor Smith
Social Media Editor
Not even winter break could cool down the wrestling team, as the Lions surged to a 13-1 record for the first time since the 2010-11 season. The College sits at 10th place of the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) poll, while a rematch with sixth-ranked Messiah College looms in the distance on Saturday, Feb. 6.
“Our motto is ‘Lion strong,’ and I’d say we’re living up to it,” coach Joe Galante said. “We’re trying to get better every day. I expected them all to do well and they are.”
The Lions entered the break following a fifth-place showing at the New Standard Invitational, returning to action on Sunday, Jan. 3, with a 46-3 rout of Hunter College. The same day, the wrestling team continued their dominating efforts by dismantling Trinity College, 48-4.
Juniors Nick Herring (165) and Dan Wojtaszek (184) led the charge with a combined total of four wins by fall during their matches, while 2015 All-American Antonio Mancella returned to action by outscoring his opponents, 27-1.
Mancella is putting together an impressive senior season. However, the Lions’ strength lies in their consistency from top to bottom. Senior Doug Hamman boasts an overall record of 16-1 at 174, while sophomore Ryan Budzek gives the College hope to continue its winning ways with an impressive 20-2 overall record at 141.
“Budzek has done a nice job,” Galante said. “He’s got a lot of wrestling ahead of him, and I look forward to seeing what happens in March.”
The team’s mettle was put to the test in the Budd Whitehill Duals on Friday, Jan. 8, through Saturday, Jan. 9, when the Lions stormed past Rochester Institute of Technology, 36-6, and Thiel College, 45-2.
The Lions demonstrated their strength, registering six pins and a technical fall, carving their path toward a semifinal berth.
Both Wesleyan and Williams colleges proved to be better matches for the Lions, who were able to get two “Ws” in the win column, going on to win, 25-12 and 24-1, respectively, against the schools.
Following their semifinal match with Wesleyan College, the Lions were engaged in a fierce battle with nationally-ranked Messiah College.
“It was a good feeling,” Galante said. “We wanted to get to the finals, and we did.”
Down an early technical fall, sophomore James Goldschmidt flipped the switch on the Falcons by scoring an impressive technical fall of his own.
After the Lions clawed their way to a slim 15-8 lead, the Falcons surged back, handing the team a heartbreaking loss in the finals, cutting their undefeated streak short at 11-1. Although disappointed in their final match, the Lions clinched their best finish in the Budd Whitehill Duals since 2011.
“We’ll get to see Messiah again in a couple weeks,” Galante said. “We’ll look to straighten that loss out.”
The Lions must fight an uphill battle if they want to pass Messiah College in the rankings, yet there will be a number of opportunities for Galante’s squad in the coming weeks.
“Any time you wrestle a team that’s top ranked in the country, you’re going to get good effort,” Galante said. “We definitely want to get them back.”
Following their humbling defeat, the Lions returned to their dominating fashion with a 34-3 victory over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a 32-6 victory over Centenary College.
The NWCA also ranked Herring and Budzek among the top five wrestlers in the nation, at 165 and 141, respectively. The combined efforts of the junior and the sophomore have helped put the team in a position to win.
The key for this young squad is to avoid complacency and never underestimate their opponents.
The College’s wrestling team will look to top the METRO New England Duals in Bristol, R.I., on Saturday, Jan. 30.
Still ranked tenth in the National poll, the College will have a lot to prove in the ensuing weeks. After rematches with Messiah and Williams colleges, the Lions will look forward to the Messiah College Open to avenge their loss on their rival’s home turf.
The NCAA East Regionals will be hosted by Washington & Lee University beginning on Saturday, Feb. 27. The Lions will look to storm their way to the top with their eyes on the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday, March 11.
“We want to be top five team in the country,” Galante said. “We want to have All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. I want them to have strong character. a positive attitude and commitment to what they’re doing.”
The Lions have come so far since their early 5-0 start. The young squad has dealt with adversity and the Lions are ready to prove themselves on the long road ahead.”
The Lions have come so far since their early 5-0 start. The young squad has dealt with adversity and the Lions are ready to prove themselves on the long road ahead.
(12/01/15 10:42pm)
By Connor Smith
Staff Writer
The Lions continued their hot start on Wednesday, Nov. 19, with a 34-12 victory over King’s College and followed it up on Saturday, Nov. 21, by beating Gloucester (44-3), Middlesex (53-6) and Camden (40-9) county colleges en route to a quad match sweep.
The wrestling team now sports an undefeated 5-0 record, along with a top six ranking in the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III poll.
“We just thrive off of each other,” senior Doug Hamann said. “We love seeing each other do well.”
The College fell to an early deficit against King’s College before sophomores James Goldschmidt (133) and Ryan Budzek (141) put the Lions ahead by scoring a decision and a 2:33 pin, respectively.
The Monarchs battled back by scoring a 4:55 pin at 149, but the College followed it up by dominating the next five bouts, which included two major decisions, two pins and a technical fall.
Senior Antonio Mancella got the streak started by scoring a major decision at 157 to put the College in the driver’s seat. Junior Nick Herring kept the momentum going with an impressive victory by technical fall at 165.
“We just gave our Lion Strong award to Nick,” coach Joseph Galante said. “The award honors character and dedication.”
The Lions kept on rolling as senior Joe Paton scored a major decision at 174. Junior Dan Wojtaszek had a dominating 1:21 pin at 184, and sophomore Constantine Rissiotos made it back-to-back pins with a 2:55 victory by fall at 197. The final score was 34-12, in favor of the College.
The team put an exclamation point on their impressive start by routing Gloucester, Middlesex and Camden county colleges by 30 points or more.
“This is a great tool for us because we have 40 prospective student athletes competing from local community colleges,” Galante said. “These are guys that are going to be looking to come to a four year institution. If we can capture some of this talent — academically and athletically — the College would benefit greatly.”
The Lions certainly impressed many with their strong wrestling mentalities.
“These guys make you want to be better,” said Hamann, who went 3-0 by fall, major decision and forfeit during the quad match. “I just do the best I can every day.”
The College scored seven pins on the day, amidst a sea of major decisions and forfeits.
“We’re focused on continuing to train and be healthy,” Galante said. “That’s getting it done on the mat and leading to victories.”
The Lions look ahead to the New Standard Invitational hosted by York College on Saturday, Dec. 5, where the wrestling team will once again have a chance to prove themselves against some of the nation’s best.
(12/01/15 9:02pm)
By Connor Smith
Staff Writer
Director and screenwriter Ryan Coogler has reinvigorated the “Rocky” franchise with a surprisingly heartfelt spin-off centered around Adonis Creed, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, in the new film, “Creed.”
“Creed” tells the story of a young Creed, who was adopted by his father’s widow after bouncing between foster homes and juvenile detention centers. Creed always displayed an eagerness to fight, which was a major concern for his adopted mother. Creed, now in his 20s, put aside his lavish lifestyle to pursue his own dream of being a fighter like his father.
Creed struggles to be taken seriously, as most trainers refuse to give his dream a chance. Determined, Creed seeks out his father’s closest friend and rival, Rocky Balboa, in an effort to learn from the boxing legend.
Although Balboa is initially reluctant, Creed’s persistence pays off and the two develop a relationship that is the centerpiece of the film.
The relationship between Balboa and Creed is both compelling and sincere. As Balboa transitions into the fatherly figure that Creed was missing his entire life, Creed helps fill the void in Balboa’s heart left by the loss of his friends and family.
Creed also develops a romantic interest with an up-and-coming musician, Bianca. Their relationship is rocky at first, but eventually blossoms into a worthwhile romance.
Although the film implores a number of clichés and common film tropes, the characters are what makes this film so appealing. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of an aged and worn-out Rocky Balboa is some of his finest work to date. Almost all of his interactions with Creed are meaningful and Balboa is a walking illustration of the finite nature of time itself.
Throughout the film, Creed’s perseverance is rewarded while Rocky’s sagely guidance helps Creed mature as a boxer.
When commentators learn of the true identity of Creed — who had been using his mother’s surname, Johnson — he is offered a title shot against the world champion boxer, Ricky Conlan, in an effort to generate revenue by advertising the Creed name.
Creed struggles to make a name for himself, as he constantly is living in the shadow of his father. It is his fiery passion for fighting that ultimately carves a path for himself.
The film also discusses the undeniable hardships boxers must endure, such as brain damage, injuries and emotional pain.
“Creed” manages to sprinkle nods to the original “Rocky” movies while still maintaining a strong sense of independence. Creed’s character is well realized and his struggles are relatable, despite his fortunate upbringing.
In the end, “Creed” is a labor of love from start to finish. From the writing to the acting, the charm of the original “Rocky” is well represented, while still managing to set itself apart with a modern awareness and unique characters. Rocky fans will be pleased to see a film that recaptures the magic of the Academy Award winning film. With that said, it will be interesting to see how Coogler handles the demand for a “Creed” sequel.
One thing, however, is for sure — Stallone’s magnum opus is in the hands of talented, dedicated individuals.
(11/17/15 9:01pm)
By Connor Smith
Staff Writer
The Lions began their wrestling season strong on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a decisive 28-10 victory over Stevens Institute of Technology and kept the momentum on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ursinus College’s Fall Brawl, where five competitors placed for the finish.
The team battled in front of a packed Packer Hall crowd, including 65 wrestling alumni who were honored before the match as part of the College’s wrestling program celebrating its 50 year history.
“We circled this day on our calendar,” coach Joe Galante said. “This was really important for us to get off to a good start.”
Stevens took an early 4-0 lead, scoring a major decision in the 125 weight class, but sophomore James Goldschmidt responded immediately with an impressive 3:14 win by fall at 133.
“I knew it was going to be a tough battle at 125,” Galante said. “Getting the pin at 133 really got the momentum going.”
After claiming a 6-4 lead, the Lions never looked back. Sophomore Ryan Budzek followed it up with a victory by decision at 141. Senior Steven Schneider then battled to win a decision at 149, extending the Lions’ lead to 12-4.
At 157, senior Antonio Mancella fought hard to secure a victory by decision, bringing the lead to 14-5.
“I knew it was important,” Mancella said. “I just wanted to win for the team.”
Junior Nick Herring (wrestling at 165) and senior Doug Hamann (174) helped improve the lead to 18-4 by both scoring decisions.
“One-hundred-sixty-five was a little bit of a surprise in that we dominated their wrestler,” Galante said. “Their wrestler won a tournament last weekend, and I thought we were going to get a little more out of him.”
Junior Dan Wojtaszek capped off the streak by scoring a major decision at 184.
The Ducks chipped the lead down to 25-10 with a 6:57 DQ victory at 197, but heavyweight sophomore Kyle Cocozza put Stevens away by scoring a decision, making the final score, 28-10, in favor of the College.
“They had a tough freshman come out and wrestle our All-American,” Galante said.
Mancella’s bout was among the most exciting and well-fought from both sides.
“Everyone jokes, ‘It’s like wrestling with yourself,’ because we wrestle very similarly,” Mancella said. “He wrestled tough.”
The Lions’ demonstrated their preparation throughout their match with Stevens.
“It’s always a big match between us and Stevens,” Mancella said. “We put a lot of focus on this match in particular across the team.”
The Lions carried their momentum into the Ursinus College Fall Brawl on Saturday, where the team entered 18 wrestlers, and fielded five place winners overall.
Sophomore Constantine Rissiotis bounced back from his DQ against Stevens by winning the title at 197. Hamman also followed up his strong start by winning the title at 174.
Herring and Wojtaszek earned second place honors in their respective weights while freshman Ryan Erwin began his collegiate career with a strong fourth place finish.
Rivera, Budzek, Cocozza and sophomore Kellen Whitney all won three matches.
The Lions will look to keep their impressive start going on Wednesday, Nov. 18, when they matchup against King’s College on the road in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. at 7 p.m.
“My end goal is NCAA’s top eight podium,” Mancella said. “I’m just trying to get better every match.”
(11/10/15 7:08pm)
By Connor Smith
Staff Writer
The Lions will be celebrating 50 years of wrestling on Wednesday, Nov. 11, as the team opens its 2015-16 season against Stevens Institute of Technology at 7:30 p.m. in the Packer Hall gymnasium.
Coach Joe Galante enters his fifth season with the team, as they look to improve on a 12-9 dual meet record from last season. The team finished 17th in the NCAA Division III Championships last season while fielding two all All-American athletes. The College has had an NCAA finalist each of the first four years under Galante’s tenure.
“I expect us to wrestle well, score a lot of points, and have fun,” said Galante.
Although they will be without 2015 NCAA Division III National Runner-up, Zach Zotollo who graduated in May, the team will see the return of a strong senior class led by 2015 All-American, Antonio Mancella.
“Mancella has worked extremely hard this year,” Galante said. “There’s also Academic All-American, sophomore Ryan Budzek.”
The team also fields a motivated freshman class which includes 2015 high school N.J. State Qualifiers, Ryan Erwin and JT Beirne, who will look to prove themselves at the collegiate level.
They will face tough opponents such as Messiah College and Wilkes University, who are both ranked in the top eight of NCAA’s Division III coaches poll. The Lions will have a lot to prove if they wish to eclipse their 2015 campaign.
The 2016 Division III Championship will be held in the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, March 11, and the team will look for the chance to compete with the nation’s best.
“Look at all of our weight classes as guys that can do more,” Galante said. “Any one of our guys has the ability to beat anyone they might not have the edge against on paper.”