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(02/06/18 8:03am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While the Philadelphia Eagles flew high this week for a Super Bowl win, the women’s basketball team killed two birds of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, the Lions defeated Rowan University, 87-77, in Packer Hall. The team then trekked north to Mahwah, New Jersey and plowed through Ramapo College, 74-55, on Saturday, Feb. 3.
The Lions were on top of Rowan throughout the game. Senior guard Charlotte Schum scored the Lions’ first points off a jump shot. Afterwards, senior forward Nikki Schott caught a defensive rebound and sent a pass to sophomore forward Jen Byrne.
Byrne dribbled across the court and scored a layup on a fast break. The Lions never looked back, taking a commanding 23-10 lead by the end of the first quarter.
In the 11th minute of the game, Rowan began to fight back. Senior center April Szymczyk hit back-to-back layups. Freshman forward Taylor Gardner and sophomore guard Dominique Peters followed up with layups of their own to diminish the Lions lead to 25-20.
The Lions responded with offensive plays of their own. In the 17th minute, Schott jumped high for a putback layup. On the next play, Byrne went on a fast break and scored a layup.
Despite the Lions building a 42-27 lead by halftime, Rowan was not finished. The Lions’ defense endured a series of layups and free throws by Szymczyk, Peters and senior guard Summer Crilley. In the last two minutes of the third quarter, Schott slowed down Rowan’s momentum by making four free throws and a layup. By the fourth quarter, the Lions held a slim 60-54 lead.
The remaining 10 minutes of the game was a back-and-forth roller coaster for the Lions and Rowan. Rowan senior guard/forward Alex Raring started off with a jumper. Byrne responded with a mid-range basket of her own on the next Lions possession. Raring then sunk another jumper. On the next play, Schott jumped into the action and drained a three-pointer.
Raring proceeded to score a three-pointer of her own to cut the Lions lead down to 70-64. With one minute remaining, Byrne sealed the Lions victory by sinking six free throws. She finished the game with a towering 30 points and 12 rebounds.
Head coach Chessie Jackson was impressed with Byrne’s dominating performance.
“Jen came out against Rowan with a ton of energy and focus,” Jackson said. “She’s naturally talented, no doubt, but Rowan was a great representation of how her talent can pair with energy to help her statistically. I played her a ton of minutes and she rose to the challenge.”
On the road at Ramapo, the Lions offense ignited with double-digit scoring performances by sophomore guard Lauren Barlow, junior forward Samantha Famulare, junior guard Kate O’Leary and Byrne. The team’s defense also had a stellar performance and forced 19 turnovers against Ramapo.
Jackson says the team’s growing chemistry is leading them to immense success.
“We’ve been talking about the pressure and the expectations that can come along with winning,” Jackson said. “Our team is staying hungry and focused on our goal. We’re getting tougher every day, becoming more and more competitive and building chemistry as a group.”
The team will be playing its last two home games this week in Packer Hall.The Lions will face William Paterson University on Wednesday, Feb. 7, and Montclair State University on Saturday, Feb. 10.
(01/30/18 9:43pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The women’s basketball team found themselves at both ends of the scoreboard this week. The Lions were outmatched at Stockton University, losing 68-45, on Jan. 24. The team then dismantled New Jersey City University on the road by a score of 95-32 on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Heading to Galloway, New Jersey, the Lions got into a back-and-forth battle against Stockton. Senior guard Charlotte Schum scored the team’s first basket when she grabbed a rebound and scored a layup. Stockton responded with two back-to-back free throw completions to tie the score.
Both teams then spent the first quarter trading buckets. In the ninth minute, sophomore forward Jen Byrne drained a jumper to put the Lions behind one point, 16-15. As the first quarter ended, Stockton freshman guard Hailee Porricelli scored a deep three-pointer to protect Stockton’s lead.
In the second quarter, the Lions couldn’t handle Stockton’s solid defense. Consequently, Stockton’s offense flourished and trampled the Lions to a 30-16 deficit by minute 15. Junior Nicole Shatsky attempted to spark a rally when she drained a three-pointer in the next play.
Stockton then overwhelmed the Lions when they scored seven points from the free throw line, followed by several layups and mid-range jumpers. With the Lions in a deep 41-22 deficit at halftime, Stockton took full control of the match and eventually defeated the Lions, 68-45.
Head coach Chessie Jackson says the team is working hard to calibrate the offense and beat defensive opponents like Stockton.
“Stockton is a talented and athletic team with great size,” Jackson said. “They’ve got great size and rebound the ball well. Our team has been getting good looks against tough defensive teams, so it’s a matter of mentally preparing to be scorers in other ways. Attack the rim more, grab (offensive) boards, more post touches. We are adapting while also working hard to improve our shooting percentage.”
After the tough loss, the Lions returned to Packer Hall on Saturday, Jan. 27 and smashed NJCU. The second the clock started, the Lions offense was nothing but dominant.
The team jumped to a 21-0 lead before NJCU scored its first point in the first quarter. Junior guard Kate O’Leary scored the Lions first points off a three-pointer in the first minute. Freshman Shannon Devitt then scored two consecutive layups. From there, the Lions offense took over and handily defeated NJCU by more than 60 points, 95-32. During the game, Byrne led the Lions offense with 23 points followed by Devitt, adding 18 of her own.
Although the Lions went all-out on offense, Jackson is focused on improving defense and consistency.
“We are aiming to become more consistent defenders through 40 minutes of play,” Jackson said. “As well as improve our shooting percentage. We have performed well in a number of statistical categories this season, but consistency is key in order to remain competitive down the stretch.”
Women’s basketball heads north to Mahwah, New Jersey for a conference match against Ramapo College on Saturday, Feb. 3.
(01/30/18 7:55am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Parents and friends gathered to see the seniors at home for one last time at the TCNJ Aquatic Center on Saturday, Jan. 27, competing in their last home meet of the season against conference opponent Rowan University. The meet was a special occasion this year for head coach Brian Bishop, as he plans to retire after this season.
To honor his work during 29 seasons, prestigious accolades and NCAA national championship teams he has coached, the audience gave Bishop a standing ovation.
Bishop recounts how many people he has influenced during his coaching career.
“It was very moving and I had a wide range of emotions,” Bishop said. “What stuck with me the most was that it was the biggest crowd we have ever had at a meet. In addition to the fans, family, students and friends, there were over 100 alumni in attendance and it reinforces to me that the program and perhaps in some small way that I had a positive influence on their lives.”
Despite a hard-fought effort, both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams lost to Rowan University with scores of 167.5-132.5 and 220-77.
The men’s team was pitted against a challenging Rowan squad, who is currently undefeated in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The team needed one more win to clinch the conference championship.
Freshman Andrew Thompson led the team in victories. He took first in the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:56.26. At the 100-butterfly, Thompson swept the opposition in less than a minute and clocked in at 51.67. He then won the 200-individual medley with a time of 1:58.
Junior Alex Skoog also stood out. Skoog swam his way to first in the 100-backstroke with a time of 51.96. He then won the 100-freestyle in less than 50 seconds, clocking in at 47.24. Skoog nearly finished first at the 50-freestyle as well, losing by only .19 seconds for second place with a time of 21.85.
Meanwhile, junior Sam Maquet outlasted Rowan in the 200-butterfly, edging out his opponent for a first place finish by only one millisecond with a time of 1:54.26. Sophomore Harrison Yi was also the runner up at the 200- and 500-freestyle events.
The seniors went all in for their last meet at home. Senior Logan Barnes took second place in the 200-breaststroke with a time of 2:13.18. Fellow seniors Phil Binaco and Chris O’Sullivan helped the Lions secure second place in the 200-medley relay, clocking in at 1:36.22.
Bishop appreciates all the contributions of the senior class and their impact on the team.
“The members of our senior class have developed as outstanding athletes during their four years, but more importantly, they have developed as outstanding leaders and even better young men,” Bishop said. “Their leadership both in and out of the pool has been extraordinary. All four have bright futures ahead of them and will continue to make TCNJ swimming proud.”
Despite the conference loss to Rowan, Bishop looks forward to coaching the team to a successful postseason.
“Our plan has not changed even with a tough loss to a very good team,” Bishop said. “Our focus against William Paterson will be as a final prep before the Conference Championships and NCAA Championships.”
The women’s team had a tough meet against Rowan. Senior Marta Lawler took second in the 200-breaststroke with a recorded time of 2:30:31. In her next event, the 200-individual medley, she claimed fourth place with a time of 2:21.13. Fellow senior Jillian Galindo was not far behind, taking third in the same event with a time of 2:18.99.
At the 200-medley relay, seniors Cassidy Bergeron and Debbie Meskin led the team to a fifth place finish with a time of 1:58.10. Senior Hannah Raymond claimed the team’s only win in the meet at the 1-meter event and scored 271.65 points.
The Lions will be on the road when they travel to William Paterson University for their last conference meet of the season on Saturday, Feb. 3.
(01/24/18 12:16am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
While a cold breeze swept through an empty campus this month, the College’s women’s basketball team brought nothing but blazing heat to Packer Hall.
So far this season, the Lions are currently undefeated at home and hold a 13-4 overall record while dominating the New Jersey Athletic Conference with an 8-2 record. The team has already won more games than last season, when the Lions only had 11 wins.
Head coach Chessie Jackson has been pushing the team to succeed in her first year at the College.
“I think that our success, both in and out of conference play, derives from our focus on one day at a time,” Jackson said. “We have been consistently pushing the team to care more about practices than games, compete a little bit harder every day and to gain toughness and chemistry throughout the course of the season.”
This past week, the Lions secured two conference victories at home against Rutgers University-Camden and Kean University. On Jan. 17, the Lions barely beat Rutgers, 50-45. The following Saturday, the Lions bested Kean with a score of 48-34.
The Rutgers squad challenged the Lions throughout the game. In the first quarter, Rutgers jumped to a 11-5 lead before the Lions gradually caught up.
The Lions offense began to wake up when sophomore forward Jen Byrne hit a jumper in the seventh minute with an assist by freshman forward Shannon Devitt. The Lions then caught up with Rutgers and gained a 14-12 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The team continued to lead Rutgers in the second quarter. The Lions defense was able stop three-point attempts by Rutgers freshman guard Jordan Harbaugh. By the 15th minute, the Lions built a 20-14 lead. Rutgers tried to make a comeback, but was constantly foiled by turnovers.
Two minutes later, junior guard Kate O’Leary sunk a three pointer. On the next Rutgers possession, O’Leary stole the ball, but failed to score on a layup attempt. The Lions finished the second quarter with a free throw made by Byrne.
The third quarter was similar to the second as the Lions withstood Rutgers’ offense and protected their lead. Rutgers forward/center Michelle Obasi initially caught the Lions off guard and scored back-to-back layups. The Lions responded with stronger, more coordinated defense.
In the 26th minute, senior forward Nikki Schott made a layup. O’Leary followed the play with a three-pointer. By the end the third quarter, the Lions were still ahead, 35-28.
In the last two minutes of the game, Rutgers managed to retake the lead until the Lions scored four consecutive times. Senior guard Charlotte Schum started off by scoring three points off the arc. Devitt followed with a layup. Byrne then capped with the game with two successful free throws to complete the Lions 50-45 victory.
Jackson emphasizes that senior leadership is bringing positivity to this season’s team.
“There certainly isn’t a single player or person who is leading the team,” Jackson said. “We have some great senior leaders in Schum, Schott and (forward) Chiara Palombi, who are approaching every day with a winning attitude and helping to bring everyone along with them.”
Last Saturday, the Lions continued their dominance in conference play as they defeated Kean University. After a quiet first quarter, the Lions’ offense sprung into action.
In the 17th minute, Schott made two free throws to give the Lions their first lead of the game, at 14-12. Schott then caught a rebound and sent O’Leary on a fast break to scored a layup. Byrne and Schum finished the second quarter with three pointers of their own.
In the third quarter, the Lions defense only allowed Kean to score six points. The Lion’s defensive eventually carried the team to a 48-34 victory.
After a successful start to the season, Jackson and the women’s basketball team plan to continue their process of practicing rigorously in order to make it far in the postseason.
“I think that slowly but surely, the team is recognizing that we are capable of more than anyone thought at the start of the year,” Jackson said. “I hesitate to jump to predictions about how we will finish, because I try my best to stay process-oriented and focus on our game tonight and then practice tomorrow, but I do think we have the talent and heart to go far this year. I am looking forward to this final stretch to see how all the hard work can pay off for this group.”
The women’s basketball team will be on the road this week as they continue to compete in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Lions head to Pomona, New Jersey for a match against Stockton University. The team then travels to Jersey City for a game against New Jersey City University on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Aside from all the recent victories, Jackson has enjoyed the College’s community atmosphere.
“My experience at TCNJ has been great thus far,” Jackson said. “The people here are awesome and passionate about this place, and I am grateful that this is the team I inherited in my first year as a head coach. TCNJ has such a rich history of athletic success, which is a huge reason why this position was so attractive to me.”
(01/23/18 7:48am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams endured a setback on the road against Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday, Jan. 21. The men lost 117-88 while the women were defeated with a similar score of 119-86.
Earlier on Saturday, Jan. 20, at home, the women’s team grabbed a conference victory against Kean University, 119-64.
Despite the loss to Stevens, several members of the men’s team won races.
Freshman Andrew Thompson was victorious in the 200-individual medley in 1:59.04.
Thompson then finished second in the 100-backstroke, clocking in at 53.29. Junior Alex Skoog was close behind and came in third with a time of 54.37.
Head coach Brian Bishop applauded Thompson’s efforts during the meet.
“Thompson is a very talented swimmer with an incredibly bright future,” Bishop said. “He showed tremendous determination in winning the 200 IM and kept us in the meet when things weren’t going our way.”
At the 100-freestyle, freshman Griffin Morgan claimed first with a time of 48.17. Sophomore Harrison Yi also came in first at the 200-freestyle, clocking in at 1:45.91.
While the men’s team was dominated by Stevens, Bishop complimented the talent and caliber of their team.
“Stevens is a talented squad with an outstanding coach,” Bishop said. “They had a great day and put up some really fast swims. We were a little off and couldn’t overcome falling behind early.”
Stevens posed a challenge for the women, who only won the 100-backstroke, in which the Lions took the first three places. Senior Jillian Galindo led the way with a first place finish followed by freshmen Katie Doyle and Kayla Krisak.
At the TCNJ Aquatic Center on Saturday, the women’s team outswam Kean University. Doyle won the 200-individual medley, clocking in at 2:22.90.
The Lions kept the winning momentum going at the 100-freestyle.
Junior Hailey Thayer claimed first placed and finished in less than a minute at 56.67. Galindo came in second with a time of 1:04.88.
Galindo didn’t stop there — she also won the 100-breaststroke, clocking in at 1:13.69. The freshmen also had impressive performances.
Freshman Elise Fraser snatched first place in the 100-backstroke with a time of 1:06.21. Later on, freshman Darby VanDeVeen took first in the 500-freestyle and clocked in at 5:41.55.
The Lions capped off their successful meet when sophomore Annie Menninger, senior Marta Lawler, sophomore Anna Kisker and Fraser won the 200-freestyle relay with a time of 1:46.08.
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will compete at home against conference rival Rowan University on Saturday, Jan. 27. The meet is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in the TCNJ Aquatic Center.
(01/23/18 7:45am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s basketball team found itself in a tight spot on Saturday, Jan. 20.
With only 11 seconds left in the game, Kean University left Packer Hall quiet as they completed two free throws and extended their lead, 69-64. Kean’s victory seemed inevitable, but the Lions refused to throw in the towel.
The Lions outlasted Kean University, 78-73, in overtime at Packer Hall. On Jan. 17, the team defeated conference foe Rutgers University-Camden 98-88, at home.
During January, the team continued their winning momentum from December and gathered significant conference victories against Rutgers University-Newark, Montclair State University and Ramapo College, a team nationally ranked 19th according to D3hoops.com.
Coming into Packer Hall on Saturday, the Lions rode on a four-game winning streak while undefeated at home. The team did not expect a competitive match against Kean, who sat at a 5-12 record, but Kean proved to be a tough opponent.
At the start of the first quarter, the Lions jumped to a 13-4 lead. Senior forward Elias Bermudez and junior forward Jordan Glover powered through defenders and hit layups. By the 15th minute, Kean began to crawl back when junior forward Michael Summerer got a layup. Kean then followed up with a three-pointer swished in by junior guard Justin Watson.
Two minutes later, senior guard Eric Murdock Jr. scored a three-pointer to put the Lions ahead, 16-9. Kean immediately fired back with two consecutive three-pointers by junior guard Keenan Williams Jr.
The Lions responded with a combination of layups and three pointers. Bermudez and Glover were both good for low post baskets while sophomore forward Ryan Jensen and sophomore guard Randall Walko made three-pointers.
By the end of the first half, the Lions were up by 39-32.
Coming into the second half, the Lions were overwhelmed by Kean’s rally. It took three minutes for the Lions to score when Bermudez hit a layup beneath the basket.
The Lions defense endured more pressure from Kean as they went on a methodical 9-0 run. By the 28th minute, Kean had mounted a 53-43 lead.
After the team made two substitutions, Walko sparked a gradual rally when he made three consecutive free throws. Bermudez then followed up with two more to cut the Lions deficit to 54-48.
With the clock down to seven minutes, Walko ignited Packer Hall when he stole the ball from Kean freshman guard Adrian Baucum and threw down a fast break dunk. After several turnovers by both sides, Jensen caught a quick pass by Bermudez and scored a layup to put the Lions just one point behind Kean.
Free throws then became the instrument of choice for the Lions offense when Murdock knocked in four consecutive free throws to help the team gain the lead. Kean responded by scoring on four straight possessions and clamping down the Lions offense.
On the next possession, sophomore guard Niall Carpenter drained a three-pointer and cut the deficit to two points. Yet, Kean still had the upper hand and possession with only four seconds remaining.
Despite the dire situation, the Lions found a way to prevail.
With seconds remaining, Walko caught an inbounds pass, leaped forward and scored the game-tying basket to send the match into overtime. Here the Lions secured another victory, 78-73.
Head coach Matthew Goldsmith believed the team worked together to launch the last minute comeback.
“I think the team just focused on one play at a time during that closing stretch,” Goldsmith said. “Every possession mattered and without all five guys doing their job, we would have never won that game. I was very proud of our effort in that last two minutes.”
Goldsmith also acknowledged that any player could have scored the game-tying shot and sent the game to overtime.
“We came out with a plan and Randy ended up being the guy to get the ball,” Goldsmith said. “I think all five guys on the floor could have made a game tying shot for us. Randy had his name called and came through in the clutch.”
The Lions do not have much time to celebrate, as they take on Stockton University and New Jersey City University on the road this week. The Lions play Stockton on Wednesday, Jan. 24 and NJCU on Saturday, Jan. 27.
Goldsmith says every player will be needed to win future conference matches.
“We need every player to be ready when there name is called and to play with 100 percent effort,” Goldsmith said.
(01/22/18 12:19am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
A new semester springs new opportunities to seize and desires to fulfil — a checklist full of ambitions like establishing a new club on campus, acing courses, losing weight, landing a competitive job or internship, asking someone on a date or simply maintaining your well-being.
The energy and confidence is glowing. You feel like drinking some yolks, putting on a gray sweatshirt and running to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. You feel like standing on the bow of the Titanic, screaming “I’m king of the world!”.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time at the College, it’s always easier said than done. By spring break, you’ll already want to throw in the towel.
Sometimes, you just can’t improve your grades despite visiting the professor’s office, going to the tutoring center and splattering drafts with edits, or start a new club when the proposal at the Student Finance Board meeting didn’t work out. It’s hard to land an internship when the employer already threw your application away, and maybe that awkward date could have gone better.
Along the way there you will always have failures and shortcomings. I’ve learned that most people never achieved their goals because of high expectations and lack of patience.
You’re not going to have a 4.0 GPA tomorrow. Johnson & Johnson is not going to knock on your door with a job for you next week. You’re organization is not going to fundraise enough money for a spectacular gala in the Decker Social Space by next month.
The only thing I know that is certain is that every goal is about progress. Every ambitious goal is jam-packed with a subset of smaller goals. Something to do every day. Something to keep track of. Something that makes you motivated to wake up and realize that the dream is alive.
Will there be challenges and setbacks? No doubt.
Will there be a point where it’s easy to give up? No doubt.
Will you feel hopeless and uninspired at one point? Of course, but the goal still remains!
Be like Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers and trust the process. Trust yourself that every step you take is an effort to achieve your goal. If you do not believe me, just ask Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Nick Foles.
He used to be a backup for the St. Louis Rams (Now Los Angeles Rams) not so long ago. Now he’s facing former teammate Case Keenum and the Minnesota Vikings with a shot to the Super Bowl.
By keeping the goal in mind, nothing can’t stop you from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
(12/08/17 9:10pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College’s track and field team kicked off its winter season by hosting the TCNJ Indoor Opener at The Armory Track in New York City on Saturday, Dec. 2.
The Lions competed against 12 other teams that included conference opponents Rutgers University-Camden, Ramapo College and crosstown rival Princeton University.
The women had notable sprinting performances. Sophomore Samantha Gorman set the College’s record at the 300-meter dash, claiming third place with a time of 41.48. Senior Danielle Celestin and freshman Shannon Lambert were close behind as they finished in fifth and sixth place with times of 41.95 and 42.09, respectively.
Head coach Justin Lindsey commended Gorman’s record breaking performance.
“Sam is coming off of a strong freshman year and she is determined to be an NCAA Indoor qualifier in
multiple events,” Lindsey said. “The driving force behind her performance is her mindset that every race is important and she’s willing to give 150% mentally in every meet.”
In the shorter 60-meter dash, Celestin led the Lions with a second place finish, clocking in at 8.03. Just three milliseconds later, sophomore Kaila Carter followed in third place with a time of 8.06.
The Lions also dominated in relay events. Sophomore Nicole Tampone, freshman Dana Deluca, freshman Kim Lewis and senior Meagan McGourty received first place at the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:12.70. Afterward, senior Jenna Ellenbacher, junior Kathleen Jaeger, Gorman and Celestin took second place at the 1600-meter sprint medley and clocked in at 4:18.76.
Jaeger then captured second place in the 600-meter run and recorded a time of 1:39.16. Freshman Emily Hirsch was only a second behind Jaeger and finished in fourth place with a time of 1:40.53.
The team competed closely in the 60-meter hurdles. McGourty hurdled her way to a third place finish and recorded a time of 9.37. Carter was not far behind, claiming fifth place with a time of 9.94.
The freshmen excelled at the field events. Freshman Jada Covington leaped for 1.60 meters and took first at the high jump. Fellow freshman Ky’Ara McCray threw for 11.24 meters to take first at the shot put event.
The upperclassmen were competitive as well. Junior Madison Heft jumped at 2.90 meters and claimed second place at the pole vault. Sophomore Allison Zelinski cleared 10.33 meters to take second in the triple jump.
The men also had impressive performances. Junior Noah Osterhus captured second place in the 600-meter run and recorded a time of 1:21.33. His brother, junior Nathan Osterhus, competed among 36 opponents in the 300-meter dash and got 10th place with a time of 36.19. Following Nathan Osterhus, freshman Darin Clark finished in 13th place and clocked in at 36.79. Nearly a minute later, sophomore Tyler Andriopoulos took 19th place with a time of 37.78 in his debut for the Lions.
The men’s team then went toe-to-toe against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in the 1600-meter sprint medley. The squad of the Osterhus brothers, Clark and freshman Tariq Ali were narrowly behind first place Eastern Shore, placing in second with a time of 3:35.32.
Lindsey is confident that the freshman on the men’s and women’s track and field teams will go above and beyond this year.
“We have a very big freshmen class on the women’s and men’s teams,” Lindsey said. “For the women we think Ky’Ara McCray, Shannon Lambert, Jada Covington, Annette Wanjiku and Dana DeLuca will be big impact athletes for us this year. For the men we think Darin Clark, Harvy Porzuelo, Robert Abrams, Joe Erskine and Tana Gawe will be big impact athletes this season.”
The Lions will drive up to Princeton, New Jersey to compete in the New Year’s Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 9.
(12/05/17 11:22am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams dominated the competition at Packer Hall from Friday, Dec. 1 to Sunday, Dec. 3. Both were victorious as the men won by 1,489 points and the women won by 960 points.
The Lions stood out from day one. For the men, sophomore Harrison Yi claimed first place in the 500-freestyle, clocking in at 4:36.74. Freshman Griffin Morgan trailed behind and got third place with a time of 4:42.25.
In the 200-medley, senior Logan Barnes and freshman Andrew Thompson finished in second and third place respectively with times of 1:54.42 and 1:56.03.
The squad of Morgan, freshman Patrick Bakey, junior Alex Skoog and senior Philip Binaco were the first to finish at the 200-freestyle relay with a time of 1:25.77. Skoog then went on to win the 50-freestyle with a time of 21.66.
The Lions swept the competition and won the 400-medley relay. The squad of Skoog, Yi, Thompson and freshman Andrew Duff completed the race in 3:24.22.
Head coach Brian Bishop believed the home invitational was a good opportunity for the team to improve and prepare for conference and national championships.
“Our goal this weekend was to learn what we need to focus on for the rest of the season to give us the best chance for success at the conference and NCAA championship,” Bishop said.
The men’s team was in full control on Saturday. The squad of Bakey, Thompson, Duff and sophomore Derek Kneisel raced the 200-medley relay and took first place with a time of 1:34.26. In the 400-individual medley, Barnes, Thompson and junior Sam Maquet claimed second, third and fourth places, respectively.
Yi then claimed first in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:40.44. Morgan was right behind as he placed in second with a time of 1:43.15.
The Lions continued to dominate as the team claimed the top four spots in the 100-backstroke. Skoog recorded a personal record time of 49.65, missing the College record by .09 milliseconds.
The men capped off the second day with a victory in the 800-freestyle relay. Skoog, Barnes, Morgan and Yi won the relay in 6:48.72. By the end of the events, the men’s team was in first place with 977 points.
On the final day, the Lions conquered in almost every event. Barnes led opponents in the 1650-freestyle with a time of 16:18.11. Yi then took first in the 100-freestyle, clocking in at 46.86.
Bishop complimented his team’s effort to prepare for the invitational.
“Our rookies really did a great job and have responded well to our training plan,” Bishop. “Upperclassmen Skoog, Yi and Maquet had great meets and have set the tone for the rest of the season.”
The women climbed to the top of the scoreboard and accumulated 624 points. In the 500-freestyle, sophomore Annie and freshman Kelsey Ballard claimed second and third respectively with times of 5:12.90 and 5:20.47. Sophomore Kazia Moore swam to third place in the 50-freestyle, clocking in at 24.81.
On Saturday, junior Hailey Thayer and freshman Jamie Bowne took third in the 200-medley relay. Freshman Melanie Fosko had a strong performance in the 400-individual medley, claiming second place and clocking in at 4:42.35. Menninger then surged to first place in the 100-breaststroke with a time of 1:07.00.
The Lions capped off the invitational as Fosko and sophomore Marta Lawler claimed first and second place respectively in the 200-breaststroke with times of 2:27.78 and 2:27.95. At the diving board, senior Hannah Raymond got back-to-back wins in the 1- and 6-meter events.
(11/28/17 10:57am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams endured a pair of losses against New York University and Johns Hopkins University on Nov. 18.
The men were swiftly defeated by New York University, 208-90 and by Johns Hopkins University, 186-76. The women also fought adversity after dropping 251-44 to New York University and 218-41 to Johns Hopkins.
In the men’s competition, junior Alex Skoog was on top against New York and Johns Hopkins. Skoog claimed first in the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:52.44. He then got second place in the 100-backstroke and clocked in at 51.83. Skoog fought to a fifth place finish in the 50-freestyle, swimming it in 21.94.
At the diving board, freshman Jay Soukup claimed second place in the 1- and 3-meter diving events.
Sophomore Harrison Yi also had a strong performance. Yi got second place in the 200-freestyle with a time of 1:42.39. At the 100-freestyle, he swam to fourth place with a time of 47.61. Yi concluded the meet with another fourth place finish at the 500-free, clocking in at 4:47.04.
NYU and Johns Hopkins proved to be challenging opponents.
“NYU and JHU are both ranked in the top six in the nation so we definitely had our hands full,” said head coach Brian Bishop. “This meet gave us a glimpse of what we need to do moving forward. We need show some more mental toughness when going against elite competition.”
For the women’s swimming and diving team, junior Gabi Denicola battled to sixth place in the 1,000-freestyle with a time of 11:21.49. Sophomore Annie Menninger also swam to a personal record finish in the 200-freestyle, clocking in at 2:20.45. Senior Hannah Raymond dominated at the diving board as she snatched second place in the 1-meter event with a score of 292.66.
The Lions will compete at home for the TCNJ Invitational from Friday, Dec. 1 to Monday, Dec. 4. Bishop sees the TCNJ Invitational as way to gear up for future meets.
“For the invite, our focus will be on setting ourselves with some fast swims for a strong push through the second half of the season including METS and NCAA’s,” Bishop said.
(11/28/17 10:45am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s cross country teams ran one last time in this year’s NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships held at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois.
Junior Natalie Cooper emphasized how the team has strived all year to make it to nationals.
“We came into the season with the goal of qualifying for nationals as a team,” Cooper said. “I think keeping that goal in our minds throughout the season helped us push through tough races and workouts. Each girl ran extremely well this season. We were able to have a very tight pack of us together during most of the races which really helped us work together and achieve our end goal of making it to nationals.”
At the women’s 6,000-meter race, the five women cross country runners competed against 279 opponents. Cooper led the Lions as she captured 28th place with a time of 21:24. Her performance garnered an All-American honor. She is the first to be an All-American since alumna Martine McGrath (’09).
Head coach Justin Lindsey complemented Cooper’s effort to receive the All-American honor.
“Natalie is a natural competitor,” Lindsey said. “Her focus this year was to become an All- American so the focus was to put her in the best position to do so. She didn’t let anything get in her way this season. During the race she made a strong push with a mile and a half to go and it really paid off.”
Junior Erin Holzbaur followed Cooper and finished in 106th place, clocking in at 22.14. Just a minute later, junior Madeleine Tattory and freshman Gabby DeVito completed the race with times of 23:13 and 23:20 respectively. After, junior Abigail Faith finished and clocked in at 23:56. Juniors Emma Bean and Olivia Shenkman concluded the Lions participation with times of 24:22 and 24:30 respectively.
Cooper says she was more confident with the team supporting her.
“Having the whole team with me made the experience a lot more fun,” Cooper said. “I think having them also helped me before and during the race. I was much more calm going into the race having them by my side.”
At the men’s side, junior duo Quinn Wasko and Matt Saponara ran toe-to-toe against the nation’s best in the men’s 8,000-meter race. Wasko came in 145th place and almost finished below 20 minutes with a time of 20:45. Saponara was not far behind and clocked in at 21:45.
Lindsey was impressed by Wasko and Saponara’s efforts in the race.
“Quinn had a strong performance and made the best of his second trip to nationals,” Lindsey said. “Unfortunately for Matt, he had an asthmatic reaction during the race which slowed him.”
The men’s and women’s cross country teams were highly competitive during the season. From the women winning the conference championship to numerous conference accolades, Lindsey and Cooper believe the Lions’ mindset led them to the most success they had in years.
“We think the biggest achievement for both teams is the strengthening of our pack running philosophy and the national team mindset we’re developing,” Lindsey said. “Winning the women’s team title at NJACs and having them qualify for nationals as a team was a big accomplishment. We also had the most athletes, both men and women, competing at the NCAA champions since 2007.”
(11/28/17 12:36am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Purple lights gleamed low in anticipation at Kendall Hall on Nov. 17 as the night’s musicians finished warming up for the College’s Jazz Ensemble.
The ensemble sent Kendall back to the ’70s with its performance of Thad Jones’ “Us.”
During the song, the percussion set the tempo for the saxophones and trumpets. The ensemble then went into full swing on Mark Taylor’s “Boptitude Test.”
Benjamin Franco, a junior music education major and alto saxophonist, played the first solo of the night. He had the audience in awe of his skillful playing and wide tonal range.
The rest of the saxophonists and trumpeters followed Franco’s solo and pitched in for the high notes. The next piece, Sonny Rollins’ “St. Thomas,” featured more solos and involvement from the percussion. Music director Gary Fienberg was a big fan of this musical selection.
“If you were stranded on an island, this record is the only thing you need,” Fienberg said.
The flute section of the ensemble then performed Pat Methany’s “First Circle.” The flutes crescendoed along with the melody while the saxophonists clapped their hands.
The middle of the piece featured more of the trumpet and saxophone players, who harmonized perfectly with one another. One of ensemble’s newest musicians — freshman electrical engineering major and trumpeter Matt Zidar —captivated the audience with his powerful sound projection.
The ensemble concluded the first half of the show with Duke Ellington’s “Ko Ko.”
The song felt different from the other selections because different parts of the ensemble worked together seamlessly, according to Fienberg. After a 15-minute break, the ensemble brought out the best of Harlem jazz with Jerome Kern’s “This Song is You.” Kern made 30 records under Blue Note Records during the ’50s and ’60s, which was the only label at the time that paid studio musicians, according to Fienberg.
The ensemble transitioned into a bumpier tune with Bud Powell’s “Celia.” Fienberg described Powell as a pianist who strived to improve his music while enduring mental health issues.
The song started with the trombones sassy tone under the rhythm of repetitious woodblock and snare hits.
The ensemble added some extra energy to the stage while performing Nat Adderley’s “Jive Samba.” During the performance, all eyes were on Rider University alumnus and trombonist Devon Wheeler (’17) as his instrument erupted with commanding melody.
While on stage, Wheeler found it strange to be a performer rather than an audience member.
“Going back to play onstage felt different this time,” Wheeler said. “Not so long ago, I was getting back with the rest of the audience at another show. It’s a different atmosphere.”
The student-musicians finished off the night with a bursting performance of the classic piece, “Sweet Georgia Brown.”
The musicians were excited to share their love of jazz music with an attentive audience. Franco felt grateful for the chance to perform, despite any pre-performance jitters he may have had.
“I get nervous before arriving on stage,” Franco said. “That’s when I remind myself to make the most out of a performance no matter what happens.”
(11/14/17 7:05am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The women’s cross country team finished fifth at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships and qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time since 2013.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams both ran well at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships at Houghton College on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The women’s team claimed fifth place out of 41 opponents with a score of 183. On the men’s side, juniors Matt Saponara and Quinn Wasko individually qualified for nationals.
In the 6,000-meter race, junior Natalie Cooper claimed sixth place out of 285 competitors and clocked in at 21:57.2.
After, Junior Madeleine Tattory secured 24th place with a time of 22:45.9, and freshman Gabby DeVito took 32nd place with a time of 22.53.7.
Junior Erin Holzbaur clocked in at 23:30.6, good for 56th place. Fellow junior Abigail Faith finished in 57th place with a time of 23:40.3.
“Going into the race, we focused on our team qualifying for nationals,” Cooper said.
At the men’s 8,000-meter race, junior Matt Saponara claimed 10th out of 290 runners with a time of 25:01. Fellow junior Quinn Wasko was close behind, taking 22nd place with a time of 25:18.9.
On Nov. 7, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams garnered honors from the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Head coach Justin Lindsey was announced as the NJAC coach of the year after leading the women’s team to the conference championship.
Cooper was named the NJAC runner of the year for winning her second consecutive NJAC individual title.
The women’s team also had five runners on the All-NJAC first team with Cooper, DeVito, Holzbaur, Tattory and Faith representing the Lions. DeVito was also named NJAC rookie of the year.
The men also received several conference honors. Freshman Robert Abrams was announced as the NJAC’s rookie of the year. Wasko, Saponara and Abrams were also named on the All-NJAC first team. The women’s team, along with Wasko and Saponara, will now head to Principia College in Elsah, Illinois for the upcoming NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday, Nov. 18.
(11/13/17 9:41pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The College’s School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science announced the launch of a master's of public health program on Oct. 16. The program will help graduate students pursue careers in health departments, global health and health education, as well as prepare them for medical school, according to Carol Kenner, the dean of the School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science.
The College’s Board of Trustees approved the program last July, according to the College’s website.
“Our program’s mission statement is to prepare graduates to advance the public’s health through education, health promotion and the improvement of health outcomes of populations and individuals domestically and globally by fostering the critical thinking, leadership and decision-making of our students,” Kenner said.
Full-time students can complete the program in two years while part-time students can complete it in four to five years, according to the College’s website.
The College is currently accepting applications for the program, which is scheduled to begin next fall. Kenner says the College is planning to promote the MPH program in career fairs.
The MPH program will provide graduate students with research, policy development and interdisciplinary education to address issues in health promotion, public health systems and personalized health, according to Kenner.
In order for students to complete the MPH program, they will need to take five core classes, three electives and complete a graduate capstone internship. There will be three tracks within the MPH program — the precision health track, the health communication track and the global health track.
The College’s MPH program will be led by faculty including Graduate Coordinator Carolina Borges, Department Chair for Public Health Brenda Seals, Public Health Assistant Professor Marina De Souza, Communication Studies Professor Keli Steuber Fazio, Communication Studies Associate Professor Yifeng Hu, Communication Studies Professor John Leustek and Communication Studies Professor John C. Pollock, according to the College’s website.
Evidenced by the significant portion of communication studies professors amongst the MPH faculty members, Pollock sees an important connection between communication and public health.
“Health Communication is one of the three major tracks in the MPH program, and health communication is a specialty and strength we in comm studies have developed over many years, and it is my own special strength,” Pollock said.
Kenner says that the three tracks make the program stand out from other programs in the region.
“Our program provides cutting-edge content in precision health that is individualized health based on genetic and genomic influences, besides the use of technology,” Kenner said. “TCNJ MPH offers three tracks of specialization that build on our strengths. No other program in the region offers all three of these tracks.”
Pollock plans to teach three courses in the MPH program. In his course Health and Risk Communication Campaigns: A Social Marketing Approach, Pollock will provide a gateway to the Health Communication track.
Pollock says that students will learn to prepare white papers — or papers analyzing policies addressing critical health issues such diabetes — and draft strategies and tactics to address those issues. It’s based on a program Johns Hopkins has developed, called a “P-Process.”
The P-Process is a tool for researching, developing and monitoring health communication campaigns.
In another course called International Communication, Pollock plans to explore the impact of media on society with a theory he has developed called the Community Structure Theory.
“We will explore connections between national demographic characteristics and variations in cross-national coverage of such compelling issues such as human trafficking, drug trafficking, water contamination, child labor and access to HIV (or) AIDS treatment,” Pollock said.
Pollock will also teach a course called Global Health Communication and Social Change. The course will address global public health issues such as child brides, the Zika virus, access to HIV treatment and child labor, according to Pollock.
“The purpose is to help students learn to write the kinds of policy papers and recommendations they would be asked to draft while working with United States Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and leading organizations in the effort to promote health and reduce risk,” Pollock said.
Kenner believes that the program will educate graduate students about health promotion and disease prevention.
“The goal of public health is protecting life and improving people’s lives by creating, proposing, and implementing scalable solutions to solve population level problems,” Kenner said. “Overall, people are living longer, more affected than ever by chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes type II, which are strongly associated with unhealthy lifestyles (such as) high fat intake, lack of physical activity and smoking.”
While Kenner noted an increase in life expectancy in the U.S., more Americans are dying from chronic diseases. In 2014, 2,626,418 resident deaths were recorded in the U.S., 29,425 more than in 2013, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kenner also plans to address the shortage of public health professionals. Kenner cited a 2012 CDC Morbidity and Mortality weekly report called Public Health Surveillance Workforce of the Future, Supplements by Patricia A. Drehobl, Sandra W. Roush, Beth H. Stover and Denise Koo. The Association of Schools of Public Health projected a shortfall of 250,000 public health workers by 2020, according to the report.
Kenner says the shortage of professionals will have a tremendous impact on public health.
“These projected shortages will directly affect the ability of federal, state and local public health agencies to protect the public health,” Kenner said.
Pollock is optimistic of the growth of the public health sector in New Jersey. He hopes that graduates of the College’s MPH program will be able to promote healthy lifestyles and address issues such as America’s aging population.
“We hope to excite students about ways that health communication training and scholarship can help our students promote healthy and less risky lifestyles and actually save lives,” Pollock said. “Because national demographics reveal a growing senior (and) aging population, because the federal government is devoting more resources to health, and because New Jersey is the pharmaceutical capital of the world, jobs in public health are plentiful and will continue to grow.”
Based on the success of the undergraduate public health major, the College’s MPH program has the potential to prepare an excellent class of public health professionals.
(11/07/17 7:37am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Ramapo College was no match for the Lions on Saturday, Nov. 4, when the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams captured another conference win in the Aquatics Center. The men took down Ramapo, winning 11 of out 12 individual events with a score of 189-73. The women beat Ramapo by a score of 169.5-90.5.
Underclassmen paved the way for the Lions. Freshman Andrew Thompson dominated the 100- and 200-backstroke, winning the 100-backstroke in 53.83 and the 200-backstroke in 1:57.38.
Fellow freshman Andrew Duff captured first at the 100-breaststroke with a time of 1:01.69 and finished third in the 200-breaststroke.
Sophomore Harrison Yi then outpaced Ramapo College in the 1,000-freestyle in 10:03.69 and the 200-individual medley in 1:58.59. Harrison was the only swimmer to clock in under two minutes. Thompson also placed second at the 200-individual medley.
Head coach Brian Bishop expects Yi to accomplish a lot in his sophomore season.
“Yi is a tremendous athlete and can swim just about any event,” Bishop said. “As a freshman last season, he was first team All-American and I expect even bigger things from him this season. His versatility gives us multiple options down the road in bigger meets.”
Senior Phil Binaco also won the 50-freestyle in 21.93. Junior Alex Skoog won the 100-freestyle with a time of 46.70.
The women’s team also had an impressive performance. Freshman Jamie Bowne headlined the team’s performance with three individual event wins. Bowne took the 1,000-freestyle in 11:42.46. She claimed first in the 100-butterfly with a time of 1:01.44. She then got her third win at the 200-individual medley with a time of 2:21.26.
Freshman Melanie Fosko swam ahead of the competition at the 100-breaststroke in 1:10.77. She only beat fellow freshman Annie Menninger by a millisecond. Fosko won the 500-freestyle by more than seven seconds.
Menninger then took first at the 200-breaststroke in 2:34.10, four seconds ahead of competitors.
Senior captain Jillian Galindo also grabbed a victory in the 200-butterfly.
Bishop plans on preparing the Lions for upcoming meets against New York University and John Hopkins University.
“We beat NYU in the last event to win the meet last season after losing the last event and the meet in 2015,” Bishop said. “Currently NYU is ranked fourth, JHU is sixth and we are 13th (according to CollegeSwimming.com’s NCAA Division III rankings). I expect a lot of really fast swims and while it will be a tremendous challenge for us, it should be really exciting.”
(11/07/17 6:56am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
My friends were grinning and laughing. The speaker was bumping every Halloween classic you could think to play. Hilarious anecdotes were brought up left and right after playing numerous games and icebreakers.
I was dressed up in a warm panda onesie while my friends flashed one photo after another. We were all leaving our busy lives aside for Halloween night, except, I was not living in their fun moment.
Instead, I found myself glued to my friend’s TV watching game six of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros. Throughout the night, I didn’t bother to talk with my friends much. I just waited for the clock to hit the single digits. With every burst of laughter and joy, I leaned my head down to conceal my sadness.
As I grew more frustrated with myself, I didn’t wait any longer. I put on my beanie and walked out the door. I shut the door despite my friend offering an Uber ride.
The second my feet hit the concrete, my cheeks turned bright red as tears streamed through the nose pads of my glasses and reached toward my chin.
I didn’t care if I was wandering through the streets on my own. I didn’t care if my stomach was growling. I didn’t care if I made my friends worry about me. I just felt defeated in an empty pursuit of happiness. Despite getting decent grades and planning out a future career in journalism, I began to realize how many missed opportunities I’ve had at building friendships in my past three years at the College.
It’s more than knowing their name or being in the same class, major, club or team. It’s more than sharing a selfie at Homecoming and adding a caption on Instagram.
Friendship goes beyond sharing a similar background, ethnicity, struggle, dream or goal. It’s being able to open up to your true self and developing an everlasting bond. No compromises, no conformity, no faking it, no mask to hide your face full of fears, ambitions, dreams, weaknesses and emotions.
When you have a friend, you’re not afraid to talk about a family problem back home, a struggle to get club members on the same page or even asking out that cute guy or girl you saw the other day. You begin to cherish every lively conversation, every thrilling memory and every inside joke that makes you spill your coffee on your way to class.
When you have a friend, you’re never alone. You got your squad, crew, amigos, fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, editors (in my case) and a pride of Lions at your back. There’s no telling what your future will be, but you know it doesn’t seem so daunting when you have someone there with you every step of the way.
The next morning, I saw one of my friends post a photo of us in our adorable costumes. I totally forgot how happy I was in that moment. A moment when midterms and career aspirations weren’t a priority. A moment that captured joy and harmony. A moment to recall at a reunion in the future. A moment I realized where I would’ve been now without my Signal crew.
I’m in my third year here at the College, but I still have a lot to learn about friendship. I can definitely start off by apologizing to my friends for making them worried on Halloween night. In the meantime, don’t ever be afraid to reach out to your friends because they care about you as much as you care about them.
Life's a bitch and she’ll relentlessly fire every obstacle at you, but she can be one incredible rollercoaster when you have friends to hold on to for the ride.
(10/31/17 5:46am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s cross country teams outran the competition at this year’s New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship in Galloway, New Jersey, on Saturday, Oct. 28.
The women’s team, led by junior Natalie Cooper, captured the NJAC Championship, while the men’s cross country team placed second for the first time in 23 years.
The women’s cross country team won its first NJAC title since 2015. The Lions dominated their conference competition in the 6,000-meter race and six Lions appeared in the top 10.
“Going into the race our team was focusing on taking back the NJAC title and getting as many girls high up in the race as possible,” Cooper said.
Cooper captured her second career NJAC individual title with a time of 21:44. Fellow junior Erin Holzbaur trailed Cooper by only a minute as she secured third place, clocking in at 22:55.
Cooper said she was able to improve from last year’s performance despite enduring injuries.
“During the race I stuck with Stockton’s top girl for the majority of the race and toward the end I felt good so I made a move,” Cooper said. “I dealt with some injuries at the beginning of this season, so considering where I am after coming back from that I would say I am improving from last year.”
Junior Madeleine Tattory followed up with a fourth place finish and clocked in at 22:57. Sophomore Gabby DeVito soon crossed the finish line and got fifth place with a time of 23:01. After, junior Abigail Faith snatched seventh place and recorded a time of 23:21.
Junior Olivia Shenkman got 18th place with a time of 24:36. Not long after, sophomore Hannah Fay secured the last scoring position at 20th place with a time of 24:52.
The men ran well against the eventual champions, Rowan University, in the 8,000-meter race. Junior Quinn Wasko led the men’s squad and finished in third place with a time of 25:31. Freshman Robert Abrams came in fifth, clocking in at 25:40.
Just six seconds later, junior Matt Saponara crossed the finish line in sixth place with a time of 25:46. Junior Luke Prothero then secured 12th place with a time of 26:11. Junior Daniel Brennan was not far behind as he claimed 14th place with a time of 26:19. Five seconds later, sophomore Richard Gruters snatched 15th place and recorded a time of 26:24.
Sophomore Andrew Dyer finished the race in 18th place with a time of 26:29. Senior Dale Johnson placed behind Dyer at 19th place with a time of 26:38. Despite the Lions securing 11 out of the top 30 places and scoring 36 team points, Rowan University edged out the Lions by just four points. Rowan was led by its senior captain, Kevin Veltre, who claimed the individual title.
The men’s and women’s cross country teams will now prepare for the upcoming NCAA Atlantic Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Houghton College.
“Our goal for regionals is to place highly as a team and qualify for nationals,” Cooper said.
(10/31/17 5:38am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams traveled to Montclair State University for their first conference meets of the season on Friday, Oct. 27. The men dominated Montclair State in a 170-122 victory. Meanwhile, the women’s team endured its first loss of the season, with a final score of 167-132.
Following his strong debut against Southern Connecticut State University, freshman Joseph Skotnicki swept the 500- and 1,000-freestyle with times of 4:54.94 and 10:04.63, respectively.
Head coach Brian Bishop has been impressed with Skotnicki’s performance this season.
“Skotnicki is a very talented young man and we are going to be counting on him throughout the season,” Bishop said. “He has incredible work ethic and has bought into everything we have done so far this season. We expect big things from him this year.”
Fellow freshmen Andrew Thompson and Kai Michaud also finished in second and third place respectively in the 1,000-freestyle. Thompson also won the 200-backstroke with a time of 1:59.24 and the 200-individual medley with a time of 2:03.05.
Junior Alex Skoog captured two victories. He won the 100-backstroke with a time of 53.01 and the 100-freestyle with a time of 47.77.
At the diving board, freshman Jay Soukup dominated the Red Hawks in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 177.95.
While the men dominated, Montclair State proved to be a tough opponent for the Lions.
At the 100-yard breaststroke, freshman Melanie Fosko nearly took first place in a close finish. Fosko completed the race with a recorded time of 1:11.13, only one millisecond behind him Montclair State sophomore Claire Luigard, who finished in 1:11.12.
Sophomore Annie Menninger was victorious in both the 500- and 1,000-freestyle events. Menninger won the 500-freestyle with a time of 5:28.46 and the 1,000-freestyle with a time of 11:14.66.
Jamie Bowne was also successful in the 200- and 100-yard butterfly events. Bowne took first place in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:19.42. She then finished second in the 100-yard butterfly, clocking in at 1:00.87. She was just .2 seconds behind of Montclair State sophomore Margaux Winchock.
Senior Hannah Raymond established personal records in both the 6-meter and 11-meter diving events. Raymond captured scores of 276.8 in the 6-meter dive and 481.15 in the 11-meter dive.
The Lions will have another conference meet at home against Ramapo College on Saturday, Nov. 4. The meet is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. at the TCNJ Aquatic Center.
Even though the men’s team has stronger opponents scheduled later in November, Bishop emphasizes that the home meet against Ramapo College is still a priority.
“We are going to focus more on hard work this week and next in preparation for the showdown with Johns Hopkins and NYU in three weeks, however, we can’t overlook Ramapo,” Bishop said. “The Ramapo meet being at home is definitely an advantage for us and should set the tone for the rest of the season.”
(10/31/17 1:40am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
After 30 days, six contractors finished the construction of eight different prototype walls in San Diego for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall on Thursday, Oct. 26, according to The Atlantic.
The prototype wall project is part of President Trump’s $1.6 billion plan to replace 14 miles of wall in San Diego and build 60 miles in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, according to the Los Angeles Times.
On Oct. 17, President Trump tweeted a video about the construction of the prototypes.
“BORDER WALL prototypes underway!” President Trump tweeted.
The prototype walls, ranging between 18 and 30 feet high, are divided between four concrete walls and four non-concrete walls, The Atlantic reported. Two of the eight prototype walls have a transparent design, according to Reuters.
Each wall model costed $500,000 and was built to withstand damage from tools such as sledgehammers, pickaxes and torches, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Border walls have proven to be an extremely effective part of our multi-pronged security strategy to prevent the illegal migration of people and drugs over the years,” said Ron Vitiello, the acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, in the federal agency’s press release. “These border enforcement zones give our men and women of CBP the best possible conditions to maintain a safe and secure border."
The six contractors who built the walls were Caddell Construction Co., LLC, Fisher Sand & Gravel Co., Texas Sterling Construction Co., W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, KWR Construction, Inc. and ELTA North America Inc., according to a press release from CBP.
After Saturday, Oct. 28, CBP will begin to test the durability of the eight walls, according to NBC. The CBP will test the walls for their anti-breaching and anti-digging capabilities along with their safety for border patrol agents, according to a press release from CBP.
“We're going to test it for breachability. For the subterranean aspect. Can we dig under it? Can we cut through it? Can we scale over it?” said Roy Villareal, the deputy chief patrol agent of the San Diego sector of CBP, according to NBC.
President’s Trump proposed wall will feature a multi-faceted barrier that has a concrete wall facing the U.S. and a non-concrete wall facing Mexico that would allow border patrol to see through it, according to NBC. The 150-foot gap between the two walls will be used for a monitoring zone.
“The thing I am most impressed by is the scale,” Vitiello told Fox News. “A lot of things have to happen now - testing, evaluation, estimates, appropriation. We will do it all as quickly and safely as we can to give as much security to the homelands as we can.”
As of Oct. 22, the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border has 654 miles of single-layer fence and 51 miles of double- and triple-layer fence, according to the Los Angeles Times.
(10/24/17 7:56am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Sports Editor
Records to break. Titles to win. Another chance to win the annual Metropolitan Conference Championship.
With the end of October approaching, a new season has begun for men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.
On Friday, Oct. 20, the men’s team swept Division II’s Southern Connecticut State University, 189-100 and the women’s team swam past Connecticut, 162-126, in Packer Hall.
After finishing in 12th place at NCAA Division III National Swimming Championship last year, the men’s swimming and diving team had to say goodbye to a beloved core of seniors who have led to great success.
“The three seniors, Scott Vitabile, Andrew Nesbitt and Ryan Gajdzisz along with Adam Coppola will be sorely missed,” said head coach Brian Bishop.
Coppola is ineligible to compete in his last year because he participated in a club team during his freshman year, according to Bishop.
“We were hoping Coppola would be eligible this season, however, the NCAA ruled that since he competed with the TCNJ club team as a freshmen, last year was his final season of eligibility,” Bishop said. “Between the four they earned over 30 All-American Awards as well as several national titles. Replacing them will be a challenge but we have the ‘next man up’ mentality.”
With the mentality in mind, younger swimmers showed their potential with wins against Southern Connecticut State University.
During the meet, freshman Joseph Skotnicki placed first in the 500- and 1,000-freestyle while fellow freshman Andrew Thompson steamrolled his opponents in the 100- and 200-backstroke.
Sophomore Harrison Yi, who was the New Jersey Athletic Conference’s rookie of the year last season, bursted to first place at the 200-freestyle and clocked in at 1:43.37. Yi also claimed second place in the 100-freestyle, finishing behind junior Alex Skoog.
Bishop commented on Yi’s growth as a top swimmer in the conference.
“Harrison is training at an unbelievable pace and early season indications are that he will be even better as a sophomore,” Bishop said. “As long as he maintains focus, I see no reason why he can’t earn Individual All-American honors at NCAA’s this year.”
Just like the Harrison and the freshmen, the upperclassmen also dominated against the Owls.
Senior Phil Binaco was the first to touch the wall in the 50-freestyle, clocking in at 22.09. Fellow senior Logan Barnes led the 200-breaststroke with a time of 2:18.14. Meanwhile, junior Sam Maquet was on top of the competition at the 100- and 200-butterfly events with times of 53.52 and 1:56.37 respectively.
Bishop is confident of the senior members’ leadership will lead the Lions to a top 10 finish at the National Championship.
“Our current upperclassmen led by Logan Barnes, senior Chris O’Sullivan and Alex Skoog will be integral in the team’s success,” Bishop said. “Our goal will be to return to the top 10 at the NCAA Championships this spring.”
The women’s swimming and diving team also showcased the talent of their freshmen.
Freshman Katie Doyle powered through 100-backstroke as she claimed first place with a time of 1:04.01. In the midst, freshman Elise Fraser won the 50-freestyle in 25.09 and freshman Jamie Brown snatched first place at the 100-butterfly in 1:00.77.
Just like the men, the senior members of the women’s team also barreled through the Owls.
Senior captain Jill Galindo led at two events, the 200-backstroke and 200-individual relays with times of 2:16.17 and 2:19.23.
At the diving board, senior Hannah Raymond won first place at the 1-meter with a tally of 306.15.
Both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will be on the road this Friday, Oct. 27, as they take on conference foe, Montclair State University.