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SPORTS
September 16, 2009
Cuestonian
Cuesta serves up cut of women’s tennis By Rachel Ward
Boosters have high hopes for this young Cougar women’s volleyball team, even though it has only two returning players.
Fresh start for volleyball Scrimmage tournament pits Cougars against state teams By Matthew Taylor Staff Writer
Tension was high as college women arrived on campus recently for volleyball’s statewide pre-season Straight Down Scrimmage Tournament. Team members sized each other up by bringing their best game to the court. Women powered over the net as the volleyballs sailed into their side of the playground. Spikes, dives and bumps were going down all day as the women demonstrated their ability to play the game seriously. Other than the very athletic women around me one person stood out more than the rest. She was running up and down the sideline yelling encouragements as her players worked to keep the hustle going. Roche Nystrom, the coach for the Cougars, who hosted the invitational tournament, was excited to see volleyball happening with such exuberance. I could tell by her positive demeanor she is looking forward to a great season with her team. She discussed her team’s strength in every position and the ability they have to play together. Starting middle
cougars will have to demonstrate. The official season started against Porterville on Sept.1 the Cougars lost in a four set game losing 17-25,25-22,2225,22-25. That loss will make the Cougars 0-1 for the season but with the potential that this young team has anything can happen. After the loss to Porterville and the six-hour bus ride was over, the Cougars headed back to practice in the gym to prepare for the match against Victorville. On Sept. 2 the cougars met Victorville here at home for the second game of the season. The cougars lost the game in three consecutive sets 23-25,22-25,23-25. This was a very disappointing upset that left the cougars with a record 0-2. That’s a wake up sign for the young cougars that are now preparing for their third game against Sequoia on Sept. 9. With practice all week and a not so satisfied pack of cougars, things may come to exciting head during the upcoming game. With two loses on the board and a third match approaching quickly, the cougars need to make a decision about what this season is going to mean to them.
Joanna Hogue who said, “with the players we have and Roche as coach we should do well all season”, backed Nystrom’s feelings.
“With Roche as coach and the players we have we should do well all season.”– Joanna Hogue The Cougars showed no weakness as they won repeatedly throughout the day. The tournament has no affect on the team’s standings due to the fact it is a pre-season event, but the advantage of sizing up the competition and getting a feel for how the season can go can be irreplaceable in the world of college sports. The Cougars looked great as they wound their way through the rotation and left on Sunday with more wins than losses. This year, with the team only having two returning players and the rest of the team members starting their first year, a state title may be a little farther away than we would like to think considering the amount of skill these young
By Jerome Hunt Staff Writer
It’s Wednesday, Aug. 26, and the incumbents are battling for the starting positions. With more than 70 people trying out for the baseball team, the competition is high and the skill level is off the charts. No one knows who is going to make the starting roster; however, they all know that they are competing with some of the nation’s best ball players. Hitting home runs during preseason practice, Brett Hartman wows his teammates
CIC. Cuesta Invitational
12 p.m.
Womens Soccer Fri. 9/25 Tues. 10/6
Sacramento City College Oxnard College
4 p.m. 4.p.m.
Women’s Volleyball Fri. 9/25 Fri. 10/2 Tues. 10/13
Citrus College West L.A. College Santa Barbara College
6 p.m. 6.p.m. 7 p.m.
Mens Water Polo Fri. 9/18-19 Fri. 9/25 Wed. 9/30 Wed. 9/30
Cuesta Tournament Cuesta Mini Tour Santa Monica College Cal Poly
All Day All Day 3 p.m. 7 p.m.
Santa Monica College Rabobank Tournament Rabobank Tournament
4:15 p.m. All Day All Day
All events listed are at home. For complete schedules of all sports, check online at http://academic.cuesta.edu/athletics/schedulelist.htm
Jerome Hunt/Cuestonian
Womens Water Polo Wed. 9/30 Fri. 10/2 Thurs. 10/3
President Steve Leone. “We should have not considered cutting any programs and instead reduced or cut areas outside of the classroom,” he said. The women’s tennis team had a promising season ahead. They had a lready ra ised $10,000 in funding, according to retired coach Mike Napoli. They recruited 11 players, out of which four were returners and seven others were committed to coming to play for Cuesta’s high ranked team. Last year the tennis team took first in conference and 4th in state with an all together team record of 16-1 for the season. The funding for athletics at Cuesta is a combined effort of fund raising by the Athletic Department and coaches; together they come up with nearly two thirds of the athletic operation budget. The suspension of tennis will save the college an estimated $30,000. “It is a difficult decision by the college; we are saddened by the fact we had to suspend the program,” said Athletic Director, Bob Mariucci. Napoli hopes to see the program reinstated. “It has too much of a reputation at all levels, including national, to be forgotten.”
Would-be returning players Laura Hanes, Hannah Spencer, Alex Wollenman, and Chloe Redman were hard hit by the suspension of tennis.
Tryouts overrun - who’s on first?
SPORTS CALENDAR Sat. 9/19
Cuesta College students returned this fall to find that budget cuts would be affecting their class schedules. The women’s tennis team, however, had already been dealt a more serious blow: They had no team to come back to. “I think it’s really sad because it was a program that was very successful, and showed the talent of students at Cuesta,” said would-be returner Hannah Spencer. “The reason I came to Cuesta was to play; I declined three admissions to universities just to play.” Beyond hard feelings, there is some controversy about whether the right steps were taken to suspend the team. There is also an ongoing debate on whether the team is classified as a program or a class. If it was classified as a program the team would have never been up for suspension, but since the dean classified it as a class it was OK to suspend. The Board of Trustees voted for the suspension, while representatives of the Academic Senate fought the suspension, arguing it was a program. “Unfortunately, we don’t agree what is a program or a class,” said Academic Senate
Rachel Ward/Cuestonian
Matthew Taylor/Cuestonian
Staff Writer
on the field. Hartman said he chose Cuesta College, because he didn’t like the offers from other schools. He is majoring in business and pursuing higher education at Cal Poly. He said he works hard and gets better every day. The Western Canadian Champ of 2008, pitcher Riley Panteluk, is contending for the starting position as pitcher. Towering above his teammates, Panteluk said that he always wanted to play baseball in California.
Business major Danny Poma out of Monterey plans on transferring to Cal Poly. With more than 15 years experience, Poma is aiming for a spot at center field, Behind the scenes and practicing his top hand/bottom hand technique, student athlete Jake Reed also has plans for Cal Poly. The business administration major is contending for the starting position as catcher. Reed said he chose Cuesta because he’s looking for a good program.