/11.12.2009.sports

Winter Sports Preview A special section of

The Ithacan

Sitting courtside

As the eight winter sports teams beat the freeze and break into action, we’ve got the inside scoop.

From top left, sophomore Antoine Connors and junior Sheila Rhoades (swimming), sophomore Emma Dewart and junior Max Orenstein (track and field), senior Lindsay Brown and junior Chris Cruz (basketball) and seniors Chad Winowich (wrestling) and Brianne Sullivavn (gymnastics). lauren decicca/the ithacan

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

wrestling

Bombers hit the mat with six returning All-Americans

By Dave uram Staff Writer

When this year’s seniors came in as freshmen for the wrestling team, Head Coach Marty Nichols said he knew he had a talented group for the next four years. He had lost 10 seniors from the year before, and the face of Ithaca College wrestling was changing.

The Bombers then recruited 13 wrestlers in 2007, and another solid group of eight was added last year to strengthen the team.

After back-to-back Empire 8 Conference Championships and a finish of sixth place last year at nationals, the Blue and Gold are living by one motto: national championship or bust.

With Nichols setting the bar for the national championships, senior Willie Horwath said everyone is ready to push toward that ultimate goal.

“That’s what he wants, and the team wants that as well,” Horwath said. “It would be a letdown if we didn’t at least compete in the top three. That’s definitely a legitimate goal we can strive toward this year.”

The South Hill squad JUST THE FACTS has four returning Head Coach: Marty Nichols All-Americans from last year, including Horwath, 133-pound Last year’s record: 14–1 senior and tri-captain Chad Winowich; 149-pound juKey losses: Scott Edwards ’09 nior Blaine Woszczak; and and John Paxos ’09 133-pound sophomore Seth Key returners: Junior Blaine Ecker, who was named an From left, senior Willie Horwath wrestles against SUNY-Cortland sophomore Eric Ekstrom during the Ithaca Invitational on SaturWoszczak, sophomore Seth Ecker All-American at 125-pounds. day in Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers ranked third in the National Wrestling Coaches Association preseason poll. and senior Willie Horwath The Blue and Gold also allison usavage/The ithacan return All-Americans from Captains: Seniors Joe Goetz, Jon All-Americans, Ecker and Winowich, are feel really good with either one of the guys. when they know that.” previous years — 125-pound Gregory and Chad Winowich Whoever ends up being the guy has a good Gregory, who was going to be fighting for the 133 spot. senior and tri-captain Jon Even though this means one All-American chance of winning it.” sidelined for most of last Home mat: Ben Light Gymnasium Gregory and 141-pound Gregory said having the depth the Bombyear with three herniated will not be in the starting nine, Nichols said he senior Justin Seifried. Both ers have helps when injuries occur. disks in his neck, said the views it as a plus. were plagued by injuries last “There’s going to be an All-American sit“That’s definitely a good thing,” Nichols year, and Seifried also missed the year before. injury is lingering. He said it is something “I definitely think our lightweights are the he has to deal with — it is not going to said. “We have six returning All-Americans ting out somewhere, but that doesn’t detract in the first five weights, so they’re not the from the goal of being a national championbest lightweights in the country,” Gregory said. go away.

However, the return of Gregory is still only two that are going to be vying for a posi- ship team,” Gregory said. “As evidenced by “That’s not to say I don’t think we have a hole in our lineup this year, but our lightweights huge for the team. Ecker, who filled in tion. It’s going to happen in quite a few of the my injury last year, anybody goes down at are going to be a force to be reckoned with. for Gregory last year at 125 pounds, went other weights as well. It’s always a good thing any time. And we know we got a guy that can And I know teams aren’t going to be happy up a weight class to 133. That means two — competition, at any weight class — and we come in for him and be an All-American.”

men’s swimming

Jumping off the blocks Blue and Gold get off to strong start with toughest competition ahead

By Brad Kolodner Staff Writer

Driven by a collective group of leaders, the men’s swimming and diving team is entering its 2009-10 campaign with high expectations.

Not only is success a goal, it is an expectation for the team. The Bombers have yet to finish lower than sixth place in the 16-team conference during Head Coach Kevin Markwardt’s 22-year tenure.

“We have a long tradition of being very successful,” Markwardt said. “It’s kind of an expectation that we’re going to be somewhere in the top-five places. That’s just kind of an understanding in our program.”

Markwardt said the road to success may be harder than in years past because of a tough schedule. In addition, the team lost a vital member in the offseason when standout Joe Gage transferred to Cornell University for academic reasons.

“If Joe Gage was here, we’d be vying for the championship this year, no question about it,” Markwardt said.

“He’s not. I didn’t expect that he’d be gone after sophomore year. It just kind of ripped a hole in our program.”

Despite the loss of Gage, the team started its season on the right foot, defeating Le Moyne College on Oct. 23 at home 145–92 and Rensselaer

Polytechnic Institute on Oct. 31 in Troy, N.Y., 125–117 in a closely contested meet. The Bombers improved to 3–0 after beating SUNY-Cortland on Saturday. In those meets, the freshmen swimmers took charge in leading the Bombers to victory.

“It’s encouraging because we’ve got some young kids,” Markwardt said. “If the freshmen don’t step up and perform, we can’t be successful.

JUST THE FACTS We actually have two or three freshHead Coach: Kevin Markwardt men right now Last year’s record: 12–5 that are top point scorers. You don’t Key losses: Mike Ariel ’09 (backexpect a freshman stroke and freestyle), Brant Gawrys Sophomore Jeff Rapp swims the breaststroke leg of the men’s 200-yard individual medley during to be a leader, but ’09 (breaststroke) and Cornell Unithe Bomber’s home meet against SUNY-Cortland on Saturday at the Hill Center Pool. they can’t sit back versity junior Joe Gage (freestyle) Nathan Bickell/The ithacan and expect someKey returners: junior Steve do anything. We just got a batch of Markwardt said. must collectively work together. one else is going to Croucher (freestyle) and sopho“Everyone has to motivate ev- really awesome freshmen. A lot of “There are some step up.” more Antoine Connors (freestyle) [juniors] like erybody else,” Ariel said. “There’s our upperclassmen are improving by The team Steve Croucher no one person that has to lead the the day.” boasts a balanced Captains: To be determined With a long season ahead, the and Justin Gainer team. We try to work together as a lineup of sprinters, Bombers must work together as a stepping in where team to get things done.” distance swimmers Home pool: Hill Center Pool Sophomore sprinter Antoine Con- group and share their passion for the captains may and divers. But be not as outgo- nors said the sense of team camarade- swimming in order to find success in with only three seniors on the 32-man roster, the Bomb- ing or as forceful as we’ve had in rie goes a long way toward sustained their highly competitive conference.

“None of us are required to swim, success. He said everyone on the team ers will have to rely on a few juniors to the past.”

Assistant Coach Mike Ariel ’09, must step up in order to be successful, but we all do it because we love it,” take charge.

Connors said. “We all do it because it’s “There are a couple of juniors who who is in his first year of coaching, including the freshmen.

“The freshmen are the base,” Con- a part of our life. We all do it because are stepping up right now and fill- said not only must the seniors and ing the void that’s obviously there,” juniors push the team, but everyone nors said. “Without the base, we can’t we’re a family.”

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The Ithacan 3

women’s swimming

Squad gets under way with wins in opening matchups of season

By Brennin Cummings Contributing Writer

With five returning All-Americans and a strong group of freshmen, the women’s swimming and diving team is optimistic that this season will be just as successful as last year’s state championship and national place-winning season.

“This is one of the strongest teams Ithaca has ever had,” Head Coach Paula Miller said.

Miller is in her 26th year as the Bombers’ head coach and her staff includes graduate students Emily Lesher, Joelle Hopf and Lauren Botterbusch ’09. Botterbusch currently holds the team records for 100- and 200-yard breaststroke.

The team gained Botterbusch as a coach, but they lost her as a competitor. The team also lost Jordan Doppelt ’09 and Cathleen Barnes ’09. Barnes has one of the program’s fastest times in the 1,000and 1,650-yard freestyle.

Miller said she has specific goals for this year’s team.

“We want to excel and improve over the season, and during this process we want to become a more unified team,” she said.

She said she also hopes to recapture the Empire 8 Championship and the Upper New York State Championship, as well as qualify individual athletes and relays for the Division III Nationals.

Miller said the Bombers’ strongest events paint a promising picture. At sprint freestyle, Miller said junior Sheila Rhoades “leads the pack.” Rhoades was a three-time All-American and Empire 8 Champion last year. She also holds the fastest time in school history for

the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.

Leading breaststroke is junior Becca Blazak. Last year Blazak placed second at states and went on to be an All-American in the 100yard breaststroke at nationals.

Without Botterbusch, Miller said she is also counting on her incoming group of freshmen to round out the breaststroke event.

In the butterfly events, senior Jen JUST THE FACTS Heberton, an AllAmerican and reHead Coach: Paula Miller cord holder in the Last year’s record: 11–3 100-yard butterfly, is returning to the Key losses: Lauren Botterbusch team, but her severe ’09 (breaststroke) shoulder problems make her status Key returners: Junior Sheila questionable. MillRhoades (freestyle) and sophomores Missy Keesler (freestyle) and er said sophomore Becca Blazak (individual medley) Cali DeSanto is also expected to make a Sophomore Kelly Murphy swims a freestyle event during the Bombers’ win over SUNY-Cortland Captains: Seniors Laura Kucsan strong showing in (freestyle), Jen Heberton (backon Saturday at the Hill Center Pool. The Blue and Gold continue their season Saturday. the event.

Nathan bickell/The ithacan stroke) and Naomi Mark (diver) “[DeSanto] was They defeated Le Moyne College compete at the state level. better team.” exceptional last Home pool: Hill Center Pool Because the team has a total in their home opener Oct. 23. The Fre shman year,” Miller said.

Lexi Brawer of 19 divers, a large group for a Blue and Gold also knocked off “We’re also very excited about the incoming freshmen said the group of 18 freshmen diving team, Brisley said not ev- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comes to practice every day with eryone will get the chance they and SUNY-Cortland on Oct. 31 and we have to complete that event.”

Saturday, respectively.

One of the challenges the team a great attitude and they work deserve to compete.

The Bombers’ wins were all Brisley said the team is made is facing is staying healthy. The extremely hard, despite someteam has taken a hit from the flu times not getting a chance to swim up of a strong group of divers who dominating performances, winning by 95, 66 and 85 points, reand other illnesses, which has pre- certain events because of the class’s know what it takes to win.

The divers leading the way for spectively, in their first three meets vented the Bombers from having immense size.

The diving team has a positive the young squad are sophomore this season. their full team at any one meet so The South Hill squad takes on outlook for its season as well. The Jodi Costello, senior Naomi Mark, far this season.

With many athletes trying to team didn’t graduate any divers, and junior Megan Stover, senior Caro- Bloomsburg University on Saturlyn Dartt and junior Emily Griffin day in Bloomsburg, Pa. Though get healthy, Miller said the fresh- it added six new divers this year.

Diving Coach Nate Brisley said — all of whom were point-scor- the Blue and Gold are facing a man class is making a big impact adding the new divers brought a ing divers on last season’s state demanding schedule, Miller said on the team. this year’s team is enthusiastic, “The freshmen are really push- lot more depth and a higher level championship team.

The Bombers kicked off their hard working and ready to meet ing the upperclassmen,” Miller of competition to the team. Last said. “That results in us having a year the Bombers had five divers season with three straight victories. the challenge.

All the headlines from the past week of Empire 8 action, plus conversations with the writers who cover the teams

Bomber Nation

Get a new episode every Monday. theithacan.org/podcasts/bombernation The Ithacan online

Winter Sports Preview

Winter Sports Preview

4 The Ith acan

Thursday, November 12, 2009

projected starting lineups

Bouncing back

The Bombers finished their regular season with only one loss last season. After two disappointing losses in the postseason and graduating seven players, the Blue and Gold are counting on a young lineup to get back to the postseason.

G - senior lindsay brown

PPG: 13.0 FGP: 49.1% 3PP: 36.9%

PPG: 9.4 FTP: 67.1% RPG: 4.0

G - freshman sean rossi •All-West Jersey •Two-time team MVP at Sparta High School

Total points: 2,388 PPG: 88.4 Opponent’s PPG: 73.9

FGP: 46.2% FTP: 80.6% RPG: 3.8

FGP: 46.2% RPG: 6.0 SPG: 2.8

FTP: 78.5%

PPG: 10.2 SPG: 0.93 3PP: 37.5%

File photo/the ithacan

phil barera

FGP: 45% FTP: 66.7% MPG: 6.5

FGP: 37.7% FTP: 62.3% RPG: 4.0

ppg = points per game fgp = field goal percentage 3pp = 3 point percentage ftp = free throw percentage mpg = minutes per game spg = steals per game apg = assists per game rgp = rebounds per game

Rookies and veterans come together in rebuilding season After a dominant 24–3 record last season, the men’s basketball team hits the court with what Head Coach Jim Mullins says could be one of the best teams he has ever coached.

“I’m very happy with the group,” Mullins said. “They’re really good.

At some point in time, they’ll prove to be one of the best teams in Ithaca history. I just don’t know how soon that’s going to be.”

With a young group that’s split evenly between freshmen and upperclassmen, the Bombers will need everyone to step up. The Blue and Gold lost Sean Burton, All-American and East Region Player of the Year, and Jeff Bostic, an East Region second-team selection.

Mullins said though it’s impossible to replace players such as Burton and Bostic, the team will still find ways to be successful.

“I don’t expect any of our point guards to be Sean Burton,” he said.

“I expect them to be themselves and do what they can do. When you get a bunch of kids like that, who are very unselfish and their only concern is the success of the whole, you’re going to be on to something special. You don’t really replace guys, you just restock.”

Seniors Tom Brown and Will Gaskins are the lone seniors on the team. Brown said this year is much different than last year because they had six seniors and a graduate student then. Though he is one of few veteran players, Brown said

that we needed to do, so we got down early and couldn’t fight back.”

Despite what other teams in the region may think, Cruz said one of the Bombers’ goals is to win the conference and make it to the NCAA Championship tournament.

The South Hill squad opens its season Monday against Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y., a matchup Brown said is important.

“This year, every game is going to be a big game because there’s no real standout in our conference,” he said. “It’s going to be a dogfight to see who wins the conference.

JUST THE FACTS We’re going to have to come Head Coach: Jim Mullins to play every Last year’s record: 24–3 single game.”

Cruz said Key losses: Sean Burton ’09, Jeff the key for the Bostic ’09 and Brendan Rogers ’09 Bombers to win is consistency.

Key returners: Junior Chris Cruz, “We want to senior Tom Brown and sophomore make sure we’re Jordan Marcus ready to go evCaptains: Cruz, Brown and senior ery game,” he Will Gaskins said. “Coming off a big year Home court: Ben Light Gymnasium last year we have a big target on our back, but we can’t expect to just walk into a game and win. We have to actually play and play hard — we have to earn that win. If we go into every game expecting to win and not having to Then-junior Tom Brown shoots as Stevens Institute of Technology then-senior play hard, we’re going to be in for Anthony Passalacqua goes for the block last season at Ben Light Gymnasium. a rude awakening.”

File photo/the ithacan

The Blue and Gold finished their 2008-09 campaign with a 13–3 conference record but failed to take the Empire 8 title.

Junior Elissa Klie and the Bombers look to use their running game to get an edge on their opponents.

Last season’s numbers Total points: 1,128 PPG: 61.2 Opponent’s PPG: 57.0

FGP: 35.3% FTP: 90.9% MPG: 11.5

F - junior jordan confessore

Blue and Gold shoot for consistency this will not influence how he plays.

“I just want to play my role and not try to do too much,” he said.

Brown said the freshmen on the team have shown promise and will have many opportunities to prove themselves. And Mullins said it is size, not youth, that is his main concern.

“If you look at us — we’re skinny,” he said. “We’re not as physical as we’ve been in the past, but we’ll have to see how that plays out when we get in there against physical teams.”

Mullins said teams in New York might be counting the Bombers out of the Empire 8 tournament because of their youth.

“A lot of people are going to look and say this is going to be a down year for them, and it’s kind of like, ‘Well, not so fast, not so fast,’” Mullins said.

“We’re going to do some goofy things that young teams do that’ll make us pull our hair out from time to time, but they’re a talented group.”

Despite the Bombers’ brilliant regular season last year, they were unable to perform well in the postseason.

They fell to Nazareth College in the semifinal of the Empire 8 Championships and suffered a heartbreaking six-point loss to DeSales University in the NCAA Championships.

“It’s tough because we didn’t have a game all season where everyone shot bad, and it happened on one night — that night,” junior guard Chris Cruz said. “No one could get it going. Offensively, it was tough to score. Defensively, we gave up a lot of fast-break points. We didn’t execute the things

G - sophomore jessica farley

F - junior

men’s basketball

Sports Editor

PPG: 11.9 FTP: 72.1% APG: 3.4

C - junior elissa klie

G - sophomore jordan marcus

Junior guard Chris Cruz looks to lead the Bombers after finishing last season as the team’s second-leading point scorer.

G - senior katherine bixby

C - senior tom brown

FGP: 45.2%

The Ithacan 5

Moving forward

G - junior chris cruz

Last season’s numbers

By Casey Musarra

Thursday, November 12, 2009

FGP: 38.6% FTP: 65.9%

Junior Elissa Klie led the Blue and Gold with 82 steals last season and looks to continue this strong defensive play this season.

File photo/the ithacan

women’s basketball

Bombers use quickness against bigger opponents

By Thomas Eschen Staff Writer

Not every team can end the season with a victory, and the women’s basketball team was no different last season, losing by a heartbreaking two points to Stevens Institute of Technology in the Empire 8 Conference Championship.

The Bombers said they are not focusing on the loss, but it is something they are using as motivation for the season.

“We are coming out of that game knowing we JUST THE FACTS have to stay comHead Coach: Dan Raymond posed in games throughout the seaLast year’s record: 19–10 son,” junior Jordan Key losses: Megan Rumschik Confessore said. ’09, Tracy Bradley ’09 The Bombers wrapped up Key returners: Seniors Katherine their 2008-09 camBixby and Lindsay Brown and paign with a solid junior Elissa Klie 19–10 overall reCaptains: To be determined cord. With a completely new slate Home court: Ben Light Gymnasium of games for the 2009-10 season, the Blue and Gold will try to reinforce that new sense of composure.

“You learn from your losses,” senior guard Lindsay Brown said. “Basketball is such a Then-junior Katherine Bixby looks to pass to an open teammate as Elmira College then-junior long season, and we are focusing on keeping Alysha Giarra guards her in the Bombers’ 66–63 overtime win Jan. 30 in Ben Light Gymnasium.

File photo/The Ithacan an even keel. We know that it is a new year, though. We are a different team now.”

Though guard Megan Rumschik ’09 and together well, especially considering the large this season is “phenomenal,” improving team chemistry on and off the court. center Tracy Bradley ’09, both starters, were group of freshmen.

The Bombers are buying into a renewed “I loved them from the beginning,” Brown lost to graduation, the Bombers brought in seven freshmen to fill out the 15-player roster. said. “They are all sweet girls, but are still focus on work ethic and body awareness. The The rookies bring with them a completely new competitive at the same time. They make up team is learning how to stay in shape by eating right and stretching correctly, which is helppersonality and pool of talent. Many of the for their lack of experience with hustle.”

Junior Elissa Klie said the group of women ing them to train harder and longer. This is all athletes on the team said the group has come

part of the team’s game plan of getting up and down the floor as fast as possible.

“We are a lot smaller this year, but we’ve been conditioning a lot,” Confessore said. “We want to be faster so we can play a fast-paced game.”

Last season, Bradley used her speed at the center position to force opposing defenses to run up and down the court the entire game, which allowed for a lot of easy baskets. A forward last year, Klie is poised to take over that center position.

“Tracy scored a lot,” Klie said. “It’s going to be challenging.”

Though smaller than Bradley, Klie’s speed and shooting give her the upper hand over bigger, slower opponents in the Empire 8.

With a 9–2 home record last season, including two postseason games, the South Hill squad will look to use home court advantage as much as possible with 12 regular season matchups at Ben Light Gymnasium this year.

The Bombers start their season not only out of conference, but also out of division.

It’s not exactly a road game on Saturday, as the Bombers will travel up the East Hill to visit Division I Cornell University. This is not a friendly exhibition matchup; rather, it’s a regular season game for both teams. It will be the Blue and Gold’s toughest test of the early season.

“It’s the day after Cortaca, against a D-I school in the Ivy League,” Confessore said.

“We are definitely going to take it seriously.”

Klie said the matchup will be an indication of how much work the Bombers need to do early on in their season.

“If we can stick with them, we will be able to stick with anybody we face this season,” Klie said.

The Bombers will need that approach throughout the entire season, since they have to face early season competition and the always-difficult conference schedule.

Winter Sports Preview

6 The Ithacan

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Men’s track

Young Bombers prepared to make run at postseason

By Andrew Weiser Assistant sports Editor

With 40 to 45 athletes already participating in track and field preseason workouts and several other members currently competing in other varsity sports, the men’s indoor track team looks to have one of the largest squads in the program’s recent history.

After qualifying four athletes for the NCAA Championships last season, the Bombers are primed to improve on that success with balanced talent and depth in every area of competition.

One reason the team has seen such a dramatic increase in athletes this year is a large and talented freshman class.

“We have a strong tradition of athletes getting better while they’re here,” Head Coach Jim Nichols said. “We kind of joke about it — that it’s just drinking the Ithaca water — and that’s why we’re so good here. But a lot of it is our coaches and coaching staff.”

Despite graduating 11 seniors from last year’s team, Nichols is confident that this squad’s upperclassmen are prepared to step up to the challenge of leading the team.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the chemistry comes around with our juniors and seniors,” Nichols said. “They have the routine down of what we do and how we do things, the style in which we want to get things done and imparting that to our freshmen.”

With a relatively young team, grounding and direction will be key to the Bombers’ continued success. Nonetheless, the upperclassmen are confident that they can provide the necessary guidance to direct the team.

“I’m going to do what I can to give [the freshmen] my experience and impart my work ethic,” senior pole-vaulter Andrew Brown said. “I train hard, and I hope to at least get other people to do the same or similar things.”

Playing to each other’s strengths in hopes of achieving a championship takes a combination of preparation and the understanding of how to conduct yourself in order to maintain that certain level of competitiveness.

“I try my best to get people to take care of

JUST THE FACTS Head Coach: Jim Nichols Last year’s finish: First in Empire 8 and third in ECACs Key losses: Cory Petermann ’09, Chris Covino ’09 and Tim Shea ’09 Key returners: Juniors Jeff Wetmore, Max Orenstein and Kyle Devins Captains: To be determined Home track: Cornell University

Then-sophomore Chris Wilber clears the bar during the high jump event at the Upstate Challenge last season in Barton Hall at Cornell University. The Blue and Gold lost 11 athletes from last season’s squad.

File photo/The ithacan

their bodies and stay healthy,” senior Jon Lin, a sprinter and athletic training major, said. “One of our problems is that we tend to get hurt during the season, so I try to make sure people go to the trainers and get treatment even if it’s something small.”

From cheering trackside for every teammate to offering advice on lifting techniques in workouts, the teammates’ sense of support reinforces how hard everyone works and competes in individual events.

“We’re all really supportive of each other,”

women’s track

Brown said. “It’s really good that not only can you contribute pointwise, but you can contribute support and enthusiasm for everybody else on the team.”

With a third-place finish at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships last season — the best in program history — Lin said this year’s team is looking to beat that mark and believes it has the talent to accomplish it.

“We have a lot of talented athletes on the team, but I feel like we can build up on that,” Lin said. “With the number of athletes and the

Blue and Gold chase conference dominance

By Nathan bickell Staff Writer

In Empire 8 track and field, the women’s indoor track team may live up to the bold connotations of the word dynasty.

The Bombers have won five of the six conference championships, and last year, they scored more points than all of the other schools combined.

With all of their star athletes returnJUST THE FACTS ing, the Bombers Head Coach: Jennifer Potter will attempt to defend their Empire 8 Last year’s finish: First at and New York State NYSCTC Championships, Collegiate Track fourth of 51 teams at ECACs Conference titles and break into the Key losses: Alison Siderko ’09 and Diamando Stratakos ’09 top 10 at the national championKey returners: Sophomore ships, which would Emma Dewart and juniors Marbe the best finish in cia McCord and Kate Leugers program history.

Head Coach Captains: All seniors Jennifer Potter ’92 Home track: Cornell University said the strength of the senior class has helped the team.

“All of our seniors are captains,” Then-sophomore Lindsay Harris takes the baton from then-freshman Jackie she said.

Potter is entering her seventh year Wild during the Ithaca Invitational on March 28 at Butterfield Stadium. as coach at her alma mater. She is overFile Photo/The ithacan

Championship track record

2004

Empire 8 Outdoor and Indoor Champions

number of talented athletes on the team, we’re pretty stacked this year.”

With the development of the young core talent, coupled with the seasoned experience setting the tone, the team’s success shouldn’t come as a surprise.

“It would be nice to have three, four or five [championships] on the men’s side, if we can get it rolling,” Nichols said. “It looks like we’re getting it rolling now with the type of kids we have coming in. They’re excited about the upcoming season; I’m excited about it.”

2005

seeing a team that’s greatest strength may be its depth in all of the events in track and field. Potter said the depth helps most at the conference and state levels, where, even if the Bombers don’t win an event, they can place multiple athletes to score points for the team.

“At the national level you need some blue-chip athletes,” Potter said.

The Bombers are returning all four of their national championship qualifiers, including two All-Americans — pentathletes sophomore Emma Dewart and graduate student Lauren Koppel — junior sprinter Marcia McCord and junior miler Kate Leugers from last year. A strong group of freshmen is also joining the team, including cross country standout Jenn Randall, who, for all her accomplishments on the trails, had only run track before coming to college.

Leading the group is Dewart, who finished seventh at the indoor national championships last year.

The pentathlon combines five of track’s most varied events from the shot put to the 800-meter race.

Dewart said she likes the pentathlon because it allows her to make up for one poor performance with a strong one in another event.

Her strongest event is the high

The women’s track team has continued its conference dominance, winning or placing second in each of the past six seasons.

Empire 8 Outdoor and Indoor Champions

2006

Empire 8 Outdoor Champions, Empire 8 Indoor Runner-Up

2007

Empire 8 Outdoor Runner-Up, Empire 8 Indoor Champions

2008

Empire 8 Outdoor and Indoor Champions

jump, with which she qualified for the national championships during the outdoor season last year.

McCord is a three-time All-American in the 200- and 400-meter, earning those honors throughout the outdoor season. During the indoor season last year, she competed at the national championships in the 400-meter run and the triple jump, placing 10th and 14th, respectively. The quarter-mile is her specialty, and this year she said she wants to redeem herself after a disappointing finish last season and will give it everything she has.

“Finishing a race and knowing there was absolutely no more you could have done — that’s my favorite part about track and field,” McCord said.

The Blue and Gold should have no problem at the Empire 8 Championships in February. Potter said St. Lawrence University is the team’s main competitor in its way to repeating as state champions. After states, Potter said the team’s goal will be to get as many athletes as possible to nationals. Potter also said the 4x400 and distance medley relays have strong chances of making it to nationals, making this young squad poised for another successful season.

2009

Empire 8 Outdoor Champions

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The Ithacan 7

gymnastics

Sticking to tradition with deep lineup

By Megan Goldschmidt Contributing writer

The gymnastics team cheered its members on as each athlete tucked, twisted and landed her individual events during Monday’s practice.

The team is gearing up for what Head Coach Rick Suddaby said should be a promising season. They are still in the initial stages of training — working on new skills and slowly getting into full sets of routines. The team cheered enthusiastically for senior Emily Graber as she confidently went for her first double back flip tumbling pass of practice.

“We have some very new talent, and we’re trying to project how consistently they’ll compete, but they’re learning to train,” Suddaby said. “The team is training really well, so I would expect the season to be very competitive.”

With an impressive record of qualifying for the Eastern College Athletic Conference and National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championships for the past 21 years, the Bombers are confident that the 2009-10 team has even more promise and drive for a successful season than it did last year, Suddaby said.

The new talent has helped motivate other members of the team — something Suddaby said he has never seen before. This year’s team has also improved because of its deep pool of talent they can turn to if someone in the lineup suffers an injury.

“We are going to have a bunch of standouts this year,” Suddaby said. “We have some All-Americans returning.”

Suddaby said veteran sophomores Jessica Bolduc and Lauren Moroch provide a strong background to the team and bring experience to the Bomber lineup. Suddaby said he is also eager to find out what his new freshman gymnasts can do.

Freshman Katie Sampson said that there is a push to motivate one another. No cliques have formed on

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the team, and everyone gets along really well, she said.

“There’s no such thing as freshmen and seniors or upperclassmen,” Sampson said. “Everyone is really helpful and supportive.”

Though the team has a talented group of gymnasts, it would be at a great disadvantage without the help of its award-winning coach. Suddaby has been the Bombers’ JUST THE FACTS coach since Head Coach: Rick Suddaby 1986 and has led the team Last year’s finish: Second of to the NCAA eight teams at ECACs, fifth at ChampionNCGA Championships ships every one of the past 24 Key losses: Frances Ente ’09, years. He was Sammie Brawn ’09 and Roxanne Deshaies ’09 named Coach of the Year in Key returners: Sophomore Jessica 1994 and 1998 Bolduc and seniors Brianne and was reSullivan and Emily Graber cently inducted into the CortCaptains: To be determined land C-Club Home mat: Ben Light Gymnasium Hall of Fame.

“It is an honor to train under Coach Suddaby,” Moroch said. “We have learned through his methods how to work together as a team and reach our common goals.”

Freshman Chelsea Robie said it also helps to have older teammates to look up to.

“As a freshman I feel really excited to be part of the team because I feel like it really helps you make friends and everyone is really welcoming,” she said.

Suddaby said he can also see a bond beginning to form within the team. The entire team bands toThen-freshman Christine Niles performs her routine on the bars during practice last season in Ben Light Gymnagether from different parts of the sium. The gymnastics team is the last winter sport to start its season with its first meet scheduled in January. gym to cheer when someone perFile photo/The ithacan forms a new or difficult skill, and the veterans give tips to the new five freshmen who are all very good its season later than all the other staff, the Blue and Gold show signs gymnasts. The team keeps the sis- and will probably compete and be a winter sports teams. Its first meet of a victorious season.

“Last year, the talent just alterly bond strong by doing things huge asset to the team,” sophomore is scheduled for the beginning of off the mat such as team pumpkin Kay Gordon said. “And because of January. Adding fresh faces to the lowed us to stay where we were,” already successful, experienced Suddaby said. “But this year it’s that, our coach is very excited too.” and apple picking.

The gymnastics team begins gymnasts and talented coaching just exploding.”

“We lost three seniors and gained

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Winter Sports Preview

8 The Ithacan

Thursday, November 12, 2009

What to Watch for this Winter

While fall sports come to a close, the games move indoors as teams take to the court, pool, track and mat in the best matchups of the year Men’s Baske tball

Ithaca Vs. St. John Fisher Jan. 22 in ben light gymnasium Results from last year

Won 75–66, won 77–67

What to expect

Though the Bombers took down Fisher twice in the regular season, the Cardinals earned the Empire 8 Championship title at tournament time. With no seniors on the roster last year, the Cardinals return their entire starting lineup against an Ithaca team that lost seven players to graduation, including four of its usual starting five.

women’s Baske tball

Ithaca at Stevens Institute of Technology Feb. 19 in Hoboken, N.J. Results from last year

Won 49–47, won 61–60, lost 59–57

What to expect

In all three games last season, the winner of this matchup took the game by one or two points. In the regular season the Bombers won twice, but they couldn’t stop the Ducks in the Empire 8 Championship tournament. As the second of two meetings with the Ducks — this one on the road for the Bombers — it should be a closely contested fight.

Gymnastics

Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships march 13 in Brockport, n.y.

Results from last year

Second of eight teams

What to expect

Coming into last season’s championship ranked No. 4 nationally, the Bombers posted the second highest team score at the conference in program history. Graduating three seniors, the team’s core remains intact and looks to build on last season’s success. At one point, the team was ranked No. 1 in the country last season.

Men’s Swimming and diving

Ithaca Vs. Union College Feb. 6 at Hill center Pool Results from last year

Lost 126–117

What to expect

Already off to a 3–0 start, the Bombers are looking to dominate Union, especially after falling to the Dutchmen last season in a hard-fought nine-point battle in the last meet of the regular season. The Bombers’ loss came on the road, but with home-pool advantage the fan support could play a factor.

women’s Swimming and diving

Ithaca Vs. Union College Feb. 6 At Hill Center Pool Results from last year

Won 129–114

What to expect

Over the past five seasons, the Bombers are a mere 1–4 against Union. Their fate turned around last season as they finally escaped with a win. The women’s team is also off to a 3–0 start. The Bombers snuck by with a win last year on the road, and home-pool advantage could help the team beat Union for the second straight season.

men’s track

Ithaca at empire 8 championships Place and date to be determined Results from last year

First of five teams

What to expect

Edging out host and rival Rochester Institute of Technology by a single point to repeat as Empire 8 Champions last year, the Bombers will be looking for a three-peat this season. The Bombers, returning several athletes who qualified for the NCAA Championships last year, are primed to pursue their fourth indoor title in program history.

women’s track

Ithaca at empire 8 Championships Place and date To be determined Results from last year

First of five teams

What to expect

The Bombers, having won five of the six Empire 8 titles, will look to continue their conference dominance after finishing 100 points ahead of the closest competition at last year’s meet. The Blue and Gold, with the addition of a talented freshman class, appear to be the front-runners to repeat as conference champions.

wrestling

Ithaca Vs. SUNY-Cortland Feb. 10 in Ben Light Gymnasium Results from last year

Won 25–9

What to expect

Having only graduated last year’s five seniors, the Bombers are set to repeat against the Red Dragons. The Bombers, ranked third in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association preseason poll, could improve last year’s 14–1 record to an undefeated season. With a stacked lineup including six All-Americans, the Blue and Gold will be ready to go against their rival Red Dragons.