LA VIE COLLEGIENNE LEBANON VALLEY COLLEGE’S STUDENT RUN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1924 VOLUME 85, NO. 3 | OCTOBER 19, 2017
Homecoming win
Photo by: Laura Brent ABOVE: Teanna Shutt and Javon “Trick” Nelson were crowned Homecoming Queen and King during halftime on Saturday’s football game.
COLIN ALBRIGHT ’18 STAFF WRITER Homecoming is a weekend full of celebrations and reunions that unite past and present students and provides an exciting place to show pride for Lebanon Valley College. To kick off the weekend, the Flying Dutchmen Ale was revealed on Friday, Oct. 13, with a tasting and presentation by the student “Brew Crew.” Cale Bruso, a senior neuroscience major, was involved as a member of the sales team. “I had the opportunity to experience the satisfaction and adversity that becomes prevalent in the career of sales,” Bruso said. “Seeing the collective gathering of students, faculty and alumni at the reveal was amazing and really exemplified how rewarding it can be when a whole group
Lebanon Valley College hopes to offer support to more than 250,000 people who were affected by the 2017 hurricane season. People in the Caribbean and United States have been left without electricity, running water or shelter. This has made it extremely difficult for in-
dividuals to access basic necessities. “It’s a tragedy what people are going through,” Caitlyn James, a sophomore business major, said. “I think it’s great that the LVC community is helping them through a tough time.” LVC has paired up with United Methodist Committee on Relief and Cornwall Manor to help raise money and supplies.
SHAYLA APONTE ’19 STAFF WRITER
“Our goal is simply to collect as many supplies and as much money as possible,” Jennifer Liedtka, coordinator of community service at LVC, said. “We have reached out to students, faculty and staff for our on-campus collection.” The money raised will go towards
Lebanon Valley College students have the opportunity to get a complete professional outfit for free at the new Dutchmen Career Closet. The closet, located in Miller Chapel 114, was created by LVC staff for students who can't afford or who don't have professional attire of their own. The closet gives them the ability to begin building their professional wardrobe for free. Renata Williams, director of intercultural affairs and inclusive programming, said students were the reason for creating this resource. “There have been students that have expressed a lack of financial resources to obtain professional clothing when going to internships or job interviews,” Williams said. Based on that feedback, the Career Closet came into place. All LVC students have access to the Career Closet once a month for one complete outfit. “This allows for every student at LVC to get the chance to shop at the Career Closet,” Williams said. The clothing in the store is provided by donations from faculty, staff and administration. The school is also partnering up with other local stores to help with donations to keep the Career Closet in stock. “Fortunately, Jetset's closet in Her-
Hurricane continued on Page 3
Career closet continued on Page 3
Homecoming continued on Page 4
LVC supports those impacted by hurricane season CHELSEA MOYER ’18 STAFF WRITER
Career closet opens
INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF LA VIE
WIG AND BUCKLE MUSICAL PAGE 2
HOMECOMING PAGE 4-5
EQUESTRIAN TEAM PAGE 6
HOCKEY PREVIEW PAGE 8
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October 19, 2017 La Vie Collegienne
Nice show if you can see it
JOLIE WINEMILLER ’19 STAFF WRITER LVC’s student actors are hard at work before the curtain opens for the fall musical. The Wig and Buckle Theater Company will start its 81st season with the fall musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Students involved in the production are working diligently to prepare for opening night on Friday, Oct. 27. From set building to dance numbers, students involved in the company are making sure the show will be the best one yet. “It’s going great and you can see that [the actors] genuinely enjoy what they’re doing,” Jennifer Summy, a senior music business major, Wig and Buckle president and musical director, said. The show is a modern spin on the
Photo By: Jolie Winemiller ABOVE: Pictured is voice director Amelia Catanzaro ‘17 working with student performers Alec Hamilton ‘20, Claire Leedy ‘21 and Josh Houck ‘21.
1920s, specifically the prohibition era. “It’s such a fun show,” Summy said. “I saw it on Broadway and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard.” The company’s season will continue with three other shows from fall to
Grand ole alumni HUNTRE KEIP ’20 STAFF WRITER The Carmean Society allows for alumni to stay connected with classmates and the College even after their 50th class reunion. Lebanon Valley College celebrates class reunions every year. After the 50th reunion, alumni have the opportunity to join The Carmean Society – a society that allows alumni to remain connected with their classmates after their last and final class reunion. “This society provides a clear example of what Photo from the Quittaphilla ’57 LVC stands for even after 151 years,” Joe Martellaro, ABOVE: D. Clark Carmean, the founder of the Carmean director of gift planning, Society. said. The society is named after D. Clark As a Carmean member, Hungerford Carmean, a former LVC music profes- enjoys Homecoming weekend besor and first director of admissions, cause it gives her the chance to reflect and his wife, Edna, who worked in the on her time at LVC and give back to the library. D. Carmean served as the di- College which granted her many oprector of admissions from 1949-1973, portunities. when the society gained the majority “LVC was one of the greatest deciof its members. sions I made, and it’s like my second The couple was actively involved in home,” Hungerford said. “Your remaking LVC a better environment for lationship with the College and the the students and faculty. alumni is what you make of it.” “Probably no one impacted the lives Approximately a thousand graduof as many students and the faculty as ates are part of this honorable society. did the Carmeans,” Betty Hungerford, Every year, a new class is inducted LVC graduate of 1954, said. into the society.
spring semester including “The Lion in Winter,” “Gaslight” and “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” “Rehearsals are great as we are making a lot of progress,” Claire Leedy, a freshman environmental science ma-
NEWS
jor and playing Billie Bendix in the musical, said. “Everyone is really pulling their own weight and doing a really great job.” However, like many students, these actors are faced with the balancing act of extracurricular activities and their academics. “It’s definitely a challenge, but I just relate it to sports and what athletes go through and if they can do it we can do it too,” Leedy said. Both Summy and Leedy agree it’s the funniest show you’ll ever see. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” will run Oct. 27, 28 and 29 and Nov. 3, 4 and 5. Tickets are free for LVC students and can be reserved online at www. wigandbuckle.com. Students who are interested in theatre are encouraged to attend the Wig and Buckle Theater Company weekly meetings every Monday.
Clubs dedicated to community’s betterment BREANNA KANE ’19 STAFF WRITER Students can complete individual community service hours, but some find a fuller experience working with a group of like-minded individuals through dedicated service clubs at Lebanon Valley College. Allonne Wilson-Brennan, a senior business administration and computer science major, is the president of Habitat for Humanity. This is his first year leading a service club. “It can be a challenge to motivate people to do community service,” Wilson-Brennan said. “It’s not for everyone.” Working with peers who are dedicated and driven to community service is highly rewarding for Wilson-Brennan. He enjoys finding people who want to be there, as opposed to those who show up out of requirement. “The tricky part is organizing a group that is cohesive and works together on projects,” Wilson-Brennan said. All the members of the service clubs are part of a team and working toward improving the environment around them; this team orientation is effective in attracting volunteers. “I didn’t choose the service life; the service life chose me,” Wilson-Brennan said. He feels as though enthusiastic peers and staff pulled him into organized service. “I enjoy the intrinsic value of just
Photo by: Breanna Kane ABOVE: Circle K Logo.
giving back to the community,” Wilson-Brennan said. Other volunteers are of the same mindset. Amr Hassanein, a senior history in Islamic studies major, also enjoys doing community service. “I get the chance to help others and know other people in the process,” Hassanein said. Students who do not recognize the inherent value of service work may be happy to learn that community involvement is highly valuable on a résumé. Two clubs organized around service work at LVC are Habitat for Humanity and Circle K. Both groups strongly encourage students interested in working with community members to help locally. Contact Allonne Wilson-Brennan at aw007@lvc.edu for service club opportunities.
October, 19 2017
NEWS
La Vie Collegienne
Helping children in need
FAITH ISHLER ’20 STAFF WRITER Every year, Lebanon Valley College student volunteers come together to wrap shoe boxes full of necessities for underprivileged children. Operation Christmas Child is a program that involves donations of shoe boxes, stuffed animals, toiletries, school supplies and other goods. The shoe boxes will be filled with these necessities and sent to underprivileged children in South America and Africa. Servants of Christ used to run Operation Christmas Child at LVC in the past, but for the first time, the sisters of Gamma Sigma Sigma will be taking charge. “The purpose of Operation Christmas Child is to make sure everyone gets to feel special around Christmas time,” Katie Franke, a junior psychology and criminal justice major and president of Gamma Sigma Sigma, said. “This year we have a goal of filling 450-500 boxes.”
New executive chef hired for Metz Culinary JOSLEENE MARTI ’19 STAFF WRITER
Photo By: Heather Riutzel ABOVE: Volunteers gathered to wrap the boxes on the first Sunday of Operation Christmas Child.
Every Sunday through Nov. 5, students and volunteers can help to fill the boxes with the supplies. The weekly event will be held in the Fellowship Lounge in the basement of the Frederic K. Miller Chapel from 3-5 p.m. Students can sign up on Redbook. Natalia Smith, administrative assistant to spiritual life and community service, has been a part of Operation Christmas Child for six years. “Two years ago, we received a thank
you note from a girl on a tiny island I had never heard of,” Smith said. “It was great to hear from someone from such a small place on the map.” Students can make Christmas cards to add to the boxes as well as donate stuffed animals, toiletries and school supplies as long as it will fit into the shoe box. For more information about Operation Christmas Child, contact Katie Franke at kdf004@lvc.edu.
Largest dance team in LVC history to perform FAITH ISHLER ’20 STAFF WRITER The student-led LVC dance team was founded in 2009; each year, more and more students are interested in joining the team. JoAnne Rubelmann, a senior secondary education major and co-president of the dance team, has been a part of the team since her freshman year and has seen the growth and improvement throughout the years. “We are super excited to work with the largest team that has come to the College,” Rubelmann said. “The team has been growing every year and this year we have 24 members.” The dance team performs at the men’s basketball games, the women’s basketball pink game, Relay For Life, mini-THON, Pep Rally and at the annual spring showcase. The selfchoreographed team has a variety of dance routines that are influenced by all styles from hip-hop, to jazz, pointe, contemporary and even tap. This year the team will hold another showcase on Dec. 1-2. That showcase will be in addition to the annual showcase in the spring. “We are super excited to unveil our first ever Christmas show,” Rubelmann said. “The show will feature
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Photo By: Lexi Fazzolari ABOVE: LVC dance team performing at the annual showcase last spring.
some of your favorite holiday tunes and will get you ready for the season.” The team has received awards over the years for different contributions it has made to the College. “We want to do what we can to help other groups and organizations to accomplish their goals,” Rubelmann said. “Dance has a wide range of appli-
cations and we wish to give back via our time, energy and work ethic.” In 2016, the team was awarded the Lebanon Valley College Student Organization of the Year, and in 2017, the team was awarded the Program of the Year for its Dancing with the LVC Stars event. This year’s Dancing with the LVC Stars event is Feb. 23.
Hurricane
the hygiene kits directly to the affected areas.” The kits will include hand towels, washcloths, toothbrushes, adhesive bandages, soap, combs, plastic bags, nail clippers and nail files. Collection boxes are placed in the Allan W. Mund College Center, Miller Chapel and the Humanities building until Saturday, Oct. 21.
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buying more supplies for hygiene kits. Liedtka has high hopes for the project and the number of kits they will supply. The residents of Cornwall Manor are also collecting donations. “We will provide support to all of the areas affected by the recent hurricanes,” Liedtka said. “UMCOR will ship
Metz Culinary Management has been cooking up some interesting dishes after the arrival of John Koza, the new executive Photo By: Josleene Marti chef. ABOVE: John Koza, the Koza started new executive chef for working for LVC’s Metz Culinary. Metz dining services this semester and is enjoying the experience. “I’ve been cooking for many years and working here at Metz has been quite the experience so far,” Koza said. “It’s fun getting used to the new environment while also being able to incorporate my own style into the workplace.” Metz is attempting to offer students healthier meal options. The team has been working on collaborating with students who are not able to consume food containing meat or gluten. “I think it’s great that we are attempting to expand meal options to students,” Myles Nixon, a Metz student worker said. “I know we have run into issues in the past, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.” With Koza taking on the role of executive chef and with the arrival of new service and catering managers, there has been some needed adjustments within the Metz kitchen. Together, the Metz team is working on providing food that makes everyone happy.
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agreed to partner with us to donate some clothing as well,” Williams said. The Dutchmen Career Closet opened in late September, and a number of students already have their first professional outfit. “I am excited to use the outfit I got at the Dutchmen Career Closet for my next interview,” Rachel Duong, a junior English and Spanish dual major, said. The Career Closet will put out new clothes once a month to give students more options each time they come in. To visit the Career Closet, students are asked to make an appointment.
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FEATURE
October 19, 2017 La Vie Collegienne
Homecoming win
Dutchmen domination, king and queen crowned continued from Page 1
can come together and work towards achieving a common goal.” Celebrations were also happening across campus on Friday when six new members were inducted into LVC’s prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame. The College welcomed softball’s Amy Batz Brandt ‘07, baseball and football’s Dan Kelly ‘07, field hockey’s Steph Marguglio ‘07, football’s former head coach Jim Monos, men’s basketball’s Dan Pfeil ‘00 and volleyball’s Cat Roth ‘06 into its 2017 class. Later that evening, students, faculty, alumni, family and friends were invited to attend the campus pep rally. All fall sports teams were recognized, the dance team, marching band and cheerleaders performed and the 2017 Homecoming court was acknowledged. The atmosphere on Saturday, Oct. 14 was energetic when the football team was in action against Stevenson, while the men’s and women’s soccer teams, as well as the field hockey team, took on Hood College. During halftime of the football game, the long-awaited crowning of LVC’s Homecoming Queen and King took place. “It was a little stressful planning homecoming at times, but only because we had to balance planning around our class schedule and work load,” Megan Shaner, a junior physical therapy major and president of the junior class, said. Although it is hard and stressful at times, Shaner found it rewarding to
plan such a big event. “The most rewarding part of this weekend was seeing all the alumni who came back for Homecoming and getting to hear some of their stories and the impact LVC has made on their lives,” Shaner said. For many students, the highlight of the weekend was finding out who would take home the crown as Homecoming Queen and King. In the running for queen was Danielle Burns, Casey Dombroski, Theresa Messenger, Teanna Shutt and Jess Zeiner. The Homecoming court for the men featured Cam Avery, Ian Lloyd, Andrew Martz, Brandon McMinn and Javon ‘Trick’ Nelson. Teanna Shutt, a senior physical therapy major, and Javon ‘Trick’ Nelson, a senior business administration and art and visual culture major, were voted 2017 Homecoming Queen and King by the student body. Shutt took a break from her soccer game and Nelson stayed on the football field instead of heading to the locker room with the rest of his team to attend the halftime ceremony. “We talked it out and came up with a game plan to make sure that I wouldn’t miss too much of my game,” Shutt said. “Looking out into the stands and seeing my family, friends, the familiar faces of students, professors and staff left a remarkable impression that Photo provided by: Athletic Communications
HOMECOMING COURT 2017
QUEEN TEANNA SHUTT
DANIELLE BURNS
CASEY DOMBROSKI
THERESA MESSENGER
JESS ZEINER
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I will carry with me forever.” Both Shutt and Nelson were fully supported by their teammates and coaches, which made their experiences even more rewarding. “It was rough to have to stay on the field during halftime after we took a big lead in the second quarter,” Nelson said. “I really wanted to be with my brothers, but I knew they were behind me every moment of the ceremony.” Shutt and Nelson compete on the track and field team together and were also floor partners on the resident assistant staff. The two are close friends and winning Homecoming King and Queen together was a special moment. “Words can’t even explain the excitement I felt being crowned with a great friend like Teanna,” Nelson said. “Winning with her made the moment that much more memorable.” Photos from the entire 2017 homecoming weekend can be found on the La Vie Facebook page.
Football wins in exciting fashion over Stevenson The Dutchmen, despite being down early, were able to battle back and take the win against the Stevenson Mustangs by a score of 31-24. The Mustangs got on the board first with a first-quarter touchdown pass to take a 7-0 advantage. The second quarter belonged to the Dutchmen, as they scored 21 unanswered points going into the half. After the half, the Mustangs made it a one-possession game by scoring a touchdown with 12 minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Dutchmen defense, which racked up three interceptions and recovered four fumbles, provided the necessary spark to get the team back on track. After an interception, the Dutchmen converted a 31-yard field
KING JAVON ‘TRICK’ NELSON
Photo provided by: Athletic Communications
Photos by: Laura Brent
TOP: The 2017 Homecoming court posed for a picture before the king and queen were announced. ABOVE LEFT: Bobby Van Horn (73), a senior offensive tackle, celebrates a touchdown. ABOVE RIGHT: The 2016 Homecoming King, Terrance Habiyaremye, crowns Javon ‘Trick’ Nelson at half time of the football game. FAR LEFT: Jeremy Del La Cruz (5) and Tim Pirrone (1), senior wide receivers, celebrate the win against Stevenson.
goal to increase their lead to 24-14. LVC was able to punch the ball into the end zone again from one yard out to go up 31-14. Stevenson fought hard late in the game, scoring a touchdown
CAM AVERY
midway through the quarter and converting a field goal with 3:27 left. The Dutchmen clung to a seven-point lead late in the game and put a halt on Stevenson’s final drive
ANDREW MARTZ
with an interception with 1:11 to go. The team is now 3-3 overall, and 3-2 in the conference play. LVC travels to Misericordia on Saturday, Oct. 21, at 1 p.m. for another conference matchup.
BRANDON MCMINN
Ian Lloyd Photos by: Cassandra Barrett
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October 19, 2017
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La Vie Collegienne
Athletic equestrians Equestrian team strives to win competitions despite their small size REBEKAH POFF ’18 STAFF WRITER Many people fail to recognize the athletic skills equestrians possess. LVC’s equestrian team of nine works hard for its show season each year. Horseback riding is a sport that takes dedication and hours of practice just like any other. Unlike being able to control a ball or make a pass, equestrians have to be able to control an 1,100 pound animal. “A lot of people say that the horse does all the work and we just sit there, but that is actually not true,” Beka Brown, a junior business administration major, said. “We use so much muscle. It takes conditioning and we can get out of shape too.” The team is registered with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and competes in horse shows hosted by this organization. IHSA shows are very different from a traditional horse show. Riders draw a random horse that they are unfamiliar with, and that is the horse they compete on. “Because of the team, I’m forced to
Mic check 1, 2 JALEN CLIATT ’18 STAFF WRITER
ride a bunch of different horses which makes you a more rounded rider,” Brown said. In IHSA, every rider is placed in a division based on his or her ability entering college. Riders can advance to more challenging divisions by earning points for placing in their class. They must earn 36 points to do this. The horse shows test equestrians’ riding ability and skill, which creates more of a challenge riding a strange horse. Because of this setup, riders really grow in their abilities and learn more about the sport. “I have gotten better at jumping when I started riding on the team with Cheryl, our coach,” Julia Rutherford, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology major, said. The equestrian team has sent countless riders to regionals, zones and even nationals. The team may be small in size, but they are very accomplished in their awards. Photo provided by: Equestrian team The team takes riding lessons with their coach, Cheryl Keller, to practice ABOVE: The equestrian team’s show season is underway. Pictured from left to right are Carfor future competitions. The team has mon Weldi, Kylie Dunham, Alexa Bash, Beca Poff, Beka Brown, Julia Rutherford and Domiupcoming shows on Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. nique Guimond.
No coach, no problem
SHEA FISHER ’19 In the second installment, La Vie looks STAFF WRITER It has been a challenging start to at another band making music on campus. Dipped, a grunge and shoegaze the year for LVC cheerleading. Just days before moving in for band, is a more recent addition to LVC’s music scene; the band started preseason camp, the squad was notiabout five months ago, according to fied that both its head and assistant coaches resigned from their positions. the band’s frontwoman. “I was pretty much speechless,” McKMikaela “Mikki” Krall, a sophomore enzie Pavlik, a senior captain, said. digital communications and audio Without coaches, added responsimusic productions major, was excited bilities and challenges fell into the to accept the invitation to play the hands of the captains. 2017 Welcome Day show on the steps “I think the biggest challenge is of the Mund College Center. Prior to getting the back-end stuff done,” Pavthe show, Krall said she was “sad” in re- lik said. “[The stuff] that I didn’t even gards to the music scene, but now she know we did.” The team needs uniforms, schedsees great potential. “I think what it’s really about is uti- ules and transportation for away games. In addition, the cheerleaders lizing the bands already on campus,” need meal planning and motivation Krall said. “[Students should] make the along the way. effort to go to a show and tell friends.” “My biggest concern was that we Dipped will be playing a solo show were not going to have direction with Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Allen Theatre things and be disorganized,” Kayleigh and MJ’s coffee house. The band plans Paccio, a freshman flyer, said. “But, our to release two singles within the next captains are doing a great job pushing two weeks to their Bandcamp site. us to be our best.”
Photo by: Wendy Boisvert ABOVE: Cheerleaders performing a backbend pyramid at the game against Widener University.
This unique situation has caused personal setbacks for team members. “Personally, I like to be pushed by a coach so that’s something I’m lacking,” Paccio said. The cheerleaders have been working hard to get game material and their annual homecoming routine
ready. The team thinks that the season has gone a lot better than expected. Help has been extended by former coaches, alumni and parents. These volunteers have kept the team on track. Athletic director Rick Beard stepped up to be the adviser for the team until a coach is found.
October 19, 2017
SPORTS
La Vie Collegienne
Maddie on the mound
KURT HARNISH ’20 STAFF WRITER A rare accomplishment was reached by a Lebanon Valley College softball pitcher during one of the team’s fall ball games at Millersville University. Maddie Abbot, a sophomore physical therapy major, started playing the game she loves in third grade. It began when she was hanging out with her friends and they introduced her to the sport. “That night, after playing softball with my friends, my parents went out and bought me a pink softball glove and signed me up for rec ball,” Abbot said. Abbot grew to love softball because of her favorite position on the field. “I seemed to get the hang of pitching right away,” Abbot said. “It came easy to me and it allows me to outsmart the batter. It is challenging and it is fun.” Abbot has always wanted to play college softball since she started playing, but when the time came during her senior year to make the decision to play or not, she was at a crossroad. She ended up deciding to play because softball has been a part of her. “Softball was an identity for me,” Abbot said. “I couldn’t give it up.” She has had great success on the mound since her freshman year as she was awarded First Team All MAC and won a Player of the Week award. Abbot has had other impressive
accomplishments during her high school career as she threw multiple no hitters, perfect games, shutouts and was a first team conference allstar multiple times. However, her most impressive accomplishment was setting the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Triple A (AAA) state strikeout record, which still stands today. “I hope to repeat what I accomplished last season or do better,” Abbot said. “I also hope that as a team, we will be able to win the conference and the MAC championship.” Abbot and the team had a big weekend as the softball team traveled to Millersville for three fall ball games. Abbot started where she left off last year as she threw a shutout against
Division II Millersville University. Head Coach Erin Whitman was proud of how her team did in the fall ball games. “The team did really well,” Whitman said. “Even with the girls being in different positions, all of the girls did good in the spots they were in.” Whitman also talked about Abbot’s performance during the games. “She picked up right where she left off last year,” Whitman said. “She is a ‘bulldog’ on the mound and did a great job spinning her pitchers. It is also very rare for a pitcher to pitch the whole game, like Maddie did. Especially against a Division II team.” Whitman has high expectations for the team as she hopes the team will be able to make playoffs and win the MAC, but she also wants the girls to learn about life as well as softball.
In the crease
Photo by: Kurt Harnish
PATRICK BRAKE ’20 STAFF WRITER The men’s lacrosse season may appear to be in the distance, but work has already begun as the team participates in its fall ball season. In the team’s fall ball season, the team gets the chance to work together and get to know each other. Last year was a challenging season, but head coach John Haus has high expectations for this season. “The first and foremost expectation is to work to become a team,” Haus said. “Every year is different with team makeup. [We hope to] compete for [the] MAC championship [and] play in NCAA tournament.” Fourteen seniors graduated last year, leaving big shoes to fill for the team. “We have some major holes to fill: our short stick defensive midfield position, and attack position,” Haus said. “We lost our top two scorers from last year, both attack men. We will be young there but very crafty. Finding short stick defensive midfielders will be a process that will take time.” Coach Haus is confident that the team can accomplish his goals and expectations for the season. “We look very solid right now,” Haus said. “Everyone is working hard
ABOVE: Maddie Abbot is practicing her pitching technique in preparation for the spring season.
In the crease continued on Page 8
4 weeks until tip-off
JARED KRAMP ’19 STAFF WRITER The Lebanon Valley College women’s basketball team is currently preparing for their upcoming season with a fresh set of faces. The Dutchmen are coming off a season in which they had a 12-14 record. Their season came to an end after losing a hard-fought game against Lycoming College in a MAC Commonwealth play-in-game. Last year’s roster consisted of 11 players, six of whom will be returning to the court this season for the Dutchmen. In addition to these six players, the team will be bolstered by an incoming recruiting class of seven girls, the largest freshman class in years. As a freshman, it can be intimidating to join a team of entirely fresh faces, so it is important to have
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a solid group of upperclassmen to welcome newcomers to the team. “The upperclassmen have done a phenomenal job of taking the freshmen and making us feel welcome,” Molly Galvin, a freshman guard, said. “We eat two, sometimes three meals together a day, which helps us bond and get to know each other a lot.” In addition to getting closer off the court, it is just as important for a team to bond on the court. “We play pickup games with each other several times a week,” Galvin said. “This really helps us become familiar with how one another plays, and should get us all on the same page come game one.” The flip-side to having such a large incoming freshman class usually means that there are many players not returning to the team, which is the case for LVC.
“Losing three seniors was scary because they were all post players and by far our most experienced players,” Caroline Scarff, a sophomore forward, said. “Lexie Lantz, Taylor Troutman and Hilary Yoh all brought something different to the team and they left some big shoes to fill.” Current students, Jasmine Copeland and Jen Eck, are also not returning to the basketball team this season, both of whom had roles in the team’s success on the court last year. Copeland and Eck, along with Lantz, Troutman and Yoh, are going to be difficult to replace, but the Dutchmen are confident in their team this year. “All of our returning players have game experience from previous seasons at LVC,” Scarff said. “We’ve got a solid group of freshmen. We brought in some big and strong girls to play in the post, as well as a lot of fast guards to add some speed in our backcourt.”
The women’s basketball team will get its season under way on Wednesday, Nov. 15, with an away game at Misericordia University. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
Photo by: Athletic Communications ABOVE: The 2016-17 LVC women’s basketball team gets pumped for the playoffs, a place they will look to return to this season.
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October 19, 2017
SPORTS
La Vie Collegienne
Armbruster looking for vengeance In the crease MARSHAL KIESSLING ’18 STAFF WRITER A senior center will step onto the ice this winter with a surgically repaired ACL after reconstructive surgery last season. Russ Armbruster was diagnosed with a torn ACL in November 2016. He joined a unique group of 33 percent of athletes who are able to play with a torn ACL. However, later that same month, he became the other part of the statistic – those who cannot play with a torn ACL. That game was against the Utica Pioneers. “I got an MRI about a week later thanks to LVC and our relationship with Hershey Medical Center,” Armbruster said. “I found out I tore my meniscus and ACL in my right knee and needed surgery in order to play hockey or sports in general again.” Two weeks after his MRI, Armbruster underwent surgery in order to expedite his return to the ice. With the help of the LVC athletic training staff, Armbruster was able to start physical therapy immediately. “Without the help from LVC, the
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Photo by: Athletic Communications ABOVE: Armbruster faces off for the puck during his sophomore campaign. He is looking to return to the ice this winter after missing most of last season.
training staff, the doctors at Hershey and the two doctors at Select Physical Therapy, my recovery process would not have been so seamless and productive,” Armbruster said. Armbruster’s outlook for his senior campaign is to have the best season of his career. He’s enthusiastic and passionate. To him, nothing will stop him from playing hockey. “It was not an easy road to recovery
Fresh ice
Men’s ice hockey: new leadership and players TRAVIS HALL ’19 STAFF WRITER With the 2017-2018 season just around the corner, things are looking up for the Lebanon Valley College men’s ice hockey team. Following a season of struggles in which the club moved back to NCAA Division III, the offseason brought changes on and off the ice. In addition to welcoming a large freshmen class, the Dutchmen have new leadership in the locker room and behind the bench. Michael Straub, a junior defenseman, was recently named captain after two straight years as the team’s top defender. Cole Hepler, a sophomore center, and Brett Johnson, a junior winger, were both named assistant captains shortly thereafter. Also, Head Coach Don Parsons will now be flanked on the bench by former Hershey Bears General Manager Doug Yingst. Yingst’s more than 30 years of experience in professional hockey should prove valuable in this new position, and with all of these
changes, the team believes they are set to surprise people. “I think this year our expectations will be very high despite coming off of a disappointing season,” Straub said. “We have a lot of incoming guys that will step right into the lineup and make a positive impact. The [new] depth on our team will allow us to be more successful.” The impact on chemistry between the players and coaches is always a concern when one shakes up so many aspects of a team, but Straub believes the changes will be beneficial. “The team has a very positive attitude thus far,” Sraub said. “The new guys fit right in, and we are all excited to have a fresh start and get the season going. The leadership on our team comes from everyone – starting from the net out. There is a strong sense of family in the locker room, and we will push each other to meet our expectations.” Opening night is Nov. 3 at Stevenson University. The club’s first home game will be Nov. 17 when the Dutchmen host Utica College.
because the process was slow,” Armbruster said. “I was not able to play the sport I have played my whole life for almost eight months, but I knew that was all I wanted to do so I kept my mind on the prize to play hockey again and got back to life as I knew it.” That mindset allowed Armbruster to return to the ice. He will once again wear the LVC jersey come November.
in the weight room, and our practice sessions so far have been very good. We are practicing with a lot of energy and competing very hard.” Leadership is an important aspect and make up of any team. The team lost two of their captains from last year. “We have a very good group of seniors that will have to take on the leadership of this team,” Haus said. “We have seniors at every position 4 defensemen, 2 attack man, 2 middies, and a goalie. Having seniors at all the positions always helps.” Additionally, Nick Mowry, a long stick midfielder, who won All Mac Commonwealth conference honorable mention as freshman will be returning to the field this year. “Since I did not play last year, my goal is to come back stronger and faster than ever. Another goal for myself would be to help our defense succeed,” Mowry said. The season will start in February but there will be a lot of preparation before the first game comes. The team will have to adjust to new leaders and many new faces.