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UNKOWN SUCCESS
A DANCER, A THROWER
The fencing team, led by 44th-year coach Nikki Franke, is ranked No. 8 in the country. PAGE 20
Margo Britton, already the holder of two Temple school records, looks to improve in her junior season. PAGE 21
FENCER WINS GOLD AT JUNIOR OLYMPICS Team sends three fencers to Junior Olympics, a Top 50 recruit visits men’s basketball, other news and notes. PAGE 19
temple-news.com
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2014
THE HOME STRETCH
Assistant coach Patrick McLaughlin (center) gave a speech prior to the team’s meet against the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Air Force Academy. | HUA ZONG TTN
After 80 years, the program hosted its final home meet. STEVE BOHNEL The Temple News
J
akob Welsh was seconds away from finishing his floor routine. By the time he was done, McGonigle
Hall had erupted in support of the freshman gymnast. “It was amazing,” Welsh said. “I was the first guy on floor, and when I saluted, everyone just yelled and the adrenaline rushed through my body.” Welsh was the first Owl to compete in the men’s gymnastics team’s last home meet in 2014 on Saturday night – and if the athletic cuts announced in
December stand, the final Temple-hosted event in program history. For more than 80 years, Temple has fielded a men’s gymnastics team at the Division I level. After this season, the Owls will join a national trend in the decreasing of men’s gymnastics teams – only 16 colleges in the United States will field a team in the sport after Temple’s
departure. “I’ve had tremendous success with many guys,” 44thyear coach Fred Turoff said. “Looking at all the alumni that came back and seeing so many of my former team members and champions that came back, they have a good feeling about Temple gymnastics, and it’s going to be a sour feeling on Temple if we’re dropped.”
McGonigle Hall filled its gym one more time for the team, as around 700 spectators witnessed the Owls compete against the University of Illinois at Chicago and Air Force Academy. Several fans waved “Save Men’s Gymnastics” signs and sported “Keep Calm and Save Men’s Gymnastics” T-shirts. “Competing here is a wonderful feeling,” freshman Casey
Polizzotto said. “We had such big support this year, especially at this competition, and it was just an exciting moment and sad moment altogether. But overall, I was very happy with [the atmosphere].” Even for seniors like Scott Haddaway, it was bittersweet recognizing that this could be
GYMNASTICS PAGE 19
After cuts, baseball team prepares for final journey After six transfer, Owls picked to finish last in The American. JEFF NEIBURG The Temple News
Freshman guard Josh Brown dribbles while facing Louisville’s Chris Jones. The Owls lost to the Cardinals 82-58, but defeated Southern Methodist a few days later. | HUA ZONG TTN
Owls reverse misfortune Team beat No. 23 SMU after a blowout loss to Louisville. AVERY MAEHRER Sports Editor As the minutes winded down during the first half, Fran Dunphy couldn’t stand still. The sixth-year Temple coach paced along the sidelines, as he ofMEN’S BASKETBALL ten does, while a nationally-ranked Louisville
squad began running away with its ninth conference victory. After the Cardinals took a 19 point lead with a Luke Hancock three, Dunphy called a timeout. But instead of the Owls regrouping, Jimmy McDonnell turned the ball over. Hancock threw the ball up to Montrezl Harrell, who converted a reverse alley-oop. The dunk, part of a 10-2 run, silenced the Temple crowd – already quiet due to low attendance – as No. 13 Louisville went on to beat the Owls 82-58. Temple’s defense, which ranks last in the American Ath-
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letic Conference in points allowed per game, was one of the deciding factors against the Cardinals. For the Owls, the loss began a five game stretch against nationally ranked opponents – all of which play in The American. As to why the defensive mistakes have occurred in such high amounts this season, the team was still searching for answers. “I wish I knew,” junior guard Will Cummings said after the loss. “I don’t know.” “Is it frustrating?” Dunphy
BASKETBALL PAGE 19
There’s a dark, gloomy cloud hanging over the baseball team, Ryan Wheeler said. The fourth-year coach called it the most challenging season, by far, during his tenure at Temple. But BASEBALL the players are doing their best to avoid thinking about that cloud. One of seven programs cut by the university on Dec. 6, the baseball team is embarking on what is slated to be its final journey. “We’ve all really bonded because of this,” senior pitcher Matt Hockenberry said. “Our team slogan this year is: ‘Band of Brothers.’” The “Band of Brothers” reference alludes to the 1992 book written by Stephen E. Ambrose, and later portrayed in an HBO miniseries. The series dramatized and followed closely, “Easy” Company, through its journey in World War II. “You’re a family,” Hock-
BASEBALL PAGE 20
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The baseball team has been forced to conduct its practices indoors recently due to harsh weather. The Owls kick off their season later this week. | ANDREW THAYER TTN