SPORTS
PAGE 18
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016
Men’s team transitioning to new territory after cuts Continued from page 20
RUNNERS
as an “unattached” participant even when not funded by Temple. If they compete unattached, the athletes must find their own transportation and are not excused from classes like they would be if affiliated with Temple. The runners also can’t qualify for the NCAA championship meets and are not allowed to compete in the American Athletic Conference Championships. “We might not have an official track team, but we still officially compete during the track season,” freshman Tyji Mays said. “We still race and we’re still confident, good runners.” The only postseason meet the team can participate in is the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Championship. “It’s been a transition,” senior distance runner Will Maltin said. “We had a team my first two years here, but we are lucky enough we have the opportunity, since the school supplies us with five meets
outside our normal cross country season.” These restrictions can deprive some athletes of an opportunity to compete at a higher level. Senior Alex Izewksi had times that could have qualified him for nationals had there been a Temple team. While there are downsides to the technicalities that keep the ath-
We might not have “ an official track team, but we still officially compete during the track season. We still race and we’re still confident, good runners.
”
Tyji Mays | freshman
letes from competing in more races or highly competitive races, the Owls still find benefits to the situation. “It’s a little bit different, but it’s not a negative feeling,” Mays said. “It’s like, OK, I only have five chances to go on the track and show people that Temple, you can’t sleep on us. I’m not deterred by it. I’m motivated by it.” From March 25-26, the team competed at the 21st Annual Monmouth Season Opener in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Several Owls set personal records including Mays, with a time of eight minutes, 59.02 seconds in the 3,000 meters, and freshman Ben Evans, who finished second in the 5K with a time of 15:17.71. “I am a huge advocate for having a men’s track team, but it doesn’t make us any less of a good program,” Mays said. “I think it’s important just to show that when we do get those opportunities to race on the track that we can compete with anyone.” * mauara.lyn.razanauskas@temple.edu
GENEVA HEFFERNAN TTN
Junior Praneeth Gottipati runs around the track at practice.
Paulus close to finishing historic career Continued from page 20
alongside Canete and senior Hicham Belkssir. As a duo, Belkssir and Paulus have combined for 22 of Paulus’ 40 career victories during his career at Temple. “We understood each other on the court,” Belkssir said. “He’s a great baseline player. That really helped me a lot. He was making balls and I’m moving into volley.”
PAULUS
three matches left in the regular season. Paulus also joins Rams, Mansur Gishkaev and Kacper Rams as Owls who have posted 15-or-more wins in three different seasons since 200809. Rams captured 23, 18 and 23
BY THE NUMBERS SENIOR NICOLAS PAULUS
NO. 2
IN CAREER SINGLES WINS
16
TOTAL SINGLES WINS THIS SEASON
3
15-WIN SEASON
GENEVA HEFFERNAN TTN
Senior Nicolas Paulus returns a shot during an Owls’ practice at the TU Pavilion last week.
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wins during his tenure as an Owl, while Gishkaev racked up 16, 17 and 18 wins. Kacper Rams posted wins of 16 or more three times during his career at Temple. “All year I saw him playing aggressive, and I think that’s what helped him,” freshman Artem Kapshuk said. “I saw a lot of matches when he was down first set against good opponents, and then he came back in the second set. So he’s a real fighter.” Coach Steve Mauro said Paulus’ strength is his ability to rebound after losing a set, which the coach said was on display on Feb. 13 against East Carolina when Paulus lost his first set 6-2 and rebounded by winning the next two sets 6-2, 7-6 to win the match. “If Nick loses the first set, in his mind he still knows that he can win the second set,” Mauro said. “A lot of players they lose the first set and all of the sudden they get down and they don’t have any chance. No matter what the score [is], he’s a fighter on the court. It’s a great attribute that he has.” Paulus also ranks tied for seventh all time in doubles wins amongst Owls since 2001 with senior Santiago Canete with 40 wins. His highest win totals occurred during his sophomore and junior years where he posted 15 and 12 wins
Even with all the success on the court, Paulus said his goal this season is to have more success in the American Athletic Conference tournament. When the Owls were in the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2012-13 season, they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The Owls are 1-2 since the 2013-14 season in The American’s conference tournament. In the 2013-14 tournament they were knocked out by the University of Louisville, 4-0. Last season, they beat Connecticut 4-0 and then lost to South Florida in the second round in 2014-15. Paulus is 1-3 in doubles during conference tournaments and 3-2 in singles. “I don't necessarily think that you gain something from being better than your teammates because in the end it comes down to the team wins,” Paulus said. “You’re not going to be measured in how good your singles record is, you’re going to be remembered as how good your team record is.” * thomas.ignudo@temple.edu T @Ignudo5