December 9, 1999 SPORTS
Champions of the heart
19
SPORTS COLUMN
BY JULIE MILLS
Every time they take the field,
the perseverance and determina
tion of the young women that
make up the Lady Tornado
soccer team is on display for all
to see. I have watched the
Brevard College Women’s Soccer
team develop for the last few
years into a great, respected
team. As they venture into a new
millennium as NAIA members, I
would like to pay a tribute to all
this team has accomplished on
their road to victory.
Coming from all parts of the
world, bearing different traditions
and lifestyles, these young
women have come to Brevard
College all sharing one common
interest: a love for the game.
From the moment these
young women step on the pitch,
they are aware of the traditions
and high standards expected by
the team and realize each day
they will be challenged to reach
above the standards, whether on or
off the field. The start is rough, but
enjoyable. With 21 young women
coming together, there are bound to
be some conflicts and clashes along
the way, but instead of letting
problems bring each other down,
they use their own weaknesses to
make them stronger. A mutual
respect for the game and one
another begins to grow between
players.
The life of a college athlete is
no doubt busy, stressful and full of
deadlines; however, the best of
every player is expected. Coach
Bartlinski presents a work ethic to
all his player. “Challenge yourself,
your teammates, never except
mediocrity.” The players push
themselves and each other in order
to achieve more, whether it’s
coming out early to practice or
calling a teammate in the morning
to make sure that they get to class
on time. These are the little things
that have built this team and pro
vided them with success.
These young women have
“battled it out” on the soccer field,
pushing each other and demanding
the best. Their practices are long.
and such things as technique, over
power and total soccer are drilled
into the players. Despite all their
daily demands, the team always
manages to have a good time.
The freshmen Lady Torna
does have been subjected to the
“latest fashion trends” as seen by
their older teammates. The day
of style and laughter is known as
“Freaky Freshman Day.” Team
dinners are prepared on post
game nights. They even have
their own “call,” which can be
heard time to time on campus.
There is no doubt that this team is
full of personality and charisma;
where else can you find team
mates with names like “princess,”
“spaz,” and “sunny?”
Just as in any good friend
ship, hard times occur, times
when the responsibilities and
pressures that accompany soccer
and school weigh heavily on the
team. “We have had a few locker
room battles, however it was
nothing that we couldn’t solve on
our own” comments Rachel Scalf, a
sophomore on the Lady Tornado
squad.
Each player, more so this sea
son, has realized they are fallible, for
Continued On Page 20
Help save the mountains of West Virginia
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CONCERNED CITIZENS
Senators in West Virginia are attempting to reduce Environmental
Protection Laws concerning water and mining restrictions. This attempt to
open up doors for mining initiatives is attached to other funding legislation.
If the bill passes, mountain-tops will be cut from one-third to one-half and
dumped into stream valleys, adding to existing destruction of thousands of
acres of mountains.
Send a letter to President Clinton or any/all of the Senators listed below.
EMAIL is fast and easy. Or call or fax. SO WRITE TODAY! The folks in
Washington need to hear from us now.
CALL SENATORS, PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE-PRESI
DENT GORE NOW!!! If you can’t call, FAX. If your can’t fax, E-MAIL .
Tell them you demand they vote against or veto the spending bill
rider
That would negate Judge Haden’s decision on mountaintop removal
coal mining in West Virginia!
CONTACT INFORMATION
THE WEST VIRGINIA DELEGATION:
Congressman Nick Joe Rahall II, 202 225-3452, Fax: 202 225 9061
Senator Jay Rockefeller, 202 224 6472, Fax: 202 224 7665
Senator @ rockefeller, senator.gov
Senator Robert Byrd, 202 224 3954, Fax: 202 224 4168
Senator_byrd@byrd.senate.gov
President Bill Clinton, phone: 202/456-1414, fax: 202/456-2461,
president@whitehouse.gov
(To send a pre-written message automatically, go to
http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org/personalnew.html )
Vice-President Al Gore, 202/456-1414, fax: 202/456-2461
vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Senator Barbara Mikulski(MD): (202) 224-4654, fax (202)224-8858,
senator@mikulski.senate.gov
Senator Paul Sarbanes (MD): (202) 224-4524, fax (301)589-0598
senator@sarbanes.senate.gov
Senator Charles Robb (VA): (202 224-4024, fax (202) 224-8689
senator@robb.senate.gov
Senator John Warner (VA): (202) 224-2023 (202) 224-6295 FAX
senator @ warner.senate.gov
All U.S. Senators: (202) 224-3121 , http://www.senate.goW