SPORTS
11 .
November 30, 2012
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CROSS COUNTRY
Continued from Page I
last year at nationals."
Aside from being an amazing
runner, Norton is an amazing
teammate and student.
"Chad is funny," said Geddes.
"I think that from my first year
running on the team to this being
my third year. I've seen Chad open
up a lot. He makes more jokes and
talks more."
"Chad and David are also
resident advisors and have
helped team members, especially
our first-year and transfers with
learning the Guilford system,"
said Cash.
Cason just missed getting into
nationals by 10 seconds. He has
been a strong runner for the team.
"David is great," said Geddes.
"I've known David since my first
year on the team. I think he's
an amazing runner. I definitely
admire his stride."
Geddes then went on to say
about the whole team, "I think all
three of them together work great.
I love watching them in practice,
(they) push each other as well
as the rest of the team. I love my
team."
Their coach agrees as well.
"Chad, David and Andris are all
very dedicated student-athletes,"
said Cash. "They all train very
hard and help lead the team ... the
three of them seem to get along
well and I have high expectations
for them this coming track season
and for next year in cross country."
(Right) Chad Norton, number 41, is a leader for the team and other students.
Senior, All-American golfer prepares for final spring season
BY JORDAN SMITH
Staff Writer
As his senior year draws to a close, golfer Noah Ratner has
the spring semester left to make the best of his final year at
Guilford College.
The only senior on his team, Ratner is majoring in sports
management with a minor in business.
For an independent study in sports finance with Associate
Professor of Sports Studies Bob Malekof, Ratner is researching
what exactly the best approach is to professional golf to
calculate the money to pay for life if he goes into that field.
After graduating he plans to play amateur golf over the
summer, and move on to professional golf afterwards.
"I don't want to look back one day and say I should have
given it a try/' said Ratner in an email.
Not certain of what else he wants to do, Ratner claims he
has considered working in the golf field or in teaching golf.
"We'll see where golf will take me," he said.
For all four years Ratner has been at Guilford, the golf team
won the Old Dominion Conference championships with the
exception of one year when they were named runner up at
nationals. The team hopes to keep improving and try to win
nationals this year.
"Our team here at Guilford is very close," he said. "We
all hang out together on and off the course every day. I have
made friendships that I will have for the rest of my life."
His teammates have good things to say as well.
"Noah has always been the type of guy that will always be
there to help you with your golf swing, but also be there for
you as a friend too," said junior Dallas Page, a teammate to
Noah. "When I define Noah as a person, I think of a person
who is a true leader. Noah is a fun guy but he also knows
when to be serious too. Noah is a true leader and he is one of
the hardest workers I have ever seen."
Former head coach Jack Jensen recruited Ratner in his first
year at Guilford.
"He was the only college coach who believed in me," he
said.
When Jensen passed away, Corey Maggard became coach
of the men's golf team.
"Noah is the only player on the team who was here before I
took over." Maggard said in an email. "I have never coached
a harder working player than Noah. He is well liked by all
of his teammates and is always leading the jokes. But as a
coach, I never have to worry about anything else being above
golf on Noah's priority list."
A multiple PING All-American, Ratner has been named
ODAC's Golfer of the Week 11 times and Player of the Year
twice. He was recognized as the best golfer in the NCAA
Division III and received the 2012 Jack Nicklaus Award from
the Golf Coaches Association of America, an award given to
the top golfers in the nation.
I love going out and practicing everyday because you
never know what you're going to learn that day," Ratner
said. "One day you'll think you have found it, then the next
you could find something new that's even better. You have
to struggle sometimes as well to get better, because this game
owes you nothing. So my goal is to just keep on getting better
everyday."