S PORTS
Doing their part: Guiiford athietic aiumni heip in
New Jersey after Hnrricane Sandy ravages state
11
December?, 2012
BY ANTHONY HARRISON
Staff Writer
"If you say there's a blizzard coming (in New Jersey),
they're fine with that," Assistant Athletic Trainer Danielle
Duffy said. "But a hurricane in that area is a little different."
On Oct. 29, Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey.
The storm destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses
and killed 34 people, making it the most devastating
hurricane recorded in the area. In a cruel twist of fate, a little
more than a week later on Nov. 7 a nor'easter followed in
Sandy's wake and dumped over a foot of snow across the
state.
By that time, Duffy and her roommate, Kimberly Keys '12,
had packed a rental car full of supplies and were on their
way to New Jersey to help.
Duffy and Keys decided to support the relief effort after
seeing the images of devastation reported on national news.
"I knew I could stay in North Carolina and help," Keys
said in an email interview. "But to see Hurricane Sandy Hrst-
hand would mean that I would realize all my selfish ways
and petty problems meant nothing compared to those who
were affected."
Duffy, a native of Point Pleasant, N.J., also considered her
family a major impetus in her decision.
"I was concerned with the emotions of my family and how
they were," Duffy said.
Both women were struck by the devastation they
witnessed once they arrived.
"The things we did see — you can't really prepare for it,"
said Duffy. "(We saw) things like boats on top of boats in
places there aren't supposed to be boats.
"All that kind of stuff was hard to believe, but when you
see where it was and whose boat it was, it becomes much
more real."
The duo helped out in places across the coast, performing
a wide array of tasks.
"Kim and I started our relief efforts, per se, by shoveling
some driveways," said Duffy. "We hadn't planned on that,
but we decided we were there to do as much as we could."
Before their trip, they had collected supplies, which they
donated to a church in Brick, N.J.
"After that, we volunteered at an abandoned shopping
center that was set up to let victims receive donated supplies
like necessities for young children, hygiene products and
food," Keys said. "The last place we volunteered was in
Point Pleasant. The houses had a lot of water damage so we
knocked some drywall out and moved a lot of molded items
out to be thrown away."
The Guilford Athletics Department supported the pair's
efforts as best they could.
"An email was sent out by (Athletic Department Business
Manager) Tracy Furjanic, asking for any additional Guilford
gear to contribute to their relief effort," said Assistant Director
of Athletics Dave Walters. "The folks in the department
responded well and in short order."
Those close to Duffy and Keys are proud of their efforts.
"Knowing them, 1 knew they would make a big impact
by donating their time," said senior Sarah Outright, one of
Keys's former softball teammates.
Both women consider the experience an eye-opener that
put their relatively cozy lives into perspective.
Duffy plans on returning to help later this month.
"Packing your car and driving nine hours and seeing what
I would see when I got there didn't seem like that crazy of an
idea, I guess," said Duffy with a laugh.
The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy may be unknown to
students in the South. But Danielle Duffy, assistant athletic
trainer, and Kimberly Keys‘12 took the initiative to help.
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at Guilford College Is here to take care of all that and more.
When you need your bike fixed up, take it by the Bike Shop.
Guilford to host 2014-2015
NCAA Golf Championships
Location:
Basement Floor
of Shore Hall
The entrance is
right under the
sign
Contact Info:
(336) 316-2435
Winter
Hours:
Monday,
Wednesday, and
Friday
1:00 p.m. - 5:00
p.m.
• • • • •
• • • •
BY CLARENCE TURPIN
Staff Writer
Guilford College has a prestigious golf history
and has the chance to expand upon that history
within the next two years. Guilford is to host the
Division III NCAA Golf Championships at the
Grandover Resort for the 2014 and 2015 season.
The resort's website says the course offers "tree
lined fairways (which) provide a seasonal blaze of
color offering our guests the feeling of being in a
nature preserve in America's heartland of golf."
"We enjoyed our experience with Grandover
and the Sports Commission in 2011 and look
forward to again showcasing our college and dty,"
said Tom Palombo, Guilford Athletic Director, in an
interview with the Guilford Beacon. "Guilford's
strong tradition in national golf tournaments and
Greensboro's reputation as a top-notch host make
this event a great fit for our community."
Several members of the golf team see the
tremendous benefit that accompanies the
championship being hosted on Guilford's "home
course".
"It will be big for us, we are able to play out there
often and know that course well," said senior All-
American Noah Ratner. "It will give most of us a
better opportunity for our families to see us. It is
much closer to most of us than Florida."
Sophomore Mitch Robinette echoes the
sentiment.
"In golf, being familiar with a course is a serious
advantage, almost like having a home football
game," said Robinette. "The crowd is there,
cheering for your team, which boosts confidence,
and being on a golf course you are comfortable
with (also) boosts your confidence, which normally
leads to success."
For the most part, the team recognizes the chance
they have in hosting the national championship,
but beyond that they see the potential legacy that
they can leave behind.
"I know I can look back right now and say 'Wow,
what a great career it has been.' I still want more
though and so does our team," said Ratner. "A
national championship is the (first) thing we want."
Junior golfer Jon Montgomery recognizes the
potential opportunity that Grandover Resort,
course offers for him.
"For the next two years, I get the chance to play
on a familiar course," said Montgomery. 'This puts
me in a great position to create success for myself,
and my team and I look forward to it."
Members of the Guilford student body also see it
as an important occurrence that Guilford will host
the Division III golf championships.
"It is great. Being a part of the cadre program this
past year, there weren't many events on campus to
give the students a chance to see sports teams in
action," said junior Gideon Brown. "With the golf
championships here in Greensboro, there vvill be
an opportunity for students and fans to watch the
team in action."
On a more personal side of the matter, one fan
has a close connection with the golf team.
"I have a good amount of friends on the team,"
said junior Saegan Hilliard. "The fact that they
will be playing so close to home gives me the
opportunity to see them perform in the biggest
events in their careers. Plus, it's a privilege to see
players such as Noah Ratner and Jon Montgomery
play."