SPORTS
February 15,2013
11
Throwing, running and passing into spring sports
BY JOHN KLUEPFEL
Guilford athletes are gearing up for the spring sports season
in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Girilford's spring
teams are all looking forward to a strong season.
Men’s Baseball
Previous Record: 21-20
Head Coach: Nick Black '02
Preseason Conference Ranking: 5th
Junior Gabe Mirabelli noticed changes in the team's
expectations from last season during this preseasoris training
camp.
"Last year we were a little bit of an imderdog because we
were young, and people didn't know what to expect" said
Mirabelli. "Now we aren't that and people are saying 'Okay
Guilford, the/re gonna be good this year.'"
Golf
Previous Record: Won ODAC Championship, 11th in NCAA
Div. in Championships
Head Coa^ Corey Maggard
Preseason Conference Ranking: n/a
Building off a strong 2012 campaign, the golf team looks to
take it one step further.
"Our team goal is to win a national championship but first the
Meredith Shaffer, sophomore, gets ready to serve the ball
ODAC because that's how we get to nationals," said first-year
Michael Almonte.
Men’s Lacrosse
Previous Record: 6-9
Head Coach: Tom Carmean
Preseason Conference Ranking: 7th
The lacrosse team has been working on their fundamentals to
improve from their subpar 2012 season.
The team is bolstered by a strong, experienced defense.
"The introduction of a really large, really talented freshman
dass is the key to the season," said sophomore Sam Cole. "We
have a lot of kids from around the country. I think the game most
of the guys are looking forward to is revenging last season's loss
to Greensboro (College). We want that game back and we want
some blood."
Women’s Lacrosse
Previous Record: 17-23
Head Coach: Sarah Lamphier
Preseason Conference Ranking: 5fh
Head coach Sarah Lamphier believes that the way the team
handles adversity will determine how well the season goes.
"I've been really impressed with their chemistry," said
Lamphier. "They very much enjoy each other's company. It
doesn't matter if you're a first-year, senior or junior, they all get
along and want to spend time with each other."
Softball
Previous Record: 17-23
Head coach: Dennis Shores
Preseason Conference Ranking: 9th
The soffeall team has worked on pitching and key hitting this
o^ason. The team is much deeper tiian in years past.
Head coach Dennis Shores sees every opposing team as a
rival.
"The team goal is to win the ODAC," said Shores. "Although
they ranked us to finish 9th, never wake a sleeping dog."
Men’s Tennis
Previous Record: 11-8
Head Coach: Dave McCain
Preseason Conference Ranking: 3rd
The tennis team faces high expectations as they were ranked
3rd in ODAC preseason polls. First-singles Turner Votipka has
worked on his core to prepare for the season.
"We have a really hard season ahead of us," said Votipka.
"I'm just excited to play these really tough guys who are good
players and can challenge me."
Women’s Tennis
Previous Record: 9-9
Head Coach: Dave McCain
Preseason Conference Ranking: 6th
The tennis team has a strong mix of yoimg players and
veterans. Their season starts on Feb. 15 against Virginia
Wesleyan.
"I thick (Kim and Natalie) are really good captains and we
can tell them things, they are really open with us," said second-
singles first-year AJlie Guy. "We have good communication
between the team and the captains."
Men’s Track and Field
Previous Record: n/a
Head Coaches: Danny Cash and Kimberly Cash
Preseason Conference Ranking: n/a
First-year Sherod Johnson dtes his coaches for his
improvement as a runner and student. Johnson is excited to
be transitioning fix)m winter track to outdoor track, where he
believes he ffirives in the warmer dimate.
"The Cashes have helped me academically and have gotten
me to where I want to be physically," said Johnson. "They've
put me through a series of weight training and have made me
stronger mentally."
Women’s TYack and Field
Previous Record: n/a
Head Coaches: Danny Cash and Kimberly Cash
Preseason Conference Ranking: n/a
Sophomore captain Jodie Geddes is exdted about the ODAC
Division HI championships on Feb. 22. The team has two recoixi
breakers with Jermifer Thomas and Jasmine O'Neill in the 200
and 800 meter events, respectively.
"We finally have a large enough team that we can get as many
points as pc^ible," said captain junior Jodie Geddes.
"I think we can take the ODAC. We should."
Ice, ice, baby! Heckey seasen begins
BY JOSH BALLARD
The rink lights up. The alarm sounds. The players burst onto the
ice ready to skate anew. The crowd roars, and the puck drops. The
2012-13 National Hockey League lockout is over.
After roughly 113 days of debate, hockey fans can at last rejoice as
the 30 teams that make up the NHL return to the rink.
"I am really relieved the lockout ended," said New York
Rangers fan and senior Tali Raphael in an email interview. "After there
was no deal by Thanksgiving, I was really thinking there would be no
season."
The NFIL Board of Governors and the NHL Players' Association
agreed on a new, 10-year collective bargaining agreement in early
January. Changes include a new contract term limit of seven years, a
50-50 split of hockey-elated revenue between players and owners, a
new payroll cap at $64.3 miUion and a cap on contract salary variance
at 35 percent.
Additionally, every non-playoff team has a chance to win the top
pick in the draft lottery originally, this was reserved for the bottom
five teams.
'The owners won this tussle," commented Forbes analyst Patrick
Rishe. "(However,) the players ended up retaining far more perks than
I ever believed they would."
The question remains: will the league bounce back?
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman estimates that the overall league
loss per day was between $18 and $20 million, with players losing
$8 to $10 rniUion. However, players are now earning an average of
$310,000 less per person because of the 50-50 split of league revenue.
The total number of games has decreased due to the lengthy
lockout. This season will consist of 48 gam^, just under 60 percent of
the normal count of 82 regular season contests.
In catch-up mode, teams are working hard to attract fans they may
have lost during the lockout.
"I know many teams have made a concerted effort to reach out
to the fans and make games more aaessible, especially in the early
stages of the season," said Sports Information Director and Assistant
Director of Athletics Dave Walters in an email interview. "My sister
and I had our best seats ever at the Carolina Hurricanes season opener
thanks to a 50 percent discount on opening night."
Raphael suspects that viewership and fan interest will pick up near
the playoffs.
"I'm really just glad to have it back, even if this season is going to
be a mess," Raphael said. 'The sport gets going during the playoffs,
where it shows its best."
Skeptical fans worry that a lockout may occur again, especially after
the newly made 10-year CBA expires. There are a number of visible
ways to fix the problem.
"The way I think we can prevent future lockouts is by getting rid of
Bettman," suggests Raphael. "Bettman has dealt with three lockouts in
his tenure as commissioner."
Other fans call for understanding on both sides.
"I think the players need to stand together," said senior Brendan
Wynands, a Carolina Hurricane fan. "And the owners need to listen to
the more moderate voices within their ranks."
Hopeful fans, however, see a simpler solution.
"Don't be greedy," Walters suggests. "Live peaceably with a spirit
of trust and good faith."
Men’s Rugby
Club is
recruiting!
Interested? Pass this along or show up
to any of our OPEN PRACTICE
SESSIONS Mondays,Wednesdays and
Fridays from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Have any questions? Please feel free to
email president Zachary Kronisch at
kronischzi@guilford.edu.
Not interested in playing but interested in
supporting the team? Come out and watch
a live match on any of the dates below!
And remember, Saturday’s a rugby day!
Upcoming matches:
vs. Wingate (Feb 16)
vs.ETSU(Mar2)
vs.Tablerock (Mar 16)
vs, .Guilford College Alum.
(Aprisj
(Unless otherwise noted, each home match will begin
on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.)