SPORTS 11 APRIL 23, 2010 The truth about Guilford's drug testing policy By Crosby Blair and Will Cloyd Staff Writers At Guilford, student-athletes and cheerleaders must submit to random drug testing according to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules if they wish to compete at the Division III level. Once every semester five percent of every team must undergo random drug testing. The five percent rule means that players competing on a smaller team, like the tennis or golf teams, have a greater chance of being chosen. The student-athlete does not have to be tested if he does not want to and the school must have the student sign a waiver in order to test him. The catch, of course, is that in order to participate in the sport, the student must sign this waiver. Failure to agree to testing means not playing. Furthermore, refusal to take a test after being chosen counts as a positive result and leads to a 30-day, in-season suspension as well as eventual urinalysis. A company called Medscreen tests the selected athletes and gives the results back to the school. If the tests come up negative, then there are no consequences. If the test is positive, however, then there are repercussions. If the student openly admits to drug use, then he or she will be placed in counseling at the least after the extent of drug use and what types of drugs were being used is ascertained. A first positive test also leads to counseling and random testing during the period of counseling. In this case, the student will be allowed to continue to participate in his sport as long as the drug involved is not cocaine, heroine, or hallucinogens, including ecstasy. If the athlete tests positive again, it leads to an in-season, 30-day suspension along with counseling and random testing. The third time an athlete tests positive results in a one-year suspension along with treatment. After one year, the student may apply for reinstatement, which may or may not be granted. These rules and regulations are clearly laid out on the school's Web site. Despite the clarity and transparency of these rules, some students still find contention with the drug testing policy. "I've been chosen twice for drug testing, along with several other athletes," said senior tennis player William Mason-Dees. "I feel the odds of this happening randomly are very slim and that the trainers are targeting athletes who they think might use drugs." "I find it hard to believe that ifis random," agreed junior tennis player Mary Simpson. "I was chosen twice for the drug test." Head Athletic Trainer Gary Rizza could not disagree more. "The process is totally random," said Rizza, who explained that the training staff uses a bingo machine to choose athletes' names. Each athlete is assigned a number corresponding to a number on a ball, and then the balls are shuffled around and picked out at random. "We might as well draw names from a hat," said Rizza. "It's totally random," agreed Athletic Director Tom Palombo. Palombo also discussed the reasons for testing, besides the fact that the NCAA mandates testing. "It's not a punishment," said Palombo. "It's about education and prevention." Furthermore, Palombo discussed that the testing helps keep athletes safe in the physically demanding world of college sports. He explained that college sports are strenuous and that Guilford does not want any athlete putting himself at risk if he or she is using drugs. "We care about the safety of the athlete, " said Rizza. "We want them to be aware and educated." REVIEW Guilford athletics: Spring sports put on a show Continued from page I made in a single game on Feb. 2, on Dec. 2, sophomore transfer Jazlyn by sophomore transfer Bri Eilman, Gibbs took a three-point shot with which gave the Quakers a 1-0 win. six seconds left in a deadlock 52- More new faces on the men's soccer 52 tie against Washington and Lee team found spotlight, early.. Firsb'* University. As .the ball left .Gibbs' years Ronnie Castellanos and Freddy fingertips, spinning backwards Gomez combined for 15 goals in the perfectly, all 150 fans in Ragan- team's first 11 games. Whenever one of the two scored a goal in Armfield he would greet the fan base at the midfield sideline with a celebratory dance. Guilford football fans saw an unfamiliar face behind center this season. In an upset victory over Randolph-Macon on Halloween, junior quarterback Billy Watkins threw for a378 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. The women's volleyball team outdid their predecessors by earning the best record (12-15) since the 199714- 16 team. There were an average of 113 fans per home game this season, ——— who witnessed the team reach the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) tournament. As winter arrived, so did the goosebumps in what Guilford men's basketball fans will remember as one of the greatest seasons to date. As fans watched from the bleachers inside Ragan-Brown Field House, and from their computer chairs at home, Quaker nation followed seniors Tyler Sanborn, Clay Henson, Rhett Bonner and the Quakers to the top of Division III basketball's world with an ODAC championship banner wrapped around their shoulders and a second consecutive Final Four appearance to their name. Women's basketball had their share of glory in a season that will be remembered for the 3-point shot. A month before the Quakers broke the school record for the most 3-pointers shot would was reassuring. fall. The Brown new the The "swoosh Quakers won by three In their first year outside of Ragan- Brown, the swim team collected a 3-4 record, 2-2 in the ODAC with the help of their leading senior Justine Merritt. The senior finished writing Guilford's record book for the 100 breast, 200 breast and 200 individual medley in 2010, as she earned record times at the ODAC/Atlantic States on Feb. 13-14. The seniors, the fans, and legendary golf coach Jack Jensen will be missed in 2010-11. As the spring arrived, so did the first-year class on the men's and women's tennis teams, who helped the Quakers overcome Greensboro College in their opening match 9-0 (men) and 7-2 (women). The baseball team also swept the Greensboro Pride in 2010, thanks to lights-out pitching performance by junior Zach Daw in game two on March 30. In a game where Daw felt "invincible," the starter recorded seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings for a 2-0 Quaker win. Guilford's track and field teams' inaugural seasons introduced sophomore transfer Derick Kosgei, The Flash. Many Guilford fans blinked and missed the middle- distance runner run a first place, 15-minute, 21-second 5000-meter run at the Charlotte Invitational on April 17. Kosgei's times in 2009-10 will be cemented in Guilford's record books for years to come. Guilford's softball team broke several records in 2009-10 and in the doubleheader on April 16 against Emory & Henry College. Witih the 10-0, 16-3 sweep of the Wasps, the Quakers broke the single-season win record of 26. Record-breaking performances by senior Charissa Duncan lifted the Quakers. Duncan had a hat trick of homers in game one and reached safe on 12 total bases. Senior golfer Peter Latimer also capped his legendary Guilford career in style as he finished first at the Camp Lejeune Intercollegiate on March 26- 28 with 66-70-71 scores. Women's lacrosse enjoyed leadership and productivity from seniors this season. Elbe Merritt, Shelly Nogueira, Carrie Eamst and Bree Vohs have combined for 81 goals and 118 points while Alyzza-May Callahan, the goalie, leads the ODAC in saves per game with 11. Junior men's lacrosse goalie Mark Guillen averaged 13.53 saves per game this season, and had 13 saves in an overtime win over Oberlin College on April 4. A fancy no-look pass from sophomore Daniel Dowd and a quick catch-and-shoot goal from sophomore Greg Nash clinched the 12-11 win for the Quakers. As Guilford's tennis teams, lacrosse teams and softball team finish their respective seasons, the spring teams' seniors become anxious for one last chance at an ODAC crown. The seniors, the fans, and legendary golf coach Jack Jensen will be missed in 2010-11. But next year will give young Guilford athletes a chance to shine, and more fans an opportunity to witness the unimaginable. What You Missed in liuiHord Sports: LAST WEEK’S GAMES AND MATCHES Lacrosse 4/11 ‘4/14 Softball Tennis 4/8 4/10 4/11 4/14 4/10 4/11 4/12 WOMEN'S SPORTS GUILFORD 17 Sewanee 23 $ GUILFORD 14 Sweet Briar 5* GUILFORD 0/2 Meredith 7/0 DH SWEET BRIAR 0/0 Guilford 8 (6 inn.)/16 DH RANDOLPH-MACON 4/8 Guilford 3*/7* DH GUILFORD 12/4 Randolph 9*#/8*# DH Guilford 6 LYNCHBURG 3* GUILFORD 6 Randolph 3* GUILFORD 3 Roanoke 6 What You Doni Want to Miss In Guilfom Sports: UPCOMING GAMES AND MATCHES WOMEN'S SPORTS Lacrosse 4/17 Guilford v. ROANOKE 12 noon* 4/21 Guilford v.WASHINGTON AND LEE 5:00 p.m. 4/24 ODAC Quarterfinals TBA 4/28 ODAC Semifinals TBA 5/1 ODAC Finals Softball 4/16 Guilford v. EMORY & HENRY 3 p.m.* 4/18 Guilford V. LYNCHBURG 1:30 p.m.* 4/ 23-25 ODAC Tournament TBA Tennis 4/17 GUILFORD V. Emory & Henry 1:00 p.m.* 4/18 Guilford V. RANDOLPH-MACON 2:00 p.m.* 4/23-25 ODAC Tournament TBA HOME TEAM IN CAPS Stone mountain Golf Course in Stone Mountain, GA. *- Old Dominion Athletic Conference Match #-Score for the Cure Game Bay Creek Resort Cape Charles,VA $- Senior Day DH- Double Header

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