The Wildcats Look to Win another Title

The Wildcats win their 5th straight NCAA Championship against the Tar Heels in 2009.

Playing the second best ranked team in the nation is no easy task, especially in front of a record breaking 1,705 fans versus.  That is, unless your team is ranked first.  This was the situation for Northwestern women’s lacrosse about two weeks ago.  Ranked #1 in the nation as they approached their rival from the NCAA National Championships last year, the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Wildcats had the closest game of the season.  However, the Wildcats found themselves on the losing end.  A close game till the end, the Wildcats suffered an 18-16 loss, making it their first loss in nearly two years.  Although a loss like this was obviously hard to accept, being five time defending national champions (including last year’s title) and now the #2 ranked team in the nation make the Wildcats a team whose spirit in not easily crushed.  They would not let this loss define them as a team.  Less than a week after their struggle against the Tar Heels, the Wildcats rallied to victory against their conference opponent Vanderbilt with a 27-9 win, a win that makes NU the regular season champions and places them as the number one seed in the upcoming American Lacrosse Conference Championships (ALCC), in which also they placed 1^st last year.

The 2010 season for the Wildcats began rather normally for the team with 18-6, 18-11, and 23-1 victories over schools University of Massachusetts, Stanford, and Duquesne respectively.  The team continued to build upon their undefeated record from last season by achieving 12 straight wins where three of those wins were against conference opponents.  On playing for such a successful team, freshman player Amanda Macaluso says, “playing for a team that has won five national championships means that we play with a huge target on our backs. This means that every game we play we need to bring our best, because we know the other team is.  The level of intensity and competitiveness that we play with everyday is amazing.”

Throughout the season thus far, NU’s star players Katrina Dowd and Danielle Spencer dominated the field and represented the Wildcats well as a team with power.  Dowd continues to rack up points as she currently is ranked 7^th on NU’s all time scoring list with 228 points while Spencer is ranked 8^th with 216 points.  Concerning what keeps Dowd set on success she says, “My teammates motivate me to become the best player I can be in order to further the success of the team.  Each practice and every game is an opportunity.  As a senior my opportunities are numbered, there is no greater motivation then to keep that in perspective.”

Then defeat struck.

Despite players like Dowd, Alexandra Frank, Shannon Smith, Brooke Matthews, Rachel Fox, and Amanda Macaluso all adding a total of 16 points to the scoreboard against North Carolina, the Tar Heels still won but by only a small and unfortunate margin. Has the loss affected the team’s morale?  After the loss Dowd stated, “The team’s overall morale hasn’t shifted.  We have a very positive coaching staff and we as players buy into the concept of being positive to ourselves and teammates.  But with the loss, it has come time to look inside ourselves.  Hard work and consistency is what this program values and as players we needed to decide if what we were contributing was our best effort.”  The NU women’s lacrosse team does not let the word “loss” disrupt their attitude and mindset and is why Dowd goes on to say, “As a team we cannot not let the loss define our season but let how we respond here on out define us.”  And certainly they did not let it define them, evidenced by their performance less than a week later.

Danielle Spencer (#2), scored 8 goal against Vanderbilt.

As the #2 Wildcats took the field on April 24th for their game against #8 Vanderbilt, the regular season conference crown was at stake as well as the first seed position in the ALCC.  Players Dowd and Spencer led the team with Spencer scoring a career best of 8 goals. This tied her for second most goals in a single game in NU lacrosse history.  In the end, the Wildcats defeated Vanderbilt with an overwhelming 27-9 victory.  Despite the players’ role in the team’s success, there is more to their victory.  Macaluso says, “a lot of the credit I would say has to go to our amazing coaching staff.  They put in endless hours watching and cutting film as well as coming up with new and innovative drills and ways to make us the best and most versatile team that we can be.”

With the victory over Vanderbilt, Northwestern stood with a strong record of 13-1 including a 4-0 record against American Lacrosse Conference opponents.  Northwestern then closed their season on a high note this past weekend with victories over both Virginia and Florida, giving NU an overall record of 15-1.

The Wildcats now look forward to the American Lacrosse Conference Championships on May 6^th in Columbus, Ohio where they look to defend their title from last year.

Article by staff writer:

Ryan Nangle

UIC and Loyola Battle It Out This Weekend at the Men and Women’s Track and Field Championships

As the school year comes to an end, things are revving up for the track and field teams at UIC and Loyola. Both schools will be competing at the Horizon League Championships this coming weekend as they meet at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Last year the UIC men finished 4^th, while Loyola came in 6^th place out of 7 teams. The UIC and Loyola women both finished tied for 3^rd with 68 points.

UIC has been successful so far in the season. They have had a great number of contributions from underclassmen on both the men and women’s teams. On the men’s team, Anthony Hollingsworth has been the dominating force in the 100 and 200 meter runs this year. He is currently the favorite to win the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.61. Asked about his performance at meets up until now he said, “I am very happy about what I have been able to do this season. I lowered my personal best and although the weather has not been the best I feel as though I am running at my highest level.” Hollingsworth

Andy Wall High Jumping

is not alone atop the leader board in the Horizon League. Teammate Andy Wall, a red-shirt senior, is ranked in the top five for three events. Wall is currently ranked third in the high jump at 6’6, fourth in the javelin with a throw at 143′ 2″ and first in the triple jump at 47′ 10.5″.

The UIC distance squad will be looking to place three guys in the 800 meter run. Sophomore Matt Zaluckyj, junior Lewis Brown and senior Farrahadoon Durrani whom are all

Matt Zaluckyj Anchoring the 4x400 meter relay

ranked in the top 8. Junior Lewis Brown had this to say on his upcoming performance, “I’m looking forward to placing in the 800 again. Last year I ran a 1:52.29 which put me in third place.” Senior Nic Aubert placed last year in the 3000 meter steeplechase, a race that is very fun to watch. It includes seven and a half laps of hurdles and a treacherous water pit which one must jump over. The men’s 4×400 meter relay is always the most thrilling event. It concludes the meet as the last race of the day. Last year the Flames held off the University of Detroit-Mercy to claim third place.

UIC Sophomore Kellie Schuh

On the women’s team sophomore Kellie Schuh has been a leading contributor to the Flames’ success this season and leads the team into competition this weekend. Schuh is ranked third in the pole vault with a height of 11′ 5.75” and is in sixth place in the triple jump with a leap of 38′ 4.25″. The majority of the points to be scored on the women’s team for UIC will come from the throwers. There are three throwers ranked in the top 10 for the hammer throw for the Flames; seniors Monique Bostert and Kristen McMurray and junior Erin Clark. Senior Mary Brennan is looking to place in the 400 meter hurdles. Brennan is looking forward to this race after running the steeplechase last year. “After placing 4^th last year in the steeplechase, I am looking forward to the 400 hurdles. I ran it a lot in high school and am just really excited to run it.”

As the Flames brace for tough competition this weekend, city rival Loyola has had a stellar season themselves. The Ramblers have several runners in the 400 meter run with freshman Mike Wetzel sitting in fourth place with a 49.08. Senior Ricky Headrick isn’t far behind him with a 49.41 for sixth place. Freshman Declan Murray and sophomore Nolan Fine will compete against Zaluckyj, Brown and Durrani of the Flames in the 800 meter run. These five athletes make up five of the top eight runners in that event.

In the 110 meter hurdles the Ramblers have two sprinters ranked in the top seven in the Horizon League. Junior Ramunas Stanciauskas with a time of 16.29 and sophomore Jon Christ with a time of 16.34. These two guys will be looking to take down UIC’s Andy Wall in that event. Stanciauskas and Christ will be back in action running the 400 meter run along with teammate Tom Andreoni who is atop the leader board with a time of 55.11.

On the women’s team the Ramblers will look to the distance squad for some

Loyola Sophomore Jen Rock

major points. In the 5000 meter race senior Genevieve Binnie and Jen Rock are ranked in the top five with times of 17:35 and 17:36 respectively. Binnie will also be competing in the 10,000 meter run, a 6.2 mile race (which is 25 laps around an outdoor track). She is 30 seconds behind the leader with a time of 36:36.

The Flames and Ramblers will both be on their A-games this weekend as they look to conclude their seasons on a high note at the Horizon League Championships.

The men and women’s track and field Horizon League Championships will begin at 10am on Saturday and conclude at 10am on Sunday at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois.

Article By Staff Writer:

Dan Cline

The Wildcats: In Coach Stevens We Trust

Paul Stevens has more than 500 wins in his career as Head Coach

It’s spring time in Chicago which means that baseball season is here. As the MLB season just began in April, the College regular season is winding to an end. Right now the Northwestern Men’s baseball team may seem disappointing this season if you look at their overall record of 15-23. Also, the team doesn’t rank in any of the top five statistical categories in the Big Ten Conference. But as of April 25^th they do rank number one in the most important statistic: wins. NU’s 7-5 record places them in a four-team tie for first place with Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State.

Leading these young men is their long time Head Coach Paul Stevens. He began his legacy back in October of 1987 when he was named Head Coach. Although, not every season has been a perfect season, the Wildcats are in good hands with their experienced Head Coach. Stevens has 500 plus wins in his tenure as head coach and has gotten the honor of being named Big Ten coach of the year on three separate occasions, 1991, 1995, and recently in 2006. That year he led the Wildcats to their first ever second seed post-season ranking. NU advanced in the tournament but was ultimately defeated by the number one seed Michigan.

Matt Gaily has a spectacular 1.56 era this season

Despite that stellar 2006 season, the past few seasons have not gone as well. The team compiled a 28-58 Big Ten Conference record, which is not that impressive. But Coach Stevens taught his team to look ahead to the future. “Coach Stevens is a strong believer in flushing out the bad. He has taught me how to have a short memory and how to overcome adversity”, says Junior pitcher Matt Gailey. Adversity has been ever present this season, mostly in non-conference games. In Big Ten Conference games the Wildcats are playing overwhelming well and are playing at the top of their game.

This past weekend gave NU the opportunity to make a push for first place. The rain out on Friday pushed the Conference series opener between NU and Purdue back a day to set up a double-header on Saturday. The Wildcats overcame the delay, splitting the doubleheader with the Boilermakers. On Sunday NU won 6-3 to win the series. It was not only a victory for the team, but this win marks three consecutive series wins in Conference play, which put the Wildcats in a four-team tie for first place. Only one game separates the top seven teams in the Big Ten standings.

The question is will the Wildcats continue to play well in Conference games? Matt Gailey talks about Coach Stevens approach as the season moves closer to the Big Ten Tournament, “Every (Big Ten) game is so important as one game can make a difference as to whether or not we make the tournament. Coach Stevens gets on us when we need to focus more or if we lack hustle. He emphasizes how we must only think about one game at a time and realize the importance that one game can mean.” The team will need to take that focus into the rest of the season because they do not have an overall winning record.

Coach Stevens is optimistic about his current team the team, which was stated in a recent interview with nuspots.com. Stevens said, “I’m as confident with this group as I’ve been all year. I’m pleased with how the entire team is playing. There’s a litany of guys who have gotten on the field and who have come through.” Winning conference games is very important to this team and coming through in the clutch is what has helped them with their impressive Big Ten play. Before conference games began in April, NU’s record was a dismal 6-18. Since then, their overall record has improved to 9-5.

Matt Gailey, former player Jacob Goebbert, Eric Jokisch, Chris Lashmet, Charlie Finch enjoying some time away from the field

The team chemistry is one thing that has led NU to be successful in Conference games, Matt Gaily explains, “Our team is made of up many characters, but we are truly a close-nit group. Talking with other players from other teams, I realize that our team is much closer. Our team hangs out all the time and it is what makes playing at Northwestern truly special.” Hopefully the team’s chemistry will lead the team to success when the Big Ten Tournament comes around in May.

There is no doubt about Coach Stevens’ ability to lead his team to success, “Coach Stevens is extremely intense and passionate when it comes to coaching. He is a competitive person who hates to lose and will almost do anything to win,” says Gailey. The team will need to take this advice to heart, as they will face fellow one seeds Michigan and Michigan State in back to back series in mid May.

NU looks to extend their conference series wins to four in a row as they take on Big Ten rival Illinois this upcoming weekend. The first game kicks off Friday, April 30^th, in Champaign Illinois. It’s a three game series with two games following on Saturday and Sunday.

Article by Staff Writer: Theo Rodwan-Gordon

DePaul Makes School History: Men’s Golf Team

Making History!

If you ask a student at the University of DePaul about their Men’s Golf Team, you would get a look of confusion. They would probably have no idea that the Men’s Golf team existed let alone that it was revving up for a win at the BigEast Championships. The team has been on a roll through out the season with only one hiccup along the way. Even though the Men’s Golf Team consistently placed in the top ten for every tournament until the beginning of March, it started at the University of South Florida Invitational (March 5-7). The team tied for 17^th place out of 23 teams. Afterwards however they were able to place in the top 5 for the following invitationals: C&F Bank Intercollegiate, BSU Cardinal Collegiate, and Adidas Hoosier Invitational. Unfortunately for the team, the DePaul student body was not even aware of any of this.

Then tragedy struck as the Blue Demons placed last in the Red Wolf Classic, the last invitational before the Championships. Even though they placed last, they still headed toward the Big East Championship with their heads held high. They were looking to make school history and gain student support.

Russell Budd

Michael Furci

Furci on course.

Greg Doherty

Making History!

Coach Betty Kaufmann

Charles Boucher

Ben Westley

The DePaul Men’s Golf team traveled this past week to Florida and was triumphant. They played in Palm Harbor for the Big East Championship, which started this past Sunday (4/18). With a little bit of a weather problem, the Blue Demons did not let the rain stop them. One main problem that the team faced, other than the weather, is the fact that the majority of the DePaul student population doesn’t know that the team is in Florida for the championships and had no support other than themselves and their coaches.

After day one DePaul sat in 9^th place out of 12. The leading man on the team was sophomore Michael Furci, with a career best score of 69.  Furci was tied for first place with Troy Spencer from Seton Hall. This was an amazing feat for DePaul’s golf they are currently ranked only 155^th for Division I schools across the nation. As a team they were having some difficulties across the board, but with the help of Furci the team was able to pick up some momentum through the tournament. The only notification that the team was doing well was on the DePaul’s athletic website, on the Men’s Golf Team page in a short article, how are they going to gain support if their success is not broadcasted?

Even though there were 304 students competing, Furci’s teammates also had a great round of play after the first day. Senior Greg Doherty tied for 40^th place. His teammate sophomore Ben Westley tied for 47^th place and junior Charles Boucher and freshman Russell Budd both tied for 52^nd place.

As the sun rose on the second day, the rain had finally cleared. The team was positive and excited for what was ahead of them. As they each finished their rounds on the course, Furci clinched 1^st place with no tie. Doherty and Westley tied for 41^st place, Budd tied for 55^th place, and Boucher sat at 59^th place. At the conclusion of the second round, the Blue Demons currently reside in 11^th overall.

Furci on course.

The third and last day of the competition arrived and Furci ended the tournament tied for 5^th place. This is a school best as no other DePaul Golfer has ever placed this high at the Big East Championship. The rest of the team remained in the previous placings.  At the end of the day the Blue demons placed 12^th overall. DePaul had made school history; history that the students should be excited and inspired about, but the majority of them don’t even know they have a golf team. There was no celebration on campus, or merriment with the team. The Men’s Golf Team had to celebrate with each other, a sad end of the competition when they just made history.

This seems to be the main message that is circulating around the DePaul campus: no student support. Although the team has been doing much better these days compared to the past, they could use more support from the student body.  This issue is very evident by the lack of a fan base at the invitational’s and the lack of knowledge about the team. The Men’s Golf Team made school history this past weekend and this should have been known and celebrated. Maybe next time the team will have the support that they should have had in the first place.

Article By Staff Writer:

 

Mel Lachapelle

 

NU Swimming: A Continuing Tradition

NU Men's Swim Team

This past month Northwestern Men’s swimming team placed 34th at the NCAA National Tournament. It was their 9th placing in the last 10 years. Head Coach Jarod Schroeder, in his first season, has proved that he can keep the NU Swimming tradition alive. This wasn’t always the case for the Wildcats swim team. Former head coach Bob Groseth who is also a former NU Alum and Swimmer, brought the team up from scratch in 1988. At that time NU finished last in conference and had nothing else to show for it besides a brand new pool. Groseth changed the mindset of his swimmers and turned them into a national contender year after year.

In Groseth’s tenure at NU, he produced 5 national championships and 2 outstanding swimmers, Matt Grevors and Mike Alexandrov. Grevers and Alexandrov came out of the Wildcats swim program as contending Olympians. Grevors won the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 100-meter backstroke while Alexandrov competed twice for Bulgaria in the 2004 and 2008 summer Olympics.

After Groseth retired last June, his assistant coach Jarod Schroeder took over the program. He had some hard shoes to fill because of the tradition that Groseth created.  Schroeder inherited a winning program and is trying to continue the NU swimming dominance within the division. After taking over the program Schroeder said, “It was a pretty smooth transition. I was a volunteer assistant here from 2000-2006, and then came back as the lead assistant in 2008. Most of the guys knew me, and my coaching style is similar to Coach Groseth’s. He was one of my mentors and encouraged me to get into coaching”.

NU women’s swimmer Erin Reilly commented on Coach Schroeder taking over the NU Men’s Swim Team saying, “I think Jarod has done an amazing job carrying on Bob’s success. Our program has been growing tremendously, as Matt Grevers and Mike Alexandrov are both currently on the U.S. National Swimming Team and came from Northwestern. Matt’s recent success at the past Olympics has also helped us out. Jarod has definitely stepped up and is incorporating new ideas into the program. The boys don’t have standout stars like Grevers and Alexandrov, but they have more depth and are continuing to produce very fast swimmers. They just finished NCAA’s and the boys placed for the 9th time in the past 10 years. So I definitely think Jarod is continuing the tradition of success.”

Even after placing 34th at this past NCAA Tournament, Schroeder still thinks that the Wildcats could have done better. Schroeder stated, “I was a little disappointed. The guys we had at the meet each had a good swim and then a couple of mediocre swims. We missed out on a couple of opportunities to make it back into finals, which cost us a few points. Overall it was a good experience for the guys we had at the meet, but I think they left the National Championships knowing they can make a bigger impact next year. This was the first time for them on this stage”.

Although there was some disappointment in the placing at the NCAA Tournament, the NU Men’s Swim team is still and will be a dominant program. They have a strong recruiting class and their best swimmers Alex Tyler and Sean Matthews are returning for next season. Schroeder said, “All of our point scorers from Big Ten’s are returning. So far next year’s freshman class is shaping up nicely. We’ve got 4 swimmers and 2 divers already committed and hope to add 2 or 3 more this spring”.

After learning from the experience Coach Schroeder and his young team received this past season, NU looks like they are in good shape to continue their successful tradition. They will not only look to place at the NCAA Tournament next season, but could be in contention to bring home another national championship to Chicago.

Article by Staff Writer:

Tyler Rayome

A Chat in the Dugout with UIC Baseball’s John Rosinski

John Rosinski Warming Up for a Game

The UIC baseball team has been very successful in the past decade. They have won 9 Horizon League Championships in a row since the 2001 season and look to continue that streak this year. Every college baseball team looks to recruit the best players they can and for the Flames there is no difference. With being a part of such a winning program the coaches at UIC look to improve their team the best they can every year. It then makes sense that UIC would want a player who was a three-year letter winner as an outfielder at New Trier, a two-time All-Central Suburban South Conference selection, Most Valuable Player for New Trier Baseball in 2005,a 2005 Pioneer Press All-Area honoree, New Trier’s team captain as a senior, and earned the Ron Klein award in 2006. This week the very talented outfielder, Senior John Rosinski gives us insight to why he chose to play for UIC, the upcoming season, and his future plans.

Theo: What’s your nickname?

John: Johnny Ro or J-Ro

T: What position do you play? Are you a starter?

J: Yes I am a starter. I play right field, left field, and I am designated hitter (DH).

T: How did the team do last season? Team record? Any playoffs or tournament appearances? Did you make the sweet sixteen?

J: Last year the team was one strike away from going to the NCAA tournament. Our record was 29-23. We lost in the championship of the Horizon League Conference tournament to Wright State. No sweet sixteen appearance.

T: How did you do personally stats wise? What was your best game?

J: I batted .360.  My best game was against UW-Milwaukee 6 for 6

T: What do you feel you bring to the team John?

J: I feel that I bring a sense of humor and a good attitude to the team.

T: How are you guys preparing for the upcoming season? Any good prospects to watch out for (other than yourself)?

J: The season started the 3rd weekend in February.  To prepare we practice almost everyday for several hours.  Prospects to watch out for are Matt Serna, Jason Ganek and Steve McGuiggan.

T: Do you or any members of the team have certain rituals you do before each game, or throughout the season?

J: Yes, everyone on the team has hand shakes they do with each other before each game. We also goof around with each other throughout to stay relaxed before games.

T: I know UIC recruits players, why did you choose to play ball for UIC? What was the recruitment experience like?

J: I chose to come and play for UIC because I knew a lot about the program and my 2 brothers both played for UIC. The recruitment experience was fun. It included phone calls from the coaches, a house visit and coaches attending my high school games, which was sometimes nerve-wracking.

T: How has your UIC athletic experience been?

J: My UIC experience has been fun. Playing on a team with 25 to 30 guys is like having another family, we spend so much time together.  Every year brings new relationships and makes old ones stronger.  We have a great coaching staff that push us to be the best we can be.  The staff in the athletic department has also been great helping us out as much as they can. Overall, I have had an excellent athletic experience here at UIC.

T: What are your plans for after graduation? Do you think you’ll be drafted by an MLB team? Or are you planning on getting a job with your degree?

J: After I graduate I want to go to graduate school in Special Education so I can become a teacher.  I have always wanted to get drafted but I have no idea (if getting drafted will happen) so I am planning on becoming a teacher.

T: Last but not least, the big question, Cubs or Sox?

J: Cubs!

Article by Staff Writer: Theo Rodwan-Gordon

The Flames Remain Ignited

The Flames on defense

On any typical night in Chicago, the Willis Tower glows magnificently, but this past Tuesday a field in the foreground of the tower’s presence glowed brighter.  The UIC Flames (6-14) took on the Northwestern Wildcats (6-18) at Les Miller Field in UIC’s first game against a Big 10 opponent this season.  From the beginning of the game, Northwestern seemed to have complete control, scoring one run in the first inning and loading the bases twice.  The game soon turned around and the Flames began to light up the scoreboard finishing with a 6-1 victory over their Big 10 opponent.

Entering the 2010 season, the Flames had the 9^th toughest schedule among all Division 1 teams.  Despite junior Matt Serna’s team-high batting average this season and senior Chris Rutta who before the game on Tuesday ranked 2^nd in the Horizon League for homeruns and 3^rd in hitting percentage, the Flames were for the most part unable to capitalize on their talent.  The Flames struggled early this season by starting on a three game losing streak to Le Moyne College and Canisius College. The run margin they lost by was significantly high and over their next twelve games, they would only be victorious in two of them.

Steve McGuiggan, outfielder for the Flames, said, “We began this season trying to find our identity and had to face a lot of struggles.  That is something UIC baseball is not used to.  UIC Baseball has become a program that is expected to win.”

Although the season didn’t start how the team planned it to, there were some sparks of encouragement.  Infielder/outfielder Matt Serna was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for the period of February 14-21 while outfielder Chris Rutta received that same recognition for the week of March 7-14.  Just recently, Steve McGuiggan received the same recognition for the week of March 21-28.  In a span of only 19 games, these three players helped keep the team encouraged and motivated by winning these prestigious awards.

The Flames did not remain in their early season slump for long. Recently they have begun to burst forth with energy by winning the last four of five games which includes a victory over Notre Dame and the recent victory over Northwestern.  The Flames have been victorious in this streak by putting up impressive numbers and scoring runs when they had to.

What can be attributed to this sudden change of pace?  I asked sophomore catcher Nathan Orf and with laughter in his voice he said, “Coach had a big talk with us and we turned our game around.” Player Steve McGuiggan also gave light as to why this change in pace has occurred, “After our Notre Dame win, we seemed to start to gel together as a team.  Younger guys are gaining experience and older players are stepping up as leaders.  Tuesday’s game was another reminder of how far we’ve come.”

Steve McGuiggan at the plate

Approaching the 50^th match-up between the two teams, the Wildcats led in victories over the Flames (34-14-1) obviously placing the burden for a victory on UIC.  As the city loomed in the background with all its lights and grandeur, at least for UIC not much was shining forth from the field.  By the end of the first inning, the Wildcats already scored their first run and seemed to be in much control until the Flames scored their first run in the 3^rd inning.

The Flames glowed brighter as the night progressed with Steve McGuiggan’s homerun in the 5^th to bring home two runs and brighter still with freshman Joe Betcher’s homerun in the 6^th, bringing home two runs.  In the 8^th inning the Flames scored their last run.  The end result is a 6-1 victory for UIC.

The reason for this victory and motivation for future games can be explained by how player Nathan Orf puts it, “If we have energy we’re going to win a lot of games.”  As the team broke from their after game huddle, the players looked excited about the victory. I overheard Head Coach Mike Dee talking with someone as the players packed up their things and the look on his face added to the fact that these recent wins are a sweet thing.

The UIC Flames (6-14, 2-1 Horizon League) face their Horizon League opponent, Youngstown State, this weekend in Ohio for a three game set.  The Flames have their next home game on April 9^th at 7:05pm CST against Horizon League foe Butler.  The Northwestern Wildcats have their next home game against Big 10 opponent Ohio State on April 2^nd at 3:00pm.

Article by staff writer:

Ryan Nangle

The Big Four’s Mascot Showdown: Who Will Be Standing Tall Next to the Skyscrapers of Chicago?

The Chicago Big Four have a rich tradition in how their sports names and mascots came about. However, does anyone know why there is a wolf howling for the Ramblers? Or why a dragon is fanning the Flames? Are The Blue Demons supposed to be scary? What about the Wildcats? How do all of these mascots represent their respective schools and student athletes? Whose mascot is worthy of being called Chicago’s best? This week Second City College Sports will take a look at how each of the four team’s names and mascots came to be. Second City will then crown Chicago’s best mascot after carefully analyzing each school’s history and relation to the City of Chicago.

The voting will be based on uniqueness, origins, and how representative they are to the great city of Chicago. The rating system is out of four Willis Towers.

Northwestern

Willie Dancing at a Game

Northwestern athletes went by the name “The Purple”, unofficially as the “Fighting Methodists”, until the name Wildcats came about in 1924. A Chicago Tribune reporter coined the name in an article about the men’s football team and how they came down from Evanston and looked more like wildcats than football players. Northwestern’s first mascot was a live bear cub from the Lincoln Park Zoo, named Furpaw. This little cub would be paraded around the field on game days to get the audience roaring. However, after a loosing season the team thought that Furpaw brought them bad luck and banished him from their campus. In 1947, Willie the Wildcat became the schools mascot and has been sinking his claws on the opponents ever since.

The Wildcat name is bland and universal. It’s like Springfield in a sense that every state has a city named Springfield. Sure the image of a Wildcat is terrifying but, when put together with the city of Chicago; it takes on more of an Alley Cat image. That’s not something that will strike fear in any opposing team. Although the name might have been creative in the 1920’s the Wildcats is a little too generic. However, Willie the Wildcat is good alliteration and he is worthy of some praise.

Rating:    Two and a half Willis Towers.

Loyola

Lu Pointing to the Camera

Prior to 1926, Loyola’s teams simply went by their school colors maroon and gold. That same year, Loyola’s football team travelled all across the country playing fearlessly against their opponents. This caught the medias attention and dubbed Loyola the Ramblers. Loyola’s mascot, Lu Wolf, was introduced to represent the school because the schools seal has two wolves eating over a caldron. The wolf also represents the schools Jesuit Catholic views.

A wolf in the seal and the storied history of the Rambler name gives Loyola a paw up in the contest. But when the word Rambler is mixed in with representing Chicago, a wolf is not what comes to mind. A hobo or a drifter comes to mind. Lu Wolf is a fine mascot for a team called the Wolves. However, Lu is representing a tradition that evokes images of traveling great distances and hard work. Chicago doesn’t have many wolves wandering about its streets.

Rating:   Two and a half Willis Towers.

DePaul

DIBS Pointing to the Crowd

DePaul’s team name started out as the D-Men in 1900 when their athletes wore the letter D on their jerseys. Naturally this evolved into the Demons. The introduction of the Blue came by way of a student body vote a year later. Billy was the name of the original mascot, but when the school updated its logo Billy was updated as well. The mascot currently goes by DIBS which stands for Demon In a Blue Suit.

The Blue Demons as a team name is terrifying. They haunt the opposing team’s nightmares. But when coupled with Chicago, a blue demon takes on a different meaning, the Blue and White of the Chicago Police Department, terrifying in and of itself. Also, DIBS are better known as an ice cream snack. Because of this relation, DePaul should be getting a cease and desist letter in the mail some time soon. The Blue Demon is a unique mascot, but shares the name with a delicious treat. This is not something athletes want to be thinking about come game time.

Rating:Three Willis Towers.

UIC

Sparky Throwing Up His Arms

UIC has a long history of different mascots. The original mascot for UIC was chief Chi-Illini, a spin-off of the Urbana’s Illini, when the school was located in Navy Pier. When the university was moved to its current location in 1965, on the near west side of Chicago, the school took on the name Chikas based on the Chickasaw tribe. However, chica is Spanish for girls and based on relentless taunting and politically incorrectness of naming a sports team after Native American tribe, the school was simply known as Circle. After having lost an athletic and school embodied image of spirit, the school took a student vote in 1982 to give the school a proper name. Choices included the Flames, the Skyscrapers, and the Clout. The Flames won out and has it has stuck ever since. That same year the school began to experiment with different mascots. The first was supposed to look like a flame. However the suit looked more like a tomato, so he was dubbed “Tommie the Tomato Head”. In 1986, the tomato was dropped in favor of a menacing looking dragon. Then in 1993, the name Sparky D. Dragon was given to the treacherous dragon.

UIC was worried about political correctness with the Chikas and its negative connotations. The word flame has even more negative connotations that can lead to incessant taunting. Sparky D. Dragon, a raging red dragon is a great mascot. What do dragons have? Fire! It all makes perfect sense. However put these two words together and what’s the first thing that comes to mind, Sparky the Flame. The history of the great Chicago Fire evokes pride for Chicagoans, how a city was rebuilt in the ashes of the old. However, don’t dragons start fires?

Rating: Three and a half Willis Towers.

Second City College Sports winning mascot: Sparky D. Dragon.

Sparky D. Dragon is a very unique mascot who represents more than the UIC athletes. He represents a city that was burned to the ground and then built into one of the worlds greatest cities. Sparky is a world class mascot. While the other three mascots are special in their own right, Sparky D. Dragon stands out as Chicago’s best mascot. He ignites the Flames burning passion for excellence, entertains crowds, and gets fans on their feet. Sparky is as representative for Chicago as deep-dish pizza is for Chicago.

Disagree? Vote in this weeks poll and voice your opinion on who you think is Chicago’s best mascot in the comments section.

-Article by Staff Writer: Theo Rodwan-Gordon

A Conversation with Brooke Frydendall: UIC Softball

Senior Brooke Frydendall

The UIC softball team has been one of the more successful programs in recent years. After finishing 1st in the Horizon League during the regular season, the Flames entered the 2009 Horizon League Conference Tournament with a lot of momentum. However, they fell short to Cleveland State in the Championship game. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Senior Brooke Frydendall about expectations for this season, her history with softball, and her plans after graduation.

Dan Cline: When did you start playing softball?

Brooke Frydendall: I started playing softball when I was 8 years old.

DC: Are there any professional softball players you idolize or would you say you follow baseball players more?

BF: I follow all sports in general and I would have to say that there is not one player in particular who I idolize. There are many players I enjoy watching simply to learn new things about the game and how to become a better player.

DC: What has kept you motivated over the years to continue playing into college?

BF: There has been so many times where I wanted to quit because it was so hard or it took up too much time. I just have so much passion for the game that I could never do that. I have met so many great friends throughout the years playing softball and they all have kept me motivated. It’s really fun playing with some of your best friends.

DC: Since you’re from California, what made you choose to play softball at UIC?

BF: I had a choice to either stay near home and play for a University in California or come to Chicago and play for UIC. I chose to play at UIC because I wanted to do something on my own and experience something completely different. As soon as I came out to Chicago for my official visit I fell in love with the city, and knew this is where I wanted to play and go to college.

DC: After having a new coaching staff take over last year, how do you feel they have done as they enter their second season?

BF: I enjoyed playing for the new coaches because they brought something new to the table and really made us believe we could win a conference tournament. We accomplished so many things last year which makes me really excited to start conference this year!

DC: What are your expectations on the season as you enter your senior year?

Brooke Swinging for the Fences

BF: We have so much talent this year and I have high expectations for this team. We want nothing less than to win the conference outright, then win the conference tournament [that is at home this year], and then make a run in regionals!

DC: After barely losing to Cleveland State in the Championship game last season, UIC is picked to finish 2^nd this year in the Horizon League behind them. Is there any room for improvement this season? Do you have a lot of motivation to get back and win it all?

BF: Rankings don’t mean anything. They could pick us last for all I care. We know exactly what we want to happen this season, and nothing is going to stop us from winning the conference tournament and moving on to regionals. I would love to play Cleveland State in the championship game just like last year except this year we will be the ones celebrating.

DC: How do you feel the team has been playing so far this season?

BF: We have been playing some tough competition while still doing some things really well as a team. We have shown how great of a team we are and as soon as we put all aspects of the game together, we will be great and do great things!

DC: What are your plans after graduation?

BF: If I knew the answer I’d tell you, but as of right now I’m focusing on graduating and enjoying my last season of softball.

DC: And finally, Cubs or White Sox?

BF: ANGELS!!!! haha but I’d definitely say the CUBS over the White Sox.

Article by Staff Writer:

Dan Cline

A Wildcat Chat: Brandon Precin

Brandon Precin Winning a Match

Senior Brandon Precin is normally found on the mats helping lead his team to victory in both duals and tournaments. However, this year he is redshirting, allowing for him to compete a 5th year. Even so, as a two-time Illinois State Champion in high school and a two-time All-American, wining third place in the NCAA tournament last year, Brandon Precin is a major contributor for the Northwestern Wrestling team.

Ryan: So Brandon, who or what inspired you to start wrestling?

Brandon Precin: It was a combination of things.  A few of my relatives wrestled, so my parents asked if I wanted to try it out. After watching pro wrestling on TV, I wanted to wrestle. However, upon going into the practice room, I was in for a surprise—it was quite different from what I saw on TV.

R: Four years ago, when you were choosing a college or university to attend, why did you pick Northwestern over Illinois, Central Michigan and Columbia?

BP: Northwestern offered me an opportunity to study at a great academic institution and compete at the Division 1 level. Northwestern is also close to my hometown of Orland Park, so I could still spend time with my family. My coaches, Tim Cysewski and Drew Pariano, who recruited me, have provided me with great support and I have learned so much from them.

R: It must be a great experience to be coached by Cysewski (the coach with the most wins under his belt in NU history). What changes do you expect to come with Cysewski stepping down from the head coaching position, becoming the Associate Head Coach?

BP: I do not think that much will change in the respect that Tim will still be a dedicated coach. Wrestling is Tim’s passion, and he truly cares for his wrestlers.  He is in the room everyday with us and he will still kick our butts in practice.

R: In high school you were a two-time Illinois state champion and became a two time All-American while in college. What motivates you for success?

BP: My desire to become the best is what motivates me. I enjoy the challenge and the great feeling I get after going through a hard workout.

R: In the past two years you’ve posted a Big 10 Championship Record of 5-3 and 7-1 respectively. Looking ahead to next week’s Big 10 Championship, what do you hope to accomplish?

BP: While I will not be competing in the Big 10 Championships next week due to red-shirting, I hope to help guide my teammates to success in the championship.  This week will be especially important in regards to their training. I hope to give them my best effort in their preparation. I have a few goals that I want to accomplish for next year, and winning the Big Ten Championship is one of them.  Last year I was a runner-up, so for next year I hope to improve on that finish.

R: What has your experience been like as a redshirt wrestler?

BP: As a redshirt, this year is an opportunity for growth. I want to improve on my technique as much as I can and become stronger. Also, I look forward to next year.  I am excited to compete for Northwestern again. In addition, we have a highly ranked freshman class coming in along with a few guys returning in the lineup.

R: Looking further down the road, what excites you most about the NCAA Championships this year?

BP:I am looking forward to seeing my teammates compete at the NCAA Championships. I will definitely be rooting for them. As for next year, I am looking forward to competing again at the NCAA Championships. My goal is to become a NCAA Champion.

R: What are your plans after graduation?

BP: After graduation next year, I hope to continue wrestling through freestyle and coaching. Wrestling is very important to me and it has given me many opportunities in life that I would not have had otherwise, such as going to Northwestern.

R: Overall, how do you feel about your team’s performance this year?

BP: This year has been tough due to injuries and guys out of the line up. However, the team won last week against Michigan in an exciting dual. My teammates did a great job; they battled their hearts out and wrestled with passion. It was especially important for us because it was Tim’s last dual meet as head coach.

R: Finally, Cubs or White Sox?
BP: White Sox.

Article by staff writer:

Ryan Nangle