In a question-and-answer format, John Vandevere, director of athletics at Pennsylvania College of Technology, shares his thoughts on the recently completed 2019-20 sports season.
News about Sports
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College’s challenging athletics season recalled
The 2019-20 school year for Pennsylvania College of Technology athletes will be remembered as much for what took place off the playing field – due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cancellation of the spring sports seasons in mid-March – as what was accomplished on it.
It marked the college’s sixth season as a member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference and third as a full-fledged member of NCAA Division III.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College esports program builds for future
The COVID-19 pandemic took a bite out of the competitive aspect of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s first esports season, but progress was made and coach Joshua Young is optimistic about the future.
Last fall, team organization and planning took place on campus for the competitive multiplayer video gaming enthusiasts. Then, during the winter break, Young spent much of his time on weekends and nights putting together the Wildcat Den: Room 203A in Madigan Library, which was converted into an esports facility and includes 14 high-end gaming computers for competition along with a streaming station that allows matches to be viewed online by spectators.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
NEAC honors spring sports seniors
Over the past several weeks, the North Eastern Athletic Conference has paid tribute to student-athletes on spring sports teams whose final seasons were prematurely ended by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College golfer grew as a person, laments what could have been
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the last in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose careers or seasons were cut short.)
Jordan Wise is a self-described “super-competitive” person. And although he played soccer, basketball and golf in high school, golf is his passion and he was primed for a breakout final season with his Penn College teammates.
After graduating from Midd-West High School in Middleburg, Wise first attended Lock Haven University where he wanted to play on the golf team. As fate would have it, however, Lock Haven was just discontinuing its men’s team, so after one semester, he took eight months off from schooling before deciding to seek a college where he could earn a degree in a health-related field.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College women’s tennis player looks to future
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the fifth in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose careers or season was cut short.)
Alexis Youse views this spring’s women’s tennis season as unfinished business. Fortunately, as a sophomore dual-majoring in baking and pastry arts and applied management, she is among those who will get another shot next year.
Youse played on the varsity tennis team at Pottsgrove High School and said she chose to attend Penn College because of “the vast opportunities that the college has to offer. These opportunities include being able to work at the Kentucky Derby, the large Career Fairs, a wide range of clubs and sports, and many more opportunities that would help me gain connections and even friendships.”
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College archer made great strides
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the fourth in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose careers or seasons were cut short.)
First-year coach Dustin Bartron had high hopes for his archery team when its season began in February, and part of that optimism was because of Sidney Alpaugh, whom Bartron said had the potential to place individually (nationally) and the potential of a national championship for men’s bowhunter team.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
‘Lost season’ motivates Penn College men’s tennis player
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the third in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose careers or seasons were cut short.)
Tucker Phillippe-Johansson was coming off one of the best seasons ever for a Penn College men’s tennis player.
Last year as a freshman, he won the North Eastern Athletic Conference No. 2 singles championship, teamed to win the No. 2 doubles title, which earned him All-NEAC first-team honors, and was named the NEAC Rookie of the Year.
There was plenty for him to be excited about coming into this spring as the team’s No. 1 singles player.
Faculty & Staff Sports Students
Bookfest of champions
As the NCAA observes Division III week, spotlighting positive recognition of student-athletes outside of their typical sporting environments, PCToday shares this flashback to a recent example of Wildcat outreach. Among the guest readers at Lycoming Valley Intermediate School during last month’s Read Across America Week were Penn College student-athletes and faculty. Pictured (from left) are Tom Zimmerman, associate professor of psychology; Brody S. Baker, of Lock Haven, basketball; Alexander S. Cassada, Chambersburg, men’s soccer; and John F. Chappo, assistant professor of history. (Photo by Martha Miller, Williamsport Area School District library staff)
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College baseball player still in disbelief
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the second in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose athletic careers or seasons were cut short.)
While he was a student at Danville High School, Colton Riley played football, baseball and basketball, but when he got to Penn College he focused on his favorite sport – baseball.
Riley said he chose Penn College over others because he was “looking for a hands-on school.” He started majoring in automotive technology before switching to heavy construction equipment technology, which sets him up for a career in two much-needed fields.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College softball player thankful
One week after its posting on Facebook and Twitter, the Pennsylvania College of Technology softball team’s “Virtual Catch” video had nearly 60,000 social media views while its idled players continue to practice social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College softball video goes viral
The coronavirus has taken Pennsylvania College of Technology players off the field, but it hasn’t stopped them from playing and having fun as a “Virtual Catch” Facebook video posted by softball coach Angie Hunley is going viral.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Spring sports ended, Penn College coaches react
A week that began with high hopes for Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, came to an abrupt end with Thursday’s announcement that the remainder of their seasons – and all of the college’s spring sports including all scheduled action in the North Eastern Athletic Conference – have been canceled for the rest of the academic year.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College softball team opening under new coach
Softball season looms and archery is underway. Pennsylvania College of Technology athletes are stepping into spring.
Sports Wildcat Weekly
Penn College wrestler eighth at regionals
Competing for the first time in the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championships at Ithaca College, Pennsylvania College of Technology wrestler Dylan Gettys, of Etters, went 2-3 in his matches at 165 pounds and placed eighth.
Overall, the Wildcats finished 15th in an 18-team field with 21.5 points. Host Ithaca and The College of New Jersey tied at the top with 144.5 points each.
Gettys, a junior who earned six team points during the tournament, opened with a win by technical fall, lost on an injury default in the quarterfinals and then bounced back with a win by decision in his first consolation match to stay alive after the first day. His season ended Sunday with losses by major decision in the third consolation round and by a medical forfeit in the seventh-place match.