Golf Season Ends, Two Wildcat Teams Seek Conference Titles

Published 10.15.2012

News
Athletics
Wildcat Weekly

One Pennsylvania College of Technology fall sports team ended its season last week and two others head into Penn State University Athletic Conference championships this week.

Penn College golfers placed second in the PSUAC and eighth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association championships, which ended Tuesday, and the college’s cross-country runners travel to Penn State Brandywine on Saturday and its tennis players head for University Park on Saturday and Sunday for conference finals.



Golf
During two-day action on the Penn State Blue Course, Daemon College was the top team in the USCAA with a total team score of 605 while Penn State Mont Alto was the victor for the PSUAC with a 649 (sixth for USCAA). Six Penn College golfers shot a combined 678.

Freshman Jesse Newman, of Waterfall, was the top finisher for Penn College, placing 37th after shooting 84 both days. Sophomore Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel, bounced back from a 91 on day one to shoot a 79 (170 total), good for 45th. Both Newman and Teeple earned spots on the PSUAC All-Conference Team.

Rounding out the Penn College effort were freshman Bryce Petersheim, of Birdsboro, at 49 with an 82-89—171; junior Alex Howe, of Lake Ariel, at 58 with an 84-90—174; sophomore Nicolas Krupka, of Allentown, at 62 with an 89-87—176; and freshman Brian MacPherson, of Salem, N.H., at 82 with a 97-90—187.

At the tournament, the USCAA announced the All-Academic Team award winners of which MacPherson was a recipient. To earn the award, the golfers had to have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

In the PSUAC West Division, the Wildcats, with three wins and a second-place finish in four matches, won the regular-season championship.

“It didn’t turn out the way we had wanted (with a conference title), but it’s one of those things where one minute you are on top of your game (and the next). … The guys went out and just didn’t have their stuff,” Penn College coach Matt Haile said.

“Overall, it was a good season. They worked really hard and that’s all you can ask for,” he added.

Cross-Country
The Wildcats finished their regular season by topping a seven-team field of all-PSUAC schools, despite being short a couple of its runners.

In the conference championship, Penn College will field a full men’s team but has just two women who will compete as individuals.

“I’m assuming, because we haven’t lost this year to any of the PSUAC schools, that we’re going into the championship as the favorite. … We’re going in with a positive attitude and I think I have the ‘horses’ that will be able to pull out the victory,” coach Mike Paulhamus said.

Top Penn College runners are Dan Starr, of Stewartstown; Dan Blauvelt, of Flemington, N.J.; Dan Flynn, of Blairstown, N.J.; Mike Acquaro, of Oakhurst, N.J.; and Ed Knyff, of Ocean Gate, N.J. Top women are Eileen Harrington, of Springfield, Va., and Michelle Holzmann, of Saylorsburg.

“If we win, it will be our 10th consecutive men’s championship and 11 out of 13 since I’ve been with the college,” Paulhamus said.

Team Tennis
On Wednesday, for the second time this season, Penn College defeated Penn State Mont Alto by a 6-3 score. Jordan Rodgers, of Biglerville; Christopher Morrin, of Morrisville; Nathan Scott, of Canton, Conn.; and Adam Smith, of Duncannon, all won both their singles and doubles matches.

The team ended its regular season Saturday with an 8-1 win over Penn State Lehigh Valley to go to 7-1 in the conference. Scott, Smith and Taylor Lapointe, of Pelham, N.H., won both their singles and doubles matches.

“We’re looking really good going into the tournament. Our guys are playing extremely well … And our girls are competitive as well, so we have a good shot at winning. We’re in a great position heading into next weekend,” coach Robert Kemrer said.

Kemrer named Smith and Rodgers as having a good shot at singles titles and his men’s doubles teams of Scott-Smith and Rodgers-Morrin as title contenders.

Penn College won conference team titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and finished second last season.

Women’s Soccer
A 6-0 win over Valley Forge Christian College on Saturday improved the team’s record to 8-2-1. Six players scored goals for Penn College. Reda Vermilya, of Turbotville, and Kirsten Foti, of Landing, N.J., shared the shutout in goal, notching four and two saves, respectively.

Men’s Soccer
In their only match of the week, the Wildcats, behind a season-high, four-goal effort from Chris Brennan, of New Hope, beat Penn State New Kensington, 6-1, on Thursday to improve to 8-0 in the PSUAC and 11-2-1 overall.

Women’s Volleyball
Penn College stayed unbeaten in the conference Wednesday with a 3-0 (25-6, 25-7, 25-7) win over Penn State Scranton. Tara Powell, of Burgettstown, was tough on the service line with 11 aces. Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, led with 10 kills and Caitlyn Curley, of Middletown, had 19 assists.

Back in action Thursday, the Wildcats swept Penn State Harrisburg, 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 26-24). Gernert had 14 kills and 10 digs while Curley led with 25 assists.

Penn College’s unbeaten PSUAC string continued Saturday as it downed Penn State Greater Allegheny, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-14), and Penn State Beaver, 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-14). Powell totaled 22 kills and Curley had 44 assists on the day.

On Sunday at Penn State Fayette, Penn College dropped its first conference match of the season to Fayette, 0-3 (6-25, 15-25, 21-25), snapping its PSUAC win streak at 12. Later in the afternoon, the Wildcats rebounded with a 3-0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-12) win over Penn State New Kensington to go to 13-1 in the conference and 19-6 overall. Gabrielle George, of Morton, had 12 digs in the opener and 19 in the nightcap.

Curley was named the USCAA and PSUAC women’s volleyball Setter of the Week for the period ending Oct. 7. Curley was on point with her passing, totaling 83 assists (4.4 per set) on a 6-0 week for the Wildcats. She added 21 kills and 22 digs.  Up to that point in the season, she was  third in the PSUAC with 227 assists and fifth in digs with 108.

Odds and Ends
In the USCAA Week 6 Coaches’ Poll, Penn College teams are ranked No. 2 in women’s soccer, No. 6 in men’s soccer and tied for No. 11 in women’s volleyball.

On Saturday night, eight former athletes, coaches and administrators were inducted into the college’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame. The  inductees are Max Wasson, of Turbotville; Mike Stanzione, of Williamsport; the late Chet Schuman, of Turbotville; Chad Karstetter (Penn College Class of 1999), of Mill Hall; Brian Parker ('99), of Millville; Steven Craig ('98), of Hughesville; Bobby String ('00), of Manheim; and Katlyn (Stupar) Albitz ('06), of State College.

“It was a great night for our athletic program,” said Scott Kennell, director of athletics. “We’ve had a strong athletic tradition throughout our history as both the Williamsport Area Community College and Penn College. Tonight was the first of many nights to showcase that talent and show our appreciation for what our inductees have and will continue to do for this institution.”

SCHEDULE/RESULTS/RECORDS
Cross-Country
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State DuBois Invitational, finished first in a seven-team field
Saturday, Oct. 20 – PSUAC Championship at Penn State Brandywine, 1 p.m.

Golf
Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 8-9 – PSUAC/USCAA Championships at Penn State Blue Course, team finished second in the PSUAC and eighth in the USCAA

Men’s Soccer
Overall record: 11-2-1
PSUAC record: 8-0
Thursday, Oct. 11 –at Penn State New Kensington, W, 6-1
Tuesday, Oct. 16 – at Penn State Hazleton, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 – host Bryn Athyn College, 6 p.m.
Tuesday-Saturday, Oct. 22-27 – PSUAC playoffs, TBA

Women’s Soccer
Overall record: 8-2-1
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Valley Forge Christian College, W, 6-0
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Alfred, N.Y. State, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 25 – host Susquehanna University, 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 27 – host Alfred, N.Y., University, 1 p.m.

Team Tennis
Final PSUAC regular-season record: 7-1
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – at Penn State Mont Alto, W, 6-3
Saturday, Oct. 13 – host Penn State Lehigh Valley, W, 8-1
Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 20-21 – PSUAC Championships at University Park, noon

Women’s Volleyball
Overall record: 19-6
PSUAC record: 13-1
Wednesday, Oct. 10 – host Penn State Scranton, W, 3-0 (25-6, 25-7, 25-7)
Thursday, Oct. 11 – host Penn State Harrisburg, 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 26-24).
Saturday, Oct. 13 – vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny at Penn State Beaver, W, 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-14)
Saturday, Oct. 13 – at Penn State Beaver, W, 3-0 (25-21, 25-13, 25-14)
Sunday, Oct. 14 – at Penn State Fayette, L, 0-3 (6-25, 15-25, 21-25)
Sunday, Oct. 14 – vs. Penn State New Kensington at Penn State Fayette, W, 3-0 (25-8, 25-16, 25-12)
Wednesday, Oct. 17 – at Elmira, N.Y., College, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 – host Penn State Hazleton, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 21 – at Penn State Scranton, noon
Tuesday-Saturday, Oct. 23-27 – PSUAC playoffs, TBA

No. 9