Pennsylvania College of Technology’s Athletics program has been approved for exploratory membership in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, college officials announced today.

Penn College’s one-year NCAA Division III exploratory status officially begins Sept. 1. It will last throughout the 2013-14 academic year. Officials from the college will participate in orientation activities at the NCAA’s national office in Indianapolis in September.

Exploratory membership provides institutions with an opportunity to learn more about the NCAA and Division III, which comprises more than 170,000 student-athletes at nearly 450 colleges and universities nationwide.

After the 2013-14 academic year, Penn College will consider pursuing a four-year provisional membership in Division III for its Wildcat athletic teams.

“We are very pleased the NCAA has accepted the college as an exploratory member,” said Scott E. Kennell, Penn College’s director of athletics. “This is a major step forward for our institution as we look to move toward building an increasingly strong athletic program consistent with our values. We feel very strongly that our philosophies and values regarding student-athlete success, intercollegiate athletics and community involvement align perfectly with the NCAA.”

“This is an exciting development for Penn College, Wildcat Athletics and – most importantly – our students and student-athletes,” said Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer. “Our Athletics department, led by Scott Kennell, has done an incredible job during this process, and I think we are perfectly positioned for this opportunity.”

Penn College resurrected intercollegiate athletics in 1992 and currently fields 12 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams. The Wildcats have competed in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference since 2004 and in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association since 2008.

The Wildcats have won the PSUAC Chancellor’s Cup four consecutive years and have placed in the top seven of the USCAA Director’s Cup each year of membership. Both awards are given to the most successful all-around athletic program.

Since 2004, Penn College Athletics’ accomplishments include 35 conference championships. Since 2008, the Wildcats have had 24 national tournament appearances, 48 (25 in the PSUAC) coaches of the year, 117 All-Conference selections, 357 PSUAC All-Academic selections, 41 All-Americans and 129 USCAA All-Academics.

For more about Penn College Athletics, visit www.pct.edu/athletics.

Penn College is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, committed to applied technology education. For more, visit www.pct.edu, email admissions@pct.edu or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

Courtesy GoLHU.com

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Lock Haven University, the LHU Department of Athletics and the Bald Eagle football program mourn the loss of senior football player Skyler Wool, who died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident early Saturday morning.

“Today we learned of the unfortunate and untimely death of LHU student and football player Skyler Wool. There are no words to describe the utter grief of such a loss. During this difficult time for the family, Lock Haven University would like to extend condolences and a helping hand of support,” said Dr. Michael Fiorentino, President of Lock Haven University.

“This is very tough and sad time for Lock Haven University, LHU athletics and our local community. Our thoughts are with the Wool family and all those close to them during this very difficult time,”said LHU Director of Athletics, Carl Poff.

“It pains me deeply to confirm the death of Skyler Wool. Life is extremely precious and to lose such a young, energetic leader makes the passing even more difficult. Skylar was one of my kids, we will miss him. Please join me as we pray for his family and our community,” said Lock Haven University head football coach John Allen.
Wool, a Jersey Shore, Pa. native was a 2012 Football Gazette All-Super Region 1 Team member, an All-PSAC First Team selection and he was nominated for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award.

Details of funeral arrangements will be posted, when available.

Mother Nature wasn’t kind to the Pennsylvania College of Technology baseball and softball teams last week as all seven games either were postponed or canceled due to the weather. However, before Penn State University Athletic Conference play begins this week, the coaches of both teams took a few minutes to reflect on the progress their squads made during their season-opening southern swing one week earlier.

BASEBALL

“I was really pleased about the way we were pitching and playing defense. I was really surprised how well we played defensively considering it was our first time outside since October. They really did a great job. They made all the plays, the outfield did an outstanding job, we were hitting the cutoffs, we were doing all of the fundamental things that we need to do and I was really happy with that,” coach Chris Howard said.“

Pitching-wise, we did a great job limiting our walks. We were throwing a lot of strikes and giving the guys behind them and chance to make plays,” Howard continued.

“You kind of expect hitting to be behind the first few games, just because you’re getting used to seeing real pitchers out there throwing, but we competed every game (in a 3 and 5 trip). I feel we should have won at least two more of those games. Overall, I was really happy with the way we played,” he said.

With sunshine and daytime temperatures in the 60s in Myrtle Beach, Howard said it was tough coming back to colder temperatures here than before his team went south.

“It’s frustrating. You go down there and start to get a little bit of continuity and get revved up for the season, and the next thing you’re sitting for a week and a half waiting around. It’s tough to stay focused, and that’s the biggest thing. We can’t even get outdoors to practice. That’s the nature of the beast in the northeast when you’re playing college baseball,” he added. “You just have to be ready when the games start back up again. My biggest concern is getting a few more games in before we open conference play (Thursday).”

SOFTBALL

“The first four games we gave everybody the opportunity to show us what they had and it gave us the opportunity to try our pitchers out,” coach Roger Harris said.

“For the most part we were very competitive with everybody that was down there, although in two games one inning got away from us. It was just a matter of us knowing our pitchers a little better than we did, knowing what we can have them throw and what we can’t have them throw,” the coach continued.

“The last four games we settled into what we pretty much consider our starting nine and we played a lot better. We’ve got a lot of high hopes for the team. We hit the ball well. We’re looking to have a good season,” Harris added after his team’s 2-6 start.

“We were spoiled last year,” with great early-season weather, he said, crossing his fingers that it begins to warm up and dry out soon this spring.

WRESTLING

Last week it was announced that wrestling coach Schuyler Frey has been honored with the 2013 Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) Adult Recognition Award. The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the sport of wrestling in the state. It is voted on by members of the 11 areas that comprise the PJW as well as its executive board.

Frey has been involved with wrestling since his youth, wrestling for Warrior Run High School then the Navy. He started coaching the Montoursville Elementary School team as an assistant in 2000 before taking over as the head coach for three years starting in 2004.

Frey also served as a chairman for Area 10 of the PJW, helping grow the participation numbers from 381 in 2007 to 618 in 2010. In 2010, he served as State Championship tournament director and led his team to a title in the 8-Under Division.

In 2010, Frey helped establish the wrestling program at Penn College as a varsity sport. Over the last three years, he has led the Wildcats to a 19-11 overall record and a PSUAC championship. In addition, he has coached three National Collegiate Wrestling Association All-Americans and PSUAC individual champions.

Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport 1050 AM, 104.1 FM and Fox SportsWilliamsport.com is pleased to be able to provide fans at the 66th Little League World Series greater access to the players and coaches.

After each game the post game press conferences will be streamed live on www.talkwilliamsport.com stream #3 so that fans may listen to the comments from the players and coaches in each game at the 66th Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Each press conference will then be loaded onto the official Little League World Series home pagewww.littleleague.org for fans to download for free.”

Our experience with the Little League World Series has continued to grow over the past several years and we welcome the opportunity to provide this coverage”, according to Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport General Manager Todd Bartley.

Talk WilliamsportRadio Williamsport and Fox SportsWilliamsport.com will also be providing in-game sportscenter updates from every game of the Little League World Series. All of the www.talkwilliamsport.com listen live streams are also available on your mobile device by downloading the free ap from tunein.com and searching WLYC.

“Fans today at every level are demanding more and more content and this way they can access it LIVE through Fox SportsWilliamsport.com as well as on there mobile device through the free ap at tunein.com,” Bartley added.

Additionally, audio from the press conferences will be incorporated into “Little League World Series Nightly” exclusively on Talk WilliamsportRadio 1050 AM and 104.1 FM recapping the action from Volunteer and Lamade Stadiums.

By Nick Magoulas

For the Federal Hockey League

The regular season was an up and down season for the Danbury Whalers but the playoffs gave way to a perfect showing as they captured their first Commissioner’s Cup Friday night with a 6-3 victory over the Dayton Demonz.

In a series that everyone knew would feature a lot of scoring, it was the Whalers who were able to play the stronger defensive game and get spectacular goaltending from Finals MVP Mike Brown (42 saves). Phil Aucoin opened the scoring at 8:03 of the first period with a turn-around slapper that beat Demonz goaltender Jeff Rose over the glove side.

The second period featured a total of six goals between the two teams. The Demonz got the first from Brayden Metz just 1:29 into the second frame. The Whalers would retake the lead just 21 seconds later on a one timer from Kelly Miller. Matt Puntureri made a beautiful pass through the slot and Miller buried it over the goal line. The Demonz would tie it up again at 5:54 on Jason Hill’s 9th goal of the playoffs. On the ensuing Whalers power play, it was a Demon, not a Whaler, who scored what turned out to be the game winning goal. Trevor Karasiewicz’s attempted clear of the puck accidentally banked into his own net off of goalie Jeff Rose. Tyler Noseworthy was credited with the goal. Anthony Pisano would tack on another at 16:23 on a rocket from the blue line that beat Rose to the top shelf. Just 55 seconds later Cody Ayers would make it a three goal lead with what looked like a harmless wrister from just outside the right circle. That would spell the end of the night for Jeff Rose, who had a very tough series in net for the Demonz.

The Whalers would tally another at 15:38 of the third, as Noseworthy would cash in his second of the game. The Demonz would add a late power play goal from Jesse Felten, but by that time the result of the contest had already been decided. Jeff Rose made 25 saves, while Tony Tabisz made 13 in relief for Dayton.

Upcoming Games & Events

FHL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Danbury wins FHL Commissioner’s Cup – 3-0

So after the first two games of the Federal Hockey League finals, you guessed it Danbury and the new addition are on the verge on winning it all with a 2-0 lead going into game three in Danbury Friday.

In Game one former Outlaws (among other teams during the 2012-2013) and current Whalers playerMatt Puntureri had two assists in the 5-3 win. Interestingly enough not one word appears in the league issued game recap about Puntureri.

With the game of hockey a player who scores a hat trick is usually recognized as the “first star”.  It was to my surprise and the first time in my experience, that after Puntureri did it in game two it did not not appear in the lead of the Federal Hockey League Game two recap but it is found in the eigth paragraph of the story.

Eigth!

Do you think the league and its leadership know their credibility is gone with the decision to add a player to a team roster on the eve of the finals who has not suited up for that team all season?

Additionally, according to multiple media observers after two games of the FHL finals Matt Puntureri is the odds on favorite to be named Most Outstanding Player of the series.

Now, I know all of the Danbury Whalers fans are all out of sorts over my opinion so let me frame this in a way they can possibly understand.

Federal Hockey League Commissioner Don Kirnan (who also ran the non-profit that operated the rink at Bowman Field) came to Williamsport selling “family friendly” entertainment and developing youth hockey players with programs and open skates.

Take for example two fictitious youth hockey players, Player A is 12-years old and Player B is 13-years old. Player A went to training camp and made his team out of camp and plays all season long. Player A experiences all of the highs and lows with his teammates and makes all the road trips and spills all of his blood, sweat and tears on the ice with his mates.

Player B of course being a bit older wasn’t in camp since he was already playing in another league for another team altogether. During the season he comes into the same league as Player A and plays only a few games for another team before leaving for another team in another league. When Player B is on the other team his former team in the same league as Player A folds and then has a dispersal draft.

In the meantime, Player A continues to work hard everyday for his team and helps them to a playoff berth.

Player B is “claimed” by the team that Player A plays for but Player B continues to play for another team in another league and doesn’t sign.

The regular season ends in the league Player A plays in and he plays in the opening round of the playoffs helping his team to a 3-0 series sweep.

So now, the league and the team the 12-year old Player A plays in head to the finals.

During practice for the finals Player A notices a new kid on the ice, it just so happens to be 13-year old Player B which strikes the players as odd.

After practice on the night before the finals Player A is called into the coaches office and told, by the way since you have given this organization everything this season and helped us get to the finals we need to deactivate you for the finals.

Why coach, he asks?

Well, we got the league to change the rules to allow Player B to finally be on our team even though he has never been on our team all season.

Coach tells Player A, I hope you understand. Player A shakes his head in disbelief and goes back to the locker room where he is greeted by his mates and they don’t understand either.

Let me ask you, how would you feel?

Now up 2-0 in the Federal Hockey League finals Danbury can win the Cup with a win on home ice Friday.

If you are the parent of Player A (who has only dreamed of playing for a championship) what do you tell him?

Hockey is a game that teaches a ton about effort and endurance and overcoming adversity as well as how to conduct yourself in the proper manner and having dignity and class.

What is being demonstrated on a daily basis by the people involved at all levels of the Federal Hockey League is anything but.

The Federal Hockey League joke isn’t funny any more.

Just ask Player A.

Editor’s note: Todd Bartley is an award-winning broadcaster and has served as the play-by-play voice of the Lycoming College Warriors and Williamsport Crosscutters for the past six years. He also has an extensive background in gameday operations, management, sales and marketing.

The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the staff, management and ownership of Talk Williamsport.

WRESTLING

Ryan Hart, of Wyalusing, placed eighth in the 133-pound weight class during the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championships Saturday in Allen, Texas, and Penn College finished 20th.

A freshman, Hart went 2-0 in matches on Thursday with wins by major decision and decision. In Friday’s quarterfinal round he lost by technical fall, but bounced back with a win by decision to earn a guaranteed spot in the Top 8 and All-American status. That put him into Saturday’s action where he lost by decision in his final match.

“Ryan, being a freshman and coming down here and wrestling tough and reaching the All-American rounds, certainly is big. I think it was a great experience for him and I think he definitely is ready to go to the next level to get even higher on the podium,” coach Schuyler Frey said.

Earlier in the national tournament, Penn College 157-pounder Tyler Myers, of Centre Hall, went 1-1 on Thursday before being eliminated on Friday; 165-pounder Austin Clark, of Elysburg, went 1-2 on Thursday and was ousted; 174-pounder Logan Gresock, of Copley, Ohio, went 1-1 on the first day and 2-1 on the second day before falling by the wayside; 174-pounder Dan Frankenfield, of Wyalusing, went 0-2 on Thursday and was eliminated; 184-pounder Paul Crutchlow, of Morris Plains, N.J., was 2-0 with a pair of pins on Thursday before going 1-1 and being eliminated on Friday; and Alex Muller, of Sparta, N.J., also at 184, went 1-2 on Thursday and was eliminated.

A year ago, Penn College finished 17th in the nation after tying for 42 nd the year before.

[Read more…]