Penn College golf, men’s tennis teams step into action
The fall seasons for two Pennsylvania College of Technology sports teams are getting underway as the golf team opened on Saturday and the men’s tennis team opens next Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Golf
The key returning players for coach Matt Haile’s sixth edition are senior Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel; junior CJ Foust, of Palmyra; sophomore Sam Bubb, of Williamsport; and senior Nick Krupka, of Allentown. A year ago, Teeple captured the Penn State University Athletic Conference individual championship as the Wildcats finished second in the conference and ninth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.
While Penn College is in a new conference this year — the North Eastern Athletic Conference – matches there won’t be played until the spring. The team, however, has three fall matches scheduled prior to the USCAA National Championships next month on Penn State’s Blue Course.
“I believe we have a lot of potential from the top to the bottom of our lineup. I’m certainly going to rely on my returners to play well, but there are 10 guys on the roster and they are all fighting for a spot in the starting lineup. They’ve worked hard so far tuning up their games and I look forward to seeing how they perform,” Haile said.
The four returnees and freshman Ryan Toman, of Scranton, started Saturday in the Marywood University quadrangular where the Wildcats placed third. Individually, Teeple was second after shooting a 76 and Krupa 10 th with an 82.
“I have a mix of players this year. There are two seniors on the team who are vital to our lineup. Corey Teeple is a solid player who has shown great improvement. He has been playing really good in practice and has posted some of his best scores to date. His game has matured and I’m excited to see how he plays in his senior year,” Haile said.
“Nick Krupka is our other senior and in my opinion is a much better player than his scores have shown over the years. It’s been a pleasure seeing him mature over the years and I hope for things to fall in place for his senior season. CJ Foust is our junior on the team and he is also a vital player to our lineup. He has the type of swing that is very consistent and I look for him to be an integral part of our squad. Sam Bubb is a sophomore and didn’t play as well as he would have liked last season and I attribute that to some nerves. Now that he has a full season under his belt, I look for him to post some good scores this season,” Haile said.
“Our team strengths are in (the players’) work ethics. We’ve had a lot of good practices working on different parts of their games to get them ready for the season. I really try to work on their course management and help them to understand where they are able to shave off some strokes in their games,” Haile continued. “We’ve been working a lot around the greens on our short game and also from 120 yards and in. These areas are very important and where we are able, as a team, to gain the most shots back on the field.”
“(The) key to our success this season will be playing smart, consistent golf. If they are able to keep their emotions in check after a bad shot, they will do great,” the coach said.
“My outlook for this fall season is to prepare our guys for our USCAA championships and get them ready for our first year in the NEAC in the spring. I added a two-day tournament this fall to give them the experience of playing in a two-day tournament. The last several years at our USCAA championships there is always one day where the guys will have a bad round. The more they are exposed to two-day tournaments, the better prepared I hope they will be to develop that consistency in their games,” Haile explained.
“My outlook for the USCAA year to year is to always try to improve from the year before. We have four returners who are very familiar with Penn State’s course; it’s just a matter of bringing it all together for two days straight. I’m excited to see how they perform, especially my two seniors, Corey and Nick. I’d love to see them finish their playing careers on a high note.”
“Our new conference and non-conference matches will be a little different in the way team totals are scored. We used to take six players to a match and count four scores, but now we will take five players to a match and count four scores (USCAA tournament will stay the same, take six and count four). This will make it a little tougher on me as a coach to choose the best five players, knowing that only one score will be thrown out. On the other hand, I think it will put a good pressure on our players to perform to their best and stay in the moment knowing that we don’t have that extra score to throw out,” Haile added.
Men’s tennis
Returning for the men’s tennis team are senior Nate Scott, of Canton, Connecticut; junior Jordan Rodgers, of Biglerville; and junior Chris Morrin, of Morrisville.
“I expect them to play some of the top positions this season but I do not have a lineup completed yet,” said coach Robert Kemrer, who is entering his fourth season.
“Our team is looking very strong this year. We have a lot of talent from our returners and we have some very gifted new players as well,” Kemrer continued.
“Our six singles players will be Scott; Rodgers; Morrin; junior Ben Leibig, of Lebanon; and freshmen Jacob Sassaman, of Robesonia; and Joseph Griep, of Le Roy, New York. As I mentioned, I do not have a lineup done yet but I expect these six guys will also make up our doubles teams,” the coach said.
“I am working with a veteran squad this year. On top of my three returners I also have a transfer from Penn State Harrisburg (Leibig). I am looking for my veteran players to help out the younger guys so we can improve as a team,” Kemrer said.
“I think one of the biggest strengths for our team this season is our depth. I would feel comfortable moving any of my top six guys up to the No. 1 spot knowing they would do well.
“The only thing that comes to mind (in terms of needed improvement) is that as a team our fitness level needs to improve as we begin to play against better competition,” Kemrer said.
“Staying healthy is always a big key to being successful as well as being consistent on the court,” he added.
After their opener Sept. 23 at home against Misericordia University, the Wildcats have three other fall matches scheduled and then resume their season on March when NEAC action takes place.
Women’s volleyball
During a week in which Penn College had no matches scheduled, it was announced that Courtney Gernert, of Palmyra, a senior outside hitter, was named the North Eastern Athletic Conference Volleyball Player of the Week for the period ending Sept. 7. Gernert helped the Lady Wildcats to a 3-0 record a week ago, recording double-doubles against Keystone College, Penn State Harrisburg and King’s College.
Men’s soccer
Playing in its third overtime match of the young season, and second in as many days, Penn College dropped a 2-1 NEAC decision to SUNY Cobleskill last Sunday. Jalen Washington, of Washington, D.C., put the Wildcats ahead just 4:49 into the match on an assist from Luke McFalls, of New Oxford, but that was all of the scoring they could muster despite taking 14 shots on goal to Cobleskill’s four.
On Wednesday in the annual Battle for the Lumber match against crosstown rival Lycoming College, the Wildcats lost, 2-0. It marked the fourth straight year that Lycoming has taken the showdown.
Hosting Morrisville State College on Saturday, Penn College got outstanding play in goal from Hector Guerrero, of Mexico City, Mexico, in a 2-1 win. Guerrero made 12 stops as the Wildcats won their first NEAC match while handing Morrisville its first conference loss. Scoring goals for Penn College were Doug Binnie, of Charlton, Massachusetts, on an assist by Ronald Garcia, of Brentwood, New York, and Jared Daku, of Danville, on an assist from Quinton Burgess, of Burlington, New Jersey. The win improved the Wildcats to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
Women’s soccer
Goalie Colleen Bowes, of Wayne, had six saves as Penn College opened the week with a 4-2 NEAC win at SUNY Cobleskill last Sunday. Scoring for the Wildcats were Hanna Williams, of Marion, New York, on an assist by Jordan Courter, of Mill Hall; and Hailee Hartman, of Lampeter; Robyn Beddow, of Lancaster; and Lindsey Bradshaw, of Bristow, Virginia, who each tallied unassisted.
At home on Tuesday, Beddow scored the lone Penn College goal in a 2-1 non-conference loss to Alfred University.
Facing Morrisville State College on Saturday at home, Morrisville took seven shots on goal to just three for the Wildcats and pulled out a 2-0 win that left Penn College 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the NEAC.
Cross-country
Competing Saturday in the Misericordia University Cougar Classic, the Penn College men placed fifth among six teams and the Penn College women, fielding a team for the first time since 2009, finished sixth.
Daniel Flynn, of Blairstown, New Jersey, led the Wildcat men with a 30 th-place finish over the 8K course in 30:56.48 while Nathan Mashack, of Bloomsburg, was 37 th in 32:07.36.
Leading the Penn College women was freshman Elyssa Stanton, of Honesdale, who finished 57 th over a 6K course in 31:06.21. Also for the Lady Wildcats, freshman Jessica Wiegand, of Montoursville, was 62 nd in 32:58.61; and freshman Brook Hostetter, of Lancaster, was 70 th in 37:33.60. Others finishing the race for Penn College were freshmen Kristine Loomis, of Tunkhannock; Allison Yanech, of Pottsville; and Nicole Reyes-Molina, of Lancaster.
“It was their very first college run, only one ran high school cross-country and everybody else had no experience in running a long distance. … Last week during practice the most they ever ran was 2 to 2 1/4 miles and on Saturday we got them to go 3.7 miles; not fast, but they were able to accomplish the race,” interim coach Mike Paulhamus said.
“I’m excited for them. We came a long way in six days. This week we’re going to practice a little bit harder. Since I know they can run the distance, we’ll see if we can make them a little bit faster,” the coach added.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES/RECORDS
Men’s Soccer
Overall record: 3-3
NEAC record: 1-2
Sunday, Sept. 7 – at SUNY Cobleskill, L, 2-1
Wednesday, Sept. 10 – at Lycoming College, L, 2-0
Saturday, Sept. 13 – host Morrisville State College, W, 2-1
Sunday, Sept. 14 – host Cazenovia College, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 – host Keuka, N.Y., College, 3 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21 – at Wells College, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24 – at SUNY-ESF, 8 p.m.
Women’s Soccer
Overall record: 2-4
NEAC record: 1-2
Sunday, Sept. 7 – at SUNY Cobleskill, W, 4-2
Tuesday, Sept. 9 – host Alfred University, L, 2-1
Saturday, Sept. 13 – host Morrisville State College, L, 2-0
Sunday, Sept. 14 – host Cazenovia College, noon
Saturday, Sept. 20 – host Keuka, N.Y., College, 1 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21 – at Wells College, noon
Wednesday, Sept. 24 – host PSU Harrisburg, 7 p.m.
Women’s Volleyball
Overall record: 4-2
Wednesday, Sept. 17 – host Alfred State College, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 – at Wells College, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 20 – vs. Morrisville State, 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 21 – vs. SUNY-IT, noon
Thursday, Sept. 25 – host St. Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
Men’s Tennis
Tuesday, Sept. 23 – host Misericordia University, 4 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
Tuesday, Sept. 16 – at Misericordia University, 4 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 18 – host Lebanon Valley College, 4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26 – at Baptist Bible College, 4 p.m.
Cross-Country
Saturday, Sept. 13 – Cougar Classic at Dallas, Pa., men finished fifth in a six-team field; women finished last among six teams
Saturday, Sept. 20 – at Dickinson College Invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Saturday, Sept. 27 – at Lock Haven University Invitational, 10:30 a.m.
Golf
Saturday, Sept.13 – at Marywood University, finished third in a four-team field
Sunday-Monday, Sept. 21-22 – at PSU Harrisburg Invitational, 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 25 – at Keuka College Fall Invitational, 11 a.m.
