Seasons end for 2 Penn College teams
Spring seasons ended for Pennsylvania College of Technology golf and men’s tennis teams, the college announced its 2015 athletes of the year and it named a new men’s soccer coach last week.
Golf
Last Sunday in their final outing of the spring season at the NEAC Championships, Wildcats Calvin Foust, of Palmyra, and Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel, earned NEAC All-Conference third team honors for finishing among the top 15 individuals. Foust had rounds of 87-80 and Teeple rounds of 84-83 as both finished the two-day event at 167, tied for 14th place. Also for Penn College, Sam Bubb, of Williamsport, and Mike Saccoman, of Kingston, New York, tied for 25th with 177s, and Jordan Hillegas, of Lancaster, finished 36th in a 40-player field with a 193 total. In team competition, host Rutgers University-Camden won its third consecutive title after its top four golfers combined for a 620 on the par-70, 6,250-yard Pennsauken, New Jersey, Country Club course. Following were Penn State Abington with a 673, SUNY Cobleskill 661, Keuka College 673, Morrisville State 685, Penn College 688, Penn State Berks 739 and Wilson College 753.
“It’s not the way, based on our season, we wanted it to turn out but we had two third team All-Conference players. It was good for them, as seniors, to leave on that note,” Penn College coach Matt Haile said. “We’re sorry to see the seniors go, but we’re looking forward to the fall and the new guys coming up.”
This season marked the college’s first time playing in the NEAC and competing during the spring, so there was a learning curve.
“They learned it’s going to be challenging with the short amount of time we have to prepare. Mentally it’s challenging because they know where their games are in the fall and to go out and play in the spring without the repetitions is more challenging.
“As a coach, I’ve got to be there for them and keep them in the game and mentally prepare them — keep them in the moment and not let them get upset or frustrated (after a bad shot). … It’s a matter of staying focused and not getting down on themselves and not expecting to play their best because they haven’t had their repetitions yet, and the weather isn’t the greatest,” Haile added.
Men’s tennis
Facing Wilkes University last Sunday, the Wildcats lost, 9-0.
Right back in action on Monday, Penn College scored a 5-4 win in its regular-season finale over Rutgers University-Camden. Winners in both their singles and doubles matches for the Wildcats were Jordan Rodgers, of Biglerville; Chris Morrin, of Morrisville; and Ben Leibig, of Lebanon, as the team finished 7-5 overall.
On Wednesday at the NEAC men’s team tournament at Birchwood Tennis Club in Clarks Summit, Penn College dropped a 5-0 decision to Penn State Berks in the semifinals and was eliminated. In a first-to-five format, Berks swept all three singles and No. 5 and No. 6 singles to win match.
“It was a little disappointing, but we were very competitive in doubles,” coach Robert Kemrer said.
In singles and doubles NEAC action on Friday, Leibig finished second at No. 2 singles, Rodgers finished third at No. 1 singles, Morrin finished third at No. 3 singles, Rodgers-Morrin finished second at No. 1 doubles and Leibig-Seth Strickland, of Morwood, finished third at No. 2 doubles.
“Overall we had a pretty solid season coming into a new conference. I’m glad we were able to finish third. I thought everybody played well during the whole season,” Kemrer said.
Women’s tennis
In NEAC doubles and singles tournament action at Birchwood Tennis Club in Clarks Summit, Melissa Stabley, of Cogan Station, and Morgan Blackwell, of Beech Creek, finished second at No. 1 doubles on Saturday after being seeded fourth. Stanley was the top seed at No. 1 women’s singles and was scheduled to play in the championship match Sunday.
“We played tough in doubles,” Kemrer said of his team’s finish.
Gernert, Weil athletes of the year
Pennsylvania College of Technology seniors Courtney Gernert and Zach Weil have been named the 2015 Athletes of the Year, it was announced on Thursday.
Gernert, of Palmyra, finished her fourth and final season with the Wildcats women’s volleyball team and reached significant career milestone during the 2014 campaign. A two-time North Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Week selection, Gernert was No. 7 in the NEAC in digs and No. 9 in kills. She also recorded 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs and was named to the All-NEAC second team.
Weil, of Kutztown, is in his final season with the baseball team and hasn’t skipped a beat from last season, when he was named United States Collegiate Athletic Conference second team All-American and to the Penn State University Athletic Conference second team. Through midweek he was batting over .300, was No. 2 in the NEAC in home runs and No. 4 in runs batted in.
Baseball
At home with Lancaster Bible College last Sunday, Penn College split, winning 8-0 and losing 3-2. In the opener, three Wildcat pitchers combined on a two-hitter with Tyler Cooklin, of Rippey, Ohio, getting the win. Andrew Bucher, of Manheim, paced the offense, going 2-for-4 with three runs batted in. Evan Vigna, of McAdoo, and Jeremy Rall, of Williamsport, each added two hits. In the nightcap, Rall and Weil each had two hits, but a single to center that drove in two runs in the seventh inning won the game for Lancaster Bible.
Stepping up against NCAA Division II Mansfield University on Tuesday, the Wildcats played tough but lost by scores of 5-3 and 3-2. In the first game, Vigna, Noah Esposito, of Williamsport, and Dylan Scaringi, of Coatesville, each had two hits. In the second game, Esposito had two more hits but Penn College stranded seven base runners.
On Saturday at home with Cazenovia, the Wildcats won, 6-5 in 10 innings and 3-2 to go to 12-15 overall and 6-4 in the NEAC. In the opener, a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Esposito plated the winning run. Weil went 2-for-3 with three RBI. In the second game, Weil hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Rall drove in the game-winning run in the seventh with a single to center.
Also, during the week it was announced that Ryan Hostrander, of Williamsport, was named the NEAC Pitcher of the Week. A junior, Hostrander was nearly unhittable the previous week, as he allowed just one hit and no runs while striking out 11 batters with three walks in 10 innings of work. He opened the week by tossing two hitless innings of relief with two strikeouts to help the Wildcats secure a 5-3 win over Baptist Bible Wednesday, before hurling a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and two walks in a 13-0 conference win over Gallaudet Saturday. After those performances, Hostrander had a conference-leading 42 strikeouts and the second-best ERA of 2.59 through six starts.
After Saturday’s games in the NEAC, Penn State Abington was 10-2, SUNY Poly 7-3, Penn College 6-4, Penn State Berks 7-5, Keuka College 4-6, Lancaster Bible 4-8, Cazenovia 3-7 and Gallaudet 3-9.
Softball
At Misericordia University last Sunday, the Wildcats lost by scores of 8-0 and 4-3, extending their loss string to 10 games. In the first game Penn College was limited to four hits. In the second game, Shelby Lyter, of Allensville, went the distance on the mound and also drove in two Wildcat runs.
After postponements Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Penn College returned to action on Friday and split at home with SUNY Poly, losing 11-5 and winning 7-6. In the first game, Jessica Gmerek, of Bellefonte, went 3-for-3 at the plate. In the second game, Gmerek singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to snap the team’s 11-game loss string. The Wildcats pounded out 17 hits in that game with Nicole Lo Furno, of Glen Mills, going 4-for-4 with two RBI and Alexandra Brennan, of St. Clair, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
Right back in action on Saturday, Penn College dropped two games to SUNY Cobleskill by scores of 6-2 and 11-9. In the first game Lo Furno went 2-for-2 and scored a run. In the second contest Macie Lucas, of Reedsville; Katie Kratzer, of Lynch Station, Virginia; and Breanna Abbey, of Carlisle, each had three hits and Lo Furno added two hits as the team dropped to 8-24 overall and 6-10 in the NEAC.
After Saturday’s games in the NEAC, SUNY Cobleskill was 15-3, Keuka College 14-4, SUNY Poly 8-6, Penn College 6-10, Cazenovia 4-11 and Morrisville State 2-15.
New men’s soccer coach named
On Wednesday, it was announced that Muncy native Tyler Mensch had been named the new men’s soccer head coach.
“I am very excited to welcome Tyler to the Penn College community,” Scott Kennell, director of athletics, said. “His enthusiasm, energy and experience will make him a great addition to our soccer program, athletics department and campus.”
Mensch was an outstanding soccer player at Misericordia, where he graduated in 2009 with a degree in sports management and marketing. As a player at Misericordia, he earned All-Freedom first team honors and was a second team NSCAA/Adidas All-Region Forward as a senior. As a junior Mensch was named first team All-PAC and a third team NSCAA/Adidas All-Region Forward. As a junior he also ws named third team All-Region forward by D3kicks.com.
An outstanding student in the classroom, Mensch was named to the NSCAA/Adidas Scholar All-Region First Team during both his junior and senior year. He was named to the Dean’s List all four years while being recognized as a Misericordia University Scholar Athlete.
Following graduation, Mensch served as assistant varsity coach at Muncy High School in the fall of 2009 and he served the past four years as the assistant men’s coach at Wilkes University. At Wilkes, Mensch assisted the head coach in recruiting, developing practice plans, scouting reports and game film breakdown. He also was the assistant sports information director for two years and earned his master’s degree in business administration.
Mensch, who succeeds Rafael Morais who left after an 8-8-1 season last fall, will assume his role on May 1.
PENN COLLEGE SCHEDULES/RECORDS
Baseball
Overall record: 12-15
NEAC record: 6-4
Sunday, April 19 – host Lancaster Bible College, W, 8-0; L, 3-2
Tuesday, April 21 – host Mansfield University, L, 5-3; L, 3-2
Saturday, April 25 – host Cazenovia College, W, 6-5 in 10 innings; W, 3-2
Sunday, April 26 – at Keuka College (2), 10 a.m. and noon
Wednesday, April 29 – host Juniata College at Bowman Field (2), TBA
Saturday, May 2 – at SUNY Poly (2), 1 and 3 p.m.
Friday–Sunday, May 8-10 – NEAC Tournament at Hampton, Va., TBA
Sunday-Thursday, May 10-14 – USCAA Small College World Series at Hampton, Va., TBA
Softball
Overall record: 8-24
NEAC record: 6-10
Sunday, April 19 – at Misericordia University, L, 8-0; L, 4-3
Monday, April 20 – at Alfred State (2), 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., ppd.
Tuesday, April 21 – at SUNY Poly (2), 4 and 6 p.m., ppd.
Wednesday, April 22 – host SUNY Cobleskill at Elm Park (2), 3:30 and 5:30 p.m., ppd.
Friday, April 24 – host SUNY Poly, L, 11-5; W, 7-6
Saturday, April 25 – at SUNY Cobleskill, L, 6-2; L, 11-9
Sunday, April 26 – at SUNY Cobleskill (2), 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Monday, April 27 – at SUNY Poly (2), 4 and 6 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29 – at Alfred State, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Friday–Sunday, May 1-3 – NEAC Tournament, TBA
Men’s tennis
Final overall record: 7-5
Final NEAC record: 3-2
Sunday, April 19 – host Wilkes University, L, 9-0
Monday, April 20 – at Rutgers-Camden, W, 5-4
Thursday-Friday, April 23-24 – NEAC Tournament, Penn College lost in the team semifinals. Ben Leibig finished second at No. 2 singles and Jordan Rodgers and Chris Morrin finished second at No. 1 doubles.
Women’s tennis
Final overall record: 2-11
Final NEAC record: 2-5
Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26 – NEAC Tournament, Melissa Stabley and Morgan Blackwell finished second at No. 1 doubles.
Golf
Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19 – NEAC Championship at Pennsauken, N.J., Country Club, placed sixth in an eight-team field. Calvin Foust, of Palmyra, and Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel, earned NEAC All-Conference Third Team honors for finishing among the top 15 individuals after shooting 167s and ending 14th.
Archery
Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26 – Eastern Regional Intercollegiate Archery Championships at Columbia University in Bloomfield, New Jersey
