Centennial Conference

Five Titles on the Line This Weekend

2008-05-02T09:36:00.003-04:00

It's the final championship weekend of the 2007-08 academic year and five titles are on the line - baseball, softball, men's lacrosse and men's and women's track and field.

Baseball
Johns Hopkins (16-2 CC, 30-5) is the prohibitive favorite entering the double-elimination event in Baltimore. The Blue Jays face Muhlenberg (11-7, 20-18) - one of two CC teams to hand JHU a defeat this season - in Friday's opener, while Franklin & Marshall (12-6, 18-15) plays host to Haverford (12-6, 25-12-1). All four schools head to the Charm City for the weekend. Hopkins is in search of its ninth Centennial championship in the 15-year history of the Conference, while the Diplomats look for flag number four. The Jays lead the Conference in team hitting (.394), pitching (3.92 ERA) and fielding (.960). Championship website

Softball
The four top softball teams in the Conference converge on Collegeville for this weekend's double-elimination championship tournament. Ursinus (13-3, 28-9) is the top seed and will meet Swarthmore (10-6, 21-16) in the first round, while Dickinson (12-4, 24-14) and Haverford (12-4, 22-14) tangle in the opener. The Bears have won four CC titles, while Haverford has one championship to its credit. Pitching makes all the difference in tourney play, so keep an eye out on Ursinus' Lauren Davis (23-4, 0.50 ERA, 259 K in 183.1 IP), Dickinson's Allison Jordan (14-6, 1.40, 146 K, 130 IP), Haverford's Becky Garibotto (9-5, 1.86) and Swarthmore's Kathryn Riley (16-7, 1.74, 152 K, 156.2 IP). Championship website

Men's Lacrosse
The best DIII conference in the country holds its final four at Clark Field in Gettysburg with traditional powers and a newcomer to the field. Gettysburg (7-1, 13-2), ranked third in the country, is the top seed and is in search of its 12th Centennial crown in 15 years. The Bullets will take on Muhlenberg (5-3, 10-4) - the hottest team in the Conference - in the first semifinal. The Mules are winners of their last eight and make their debut in the CC tourney. Two other top 10 teams meet in the other semi as #4 Washington (7-1, 12-2) squares off with #9 Haverford (6-2, 11-3). The Shoremen have won three CC titles and have appeared in the Centennial final every season since 2001. The Black Squirrels are looking to break through and reach their first-ever Conference final. Championship website

Track and Field
The best athletes in the Conference gather at the Battlefield in Gettysburg for the 15th annual Centennial championships. The Haverford men are the prohibitive favorite - after all, the Fords have won the previous 14 CC titles. The women's competition should be close, as two-time defending champion Haverford will be challenged by five-time champ Dickinson and four-time winner Gettysburg. Championship website

Championships and More

2008-04-24T20:45:00.004-04:00

It's championship weekend No. 1 in the Centennial Conference, while the remaining sports wrap up their regular seasons with playoff berths and positioning on the line.

Washington at Muhlenberg (Baseball)
It may not be the fashionable doubleheader entering the weekend, but it makes all the difference when the Shoremen (3-13 CC, 7-19) travel to meet the Mules (9-7, 18-16). Muhlenberg has the tie-breaker advantage on both Gettysburg (8-8) and Ursinus (8-8) and needs just one win to secure the final playoff berth. A Sho'men sweep opens the door for the Bullets and Bears. Washington swept the Mules in Allentown in 1998 but is 2-6 at 'Berg since then.

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Men's Lacrosse)
One team will qualify for the Centennial tournament for the first time ever. Will it be the Mules (4-3, 9-4) or the Bears (4-3, 7-8)? Expect a close game as the games in five-game series have been decided by a total of eight goals. We'll be watching the battle between the brothers Farris - Kyle, a senior who plays for Muhlenberg (32-5-37), and Eric, a sophomore who plays for Ursinus (27-4-31).

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Softball)
The Bears (12-2, 27-8) are one win away from securing the top seed in next weekend's Centennial tournament. Standing in their way are the Mules (2-10, 6-26), who would like nothing more than to ruin the Bruins' season. A 'Berg sweep opens the door for Haverford (11-3, 21-11) to take the No. 1 seed with a sweep of archrival Swarthmore (9-5, 20-14).

Men's Golf Championship (The Bridges GC, hosted by Gettysburg)
Defending champion Franklin & Marshall is the favorite entering the 54-hole tournament that will decide the Centennial title and the AQ to the NCAA Division III tournament. The Diplomats have a 308.5 average, while McDaniel is second at 313.4. F&M sophomore Joe Fucigna has the lowest stroke average in the CC at 77.18, but Terror freshman Paul Kovalcheck is close behind at 77.24. Don't count out Muhlenberg, who posted a 315.1 stroke average on the year.

Women's Golf Championship (Olde Homestead GC, hosted by Muhlenberg)
It looks like a two-team race between Gettysburg and McDaniel as the 36-hole championship tees off Saturday in New Tripoli, Pa. The Bullets have the lowest stoke average at 384.4 and the top individual in Merrill Fortier (84.7). The Green Terror is second in team average at 392.0, while Valerie Saucier is third among individuals at 89.3. Keep an eye on the Dickinson duo of Kaitlin Van Wagner (86.0) and Ann Gibala (91.0), while Gettysburg rookie Leah Tuscano (91.8) and F&M soph Grace Gallagher (91.9) could also factor for the individual title.

Men's Tennis Championship (hosted by Johns Hopkins)
The defending champion Blue Jays (9-0, 13-5) welcome Swarthmore, Haverford and Washington College to the Charm City for the 2008 CC tournament. Hopkins has the top player in the CC in David Maldow and only dropped two games combined to the three other teams in the field. The Garnet (7-2, 7-9) makes its first-ever trip to the Centennial semis, while the Fords (7-2, 9-7) look to return to the final where they were defeated by JHU last spring. The Sho'men (7-2, 14-2) have won 12 Centennial championships.

Women's Tennis Championship (hosted by Johns Hopkins)
Johns Hopkins (10-0, 13-3) is the defending champion and entertains Swarthmore (9-1, 11-4), Muhlenberg (8-2, 10-4) and Washington College (7-3, 12-5) this weekend. The Blue Jays have a dynamic duo in Anita Bhamidipati and Brittany Matava at the top of the ladder. The Garnet will look to Rachel Wallwork and Jennie Park, while the Mules turn to Jenn Powell and Caitie Druker and the Sho'women count on Allison Daciek.

Women's Lacrosse Championship (hosted by Franklin & Marshall)
Three of the top 12 Division III teams in the country will be on display this weekend in Lancaster as defending Centennial and Division III champion Franklin & Marshall welcomes #4 Gettysburg, #12 Dickinson and unranked McDaniel for the final four. The Diplomats (9-0, 14-1) have won 30 of their last 31 games, including four straight against the Bullets. Gettysburg looks to Centennial Player of the Year Katie Ceglarski to turn things around, while Dickinson looks reach its first-ever Centennial final. McDaniel reached its second straight semifinal with a 22-16 win against Muhlenberg in the first round on Wednesday.

Super Saturday

2008-04-18T10:13:00.004-04:00

It will be a Super Saturday in the Conference with terrific weather and terrific games with playoff implications.

Franklin & Marshall at Johns Hopkins (Baseball)
It's probably the best rivalry in the Conference as the Diplomats (12-2 CC, 17-10) and the Blue Jays (13-1, 25-4) meet in a doubleheader that should decide the top seed for the Conference championship tournament in two weeks. Hopkins leads the all-time series, 44-29-1, and ended F&M's season at the CC tournament last spring. The Diplomats have just one win against JHU in Baltimore (2006) since 1996. Hopkins and F&M are 1-2 in the Conference in hitting (396-333), pitching (3.98-4.99) and fielding (964-955).

Franklin & Marshall at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)
The Diplomats (3-3, 7-4) travel to the Eastern Shore looking to keep their slender playoff hopes alive against the Shoremen (6-1, 11-1). Washington has won 13 straight and 36 of 37 overall in the series. F&M has never won in Chestertown. The Shoremen's Chris Read leads the Conference in scoring (38-21-59).

Franklin & Marshall at Gettysburg (Women's Lacrosse)
Two of the top teams in Division III meet at Clark Field with the regular-season title and the top seed for next week's tournament on the line. The Diplomats (8-0, 13-1) are ranked third nationally, while the Bullets (8-0, 15-1) are ranked fourth. F&M defeated Gettysburg three times last season on its way to a national championship to tie the all-time series at 21-21-1. Two of the nation's top players will be on display in F&M's Sarah Meisenberg (28-21-49) and Gettysburg's Katie Ceglarski (40-38-78).

Johns Hopkins at Swarthmore (Men's Tennis)
A traditional power plays host to a rising power along Crum Creek Sunday as the Garnet (5-1, 5-8) takes on the Blue Jays (7-0, 11-5). Hopkins, the defending Centennial champion, has locked up a playoff spot and looks to secure the top seed for next week's championship tournament with a victory. Swarthmore can qualify for the Centennial tournament in its first year of eligibility with a win.

Washington at Muhlenberg (Women's Tennis)
The Shoremen (5-2, 10-4) take to the road to Allentown to battle the Mules (7-2, 9-4) in a match that both teams need to secure playoff positions. Muhlenberg locks up the No. 3 spot with a victory.

Haverford at Dickinson (Women's Tennis)
The Red Devils (5-3, 10-6) welcome the Fords (5-4, 7-7) to Carlisle in a match that Dickinson needs to keep its playoff hopes alive. The #1 singles match between Haverford's Katharine Wettick (9-4) and Dickinson's Anne McGillicuddy (8-6 could be a difference maker.

Softball Showdown in Swarthmore

2008-04-17T09:18:00.004-04:00

Ursinus at Swarthmore (Softball)
It's a second consecutive critical doubleheader for the Bears (8-2 CC, 21-8), as they come off a split against Haverford to take on the high-flying Garnet (8-2, 19-9). Swarthmore leads the Conference in hitting (.301), while Ursinus tops the Centennial in earned run average (0.97). The Garnet's Kathryn Riley is a dual threat, hitting .393 at the plate with four homers and 26 RBI in addition to crafting a 15-4 mark on the mound with a 1.35 ERA. The Bears' Kaitlyn Sutherland is among the top hitters at .373, while Lauren Davis leads the league in wins (17), ERA (0.62) and strikeouts (193).

Tax Forms, Big Games On Tap for Tuesday

2008-04-15T09:02:00.002-04:00

Haverford at Ursinus (Softball)
The two teams with the best records in the Conference meet in Collegeville with first place at stake. The Bears (7-1, 20-7) are one up in the loss column on the Fords (8-2, 15-9) and Swarthmore (6-2, 17-9) in the chase for the top seed. Haverford will have to find a way to put runs on the board against UC's Lauren Davis, who is 16-4 on the season with 181 strikeouts and an 0.65 ERA.

Johns Hopkins at Haverford (Men's Tennis)
Somebody's undefeated Conference record will have a blemish on it after today's match between the Blue Jays (6-0, 10-5) and the Fords (6-0, 8-5). Keep an eye on the No. 1 doubles match for an early indicator - Hopkins' Casey Blythe and Joe Vasoontara (13-5) take on Haverford's Tom Kinrade and Evan Steigel (6-3).

Muhlenberg at Ursinus (Baseball)
Although the Mules (7-5 CC, 16-13) and the Bears (5-7, 13-10) are 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 games back in the CC race, respectively, this two-game set that begins today could determine a playoff spot. 'Berg holds a one-game lead over Gettysburg and a two-game advantage on UC and McDaniel for the fourth and final berth. Ursinus holds a 39-29-2 all-time lead and has won the last four games in Collegeville.

Dickinson at McDaniel (Women's Lacrosse)
The Red Devils (5-2, 9-4) and the Green Terror (4-3, 8-5) renew their long-standing rivalry with playoff position ... and hopes ... on the line. Third-place Dickinson is one game up in the loss column over Muhlenberg, McDaniel and Ursinus and needs a victory to sew up the No. 3 seed in next week's playoffs. The Terror locks up a spot with wins against the Red Devils and Muhlenberg on Saturday. McDaniel holds a 25-7-1 all-time lead in the series and has not lost to Dickinson in Westminster since 1991 (8-6). Two of the top goal scorers in the CC will be on display in the Terror's Brittany Baer (49) and the Devils' Alysa Crellin (38).

Five-Star Matchups

2008-04-09T09:49:00.003-04:00

Washington at Johns Hopkins (Men's Tennis)
The eyes of the Centennial net world will be focused on Baltimore today as the #22 ranked Blue Jays (4-0 CC, 7-5) take on the undefeated Shoremen (4-0, 11-0). One of the best matches of the day will be at #1 singles between Hopkins' David Maldow (17-3) and Washington's Adam Cranford (16-1). Those two will also be in the forefront of a crucial #2 doubles match along with their partners - JHU's Andrew Wang (10-4) and the Sho'men's Brian Danver (10-1).

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Men's Lacrosse)
It's essentially a playoff game tonight at Scotty Wood Stadium as the Red Devils (1-3, 6-4) meet the Mules (2-3, 4-4). Dickinson is looking to return to the final four for the fifth straight campaign, while Muhlenberg is looking for its first-ever Centennial playoff berth. The Red Devils are 5-0 against 'Berg since the Mules reinstituted lax and 14-6 overall. Muhlenberg's last victory against Dickinson was a 10-8 triumph in 1980.

Backyard Brawls Highlight Tuesday Slate

2008-04-08T11:03:00.004-04:00

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Lacrosse)
There are a number of story lines that go along with the #14 Red Devils' (4-1 CC, 8-3) matchup against the #3 Diplomats (5-0, 9-1) - a battle between two nationally-ranked teams; Dickinson head coach Kasey Ryan '99 going up against her alma mater; and F&M's 30-game winning streak against the Red and White. Suffice it to say, it could be a playoff preview between two of the nation's top teams. Keep an eye on the high-scoring tandems of Alysa Crellin (33 goals) and Amy Jennings (25) for the Red Devils and Jen Pritchard (33) and Ashley Bevington (25) for the Diplomats.

Johns Hopkins at Washington (Women's Tennis)
It's a showdown for first place in the Conference as the Blue Jays (6-0, 9-1) visit Chestertown to take on the Shorewomen (5-1, 10-2). Hopkins has a potent 1-2 at the top of the singles ladder in Brittany Matava (16-6) and Anita Bhadmidipati (14-2), while Washington counters with Allison Daciek (12-4) and Lydia Bull (12-5).

Dickinson at Gettysburg (Softball)
The Red Devils (3-1, 15-9) take to Route 34 for the short jaunt to take on the Bullets (2-2, 10-7) for a weekday doubleheader. Two of the CC's top pitchers take the mound in Dickinson's Allison Jordan (10-3, 1.74 ERA) and Gettysburg's Kristy Rubino (6-3, 2.23).

Net Powers Meet in Chestertown

2008-04-06T08:34:00.002-04:00

Swarthmore at Washington (Men's Tennis)
Two of the region's perennial powers meet on the Eastern Shore this afternoon as the Garnet (3-0 CC, 3-6) visits Chestertown to take on the undefeated Shoremen (3-0, 10-0). This is the first meeting between the two teams since Swarthmore joined the Centennial in men's tennis for the 2008 season. Washington freshman Adam Cranford is 15-1 overall and 10-0 in dual matches at No. 1 singles.

Showdown on the Shore

2008-04-04T09:07:00.003-04:00

Gettysburg at Washington (Men's Lacrosse)
What's on the line in this powerhouse matchup between the #2 ranked Bullets (3-0 CC, 8-1) and the #3 Shoremen (4-0, 9-0)? Besides the obvious - first place in the Conference - every season since 2001, the winner of this game has gone on to host the Centennial final four. And only once in that seven-year span has a visiting team captured the CC title. Gettysburg has won six straight in the series to take an 18-14 overall lead. Washington's last win was a 9-8 triumph in the 2004 NCAA tournament in Chestertown. The matchup to watch - Shoremen A Chris Read versus Bullet D Andrew McGann.

Gettysburg at Haverford (Baseball)
The Bullets (4-1, 12-12) travel to the Main Line to take on the Fords (3-2, 14-6-1) in a Saturday twinbill. Haverford has won six of the last seven games to take a 15-12 all-time lead in the series. Gettysburg has not won at Class of '16 Field since 1999 and to change that, the Orange and Blue will have to slow down the Ford running game that leads the CC with 76 stolen bases.

Gettysburg at Swarthmore (Softball)
Two of the three winningest teams in the Conference square off in a doubleheader along Crum Creek. The Bullets (2-2, 10-7) and the Garnet (1-1, 12-8) feature a pair of the Centennial's top pitchers in Gettysburg's Kristy Rubino (6-3, 2.23, 73 K in 62.2 IP) and Swarthmore's Kathryn Riley (8-4, 1.82, 77 K in 77 IP).

Tennis Takes Center Stage

2008-04-02T09:29:00.002-04:00

Haverford at Dickinson (Men's Tennis)
We'll find out a little more about both teams and their chances of making the four-team Conference championship tournament when the Fords (4-0 CC, 6-2) travel to Carlisle to meet the Red Devils (1-2, 5-5). Haverford, ranked 10th in the Atlantic South region, is one of four unbeatens in the Conference along with Johns Hopkins, Swarthmore and Washington. Dickinson, ranked 20th in the region, lost to the Shoremen, 5-4, last weekend and also has fallen to the Garnet.

Opening Day

2008-03-31T09:34:00.001-04:00

"The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and what could be again." - James Earl Jones in Field of Dreams (1989)

It's Opening Day ... the official start of spring for baseball fans. Some would argue that football has surpassed baseball as the national past-time ... well, here is 100 reasons why baseball is so much better than football, courtesy of Thomas Boswell.

In the interest of fairness, Microsoft Encarta provides us with 10 Reasons Baseball is a Weird Sport.

And we'll wrap this up with comedian George Carlin, who offers one of the most famous stand-up baseball comedy routines as he compares "Baseball and Football."

#1 vs. #2 Highlights Weekend Action

2008-03-28T09:44:00.004-04:00

I don't recall a spring weekend in the 15-year history of the Conference where we had two games featuring the top two teams in the country ... but here we go. In women's lacrosse, it's a rematch of the 2007 national title game as defending champion and top-ranked Franklin & Marshall travels to the Eastern Shore to take on #2 Salisbury. In men's lacrosse, the top-ranked Sea Gulls come north to the Battlefield to take on #2 Gettysburg.

Franklin & Marshall at Salisbury (Women's Lacrosse)
What a matchup! The Diplomats (3-0 CC, 7-0) have a 28-match winning streak, including a pair of wins against the Sea Gulls (12-0), winners of 33 of their last 35 games. F&M captured the NCAA Division III title with an 11-8 win against Salisbury last season. Five Diplomats have scored 15 or more goals through seven games, led by Jen Pritchard's 21.

Salisbury at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
It's one of the premier matchups in the South Region each season and this year is no different, as the top-ranked Sea Gulls (10-0) take on the second-ranked Bullets (8-0). Salisbury has a 33-game win streak and has won 72 straight regular-season games since the 2003 campaign. Only three men's lacrosse coaches in NCAA history (all divisions) have won 300 games and two of them - Gettysburg's Hank Janczyk and Salisbury's Jim Berkman - are the only two active coaches to reach that milestone. You can watch the action on a pay-per-view basis.

Washington at Haverford (Men's Lacrosse)
It may not be #1 vs. #2 ... but the other big game around the country Saturday features the #5 Shoremen (3-0, 8-0) and the #8 Black Squirrels (1-1, 6-1). Washington has never lost to Haverford in 17 previous games, but last season's match went four overtimes before the Sho'men pulled out a 9-8 win in Chestertown. The two teams are ranked 1-2 in goals per game in the CC with the Fords averaging 13.75 per game and Washington a shade behind at 13.50.

Washington at Swarthmore (Women's Tennis)
It could be a playoff preview along Crum Creek as the Shorewomen (2-0, 7-1) visit the Garnet (3-1, 3-2). Washington has lost six straight to Swarthmore since a 6-3 triumph in 2002. The Garnet is looking to rebound from a 9-0 loss to Johns Hopkins earlier in the week. Keep an eye on the #1 singles match between Washington's Allison Daciek and Swat's Jennie Park.

McDaniel Invitational (Men's Golf)
This is definitely a championship preview as Dickinson, Franklin & Marshall, Gettysburg, Muhlenberg and Swarthmore will participate in the McDaniel Spring Invitational at The Bridges Golf Club - site of the 2008 Centennial championship tournament.

Five-Star Matchups

2008-03-26T09:46:00.001-04:00

Gettysburg at Dickinson (Men's Lacrosse)
It could be the ultimate trap game for the Bullets (2-0 CC, 7-0), ranked #2 in the country. Gettysburg plays host to top-ranked Salisbury on Saturday, but cannot be caught looking past the Red Devils (1-0, 6-1), who are looking for their first win against the Orange and Blue since 1975 and first in Carlisle since 1970.

Big Games Inside and Outside

2008-03-14T09:47:00.004-04:00

Although there are still big games being played indoors as the winter season comes to a close, the important games also are being played outdoors, as the spring season kicks into high gear this weekend.

Gettysburg at Ursinus (Men's Basketball)
Seen this one somewhere before? For the fourth time this season, the Bullets (24-4) and the Bears (27-2) will meet on the hardwood. The stakes this time? A trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. This is the first time that two Centennial men's teams have reached the "Sweet 16" and the Conference is guaranteed a spot in the national quarterfinals for the first time since Franklin & Marshall reached the "Final Four" in 2000. Ursinus has won nine straight from Gettysburg to close its all-time deficit to 33-20. The Bullets' last win was a 71-63 triumph in Collegeville in 2005.

Haverford at Gettysburg (Men's Lacrosse)
It's a top-10 battle as the Fords (4-0) and the Bullets (4-0) meet on the Battlefield in the Conference opener for both teams. Haverford is ranked ninth nationally, while Gettysburg is No. 2 in the country. Last season, the Black Squirrels upset the then-#2 Bullets, 6-5, at Walton Field, in the CC opener. Gettysburg avenged that defeat in the Centennial semifinals, 12-11. The key matchup could be Haverford sophomore attacker Brian Fleischhacker (19-2-21) against Gettysburg All-American senior defender Andrew McGann.

Franklin & Marshall at McDaniel (Women's Lacrosse)
The defending national champion Diplomats (2-0) open defense of their 2007 Centennial title on the road in Westminster against the Green Terror (4-0). F&M has won six straight in the series to take a commanding 29-6-1 advantage. McDaniel's last win win was a 6-5 triumph in the 2004 ECAC first round. Keep an eye on a pair of fabulous sophs - the Diplomats' Blake Hargest (5-1-6) and the Terror's Brittany Baer (21-3-24).

Why Time Begins on Opening Day

2008-02-29T13:10:00.003-05:00

A new blogger joins our ranks today as Gettysburg College junior Chris Liegel takes his turn. A right-handed pitcher from Oak Ridge, N.J., Chris was the 2007 Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Year after recording a 9-0 record with a 1.92 ERA and holding opponents to a .201 batting average. As the Centennial baseball season begins on Saturday, Liegel talks about the preseason preparation that goes on in the classroom and on the field (or, as the case may be, the gym).

by Chris Liegel, Gettysburg College

Rows of palm trees, 80-degree temperatures, the smell of fresh cut Bermuda grass…not exactly. Preseason baseball preparations in Gettysburg, Pa., are more like rubber indoor pitcher’s mounds, groundballs off of an unforgiving field house floor, and late sessions that last until 12 a.m. Still, no matter where you are, baseball is baseball and nothing can get you down with the thought of the start of another season. That is not to say, however, that it isn’t hard.

From a personal level, one of the biggest preparations is getting your academic life in order. As Division III athletes in liberal arts schools, we all know (with or without our parents constantly reminding us) that academics come first. As a result, a good four-hour chunk of your day that may have otherwise been devoted to class work is now taken up by practices. That does not even take into account increased fatigue. That leads me to my next point; you need to keep yourself healthy. Sure we are technically in spring season preparation, but if you go outside it certainly doesn’t feel that way. Dressing for the weather, eating well, and getting the right amount of sleep during this time are crucial for your success six weeks into the heart of the season.

Another important aspect is bonding with your team. With a new season come new faces, personnel changes, and new roles to be fulfilled. Team chemistry is just as important as talent when it comes to winning games and so a lot of the preseason here at Gettysburg is devoted to, well, essentially ‘hanging out’ as a team. We try to make time before and after practice to meet up, and almost always eat meals together as a team. Having a strong core makes preseason fun, not to mention helpful when your buddy gives you a wake up call for 8 a.m. practice on Saturday mornings.

So my best advice is this. Get your life together and get on the ball, because you don’t want your athletics to interfere with academics, or vice versa. Stay healthy and sleep. Enjoy the time with your team. Work hard in practice, but remember to mellow out with their company after. Being able to play a sport you love for another four years is a gift, and all of us are lucky to have it. Tom Hanks in "A League of Their Own" said, “Of course baseball is hard, if it wasn’t everyone would do it. The ‘hard’ makes it great.” So even though the grind of the preseason in the Mid-Atlantic can get you down, cherish it because I am pretty sure that one day you will miss it.

Back to the Future

2008-02-29T08:48:00.004-05:00

The 2008 Centennial Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships begin Saturday at Ursinus College' Floy Lewis Bakes Field House. Haverford senior standout Annick Lamar takes you inside as the Fords prepare to defend their women's championship.

by Annick Lamar, Haverford College (pictured left)

As a senior in college I can’t help but be sentimental. Trapped between the overwhelming desire to graduate and crippling waves of nostalgia, every personal account I write from here on in is bound to result in an emotional flood of words. So ask me to write about my track team—my second family—I’ll make a Lifetime Original Movie look like a Senate hearing on CSPAN. I could attempt to give you the cold hard facts of this upcoming Centennial Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, but like CSPAN you’d learn a lot and be very bored. So instead I’m indulging in my own personal Lifetime Original Movie of the Week: Don’t Stop Believing, Part II.

The movie opens with a flashback to Ursinus’ field house two years ago. The scene’s set at the Indoor Conference Championships, a two-day event, and the women’s title is on the line. The 4x400 meter relay is to determine the outcome. The relay runners mill around restlessly and are, at the same time, fatigued from the weekend’s efforts. One young runner, we’ll call her Annique, is being gripped by the shoulders as her captain, Aislinn Sowash, tells her she’s going to have to run faster than she’s ever run before. Annique nods and prepares herself for the lead off leg. Gripping the baton, Annique sprints off the line as the gun sounds. Four minutes and six and a half seconds and one fantastic sports montage later, Haverford’s women have secured a heavily battled-for title.

Editor's Note:
1 Haverford College 'A' 4:06.50
1) Lamar, Annick 2) Sowash, Aislinn 3) Massare, Brittany 4) Lunne, Darian

2 Muhlenberg College 'A' 4:09.65
1) Mount, Karen 2) Lombardi, Jenna 3) Martini, Amanda 4) Seiler, Danielle

3 Dickinson College 'A' 4:11.16
1) Straw, Laura 2) Nichols, Lisa 3) Luthringer, Dani 4) Creme, Katie

FINAL Team Scoring: Haverford 135.5, Muhlenberg 134, Dickinson 129.

The flashback ends and the scene is now Haverford College’s indoor track. A few female runners, jumpers, and throwers mill around stretching and waiting for practice to begin. One can tell they’re preparing for this weekend’s Conference Championships at Ursinus by the serious expressions on their faces. An older version of Annique leans against a wall looking at her teammates. She reflects on their faces and mentally notes they aren’t the same ones from the flashback. Ah, yes, there are a few veteran runners here and there, but many are relatively new. As a younger runner, Annique thought that upon the graduation of the classes of ’06 and ‘07 much would change. She was not wrong, for much has changed. A new group of women have entered Haverford. These women are too young to have participated in the great Victory-of-Oh-6, yet they work toward team victory with the same determination of women who have tasted it before and hunger for it again. They contain an unmatched enthusiasm for the sport and an unrivaled dedication to training. These underclasswomen run and jump and throw as if they’ve been part of Haverford’s team for years and as if they’ve always known the excellence which this team demands from each athlete. The classes of ’06 and ’07 left such big spikes to fill, but fill them ’10 and ’11 have.

Then through a haze a man appears. Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” plays quietly in the background. The women hold their breath. It’s their coach, the illustrious Fran Rizzo, and he says as he approaches “spikes on.” It’s the last work-out before Conference. They are ready. It is time.

Let's Get It Started

2008-02-27T10:07:00.004-05:00

The 2008 Centennial men's and women's basketball tournaments begin tonight in the southwestern corners of the Conference - Gettysburg and Westminster. To the winners - trips to Lancaster and Collegeville. For the losers - the season comes to a close.

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Women's Basketball)
The Green Terror and the Bullets meet in the postseason version of their Route 97 rivalry at 7 p.m. at Bream Gym. The teams have met three times before in the CC tournament first round with McDaniel winning them all (1998, 2003, 2006) in Westminster. The Terror has the best winning percentage in the Centennial playoffs (11-6, .647), while Gettysburg is winless in seven trips to the Conference dance. The Bullets swept McDaniel during the regular season, winning 87-76 on the road and 66-54 last weekend at home, to close the all-time series deficit to 42-31. Gettysburg preview / McDaniel preview / Live Stats

Dickinson at McDaniel (Men's Basketball)
Bill Clinton was president the last time either of these two teams appeared in the Centennial playoffs, as the Red Devils are back for the first time since winning it all in 1997, while the Green Terror makes its second-ever trip and first since 1995. McDaniel swept the season set from Dickinson, winning 62-41 at home and 73-71 on the road, closing the all-time series deficit to 63-36. The Red Devils have lost six straight at Gill Center since a 69-47 triumph in 2002. The Green Terror has never hosted a league playoff game in its basketball history and has not won a postseason game since 1961, defeating Johns Hopkins (86-65) in the Mason-Dixon Conference semifinals. Dickinson preview / McDaniel preview / Live Stats / Live Audio / CCTV Video

Basketball aCCtion: Saturday, Feb. 23

2008-02-23T19:56:00.003-05:00

The regular season is over ... but not without some thrilling games around the Conference today.

Women
Franklin & Marshall earned the No. 1 seed for next week's Conference tournament with a 75-71 victory against Dickinson. Sarah Meisenberg scored a game-high 25 points as the Diplomats won their sixth straight game. Ursinus knocked Muhlenberg out of the top spot with a 71-69 win in Allentown. Sarah Hennessey led the way with 21 points for the Bears, who were eliminated from playoff consideration despite the win. Gettysburg secured the No. 4 spot with a 66-54 win vs. McDaniel. Caitlin Moser had 20 points and 11 boards for the Bullets, who play host to the Green Terror again on Wednesday night in a first-round game. Andrea Dodrill had 17 points and a career-best 19 rebounds in her final collegiate game as Johns Hopkins defeated Washington, 69-45. Swarthmore needed overtime to subdue Haverford, 74-65. Laura Popovics scored 10 points in the extra stanza in her final collegiate performance.

Women's Tournament Pairings
Wed., Feb. 27 - 1st Round - McDaniel at Gettysburg
Sat. March 1 - Semifinals - McDaniel/Gettysburg at F&M; Muhlenberg vs. Dickinson (at F&M)
Sun. March 2 - Final - semifinal winners at F&M

Men
Ursinus survived a major scare from Muhlenberg to conclude the CC season unbeaten, downing the Mules, 72-69. Nick Shattuck led the Bears with 18 points, while Mike Bernardini led all scorers with 27 for 'Berg, who was ousted from the playoffs with the loss. Dan Capkin became the 21st 1,000-point scorer in Gettysburg's history in the Bullets' 78-57 win against McDaniel. The win was the 21st of the season for the Bullets, setting a school single-season record. Johns Hopkins locked up the No. 3 seed with a thrilling 69-68 overtime win against Washington. It was the Blue Jays' school-record seventh overtime game of the season, capped by a Doug Polster baseline jumper with 9.6 seconds left for the win. Dickinson qualified for the Centennial tournament for the first time since winning it all in 1997 with a 60-48 road win at Franklin & Marshall. Tom Leszczynski scored 23 points and collected 10 rebounds for the Red Devils. Haverford ended the year with a 78-70 overtime win at Swarthmore. Greg Rosnick led all scorers with a career-best 22 points for the Fords, while Ian McCormick closed his collegiate career with 20 points and 18 rebounds for the Garnet.

Men's Tournament Pairings
Wed., Feb. 27 - 1st Round - Dickinson at McDaniel
Sat. March 1 - Semifinals - Dickinson/McDaniel at Ursinus; Gettysburg vs. Johns Hopkins (at Ursinus)
Sun. March 2 - Final - semifinal winners at Ursinus

Saturday's aCCtion

2008-02-23T13:52:00.000-05:00

It's a busy day around the Centennial Conference with the swimming and wrestling championships underway ... and the basketball tournament fields and seeds to be determined this afternoon. We'll be blogging from the Mayser Center in Lancaster to bring you up-to-date on everything going on in the Conference today.

Three Wins to Cedar Rapids

2008-02-22T20:07:00.004-05:00

Gettysburg senior 149-pounder Matt Shank is one of the favorites to win the gold medal at the Centennial championships at Ursinus on Saturday. Today, Shank shares with us what is going through his mind - and others - in preparation for the season's big day.

As the Centennial Conference wrestling tournament approaches, my mindset begins to change. Back in the early part of the season I put a lot of effort into getting into better shape and maintaining my strength. I did that by working hard during practice and doing some additional morning running and lifting.

However, for a couple weeks leading up to the tournament the coaches and wrestlers have placed a lot more emphasis on cutting back exertion during workouts in an effort to peak at the right time. The notion of ‘taking it easy’ is difficult indeed for your typical wrestler, but it’s necessary. All the nagging injuries that have accumulated over the past 5 months of the season can be given a little time to heal and our rested bodies will hopefully be ready to go.

Come Saturday, beginning with the first match, everyone will be as ready as possible both physically and mentally. Every wrestler is competing for ONE spot per weight to get to the big dance. There can be no lapses of focus or ill-advised attempts, because your opponent will be as ready as he’s ever been to capitalize.

Over the past four years, I’ve watched the level of competition within the conference steadily increase and I look forward to going at it with the best that the Centennial has to offer this Saturday! After all, there is nothing I would enjoy more than spending my spring break in frigid, barren Cedar Rapids, Iowa… I think I’ll leave the board shorts at home.

Basketball's Top Games

2008-02-22T08:46:00.002-05:00

It's the final day of the basketball regular season and what we know just about equals what we don't know. We know four of the five playoff teams on both the men's and women's side, but the fifth spot remains open. We know we're going to Collegeville for the men's final four on Saturday, but don't know if we're headed to Allentown, Carlisle or Lancaster for the women. We'll be in Maryland on Wednesday for the men's opening round game, but don't know if we're going to Baltimore or Westminster. It could be a doubleheader with the women in Westminster ... or we could be in Gettysburg. So many questions ... with answers to come around 6 p.m. Saturday night.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
2 p.m. -- The Red Devils (14-3 CC, 16-7) travel to take on the Diplomats (13-4, 18-6) in a critical game in the chase for the top seed and homecourt. A Dickinson win and a Muhlenberg loss gives the Devils the top seed ... an F&M win and a Muhlenberg loss gives the Diplomats the No. 1 spot. The Red and White has won six straight in the series to close the all-time series deficit to 36-26.

Ursinus at Muhlenberg (Women's Basketball)
By the 4 p.m. tip-off, the Mules (14-3, 19-5) will know what a victory over the Bears (10-7, 12-12) would mean for their playoff seeding. A victory and a Dickinson loss would give 'Berg the top seed ... a loss and an F&M win sends the quintet to Lancaster. An Ursinus triumph ... and a Gettysburg loss to McDaniel ... keeps the Bears' playoff hopes alive and sends the accountants to the spreadsheet to figure out a strength-of-schedule tiebreaker. Muhlenberg won the year's first meeting on Jan. 30 by a 61-49 count to take a 31-26 series lead. UC has only won once at Memorial Hall since 2000.

McDaniel at Gettysburg (Women's Basketball)
4 p.m. -- It's simple really ... the Bullets (11-6, 15-9) clinch the final playoff spot and homecourt for Wednesday's first-round game with a win against the Green Terror (11-6, 13-11). A loss, combined with an Ursinus win against Muhlenberg, brings strength of schedule into the equation. A loss, combined with an Ursinus loss, sends Gettysburg to Westminster Wednesday night. A McDaniel win gives the Green and Gold the No. 4 seed and home court for Wednesday's first-round game. The Orange and Blue broke a 10-game losing streak to McDaniel with an 87-76 victory on Jan. 30, but still trails the all-time series, 42-30.

Ursinus at Muhlenberg (Men's Basketball)
2 p.m. -- Another simple one ... a 'Berg victory send the Mules (8-9, 10-14) to the playoffs. All they have to do is knock of the 17th ranked Bears (17-0, 22-2), who are going for the first 18-0 season since the Conference went to a full double round-robin schedule in 2004. Ursinus has won 16 straight, including an 81-60 victory vs. Muhlenberg on Jan. 30. The Mules have defeated the Bears in the season finale each of the past two seasons to qualify as the No. 5 seed to the CC tournament.

Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Basketball)
4 p.m. -- We'll know the results of the Ursinus-Muhlenberg game by the time this one tips off, so it will mean everything in the playoff chase ... or just pride in the 152nd meeting between the two rivals. A Red Devil (8-9, 12-11) victory, combined with a Mule loss, gives Dickinson the fifth playoff berth. A Mule loss and a Diplomat (7-10, 12-12) victory, combined with a Hopkins win against Washington, gives F&M the last spot in the field. If all three teams are tied at 8-10 ... and McDaniel beats Gettysburg and Washington beats Hopkins ... Muhlenberg gets the last slot. Just press the "easy" button.

So how can you keep up with everything going on Saturday around the Conference gymnasiums? We'll be blogging throughout the day to keep everyone posted on what promises to be a wild and wacky final day. You can also follow these links --

(W) Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall - Live Stats / Pay-per-View video

(W) Ursinus at Muhlenberg - Live Stats

(W) McDaniel at Gettysburg - Live Stats

(M) Ursinus at Muhlenberg - Live Stats

(M) Dickinson at Franklin & Marshall - Live Stats / Pay-per-View video

(M) McDaniel at Gettysburg - Live Stats

(M) Washington at Johns Hopkins - Gametracker

Championship Weekend - Part One

2008-02-22T08:14:00.003-05:00

It's the first of two big winter weekends for the Centennial Conference - and isn't it fitting that we have snow in the Mid-Atlantic Region - with the swimming and wrestling championships set for Franklin & Marshall and Ursinus. We also have the basketball regular season finales that will determine the playoff brackets ... but that's for another post.

Swimming
The 16th annual championships get underway today at F&M's Kunkel Aquatic Center at 11:30 a.m. with the morning trials with the evening finals set for 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday trials begin at 10 a.m. and finals start at 6 p.m. Admission is $15 for an all-sessions pass, while individual session prices for $3 for trials and $5 for finals. Can't make the trip to Lancaster? You can watch all the action on your computer courtesy of Franklin & Marshall and B2 Networks. It is a pay-per-view broadcast with an $8 per day charge or an all-sessions pass for $19.99. Just want to check out the results? Follow along with the real-time results page.

Friday's "Who To Watch" -- Gettysburg's Keira Heath and F&M's Derek Nowak in the 500 free; Washington's Megan Morse and F&M's Matt Jaffee in the 200 IM; Gettysburg's Maggie Mulderrig could lead a 1-2-3 Bullet sweep in the 50 free, while F&M's Phil Rehders and Washington's Colin Soper will duel for the men's 50 free gold. Psyche Sheet

Wrestling
The 16th annual Centennial championship begins Saturday at 10 a.m. at Ursinus' Helfferich Hall. The five-time champion Bears will look to extend their streak but will face a strong challenge from #16 Merchant Marine and Stevens. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for youth 13-18, and students with ID and youth 12 and under are admitted free. The Mariners won the dual-meet title - usually indicative of tournament success, as the CC dual champion has won every title since 2001.

"Who to Watch" -- 125-Ursinus' Steve Kingsland is 17-0; 133-Ursinus' Dan Glover (14-5), Washington and Lee's David Shubick (16-8) and USMMA's Philip Greene (14-7); 141-Muhlenberg's Billy Hall (25-4) and USMMA's James Beshada (25-10); 149-Gettysburg's Matt Shank (29-6), Muhlenberg's Rob Kein (25-5) and USMMA's Dan Twito (23-6); 157-Gettysburg's Andrew Goldstein (22-2, pictured), Stevens' Charles Favia (26-4) and USMMA's Scott Lowe (26-9); 165-USMMA's Vincent Renaut (24-3) and Gettysburg's Patrick Doherty (21-9); 174-Stevens' Brandon MacWhinnie (22-3), the 2008 Centennial Wrestler of the Year; 184-Hopkins' Eric Fishel (23-6) and Ursinus' Nate Murren (25-7); 197-USMMA's Eric Vincent (26-4) and Hopkins' Tyler Schmidt (21-3); 285-Ursinus' Matt Williams (29-8) and Muhlenberg's Joe Tartar (23-8). Individual Records

Losing Your Hair

2008-02-21T20:21:00.005-05:00

The 2008 Centennial Conference swimming championships begin Friday at Franklin & Marshall College's Kunkel Aquatic Center. One of the favorites to bring home multiple medals is one of our bloggers - Anne Miller of Swarthmore. Today, Anne talks about the team's preparation for the weekend and the hair-raising (and removing) experience.

Most swimmers look forward to taper all season. For those of you unfamiliar with the term “taper” it means a gradual and beautiful decrease of yardage and increase in time between sets before a big meet. It allows the individual to be rested and at his/her peak the weekend of competition. The change in the water and weight room is exciting and relieving when you’ve been working hard and pushing yourself to the limit all season.

However, it is generally acknowledged that taper is about more than just the physiological benefits. Much of taper and the pre-championship preparation are about being prepared mentally. For many swimmers, and certainly on the Swarthmore swim team, part of the mental preparation involves an obsession with hair. While shaving can reduce drag, it becomes a ritualized and mental tradition for many. Starting a couple of weeks before Conference, guys start to chop off their hair in stages – going from a mohawk to a shaved head, for example. In another tradition involving hair, much of the men’s and women’s team will gather together to dye our hair about a week before the meet. Finally, the night before conferences all over campus, sometimes in small groups, there will be swimmers shaving their legs and in some cases arms and heads. For girls who haven’t shaved since training trip (or in one case Christmas) this is an exciting and freeing moment.

Throughout other preparations for Conferences, whether it be creating a pump up mix with a song picked out by everyone (therefore including songs ranging from Britney Spear’s “Piece of Me,” Bloc Party’s “The Prayer,” “Be a Man” from Mulan, to Daddy Yankee’s “Lo que Paso Paso”), trying on new super-tight suits, or going to dinner as a team, the obsession with hair will not fade.

Editor's Note: Miller finished third in the 500 free in 5:09.96 on Friday night to earn a bronze medal.

Tonight's Top Games

2008-02-20T09:55:00.003-05:00

And down the stretch they come ... the final week of the Conference basketball season and we still don't know the complete five-team fields for next week's Centennial tournament. We know that the men's tournament will be at Ursinus, and that the Bears, Gettysburg, Johns Hopkins and McDaniel are also in the bracket. We don't know where the women's final four will be (although tonight could give us an answer), but we do know that Dickinson, Muhlenberg, Franklin & Marshall and McDaniel are in the tourney. That means we have some important games tonight - games that could go a long way to clearing things up for the season finales on Saturday.

Dickinson at Muhlenberg (Women's Basketball)
The Red Devils (14-2 CC, 16-6) can clinch the top seed and homecourt for next weekend's final four with a win against the Mules (13-3, 18-5) in Allentown. Dickinson has won four straight in the series, including a 64-49 win on Jan. 24, and has held 'Berg to an average of 40.0 points in the four victories. Muhlenberg leads the CC in scoring offense (69.1) and assist/turnover ratio (1.18), while Dickinson tops the loop in scoring defense (51.7) and scoring margin (+12.0).

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Women's Basketball)
The Bullets (11-5, 15-8) travel to Lancaster to take on the Diplomats (12-4, 17-6) in a game that is critical to the Conference playoff chase. Gettysburg can secure a berth with its second victory of the year against the Blue and White (70-47, Jan. 24), while F&M can lock up a first-round tournament bye with a win. The Bullets have won six straight in the series to close the all-time deficit to 30-27. The Dips' last win was a 74-69 triumph at home in 2004. It could be a game to 70 points, as the victor in the last 11 meetings has scored at least 70 and no more than 77 points.

Johns Hopkins at McDaniel (Men's Basketball)
The Blue Jays (10-6, 14-9) make the short trip to Westminster to take on the Green Terror (10-6, 15-8) in a game that could decide a first-round tournament bye. McDaniel won the year's first meeting by a 59-56 count on Jan. 23 and looks for its first season sweep of Hopkins since 1995 - the last year the Green and Gold made the CC playoffs. To do so, the Terror will need just its second home win vs. the Jays since 1997 and first since 2004. A McDaniel victory secures the No. 3 seed for next week's tournament.

Muhlenberg at Dickinson (Men's Basketball)
Two of the three teams battling for the final playoff spot meet in Carlisle as the Mules (8-8, 10-13) take on the Red Devils (7-9, 11-11). A loss eliminates Dickinson from the chase, while a victory presents a number of different scenarios for Saturday's season finales. Muhlenberg won the first meeting of the year on Jan. 23 by a 67-62 count, but Dickinson has won the last two matchups at the Kline Center. The first 20 minutes could tell the story, as 'Berg is 10-3 when leading at the break and 0-10 when trailing.

Gettysburg at Franklin & Marshall (Men's Basketball)
Quick ... tell me the last time that F&M missed the conference basketball playoffs three years in a row? Can't remember can you? How 'bout 1972-73-74. That's the situation tonight at Mayser as the Diplomats (7-9, 12-11) need a victory against the Bullets (14-2, 19-3) to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Gettysburg pulled out a heart-stopping 67-66 win against F&M back on Jan. 23 to extend its all-time series lead to 104-91. Two freshmen to watch tonight that you'll be hearing a lot of over the next three years - F&M's James McNally (12.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and Gettysburg's Andrew Powers (14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg).

The Stretch Run

2008-02-20T09:40:00.002-05:00

It's the final week of the basketball regular season and the every game gains in importance. Today, Franklin & Marshall's Sarah Meisenberg shares her thoughts on the stretch run to the playoffs.

Our team mission that we established the first week of the season was to make the playoffs. Everything we have done this season is to make it into the top five. To make the final five would be a huge step for our program, especially because we are rebounding from a 6-19 season last year. We have grown so much as a team and as individual players. We have learned to trust each other and our coaches and to gain confidence and motivation based on our teammates strengths.

Gettysburg and Dickinson are key games for us. Both teams have quality playoff experience and know how to play in crunch time. They are very athletic, talented, hard-working, and well coached. That being said, only a tremendous team effort will pull us to victory. We want to concentrate on doing the little things such as hedging on screens, playing until the last whistle, helping the helper, and making our foul shots.

This year our conference has a lot of parity, leaving many teams an opportunity to take a spot in the top five. Making the playoffs would give us even more confidence and pride because of where we started from in November. Since then, our team has suffered two knee injuries. It’s a heart breaking feeling to see your teammates go down and not get back up. This has made us realize that we cannot wait until next year or even next game. We have to play with heart and hustle play by play, because there might not be a next time to run down the court. Part of our motivation comes from the fact that two of our best friends are hurt and that we need to play for them, because they would give anything to be back on the court.

One of the most important things I have learned in my athletic career is any day, anything can happen. It all depends on who wants the game more and you can be sure that my team will not play any game without everything we’ve got.