CLARK SWIM AND DIVE SET FOR WORCESTER CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Clark University men’s and women’s swim and dive team will head cross-town for the seventh annual Worcester City Championship Meet held at Holy Cross this Friday and Saturday.
The Cougars, who have yet to capture the title, will swarm the pool deck alongside WPI and Holy Cross for a chance at this year’s competition.
“This meet will get the swimmers and divers in championship mode,” said head coach Paul E. Phillips. “It gives us a chance to compete multiple times in the same day, which will prepare us for the rigors of our conference championship in a few weeks. It’s a ‘tune-up.’”
In addition to the competitive nature of the meet, Phillips believes there is historical significance as well.
According to Phillips, awards are named after a former standout competitor or coach from each institution, including Clark’s first four-time All-America Cathy Desrosiers ‘82 – dubbed the Women’s Swimmer of the Meet award, and Beth Ferraro ‘88 – a four time All-America diver – who claimed the Women’s Diver of the Meet moniker.
While Phillips expects solid performances from Cougar swimmers, he looks for the diving corp. to score some major points this year.
“I’m interested to see how our divers perform,” he said. “We have depth on our side this season, and with Sal Pezzella and Jessica Baker returning as the reigning men’s and women’s diver of the meet, respectively, we could potentially do some damage.”
The Cougars stiffest competition will come from Holy Cross. After finishing second for the first time in four years last season, the Clark women (6-5) will need several strong performances to duplicate those results. “Holy Cross is a Division I program, so they are definitely a cut above the rest,” said Phillips. “But I’m hoping some of our freshman and sophomores will step up for the challenge.”
Although the men’s squad (5-5) placed third last season, their point total improved significantly from previous years. Sophomore Drew Jackson, who set a new meet record in the 500-yard freestyle and captured two other events at last year’s championship, will lead Clark.
With only three collegiate swim programs in Worcester, the city championship meet is much more than just a competition, however. “It’s more about the camaraderie between the three swimming schools in town,” said Phillips.
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RODERIGUE EARNS A PAIR OF PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Clark University’s Sarah Roderigue has been named the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) and Worcester Area College Basketball Association’s (WACBA) women’s basketball player of the week, it was announced on Tuesday. It is the first time this season Clark has earned a conference player of the week honor.
Roderigue, a native of Oakland, Me., averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 3.0 steals to help Clark to a 1-1 week. The sophomore forward notched a career-high 32 points on 12-19 shooting from the floor, 5-6 from three-point range, and 3-4 from the line, grabbed seven boards and dished out eight assists in the Cougars' 79-55 win over Wellesley College last Saturday. Earlier in the week, Roderigue tallied 14 points, shooting 7-8 from the stripe, and had four assists and four steals in a close 63-56 loss to Springfield College. She tops the squad in scoring with 14.6 ppg.
The Clark women’s basketball team (6-10, 2-3 NEWMAC) will continue conference play at Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday (7 p.m.).
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BASEBALL ANNOUNCES 2007 CAPTAINS
The Cougars are proud to announce the new captains for the 2007 season. Kyle Breidenstine ’07, Mike Pritchard ’07, and Gunnar Hagstrom ’07 will lead the Clark squad. A native of Shoemakersville, Pa., Breidenstine has anchored the infield from the shortstop position and has been solid defensively the last two seasons. Mike Pritchard, from Ansonia, Conn., has been a key utility player the last three seasons. Pritchard has played both the outfield and infield and has served time in the pitching rotation. Gunnar Hagstrom, a dual-sport athlete from Yarmouth, Me., is a solid defensive catcher, who led the team in most offensive categories last year.
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FOGLIETTA JOINS COUGAR LACROSSE COACHING STAFF
Scott Foglietta ’06 will begin his first season on the sidelines for the Cougars. A four-year lacrosse player and former senior captain, Foglietta ranks fifth on the all-time scoring list with 43 goals, 63 assists and 106 points in 49 career games. He helped lead the team to the most wins (7) in school history last season and set a new assist mark with 10 during the 2005 campaign. A three-time member of the Pilgrim League All-Academic team, the Oceanside, N.Y., native was also an active member of the Clark community with his involvement in the Pre-Law Society, Student Council Republicans of Clark and Mock Trial Moot Court. A management major, Foglietta graduated in 2006 and is currently pursing his MBA degree through the fifth-year program at Clark. Foglietta will be working with the attack and goalies this season.
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CLARK UNIVERSITY MEN’S SOCCER ANNOUNCES 2007 SCHEDULE
The Clark University men’s soccer team will look to continue its on the field success next fall. Head Coach David Kulik has announced the 2007 Cougar slate, adding three teams that participated in the 2006 NCAA Tournament and playing seven out of 10 non-conference opponents who either made the national tourney or captured the ECAC Championship over the past two seasons.
The men’s squad won’t waste any time getting to the heart of its schedule. After a pair of solid exhibition matches against RPI and Salem State College, the Cougars kick off their season facing two of the 2006 NCAA squads at the Western New England College Tournament over Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1-2). Clark will open against first-round participant Westfield State College that Saturday, and will battle WNEC, who advanced to the sectional round of the tournament and finished seventh and 18th in the final National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) regional and national rankings, respectively, on Sunday.
“We’re thrilled with the strength of our 2007 schedule,” said Kulik, who will be entering his eighth season at the helm. “In addition to starting the season with a couple of NCAA tournament squads, the opening weekend trip will give our team the opportunity to bond.”
Following the WNEC tournament, Clark will begin a two-game homestand against Johnson and Wales University (Sept. 5), the Great Northeast Atlantic Conference (GNAC) regular-season champions, and Brandeis University (Sept. 8), who captured the ECAC Title last season.
Playing in one of the toughest Division III men’s soccer conferences in the nation, fourth out of 44 leagues by soccerratings.com, Coach Kulik believes Clark’s non-conference schedule will provide great competition for the program. The Cougars are currently one of five teams (Williams, Keene State, Bowdoin, Middlebury) who have been ranked in the NSCAA regional top-10 over the last 17 polls.
“We’re moving in a positive direction by adding more NCAA level teams,” Kulik said. “Hopefully our work in the spring and attitude in the fall will propel us into another rewarding year.”
Clark’s league schedule will be highlighted by a trip to Babson College (Sept.22), ranked 10th in the final NSCAA New England poll, and a regular season finale versus Wheaton College (Oct.27) at Granger Field.
“We have competed for the NEWMAC regular season championship and the right to host the conference tournament against one of those two teams on our last game of the regular season for the past two years,” said Kulik. “We lost by one goal (1-0) each time, but we hope next season will end differently.”
Returning 19 letter-winners from last year’s 11-4-2 team, including a core group of recruits, Clark will have ample ammunition to reach beyond last season’s success. According to Coach Kulik, a competitive spring season is in the works with a date in Springfield College’s 16-team tournament (April 22) and a spirited Alumni Game planned for April 28.
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On Air Commentary by Doug Denny-Brown ’87 and Hall of Famer Betty-Jean (Grazulis) Jaskoviak ’83
along with Assistant Coaches Mike Viotti ’06 and Roy Barnum ‘04.
Please join us for this special LIVE “Cougar-Cast” from the newly renovated Kneller Athletic Center Pool. View the CougarCast
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2007
Kneller Athletic Center
Women’s Basketball
vs
Springfield
5:30 PM
Men’s Basketball
vs
Springfield
7:30 PM
Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving
Pre-NEWMAC
Rally
HALF COURT SHOT
for FREE TUITION
FAN GIVE-AWAYS
GREAT RAFFLE
PRIZES
POSTER CONTEST
TEAM SPIRIT COMPETITION
MUSIC
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The highlights for this newsletter are provided by
Dalya Qualls, Sports Information Director, 508-793-7164
Email: dqualls@clarku.edu
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CLARK SWIM AND DIVE SET FOR WORCESTER CITY CHAMPIONSHIP
