The Bucknellian

Billy Tyler

Assistant Sports Editor

After a wildly successful high school wrestling career, capped off by a 47-0 record in his senior year, Paul Petrov ’16 decided to bring his talents to Lewisburg to wrestle collegiately for the Bison. Petrov began his collegiate wrestling career the same way he ended his high school career and in the process earned the honor of the 2013 Male Rookie Athlete of the Year.

Even after having a great high school career, the transition for many athletes to competing at the collegiate level is a difficult one. For Petrov, another part of this transition was wrestling in a new weight class: 133 lb.

“I was an undersized 133 pounder wrestling opponents who were much bigger and stronger than me,” Petrov said.

This did not seem to make much of a difference to Petrov, who began the season on a hot streak, winning eight of his first 10 matches. Included in this stretch was a second-place finish at the Navy Classic and a third-place finish at the Michigan State Open.

Petrov attributes much of this early season success to the grueling training program the team endures to prepare for the season. These training sessions were high in both intensity and volume, which the first-year star initially found challenging.

“I definitely wrestled and lifted more this year than I ever did in high school,” Petrov said.

Despite these obstacles, he also admitted that the training was “a blast” and that the difficulty of the regimen over the long season brought the team closer together. Head coach Dan Wirnsberger commented that Petrov’s work ethic and the way he approached practice were important factors that allowed him to succeed.

“Paul came to work every day with a purpose and it showed up in his results,” Wirnsberger said.

Following his initial successes, Petrov hit a small mid-season slump at the Hoosier Duals and the beginning of the dual portion of the season, which included matches against nationally ranked opponents No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Iowa and No. 9 Central Michigan. Despite a few disappointing losses, the experience gained from competing against some of the best teams in the country prepared both Petrov and the Bison for the remainder of the dual season. After opening the Virginia Duals with a loss to his opponent from Virginia, who ranked 13th nationally, Petrov rebounded with back-to-back victories, including a 11-3 major decision over the 19th nationally ranked 133-lb. wrestler from No. 25 Old Dominion.

These two victories sparked a winning streak that carried Petrov through the second half of the season. In this span he won nine of 15 matches, beating opponents in the 133-lb. class from Franklin & Marshall, No. 24 Penn, George Mason, American and Cornell. Also included in this stretch was Petrov’s favorite match of the season, a victory by pin over Andrew Grabfelder of Columbia.

“I pinned my opponent and it helped give my team momentum. It helped them get ready and pumped up for their matches,” Petrov said of his match agains Grabfelder.

Following Petrov’s electrifying start, the Bison dominated the match and earned the 24-14 victory. For this reason, Wirnsberger was always glad to have Petrov in one of the first bouts of the day to set the tone for the Bison for the rest of the match.

“I was extremely confident whenever Paul took the mat because he brings a high level of energy to the team and who understands the sacrifice needed to be a successful Division 1 student athlete,” Wirnsberger said.

Although his season ended on a sour note with a sixth place finish at the EIWA Championships, it did not take away from the incredible season Petrov produced. His final individual record of 20-14 was one of the best on the team, and equally impressive records of 11-9 in dual matches and 6-2 in matches that ended in major decisions prove how big an impact Petrov had for the Bison in his opening collegiate season. This success was not enough for Petrov himself, though, as he feels there is still much more room for improvement.

“Our team has the talent and ability to do much better than the record we had this season. Our team can do better and will continue to improve each year,” Petrov said.

With regards to individual performance, there is also much work to be done. While admitting he had “a good season for a first year,” Petrov said, “I was not at national qualifier and was not on the podium at NCAAs. I have goals that I have not reached or completed yet.”

If there is one person besides Petrov who believes that these goals will be accomplished by the time his four years are over, it is his coach.

“I am excited about Paul’s future as he continues to grow and develop as a student athlete,” Wirnsberger said. “There is no question he has the ability to be an NCAA Champion and multiple time All-American. The best is yet to come as long as he stays humble and focused.”

Katherine Harris

Senior Writer

Softball pitcher Amanda Fazio ’16 could have never anticipated the immediate success she would have when she first stepped onto the field this spring. While she had an extremely successful high school career, making all-conference teams and even Third Team All-State as a senior in New Jersey, the pitcher has taken her game to another level in her first season as a Bison.

“Amanda and I actually played with each other for some time prior to Bucknell. I can honestly say she has changed tremendously from then until now and she continues to impress me every day,” teammate Colie Escobar ’15 said.

While it is often hard for first-years to come into a program and succeed right away, standing out was not an issue for Fazio. It is no exaggeration to say that her success on the field was immediate. In fact, it was in the first game of the season for the Orange and Blue when Fazio was given the opportunity to shine on the mound.

Fazio was called upon in the sixth inning to close out a tight win against St. Bonaventure for the Bison. She did not disappoint, taking the mound for over four innings and allowing no earned runs while striking out four opposing batters as the Bison pulled out a gritty 8-7 extra-inning victory. With this outing, Fazio earned her first career win on the mound for the Orange and Blue and established her position as one of the pitchers crucial to the team’s success this season.

“Her attitude on the field is one of the most inspiring qualities about her and it’s contagious. Everytime she steps on the mound you can see in her body language she expects to give her best performance and nothing less,” Escobar said.

The success did not stop there as Fazio continued her first collegiate season. In March, only the sixth game of her career, Fazio pitched her first shutout when the Bison beat Seton Hall 4-0. Holding her opponents to only nine hits in five innings, the first-year also struck out three batters during the milestone.

“I came into this season with the goal of doing the best that I could possibly do,” Fazio said. “I am very competitive on the field, and can be very tough on myself at times. I knew that my freshman season would have some struggles, as all freshman do, but with those struggles came some great rewards and some great games…A lot may be demanded from you most days, but all of the hard work always pays off.”

Part of what has allowed her to be so successful is her attitude on the field. Fazio’s teammates describe her as being very mentally composed on the mound, a trait which is crucial for a pitcher’s success. It is often hard for first-years in any sport to achieve this level of composure on the playing field, making this trait of hers particularly impressive.

“She does an incredible job of keeping her mental game in check. I rarely ever see her lose her composure and it’s extremely hard to rattle her,” Escobar said.

As the end of the season approaches, Fazio has been even more on top of her game. On April 13, the pitcher threw one of the best games the team has seen in recent years against Lafayette for a 4-0 victory for the Bison. Fazio pitched a perfect game into the seventh inning with eight strikeouts, and by the end of the game had allowed just one hit for her third shutout in her last five games.

Fazio has also been recognized on the conference level for her success, earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors after her impressive performance against Lafayette. As the end of the season approaches, the pitcher has won eight games while throwing a team-high 126 innings, and Fazio still has a chance to improve on both accounts. She has also posted an ERA of 2.78 in her appearances on the mound, as well as a team-high 92 strikeouts for the season.

Besides having incredible success on the field, Fazio has also stood out as a great leader and competitor to her teammates. Her ability to lead by example in practice and in games has been crucial to much of the team’s success this season. Fazio has been able to step up and be vocal about her team improving, but she also provides support for her team.

“My teammates are the best ones out there,” Fazio said. “We spend a lot of time together, and they are always there to help you out on your good days and bad days. Coming in as a freshman, it meant a lot to me and my freshman class to have such a support system behind us our going into our first season.”

Fazio’s teammates are fortunate to have her on the team for three more years and excited about the prospect of her continuing to improve in the years to come. She will have to work hard in the offseason to stay on top of her game, as her opponents will be doing the same. Teammates anticipate that she will continue to improve due to her great work ethic.

“Bucknell is very fortunate to have her on the team because I believe she is the player we need to push this team in the forward direction,” Escobar said. “In her four years, I expect the team to continue to improve and remain successful.”

More important at the moment is what Fazio can do to help her team stay in the running for conference playoffs that are quickly approaching. In her past five appearances she has allowed opponents only one run, while posting a 0.24 ERA and allowing only a .170 batting average. The first-year seems completely prepared for the challenge: as the season goes on her performance only continues to improve.

“With a new coaching staff this year, we have all been working hard to improve our program and make a name for ourselves in the Patriot League,” Fazio said. “I know we would all love to have some Patriot League titles over the next few years and continue to play top level competition and grow as a team.”

Eric Brod

Senior Writer

The Leopards were closing in. With 7:17 remaining in the men’s Patriot League basketball championship between the top-seeded Bison and second-seeded Lafayette, the Orange and Blue found themselves clinging to a 41-38 lead. The team and the Orange and Blue faithful knew it was time for Mike Muscala ’13, the Roseville, Minn. native, to take over. And Muscala, as he has done so often throughout his decorated four-year career, took over the game, scoring six crucial points and essentially sealing the game and NCAA tournament berth for the Bison.

Muscala, who posted 20 points and 11 rebounds in that game, had arguably the most impressive season not just in program history, but in Patriot League history. Muscala recorded a nation-best 22 double-doubles in the season, averaging 18.7 points and 11.1 rebounds a game. Not to be lost in the dominance of Muscala during the Patriot League Tournament was his performance when the Orange and Blue traveled to Columbia, Mo. to take on then 12th-ranked Missouri. Muscala put the team on his back that game, posting an incredible 25 points and 14 rebounds in an eventual 66-64 defeat. Despite the loss, Muscala put himself on the national radar as one of the top big men in the country and the Bison as one of the top mid-major teams in the country.

“This year I told him [Muscala] he had to be a more effective passer and cut down on turnovers,” head coach Dave Paulsen said. “His assist to turnover ratio went way up and he almost led our team in assists.”

The numbers only begin to tell the story. On top of posting the most impressive numbers of his four-year collegiate career, Muscala won the Patriot League Player of the Year award for the second time in his career. He also won League Defensive Player of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Patriot League Tournament MVP and was selected as a member of the Senior CLASS All-America First Team, which is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athletes in Division I men’s basketball.

Muscala’s willingness to give it his all on both ends of the court was a major reason the team was one of the most dominant defensive teams in the nation. Despite all these awards, Muscala’s favorite memories were being a part of the NCAA March Madness.

“Making the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore and senior and winning the Patriot League Tournament Championship,” Muscala said. “Being a part of March Madness was very exciting.”

The 6’11” center came to Lewisburg in 2009, along with fellow seniors Joe Willman, Bryson Johnson and Colin Klebon, looking to help turn around a team that went 7-23 the year before under then first-year head coach Paulsen. Since his arrival, the team improved each year, winning the Patriot League regular season title the last three years and earning NCAA tournament berths in two of those three years. After averaging 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds his rookie year, Muscala increased his total to 14.9 points and 7.3 rebounds, helping lead the team to the NCAA tournament and winning his first Patriot League Player of the Year award.

“Mike improved significantly every year,” Paulsen said. “Each spring I gave him a specific area of his game I wanted him to make substantial progress in. Each ensuing season he far surpassed my expectations. After his freshman year, we told Mike he had to go inside more and get to the foul line. He more than doubled his FT attempts that year and is the career leader at Bucknell in career makes and attempts.”

Muscala improved still in his junior year, and while the team fell in the Patriot League Championship against Lehigh, he helped lead the Bison to a first-round NIT upset over top-seeded Arizona, posting 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the victory.

Muscala leaves the program as part of a senior class that won 92 games together, the most in program history.

“Mike was so coachable which helped him make those improvements but was also an inspiration to all of his teammates,” Paulsen said. “This was a tremendously coachable group and much of that credit goes to Mike and his fellow captains.”

There is no doubt that Muscala will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the University’s men’s basketball program. His presence will surely be remembered for years to come.

Ajan Caneda

Copy Editor

After a successful coaching career at the University of Chicago, first-year head coach Aaron Roussell took his talents to Lewisburg this fall and guided the women’s basketball team to its biggest season turnaround in program history. The Bison improved from a five-win season last year to a 15-16 overall record in 2012-2013, including an impressive Senior Night upset over Navy and second-half comeback victory against American in the first round of the Patriot League Tournament.

Roussell honored his five seniors on their special night, putting them in the starting lineup at the beginning of the game. Seniors Ashley Baxter, Alyssa Dunn, Lindsay Horbatuck, Felicia Mgbada and Rachel Voss were each recognized before the game, a shining moment in Roussell’s first season with the Orange and Blue.

“On the floor an obvious highlight was the tournament win, but ultimately the game I wanted to win the most and enjoyed the most was on Senior Night. That night was perfect in so many ways and there won’t be many moments that will ever top how special that night was to me,” Roussell said.

Starting forward Audrey Dotson ’15 appreciates the guidance that Roussell has provided this year, along with his genuine relationship with the players.

“Coach Roussell has been such a great addition to our program this year. He pushes all of us to work hard so we can reach our potential on and off the court. It’s obvious that he really cares about us and his support throughout the whole year has been really helpful. I’m not at all surprised that he is Coach of the Year!” Dotson said.

Leading scorer and captain Shelby Romine ’14 echoes Dotson’s praise of Roussell. It was also a special moment for the team when Romine became the 20th member of the program’s 1,000 point club.

“He has made such a positive impact on our program, and I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to play for him. He’s a great coach and deserves this recognition,” Romine said.

Roussell’s presence in his first year as head coach was felt when he led the Bison to a five-game winning streak in the beginning of the season, including road wins over Canisius and Morgan State. He also enjoyed a four-game conference win streak with victories against Colgate, Lafayette, Lehigh and Holy Cross. The game against Holy Cross was especially memorable, as the Orange and Blue erased a 14-point second half deficit to come away with a 62-59 victory on Jan. 26.

That gritty team effort was shown all season, and it was on display during the first-round of the Patriot League Tournament where the Bison defeated American 46-43 in Washington D.C. on March 7. Patriot League leading rebounder and co-captain Horbatuck recalls how Roussell was a driving force in the Orange and Blue overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit.

“Coach challenged us to leave everything out on the floor, and told us that all the hard work since October came down to the next 20 minutes and how we performed would allow for our season to continue or not. Even though we were down by a handful of points and it was a rough half, it was obvious at that moment that Coach Roussell was so passionate about basketball, our team and winning,” Horbatuck said.

His influence carried over from the Senior Night win against Navy, where his verbal leadership ability translated to his players’ dedication to winning on the court.

“My favorite memory about him this year was when he gave a really powerful and motivational pre-game speech before Senior Night against Navy. It really made us want to work hard and win our last home game for our seniors. Navy was first in the league and a very tough matchup for us but we went out and won. He definitely motivated us to go out there and play our hardest with no regrets,” Dotson said.

Despite elimination in the second round of the tournament, Roussell and his team had a number of accomplishments to be proud of this season, including setting the program’s single-season rebounding record. Romine and Horbatuck also garnered league honors, with Romine being named to the All-Patriot League Second Team and Horbatuck placed on the Academic All-Patriot League Team.

Roussell’s impact on the Bison goes beyond the game of basketball, as he emphasizes the importance of developing as a person which includes the education that each of his players receive at the University.

“This was a very fun team to coach because they are all so likeable and good human beings—I am very proud to say that I coach each of these young women and we are all lucky that we can attach Bucknell’s name to all that they accomplish in the future,” Roussell said.

“He pushed us to be better players on the court as well as women off the court. I will always remember the incredible senior year that I had and the life lessons that I learned from Coach Roussell,” Horbatuck said.

Roussell was recognized as one of two finalists for the 2013 Spalding Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year, an award that acknowledges the accomplishments of a women’s basketball head coach in their first season with a program. He set a women’s basketball program record, earning 15 wins in his rookie campaign. Roussell hopes to improve on the successful season he has had this year, as he looks to build the Bison into Patriot League Championship contenders.

“Our goal for this season was to change the culture and attitude of this program,” Roussell said. “We have begun to do that, but for my standards, we have just scratched the surface in those aspects. We will be a young team next year, but that can sometimes make things a lot of fun as well. My goals never go beyond winning our next game, but I do hope that our players are dreaming big because this program is going to accomplish some great things over the next few years and I would prefer that to be sooner rather than later.”