The Bucknellian

By Justin Cohen

Writer

As the nation prepares to shine its spotlight on Dallas for Super Bowl XLV, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers are hard at work, each seeking to add another title to its respective franchise.

In a season of parity throughout the league, it seems fitting that the Packers are the first No. 6 seed from the NFC ever to make it to the Super Bowl. Conversely, Pittsburgh is looking to put some distance from its competitors by bringing home a record seventh Lombardi Trophy.

Both teams have been seeing spectacular play from their defenses, but while Pittsburgh brings many familiar faces, such as Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, Green Bay has been successful with a core of young defensive stars, many of whom are not yet 30 years old. The road to Dallas has not been easy for either team.

Pittsburgh started the season with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the bench due to off-the-field issues from last summer. Through the first four games, the Steelers had to use two different back-up quarterbacks. They managed to stay at the top of the league with a 3-1 record after four games and did not look back as they went on to a 12-4 record, earning another AFC North championship and the No. 2 seed in the conference.

After a first-round bye, the Steelers went on to a comeback win against division rival Baltimore by scoring 24 points in the second half and racking up three takeaways. The next week the New York Jets, fresh off an upset win in Foxboro against the Patriots, were kept in check by Pittsburgh’s 24 first-half points.

Representing the NFC, the Green Bay Packers faced a much more difficult journey than their AFC opposition. In their very first game this year, starting running back Ryan Grant was lost for the season due to an ankle injury. Several weeks later, up-and-coming tight-end Jermichael Finley suffered a knee injury and was lost for the season as well.

The Packers finished the season with 16 players on injured reserve and many others, including star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, missing some playing time over the course of the season.

Even with all of the injuries, their will and determination helped propel them to a wildcard berth in the last week of the season. In the team’s three playoff games, Rodgers has a total of six touchdowns and two interceptions. Running back James Starks has come out of nowhere to give the Packers a much-needed rushing attack, and the Packers defense has five picks, two of them returned for touchdowns.

This year’s Super Bowl has everything a football fan could ask for in a critical game: talented players with something to prove and two passionate fan bases riding on one game with the highest stakes. Even if the game is a defensive struggle and ends in a 3-0 finish, it should still be a great game as two of the NFL’s most storied franchises clash for the honor and right to be called world champions.

By Chris McCree

Writer

The men’s swimming team closed out the regular season with a tough loss against UConn on Friday night at Kinney Natatorium, 177.5-116.5, the team’s second largest margin of defeat this season. Despite the loss, Mike Nicholson ’14 provided an amazing end to his first year, coming in first in all three of his events. The Bison finished out the season on Saturday with a non-scoring meet against UConn and American.

“Coming into the meet, we knew that UConn was going to be good,” Matt Hadley ’14 said. “We were expecting tough competition, but we were too hurt by injury to beat them.”

However painful the loss may have been, the focus of the night was on Michael Volpe ’11 and Brendan Wills ’11, who, as seniors, were swimming their final regular-season races as members of the Orange and Blue. Volpe finished third in the 100 fly and was part of the 200 medley relay squad that finished in first. Wills went out impressively by posting two season-best times. He earned a third-place finish in the 50 free with a time of 22.01 and a fourth-place finish in the 100 fly with a 52.92.

“Losing those guys will hurt,” Hadley said. “Volpe was our only captain, so we are really losing key leaders.”

Though the team struggled, Nicholson put on a spectacular individual performance. Nicholson won all three of his events by at least 2.5 seconds and posted career-bests in both the 200 fly and 200 breast. With his time of 1:50.99 in the 200 fly, he moved up from seventh to second on the University’s all-time list. Nicholson ended the season with 23 first-place finishes.

On Saturday, the Bison played host to American and UConn in an unscored meet that featured another dominating showing by the Huskies. UConn compiled 12 first place finishes to the Bison’s five. Eric Sokolosky ’12 posted two first-place finishes for the Orange and Blue and his time of 50.76 in the 100 fly was a season-best for the team.

The Bison finished the regular season with a record of 6-5 and now look forward to the Patriot League Championships, which will be held at Kinney Natatorium Feb. 17-19. The team plans on beginning to taper its practices soon to prepare for the meet.

“The goal going into championships is to close the gap between us and Navy,” Hadley said, referring to the 85-point loss that the Bison suffered earlier in the season. “Anything short of second would be a big disappointment.”

By Andrew Arnao

Contributing Writer

After facing the University of Connecticut in a 191-109 home loss on Friday, the women’s swimming and diving team hosted the Bison Invitational and had several top finishers.

The meet against UConn was the final dual meet of the season for the Orange and Blue. Liz Porcellio ’13 finished first in the 200 free, 200 IM and 200 free relay with Molly Goebel ’11, Emily Wright ’14 and Kaityln Utkewicz ’14. Wright also had a first-place finish in the 100 free.

Though she placed second, Kelly Pontecorvo ’14 finished the 1,000 free with a time of 10:27.91, the third-best time in school history. Pontecorvo also finished second in the 500 free.

The Bison women participated in the Bison Invitational the next day, an unscored meet with Connecticut and American University. Porcellio and Kelly Purcell ’13 had second-place finishes in the 100 breast and 400 IM, respectively.

Before the meets this weekend, four senior swimmers were recognized for their efforts over the past four years, including Goebel, Macey Keath, Sinead O’Dwyer and Laura Twichell.

“The UConn meet was a kind of bittersweet time for the six seniors, since it was our last dual meet ever. But it was great to have all of our parents and lots of our friends there cheering us on,” Twichell said. “Looking back, the past four years have really flown by, and although swimming is a constantly demanding sport, I know we’ll all miss the thrill of competing and the camaraderie of being on a close-knit team.”

“Going into the championship meets in February, our capability to win titles and break records is a direct result of the gains we have made in our personal relationships both on the team and in this community,” O’Dwyer said.

Twichell gave a speech before the UConn meet, where she quoted Pericles as saying, “What you leave behind is not engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” The Bison women, especially the soon-to-depart seniors, will clearly reflect on this as they prepare for the Patriot League Championships which will take place in Kinney Natatorium from Feb. 17-19.

By Joyce Novacek

Writer

This past weekend, athletes on the women’s track and field team had successful performances at both the Bison Open and Multi and the Penn State National Invitational.  Sasha Hornock ’13 led the Orange and Blue at the Bison Open and Multi, winning the long jump and the 60-meter dash.  At Penn State, Emily Liggett ’12 and Caroline Tolli ’13 both finished with impressive times.

At home in Gerhard Fieldhouse, Hornock recorded her personal best time in the preliminary 60-meter dash, and then ran even faster in the finals. Her final time of 7.77 seconds is not only the best in her career, but it also ranks her second in program history. Erin Horleman ’14 also earned a gold for the Bison, winning the 500 meters and beating her personal best with a time of 1:18.77.

Hornock finished first in the long jump as well with a jump of 5.49 meters. Casey Krause ’11 finished right behind her in second.  Krause also took silver for the Bison in the triple jump.

At Penn State, Tolli placed third in the 1000-meter run with an impressive time of 2:57.06. Liggett ran a 5:01.14 time in the mile.

Jennifer Zymet ’14, who was previously deemed Patriot League Rookie of the Week, ran a 1:16.20 in the 500-meter at Penn State.

“Everyone who went performed very well, and the high caliber of competition in each of our events played a big part in our success,” Liggett said.

As the critical part of the indoor season is approaching for the Orange and Blue, Liggett said, “I think we are in very good shape going into the championship part of our season.  Going to Penn State definitely made me realize that I am faster than I thought I was, and I hope that my teammates realize this in themselves.”

On Saturday, the Bison head to Yale University for the Geigengack Invitational in New Haven, Conn.

By Colin Fields

Contributing Writer

The Bison men’s track team shined at three different venues this past weekend. The men’s 4×400-meter relay team finished fourth at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York. Closer to home was the Penn State Invitational, where the Orange and Blue took first in both the distance medley and 1,000 meter run. In this year’s Bison Open at Gerhard Fieldhouse, the Bison also claimed first in the heptathalon and shot-put.

At Madison Square Garden, Jacob Eaton-Hall ’14, Jordan Donaldson ’12, John Picardo ’11 and Robert Arent ’12 clocked in a time of 3:25 in the 4×400 relay. The quartet was the first relay team to compete for the Bison at the famed Millrose games in 21 years.

Evan Novakowski ’11 ran a 2:28 1000-meter run at Penn State for a first-place finish at the invitational. Christopher Boyd ’11, Dennis Logan ’14, Clayton Smith ’11 and Chris Sacks ’14 were victorious in the distance medley. The squad clocked in a time of 9:55, which was not only good enough for the victory but also placed them third in school history behind the 1979 team, which holds the top two spots.

On campus, Quinten Marcott ’13 had a huge weekend for the Bison in shot-put. Marcott threw 15.71 meters, which gave him first place and a personal record. The sophomore competed at both the Bison Open and the Penn State Invitational. Marcott threw 15.09 meters at Penn State on the second day and currently sits third in Bison history for shot-put.

“The consistency through my three throws on Saturday is a great sign and adding that to my PR [personal record] Friday has me feeling very confident about the league meet coming up,” Marcott said.

At Gerhard Fieldhouse, Andrew Powell ’12 entered day two of the heptathalon in second place but rallied on the second day to take first.

“I was a little disappointed with my height in high jump, but I knew I could make up the points in the hurdles, which is usually a good event for me,” Powell said. “Going into day two I wasn’t really focused on winning or losing but just performing my best and seeing where I ended up.”

Powell went on to take first in both the long jump and 60-meter hurdles. He compiled enough points to win the heptathalon and move into third place in school history for that event.

This performance gives the Bison confidence going into the Patriot League Championships, which are just a few weeks away. The next meet for the Bison is on Feb. 5 when the team competes at Yale University in the Giegengack Invitational.

“I’m excited to see how my teammates do and am confident that together all of us can put on an impressive performance at Leagues,” Marcott said. “We all have our sights set on winning that championship, and we will be doing everything necessary over the next few weeks to ensure that we do.”

By Lindsay Regruto

Staff Writer

Despite a rocky start at the Cornell Invitational this past weekend, the women’s tennis team remains confident as it heads into spring duals tied for second in the preseason poll.

The Orange and Blue played against Army, Cornell and Binghamton to kick off the season. Lauren Lucido ’11 was the sole winner for the Bison on Friday, winning in straight sets to advance to the main draw in Flight A singles. Lucido has now won four consecutive singles matches since the women’s last showing at the Bucknell Invitational in October.

Elena Vidrascu ’14 and Lucido paired for the first time in Flight A doubles in a tough match against Binghamton on Friday. The pair played well and kept the match close but were unable to pull out the win, falling 9-7. With tough losses the first day, the Orange and Blue were able to see what aspects of their game needed work in preparing for the upcoming season.

“We played against three other good teams, and we got a handful of matches under our belt,” Lucido said. “We definitely have some things to work on as the season advances, but I think it was a good opportunity to get back into matchplay mode before we play our dual matches.”

Despite tough losses on Friday, the Orange and Blue were able to end on a positive note, winning two matches in the consolation round of the Flight B singles. Courtney Casey ’12 came out strong against the Army competition, winning the first set 6-2. After losing the second set 2-6, Casey fought back to win in the deciding tiebreak 10-7. Lauren Rottkamp ’11 also earned a victory for the Bison, defeating her Binghamton opponent 6-3, 7-5.

“We definitely have a lot of work to do, but the more matches we play the better our performance will become,” Rottkamp said.

The Bison will be back on the court at Pittsburgh today and at Duquesne tomorrow.

By Joe Ruby

Writer

The wrestling team lost to No. 18 Penn (6-3, 1-0 EIWA) by a 24-11 margin on Saturday afternoon at the historic Palestra in Philadelphia. Brantley Hooks ’11, Rob Waltko ’11, and No. 6 Kevin LeValley ’11 each posted wins for the Orange and Blue. The loss leaves the Bison 4-10 overall and 0-4 in the EIWA this season.

LeValley earned the first win of the day for the Bison, defeating Andrew Lenzi 11-3 for the major decision at 149 lbs. The win moved LeValley’s record to 22-1 and marked the 10th time he earned bonus points this year. In the next match, Hooks defeated Brad Wukie by an identical score, improving to 15-9 for the year and getting the Bison to within 12-8.

The Bison were almost able to continue the momentum at 165 lbs, as Corey Lear ’13 nearly upset No. 18 Gabriel Burak, ultimately losing 4-2 in the second sudden-victory period. Waltko kept the Bison’s hopes alive with a 7-4 decision over Harrison Coon, bringing the team score to 18-11 in favor of the Quakers, but Penn’s No. 6 Micah Burak was able to defeat Jay Hahn ’11 by a 5-2 margin to seal the match.

The Bison once again found themselves trailing early on, as the Quakers’ No. 19 Mark Rappo and No. 9 Zack Kemmerer won at 125 lbs and 141 lbs, respectively. The Bison were forced to forfeit the 133 lb slot for the fourth time this year. The losses moved the three lower-weight positions to a combined record of 11-31 in dual meets this season.

The next match for the Bison is tonight at 7 p.m. in Davis Gym. The Bison will host Lock Haven of the Eastern Wrestling League, who enter the match with a 5-8 record.