Center Circle Summer 2015 Vol 10. No. 2
Questions or Comments? Contact Mike Dreves (724) 458-2151 mfdreves@gcc.edu Inside... Lyle retires after 43 years
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Meet the Seniors
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Spring Season recap
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Juniors return to Ecuador
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Wolverine Academic Excellence
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Homecoming 2015
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2015 Schedule
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Editor Robert Audia Web Content/Social Media Supervisor
2015 Season Preview
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s the men’s soccer team prepares for the 2015 season, they have one thing on their minds: taking another step past what was accomplished in 2014. After six unsuccessful semifinal trips in a row, the team made it to the conference final last season. A disappointing 1-0 loss to Thomas More resulted in an unfortunate but motivating memory for the off-season. The future is bright however as the team returns nine starters from the final as well as seven of the top ten scorers from the 2014 season. Two time all-region player, Seth Loew, will lead the offensive charge. Loew is currently fifth in career points, ninth in career goals and third in career assists. In support
is a team heavily loaded with juniors and seniors who are extremely experienced and hungry for more success. On the defensive side the team will return three of four starting defenders and a goalkeeping staff that earned eight shutouts and a 1.06 goals against average. “The 2015 season should be an exciting year,” stated coach Mike Dreves ’97. “I think we have the opportunity to do great things. Success comes from making the most of your opportunities. This year our success will be based on the team capitalizing on those opportunities. Last year we set ourselves up for success but were not able to capitalize. The team is working towards not letting that happen again.” see PREVIEW on page 4
Head Soccer Coach Mike Dreves ’97 Printer SCP Group Sharon, Pa. Center Circle is the official alumni newsletter of the Grove City Men’s Soccer Team
Ramsey, Eckert to be inducted into Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame
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rove City College will induct ability and leadership were an integral two men in its Men’s Soccer part of the 1948 team which went 5-0-3 Hall of Fame during marking the first undefeated Homecoming Weekend team in college history. September 26th. George Unfortunately Ramsey passed Ramsey ’49 and Larry Eckert away in 2008 and will receive ’77 comprise the 15th class of the award posthumously. inductees and bring the total Larry Eckert ’77, a captain number of members of the during his senior season, was a hall to 38. skilled midfielder with excelGeorge Ramsey, a member lent ball control and passing of the first team to play after ability. A clutch player who George Ramsey World War II in 1945, played performed well under pressure what would be considered carried himself with grace right midfield today. His speed, playing and poise throughout his career. His see HALL OF FAME on page 4
Lyle retires after 43 years
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r. Don Lyle, Director of Athletics and Chairman that year. of the Department of Exercise Science and Lyle-coached teams also advanced to post-season play Athletics at Grove City College and longtime in 1976, 1980, 1995 and 2000. In 34 years as head coach, men’s soccer coach, has retired from the College as of the he compiled a 277-206-37 record. The College inducted conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year. him into its Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame in October 2006. Lyle recently Having a greater impact than mere wins and losses, completed his 13th Lyle’s legacy also has profoundly shaped the culture and year as athletic director lineage of the men’s soccer program. After establishing the and 19th year as annual men’s soccer alumni match during Homecoming department chair. The weekend early in his career, Lyle spearheaded the creation 2014-15 academic of the College’s Men’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001. In year marked Lyle’s 2013, Lyle also co-authored “Tales From the Pitch,” a 43rd overall year written history of the Grove City College soccer program. at Grove City. His influence involving the game of soccer has also In his role, Lyle spilled over from the campus community into the greater has overseen the Grove City and Mercer County communities. From 1978 College’s intricate to 2005, he hosted the Wolverine Soccer Camp, providing fitness and wellness instruction to approximately 5,400 campers. Locally, he program, its helped establish the Grove City Youth Soccer Association, rapidly-growing which eventually led to the creation of the Grove City exercise science High School varsity soccer program in the 1980s. For his major and Grove efforts, Lyle received the Florence McKenzie CampusCity’s 21-sport Community Award in 1988. varsity athletics program. While soccer has always been his primary sport, Lyle A native of Calcutta, Ohio, Lyle joined the College’s also coached three other sports during his tenure at the athletic department in 1972 as head men’s soccer coach college. He worked as assistant men’s varsity and head and assistant men’s basketball coach. He guided Grove junior varsity basketball coach from 1972 to 1979 and City’s men’s soccer team from 1972 to 2005 and finished helped both the 1976 and 1979 basketball teams advance his coaching career as the program’s all-time leader in to the NCAA Division III Tournament. wins with 277. As head coach, he led the Wolverines to In 1980, the College appointed Lyle as its first softball six post-season berths, including a pair of trips to the coach and he posted a 91-61 (.599) record from 1980-88. NCAA Championship Lyle then spent nine Tournament. Seventeen of years as baseball coach at his players earned NSCAA Grove City, leading the All-Region honors. Wolverines to 81 wins. In 1996, Lyle directed The College promoted Grove City to a share of Lyle to Chairman of the the Presidents’ Athletic Department of Physical Conference men’s soccer Education (now Exercise title as the Wolverines Science) in 1996. He added went 16-2, setting a the responsibilities of school record for victories athletic director in 2003. in a season en route Under his leadership, to winning their first Grove City’s athletic Lyle led the 2005 Wolverines to a PAC Title and ECAC South Tournament Eastern College Athletic facilities have undergone Final in his final season as head coach. Conference (ECAC) title. extensive improvements Nine years later in 2005, over the past decade. In his final season as head coach, Lyle guided Grove City to 2012, the College renovated the Grove City College its first-ever outright PAC title and a trip to the finals of Arena, and Grove City has also upgraded its football/track the ECAC South Championship facility, Robert E. Thorn Field, the Walters-Zbell Tennis Tournament. He earned the Courts, the James E. Longnecker Pool, R. Jack Behringer PAC’s Coach of the Year award Baseball Field, the College’s soccer complex and the Grove
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see LYLE on page 4
Meet the Seniors: Class of 2016 Jacob Botzenhart
Justin Phillips
Jacob is a centerback hailing from Waxhaw, N.C. An accounting major, Botzenhart started 20 of 21 games during the 2014 season. Recorded his first ever point by notching an assist in a conference win against Thiel.
Justin is an Industrial Management major from Simi Valley, Calif. A dominant force in the air, Phillips is often double teamed on set pieces and punts. He spent the first part of the summer riding his bike across the country with fellow senior captain Tim Shackleton.
Seth Loew
Tim Shackleton
Seth is a two time all-region player majoring in Computer Information Systems. He is from Allentown, Pa. and was coached in high school by Coach Dreves’ older brother. Spent the summer doing an IT internship in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jake Botzenhart
Tim is a mid-level education major from Malvern, Pa. He has split time between forward and midfield and has appeared in 57 games over his first three seasons. Spent the first part of the summer riding his bike across the country with fellow senior captain Justin Phillips.
Jonathan Mathes
Ben Weaver
Jonathan is a Biochemistry major from Charlottesville, Va. who hopes to attend medical school. Primarily a midfielder, he was briefly detained by customs officials on the return trip from Ecuador last summer because he was petting a llama during some sightseeing.
Ben is a Mechanical Engineering major from York, Pa. Started 18 consecutive games last season until a shoulder injury sidelined him for the playoffs. Has posted 10 career shutouts and a GAA of 1.08 in 33 career matches.
Seth Loew
Jonathan Mathes
Justin Phillips
tim shackleton
Ben Weaver
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Spring Season Recap
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long, frigid winter transitioned into a cold, wet spring as the men’s soccer team participated in its annual five week non-traditional season. Due to an earlier spring play date and different break schedule, the Wolverines started training in mid-March which made for a few rough practices where temperatures dipped into the low 30s. After training for four weeks the team headed to Washington and Jefferson College to compete in a spring tournament. At the tournament a total of four 30 minute games were played. The tournament consisted of two brackets of five teams. Grove City’s bracket contained Mount Aloysius, Victory Express u-18, Carnegie Mellon and West Virginia Wesleyan. The men opened with a 1-0 win over Mount Aloysius in which they did not concede a shot on goal. In the second match, an unfortunate miscue on an early corner kick put the team down 1-0 early to Victory Express. After a flurry of chances and a
missed penalty kick the Wolverines scored late and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Things continued to go well as the team beat Carnegie Mellon 1-0 in the third match while only conceding one shot on goal. In the final match against NCAA Division II opponent West Virginia Wesleyan, a hard fought 30 minutes resulted in a 0-0 draw with both teams trading numerous chances. After an overall day of going 2-0-2 and only conceding one goal, the Wolverines returned with tempered happines, recognizing that with a little polish they could have easily come home with four wins. After the tournament, the team completed another week of training and finished the spring season with a youth clinic for the local soccer association.
PREVIEW cont. The schedule will again be challenging for the men’s team. They will face NCAA qualifiers, Thomas More, Heidelberg and Penn State Behrend, as well as traditional regional foes Allegheny, Carnegie Mellon and Baldwin Wallace. Also on the schedule are 2013 NCAA qualifier Oberlin, Methodist University and 2014 NAIA qualifier Point Park. You can do your part by supporting the team at a home or away match this fall. See the schedule on Page 6 show your support for the Wolverines.
HALL cont. leadership and midfield presence were keys in the success of the 1976 NCAA team. Plan on coming out to learn more about Ramsey and Eckert at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony during Homecoming on Saturday, September 26th at 1:15 pm. Larry Eckert
LYLE cont. City College softball facility in recent years. City College Arena, has also been modernized over the last Additionally, Lyle has been responsible for the design, decade with numerous displays that reflect the College’s expansion and continual development of the College’s proud athletic tradition, including a unique exhibit that two fitness centers since first taking over as department presents the century-old history of women’s athletics at chairman. Grove City. Lyle has overseen a growth In 2008, Lyle also in promotion of the College’s reintroduced the College’s rich athletic heritage, which classic varsity “G” monogram ranks among his proudest as the athletic department’s accomplishments as athletic official logo. director. He directed the Lyle earned his Bachelor of establishment of the Grove Arts degree from Muskingum City College Athletic Hall College in 1971. He earned his of Fame in 2006 and has master’s degree in education served as chairman of that from Miami of Ohio in 1972. body’s selection committee Lyle received his doctorate A number of alumni gathered on June 27 to play soccer in the since. The College’s Physical from Indiana University of intramural rooms and celebrate Lyle’s retirement. Pennsylvania. He and his wife Learning Center, which houses Barbara ’84 live in Pine Township. They have three adult the fitness rooms and the Grove children and nine grandchildren.
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Junior duo returns to Ecuador The summer of 2014 was groundbreaking for the men’s soccer program as they took the program’s first ever international trip to Quito, Ecuador. With plans of returning in 2017, Coach Dreves and the team said goodbye to the new found friends in the capital city nestled high in the Andes. Little did anyone know that team members would be able to return in 2015 as juniors Dale Reese and Nich Leaman spent eight weeks in Quito doing an internship with Inca Link. As double majors in finance and accounting, both Leaman and Reese helped with some financial aspects of Inca Link, served as hosts for visiting missionary teams, and were assistant coaches with a ministry team, Casa Deportiva Cumbre Alta - the Wolverines opponent during the 2014 trip. This was a monumental summer for Cumbre Alta as they gained promotion to the next division (the highest amateur division in the country) and finished construction on a small turf field. The turf field will be used as a future income stream for the club. God truly blessed their time in South America. You can learn more about the amazing summer that Dale and Nich had by reading Nich’s blog at http://nichleamanei.blogspot.com/ .
Wolverines honored for Academic Excellence
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he 2014-2015 academic year marks the seventh time in the last eight years that the Wolverines will earn the Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. To be eligible for the award, teams must earn a minimum grade point average of 3.0. During this academic year the team averaged a 3.11, which marks the second highest total they have had since the 2008-2009 academic year.
Homecoming 2015 Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, September 26th. The traditional soccer events at Homecoming return again starting with the Hall of Fame game at 10:30 am, alumni lunch at 12:30 pm and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 1:15. The Wolverines play an away match against longtime rival Carnegie Mellon University on Friday at 4:30 pm. Come out to support the team on the road in Pittsburgh!
Nich Leaman (left) and Dale Reese (right) with new friend Edgar, asst. coach of Cumbre Alta, looking over Quito from 12,000 feet on Pichincha.
SEEKING NOMINATIONS If you played with an outstanding teammate, please consider nominating him for the Soccer Hall of Fame. Nominations are easy! Simply go to www.gcc.edu/sports, navigate to the soccer page and click on the “Hall of Fame Information” link for more information.You can also send an email to soccer@gcc.edu, fax to (724) 458-3855 or mail your nomination to Box 3074 100 Campus Dr. Grove City, PA 16127
Don’t delay; nominate someone today.
DONATIONS WELCOME If you would like to make a donation to the men’s soccer program, make checks payable to Grove City College with “Men’s Soccer” on the memo line. Mail to: Advancement Office Grove City College 100 Campus Dr. Grove City, PA 16127
HAVE A STORY OR PHOTO TO SHARE? We’re always interested in hearing what alumni are doing, so if you have some pictures or information about a recent alumni gathering, please send items to Coach Dreves at mfdreves@gcc.edu.
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2015 Men’s Soccer Schedule La Roche (scrimmage) Home John Carroll (scrimmage) Away Allegheny Home Methodist (at Geneva) Neutral Marietta# Home Penn State Behrend Away Oberlin Home Heidelberg Home Point Park Away Carnegie Mellon Away ALUMNI GAME Home Baldwin Wallace Away Geneva* Home Wash. & Jeff*# Away Bethany*# Home Westminster* Away St. Vincent*#^ Home Thomas More*# Home
facebook.com/GroveCity
3 p.m. 7 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 3 p.m. 7 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 10:30 a.m. 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 1 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 1 p.m.
Oct. 24 Oct. 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 7
Thiel* Waynesburg*# PAC Semifinals PAC Championships
Away Away H/A H/A
4 p.m. 8 p.m. TBA TBA
* PAC match ^Senior/Parents Day # Double-header with women’s team
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