Seniors look to teach after last softball season

by Jessica Snow sports editor

Michelle Gabriel, a senior and captain of the softball team, has trouble thinking of what she will miss most about Cabrini, but she could talk for hours about what she will miss about her team.

"The spring break trip to Florida is great because we get really close and have so much fun. And the dinners, everyone comes and we have a great time. Practice is good, we work hard, but we have a lot of fun," Gabriel goes on until she realizes she is giving too much information too quickly.

"Spring break is where I made most of my friends. We spend so much time together that by the end of the week it, is like we've been together for much longer," she said, trying to focus her original comment.

In May, Gabriel, who was also the captain of the women's soccer team in the fall, will leave Cabrini and go on to graduate study, "probably at West Chester," for elementary education.

The softball team will miss Linda Costello, also an education major, next year as well.

"This team is really close. Even though it's small we're doing well and we're getting along great," Costello said. Teaching Kindergarten as well as hosting recruits will be among what Costello will miss next year when she is teaching.

Both Costello and Gabriel speak about their education classes with wide eyes and smiles.

"I really liked Reading and Language Arts I and Math Discoveries," Gabriel said.

"My field experience was really the best part of my time at Cabrini. I learned more teaching than in any of my regular classes," Costello said.

Both women list Andrew Litavec as one of their favorite teachers at Cabrini. Costello adds Bill Kuhns to this list and another of Gabriel's favorite teachers is Martha WaringChaffee.

Costello has to find work as a teacher when she graduates in May, but Gabriel will have one more summer to tan at the Jersey shore before going to graduate school.

''I'll go to the beach, get tan. I'm not sure which shore yet though," Gabriel, who loves pizza, said.

"Pizza and gummy worms, they're her favorite foods," Gabriel's roommate, Renee Kurtz, said.

Costello could not decide on one favorite food among the many possibilities.

"She eats a lot of bagels," Nicole Klimas, Costello's roommate offered.

These friends, and the ones on their team who will remain at Cabrini will miss the seniors next year.

"We are very proud of our little Linda's accomplishments," Lisa Nicole Finegan, another roommate, said trying to cover her smile and hold back a fake tear.