T&C - Spring Semester 2013, Week 12

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tan cardinal

otterbein university wednesday, april 17, 2013 vol. 94, issue 23 www.otterbein360.com

Banding together makin’ music:

Otterbein students Eric Wolff, Hannah Brooks and Alex Hayes of The Anticipations rock it out in Battelle’s Riley Auditorium.

photo by kristen davis

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Tan & Cardinal

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t&c editorial staff

Lindsay Paulsen Katie Taggart Chelsea Coleman

Editor-in-Chief News Editor

Coordinating Editor Josh Park Arts & Entertainment Editor Tyler Dubiak Sports Editor Danielle Lanning Copy Editor Allie Colon Copy Editor Kristen Davis Photography Editor Stephanie Parker Sports Photographer Anna Schiffbauer Managing Editor Evan Matsumoto Web Editor Gena DiMattio Business Manager contributing staff Jacob Barker Neil Brown Morgan Hendrickson Buddheesha Pahathkumbura Clark Tieman contact us 614-823-1159 TCeditor@otterbein360.com Tan & Cardinal Otterbein University Westerville, OH 43081 advertising For advertising information, contact Gena DiMattio at 330-806-5093 or by email at sales@otterbein360.com policies The views expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty and administration of Otterbein University.

Opinions expressed in signed columns are those of the writer and not of the newspaper staff. Positions in unsigned editorials represent a consensus of the editorial staff.

The first copy of the Tan & Cardinal is free to the public. Each additional copy is $0.50, and payment can be made at the office at 33 Collegeview, Westerville, OH 43081. Offenders will be prosecuted.

The T&C staff would love to hear from you. Write a letter to the editor and tell us what you’re thinking. Letters to the editor are letters responding to a writer or an article published in the Tan & Cardinal.

Please keep your letter to 300 words or less. It is at the discretion of the T&C staff as to whether or not the letter will be published. Letters attacking an individual will not be accepted. Letters must include the author’s first and last name, signature, phone number, address and affiliation to Otterbein University.

editorial T&C and o360 announce major transition

wednesday, april 17, 2013

This newspaper that you are holding in your hands means something different to every person who reads it.

Maybe you picked up the Tan & Cardinal to read your best friend’s opinion column or maybe to see the feature on your roommate’s band.

Maybe you’re a new student or a faculty member wanting to learn more about the school’s new policy on student account balances.

This newspaper, that has existed for more than 100 years, has been an experience that is something much larger than just a few pages of newsprint.

For some students who are readers of the Tan & Cardinal, the newspaper is something that magically appears on the benches in Roush and on the tables of the Campus Center every Wednesday morning.

For those of us on staff who work to create it, it is something that has become a very large part of our entire college experience.

But regardless of the effect that a school newspaper has on each of us as individuals, it seems to be very much its own living, breathing organism that goes through its own transformation as time passes.

The Tan & Cardinal has been

a reflection of the Otterbein community for many years, and like our university, it is in a continual state of evolution.

The Tan & Cardinal staff and its advisers have recognized that in addition to being an important representation of our community, our student media also needs to be an accurate representation of the journalism industry.

With that said, it is no secret that the larger world of journalism is drifting further away from physical newspapers and more toward web-based news products and glossy magazines.

And so, it is with admittedly bittersweet excitement that the

staff of the Tan & Cardinal Newspaper would like to formally announce that, as of fall 2013, this newspaper will be reshaped into the form of a magazine.

Keeping with tradition, this magazine will be called “T&C Magazine” and will focus mainly on feature stories about local and national areas of interest, while Otterbein360.com will provide increased up-to-date news on campus events and issues, as well as other online extras.

We thank you for your continued support and we look forward to sharing this new era of T&C history with you.

Staff opposes apartment policy change

T&C staff discusses issues that arise with recent change to Commons apartment policy The Problem

Last week, the T&C reported that Otterbein recently changed the lease format for schoolowned apartments and is reverting to an old policy that was in place up until two years ago.

Because of the recent enforcement of this policy that now requires all students living within an apartment to be on the same length of lease, students are basically forced to either pay more to stay with their same group of housemates or find a new group of roommates.

Students living in Otterbein’s Commons apartments have the option to either lease an apartment for the academic term or for the summer term plus the academic term.

In the past, students on mixed lease terms were able to live together. In other words, it was possible this past year for a student who only had a lease for the academic term to live with another student who had a lease for the academic term plus the summer term.

According to Administrative Assistant of Residence Life Laura Farley, this change in policy could affect almost 180 students who occupy rooms in the Commons apartments.

As it became time for students to plan for their housing arrangements for the 2013-2014 school year, Student Affairs announced that students who were already living in the apart-

ments could renew their leases, but roommates could not be on mixed lease terms.

Farley said this policy change was due to a desire to make it easier for students to understand the apartment selection process.

Our Stance

If this change was made for the sake of making things easier, it certainly hasn’t done anything but make the end of the school year more chaotic for students.

Students who were living with mixed lease agreements that had originally planned to simply renew their leases, either had to scramble to come up with the additional funds to pay for added summer leases or had to find new roommates.

To make things more complicated, this change was announced in early March, less than two months before housing agreements were due.

Had this rule about mixed leases been introduced at the beginning of the school year, there would have been more time to find convenient accommodations.

The issue of having to pay almost an extra $800 for a summer lease in addition to an academic lease is also an important factor to consider for those of us planning our summer agenda.

A student who was offered an out-of-state opportunity during the summer that was on a tight budget would be in a difficult

position if they were forced to choose between an exciting career opportunity or renewing their lease agreement.

This new policy poses more of a hindrance to summer career exploration than it does a convenience factor.

The end of the school year already presents stressful decision making for students. Worrying about who our roommates are or where we will live only adds greater burden to our load.

Student Affairs does make special accommodations for students who are studying abroad, allowing them to only pay for the time that they spend residing in the apartment.

While it is good that this lease configuration doesn’t create additional problems for students who hope to study abroad, it doesn’t seem fair that the same privilege isn’t granted to those students with comparable circumstances who aren’t traveling abroad.

Our Solutions

It would be ideal if roommates with mixed lease agreements who currently live in the Commons apartments could be “grandfathered” into the old system and the old rules for the 2013-2014 year.

Since this has been possible for the past two years, how much of an inconvenience would it be to allow it for just one more year for only the group of students who wish to renew their existing

leases? If absolutely necessary, the new prohibition of mixed lease agreements should only apply to those who would be new residents to the Commons apartments.

This way, at least those students who were already preparing for new living arrangements could plan accordingly and those who were already comfortably established in the Commons could remain undisturbed.

If the intent of the new policy was to keep things easy to understand for students, it would make sense to not require returning residents to adapt to a new system.

Another possible remedy to this situation would be to allow for students to sublease their apartments over the summer.

For students who do not need summer leases, but are signing leases that include the summer period simply so that they can keep their same roommates and apartment, it would be useful if they could find someone else to rent their room for those few months to defer the extra cost.

The bottom line is that this restrictive policy, intended to make things easier for students, actually only complicates matters for students looking to lease school-owned apartments. this editorial is a general consensus of the views and opinions of the tan & cardinal staff.

news 3 Students required to have a zero dollar balance www.otterbein360.com

vol. 94, issue 23

Unpaid student account balances pose financial risk for Otterbein and must be cleared before class registration

By Buddheesha PahathkumBura Staff Writer

Otterbein is now enforcing its tuition policy to only allow students to register for classes if their account balances are brought down to zero.

According to Kate Lehman, assistant dean for student success, students had a total outstanding balance of 6.6 million dollars that was left from unpaid tuition and room and board at the beginning of March for the 2013 academic year.

“That was a financial risk for the institution because tuition dollars are what makes us operate, what keeps the lights on and the grass cut and our teachers teaching, and so we have to make sure that we are collecting the money that we need, but collecting it from students who can afford it to be here,” Lehman said.

Jefferson Blackburn-Smith, vice president of enrollment management, said that under the old system, if a student was having trouble paying their fees for the first semester, Otterbein let

The official campus policy has always been that students had to have a zero balance in order to register.

Over the past few years, the school was flexible about this policy and students were able to register still having balances.

This started becoming a problem about three or four years ago and the college started to identify ways to reign in the policy issue.

Blackburn-Smith said that if students don’t have a way to pay their debt, they aren’t able to access their transcript when they leave.

This means that whatever credits students earn can’t transfer to another university, if necessary.

“It puts (students) in a really negative situation, and it leaves the university holding the debt,” Blackburn-Smith said.

“For some families, they can look at the plan and say well, ‘we can’t really afford that’ and realize that maybe (Otterbein isn’t) the right choice for them financially,” he said.

Now, if students have holds on their registration that need to be removed, they must set up a payment plan in the ePay system.

Lehman said that with the use of the ePay system, which is new this year, students who are experiencing financial issues can go in and set up a payment plan that works for them.

Students on payment plans can select anywhere from three to six payments a semester, so they can actually create a full-year plan to pay their tuition.

This will help them to know in advance when the payments are due, so that tuition payments are much more manageable for students.

However, 2012-2013 balances must be paid in full by August 12, 2013 or the student’s fall semester registration will be cancelled. With a payment plan, they are able to complete fall semester payments by Dec. 6.

For new students, all tuition, academic fees, room and board fees should be paid 14 days before the start of each semester, unless they prefer a payment

According to the Otterbein University Police Daily Crime Log, the following has been reported from April 5 to 12.

plan. By next year, all students should be in line with the new system, without any balances.

Kendall Coffman, a sophomore sociology major, said that even though he will not run into problems such as tuition payments, he has smaller charges to his account such as adding “munch money,” that will keep him from registering for classes.

The policy seems one-sided to him, as there should be at least a $500 leeway for students who are having financial problems.

Casey Buckler, a senior psychology major, said that as an upperclassman, scheduling is crucial.

She said she tries to be very conscious of her balance so that she won’t run into problems with graduating on time.

She also said that working with Otterbein’s financial aid office has been an overall positive experience for her, and she finds that communicating with them is important to solve issues related to student accounts and payment options.

t&c

Music all day, every day!

4/5

An OVI was reported at the intersection of Home and Grove streets.

4/6

The glass door of 25 W. Home St. was cracked. A report of criminal damaging was filed.

4/6

A wallet was stolen at the Towers Hall lawn. It has not been found.

4/11 A cell phone was stolen from the Rike Center. It has not been found.

4/11 An alcohol and fire violation was reported at 25 W. Home St. 4/12 Indecent exposure was reported at 48 W. College Ave.

information compiled by katie taggart

4 Rike Center (Not Shown) Home and Grove

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25 W. Home St.

48 W. College Ave.

6 Towers Hall 3

graphic by kristen davis

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CRIME LOG

them enroll in the second semester and collect the additional set of tuition fees.

This resulted in the students who were not able to pay collecting a significant amount of debt.

When they got to the end of the semester, they couldn’t register for the next semester.

As of April 3, a balance of more than $1,000 was due by 21.8 percent of Otterbein undergraduates, making a total of 2.5 million dollars in accumulations so far for the 2013 academic year.

The Ohio State University tuition policy states that all fees, tuition and previous balances must be paid in full, one week before the first day of classes.

Otterbein was more lenient with this system. Two years ago, students could register with a $2,500 balance. Last year that was lowered to $999.

“We are now moving to be in line with campus standards,” Lehman said. “While people think it’s a significant change, it’s actually what most institutions do.”

On your college station, The Wildcard!

arts & ente

4 Music scene transcends into athletic fields and classrooms Tan & Cardinal

By Morgan Hendrickson Staff Writer

While classical operas, concert bands, choirs and musical theater performances attract most of the attention on campus, some forms of studentproduced pop and rock music are developing a presence.

The following three bands feature at least one Otterbein student who has found his or her way of balancing homework, athletics and rocking out.

Yours for the Taking

Yours for the Taking started about six years ago with two brothers and their two friends, who were all Pickerington Central Tiger athletes.

While driving down Refugee Road in Pickerington, Tom Hammond got off the phone with a friend, turned to his little brother, Tyler Hammond, and told him their friend wanted to start a band.

Tyler, now a sophomore at Otterbein and a running back for the football team, transferred here from Ohio Dominican after his freshman year.

Originally, the vibe was punk/pop and the band was called Zero Times Tardy. Tyler laughs about how the band “sucked” when they were Zero Times Tardy because they were all just learning how to play.

After one of the band members, Trae Myers, had left, a couple different people joined and left the band. About two years ago, Myers joined the band again. They then changed the style of the band and became Yours for the Taking.

According to Tyler, the band’s style is currently a mixture of Kings of Leon, Maroon 5 and Black Keys.

The four members are Nathan Lawler, lead guitar and vocals; Trae Myers, playing bass and vocals; Tyler, playing rhythm guitar and vocals and

Tom Hammond on the drums.

The band members write all of the songs for Yours for The Taking. Tyler’s favorite song by the band is “She Wants to Rock,” which the whole band collaborated on.

A lot of Tyler’s inspiration for music comes from his dad who has been playing music his entire life. When Tyler’s dad was his age, his dad played bass in a band called Fantasy.

Tyler explained that his dad is a huge Beatles fan and has a room dedicated to his Beatles memorabilia.

Tyler said the band’s goal is to make it big. Tyler said the first album is coming out this spring. They hope that their new CD gets into the right hands. He also said he hopes for his band to open for someone big like Twenty One Pilots at the LC Pavilion so they could get their name out there.

However, he said being a student-athlete while being in

part of us:

a band has, at times, been difficult.

“I told Coach Doup that I treat this like a job,” Tyler said.

“I do not want him to look at it like, ‘Oh, rockstar, let’s party.’

Everyone has their job and this is mine.”

As of now, the band has performed at Zeta Phi fraternity twice, once during the fall and another time in February.

They have also performed at a couple places around Pickerington, such as a Mexican restaurant called Don Patron. In Tyler’s opinion, the band’s best performance was last summer at Pickerington’s Violet Festival.

Yours for The Taking will have their next show at Park Street Patio April 20 in downtown Columbus.

Dusty Kiaski

take the time:

photo by tena hammond

Tyler, middle right, balances being a running back for football, his music and academics.

phot

Martine Tyus was approached by a member of the band to give female vocals

A guitar for Christmas and an idea from a friend to start a band ignited Dusty Kiaski’s musical fire.

Senior accounting major and former Otterbein soccer player, Kiaski has been making music since he was in middle school.

“It was difficult to find time for music while playing soccer and being a full-time student, but since I’ve been done with soccer, I have definitely been getting back into the game,” Kiaski said.

Kiaski and a couple of his hometown friends from Jack-

son Township started to round up band members and write songs, later forming a band called The Pursuit. Kiaski’s band played at sweet sixteen parties and a few other shows throughout high school.

The Pursuit recorded and released a full-length CD they sold around their school and community.

Kiaski writes his own music with inspirations stemming from people and relationships.

“I’ve always loved music, and I’ve always loved writing my own songs,” he said. “I think it’s just something in my bones.”

As for musical inspirations, Kiaski’s top choices are All Time Low, We the Kings and Cartel.

Since college, Kiaski has settled in with his own selfnamed alternative band with former Otterbein student Zach Earhart, who transferred schools, and friends Kyle Washburn, Derek Rassmussen and Steve Profit.

The band is on the route of recording a five-song extended play called “First Things First.”

The band has released two singles from the EP called “Secrets” and “Part of Me.” “We have gotten a lot of great feedback from the two songs we put out and are developing a solid fan base,” Kiaski said.

Kiaski’s favori written is “Part o is in loving memo grandparents.

“I had created along with the so a lot of Otterbein he said.

A friend and t sophomore art m Beers, filmed all t for the video. Kia devoted a lot of t the video togethe Kiaski has per handful of places Otterbein’s Card his sophomore ye also played at Tw Twinsburg, Ohio other places in hi Kiaski’s band will play at multiple ve Columbus this su The band rele song last Sunday tiently Waiting” w BA general studie major Martine Ty Kiaski.

Tyus’s friendsh hart helped spark tion. Earhart calle ing the need for a for a song.

Tyus writes he for both pop mus with piano. Since a lot of opera wo two or three years had difficulty rem how to sing in the

ertainment

wednesday, april 17, 2013

styled voice required for pop.

Tyus said it was great working with Kiaski because he is very open to what other people with different styles have to offer.

“We bounced ideas off of each other and ended up making something that we both are happy with,” Tyus said.

“Dusty has a unique sound to his voice,” she added. “You would not expect that from first impression.”

As for Kiaski’s musical future, he sees himself continuing to write for the rest of his life.

“I plan to start performing again this summer and see where it goes,” he said.

Kiaski’s music can be found on iTunes and Spotify.

The Anticipations

to by kyle washburn

to the mix.

ite song he has of Me,” which ory of his late

d a video to go ong that I had n students in,”

teammate, major Andrew the footage aski said he time to putting er on his own. rformed at a s including Stock during ear. He has winstock in and several is hometown. l begin to venues around ummer. eased a third called “Pawhere senior es in music yus sings with

The Anticipations are part of a one credit hour course at Otterbein advised by Eric Van Wagner.

The group offers the Music Department students the liberty to play more mainstream music instead of classical music like Bach and Beethoven.

The band consists of vocalists Hannah Brooks, Eric Wolff, Tasha Thompson; keyboardist T. C. Kincer; lead guitarist Paul Baker; drummer Alex Hayes; rhythm and electric guitarist Ben Canton and the occasional feature of trumpet player Matt Hogue.

All of these members make up the musically-diverse band, The Anticipations.

The band plays songs such

photo by kristen davis

anticipation ain’t the way:

Vocalists Tasha Thompson (left), Eric Wolff (middle) and Hannah Brooks (right) sing at rehearsals for The Anticipations in Riley Auditorium.

as “All The Things That I Have Done” by the Killers, “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder and a song created by the band, “Don’t Sweat.”

The song “Don’t Sweat” was a collaboration between the band members inspired by the saying, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

Wolff, a junior music and business major, wrote the chorus and a couple verses.

Thompson, a communication major, wrote a couple of the verses as well, while senior BM piano performance major Kincer created the chords to the song.

According to Wolff, he finds his inspirations from life while writing music.

“I find a sense of satisfaction from making original music,” Wolff said.

The band has an array of musical inspirations ranging from Train, The Beatles, The Killers and Rush.

The band has a wide taste in music, and they find ways to explore a variety of styles.

“We are getting used to each other and are all pulling together to create the best sound,” Wolff said.

The band is trying a new, collaborative challenge by writing and producing more of their own music.

As of two weeks ago, the band is in the process of making an album, which they plan to release by the end of the

hip with Eark the collaboraed her stressa female singer

er own music sic and ballads Tyus has had ork for the past s, she, at first, minding herself e different-

guitar hero:

5

photo by kristen davis

Rhythm and electric guitarist Ben Canton jams out during The Anticipations rehearsals.

school year or summer.

The Anticipations have performed at Old Bag of Nails, Embassy Suites and the Music and Romance dance this year.

The band is not just limited

to students in the Music Department. Anyone can register, but an audition is required to become a part of the band.

t&c

6

opinion

Tan & Cardinal

wednesday, april 17, 2013

Fast-forward to the past

Fads and fashions from the ’90s and ’00s are making a reappearance “Just keep swimming” has become a personal mantra of mine since that forgetful little fish, Dory, recited it in the 2003 Disney-Pixar hit, “Finding Nemo.” Dory, along with her pals Marlin, Nemo and company, swam her way Clark Tieman

team power:

into the consciousness of our entire generation. If you’re being completely honest with yourself, you know you could watch that film today, tomorrow and 30 years from now, and still love it, and for good reason.

So, it isn’t surprising that when Pixar and Ellen Degeneres herself announced April 2 that a sequel to “Nemo,” entitled “Finding Dory,” would

The Power Rangers first debut in 1993.

flickr/idlehandsblog

be released in November 2015, a generation of young adults audibly squealed.

A teaser poster for the upcoming animated feature I posted on my Facebook page received over 60 nostalgia-induced “likes” in less than four hours.

This burst of nostalgia is just the latest blast from our past to occur in the past few months.

“Whose Line is it Anyway” is slated to return to cable this summer. “Courage the Cowardly Dog,” “The Powerpuff Girls” and “Samurai Jack” were just added to the Netflix lineup.

Justin Timberlake’s newly released album, “The 20/20 Experience,” is his first complete solo musical endeavor in seven years, and he, yet again, brought sexy back.

And I know I personally got a little too excited to hear that the cast of “Boy Meets World” was returning to TV in a Disney Channel-produced sitcom, “Girl Meets World.”

So, why now? What is it about our market in 2013 that all of our past addictions are primed to come back?

Even my older sister thought it was funny that all the girls at my senior prom wore neon dresses like she saw worn in the ’80s.

But now, I’m only 21 and I see “Finding Dory” posters, and

flickr/forfashiontv i do: In the original “Boy Meets World” Cory and Topanga get married.

little boys playing Power Rangers.

At 21, should we be seeing our childhoods as the new “vintage”?

Should Mötley Crüe be considered “classic rock”?

As a culture, we’re pushing forward so fast that we’re burning through fad, after fad. Then, all we’re left with is returning to our past. Now, however, it isn’t taking 20 or 30 years to cycle through, but only a decade.

In five years, will we see a return of Hollister clothing and poufed-hair don’ts?

Don’t get me wrong: I am so excited for all of the returns to my childhood I will be experi-

encing in the next few weeks, months and years. It is just such a poor reflection on our attention span as a generation, and on our ability to grasp something new and unexplored.

We are too young to quit trying to invent, and too influential of a demographic to slack now.

Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” was my song, and I really love “Space Jam,” but I’m looking forward to seeing what we can present.

Clark Tieman is a junior musiC and publiC relaTions major and a sTaff wriTer for The

t&c.

Check the photo galleries on 360 for photos of this weekend’s lacrosse game, the spring drag show and more!

still swimming:

flickr/slapcaption

The promotional poster for the upcoming film “Finding Dory,” set to be released in 2015.

sports 7 Players refocus in offseason to play better in season www.otterbein360.com

vol. 94, issue 23

During the offseason, players spend their time relaxing, exploring hobbies or hitting the gym to prepare for the next season

By JacoB Barker Staff Writer

The offseason not only marks the end of a season, but also a chance to prepare for the next year. It’s a time in which players are free to do whatever they wish such as relax, play other sports or just workout at the gym.

One player who is currently going through the offseason for both volleyball and basketball is sophomore Tabatha Piper, who earned All-OAC honors for women’s basketball this past winter.

“I’m pretty active in the offseason, but I also like to take time for myself and just relax,” Piper said.

“I have a lifting program that I do the whole summer, but that is the only thing that really stays consistent,” she said.

Piper, a marketing and public relations double major, said she

uses a wide variety of activities in her summer lifting program to keep herself in shape and ready for the next sport.

“There are a lot of activities I like to do over the summer, so I do not become bored,” she said.

“I like all sorts of activities like biking, running, walking, swimming, yoga and kickboxing classes, in addition to volleyball and basketball.”

Junior psychology major Colin Echelberry of the men’s basketball team said he enjoys relaxing first and then getting back in the gym for the offseason.

“I usually take about a week or two off from basketball after the end of the season,” Echelberry said.

“After that, I get back into the gym to start playing pickup games and do some lifting,” he said.

Junior education major CJ Julian, who is also a part of the

basketball team, said he has a different tactic when going through the offseason.

“

During team practices, you do what the coach wants (but) in the summer, it’s time to focus on what gets you better for next season.

”

Alex Lake junior, sport management “I am a big believer in being a multi-sport athlete,” Julian said.

“I feel that sports translate to

each other and that it is better to be good at everything.”

Julian said he tries to get involved in other sports during the spring and summer seasons even though he doesn’t play on other teams at Otterbein.

Alex Lake, a junior sport management major and pitcher on the baseball team, said he and his teammates focus on getting involved as much as they can with baseball during the summer by playing additional games.

“The biggest thing for baseball is to play a lot of summer games,” Lake said. “The guys who don’t are kind of behind the eight ball.”

Lake also said that a major benefit of the offseason for athletes is getting the chance to improve on their individual skills for the next season.

“There is more of a chance to focus on yourself,” Lake said.

“During team practices, you do

what the coach wants, (but) in the summer, it’s time to focus on what gets you better for next season.”

However, with all the free time during the offseason, athletes find themselves catching up on hobbies that they missed out during the regular season.

For Echelberry, Julian and Lake, golf is the major hobby that keeps them busy during the offseason.

Julian said he is very involved in golf and is a member of the Shady Hollow Country Club in Massillon, Ohio.

Lake said he tries to go out for a round of golf at least once or twice a week around his hometown, Nashport, Ohio, during the summer months.

“I played on my high school team until my junior year of high school, so I try to get out when I can,” Lake said.

t&c

8

sports

Tan & Cardinal

wednesday, april 17, 2013

Spring sports leaders talk progress at halfway mark

As the end of the 2013 spring season nears, captains from various teams discuss their season and goals at midway point

By Neil BrowN Staff Writer

As the spring sports seasons reach their halfway point, the march toward OAC and NCAA tournaments approaches.

Leaders from the baseball, softball and men’s and women’s lacrosse teams discuss their season so far and what their team must do to get to the next level.

Men’s Lacrosse The men’s lacrosse team is currently 8-4 on the season, and according to the laxpower.com computer ratings, they are the number one independent Division III school in the country.

Senior midfielder Juan Contreras said he couldn’t be happier with how the season is going.

“We are getting better after every game and every practice,” Contreras said. “We’ve had tough losses but we have bounced

back, which shows a lot about the character of this team.”

The Cards currently have five remaining games this season, three of which at Memorial Stadium, as they continue to push toward the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history.

“I think we will continue to improve and head into the playoffs with some momentum and hopefully make some noise,” Contreras said.

Women’s Lacrosse The women’s lacrosse team, in just the program’s second season, is 5-5 on the year and are ranked eighth nationally in the laxpower.com computer ratings.

“I don’t think our record is a real reflection of how good we actually are,” said Alyssa Johnson, a junior attacker. “But compared to where we were last year at this time, we are a much

improved team that is only getting better.”

The Cardinals have two away games to play before ending the season with three straight home games at Clements Field.

“I truly believe we will win the remainder of our games and finish 10-5 going into next season when we start OAC play and can qualify for the NCAA tournament,” Johnson said.

Baseball The Cardinal sluggers are trying to continue riding the momentum of a great start into the heart of OAC play.

After their annual spring break trip, the Cardinals were 13-2 but have since gone 6-7, including 6-4 in OAC play, to push their record to 19-9.

Senior infielder Scott Staarmann says the team’s success is due in part to their depth, and the fact that they have more than

just the nine starters who are ready to play at any moment.

“We have a solid pitching staff that I have no doubt in my mind will give us a strong outing no matter who is on the mound, and our hitting has been real good, too,” Staarmann said.

With only eight games left and currently being in fourth place, the Cardinals continue to work toward being one of the top four OAC teams that make the conference tournament.

“If we keep playing like we are, we will definitely make the postseason,” Staarmann said.

“Once our guys truly see our potential as a solid baseball team, then I think we will be an unstoppable force.”

Softball At 13-9 overall and 3-5 in OAC play, the Cardinal softball team sits in eighth place in a very tight and competitive conference.

Despite the slow start in the OAC, junior pitcher Kelsey Long said she sees improvement and a lot of desire to win among her teammates.

“This is what we need to be successful in the OAC, and as long as we can continue to stay aggressive, we will be near the top of the OAC,” Long said.

“We still have about half of our league games left, so coming out and taking them will bring us to the OAC tournament.”

With only four of their remaining 12 games scheduled at home, the Cardinals will have to win the majority of their games on the road where they are currently 4-0.

“I see the team being competitive in the OAC tournament and it would be great if we (received) our first bid to the regional tournament,” Long said. “We have a lot of drive and haven’t even hit our peak yet.” t&c