CROSS COUNTRY TEAM EMBODIES THE IUP ATHLETE

Sports Sports Editor: Jeff Hart – J.R.Hart2@iup.edu Cross Country team embodies the IUP athlete

JAKE TAYLOR

Staff Writer J.M.Taylor8@iup.edu @JakeTaylor8726

Indiana University of Pennsylvania is known for dominating in the PSAC. For many, like myself, IUP’s basketball program and men’s football team come to mind first. IUP and its athletics program strive to put top-tier athletes and scholars in every program the university offers, and the IUP Cross Country team is the perfect example of this.

From the coach down to the first semester freshman, IUP Cross Country sets goals and works for them in the classroom and on the course. Despite the current pandemic canceling the fall season, Coach Joey Zins and senior runner Sam Lenze (senior, biochemistry) are practicing like nothing has changed.

Although the spring season is unlikely to happen because many cross country runners also participate on the track and field team, nothing stops this cross country team from persevering and looking forward.

After a successful 2019 season, the Crimson Hawks announced a recruiting class of 17 student-athletes consisting of 12 men and 5 women. Coach Zins is extremely excited about this new class starting.

“We are very excited about our incoming classes this fall and have high expectations for them,” The men’s class is the largest class we have had since I have been here. They are a deep and talented group that has an opportunity to do some special things during their college careers.

“On the women’s side, we are adding two freshmen who both placed in the top 40 at the PIAA Championships last fall.” He also added how they will fit in with the current roster, “Both classes should complement our returners well. We have a good blend of newcomers and experienced runners on this year’s team.”

Lenze offered some advice to this year's newcomers, “Two words: Personal Relationships. It is not enough this season to just be fast and show what it looks like to love cross country and want to train even when it is hard. I cannot give to the freshmen and sophomores the feeling of winning a meet or setting a personal record, but I can invest in them individually and purposefully.”

Lenze is a seasoned veteran on this team and knows what it takes to be a team-player and succeed in and out of the classroom.

He puts the individual and team aspect into the sport, “The fastest runner on the team should never feel comfortable because every man on the team should be fighting him for that spot,” said Lenze. “That is how the slowest guy can have the greatest impact and that's why every runner on the team matters, now more than ever, and no one can be overlooked or looked down upon. Cross country doesn't have a bench because we need every single guy on the team to be giving their all 100% of the time.”

Dealing with the ongoing pandemic is tough, but not too tough for this squad. The cross country team has still been putting in work during their freetime. Coach Zins had nothing but good things to say about the team's training. “Until a few weeks ago, they had been training on their own. Since returning to campus, they can voluntarily meet in small groups for runs. We are currently unable to practice as a team, but we are preparing to begin practicing on Sept. 14. We have a very dedicated group, and many of them are taking advantage of this time to continue working to get better.”

The team’s upperclassmen have persevered through this tough time like real champions do. Men and women alike are working daily to better themselves and set examples.

Coach Zins spoke of the hardship for this team and how they have handled it, “I think our seniors have handled the disappointment and uncertainty

Shot of the Hoodlebug Trail behind Robertshaw

as well as anyone could possibly expect,” said coach Zins. They have stayed positive and hopeful for future seasons.”

“I want nothing more than to see them have the opportunity to compete again during the spring. Fortunately, they will be able to retain their eligibility, even with a spring season, so they will also have the chance to return in fall 2021 for their final cross country season should they choose to do so. Their willingness and initiative to both continue with their training and guide their younger teammates has frankly been both admirable (Case Marshall/The Penn)

and inspiring.”

Admirable and inspiring: two words that not only explain IUP’s Cross Country team, but the entirety of the department that has had to persevere through so much adversity. This team is the embodiment of what IUP stands for and represents.

(Case Marshall/ The Penn) While the scoreboard at Frank Cignetti Field will stay off this fall, the women’s soccer team aims to make up for lost time by piling on points in the spring.

Anderson believes soccer team will dominate come spring

AUSTIN SMITH

Staff Writer A.S.Smith7@iup.edu @ThePennIUP

It is not a normal fall for the Crimson Hawks because there is a plethora of sports usually going on at this time, but COVID-19 had other ideas for this fall athletic season. Every Crimson Hawk player and fan is setting their eyes on a hopeful spring 202 season, and the IUP Women’s Soccer team has big goals for the possible spring season.

In order to get an inside look at the team, defender/ goalkeeper DeAvion Anderson (sophomore, psychology) gave us an exclusive interview with she and this team plan to domThe Penn. inate come spring. A

Anderson, a North big question that every Olmsted, Ohio native, student athlete has played in 12 games heard by now is how last season and was has COVID-19 affected able to contribute you personally in the to the squad as a offseason? freshman. Anderson “Since my mother was able to get three is at high risk if she assists last season and gets COVID-19, it has had a shot on goal been really hard for percentage (SOG %) me to be okay going of .400. She looks to to the gyms when they bring her game to the open,” said Anderson. next level this season and help her squad. DeAvion “Sure, I’ve been run ning a lot more outIn her interview, Anderson was able to give Anderson side and being able to go up to my local me a great perspective soccer field and doing on the situation at hand and how ball workouts, but lifting weights adds a whole new energy and strength that you just can’t get with doing cardio and ball work only.”

It shows that athletes like Anderson are still dedicated and motivated to make sure to get the necessary training. Despite the tough times in the world right now and her mom being at high risk with COVID-19, she has found a way to press on.

She has been sure to get cardio and ball work in during all this as well as making sure she and her family are staying healthy. How do student athletes like her get ready for the upcoming season in general?

“This year has definitely been different trying to prepare for the season,” said Anderson. “I just try my hardest keeping up with my workouts, even though at some points you just feel so unmotivated.

“It’s a lot easier now being back at IUP, and there are people here that want the same goal as you, a winning season.”

She was able to put things in perspective and take the positives out of this unprecedented situation. “In the end, it’s about being here, training with my housemates/teammates and doing workouts with them as well as having a good time bonding with them all at the same time.”

Sports

Communication is key on the pitch this season

(Case Marshall/ The Penn)

(IUP Athletics) Photo of the 2019 women’s soccer team that went 10-9 and lost to Slippery Rock 2-1 away in the PSAC Quarterfinals.

Continued from page 19

Motivation is the key word for a lot of athletes like Anderson, and it is not as easy to keep that motivation with obstacles. IUP has been fortunate to have students and athletes back on campus for now, so Anderson and her teammates are taking full advantage of that just in case the tides turn and do not allow students on campus. With Anderson and her fellow Hawks working out together as well as planning strategically, you can be sure for a successful upcoming season for the Crimson Hawks.

Sticking with the team, Anderson was handed the question what her and her squad could work on as a whole to make a very successful season happen in the near future.

“I feel like as a team, we need to work on communicating a bit more on the field,” said Anderson. “It can help us know more about when people are on our backs and if it is safe to turn the ball.”

This squad performed at a high-level last season and finished with a 10-9 record. They made it to the PSAC playoff quarterfinals where they were defeated 1-2 by Slippery Rock.

They are close to accomplishing greatness, and some small tweaks are necessary for this squad to take their play to the next level. Players like Anderson are aware of this and are taking the right steps towards making progress.

Many will find it impossibe to succeed and take their games to the next level without communication, and Anderson is aware of this fact. She knows many teams don’t succeed is because of they lack communication at times. With this addressed, the top teams of the PSAC West better be on the watch for the Hawks in the future.

With communication being heavily emphasized, this squad is hopeful that this can put them over-the-top against PSAC rivals like Slippery Rock.

“I believe Slippery Rock will be our strongest competition this year,” said Anderson. “We have a grudge on them since tournament play, I think it would be amazing if we came out on top over them this season.”

In life, when you set team goals, success happens will surely follow. With the power of communication happening for the Hawks, this could lead them to victories over their arch rivalry, Slippery Rock. The Rock posted an 18-4 overall record last fall and dominated the PSAC West. The key to beating complete teams like The Rock, is having better team play. Team play is very important, and the first step towards playing better as a team is improving everyone on an individual level. Anderson was thrown the question about how she could improve offensively, defensively or having a different mindset.

“For this season, I am working on improving my placement shooting as an offensive player, and I also plan on building my conditioning some more,” said Anderson.

Shooting is crucial for this squad. If they want to compete against powerhouse teams, they need to be able to put up points in bunches.

Despite the abnormal situation that is plaguing this team right now, Anderson and her squad are doing everything in their power to improve as a squad. Players are holding themselves accountable at an individual level and are working on improving their communication to improve as a unit.

If they can keep up this mindset, IUP will be the team to beat in the PSAC West next spring.