W. Soccer gets Coach

Gettysburg women's soccer coach Todd Wawrousek was named to the same position at Penn, Athletic Director Paul Rubincam announced yesterday. Wawrousek replaces Suzette Wolf, who stepped down in December after the head coaching position was made a full-time post. Penn assistant coach Dave Masterson will no longer be involved with the Quaker soccer program as well, said search committee member Debbie Goldklang, a senior and the lone player on the committee. Goldklang declined to comment as to the reason for his departure. Wawrousek took over a fledgling soccer program at Gettysburg in 1990 and built it to an NCAA Division III playoff team with a 16-2 record last season. The Quaker program has a similar scenario, having assumed varsity status only three seasons ago. "I've been playing since I'm five, and I'm 19 now, and he's the best coach I've ever had," Gettysburg freshman Amy Mollenkamp said. "He has a lot of experience. He's really sensitive to the needs of girls?.He's very understanding, but strict." The Penn soccer players were informed of the search committee's decision yesterday, and were enthusiastic about the selection. "He's awesome," sophomore co-captain Heike Krippendorff said. "He's really personable. I think he's learned a lot working at Gettysburg to build up a team from behind." Wawrousek was unavailable for comment last night. The Quakers have been coachless this offseason, and have been forced to conduct practices by themselves. "The team pretty much came together," Goldklang said. Wolf had no contact with the team during the six weeks of winter practices, Goldklang said, but she did recruit for the team. However, the Penn program will be shortchanged as far as recruits due to the absence of a head coach during the height of the recruiting season, Krippendorff said. "We've had a couple recruits come in," she said. "Recruiting will not be our strong point, unfortunately." Meanwhile, at Gettysburg, the players, who were informed of Wawrousek's decision earlier this week, were saddened by his departure. "He's an outstanding coach," Gettysburg sophomore sweeper Wendy Elles said. "He has desire, a great amount of intensity and pride. As a family, he brought this team together and he was the core. I feel like I can speak to him as a father and a best friend?.I know he'll be a great asset to the U. Penn program."