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Photos by Alyssa Cwanger

Over the years, the Penn community has seen its fair share of ups and downs in the world of athletics.

This summer, however, was highlighted by a number of outstanding events that made those affiliated with the Red and Blue gladly wear their Penn sweatshirts.

A wrestling undergrad was named a member of the U.S. National Freestyle Team in his sport.

A sophomore track star made his name known on a national level.

And a couple of former basketball standouts almost went head-to-head.

Of course, all Penn athletes worked hard this summer, as many of them spent time refining their skills in their sport in various summer leagues across the country.

Philadelphia sports also reached new highs that have not been seen in many, many years.

The City of Brotherly Love welcomed a new addition to its plethora of professional sports teams this year, and that team also had success.

So if you didn't get a chance to read any of the other 11 issues of The Summer Pennsylvanian that came out during the course of the summer, we bring to you a compilation of all the top events and stories in the 2001 edition of `Summer in Review'.

ÿÿÿÿÿÿCoaching Changesÿ

Two Penn teams are currently without head coaches as the summer draws to a close.

Demer Holleran, the former head coach of women's squash, resigned in May to start a squash and fitness club in the Philadelphia area. Holleran led the Quakers to the National Championship just a year ago.

Also resigning was men's lacrosse head coach Marc van Arsdale, who left to become the head assistant coach at Virginia. Van Arsdale revitalized a program that had spent the early and mid-1990s in last place in the Ivy League.

The Penn football team did not lose its head coach, but will be without three assistant coaches that helped the Quakers to the Ivy League title in 2000.

Mike Elko, the defensive assistant coach last season, left at the end of 2000 after one year with the Quakers. Lester Pataki was named his replacement.

Mark Melnitsky, the offensive assistant coach last season, was also a part of the Penn coaching staff for just one season. He is succeeded by Michael Snyder.

The final departure is former tight ends coach Mike Santella, who is now the offensive line coach at East Stroudsburg. Santella, like Elko and Melnitsky, also only had a one-year stint with Penn, and was replaced by Trey Brown.

ÿÿÿÿÿÿSummer Leaguesÿ

Every summer, Penn's finest athletes participate in summer leagues to continue development of their skills, and this one was no different.

Three members of the men's basketball team are competing in the Hank Gathers Memorial College League of Sonny Hill Basketball. The league easily consists of the best competition around the Philadelphia area, and every year the Quakers send their representatives.

Five other members are playing in the Jersey Shore Basketball League, which has its games at St. Rose High School in Belmar, N.J. ÿÿÿÿÿ Almost all of the players on the Penn baseball team are taking on America's favorite pastime in various leagues around the country, and are finding success.

Most notably, Andrew McCreery was named an All-Star in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, and Nick Italiano was similarly distinguished in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

All the athletes will return in the fall, hoping to prove that the summer has made their games better.

ÿÿÿÿÿÿPhilly Sportsÿ

The city of Philadelphia has seen a remarkable amount of achievement in professional sports this summer.

Most notably, the 76ers were the 2001 Eastern Conference Champions. The Sixers also racked up four of the league's six awards, as head coach Larry Brown and players Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo and Aaron McKie were recognized for doing what they do best.

The Phillies have found themselves competing for first place despite analysts' preseason prediction that they would collapse under youth and inexperience. They were in first place at the All-Star Break, and are just a few games behind the Atlanta Braves right now.

Philadelphia also welcomed a professional women's soccer team to the city, as the Charge are one of eight teams in the newly-formed Women's United Soccer Association. As the season draws to a close, the Charge are very close to clinching a playoff spot in the league's inaugural season.

ÿÿÿÿÿÿRed and Blue Successÿ

Penn athletes, both past and present, soared to new heights this summer.

Wrestling senior Yoshi Nakamura became the first Penn undergraduate to be named to the U.S. National Freestyle Team after posting a 3-1 record at the 2001 U.S. World Team Trials in Cincinnati, Ohio. The 2001 All-American took third-place in the tournament at 152 pounds.

A couple of months ago, Penn track star Sam Burley raced past some of the nation's best on the campus of the University of Oregon, and found himself leaving the track as an All-American. Burley passed a number of runners in the final 100-meter stretch of his semifinal heat to claim the honor.

And a couple of former Penn men's basketball players almost faced off against each other, as 2000 graduate Matt Langel was invited to the Sixers' pre-summer league camp and 2001 grad Geoff Owens was named an All-Star in the Baker League.

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