Search Results
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
(11/29/00 10:00am)
When the Penn men's squash team travels to New Haven, Conn., and Providence, R.I., this weekend in search of its first victory, a familiar face will hit the courts for the first time this year -- co-captain Will Ruthrauff.
Recovering from an injury that sidelined him for the 8-1 loss to the Cornell Big Red on November 18, Ruthrauff will play in the No. 4 position against Yale (0-0) on Saturday and Brown on Sunday.
Ruthrauff, a senior, is approaching his 2000-2001 debut with much enthusiasm.
"It was incredibly hard to sit back and watch the team play without being able to help out," Ruthrauff said. "I'm pumped for my first match of the season.
"The scrimmages are always fun but competition isn't really fun until it counts and the pride of the school and team is on the line. This is what we've been working for all fall."
Penn coach Craig Thorpe-Clark acknowledges Ruthrauff's importance to the Quakers' (0-1, 0-1 Ivy) success.
"Will plays in the top half of the lineup, making the team stronger behind him," Thorpe-Clark said. "Also, he's a good leader on and off the court and has the respect of all the guys for being a contributor."
Penn co-captain Peter Withstandley, who plays in the No. 1 position, is also looking forward to Ruthrauff's return to the courts.
"Will is a big boost for the team," Withstandley said. "He is good as captain and provides vocal leadership. He's also active in bringing the team together on and off the court and raises the energy and excitement level."
Despite Ruthrauff's return, the Red and Blue will need to put together an unforgettable performance to overcome a formidable side from Yale this weekend. Yale, led by senior Blake Gilpin, is one of the frontrunners to capture the Ivy League crown and to challenge the nation's elite for the top spot in the country.
While the Quakers rely heavily on the performances of their youth, including four freshmen, the Elis feature seven strong seniors on their roster.
Ruthrauff realizes that Yale will present a formidable challenge.
"Yale is a really good team," Ruthrauff said. "We know it and we aren't setting our goals too high. It's a great opportunity for everyone to get some tough competition, because that's how we'll improve."
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday's bout against the Elis, the Red and Blue view Sunday's match at Brown as a key contest.
The Bears, led by sophomore Ben Oliner, finished ninth in the nation last year and match up well with the Quakers.
"The Brown match should be very competitive and is a big match for us this year, especially in the Ivies," Thorpe-Clark said. "It's a winnable match that we're focusing on. We'll consider it a good weekend if we beat Brown."
To overcome the Bears, though, the Red and Blue will have to play better than they did against Cornell.
"In the Cornell match, we were flat to start our matches," Withstandley said. "Cornell had more intensity than us. This week, we have to win as quickly and easily as we can to get a good victory under our belts."
Thorpe-Clark is confident that the Quakers' dedication will soon pay off.
"The players' effort and competitiveness is going to carry us through some matches," Thorpe-Clark said. "They want to win and be successful and they have a real team spirit, which Will is responsible for."
Clearly, back-to-back road matches this weekend against a strong Yale squad and a competitive Brown team will present a challenge for the young Quakers.
But the return of team leader Ruthrauff's racquet to the courts could provide the push the Red and Blue need to get on the winning track.
(11/21/00 10:00am)
When the Penn men's squash team hits the courts this season, the Quakers certainly will not falter due to a lack of effort or conditioning.
In just his second year at the helm, coach Craig Thorpe-Clark has the Quakers not only working hard, but also focused on becoming much better.
"Craig has really pushed us and gotten us into fitness and running," Penn junior John Griffin said. "The team is taking the conditioning as a step toward the next goal, which is improving."
Sophomore Elan Levy ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ agrees that Thorpe-Clark's commitment to make the team more focused has been a positive influence.
"Craig pushes us to work harder than most teams do," Levy said. "He is dedicated to turning around a program that in the past was not as committed to improving as it is now."
Thorpe-Clark likewise attributes the team's new focus to its work ethic.
"The kids have been terrific," Thorpe-Clark said. "They've become more organized and more focused. Each year, the team is getting more serious and more committed.
"My expectations are going up each year, and they are meeting them."
This dedication, focus and good work ethic is essential to a successful season for a team that lacks experience.
In its first match of the season against Cornell, the Quakers put more freshmen and sophomores on the court than juniors and seniors.
Nonetheless, led by senior co-captains Pete Withstandley and Will Ruthrauff, the Red and Blue has its sights set on a successful season, even after the 8-1 season-opening loss to the Big Red.
"The program is really starting to come together," Levy said. "In Craig's second year, he is becoming more comfortable and everyone is gaining experience. By the end of the year, we hope to position ourselves as one of the top 10 teams in the country."
The Red and Blue are hoping for major contributions from their young players on and off the court.
"The younger players are bringing enthusiasm to the court, and it's paying dividends," Thorpe-Clark said. "Everyone is on the same page. Everyone wants to work hard and do well."
Also, team leaders Withstandley and Ruthrauff provide the key leadership necessary for the freshmen to make the transition to college play.
"The top one or two guys usually distance themselves on most teams, but not here," freshman Matt Vergare said. "Everyone is really close and stays tight."
Withstandley will assume the No. 1 position for the Quakers this year and looks to improve upon a solid season last year in which he was named the team MVP.
But, Thorpe-Clark realizes that it will take more than the success of Withstandley for the Quakers to improve. On Saturday, for instance, the No. 1 player won, but the Quakers fell to Cornell.
"Everyone's performance is equally important," he said. "The No. 9 position is just as important as the No. 1. One person does not have that much of an impact."
Still, the Quakers view their ability to come together off the court as yet another advantage.
"The camaraderie of the team has been a big plus," Griffin said. "It's much better when you can go to the court not just as teammates but as friends."
Unity, dedication and a great work ethic can not compensate for the Quakers' lack of experience.
But as the season goes on and the younger players play more collegiate matches, the Quakers' racquets might make a lot of noise both inside and outside the difficult Ivy League.
(10/10/00 9:00am)
In what might have been its last tournament of the fall campaign, the Penn women's golf team failed to break its own two-day school record at the Rutgers Invitational this past Friday and Saturday.
Given the Quakers' recent string of broken school records, this finish might be viewed as a disappointment.
To the Red and Blue, however, this weekend was just as rewarding as were the previous two record-breaking ones.
"We certainly continued on the successes of the previous two weeks," Penn coach Francis Vaughn said. "Although we didn't break a school record, we finished under 700 for the second straight week and played very well."
Penn's score of 697 placed them ninth out of the 16 squads swinging in New Brunswick, N.J., this weekend.
Now the Quakers anxiously wait to see if they receive an invitation to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.
Unfortunately, the future of the team's season may rest not just on an invitation to the ECACs, but also on the scheduling of the championships.
Unofficial sources have suggested that the championship tournament may be moved from its originally scheduled dates of Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22 to the following Monday and Tuesday.
This schedule change would not only preclude Penn from attending the tournament, but all Ivies invited to the championships would be forced to decline the invitation due to the conflicts with class time.
Nevertheless, Vaughn feels that the team's chances of receiving an invitation to the championships are pretty good.
"Looking at last year's field, we've beaten many teams that were there last year, which I think should put us in good shape for an invitation this year," Vaughn said.
The Quakers realize that even if they are not invited to the ECACs, the fall season was a definite success.
"I was very satisfied with how we played this year," Vaughn said. "The girls have done a great job, and their scores and finishes speak for themselves."
Vaughn also lauded his first-year golfers for their continuous improvement throughout the season.
"The freshmen improved a great deal over the course of a season," Vaughn said. "Each freshman became acclimated to college golf."
"They learned how to play golf as a team sport and how to play the full 18 holes. Also, they learned to concentrate and manage their games over a round."
Penn freshman Valerie Wong was similarly satisfied with the Quakers' play this year.
"We did really well from the first tournament to the last," Wong said. "And by last year's standards, we improved tremendously."
To the Quakers, an invitation to the ECACs would be very rewarding.
But given all the success that the Red and Blue have already achieved on the links this fall, an ECAC invitation would be really just be icing on the cake.
(10/03/00 9:00am)
The Penn women's golf team is shattering its own school records about as often as golf deity Tiger Woods' net worth is increasing. That is to say, every tournament.
The Quakers continued their record-breaking tear this weekend in hostile territory at the Princeton Invitational, placing fifth out of 15 squads. The Red and Blue's first ever top-five finish was the result of another record-breaking performance of 689 in the two-day tournament.
"I was extremely happy with the whole weekend and wasn't surprised that we played this well," Penn coach Francis Vaughn said. "The girls have been working diligently and are reaping rewards of success."
A telling indicator of the Quakers' continuing success was their grouping with a quality program from Bucknell on the second day of play.
"Originally, we were paired based on last year's scores," Penn captain Jen Schraut said. "On the second day, we were paired with much better players, which was fun and exciting.
"Bucknell noticed how much we improved the first day, and we beat them on the second day."
Sophomore sensation Stacy Kress again forged the path to success for the Quakers. Kress scored a team-best 159, shooting an 81 on Saturday and a 78 on Sunday.
Vaughn points to the Quakers' concentration as a source of the team's recent string of accomplishments.
"Our success is a matter of continually focusing on what we practice," Vaughn said. "It is a result of working on the fundamentals and playing smart golf. The girls are also extremely talented."
Freshman Jessica Penzell attributes the Red and Blue's success to experience and unity.
"The team's success is due to us becoming comfortable with college golf and the team," Penzell said. "In the summer we worked individually, whereas now we work together to unify and to perfect our scores."
Penn freshman Laura Dolan has another take on the reason behind the Quakers' record-breaking season.
"In the beginning of the year, we weren't very confident," Dolan said. "As we play better, we build confidence and continue to improve."
Most likely, the Red and Blue's excellent play can be attributed to focus, talent, experience and confidence.
Regardless, the Quakers realize they must not allow complacency to affect their swing.
"We have to continue working on our game," Schraut said. "We can't slack off now that we're playing well."
The Quakers tee off at the Rutgers Invitational this Friday and Saturday.
Another strong performance this weekend will not earn the Red and Blue the astronomical endorsements that Woods has merited of late. But, they may just tear another page out of the Penn record books.
(09/28/00 9:00am)
Years ago, he was dubbed "Blinkie," as the excitement of a Penn golf victory would compel him to blink his eyes uncontrollably.
Last night, this appellation was fitting, as Bob Hays stood up to express his gratitude for the reception held in his honor.
Moments into his speech, Hays' excitement was evident in those notorious blinking eyes.
His enthusiasm was understandable, as the room was filled with former players, current players, coaches, friends and family, all enjoying the opportunity to spend a short while with the Penn golf legend.
The reception took place in the trophy-filled Mendelsohn Room at the Dunning Coaches' Center.
Hays' legacy towers over his diminutive stature. He played for the Quakers from 1941 through 1944, captaining the team his senior year. When the sport was revived after World War II, Hays continued his Penn golf career away from the tee as coach.
Hays' accomplishments from that point on are testimony to his coaching prowess. He marshaled the Red and Blue for 30 years and never had a losing season. His career record as skipper was an astounding 331-124 (.729 winning percentage).
Despite all his success, the Penn Athletic Hall of Famer felt last night was the pinnacle of his career.
"This event is the climax of my career," Hays said. "I was very successful. I had good teams, won big things and never had a losing year. Yet this is a climax to everything."
Reuniting with his former players was most rewarding for Hays.
"I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of every day that I was with the team," Hays said. "It was pleasure, not work. I never had a player I didn't like, and it is great seeing all the players come back."
Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky also felt that the throng of former players who attended the reception illustrated Hays' significant legacy.
"The fact that he is nearly 80 years old and he comes back for a ceremony to see players from so many years ago arrive in his honor is most distinctive about him," he said.
Since Hays' retirement, Penn golf has not enjoyed the same prosperity as it did during Hays' tenure -- it was even briefly cut as a varsity program during the financial crunch of the late 1970s.
But, as the Penn men's team continues to remain competitive and the women's team improves with each tournament, Bob Hays can surely find something to blink about.
(09/26/00 9:00am)
The Penn women's golf team showed its promise by setting a school record with a score of 371 at the difficult, hill-laden Yale Golf Course on Saturday.
As the excitement caused by Saturday's great performance subsided, the Quakers realized that Sunday's play at the Yale Invitational would be very difficult. They were forced to battle the elements as well as the blind shots and prevalent rough imposed by the tough links.
A steady rain fell for much of Sunday's round, resulting in thicker rough and slower greens.
But the Quakers displayed an excellent ability to improve, as they finished off the weekend with an even lower, more noteworthy record score of 365.
The Quakers' commendable performance this weekend helped them finish 12th out of 18 teams, a vast improvement over last year's finish of 19th among the 21 squads assembled in New Haven, Conn.
Penn coach Francis Vaughn was understandably pleased with the Red and Blue's effort.
"The ladies adapted well to the rain and actually shot better," he said. "It was a great team effort to put the score on the board that we did, especially in comparison to last year."
Captain Jen Schraut also relished in the team's excellent performance, noting last year's struggles.
"I was very pleased with the positive attitude and much improved scores of the team," she said. "It was lots of fun to see such a positive difference this year."
Schraut also lauded the team for its commitment.
"Everyone really put in all their effort and worked to improve," she said. "Team spirit was also high, which helped."
Sophomore Stacy Kress led the way for the Quakers, as she finished 26th overall with a score of 170 over two rounds. She shot an 84 on Saturday and an 86 on Sunday.
Freshmen Laura Dolan and Valerie Wong contributed to the team's success as well, despite the anxieties they confronted at their first college tournament.
"It was exciting, even though I was a little nervous," Dolan said. "It was definitely a new experience."
Wong and Dolan were also optimistic that the team is only headed for more prosperity. The Quakers have their next chance to continue their progress at the Princeton Invitational.
"I hope we keep improving and move up the ranks from tournament to tournament," Wong said. "It is going to be a good year for Penn."
If this weekend's performance is any indication of what's to come, Wong's prediction is right on target.
(09/20/00 9:00am)
As the Penn women's golf team prepares to tee off its fall season this weekend at the Yale Invitational, its goals are improvement and progress.
These are understandable ambitions for a fledgling team in only its second full season as a varsity sport.
With the addition of three freshmen and new assistant coach Elizabeth Granahan, an LPGA professional, Penn is poised to compete against the ranks of the Ivy League and beyond.
The Quakers are under the guidance of Francis Vaughn, who is in his fifth year at the helm of Penn men's and women's golf.
Vaughn feels that progress is the key this year.
"We expect to improve upon last year, when we had a good trend going," Vaughn said. "We shot lower each tourney."
The Quakers' dedication and commitment has also sparked optimism in Vaughn.
"They are diligent about practice habits and steadfast about improving," he said. "They are doing the right things."
However, Vaughn realizes the difficulty of golf and that the team might stumble along the way.
"Golf is golf," he said. "You can get good or bad breaks, and you have to learn to play your misses."
Still, the team has several veteran leaders to turn to in times of distress.
Senior captain Jen Schraut, juniors Victoria Entine and Rachel Slosburg and first team All-Ivy sophomore Stacy Kress look to provide leadership to the freshmen.
Schraut recognizes that the team should be stronger due to some quality recruits.
"The freshmen have more tournament experience than usual," Schraut said. "In general, they have a stronger golf background."
The captain also keeps things in perspective, noting that "having fun is key."
This weekend's tournament should be a telling barometer of how competitive the Red and Blue will be this year, as it features 18 teams from the Northeast, including Ivy powerhouses Yale and Princeton.
The Quakers will compete in the Princeton Invitational next weekend and the Rutgers Invitational the following weekend. The ECAC Championships take place October 21 and 22.
Despite their youth, freshmen Lauren Dolan, Jessica Panzell and Valerie Wong are confident that the team will succeed this year.
Dolan looks for the team to "get off the ground and start placing this year."
Panzell echoed Dolan's optimism.
"Although we will still be developing, we should be much more competitive," she said.
Women's golf still has to work its way out of the rough and on to the green as it continues to develop.
Yet, with the contagious optimism and dedication of this year's Quakers, it may not be long before they are on par with the Elis and the Tigers.
