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(03/31/00 10:00am)
In last week's Quaker Invitational, the Penn men's track team was rather pleased with many of its individual accomplishments. This weekend, though, in the squad's first scored competition of the spring season, the Red and Blue will get an idea of how they stack up as a team. Leaving town early yesterday morning to make the nine-hour journey to North Carolina, the Quakers will participate in the Raleigh Relays today and tomorrow at N.C. State. Penn's stars such as jumper Tuan Wreh and thrower Matt Pagliasotti will undoubtedly rack up a lot of points this season, but this weekend's meet will test the team's depth. "From a team perspective, it's important," senior pole vaulter John Church said. "This is a meet in which we get to compete against some of the best of the East." Church expects the vaulting unit, perhaps Penn's greatest asset during the indoor season, to be strong when the pressure is on later in the season for Penn Relays and the Heptagonal Championships, but feels that it might not get off to such an auspicious start. Junior Josh Coleman no-heighted last week; senior Bob Reynolds is taking some time away from the team; and Church will not travel to Raleigh due to academic commitments. In addition to that, junior Luke Stokes injured his back at the close of the winter season and is out indefinitely, though mid-April seems a likely target date for his return. Unlike the vaulters, who expect to overcome their early-season obstacles without much of a problem, Penn's throwers have wasted no time in impressing. While Pagliasotti, junior Ben Williams and senior Brent Stiles may have all enjoyed a great deal of success at the Quaker Invitational, it was a freshman participating in his first-ever collegiate meet who raised the most eyebrows this past Saturday. Javelin thrower Brian Chaput qualified for the NCAA championship meet last week, as he posted the second-longest distance in Penn javelin history in just his first meet as a member of the Red and Blue. The Quakers are excited about their throwers, who may serve as somewhat of a secret weapon. Since javelin and discus are solely spring events, Penn's strength in each could launch the team to far greater glory than it had in a better-than-respectable indoor campaign. "The javelin itself adds about 20 points to the team," Church said. Perhaps even more foreboding for the Red and Blue's opponents this year is the fact that Pagliasotti feels that no Penn thrower was really near the top of his game a week ago. Not bad for a group that garnered four first-place finishes in throwing events, including two courtesy of Pagliasotti himself. The talent is unquestionably in place, and the focus of the team, a major concern following indoor Heps, seems to now have been restored after a solid season-opener. "We do believe that we can win Heps," Church said, claiming that Penn's blend of athletic ability, depth and a strong mindset could carry the team to victory in the esteemed meet. Time will tell, but the Raleigh Relays should provide a good early barometer.
(03/27/00 10:00am)
An absolutely gorgeous spring day welcomed the Penn men's track team back to the outdoor stage -- and back home for yesterday's Quaker Invitational. Since Penn doesn't have an indoor facility to accommodate track events, the Quakers spent their winter season criss-crossing the eastern half of the nation. But competing under an almost cloudless sky and in mild temperatures for most of the day, the Quakers were appreciative to be back on the familiar turf of Franklin Field. And they began their spring season on a solid note. The meet, which included city rivals Temple, St. Joe's and La Salle in addition to out-of-state contenders Army and Delaware State among others, was not scored. But that did not mean that the Red and Blue were without tremendous individual successes, especially from one group in particular. While all of the running and most of the field events took place at Franklin Field, Penn's most notable performances came outside of the venerable stadium. On a narrow strip of land crammed between Bower Field, railroad tracks and the raging Schuylkill Expressway lay the jewel of the Quakers' efforts yesterday. That is where the Penn throwers competed -- and excelled. Penn's usual standout performers -- Matt Pagliasotti and Brent Stiles -- lived up to and exceeded expectations in their events, but it was a freshman who stole the show. Brian Chaput, a native of East Haven, Conn., threw the javelin farther than all but one other Penn thrower ever has. In his first-ever collegiate meet, he reached an incredible distance of 67.70 meters, not only qualifying him for IC4As, but already clinching an automatic berth at the NCAA Championships. And Chaput was not a one-man show. The Quakers swept first through fourth place in the javelin. Fellow throwers Charlie O'Connell, Seth Beaver and Chris Crisman also surpassed the requisite distance yesterday to participate in IC4As at season's end. "If everyone stays on track, we should have two or three more national qualifiers in the javelin and maybe one in the hammer," Pagliasotti said. Pagliasotti, who barely missed qualifying for nationals in his own right over the winter, was his usual stellar self. He took first in the discus with a throw of 46.08 meters and set a personal record in the hammer throw with a distance of 59.66. To illustrate the magnitude of this latter accomplishment, consider that the runner-up in the event was his Penn teammate Ben Williams, who threw a still very respectable 43.70, which was a personal record for the junior. Both men have tremendous potential for this season but understand that the Quaker Invitational didn't provide the most grueling test for them. "The field wasn't that good, so there wasn't a lot of competition for [Williams] and I," Pagliasotti said. That said, the Quakers throwers are still very excited about their prospects. "It's good to see that we're getting off on the right foot," said Williams, a native of Noank, Conn. It could easily be the strength of this specific group that will determine just how successful the Quakers can be in the spring season.
(03/07/00 10:00am)
Star triple jumper Tuan Wreh did not compete because of a hamstring injury from Heps. Consider how difficult it is for a team to sweep through the 64-team field in the NCAA basketball tournament. Now consider doing it with just three people in your starting lineup and your leading scorer sidelined with an injury. The Penn men's track team faced similar odds at last weekend's IC4A championships at Harvard when the Quakers sent just 18 men to the tournament, while top programs such as champion Georgetown sent in excess of 30. To make matters more difficult, Penn's star jumper, Tuan Wreh, made the trip to Boston but did not compete due to a nagging hamstring injury, which he initially suffered during his record-setting jump at the Heptagonal Championships the previous week. Georgetown's Nathan Rollins, who won the triple jump event, only outdistanced Wreh's Heps mark by 3 1/2 inches, suggesting that, if healthy, Wreh would have had a terrific shot at scoring some points for Penn. These circumstances rendered the Red and Blue unable to legitimately compete with the region's elite teams as Penn finished in an eight-way tie for 36th place in the enormous 104-team field. Penn athletes did not have visions of IC4A glory heading into the competition, as they acknowledged their lack of depth. "I think the only disappointment was that we didn't send more people there," junior pole vaulter John Church said. "I don't think we really expected to make an impact at ICs." Especially after having participated in Heps the prior weekend, admittedly the most significant meet of the indoor season to most Quakers, Penn came out somewhat flat in Cambridge, Mass. "Most Heps teams don't do very well [at IC4As]," said junior pole vaulter Josh Coleman, who agreed that the team's performance was not that big a disappointment, given the situation. Though the Quakers do not appear overly concerned with their outing, an occasional lack of focus continues to hamper the progress of the team and is causing inconsistency. "I just sort of lost it mentally for the first time this year," said Church, who is confident that such a lapse will not recur in the outdoor season. Even despite a possible lack of intensity, Church, as well as senior vaulter Bob Reynolds, still put forth solid efforts. Reynolds placed sixth with a clearance of 16'1", while Church finished seventh, clearing a height of 15'9". "As a unit, we did pretty well," Church said. Coleman, though, actually ran into some difficulty as he found out just how deep and challenging the IC4A field was. "The opening height was actually my PR, so I didn't do that well," he said, indicating that a career day would have been mandatory to advance. With the exception of Wreh and senior thrower Matt Pagliasotti, who are both still awaiting potential berths in this weekend's national championships, the rest of the Quakers can now turn their attention to something they hold in even higher regard than either indoor Heps or IC4As -- the outdoor season, which commences with the Quaker Invitational on March 25. The Red and Blue feel ready for the new season and will welcome the opportunity to host the majority of its spring meets, including Heps, after traversing much of the East Coast throughout the winter season. Though excited about its prospects, Penn is careful to not be overly optimistic. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves and start making predictions," Church said.
(03/03/00 10:00am)
After a sixth-place finish at Heptagonals, the Quakers' best will try to excel at Harvard in IC4As. The reason why the Penn men's track team was not all that upset with its sixth-place finish at the Heptagonal Championships last week is the same reason it is optimistic for IC4As this weekend. The individual talent is there. Though the Quakers only placed in the middle of the pack at last week's Heps at Dartmouth, a number of Penn athletes turned in brilliant performances. And IC4As, this year being held at Harvard, provides just the right spotlight for these stars. All participants in IC4As must surpass a designated standard for their particular event in order to qualify. Though still a team meet, this is where each school has the opportunity to showcase its top talent. Penn will send fewer athletes than usual to this year's competition, but it is excited about those who will be present. One such individual is sophomore phenom Tuan Wreh, who qualified for both the triple and long jump events very early in the season. And he made quite an impression in Hanover, N.H., last week. Wreh shattered a 22-year-old Heps record when he triple jumped 52'2", establishing a new personal best by some 20 inches in the process. The Rockville, Md., native's teammates enjoy watching him compete and know that he will continue to improve on what are already outstanding accomplishments. "Tuan hasn't hit his best mark yet," said senior pole vaulter Bob Reynolds, who added that since Wreh is likely to participate in nationals the following week, "this is another stepping stone [for him]." Reynolds has much to be proud of in his own right, as does the entire vaulting corps. Four Penn pole vaulters will make the journey to Harvard, making this the best represented of the Quakers' field event squads. "I feel like I can jump 16 [feet] on any given day," said Reynolds, who qualified for IC4As in the season opener at Princeton with a clearance of 16'1". He says that 16'6" is his target this weekend at Cambridge, Mass. Reynolds is not the only athlete who knows he needs to have a career day in order to make some noise. Sophomore distance runner Matt Gioffre, who will run in the 3,000-meter race, realizes that he probably needs to set a personal record in Saturday's qualifying round just to survive until the finals on Sunday. While Penn was optimistic about competing for a Heps title, it understands that the 104-team field at IC4As brings a greater challenge. "Winning in IC4As is a much more difficult task," Gioffre said. Teams from all over the East Coast will be at Harvard, including traditional powerhouses Georgetown and Navy, the latter a long-time league nemesis for the Quakers. For Wreh and senior thrower Matt Pagliasotti, who could easily win his event, the competition at IC4As may just be a lead-in to nationals. But for the others, IC4As will serve as a measuring stick heading into the outdoor season, which begins on March 25 with the Quaker Invitational at Franklin Field.
(02/25/00 10:00am)
An eight-hour bus ride to New Hampshire in February might not sound like a lot of fun. But the Penn men's track team is anticipating a more enjoyable return trip to Philadelphia. A quest that began on December 11 with an unscored meet at Princeton is about to culminate as the Quakers travel to Dartmouth for the Heptagonal Championships this weekend. While several of Penn's top individual performers from throughout the year will visit Harvard next week for the IC4As, this two-day competition in Hanover, N.H., will conclude the indoor season from a team perspective. And this is what the Quakers have been waiting for all year long. "We're really excited and really focused right now," sophomore jumper Tuan Wreh said. Throughout the indoor track schedule, the Red and Blue have concentrated on the matter at hand in each particular meet, but they have also always kept a distant eye on Heps. Though essential for improving technique, gaining confidence and qualifying for IC4As, Penn's previous six meets have been largely looked upon as stepping stones leading up to the athletes' appearance on center stage at Dartmouth. The Quakers' solid showing in their last performance two weeks ago at Boston University gave them the ideal frame of mind in which to participate at Heps, a meet the Penn indoor team last won in 1997. The Quakers look to have the right approach, as they feel confident about the weekend, but are certainly far from flamboyant. "Everyone's ready to perform really well," senior pole vaulter Bob Reynolds said. "We've come together as a team." In the nine-team field featuring all the Ivies and Navy, Penn figures to face its most formidable challenge from archrival Princeton as well as from the Midshipmen. "There's no real frontrunner in the race," said Reynolds, pointing out that Penn, Princeton or Navy could easily place first. While some of the Quakers participated in a competition at Penn State last week, much of the squad has had a two-week respite from the rigors of the season to rest up and taper their workouts for Heps. During the time off, the Quakers continued an ongoing practice trend that had the team cutting back on tiring exercise in favor of more plyometric work to stimulate the nerves. Consequently, the Red and Blue have shied away from heavy lifting and instead have spent much of their training time doing sprints and using medicine balls, narrowing in on "quick-firing" activities. The team's health is also a positive right now. Penn was fortunate to have nothing more severe than a virus that spread among the distance corps early in the season to contend with during the year. "We've been blessed this year to be pretty healthy," Reynolds said. Injuries and a host of less-than-stellar performances caused the Quakers to have some trouble last year at indoor Heps. Penn placed a disappointing seventh in 1999, finishing behind every team except for Cornell and Yale. With the exception of a win in 1997, Penn has won the championship only twice in the past 20 seasons. Coming off a recent string of inspiring results, the Quakers hope that their luck will soon change at the league championship. The eight-hour trip to Hanover might be a long one, but the Quakers are ready and primed to make it worth their while.
(02/23/00 10:00am)
The men's track sophomore is thriving in just his fourth year of organized competition. Penn triple and long jumper Tuan Wreh may have been introduced to track and field relatively late in his life, but you wouldn't know it to watch the sophomore leap. Wreh was a standout basketball player for Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Md., for three seasons before he finally submitted to constant urging by his friends to try out for track. Apparently, watching a 5'9" youngster dunk was enough to convince Wreh's schoolmates that he had a gift that could perhaps be better exhibited elsewhere. When he stepped onto the track in his junior year, Wreh discovered his true calling in sports and put aside his first athletic love. The basketball team's damaging loss was the track squad's immeasurable gain. To say that the newcomer made his presence felt in just those two short seasons would be like saying George Washington had a slight hand in winning the Revolution. Right from the start, Wreh's talent was obvious, but that did not cause him to slack off in his quest to improve. Wreh points out that a solid work ethic is essential to any competitor. "I try to take practice intensely and take each practice as if it's a mini-meet," he said. He won the team's "Hardest Worker Award" in his junior season, but that was a mere prelude to his senior campaign. In the spring of 1998, Wreh was recognized as the team MVP and placed second in the nation in the triple jump, the event he considers to be his stronger suit. From there, it was obvious that Wreh would figure to be an integral part of whatever college team he chose. He selected Penn since it offered the perfect combination of academics and a successful track program. In his freshman season at Penn, Wreh continued improving as he qualified for IC4As indoors in both the triple and long jump, a feat he has already duplicated this year. Yet, with all this success, the sophomore knows he has to keep getting better and claims that even though he's by no means displeased with his development, he is still not yet satisfied. "I know I have a lot more potential than what I've realized," he said. That said, Wreh's sensational accomplishments in such a short time have impressed all those around him, including Penn assistant coach Tim Beach. "He knows how to do it, but it's fresh to him," said Beach, who indicated that even greater performances can be expected in the future as the sophomore gains more experience. Wreh seems to agree with that diagnosis. "Every year I've gotten better. Every meet I feel like I'm getting better," he said. Now, heading into this weekend's Heptagonal Championships at Dartmouth, Wreh feels confident about both his personal prospects as well as about those of his team overall. "I'm happy with what the team's done," he said. "We've all put in a great amount of effort." The native of suburban Washington, D.C., confirms that the Quakers have shaken their "mid-season blues" and now appear to have the intensity they have strived for all year long. "We're really excited and really focused right now," he added. Heps is indisputably the most significant team meet of the season, but for a few Penn track athletes -- including Wreh -- an equally important individual competition will follow on the subsequent weekend -- IC4As. And there is also a chance that Wreh might even qualify for Nationals at Arkansas the week after that. He ranks fifth on Penn's all-time triple jump list and Beach is cautiously optimistic that Wreh might gain a chance to perform on indoor track's most prestigious stage. Tuan Wreh may have accomplished a lot in his first three years participating in organized track, but his future is almost certain to be brighter than his past.
(02/11/00 10:00am)
The Quakers wrap up their regular season at the St. Valentine Invitational. The Penn men's track team is headed down the homestretch of its indoor season, and the Quakers know just how important their finishing kick will be. A strong regular season finale is of utmost importance to the Quakers, who head to Boston University this Saturday for their final meet before the Heptagonal Championships in two weeks. The Red and Blue have viewed each prior meet this winter as a stepping-stone to what they hope will culminate in a Heps title. And the last of those steps will be taken tomorrow at the St. Valentine's Classic. A healthy mindset would, of course, be beneficial to Penn's talented athletes, but the Quakers hesitate to put a lot of stock in any possible carry-over effect. They learned a valuable lesson at this very same point a year ago. "Last year, we fared very well at Boston," junior Mike Aguilar said. "And then at Heps we ended up in the bottom third of the league." With this firmly entrenched in their minds, Penn strives to maintain an even keel for this final tune-up. "You treat everything as if nothing has changed," said Aguilar, who added that the coaching staff has successfully preached that philosophy all year long. The Quakers do have reason to be confident as they travel to New England tomorrow. For starters, Penn is well accustomed to Boston University's facility and has enjoyed more success there than at Manhattan and Delaware, the sites of the Quakers' past two competitions. "Delaware, for some reason, seems to be a curse," Aguilar said. The Quakers are also well aware that, despite hesitating to believe in any sort of carry-over impact, just one really strong outing can propel them straight through the rest of this short season. "Once you hit that one meet where everything starts clicking, you can steamroll through," sophomore distance runner Matt Caporaletti said. Penn already knows it has the ability to compete with any other team out there physically. "We've believed all along that we have the talent to contend," Caporaletti said. And as if there was not enough incentive to perform well tomorrow, many Penn athletes are still searching for IC4A qualifying marks. It is possible to gain a berth while at Heps as well, but some Quakers will lose that opportunity, since they will not compete in the league championship. Caporaletti may best sum up the sentiment of the team. "The general feeling has been that now is the time we really need to focus," he said. The coaches have communicated the importance of level-headedness, and this approach should serve the Quakers well as they now enter the critical part of the season that they have been working toward since day one.
(02/08/00 10:00am)
Penn was upset with its performance at the Delaware invitational. Their words all week expressed a desire to rebound at the Delaware Invitational after last weekend's disappointing effort. Their actions failed to provide such an uplift, however. Last week, the members of the Penn men's track team said they had to put their poor outing at the Jasper Relays behind them, while looking to improve in their final stretch of regular season meets. Senior pole vaulter Bob Reynolds went so far as to say the team needed to act as if the championship was on the line each time they went out and performed. The Quakers should be grateful that this competition, like last week's at Manhattan, was not scored. The Red and Blue's midseason slump proved not to be just an isolated lapse in an otherwise solid season. Penn was far from satisfied with its overall effort at the Delaware Invitational in Newark, Del., this Saturday and Sunday. "We didn't really break out this weekend, which was kind of disappointing," sophomore distance runner Anthony Ragucci said. Ragucci indicated that, despite a heightened sense of urgency this weekend, the Quakers failed to respond to adversity. "I personally think that we still need to work on being more intense," sophomore jumper Tuan Wreh said, perhaps pinpointing the source of the Quakers' troubles. Although the team as a whole put forth another subpar performance, many individuals -- including Wreh -- haven't lost a step since their early season success. Wreh placed second in the long jump with a mark of 6.77 meters. The pole vault unit, possibly the strongest part of Penn's team, grabbed three of the top four spots, with juniors Aaron Prokopec and John Church tying for second (4.80 meters) and Luke Stokes taking third (4.65). The runners also enjoyed some success. Senior captain Sean MacMillan finished second in the 5,000 (15:09.58) and Bryan Kovalsky took third in the 3,000 with a time of 8:46.60. Perhaps most noteworthy were the efforts put forth by the relay squads. Penn placed second in the 4x800, while the Red and Blue's fifth place finish in the 4x400 was good enough to earn Laethe Coleman, Matt Lorditch, Mike Aguilar and Craig Douglas IC4A berths. Ragucci does not deny that some athletes are doing their part, but it is not enough. "I think we're making strides," he said, "but we have a ways to go before Heps." And Heps weighs more heavily on the collective mind of the team with each passing week. The late February showdown at Dartmouth nears as Penn might be in its most vulnerable state of the season. That is why the Quakers are putting a great deal of stock in next week's competition at Boston University. "It's just a momentum builder," said Ragucci, who claimed that confidence is what Penn needs most at this point. Perhaps Penn could be accused of viewing the Delaware Invitational as just another insignificant preparatory measure before Heps, but the Quakers know that a good showing in Boston next Saturday is essential for their psyche if nothing else.
(02/04/00 10:00am)
Rebounding is more than just something on which Penn's basketball teams need to focus. After a less than sterling performance last week at the Jasper Invitational, the Penn men's track team will look to bounce back tomorrow at the Delaware Invitational in Newark, Del. For most of the indoor season, the Quakers' attitude has been that each regular season meet was simply a tune-up for the Heptagonal Championships. But it appears as if they have changed their tune somewhat. With only two competitions remaining before Heps, it's time for the Red and Blue to start firing on all cylinders. "We need to compete in every meet like it's the championship," senior pole vaulter Bob Reynolds said, marking a stark contrast to the prior approach of the team that had the Quakers accepting moral victories as long as they were improving from meet to meet. With this in mind, though, Penn knows it is not yet in dire straits. A confidence -- perhaps somewhat more inconspicuous now -- still permeates the Quaker locker room. "I don't think anybody's panicking," senior captain and distance runner Sean MacMillan said. The Red and Blue are also fairly certain that their athletes will excel come crunch time. "When the big meets roll around, the performances will be there," Reynolds said. And in preparation for those meets, Penn coach Charlie Powell plans to tinker with the lineup. During most of the season, Powell has been blessed with tremendously versatile athletes, such as Mike Aguilar and Tuan Wreh, who have starred in a number of events. To succeed at Heps and IC4As, however, these athletes will be better suited by concentrating on just one endeavor. The Quakers could also get a boost this weekend at Delaware when they look across at their competition. While last week's meet at Manhattan College featured more than fifteen teams, including traditional powerhouses such as Connecticut, this weekend's field will include Division II teams and generally lesser competition. Local rivals Temple and La Salle will be among those in attendance for the two-day meet, and they will certainly be gunning for Penn. Besides facing weaker opponents at Delaware, the Quakers will also be performing on more familiar territory. The Red and Blue, who had not traveled to Manhattan in recent years, complained of the campus' inadequate facilities. By contrast, this is the third consecutive year that Penn will compete at Delaware. The Quakers' health is reason for enthusiasm as well. Although Reynolds will again sit out due to an injured knee, the rest of the team -- including a previously ailing distance squad -- is now approaching full recovery. Injuries or not, the show must go on in February's final weekend at Heps. "You could not have a leg, or have an arm dangling at your side and run the best meet you've ever run," Reynolds said. It is this drive and desire which the Quakers hope to use to their advantage in these crucial upcoming weeks.
(02/01/00 10:00am)
Call it an off week. Call it a mid-season lapse. Whatever it was, the Penn men's indoor track team would just like to forget about it. The Quakers had a lackluster outing on Saturday at the Jasper Relays in New York, and they knew it. It was so disappointing for Penn that coach Charlie Powell's squad is probably thankful that the meet went unscored. Sophomore distance runner Matt Gioffre was upset with his personal performance on Saturday, but he knows he still has time to rebound, as the Heptagonal Championships are still four weeks away. "For myself, it was a setback, but it's really no big deal," Gioffre said. Gioffre was unable to point to any specific individual standouts among the Quakers' distance squad. Penn's third-place finish in the 4x800-meter relay was very solid, however, especially considering that more than fifteen teams were at the meet. It was frustrating for the Red and Blue to perform so poorly, but various factors outside of their control might have contributed to the poor showing. Most significantly, the Quakers lost what they view as an essential aspect of their competitive edge -- to act as cheerleaders for their teammates. While the runners can generally provide support for the field athletes and vice versa, the two corps of Quakers were not even in the same borough on Saturday. With the Harlem River dividing them, those participating in the field events performed on Manhattan College's campus in the Bronx, and the runners competed at the 168th Street Armory in Manhattan. Splitting the team up was not the only problem for the Quakers, according to pole vaulter Bob Reynolds. It seems that Penn had some issues with the interior design of Draddy Gymnasium. "Everything [is] tan colored, so it threw your concentration off," said Reynolds, who did not compete because of a knee injury. The senior added that the Penn vaulters managed to claim the first three spots, with John Church taking top honors. Still, the victory was a struggle because the facility was extremely cramped, frequently leaving dangerously little room between the venues for different events. The Quakers also blamed a delay in start time for some of their less-than-spectacular performances. The meet began in the late afternoon, but some of the runners' events, such as Gioffre's distance races, did not get underway until nearly midnight. "We were definitely trying our hardest, but there was a lot of bad luck," Gioffre said.
(01/28/00 10:00am)
After earning consecutive second-place finishes at Princeton and Cornell, the third time will truly be the charm for the Penn men's indoor track team if they can pull off another second-place finish this weekend. The Quakers will be competing in a deep field tomorrow at the Jasper Relays at Manhattan College. While Penn saw just three other teams at Princeton and only two others in Ithaca, N.Y., between 20 and 25 schools are expected to turn out for the Jasper Relays -- a meet that was not even on Penn's original schedule. The Quakers were originally slated to compete in the Terrier Classic at Boston University. No matter where they go or whom they oppose, Penn remains focused on continued improvement as its top priority. Senior pole vaulter John Church described the fine line between preparing for the Heptagonal Championships in late February and not overlooking each individual meet along the way. "Last year was a very disappointing year," Church said of the team's seventh-place finish out of nine at the '99 Heps. Church added that the Quakers have a superior collective frame of mind this time around. The team members seem to have adopted Church's steadying influence in the locker room, making coach Charlie Powell's job a bit easier. According to Powell, while a Heps championship is obviously the ultimate goal, each individual meet is a stepping stone to potential glory. To achieve that success, the Quakers will need more than just level heads and raw physical ability; health is also a vital ingredient for success. The Red and Blue have found that out the hard way. Several Penn distance runners did not travel to Cornell last week due to illness. This prompted the question of whether or not the squad should have continued practice as usual during an abnormally frigid week. The distance unit demonstrated its mental and physical toughness, though, when it resumed regular practice this week. The only interruption occurred with the University-wide shut down on Tuesday due to snow. While the runners -- led by senior captains Sean MacMillan and Scott Clayton -- will only get better with the proper mixture of rest and practice, Penn also has much to be excited about in many other events. Senior Matt Pagliasotti established an all-time school record by throwing the 35-pound weight 18.76 meters last week, while sophomores Tuan Wreh and Mike Aguilar have demonstrated their versatile prowess by placing in numerous events. The pole vaulting unit is also among the best in the region as three team members, including Church, have surpassed the 16-foot mark this season. Church is not surprised by the vaulting success, as former assistant coach Nathan Taylor -- now head coach at Cornell -- long anticipated big things from these athletes. "It's been expected for a while," Church said. "It's about time."
(01/24/00 10:00am)
Cornell, coached by a former Quakers assistant, defeated Penn in Ithaca, N.Y. Another week, another second-place finish for the Penn men's track team. This weekend, the Quakers were walking into hostile territory when they went up to Ithaca, N.Y., for the Cornell Invitational. There, Nathan Taylor, a longtime assistant of Penn coach Charlie Powell, was lying in wait to try to best the Quakers. In his first year as the coach of the Big Red, Taylor naturally had big plans for his squad when competing against Penn. The Quakers, meanwhile, viewed the meet as just another step on a road to bigger and better things later in the season -- and maybe a chance to say hello to an old friend. These differing philosophies shone through in the final score, as the Big Red won the meet, 88-74. Taylor was a charter member of Powell's staff twelve years ago. When Taylor accepted the Cornell position last summer, though, he undoubtedly wanted to prove his ability to his mentor. "I think it was important to him and he translated that importance to his team," senior shot putter Brent Stiles said. Consequently, Cornell put forth its full complement of athletes to win Saturday's meet. Penn, conversely, withheld some of its stars with a variety of objectives in mind, not the least of which was preparing for the Heptagonal Championships that are not too far off in the distance. Although some of the Quakers either stayed at home or participated in fewer events than usual, Penn still featured its share of standout performers. Most notably, Penn senior Matt Pagliasotti captured his third 35-pound weight throw title in as many meets -- this time in most impressive fashion. Pagliasotti set an all-time Penn record of 18.76 meters and, in the process, sent the message to the Cornell throwers and to his former coach that he's definitely a favorite to contend for a Heps title this season. Stiles, not to be outdone, also entered the record books when he fired the shot put an even 16 meters, the ninth longest distance in school history. Stiles' effort was good enough to qualify for the IC4As, joining Mike Aguilar and Gene Sun, who also had strong enough performances at Cornell to qualify for the end-of-the-season competition. The versatile Aguilar turned in another tremendous performance this week when he won the 55-meter high hurdles with a time of 7.69 seconds. Sun's event was not without controversy, however. He cleanly won the 55-meter dash, but the officials appeared to overlook teammate Stephen Faulk, who had apparently placed second. The officials first indicated that Faulk had not completed the race, but they later determined that he had finished fourth, hurting Penn in the final point tally. The oversight had little impact in the grand scheme of things, though, as Cornell defeated Penn by a 14-point margin. A healthy long-distance corps, on the other hand, could have provided a more potent threat to Cornell. Now, at the height of flu season, much of the squad, with the exception of sophomore Matt Gioffre, was too sick to participate. Stiles does not discount the idea that the runners' long practice hours in the cold may well have contributed to their falling ill. When healthy again, Penn feels it will be a force to be reckoned with, and the talent is certainly in place to enable improvement. "Every year, they're getting better, every season they're getting better. It's a process," Powell said.
(01/21/00 10:00am)
While Penn's men's indoor track team views each meet as a chance for physical improvement, its mental toughness is unquestionable. Tested by Mother Nature this week while preparing for tomorrow's competition at Cornell, the Quakers stuck to their guns and continued to practice as usual. A frigid Monday gave way to only slightly better conditions Tuesday and Wednesday before the real challenge arrived in the form of about four inches worth of snow yesterday. Although they might comprise the indoor track team, much of the squad trains outside at Franklin Field whether there's rain, shine, sleet or snow. Junior long distance runner Bryan Kovalsky completed several laps around the chilled track well past sunset late Wednesday afternoon. "Most serious runners run indoors and outdoors," Kovalsky said. Penn coach Charlie Powell says he's not sure whether training in the bitter cold and snow is a plus or a minus. He chooses to downplay the significance of it, even though several of the teams that Penn faces throughout the year are able to practice inside. Kovalsky, however, feels that the Penn runners might have gained a mental edge for the Cornell meet. This improved mindset can't do anything but complement the Quakers' aggressive training schedule. Therefore, the Quakers are understandably confident about building on their second-place effort last week at Penn State when they battle local rival St. Joe's in addition to Fordham and host Cornell. "Penn State was just like the first step," said Kovalsky, who echoed the thoughts of many of his teammates who have their eyes on the Heptagonal Championships and IC4As, which loom at the season's end. Last Saturday's outing seemed a promising first step, despite the fact that standouts such as captain Sean MacMillan insist that much room for improvement remains from a team standpoint. Still, few can dispute the impressiveness of performances turned in by individual athletes such as senior throwing captain Matt Pagliasotti, who has captured first place in the 35-pound weight throw in both of Penn's meets thus far in the season. Perhaps sophomore Tuan Wreh has been even more sterling. The Red and Blue's leading jumper has also recorded victories in both of Penn's competitions, but in different events. He took the long jump title at Princeton on December 11 and won the triple jump in State College. Junior Mike Aguilar has placed third or above in three separate events so far in the young season, very clearly illustrating the Quakers' athleticism. "A lot of our guys are really versatile and Aguilar is agile and extremely fast," Kovalsky said. Penn throwers and jumpers have already shown results, and with the adverse weather hardening the nerves of the runners, the Quakers have every reason to be confident as they head up north.
(01/18/00 10:00am)
The Quakers felt that they were rusty in finishing behind host Penn State. Although Penn men's track team did not come out on top at Saturday's meet at Penn State, the Quakers certainly gave the Nittany Lions some competition for Keystone State supremacy. In Saturday's competition at State College, Pa., the Quakers placed second in a field of five, beating out local rivals Villanova and La Salle (Nos. 3 and 5 respectively), as well as Washington University. Contributing greatly to Penn's success were senior Matt Pagliasotti, who captured first place in the 35-lb. weight throw (57' 1.50"), and sophomore Tuan Wreh, who logged an impressive early-season victory in the triple jump (15.28 meters). John Church placed second in the pole vault with a 16-foot clearance, and junior Mike Aguilar recorded the third-fastest 200-meter dash time in school history in finishing third Saturday afternoon. Penn's 4x400 relay team also finished second with a time of 3:22.22. Even though this meet comes at a very early point in the season, and even though the Quakers did manage to post a better-than-respectable second-place finish, many Penn tracksters were somewhat displeased with the way they fared in Happy Valley over the weekend. "You could see we were rusty," senior captain and distance runner Sean MacMillan said, noting Penn's five-week layoff between meets. MacMillan pointed out that many of the teams had participated in a competition the prior week, providing an early tune-up for Penn's opponents. The Quakers were also missing some key members who were unable to participate due to either illness, injury or disciplinary action resulting from a late return from winter break. Because these sorts of occurrences are unique to this stretch of the season and should not be a factor later in the year, the Quakers remain optimistic. "Right now, we're a championship team. In the big plan, this was a stepping stone," senior pole vaulter Bob Reynolds said. In addition to their bridesmaid-like finish at Penn State, the Quakers produced a number of promising individual performances in their first indoor meet held at Princeton on December 11. At Old Nassau, Wreh and Aguilar performed exceptionally well, but received acclaim for different events. Wreh won the long jump with a mark of 23' 4.5", qualifying for the IC4As. Aguilar, meanwhile, has demonstrated his prowess in three separate categories so far this season, as he preceded his third-place finish in the 200 at Penn State with second-place efforts in both the high hurdles (7.74) and 300 (35.2) at Princeton. A major concern during the men's cross-country season last fall was its disparity in talent. Runners such as co-captains Scott Clayton and MacMillan turned in brilliant individual efforts, but the team often suffered when other runners fell behind the pack or battled through injury. The winter men's track season has been a different story, however. Aside from having stars competing in nearly all indoor events, the Quakers also feature several standout athletes that excel in more than one department. Balance has been crucial to the Red and Blue's prosperity to this point in the indoor season, and it will undoubtedly be key to its big hopes for the future. "We have some amazing athletes," Reynolds said. The Quakers had the pleasant opportunity to display their talents before a large crowd, as 1,400 people attended Saturday's inaugural meet at Penn State's Multi-Sports Complex. The onlookers saw the home team emerge victorious, but should have also left the gymnasium believing that the Quakers are a legitimate threat. Though the Quakers may have shown some rust on Saturday, a Heptagonal championship in late February is still very much attainable. "We're definitely on track, or a bit ahead of schedule," Reynolds said.
(12/14/99 10:00am)
Score or no score, the Penn men's track team competed valiantly Saturday, as it opened the indoor season at the Princeton Holiday Invitational. The Quakers might have crossed the Delaware thinking that Saturday's meet would be a mere tune-up for the rest of the season, but once the competitors stepped on the floor at Princeton, their athletic instincts kicked into high gear. Though team scores were not tallied on Saturday, four Quakers won their respective individual events. "Once we got started, we got very competitive," sophomore Tuan Wreh said. Wreh won the long jump with a personal-best distance of 23'4.5". The length of Wreh's winning leap surprised even Wreh himself, as the sophomore qualified for IC4As in the season's very first meet. "My goal for this meet was to just work on some technicalities of my event," Wreh said. Ironically, Wreh was not even considering the IC4A berth in preparation for Saturday. Still, he is pleased to have gained a spot in the March championship competition so early. "You want to qualify for the big meets," Wreh said. "They are a big measuring mark for your abilities as an athlete." In addition to Wreh, Penn seniors Matt Pagliasotti and Bob Reynolds both recorded victories in their events and qualified for the IC4As. Freshman Joe Nessler captured first place in the high jump with a height of 6' 5" but did not exceed the necessary height required for an invitation to Blacksburg, Va., the site of this this year's IC4As. Pagliasotti threw the 35-pound weight 55' 8.5" and Reynolds cleared a mark of 16' 1" in the pole vault. Much like Wreh, Reynolds' victory was something of a surprise. He too had set goals that focused more on mechanics and mentality than on competitive performance. After sitting out second semester last year so he could concentrate more on his academic performance, Reynolds looked to recover some of his form at Princeton. "My goal for the meet was to get my confidence back," Reynolds said. Reynolds did more than just regain his confidence on Saturday. By winning the event, Reynolds also came within two inches of a personal record. The Pittsburgh native roundly praised the rest of Penn's pole vaulting corps, pointing out that junior Josh Coleman and senior John Church had achieved personal bests, while junior Luke Stokes also came within inches of doing so. Reynolds offered tempered enthusiasm about qualifying for the IC4As -- the feat is nothing new to him. "I've only missed one IC4As in my college career," Reynolds said. With such sterling individual efforts on Saturday, Penn can begin to talk about possibly dethroning Princeton as the king of men's track in the Ivy League. But, of course, that will not be easy. "As champions, they're not just going to give away their title," Wreh said. Yet Reynolds insists that the talent and the mindset are intact for the Quakers to do some damage. "From yesterday, we're even more psyched up about winning a championship," he said.
(12/01/99 10:00am)
The Quaker hope their stellar autumn on the trails carries over. The Penn men's track team built a strong foundation this fall with an impressive third-place finish at the Heptagonal Championships in cross country last month. Coming off this early success, the Quakers hope to reach skyward in the rapidly approaching indoor season. While indoor track usually does not garner the prestige of cross country and outdoor track, the cross country squad's return to national prominence has made Penn anxious to compete this winter. The Quakers came close to qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a team in cross country, while co-captains Scott Clayton and Sean MacMillan qualified individually. Both seniors finished in the top half of the field at Nationals. "It's definitely better to have a good season behind us now," MacMillan said. Unlike in the autumn, however, the distance runners will not be competing on their own this winter. And this is good news for the Quakers, as Penn's prospects are just as bright in other events. Senior throwing captain Matt Pagliasotti will be looking to defend his discus and 35-pound weight Heps titles from a season ago. Pagliasotti's personal record tosses of 59'6.25'' in the 35-pound weight and 172'4'' in the discus both place him fifth all-time among Penn athletes. Fellow senior Shawn Fernandes is the top sprinter on the team. He finished first in the 55-meter dash at Heps last year with a time of 6.00 seconds, a finish that tied him with Ed James' 1976 mark, for the fastest time in Penn history. Fernandes is presently recovering from health problems but is expected to be ready for the season opener on December 11 at the Princeton Holiday Invitational. The team's youngsters are not to be overlooked either. Sophomore Tuan Wreh was part of an impressive trio of jumpers last season, but he will have to carry the torch himself this year. NCAA-qualifier Stan Anderson and 24'10'' long jumper Dan Nord were both lost to graduation. Last year Wreh turned in impressive marks of 50'1.75'' in the triple jump -- good for fifth all-time among Penn athletes -- and 23'3.5'' in the long jump. Junior Andrew Girardin, is another athlete ready to contribute. Girardin, who has run one minute, 50.25 seconds for 800 meters, should be one of the key members in the middle distance corps, while big things are also expected out of freshman Sam Burley. The meet at Princeton is the first of the indoor season's eight contests, and the Quakers are focused on the task at hand. Still, most members of the team have their calendars marked for an event that is nearly three months away -- the Heptagonal Championships at Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H., on February 26 and 27. MacMillan thinks that winning Heps is by far his top priority for the team this season. "All personal goals revolve around that," MacMillan said. In fact, MacMillan's mind is so set on Heps that he and Clayton may very well forego participating at Princeton next week so they can continue to rest from the fall. The week after Heps, the region's top performers will have an opportunity to compete in the IC4A Championships at Blacksburg, VA., as a prelude to the spring outdoor season. Athletes in any field can qualify for the IC4A at any point during the season. Runners gain automatic berths by posting sufficiently low times, while jumpers and throwers can advance by clearing certain preset marks. The Quakers anticipate a prosperous winter season, but they will face a tough challenge in Princeton, a team that has won five of the last six Indoor Heptagonal Championships. "[The Tigers] have lost a few seniors from last year, but they're still the team to beat," MacMillan said. Navy, a long-time Quakers nemesis and the Heps' runner-up from a year ago, will also provide a challenge.
(11/22/99 10:00am)
Penn seniors Scott Clayton and Sean MacMillan will run in the NCAA Championships today. Scott Clayton and Sean MacMillan have preached the standard captain mantra -- "team over the individual"-- all season long, but today the limelight will be squarely on them. Although the Penn men's cross-country team failed to qualify for the NCAAs at last week's District 2 Championships at Lehigh, its two star seniors secured invitations with sterling individual performances. At last Saturday's competition in Bethlehem, Pa., Clayton placed third overall, while his co-captain and best friend MacMillan finished eighth in the 178-man field. Clayton and MacMillan were the second and third finishers among those runners whose teams did not qualify for nationals, held today at Indiana University. The Quakers have several advantages in their quest to end their final fall season in a hilly, 10-kilometer long blaze of glory. For starters, the initial criticism that this year's Penn squad is overly top-heavy has now turned into a rallying point. While an inconsistent pack at the third through seventh spots this season frequently compromised Penn's team score, Clayton and MacMillan will not have to look back over their shoulders today. Destiny rests in their own legs, as they are free to concentrate solely on their own performances. Added to that are some external conditions -- the temperature come race time in Bloomington, Ind., is expected to approach 70 degrees. This could play a role in the race, since the Quakers have felt an edge in previous races that were held in unseasonable warmth. The duo believes it might slow down runners from some of the extreme northern or New England schools that haven't experienced such temperatures in months. Also, Clayton and MacMillan view themselves as mainly "long-distance runners." While all regular-season courses spanned five miles, the championship layouts all cover 6 1/4 miles, another benefit for the two Quakers. This advantage was clearly evident last week on Lehigh's infamously hilly course -- which is the full 10 kilometers (6 1/4 miles) in length. The two Penn captains handled it with ease, nearly beating out the entire pack. Because the captains had never before visited the Indiana course, they flew with Penn coach Charlie Powell to Bloomington a day earlier than usual. By leaving on Saturday, the runners were able to take test runs on both days this weekend. While Clayton, MacMillan and Powell could not be reached in Indiana, each refused last week to make predictions on the outcome of the race.
(11/12/99 10:00am)
The Quakers head to the NCAA District II meet with an eye on nationals. One Penn team is hoping to start its Thanksgiving break a bit early with a November 22 trip to Bloomington, Ind. A trip to the NCAA Championships at Indiana is within reach for the Penn men's cross-country team if it can place high enough in Saturday's District II Championships at Lehigh. The Quakers, who finished third at the Heptagonal Championships two weeks ago, certainly have momentum in their favor as they head to Bethlehem, Pa., in search of history. Penn has not participated in the national tournament since 1971 but coach Charlie Powell feels that this season might bring an end to that drought. "Unless there are some real big upsets, we think we have an excellent shot," Powell said. While Powell realizes the potential of his runners, he refuses to allow any historical significance to interfere with the race at hand. He prides himself on being able to focus on one meet at a time without looking ahead. "I'm one of the few people who can do that," he said. Powell and his team also agreed to tone down practices the past couple weeks in preparation for Lehigh. The runners hoped that the reduced mileage would keep them in better condition and cure any soreness. Part of this philosophy was based on a knowledge of Saturday's course, which spans 10 kilometers (over six miles) rather than the traditional five miles. In addition, Lehigh is notoriously hilly. This course can benefit Penn, especially if the Quakers are well rested. "We have a lot of natural distance runners," senior co-captain Sean Macmillan said. Penn has also dedicated some of its time to formulating a plan of attack for Lehigh. "I always run better when I start out slow," sophomore Matt Gioffre said. "I like to be passing people the whole race." The District II Championships invite all 38 teams from the Mid-Atlantic region but not all are expected to compete -- some just aren't capable of a strong finish and opt to preserve their budget by not even traveling to the race. The top two teams gain automatic bids to NCAAs while a couple at-large selections will probably also be rewarded to the powerful and highly respected Mid-Atlantic conference. The Quakers would be thrilled to go in any way possible but they would definitely prefer the automatic berth to eliminate the suspense of learning the at-large selections. Powell explained that a committee convenes to discuss such picks and only reaches a consensus by Tuesday, an agonizingly long three days after the race. Another intriguing possibility to look out for is whether Penn's team will fail to qualify, while at least one of its two stars will go. Co-captains Macmillan and Scott Clayton also realize that the top individual finishers earn a trip to Indiana regardless of how their teams perform as a whole. Powell said he would be disappointed if that situation arose but he would of course be supportive of his top runners.
(11/01/99 10:00am)
Sean MacMillan and Scott Clayton placed fourth and fifth in Van Cortlandt Park. With the District 2 Championships looming less than two weeks away, the Penn men's cross-country team could not have picked a better time for what Quakers co-captain Scott Clayton called Penn's "best race in 26 years." Led by its two standout captains -- Clayton and Sean MacMillan -- Penn finished third in the Heptagonal Championships. With 91 points, the Quakers placed behind Dartmouth (79 points) and first-place Princeton (62 points), due in large part to the performances of MacMillan and Clayton, who placed fourth and fifth respectively in the 80-man field. Friday's nine-team meet at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, N.Y., featured all eight Ivy League teams, but Clayton felt best about defeating the one non-Ivy school in the field. The Naval Academy had placed ahead of Penn earlier in the season, and ahead of the Quakers in Heps every year since 1988, but Penn edged the Midshipmen by two points in this past weekend's competition. The 29-point difference between Penn and Princeton was the closest Penn had come to winning Heps since 1978, when Penn also finished with 91 points, trailing first-place Princeton by 13. The Quakers runners believe a couple factors gave them an advantage in the race. For one thing, the Quakers run on the Van Cortlandt course so often that they were able to formulate a solid plan of attack. "We wanted to maintain a steady effort," Clayton said, since the course's first mile is flat while the next two are rather hilly. In addition, Clayton said he felt that the unseasonably mild temperatures combined with strong winds caused slower times across the board, but particularly so for the New England racers who were perhaps ill-prepared for the warmth. Aside from the two captains, sophomore Matt Gioffre also opened some eyes by finishing in 12th place, still within a minute of the winning time. Clearly, there were many reasons for Penn's success on Friday. "We ran really well up front," MacMillan said. The co-captain was concerned, however, that the Quakers may have been too "front-heavy," indicating that the No. 4 and 5 runners must perform better. As Penn turns its attention now to the District 2 Championships on November 13 at Lehigh University, though, a healthy Mark Granshaw should remedy that problem. Granshaw, a senior, battled through an illness at Friday's meet but is expected to be 100 percent healthy for the crucial competition in Bethlehem, Pa., that could send Penn to the national championships at Indiana on November 22. Teams from the entire Mid-Atlantic region will be represented at Lehigh, with the two top schools earning automatic berths in Nationals. The conference is so strong, however, that the third and fourth place teams could easily garner some of the 13 at-large selections available nationally. Such a critical upcoming chapter in the Penn men's cross country team's season is not distracting the Quakers from what they hope to accomplish. The runners will cut down their mileage in practice these next two weeks since they value rest at this stage of the season above all else. Also, the Quakers will maintain their always upbeat attitude as they head into Bethlehem. "Everyone on the team is having a lot of fun and it's helping us out tremendously," Clayton said. Penn is also optimistic about securing a spot at Nationals since the district competition course is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) long , while all previous meets have spanned five miles. This might benefit Penn, which fields a number of natural long-distance runners.
(10/11/99 9:00am)
Improvement might be hard to discern in a season consisting of just three tournaments, but the Penn women's golf team has taken a giant leap forward this fall. This weekend, the Quakers shot a combined two-round score of 771 at the Rutgers Invitational in New Brunswick, N.J, good for 12th place out of 14. Place aside, it is impossible to overlook Penn's improvement this fall. Just three Sundays ago, the Quakers limped off Yale's course with a total score of 857, placing them 19th in a 21-team field at the Yale Invitational in their first-ever match as a varsity program. Although their tournament placements did not improve much after Yale, the women's individual performances did -- and quite a bit. The team saw a 57-stroke drop the following week at Princeton and just completed by far its most impressive match ever at Rutgers this weekend. Besides providing the women with an abundance of confidence to head into the spring season, the score also fulfilled a goal established by captain Natasha Miller. "We want to shoot under 400 in both rounds," Miller said last week. Penn accomplished just that, shooting a 390 on Friday and 381 on Saturday. Even the players seemed to surprise themselves. "It's not normal for a team to drop 29 strokes from a Sunday to a Friday," Miller said. But with all four participants shooting career bests, the Quakers couldn't have asked to end their fall schedule on a better note. The Quakers' task is now to condition themselves for the spring season, which will open in late March with the William and Mary Invitational in Virginia and close with the Ivy League championships at Bethpage, N.Y., in April. Practice will continue outdoors at the Philadelphia Cricket Club as long as the weather permits, but the Quakers eagerly await testing their new "personal trainer." At Penn's indoor practice facility inside Hutchinson Gym, the team will be able to take advantage of a new computer system used to record the players' swings. As the golfer hits the ball into a net, a video camera records her form. She can then set up a split-screen in which she can compare her technique to either another one of her own swings or that of a professional. "It will definitely help develop a consistent swing," junior Jen Schraut said. While the team isn't practicing during the winter, much of its time will be devoted to the recruiting process, a relatively new undertaking for women's golf at Penn. With hundreds of high school seniors expressing interest in the program, there is certainly reason for optimism. For now, though, the current squad would just like to keep building on its success, asserting that sub-400 rounds are a reasonable expectation for all spring tournaments. "We want to keep breaking goals," Miller said.
