Austin Brown throws the ball into a lineout in the men’s rugby team’s last game at home for the year against Fresno State. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nakamura.

Men’s Volleyball

Men’s volleyball ended Carthage’s 14-match winning streak in a four-game match. The team continues their tromp across the country, with Continental Volleyball Conference championship semi-finals on April 13 and finals the next day.

Men’s Lacrosse 

With a 2–1 record, men’s lacrosse looks to their fourth game of their season against Saint Mary’s College, a major rival in their division. The game is at the Upper Field on April 13 at 1 p.m.

Women’s Rugby

Women’s rugby continues its undefeated streak, adding another win of 20–15 against Washington State University in the first installment of nationals for the team. The team is now on to regional playoffs, the next step toward national championships, against CSU Northridge on April 13 at 10 a.m. at Stanford University.

Men’s Rugby 

Men’s rugby crushed the competition in a 65–24 match against Fresno State in their first installment of conference playoffs. Chico State is the next team in store for a faceoff with men’s rugby on April 13 at Chico State.

Women’s Lacrosse 

After a 9–3 overall season record and a 3–1 conference season record, women’s lacrosse has finished at the top of the Division II North Conference. This weekend on April 13 they will face off against UC Santa Barbara, a tough opponent who also finished at the top of their conference, the Division I Central Conference. Women’s lacrosse is also looking further into the future, for regional playoffs on the weekend of April 20.

The UCSC men’s rugby team faced off against San Jose State University in a scrum on March 16. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nakamura.

Sarah Mackey Recognized for Impressive Season

UC Santa Cruz women’s basketball’s Sarah Mackey became a member of Division III First Team All-Independent. Despite a mid-season injury, Mackey played 19 out of 24 games and started 12 of them, with some of the highest number of offensive and defensive rebounds on the team.

AVCA Player of the Week

Sal La Cavera III was voted American Volleyball Coaches Association Player of the Week for the week of March 19. He is a senior outside hitter and led the team in two wins against NYU and Stevenson University, racking up 17 kills in each game.

Men’s Tennis Clamps a Nail Biter

In March, UCSC’s Division III tennis player Bryce Bettwy beat UC San Diego’s Division II Rajeev Herekar in a 5–4 match. The team — ranked No. 10 in the nation — has their last home game on April 14 against the No. 4 team, Cal Lutheran.

Women’s Rugby Focus on Playoffs

UCSC women’s rugby wins the title of League Champions after an undefeated season and heads into their first round of National Championships, which will be held at UCSC on the Lower East Field on April 6 at 11 a.m.

Nik Reeves makes an aggressive cut upfield. Photo courtesy of Randy Silver.

Men’s Rugby off to Playoffs After a Successful Season

The team won their last game of Winter Quarter against rival San Jose State 41–25 for the renowned McBeath-Porter Cup. After a 4–2 season, men’s rugby looks to their first round of playoffs against Fresno State, which will be held April 6 at 1 p.m. on the Lower East Field.

Men’s Lacrosse Starts Their Season Strong
With a 15–3 win against Cal State Monterey Bay under their belt, UCSC men’s lacrosse kicks off their season with a bang. The team will end their season with three home games in three consecutive weeks, the first of which will be April 13 against Saint Mary’s College at 1 p.m.

Calling All High School Soccer Players
Women’s and men’s soccer are each holding ID Clinics for those high school age students in the Santa Cruz community and beyond who are interested in playing soccer for the UCSC program, working on their skills or just getting a feel for what it is like to play for a team like UCSC. The men’s ID Clinic will be held April 13–14 and the women’s ID Clinic will be held May 3–5 — both clinics are on campus with players expected to find their own housing for the weekend. For more information or to register, contact men’s soccer at mnsoccer@ucsc.edu and women’s soccer at wmsoccer@ucsc.edu or go online to goslugs.com.

Men’s Volleyball Jumps Into First Round of Championships
The team plays against Milwaukee Engineering and Fontbonne in the Continental Volleyball Conference Tournament on April 5 and April 6, which will determine the team’s place in the CVC Championships for the following weekend.

Kevin O’Shea goes to goal for a shot against the goalie. Photo courtesy of Andrew Nakamura.

Ryane Ortiz (right) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Slugs to a 63-62 victory over Occidental College. Photo by Daniela Ruiz.

After a rough start to the season, the UC Santa Cruz women’s basketball team rebounded to win against Occidental College 63–62 on Jan. 7, riding captain Ryane Ortiz’s career-high 23 points to a close victory.

The win improves the Slugs to an 11–4 record, the hottest start of Coach Todd Kent’s three seasons at UCSC. After the game, he attributed the win to strong bench play, tough defense and guard Ortiz, one-third of the team’s captains, along with forward Sarah Mackey and forward Leah Parrish.

“[Ortiz is] like the last piece of the puzzle for us to win,” Kent said.

Ortiz is shooting for a breakout season in her junior year. While she is the team’s second leading scorer at 10.6 points per game behind Sarah Mackey’s 13.4 per game, Kent said Ortiz best exemplifies the type of game which does not show up in a box score.

In a two minute stretch in the first half against Occidental, Ortiz showed off her polished game by attracting three fouls, playing stern help in defense and scoring off a quick steal. On defense, she actively boxed out bigger players and cleared space for her teammates to grab rebounds, while on offense she forced Occidental into a quick timeout with her slashing to the hoop.

Kent said Ortiz sets the type of example that the team can always count on.

“I really believe we’re 13 players deep, but it’s the little things that get us sometimes,” Kent said. “[Ryane] takes pride in doing those smaller things to help the team win.”

By both her teammates and coaches, Ortiz has been praised as a leader. This season, Ortiz has jumped in scoring, steals and rebounds according to official NCAA statistics. Guard Geena Giovannetti said Ortiz’s improved game has been a result of consistent hard work.

“She’s the first one in and the last one out of the gym,” Giovannetti said. “And we definitely, definitely all look to her.”

The team has split the last two games since starter Sarah Mackey left due to a kidney infection. Ortiz said this is because she and the team have stepped up to fill the 6-foot tall forward’s shoes temporarily.

“We weren’t playing well the last game, and we had a meeting,” Ortiz said. “I pretty much decided then and there that we are going to the playoffs no matter what.”

Ortiz said her leadership is strong because of her empathy toward her teammates. Giovannetti said Ortiz is the “chatterbox” of practice and that everyone is always looking to her for comfort.

“It sounds cliched, but I always think that the best thing I can do is empower my teammates,” Ortiz said. “I just try to get everyone playing the best they can.”

Coach Kent said the team’s talents can be placed on more than just a few players, but that much of the praise he has received can be placed on the work of his captains.

“Everyone is playing better on defense now, and we’re so close to being a really good team,” Kent said. “Ryane will be a big part of it when we get there.”

The UC Santa Cruz women’s basketball team will play Cal St. Maritime Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. at the West Field House. 

Head Coach Emily Scheese said she believed the game to be a tough, hard-fought loss for the Banana Slugs, who were coming off a three-game win streak. Her post-game comments focused on her team’s valiant effort.

“We had an unfortunate penalty kick against us, which was converted, but we battled back,” Scheese said. “My team was literally covered in sweat, blood, turf burns and the tears of the beating Orange County sun.”

This season, the Banana Slugs are now 7-6 with a 7-3 Division III record. The team was ranked No. 1 in California for Division III and No. 3 in the West in the National Soccer Coaches of America Association’s rankings for the week of Oct. 2.

While the team will be in line for a slight fall in playoff rankings after the loss, the Banana Slugs will have built a case for entry to NCAA Regionals with recent wins over Cal Lutheran, Mills and Austin College, each held scoreless.

The Banana Slugs plan to continue their success in NCAA Regionals. Last year, UCSC punctuated their season by recording an upset win over Cal Lutheran, who was ranked the No. 10 team in the nation.

The Slugs advanced to the second round where they ultimately lost in overtime to Concordia Moorehead.

Co-captain Brooke Atkinson said last season’s playoff win against Cal Lutheran was an achievement for the team, but pointed out that they have already beaten Cal Lutheran this season.

Scheese said beating Cal Lutheran during regular season play was key.

“This was a goal we aimed for this season as we did not beat Cal Lutheran at all in the regular season in 2011,” Scheese said. “It was high on the agenda for 2012.”

Two seasons ago, the Banana Slugs lost their senior captain to injury. They finished the season with a win-loss record of 1-13-2, and missed their first playoffs since 2006. Atkinson said during their disappointing 2010–11 season, they focused on continued improvement.

“Our approach turned into the mindset that you just look to improve every game,” Atkinson said. “[The team] was so upset about that season that [they] just wanted to win.”

Last season, the players succeeded in getting to the playoffs. This year the team has bigger plans.

Sophomore forward Sarah Sadler, the team’s leading goal scorer this season, said she has confidence in her team’s ability.

“We made it to the second round,” Sadler said. “We want to build on that and I think we can do that with the players we have this year.”

Photo by Toby Silverman

Women’s Volleyball vs. Holy Names 

Sept. 26, West Field House

After last year’s pair of five-set classics in Oakland and at the West Field House, a friendly rivalry has set the Hawks and Banana Slugs on pace for a collision again. While this is the Slugs’ only opportunity to play Holy Names this season, last year’s games were split between the two squads, with each home team coming away with victory. Look for the Slugs to defend their home court from the resurgent Hawks, who would like to get a victory from the Slugs at all costs. If last year’s team performances are any indicator for this season, this match may be the most drama you’ll find west of the Barn Theater.

Photo by Prescott Watson

Men’s and Women’s Soccer vs. Bethesda University 

Nov. 3, Lower East Field

Despite being the last game of the season, this game will be the first chance at seeing last year’s women’s soccer team in a home game during the school term. After stunning heavily favored Cal Lutheran last year, the Slugs have shown the ability to win against any team on the West Coast. This year’s Slugs will look to close the season in strong fashion on their home turf. The men’s team will also challenge Bethesda, ending their season in an exciting soccer doubleheader. The event will also double as both team’s senior nights, which will honor the achievements of their graduating players.

Photo by Toby Silverman

Cross Country at the Bronco Invite 

Oct. 13, Cupertino

UCSC’s newest NCAA team will look to start its second season with even more success than last year. The Bronco Invite will be the closest meet the cross country Slugs will have to Santa Cruz. The picturesque setting of Cupertino, only 30 miles from Santa Cruz, makes the run a perfect weekend getaway for the Slug sports fanatic.

 

 

Photo by Sal Ing

Men’s Soccer vs. Rowan and La Sierra 

Oct. 6 and 7, East Field

Slugfest II will be a weekend of soccer action, featuring the men’s team battling two different squads on two different days. Be sure to scout out La Sierra and Rowan, who play an early game on Friday before challenging the Slugs on Saturday and Sunday. A pair of wins here may dictate how the season will turn out for the Slugs, who are coming off a solid 9-9 season.

 

Photo by Melody Chu

Women’s Swimming vs. San Jose State 

Nov. 3, San Jose

This meet will be a rare chance for UCSC fans to watch an elite Division I team take on the Banana Slugs. The San Jose State Spartans feature five swimmers who were invited to the Olympic trials earlier this year. The UCSC women’s swimming team has the most competitors out of all NCAA teams at UCSC. Both Slugs and Spartans will be showcasing their talents at the San Jose State aquatic center, one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in California — a great reason to explore Silicon Valley’s largest city.

Members of the men's volleyball team at UC Santa Cruz. Photo by Morgan Grana.

The UC Santa Cruz men’s volleyball team has been within reach of winning the division championship, but has never taken it all. Last weekend, the Slugs took a six-hour flight to Springfield, Mass. to make their sixth championship tournament appearance in the last nine seasons.

After two hard-fought matches, the Slugs must wait until next year if they are to bring glory home.
The NCAA Division III men’s volleyball tournament invited nine teams to compete for the first time in 2012.

While UCSC may have ranked second nationally entering the tournament, 2012 Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) Coach of the Year winner and UCSC coach Todd Hollenbeck said his team could win because of all the work they put in.

“At this point, it’s about team chemistry,” Hollenbeck said. “We’ve done all the technical work. Our team culture has really taken over and the guys have done a great job working together. We all have high expectations. [But] it’s playoffs — anything can happen. There’s a lot of talent.”

The tournament was troubling from the start. Against seventh-seeded Rivier College, the Slugs outlasted a difficult five-set win. In the semi-final match, Carthage College blasted their way to a 3-1 victory, ending the Slugs’ run.

“They came firing and attacking us. It wasn’t anything we weren’t expecting,” senior libero Darren Tsai said in a post-game press conference. “They just outplayed us today.”

In a rematch of the CVC tournament final held in late March, the Slugs played against a well-known Carthage College squad, which continually frustrated the team this season. Although UCSC led the regular season series 2-1, including a 3-0 sweep for the CVC championship, Coach Hollenbeck said in the post Rivier game press conference that Carthage was UCSC’s true rival despite the team’s success this season.

“Every time we face Carthage, it’s always a battle,” Hollenbeck said. “They’re a great team. The competition’s there.”

Team captain and senior setter Paul Leon knew the match would be an aggressive one.

“We expected a dogfight,” Leon said. “When you play a team four times, you pick up on their tendencies.”

Neither team could shake each other off in the first set. Smashing kills and forced errors ran up the score quickly. With a 22-22 deadlock, Carthage crawled to a first set victory, before taking the second set.

Down 2-0 by the third set, the Slugs opened with a 7-2 lead, which led Carthage to an early timeout. UCSC dominated the next several possessions with explosive kills. A late run by Carthage shaved off most of the lead, coming within three points, the closest they had been since 5-2. The Slugs answered the run by taking the set 25-20, momentarily keeping their season alive.

The fourth set finished the Slugs’ season as an early 11-7 lead disappeared quickly. Junior outside hitter Salvatore La Cavera launched an overwhelming kill, silencing loud Carthage cheers and pushing the Slugs within two points. The heroics weren’t enough to stop Carthage’s 25-18 set win, ending the Slugs’ championship aspirations.

Since 2004, the Slugs have finished in the top five of the nation five times. The team has come close to winning the championship before, finishing twice as national runners-up in 2004 and 2010. Carthage has finished no worse than third place in the past three seasons, but has yet to win the championship. The Carthage College Redmen lost in the championship match against hometown Springfield College.

Along with another post-season appearance, 2012 brought player and coach recognition to UCSC. Along with UCSC coach Todd Hollenbeck’s CVC Coach of the Year awardee, players La Cavera, Paul Leon, Darren Tsai and Jake Dietrich earned CVC All-Tournament Team honors.

Leon said he appreciated the All-Tournament Team honors.

“The season has been an unbelievable experience: being a senior and getting to be team captain and to see how we’ve grown as a team,” Leon said. “Even though we didn’t win, I wouldn’t take back a day.”

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/05/03/slugs-suffer-stinging-loss-to-carthage-in-semi-final/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/01/26/qa-cross-country-slug/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/01/26/qa-cross-country-slug/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:15:43 +0000 mrad http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=21211 When she’s not in class, Jennifer Contreras is a runner for the UC Santa Cruz cross-country team. Contreras is one of eight juniors on the women’s team. Recently, City on a Hill Press met with Contreras at the track to talk all things running. 

 

City on a Hill Press: Is being a student athlete a big commitment for you?

Contreras: Yeah, it’s a big commitment. Being a college athlete is very demanding. But in the end, if it’s your passion, it’s all worth it. It’s fun being surrounded by people who share similar goals and interests with you. I love all my teammates and coaches. We all support each other. We train hard and race hard. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

 

CHP: How do you balance your team and school?

Contreras: Runners are athletes, even when not at practice. We have to sleep early, wake up early, do school, practice, race, every day until the season is over. Even when the season is over, we have to train. I think being an athlete makes me more disciplined as a student. We race almost every weekend and have to get our stuff done. There is a lot of sacrifice involved. We can’t always go out and do things normal college students would do.

 

CHP: Did any of your fellow runners surprise you with their performance?

Contreras: I’m not surprised with what my teammates can do. They run hard and run well. I’m particularly proud of the freshmen on the team. They did very well and had a good season, and can only improve from here. Two of our runners, Mimi Petersen and Lauren Carlton, had spectacular performances at regionals and placed top 35 in the west region. As for the guys, I think they really showed other teams they are serious and ready to compete … They will only continue to show the competition what they’ve got.

 

CHP: What are you doing to prepare for next season?

Contreras: I want a faster time. To get faster next year, I will have to allow myself to save my mental energy for the race and not spend it all at practice. Most importantly, I need to stay confident and rest more. I will be a senior next year and I will train my best to make my season count, and hopefully make it to regionals with the top seven girls.

 

CHP: How much do you train per week?

Contreras: I train 12-15 hours a week. One or two hours, six days each week.

 

CHP: Does UCSC support the team?

Contreras: UCSC tries its best to support us, but since we don’t have as many resources as Division I schools, we have to just do the best we can with fundraising, and use the voices of our athlete representatives [to] push for more resources and opportunities. I think the student body is becoming more aware of the sports teams UCSC has. Everybody can always use some more school spirit.

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2012/01/26/qa-cross-country-slug/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/12/01/fall-sports-recap/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/12/01/fall-sports-recap/#comments Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:47:46 +0000 City on a Hill Press http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=20545

Photo by Toby Silverman.

Photo by Prescott Watson.

Swimming and Diving heats up next quarter as the men’s and women’s teams host the Finis Winter Invite in South Gate, Calif.  This is a lead-up to the National DIII Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. from March 21-24.

Women’s Golf is a spring sport, but the team has already placed in three tournaments. Charlotte Gibson took second place and Alice Trisri tied for fifth place at the Lady Bulldog Fall Classic in Texas. The team will grow in spring with the return of Sharlene Dahlstrom.  March 26-27 the team will be hosting the UCSC Spring Invite, taking place at the Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz.

Cross Country

Men’s cross country had its first season as an NCAA sport at UCSC. Both the men’s and women’s teams raced six different meets, including the Shoreline Open in Mountain View, Calif. and the Willamette Open in Salem, Ore. Slug women’s placed seventh while men’s placed ninth

at the San Francisco State Gator Invite. In their last race of the season, Slug women’s placed 14th overall at the Bronco Invite in Santa Clara.

Volleyball

Led by coach Todd Hollenbeck, men’s volleyball will open their season on Jan. 7 at University of the Pacific.

The women’s volleyball team finished 8-8 in Division III competition, with a total record of 14-9. Despite the winning record, the team missed out on qualifying for the Regional Championships, bringing their season to an end.

Basketball

The men’s basketball team is currently 1-3, with losses to Division I UC Davis, Whitworth and Whitman.

UCSC men’s basketball has been playing at a high level. Despite a record of 1-3, coach Gordie Johnson expects big things from his team.

“They took Division I UC Davis to the limit,” Johnson said. “We should have beat them.”

Johnson noted UCSC’s ball movement is better this year. In UCSC’s four games, there have been four different leading scorers.

“They share the ball really well,” Johnson said. “This year our players fit the offense better.”

This week men’s basketball will play in the University of Redlands tournament. Coach Johnson believes UCSC will make a splash.

“We have an easier schedule and there’s no one close to the teams we lost to,” Johnson said. “Our ultimate goal is 20 wins.”

The women’s basketball team is off to a slow start, losing their first three games. They will look to rebound their way to the National Championship in February. This week, the Slugs will have a two-game home stand against Whittier at 6 p.m. in the West Gym on Friday, and against University of Redlands at 2 p.m. in the West Gym on Saturday.

Tennis

After the departure of Bob Hansen, former head coach and founder of men’s tennis at UCSC, Bryce Parmelly will lead the team starting in January. The team will begin their season against Santa Clara University on Jan. 15 at Santa Clara.

Led by coach Erin Ness, the women’s tennis team will begin its season in January, opening against Santa Clara University at Santa Clara.

Soccer

The men’s soccer team finished 9-8. The team missed the playoffs this season, ending their season with a 3-1 away win against Cal Lutheran.

Slug women’s soccer was successful this season. The team finished with a 10-8-2 record for the season and a visit to the NCAA regional semifinals. The team beat Cal Lutheran in the first round of the playoffs. Junior forward Brooke Atkinson said the last loss to Concordia-Moorehead was most memorable.

“It definitely stung a little,” Atkinson said. “I mean, we beat them [initially] in the season 1-0.”

Coach Josh Schelhorse will be stepping down at the end of the season and assistant coach Emily Scheese will be taking over. Atkinson said the team was an underdog this season. She feels the team can improve despite Schelhorse leaving.

“Hopefully we will get further than we did last year,” Atkinson said. “It’s going to be interesting.”

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/12/01/fall-sports-recap/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/04/28/men%e2%80%99s-tennis-heads-to-ojai-tournament/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/04/28/men%e2%80%99s-tennis-heads-to-ojai-tournament/#comments Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:28:36 +0000 Samved Sangameswara http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=17031

Freshman Bryce Bettwy serves a ball during a practice on Tuesday. Photo by Prescott Watson.

Junior Yushi Ayabe returns a serve during the team’s Wednesday practice. Within NCAA Division III, men’s tennis at UCSC is a powerhouse, with seven titles and the most Division III final appearances in the country. Photo by Prescott Watson.

With seven NCAA Division III titles and the most NCAA Division III final appearances in the country, the UC Santa Cruz men’s tennis team doesn’t have to do much to prove it belongs among the elite in collegiate tennis. However, that reputation does not leave the team resting on its laurels.

This weekend, the team is traveling down to Ojai, Calif. to participate in the 111th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. One of the biggest tennis tournaments in the nation, Ojai sees competition all the way from Division I to the the high school level. The competition is split into a number of tournaments, with Divison III, community colleges, high schools and the Pacific-10 Conference all playing in their own individual brackets.

UCSC men’s tennis coach Bob Hansen said that size and scope of the playing field makes Ojai a proving ground for the players.

“It’s a huge tournament,” Hansen said. “It’s a finer atmosphere. It’s the closest many of our guys will get to the pros.”

Besides the importance that the tournament holds in the tennis world, performance at Ojai also has implications for the NCAA Division III tournament later in May. The seeding for the tournament is decided by a panel of judges, and Hansen said Ojai is one of the judges last chances to look at the players before making their decision.

In spite of the mounting pressure, the team is still keeping its cool. After a successful showing at Ojai last year when senior Brian Pybas took first place in singles, the team is confident that they can put on a strong performance this year. Sophomore Parker Larsen, the third-ranked singles player on the team and Pybas’ partner as part of the team’s No. 1 doubles duo, said he has high expectations for the tournament.

“I hope to see every Slug go as far as they can go,” Larsen said. “I know we have the potential to go all the way. I expect to see medals.”

While coach Hansen shares that optimism, he made note of the fact that the tournament won’t be easy by any means.

“I feel good about where we are and about our training. I want to see a deep run by a number of our players and I expect to do so [as well],” Hansen said. “But that being said, from the first round forward there are a lot of obstacles. There will be no shortage of very talented players for sure.”

sIn addition to the competition, both Pybas and Larsen also acknowledged that the sheer length of the tournament is a challenge in and of itself. With multiple matches each day over the entire weekend, the tournament will also be a test of stamina for the players.

“It’s a really tough tournament,” Pybas said. “You play singles and doubles and you play three or four matches a day. By the time you get to Sunday you’re pretty beat.”

The second-ranked singles player, senior Erich Koenig, said one of the ways to combat that fatigue is to capitalize on the earlier matches, which may be less competitive.

“[I want to] manage the matches I can win easily and not play more tennis than I have to,” Koenig said. “[Ojai] is a mental and physical challenge.”

The team members are eager to go to Ojai. Larsen and Koenig, as well as the team’s fifth singles player, sophomore Sam Rodgers, agree it is the atmosphere at Ojai that makes it such a special tournament for the team. The players who make it to finals at Libbey Park have the chance to play in a stadium alongside the televised Division I final, and follow in the footsteps of tennis superstars like Andre Agassi, who played at Libbey Park in his youth.

“[Playing at Ojai means] being a part of a lot of really special players,” Rodgers said. “The history there is hard to match. It’s what you play for.”

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/04/28/men%e2%80%99s-tennis-heads-to-ojai-tournament/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/02/17/swim-like-a-butterfly-sting-like-a-slug/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/02/17/swim-like-a-butterfly-sting-like-a-slug/#comments Thu, 17 Feb 2011 10:54:03 +0000 City on a Hill Press http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=15168

The UCSC swim team trains for an upcoming competition. The Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference will end the season for swimmers, unless they move on to the NCAA DIII swimming championships. The team has been training for the meet for the last six months. Photo by Molly Solomon.

“You’re swimming for four days,” swim team head coach Kim Musch said to his team on Saturday. “A lot of you will swim 12 or 13 races. As soon as you finish one race, you have to put it behind you. You don’t think about how tired you are, you focus on the next one. You don’t need to explain it to everyone if you raced badly. Just one race can make your meet.”

Members of the swim team have been waking in the wee hours of the morning and training for three to five hours a day over the last six months in preparation for the Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference.

This weekend’s competition will be the last meet of the season for most of the swim team, unless any of the athletes qualify for the NCAA DIII Swimming Championships, which take place during the last week of March.

Freshman swimmer Jeanette Dove hopes to not only go on to nationals but to also break the school record in the 100 yard backstroke race.

“I’m trying not to let it get to me,” she said. “I’m doing better than ever this season because I’m more relaxed.”

As a senior swimming at the conference for the fourth time, Evan Moore has a different perspective.

“I’ve been there so many times, this time I’m just focusing on myself,” he said.

The practices leading up to this final meet are focused on breathing and becoming comfortable with faster swimming. Assistant coach Isaac Kim is working with a rope device to pull individual swimmers through the water to simulate what it feels like to go that fast, hoping to have the swimmers mimic the speed during their races.

“Physically, they are ready,” Kim said. “Everything is mental from here on out.”

Coach Joe Wilson said pressure will be the team’s biggest foe at the event.

“It is a stressful meet,” he said. “Each person puts a lot on themselves. This is the season’s climax.”

However, at their practice last Saturday, the nerves didn’t show. The swimmers were mostly laughing and joking about when they will finally shave their legs and arms.

“Right now everyone might be feeling like they are a bit nervous, but I think once we get to the meet and the excitement kicks in, I think everyone will swim really well,” said sophomore swimmer Dana Macabales. “Last year, as the meet went on it got easier to swim faster.”

The Slugs are the only DIII public school team at the meet. The rest of the teams at the event are DI and DII schools, as well as private DIII schools.

The UCSC swim team struggles to make ends meet. All participants are required to fundraise. Despite this financial disadvantage, the men finished fifth in the 2010 conference and the women finished sixth, besting many DI and DII teams who have more funding.

Moore said he is proud of the Slugs’ DIII status and that it will be an advantage for the team at the coming meet.

“It’s nice being underdogs — there are not as many expectations,” Moore said. “We’re usually a much happier bunch, and that works out in our benefit.”

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2011/02/17/swim-like-a-butterfly-sting-like-a-slug/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2010/11/11/women%e2%80%99s-rugby-team-leaps-to-division-i/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2010/11/11/women%e2%80%99s-rugby-team-leaps-to-division-i/#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:10:57 +0000 City on a Hill Press http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=13565

The women’s rugby team’s weekly practices involve drills and fast-paced scrimmages. After four successful years, women’s rugby is making the transition to being a Division I team in the Northern California Rugby Football Union. Having advanced in league ranking, the team now faces the challenge of operating a Division I team on a limited budget. Photo by Prescott Watson.

The women’s rugby team has done what no team on campus has done before. Despite the lack of both financial support and a varsity title, the team has reached the very top of the sport. Though it is not yet a part of NCAA, the team is now Division I in the Northern California Rugby Football Union, making it UC Santa Cruz’s only Division I team.

After winning two USA Rugby (USAR) Division II National Championships in the last four years, the UCSC women’s rugby team is finally making the big jump into Division I of the Northern California Rugby Football Union (NCRFU).

“We had been expecting it,” Coach Alex McKenzie said. “We had won some titles in the last couple of years, so we figured this would be the next step, although it is a tough step to take.”

This season, the team will be competing in the best division in the country and against some of the strongest sports schools in the state, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, Chico State and UC Davis.

“We’ll be facing schools that are successful and that have more financial support for sports,” said sophomore team captain Maeci Brown. “Those are teams that have recruited their players from high schools.”

While the women’s team will face its biggest challenge yet with its first Division I games in January, the men’s team will be vying for the NCRFU Division II title this year.

Philip Brody, junior president of the rugby club, said that even though the men’s team hasn’t won any championships yet, it can learn from the women’s team’s recent achievement.

“As a team, it’s good to see what it’s like to have a winning tradition,” Brody said. “Having the girls out there working so hard is an example for us. It makes us want to win, too, and that’s our goal this year.”

For both teams, the 40 years of rugby tradition at UCSC has helped them build a sense of school pride toward the university. After all, the rugby club was the first one to call itself the Slugs — but even that hasn’t been enough to gain the distinction of UCSC varsity teams.

As sports clubs, each team receives $3,000 from the university per year.

This money is “pretty much gone by the end of the fall quarter, because of all the trips we have to make [outside of Santa Cruz] to play,” Brown said. “The only bad thing [about not being a varsity team] is that the lack of funding really hurts our growth.”

Because of monetary concerns, the advancement to Division I has not been as cheery as the team would have hoped. Being more competitive calls for a bigger budget that can pay for the preparation a Division I team requires from its players, money that the women’s rugby team does not have.

The men’s rugby team is aware of this necessity, and for that reason, it feels that Division II is the right place for its team at the moment.

“It doesn’t matter whether we’re Division II or Division I, as far as we have a good level of competition,” rugby club junior president Brody said. “And right now, we’re very comfortable being in Division II, because we’re not receiving funding anyway.”

As both teams face a new season next January, the women’s team will continue to work to get good results — both on and off the field.

“This season, we have to be much more committed, which means attending every practice and helping with the fundraising events,” women’s team captain Brown said. “We need to be there for the team, only this time, it has to be 100 percent.”

Although it is still struggling with budget issues and a lack of support, the women’s rugby team is another example of the abilities that exist within UCSC’s sport community. But too often, this success goes unnoticed.

“It would be cool if we could get more people to watch our teams play,” Brody said. “We need to keep emphasizing the importance of college sports. This is our way to celebrate being Slugs.”

]]> http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2010/11/11/women%e2%80%99s-rugby-team-leaps-to-division-i/feed/ 0 http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2010/02/11/in-over-their-heads/ http://www.cityonahillpress.com/2010/02/11/in-over-their-heads/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:18:15 +0000 City on a Hill Press http://www.cityonahillpress.com/?p=8795

Illustration by Kenny Srivijittakar.

Illustration by Joe Lai & Kenneth Srivijittakar.

His head was spinning. It had all happened in what felt like a split second — one minute he was sprinting past defenders toward the end zone, and the next his helmet flew off and he was lying flat on his back in the grass. Panting heavily, he scrambled to stand up and try to recover the ball, but before he knew it he could feel himself falling again as his vision quickly blurred. He tried to regain control, but it was no use — he was slipping into the black abyss of unconsciousness.

This scenario has become a reality for a growing number of collegiate athletes nationwide who have suffered a concussion while playing a contact sport. According to the Sports Concussion Institute, 1 in 10 athletes participating in contact sports in the United States sustain a concussion annually, which amounts to roughly 1.6 to 3.8 million sports-related concussions.

Thanks to extensive media coverage on the much-debated issue of how to treat concussions and other serious head injuries in the National Football League (NFL), this topic has made its way onto the playing fields of high schools and colleges across the country, as well as into the halls of state assemblies and House judiciaries. That’s because for a student athlete who sustains a concussion, the severity of the injury and the way they address it can have a huge impact on their immediate health and the sustainability of their body and brain later on in life.

What Is A Concussion?

A concussion, otherwise known as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), can be caused by a bump or blow to the head, neck or body that prompts the brain to move rapidly in the skull. There are different types of concussions ranging from grade one (which is considered mild) to grade three (the most severe, which is characterized by a loss of consciousness for at least a few seconds).

Depending on the severity of the blow, a concussion can be a significant injury — it can change the normal function of the brain and lead to serious long-term health problems if left untreated, or if enough time is not allowed to pass before the athlete goes back to his or her everyday activities.

Young athletes who return to play too soon — these make up 41 percent of all concussion cases, according to the American Academy of Neurology — put themselves at risk for additional concussions and even death in some cases, although this is a relatively rare occurrence.

Athletes who sustain multiple concussions throughout their playing careers also risk facing long-term health defects when they age. The Center for the Study of Retired Athletes at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill conducted a study, released in June 2007, in which they found that NFL athletes with a history of three or more concussions are more likely to experience depression and cognizance issues, both of which are often precursors of Alzheimer’s disease.

UC Santa Cruz head athletic trainer Primrose Pisares says that concussions are not something to be taken lightly, as they can lead to health problems later in life.

“Concussions caused by a sports injury or otherwise can be serious because they can affect motor and cognitive skills depending on the severity of the injury, which can range from mild to severe and even death,” Pisares said. “If an athlete returns to play too quickly, his or her symptoms can worsen and lead to more permanent damage to the brain.”

The Trickle-Down Effect

While concussions and head trauma have always occurred in contact sports, it wasn’t until recently that they began to receive widespread recognition. It first began in 2007, when the NFL began a study on the long-term effects of concussions in retired players. This did not receive significant public attention until last year, when an Oct. 28 hearing before the House Judiciary Committee eventually led the NFL to suspend its survey after intense scrutiny of poor statistical sampling and accusations of possible bias.

Shortly thereafter, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell implemented an overhaul of their previous concussion policies, which included a new rule that bans players from returning to a game or practice in which they have shown significant symptoms of a concussion. The policy now requires the player to receive clearance from a neurologist not associated with the team before he returns to play.

Pisares attributes the peak in concussion interest on the collegiate and high school levels to the recent NFL attention.

“Having the NFL in the news regarding concussions is a big thing, because people notice it,” Pisares said. “A lot of it has to do with the media, because otherwise how would people know this is coming up?”

Chuck Messimer, general manager of minor-league football team the Monterey Bay Vikings, believes the NFL’s actions have led the mass media to exaggerate the concussion issue.

“For lack of a better term, it’s a gore factor,” Messimer said. “People like to get hold of something that’s wrong with society and blow it up out of proportion.”

Jesse Trumbull spent nine years as assistant coach before becoming the head coach of the Santa Cruz High School Cardinals four years ago. He says the increase in concussion diagnoses can be attributed to a growing awareness of the injury.

“There have been head injuries in all contact sports since they started, but now that we have more information about it there’s obviously more concern over it,” Trumbull said. “It’s definitely a point of focus now for coaches. The medical staff has become more involved with the team and players.”

Concussion Commonality in Santa Cruz

Although UCSC doesn’t have a football team, concussions still occur in other high-contact sports on campus — particularly rugby, basketball, and soccer. Pisares said that one or two concussions usually occur per season for sports such as soccer and basketball. But for sports that involve more physical contact, such as rugby, concussions are even more prevalent.

“They’re definitely somewhat common, unfortunately, especially since there are no hard helmets like in football,” said Alex McKenzie, head coach of UCSC women’s rugby. “I’ve seen several a year, ranging in severity. … It’s relatively common compared to non-contact sports.”

When an athlete from one of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-sanctioned teams on campus does get a concussion, he or she usually gets a medical evaluation from a UCSC athletic trainer, who uses a template called the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) to determine the severity of the player’s injury.

The SCAT card comprises several different components that test the athlete’s memory, cognizance, physical symptoms and demeanor. Depending on the results, the trainer will then suggest a treatment plan, which usually includes sitting out for a week to 10 days from when the player has stopped showing concussion symptoms.

The NCAA has a few general guidelines, but no set of requirements that specifically dictates how to handle a concussion.

Pisares says that since it is difficult to prevent concussions altogether, what is most important is ensuring that an athlete receives proper treatment when they do sustain a head injury.

“We don’t have sports that require helmets like football, so it’s just about more vigilance when they do get a concussion,” Pisares said. “[It’s about] making sure coaches are following our guidelines, making sure athletes don’t do any physical activity, et cetera.”

Coaches such as Todd Kent, head coach of women’s basketball, fully put their trust in the UCSC training staff when it comes to handling serious injuries.

“As a head coach, I do whatever the trainers and doctors tell me,” Kent said. “If a trainer tells me they’re still symptomatic, I don’t let a player practice. I trust their opinion of what they tell me a player can and can’t do.”

Coaches at the high school level, in particular, are becoming more aware of the dangers of head injuries. Young athletes are especially vulnerable to serious injury from a blow to the head because their brains are not as developed as older athletes’.

The commonality of concussions in high school sports has been well-documented, especially when it comes to football. According to the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study, roughly 68,000 concussions occurred during the 2008 high school football season. Although this may not sound like a very high number, concern arises from the very kids to play with good, safe technique to make sure everyone gets off the field healthy.”

Coaches and Congressmen Take Action

From Santa Cruz to Sacramento to Washington, D.C., various organizations are considering imposing more specific guidelines and requirements that outline how a concussed athlete should be treated and when they should be allowed to play again.

California Assemblyman Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) recently co-authored a bill that, if passed, would require a high school athlete to provide a doctor’s note to the coach upon returning to the team after suffering a concussion. Several other states, such as Pennsylvania and Washington, either have similar bills pending or have already passed them.

Hill says his personal experience playing sports in high school inspired him to propose this bill.

“I played high school football, I was hit a number of times and I’ve got the scars to show it,” Hill said. “I know from a personal standpoint that head injuries are serious and that high school sports, especially contact sports, can be violent.”

Trumbull says he fully supports Hill’s bill, as he already requires a doctor’s approval for returning athletes who have been injured.

“If anyone, especially with a head injury, receives notice from medical personnel that they shouldn’t play, we don’t let them play again until they are cleared by that same medical personnel,” Trumbull said. “I would support that as something that should happen everywhere.”

The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports is currently reviewing its set of standards on concussions, but has not yet made any specific recommendations for stricter guidelines. Head trainer Pisares believes any changes they make will not occur right away.

“I think the NCAA might look into their guidelines again and see if they can do anything from their end, [but] it’s going to take a while because they can’t just say, ‘You have to do this’ and put it in their handbook,” Pisares said. “They have to do research first.”

Women’s basketball coach Kent hopes that the widespread attention this issue is getting will lead to an increase in awareness, regardless of whether rules are changed.

“From this, I hope, will just come a better knowledge and understanding to treat each head injury as if it’s severe so [the athletes] can get the best possible care,” Kent said.

Meanwhile, Monterey Bay Vikings general manager Messimer summed up why concussions should be taken seriously when they occur:

“You can fix a broken arm, but you can’t fix a broken brain.”

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