Vol. 22 No. 9, April 26, 1979 - Marist College

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Petro intimidated
by Thurmond
McDonald:
of the Year
Kris McDonald shoots jumper against Stonybrook
Paul Welsch
Ron Gadzlala
Team
ByJimTownsend
The Circle has named freshman women
basketball player Kris McDonald athleteof
the year for the 1978-79 academic year.
Being considered a good athlete and not
just a good woman athlete is invaluable to
any woman, says Kris McDonald.
McDonald averaged 18.2 points per
game as a guard for the women's
basketball team. She was chosen to the
Eastern Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics for Women (E.A.I.A.W.) All-Star
team for small colleges as well as to the
All-Tournament team at* Scranton, Pa.
There were 42 teams in the tournament
and 10 players were chosen to tine All-
Stars. - " - ,- -
McDonald considers it a compliment to
be respected as a player by other coaches
and especially men. She considers it
flattering to be considered as a good
athlete in \a school that thrives on
"predominately male sports."
McDonald has been playing basketball
since-she was nine years old. At Clarke
H.S. in Westbury, New York, she waschosen
to the All Nassau County team in
her junior year. " McDonald attended
Hendrik Hudson H.S:,vMontrose, N.Y. in
her senior year and was also chosen to the
All-Westchester County^t^am.-
' McDonald says she chose" Marist over a
school such as St. John's because she "fell
in love with the McCann Center'; and
because of the location to her home in'
Cortland, N.Y. At first she felt that it
would be hard to adjust to a hew team but
after a while she said the "whole team got
along great. .--"".
McDonald sees women's basketball "
growing in the next couple of years'as they
begin to play more competitive teams' and
move into Division I. -The only problems
she sees are that the women's team needs
an assistant coach and "the van has to
go." Both the men and the women
basketball teams travel in a van to away
games.
This summer, McDonald intends on
trying out for the junior team, that will
represent the United States* in the Pan-
American games. McDonald says the 1984
Olympics are in the "back of her mind"
but "are a long way off.", She says she
doubts that she will play basketball after
college but adds that -"things might
change."
' McDonald said the biggest highlight of
the season was when the woman's team
made the. Association of Intercollegiate
Athletics for Women (A.I.A.W.) playoffs. :
Other highlights were.when the Red Foxes
beat Iona College'and'when she^scored 26
points against Western Connecticut State
College.
'
post season record at 14-3 fpr .824 pet.
The Circle has named the Marist
cross country team this year's team of the
year for the year ending In December 1978.
The 1978 harriers completed its regular
season with a 14-3 record and a .824 winning
percentage.'
i
ay Christopher Hogan
After rising up from Division III to
Division II rankings and carrying a squad
of only 13 upperclassmen and 18 freshman,
head cross country coach Rich Stevens
expected to face his most toughest season
ever at the helm of the Marist Running
Red Foxes.
The Red Foxes opened its season on a
disappointing note as it finished eighth out
of nine teams in the Glassboro Invitational
on September 9. The team, using only
three of its top seven ranked runners due
to injuries, managed to place three
harriers In the top 40 ranks out of 80
competitors.
"It's not a true indication of what we can
do," said Stevens after citing the
numerous injuries. He added that the team
would perform better as the - athletes
recover from their respective Injuries.
But Marist overcame their injuries and
lifted their season record to 12-2 on September
31 by winning . the Southern
Massachusetts Invitational meet and
defeating four other teams.
• The harriers knocked off Southeastern
Massachusetts University, New Haven
University, Plymouth State College, and
Bryant College at the SMU.Invitational
behind' fine performances' by Jerry
Scholder, Ron Gadzlala,' Matt Cole, Paul
Welsh, and Dennis Goff. Scholder.flnlshed
the five mile flat course in second place'in.
24:25? Gadzlala 1 followed'In .third with a
time of 24:27:->',-' •-••-•'-"- -,
- "We finally did it after four successive -
second places," said'Stevens when they
returned the next day. "It took five good -
races;from five people." Ithink that •consistency
is very important-for the entire
team's success," he added.- ---
. The following week, the Running Red
Foxes finished second out of five teams at
the Mansfield State Invitational, Pa.-
Marist defeated Mansfield State College,
Alfred University, and St. John Fisher
college behind the strong one-two punch of
second place finisher Ron Gadziala and
third place finisher Jerry Scholder. Matt
Cole and Dennis Goff finished in fifth and
eleventh places respectively on the 6.2
mile hilly course.
The Red Foxes closed out the regular
season with a 14-3 record in -its best
showing ever at the Intercollegiate
American Amateur Athletic Association
Championships with a fourth place finish
out of 21 teams. Jerry Scholder was the
.first Red Fox to finish the race in eighth
place in 25:35 on the five mile course. Cocaptain
Matt Cole-and Ron'Gadziala
finished in 14th and 15th respectively.
The following day, the Red Foxes
traveled to the Albany State Invitational.
Marist placed third out of twelve teams
and.once again, Jerry Scholder led the
Running Red Foxes with a fourth place
finish in 26:01 ove'r the 5.05-mile course..
' "It was a nice job considering we ran six
of our key varsity runners yesterday (at
the ICiA's)," Stevens recalled. "Our best
race will be our last one.";
The Running 'Red Foxes finished the
season with a fifth place finish in the New
York State, Track >nd Field 'Championships
in Schenectady. Jerry Scholder
finished third and Matt Cole finished tenth
to be named to the first team of the All-
State team.- .. . , "-
-, Taat same day, the "B!' team finished
fourth in N.Y.„ State Upstate. Championships'
held atSiena College.- Harriers
Rich Sohanchykf Rich Schenkwitz, and Joe
Burleski finished 18th, 20th, and 21st.,
^ The Red Foxes ended, theirmost successful
seasoh.ever that'Saturday. Head
coach Rich Stevens said that'next year's
recrultments.are to be even better than
last-year's. - ' • .- •"[. -< .'.-;
Jerry Scholder
Dennis Gofff
Sports Roundup
The Hogies ' 79
Television has the Emmys, singers have
the Grammys, actors have the Oscars, and
The Circle has the Hogies.
The Leo Durocher Award • presented to
the coach', "because nice guys finish last"
is given to Ron Petro for his tolerance to
Marist hecklers and the team's season
record of 8-16. -
The Survival of the Fittest Award -.
presented to the Marist football team
running backs for their survival of an
entire, season without fatal injuries ..suffered
from lack' of anVofferisive.line. V
The Henry Kissinger Award - presented
to head soccer coach "Doc" .Goldman for
his diplomatic talent after acquiring two
Norwegian freshmen to compensate for
the losses of Zenone and Firmino Naitza.
The Rodney Dangerfield Award -
presented to- the women's crew team
because they "don't eet no res.Dect."
The Lifesaver Award - presented to the
jswim team for their Q-8. record and the
Interest
By Chris Barnes'
With the return of spring and the annual
inquiries about the absence of an intercollegiate
baseball team at Marist,
Director of Athletics Ron Petro explained
what is involved in the establishment of
new intercollegiate sports, citing the
formation .of a club, the acquisition of a
coach who would be willing to work
without pay for a year and sincere student
interest in the sport as a prerequisite.
Petro outlined the' procedure which
takes three years. It all starts with clearly
exhibited' student interest and the formation
of a club which operates informally
for one year, holding' practices, and'
perhaps a few scrimmages with other
schools, says Petro.
If .the club shows a continued student
interest,-it can gain funding from student
government in its second year- and
possibly arrange a small number of games
.with other schools. If the club is successful
in terms of organization and interest, it
can turn to the college for funding in its
third vear. he added.
•Marist ' currently offers an intercollegiate
program consisting of
thirteen .varsity sports including crew,
soccer,.- lacrosse,, basketball, cross'
country, - track, tennis,. inter-collegiate
football, and volleyball. .
•
Two years ago women's'volleyball 1
began as a club. Last year the club was
-funded through the student government,
putting together an eight game schedule.
Next yearthe sport will be funded by the '
college. 1 y '.•','- :- ^ ' •• • '
"^That's.what.happened with women's
volleyball," said. Petro. "We proceeded
courage to admit that they will-try to do
better next year.
The No-Name Offense Award -
presented to the lacrosse team for their
neglect to put numbers on their jerseys to
identify themselves during games.
The "proof is in the pudding'? Award -
presented to the women's basketball team
for their ability to prove that a basketball
team at Marist can have a winning season.
The Largest Team Award - presented to
the men's track team for their roster- of
"about-seven or eight people."
The Batman and Robin Award -
presented to Rich Stevens because he acts
as guardian to a band of cross country boy
wonders.
The McCann Demolition Award -
presented to the blackbirds and crows that
pecked their way through the McCann
Center roof.
can
©s
slowly, but now-we're on an equal level
with other colleges."
Petro saw racquetball as a new competition
sport in the works at Marist but'
noted that there are currently not enough
other colleges with teams to make'a
racauetball team worthwhile.,.
Fields and facilities at Marist include
Lebhidoff Athletic field for football, soccer
and lacrosse, a modern boathouse on the
banks of the Hudson, and the McCann
Recreational Center. The McCann center
is the largest collegiate sports complex in
By John Mayer
Intimidation is a big part of a basketball
game as head Marist basketball coach Ron
Petro learned firsthand in 1964 while
playing against ex-NBA star Nate Thurmond
in a game between Petro's alma
mater Manhattan and Bowling Green.
After Petro scored 13 points in the first
half, he was told by the former N.B.A.
standout that he wasn't going to be able to
score anymore, and needless to say he was
well contained the rest of the way.
This is just one.highlight of Petro's
athletic career while attending Manhattan
College from 196044 onischolarship. He
had turned down other offers from
Columbia, Maryland, and Brown upon
graduating from Gorton High School in
Yonkers, N.Y. in 1959.
At Gorton, Petro was named to the All-
Westchester County team as a forward in
basketball and a pitcher in baseball, both
in his senior year. He .was also named Con-
Edison Athlete of the Week of Westchester
County for his basketball performance the
same season:
Petro continued to play both sports in
college, spending three varsity seasons on
each. In basketball,, his first season was
spent as a substitute, however,"in his
junior year he got the opportunity to start
, and took full advantage of it. He scored
21.5 points a game, which put him amone
the top 50 players in the nation in scoring,
and also helped his teamto a 14-11 record!
. Highlighting his junior year season were
two 38 point performances, one againsi
Fordham and the other which led his team
to a defeat of Northwestern University at
Chicago Stadium.
in his senior year, Petro averaged. 18.
points a game, which helped him enter the
1000 point club, and graduated as the third
leading scorer in the college's history. In
his last season he was also named to the
All-Metropolitan team by the Metropolitan
Sportswriters Association.
Other' well kown opponents in Petro's
career include Happy Hairston when he
was playing for New York University, and
then went on to play for the Los Angeles
Lakers, and Kevin Loughery, who played
for St. John's University at the time, and is
now coach of the New Jersey Nets.
Stars eye hooters
By Stephen Fowler
Two Norweigians, a White Plains All-
League player and Robert Cooper, brother
of Marist halfback Gill, are among the
possible newcomers to next fall's Marist
- •%•'"%•
^soccer team. The team will lose : the:serT ;
vices of seniors Zenone and Firmino
Naitza, Russ Beckely, and Joe Curthoys
next season.
Coach "Doc" Goldman pointed out that
next year's schedule will be tougher than,
last year's but said, "We should be competitive."
Specifically he added, "We
should be all right defensively but we
badly need a striker...someone who canput
new sports
the Mid-Hudson Valley with facilities for
both men and women. The campus cannot,
however, boast of a baseball diamond.
The question of a baseball team is raised
annually at Marist, but Petro noted a
number of problems which prevent such a
team in the near future.
"The biggest problem is finding a field,"
he said. "You try and put in a big field and
it just doesn't fit."
--••• Even off campus fields cannot readily be
acquiredi said Petro. because the few that
exist are already being used by teams or
organizations. Furthermore, a home field
off campus would involve the added expense
of transportation to home games
and practices. "We're still working on a
practice football field," said Petro.
Petro said that baseball is one of the
most expensive college sports. I would be
second only to basketball and crew. He
noted the costs of insurance, uniforms,
equipment, and umpires, as well as the
cost of housing team members after the
school year has ended to allow NCAA play
which continues beyond the close of the
spring semester.
"I .would rather, see additional funding
for swimming and volleyball before we try
to start something new," said Petro.
Petro estimated the initial cost of
establishing a baseball team at |8,000.
As another future program at Marist, -
Petro mentioned girl's soccer, but again
noted the problem of locating fields.
Petro said that the college used to have
golf and sailing teams but that a number of
difficulties led to their ends at Marist. The
golf team was faced with a rapid decline in
interest, and the sailing program had
interest problems from its start. The
the ball in the net." He felt that possibly
Tommy Homola could do the job. He
credited the team with having a good
attitude. ,
Returning players for the 1979 team will
include Jimmy Downs, Matt Lovecchio,
Tommy Homola; Kevin Black, Rich
Heffernan, Bill Cooper and Ed Isaacson.
The team will have a tough act to follow in
trying to improve on the record of last
season's team which lost in the semi-finals
of the NCAA Division n regionals and
finished the season at 9-6.
teams were ultimately discontinued 2
years ago when the budget was reduced.
Swimming had little difficulty in
establishing itself, said Petro, because the
pool was already built. It was just a matter
of recruiting talent, he added. '
Chances of new spring field sports are
slim because all available fields already
see constant use.
ADVERTISEMENT
Happy
Birthday
Beth'