By Jim Carpenter, sports information writer
Over the years, Pennsylvania College of Technology athletic teams have had their share of success, but nothing has come close to matching the achievements of fall 2004.
For the first time ever, the College fielded eight fall sports teams. All of them reached the post-season playoffs, with five claiming 11 championships. For all teams combined, the won-lost-tied record was 109-39-1.
Leading the way with three league crowns each were the men's soccer and cross country teams, as both won titles in the Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference, Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association and Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference. Next, with two championships each, were the Wildcat golf and women's cross country teams, which took CCAC and PCAA trophies. The women's volleyball team also claimed a CCAC crown.
In addition to team success, Penn College had two individual champions. Brandon Smith of Wellsboro was medalist in the CCAC golf finals and Teresa Burrill of Jersey Shore captured the CCAC women's singles tennis title. And three Wildcat coaches were named PCAA coaches of the year: Chet Schuman in golf, Andy Richardson in men's soccer and Mike Paulhamus in cross country.
"It was a benchmark in the history of Penn College athletics. To have that much success is just amazing," said athletic director Mike Stanzione. "Coaches and athletes obviously excelled this year. It brings the words 'Penn College Proud' to the next level."
Commenting on the College's showing in the CCAC during its first year in the conference, league director John Fritz said, "(Penn College) had a great impact. They really dominated. It's good for us to have Penn College in the conference and we thought that coming in.
"Anytime you can improve your conference (with a team) that can compete at the level of the top teams helps our whole conference. It makes everybody push harder to the next level. We're very pleased to have them in."
Fritz also said he was not aware of any school ever having had so much success during its inaugural year in the CCAC.
Men's Soccer
The men's soccer team finished 19-2 overall and closed out its season with an eight-match win streak. During EPCC regular-season matches, the Wildcats were 11-1 and they were 7-1 during CCAC matches.
"These guys took every prize there was to take this year," Richardsonsaid. "It was just a wonderful year all around, and a tribute to the players and their ability. . . It was pretty phenomenal."
The Wildcats beat Penn State Hazleton, 5-0, to win the CCAC title, then went on to edge Manor College, 4-3 in overtime on penalty kicks, to take home the EPCC and PCAA crowns.
For the season, the Wildcats outscored their opponents 83-27.
When postseason awards were handed out, named to the PCAA all-state team were Adam Cleland (freshman/East Pennsboro), Travis Russ (freshman/Pleasant Valley) and Adam Waigand (sophomore/Seneca Valley, N.Y.).
Named EPCC all-conference were Cleland, Russ, Waigand, Ryan Swartz (sophomore/Muhlenberg), Alex Johnson (sophomore/New Oxford), Mike Angell (sophomore/Central York), Jordan Myers (freshman/York), John Swope (freshman/East Pennsboro), Lathan Gross (sophomore/Northeastern) and Wesley Miller (freshman/Wilson).
Cross Country
Paulhamus was confident about his runners going into the end-of-the-season meet at State College, and they came through with flying colors.
In a meet that gave them the PCAA and CCAC titles, the Penn College men tallied 24 points to finish first while Penn State-Schuylkill came in second with 49 points.
"Everybody brought their 'A' game and we did what we had to do," Paulhamus said.
The Penn College women totaled 21 points, while Penn State DuBois had 25 to finish second.
The Wildcat men finished 14-9 overall. They were 11-0 in the CCAC and 13-0 in EPCC/PCAA meets. The women were 9-0 overall and in league meets.
Named to the PCAA all-state team in the postseason were men Dan Arminavage (sophomore/Annville-Cleona), Tom Lambert (freshman/Bangor), Justin Alberts (freshman/Greenwood), Jamie King (sophomore/Scranton) and Ryan Lampart (freshman/Hazleton) and women Jennie Mull (freshman/Huntingdon, Rachel Sledzinski (freshman/Western Wayne), Krystal Sheredos (freshman/Bangor).
Named EPCC all-conference were men Arminavage, Lambert and Alberts and women Mull, Sledzinski and Tracey Seylar (freshman/Chambersburg).
Golf
"The kids played well. The kids played real well. It's a nice way for them to end the season," Schuman said of his team's accomplishments.
Smith led the way individually for the Wildcats with a two-day tournament total of 151 on rounds of 76-75.
In the PCAA part of the tournament, the Wildcats recorded a 461 team score and finished eight strokes ahead of Butler Community College.
In the CCAC championships, Penn College had a 617, followed by Penn State Beaver with 669.
This marked the second straight undefeated season for the Penn College golf team, which was 35-0 this year and is 80-0 over the last two seasons. The team was 10-0 in CCAC and EPCC regular-season matches.
"Unbelievable!" Schuman said of the streak. "It's a tribute to the kids. They're a great group of golfers and a great group of young men. On and off the golf course, they represent the College very well."
Named PCAA all-state and EPCC all-conference were Smith, a sophomore; Shaun McQuay (freshman/Warrior Run) and Jeff Kerr II (sophomore/Bloomsburg).
Women's Volleyball
The progression in improvement over the last four seasons by the women's volleyball team reached the peak when the Lady Wildcats captured the CCAC crown at University Park.
"These young ladies have been a true joy to coach. The 21-2 overall record is not only a testament to the talent of the team, but also the teamwork that was so evident on the court match after match," said coach Bambi Hawkins.
With everything on the line, Penn College, the top seed in the West Division after compiling an 8-2 regular-season record, dropped the first game against Penn State Fayette, 31-33, but recovered to win the next two games by scores of 30-28 and 15-10 to claim the trophy.
At season's end, Hawkins named Maria McNett, a sophomore from Canton, and Maria Bova, a freshman from Bethlehem Catholic, as the team's co-Most Valuable Players.
Team Tennis For Burrill, a junior, the CCAC title was her first, but it marked her third title overall in three years, as she previously won singles crowns during the PCAA spring tennis season.
Teamwise, Penn College finished third in the six-team field with 44 points. Penn State Hazleton took the team trophy with 61 points and Penn State Abington was second with 47 points.
"Overall, we had a better collective outing and points standing than the regular season showed," said Wildcat coach Charlie Baum, whose team was 1-7 during CCAC matches.
Baseball/Women's Soccer The Penn College baseball team, which finished 8-13 overall (7-5 in the EPCC and 4-4 in the CCAC), and women's soccer team, which ended 2-6-1 overall (2-3-1 in the EPCC), also reached the playoffs, but both lost in the first round. Despite that, five athletes earned postseason honors.
In baseball, Tyler Heagy (freshman/Annville-Cleona) was named PCAA all-state and Heagy, Brad Reed (freshman/Pine Grove) and Dave Miller (freshman/Pen Argyl) were named all-EPCC.
In women's soccer, Kim Carbaugh (freshman/Northern Lebanon) and Nicole Crouse (sophomore/West York) earned all-EPCC honors.