(EDITOR’S NOTE: Shock. Dismay. Anger. Pennsylvania College of Technology spring sports athletes experienced myriad emotions March 12 when it was announced that their seasons had been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is the fourth in a series on the reactions of student-athletes whose careers or seasons were cut short.)
First-year coach Dustin Bartron had high hopes for his archery team when its season began in February, and part of that optimism was because of Sidney Alpaugh, whom Bartron said had the potential to place individually (nationally) and the potential of a national championship for men’s bowhunter team.
Like many archers before him, Alpaugh came into the Penn College program with limited competition experience.
“I started shooting when I was about 16 and fell in love with it. I played baseball all my life (including at Muncy High School) and decided to try something new. Being new to the sport, I was able to be trained the right way. Without having a lot of technique, I was easily formed,” he said.
That training paid immediate dividends as Alpaugh finished 15th among 52 individuals in the male bowhunter division and was a member of the Wildcat squad that reached the quarterfinals in team competition last May at the collegiate national championships. He also received archery Academic All-America honors.
In his team’s only competition this season, Alpaugh recorded a third-place finish and he was ranked 28th nationally in his event.
Growing up in Pennsdale, just a stone's throw from the campus, Alpaugh said he decided to attend Penn College “because I wanted a hands-on degree that would give me real-life experience in a major I enjoyed.”
That major was engineering CAD technology, which sets him up for a career in drafting.
And, he was looking for a “well-run program where I would grow as a student and an archer.
“Leading up to this season, I had a lot to look forward to and a lot to prove. Being I am in an associate degree (program), this was my last year to prove what I had to show. I had a great season last year and was always improving and was looking to improve even more this year. My goal this season was to do better than last year and to see what I could really do behind the bow.
“We had a great group of archers that really showed up and shot great. I was looking forward to seeing what would come out of this year’s team meets.”
That is a chapter in his life that never will be written the way he and his teammates anticipated.
“Today, I mostly think about the uncertainty of what could’ve happened for the team this year,” Alpaugh said. “Missing my senior season means way more than being able to shoot one last season with Penn College; to me, it means a lot of missed time with great friends and a great team!
“Looking back, my time here was great. I enjoyed every moment and it was a great experience. It has been a dream come true and (being a Penn College Wildcat) an opportunity well-respected.”
What will he miss most?
“The great people I’ve gotten the ability to meet and make friends with,” Alpaugh said. “Penn College has been a great college with the best hands-on experience around, and is everything I wanted and more.”
SCHEDULE/RECORDS/RESULTS
Archery
Remainder of season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
Baseball
Final overall: 5-5
NEAC: 0-0
Remainder of season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
Golf
Spring season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
Softball
Final overall: 5-4
NEAC: 0-0
Spring Break Tournament at Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Remainder of season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
Men’s Tennis
Final overall: 1-5 (1-4 fall season)
NEAC: 0-0
Remainder of season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
Women’s Tennis
Final overall: 1-5 (1-4 fall season)
NEAC: 0-0
Remainder of season canceled, COVID-19 pandemic
For more about NEAC, visit the conference website.
For more information, visit the Wildcat Athletics website.
No. 36