Sports

Players and coaches committed to turning tough season around

By Brian Vigna | bvigna@flagler.edu
Photo by Matthew Boyle

PHOTO CAPTION: The Saints have lost some of the early momentum of the season and now look forward to the remaining challenges of 2009 for their chance to bring respect back to the program. Sophomore Guard John Pietkiewicz drives towards the basket here in a losing effort against Embry-Riddle.

The Saints are 1-6 and fans want answers. The honest truth is that the team just can’t finish games, but the reason behind this fatal flaw isn’t so easily seen.

The lack of true centers or big men on the team is an obvious shortcoming. Ask anyone who’s ever played basketball against their older brother or sister and they’ll tell you that you just can’t win against someone twice your size. The fact that in each game so far this season we’ve faced teams that average a full 3-5 inches bigger than our squad is not one to overlook.

Photo by Katherine Huber

A season ago, the women’s teams were looking toward the future

By Lindsey Williams | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The season started dismal for last year’s women’s basketball. With seven losses as the season opened, the 2007 record read 15-17. As the 2008 season kicked off to a new start, the team has won two of the last seven games. No losing streak here.

Players hope to continue court improvements as the season thickens. Winning two of the last three home-games, the Saints have proven to be stronger at home than on the road. Perhaps the missing ingredient: more home support.

Photo by Matthew Boyle

By Kate Shoaf | gargoyle@flagler.edu

• Major: Business
• Hometown: Orlando, FL
• Favorite Music: Country
• Favorite Movie: Superbad
• Favorite Steak: Rib-eye Steak
• Favorite Color: Red

Flagler teams are on the rise, with every sport improving records

By Ryan Day | gargoyle@flagler.edu

At this time last year, the men’s soccer team was finishing out a two-win season, the men’s golf team hadn’t placed better than 12th in a tournament, men’s tennis included five underclassmen on its roster and expectations were going to be low until those underclassmen got some experience and men’s basketball was one day away from a 13-point loss to in-state rival Embry-Riddle, their fourth loss in eight games.

“I think the move to Division II will really boost this team,” men’s tennis coach Walter Shinn said shortly after season’s end last year.

After early season play against JU and UNF, team is battle-tested

By Kathy Novak | gargoyle@flagler.edu

At about a third of the way through the season and with a 2-4 record, the Lady Saints are dealing with changes that involve more competition and bigger challenges.

In the past, they have played a hard game of basketball, displaying all that they’ve got on the court. But this season it’s different.

“With a new season, comes new players on both ends – Saints and opponents. We are in Division II now – we will compete better. Will that result in wins? That’s up to the kids to find a way to do that,” Coach Sherri Abbey-Nowatzki said.

By Chelsi de Cuba | gargoyle@flagler.edu
Photo contributed by John Jordan

Freshman guard for the Flagler Saints women’s basketball team Charlsea Owen aspires to be a player her team can count on. Owen is a St. Augustine native who grew up watching Flagler athletics. She started playing basketball at age five and graduated from Pedro Menendez High School in St. Augustine.

Owen was introduced to basketball when her neighbor asked her to rebound for her. She would always walk across the lawn and rebound, which helped her launch a basketball career. Her biggest inspiration to play basketball was her middle school coach.

By Brian Vigna | bvigna@flagler.edu

The women’s basketball team has signed a key high school standout to play for the women’s team in the 2009-10 season.

Rachel Brown, a center from Clearwater High School, has earned a spot on the Flagler roster based on her excellent play over the past four seasons at Clearwater High under coach Tom Shaneyfelt.

With a 9-5-2 record, Saints look to strong showing in post-season

By Matthew Boyle | mboyle@flagler.edu
Photo by Matthew Boyle

PHOTO CAPTION: The Saints are winning again, and as the season ends, they’re aiming for a a playoff spot.

The Flagler College men’s soccer team is fighting for a playoff spot at the end of this season, but no spot is guaranteed regardless of their positive results this season.

Flagler College Athletics have no conference affiliation as of now, which makes reaching the playoffs difficult even with a winning season. Teams that are affiliated with a conference have a much more probable chance of reaching the playoffs as each conference guarantees one spot in the playoffs to a member.

Saints players graduate this year, leaving with great memories

PHOTO CAPTION: Four seniors will leave the Flagler volleyball team this year after another successful season.

By Kathy Novak | gargoyle@flagler.edu

As the volleyball season comes to a close, it is the last for some of our fellow Saints. With only five more contests left prior to the Div. II post-season contests, four seniors — Jessica Wedemyer, Sarah Spraggins, Kelly Boese and Leah Melton, with a combination of 36 years of experience — are pushing to finish out their last season as their best.

Although they have been pushed through a tough season, the ladies still have full confidence in themselves, and their fellow teammates to pull through.

By Chelsi DeCuba | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College Women’s Golf team is working hard to accomplish their goal of making it to Nationals this year.

The golf team is currently in pre-season play and they are taking advantage of the time they have to prepare.

They recently competed in The Saint Leo Invitational where they finished in sixth place.

Junior Laura Martellino tied for 35th place in the tournament after carding a 25 over 169.