Dottery seals win for CMU field hockey
(09/25/06 4:00am)
Senior back Erin Dottery had one shot at keeping Sunday’s game against Northwestern from going into overtime.
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Freese keeping Central field hockey on task despite honors
(09/22/06 4:00am)
The field hockey team received a significant amount of recognition after a solid performance last week.
Jordan’s goal scoring ability helps propel field hockey team to No. 27
(09/20/06 4:00am)
Sophomore forward Kelly Jordan was one of the field hockey team’s most dependable players last season. It seemed like a stiff task to be even better this season. But she has managed to do it. By the numbers Kelly Jordan (So.): leads team with nine points; scored a goal in each of the last three games. Team received 11 votes in the Division I Coaches Poll for a ranking of No. 27. “Kelly’s overall game has totally improved,” said coach Cristy Freese. “She’s a good all-around player.” Jordan has scored a goal in each of the last three games and leads the team with nine points on the season. “Once you get one goal, you get into a rhythm,” Jordan said. “It gets to be natural and you get some confidence.” After being second on the team with 25 points last season, Jordan has worked hard on other parts of her game. She has become a good passer and forces her opponent to go outside on defense where she gets help from the rest of her teammates. Jordan’s strength still remains in her scoring ability, Freese said. CMU won 2-1 in overtime against Maine and lost 2-1 in overtime to No. 14 Indiana last weekend. “We played an amazing game against Indiana on Friday and I think that will uplift us throughout the rest of the season,” said sophomore Moyra Betuzzi. Freshman Kim Erasmus scored the winning goal and her first career goal against the Black Bears. “I went for it and scored,” Erasmus said. “I didn’t know what to think. It was a great moment for me.” Erasmus is known for her defense but showed her offensive skills against Maine. “She’s got good skills with the ball even though she is a defender,” Freese said. Freese said one thing the team needs to improve on is getting the ball out of its own end of the field. Seniors Cortney Blanchard and Erin Dottery, along with Erasmus, are key players in making that happen. Blanchard was a forward last season and made a move to back before the season started to give the Chippewas another player who could carry the ball out of the circle. CMU hosts Northwestern at 11 a.m. Sunday.
Freshman field hockey player nets first career goal in OT
(09/18/06 4:00am)
Freshman midfielder Kim Erasmus could not have picked a better time to score her first career goal. Erasmus blasted the ball into the net in overtime Saturday, giving the field hockey team a 2-1 comeback win against Maine. The teams played at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. “The game went back and forth a bit, but we were able to control the ball,” said coach Cristy Freese. “Winning in overtime is always exciting.” Central did not tie the game until sophomore Kelly Jordan scored with nine minutes remaining in regulation. “I beat a girl, pulled to the right and shot the ball,” Jordan said. “It’s something we’ve been working on in practice all year.” CMU improved to 4-2 on the season. Maine took an early lead when Kristen Costa scored for the Black Bears. The Black Bears had an early scoring chance in overtime, but they were turned away on one of Frank’s five saves in the game. It was the second consecutive game CMU played beyond regulation. The team lost to the No. 14 ranked Hoosiers 2-1 in overtime Friday. Freese said it was mentally and physically tiring for the team to play two overtime games consecutively. “We kept pushing ourselves — personally I was exhausted,” said senior goalie Danielle Frank. Frank notched 12 saves against the Hoosiers. “Danielle was fantastic all weekend,” Freese said. “She made some great saves and had good timing.” CMU held a 1-0 lead on the goal by Jordan. Lydia Schrott scored her eighth goal of the season with just three minutes remaining in regulation for IU. Her goal set the stage for Meredith Brown’s game-winner that came on a penalty stroke in the 11th minute of overtime. “Our best team effort came against Indiana,” Freese said. “There was nothing to hold our heads down about.” CMU plays Northwestern Sept. 24 at the CMU Field Hockey Complex.
Hoosiers provide early season test
(09/15/06 4:00am)
Sophomore Samantha Sandham said the field hockey team has its biggest challenge of the season when it plays Indiana and Maine this weekend. CMU (3-1) will play No. 14 ranked Indiana (5-1) at 3 p.m. today and Maine (3-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday in Bloomington, Ind. “I think we’ve worked hard this week, and we’ve stepped it up a level,” Sandham said. Indiana’s lone loss came to Virginia 3-2 in the first game of the season. The Hoosiers are led by senior Lydia Schrott, who has seven goals and two assists for 16 points this season. “Lydia is an excellent player,” coach Cristy Freese said. “She’s just excellent in the circle.” The Chippewas may shuffle some players into different positions on the field this weekend. Freese said hard hitters Kelly Jordan and Sandham could play as forwards with senior Alicia Balanesi. Jordan is coming off her best game of the season with a goal and two assists in last Saturday’s 5-3 win against Colgate. “I think it always boosts your confidence when you score a goal or get an assist,” Jordan said. Freese said CMU wants to intimidate the Hoosiers with its forward line. “I think we need to be able to muscle Indiana a little bit and push them around,” Freese said. There are four games remaining until Mid-American Conference play begins, and Freese said this is the time to experiment with the lineup. Maine lost last weekend to Hofstra University 3-1. The Black Bears goalie Rebecca Giroux has a 1.87 goal against average and 37 saves in five games played.
Field hockey team prevents a setback
(09/11/06 4:00am)
The field hockey team could have let a win slip away after allowing Colgate’s Katelyn Nerbonne to score two consecutive goals to erase a two-goal lead Saturday.
Wake-up call sparks hunger in field hockey team
(09/08/06 4:00am)
Senior midfielder Erin Dottery of the field hockey team said last weekend’s loss to Saint Louis was a wake-up call.
Freese seeks team play
(09/06/06 4:00am)
Field hockey coach Cristy Freese was visibly upset after her team lost its first game of the season Sunday. She said her team tried to play as individuals — not as a team — in its 3-0 loss to Saint Louis at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. “We have to learn to move together, play as a team and not let one person try to do something,” Freese said. “Our strength is never going to be one player.” CMU dropped to 2-1 on the season. The lack of team play also was recognized by the players. “We just didn’t play together,” said senior back Courtney Blanchard. “We need to know that we need to be together out there and not play individually.” Up Next A CMU (2-1) plays in Kent, Ohio against Colgate for its only game this weekend The Billikens made the most of their opportunities early in the game, scoring two goals on their first two shots. Central also had many chances, with 13 penalty corners in the game, compared to six for SLU. “(SLU) scored on their opportunities,” Freese said. The Chippewas started the weekend with a 2-1 win in the opening game against the Billikens Saturday. SLU took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but CMU tied the game with 14 minutes left on a goal by Blanchard. Senior forward Alicia Balanesi took a rebound off the post and put it in the net for the game winner just five minutes later. “It was a relief,” Balanesi said of her goal. “I knew we needed it and I was there to put it in.” CMU outshot the Billikens 16-6 in the second half. The Chippewas look to rebound from their loss Saturday against Colgate in Kent, Ohio.
Freese to dig deep into roster at home
(09/01/06 4:00am)
Field hockey coach Cristy Freese said her team needs to work on its depth when it hosts Saint Louis University twice this weekend. In last weekend’s 2-1 win against Syracuse, Freese only substituted two players during the game. That won’t be the case this weekend with games at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday against the Billikens at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. “We have two games back-to-back,” Freese said. “What we need to work on now is to fine tune what we’re doing with the starters and prepare our players on the bench.” Saint Louis won its first game of the season last weekend 1-0 against Missouri State. Freese said the Billikens have proven to be a dangerous scoring team, which is evident from last season’s match between the two teams. Central relinquished a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2. “Last year, (Saint Louis) seemed to be in really good game shape and seemed to be conditioned well,” senior forward Alicia Balanesi said. “But when it comes to actual skill, I think we have an advantage.” While Syracuse was a bigger team, SLU will try to use their team speed to score goals. “I think Saint Louis will be a faster team that actually may challenge us more defensively,” Freese said. Four seniors started against the Orange — the rest were freshmen and sophomores. The defense, which was a question mark heading into the season with young and inexperienced players, has responded well so far this season. “They really work well together as a unit and they’re willing to learn which is a good thing,” senior goalie Danielle Frank said. E-mail reporter Jeremy Goorhouse at sports@cm-life.com
A long journey to play a game
(08/28/06 4:00am)
Recruiting is difficult enough for small schools.
Central wins against Big East Syracuse
(08/28/06 4:00am)
The field hockey team had an advantage over Syracuse before its game even started Sunday. And it wasn’t an advantage CMU expected. The Orange had their sticks misplaced during their trip from New York, forcing them to play the entire game with CMU’s back-up sticks. The sticks weren’t enough for the Orange, as Central edged out a 2-1 win at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. “I’d like to think it’s a non-factor,” said Syracuse coach Kathleen Parker. “We talked to them about the mental aspect. To some degree a stick is a stick.” Coach Cristy Freese said Syracuse faced some adversity by not having its own sticks. The win was the first time CMU has beaten the Orange in three previous meetings. “It’s a nice win,” Freese said. “Syracuse is a very good team.” Both Syracuse (Big East) and Central (Mid-American Conference) were picked to finish third in their respective conferences this season. Sophomore forward Moyra Betuzzi scored into the lower left corner of the goal at 21:22 to give CMU the early 1-0 lead. Senior forward Alicia Balanesi got the assist. “Everyone was like ‘this is a huge game,’” Betuzzi said. “It’s definitely a confidence booster for the whole team.” Early in the second half, sophomore midfielder Samantha Sandham added another goal on a rebound off a shot by sophomore forward Kelly Jordan. The Orange avoided a shutout with their lone goal at the 55-minute mark when senior back Michelle Sola scored. Senior goalie Danielle Frank had five saves. CMU hosts a pair of games Saturday and Sunday against Saint Louis at the Field Hockey Complex.
Freese seeks more consistent play in ’06
(08/24/06 4:00am)
Coach Cristy Freese hopes the field hockey team remembers both feelings it experienced last year.
2006 Fall Sports Schedules
(08/24/06 4:00am)
Men’s Cross Country Jeff Drenth Memorial Sept. 1 . Mel Brodt Invitational Sept. 16 Bowling Green, Ohio Great American Cross Country Festival Sept. 23 Hoover, Ala. Pre-NCAA Meet Oct. 14 Terre Haute, Ind. Mid-American Conference Championships Oct. 28 Buffalo, N.Y. NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships Nov. 11 Bowling Green, Ohio NCAA Championships Nov. 20 Terre Haute, Ind. Women’s Cross Country Jeff Drenth Memorial Sept. 1 Mel Brodt Invitational Sept. 16 Bowling Green, Ohio Buffalo Sept. 23 Buffalo, N.Y. Michigan Intercollegiate Championships Oct. 6 Big Rapids Western Michigan Invitational Oct. 13 Kalamazoo Mid-American Conference Championships Oct. 28 Buffalo, N.Y. NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships Nov. 11 Bowling Green, Ohio NCAA Championships Nov. 20 Terre Haute, Ind. Field Hockey Aug. 27 Syracuse Noon Sept. 2 Saint Louis Noon Sept. 3 Saint Louis 11 a.m. Sept. 9 Colgate 1 p.m. Sept. 15 Indiana 3 p.m. Sept. 16 Maine 1 p.m. Sept. 24 Northwestern 11 a.m. Sept. 26 Michigan State 4 p.m. Sept. 29 Ball State 3 p.m. Sept. 30 Miami 1 p.m. Oct. 6 Ohio 3 p.m. Oct. 7 Kent State 1 p.m. Oct. 10 Michigan 3 p.m. Oct. 14 Missouri State 11 a.m. Oct. 15 Missouri State Noon Oct. 17 Michigan State 4 p.m. Oct. 20 Ball State 3 p.m. Oct. 21 Miami 1 p.m. Oct. 27 Ohio 3 p.m. Oct. 28 Kent State 11 a.m. Nov. 2-4 MAC Tournament at Athens, Ohio Volleyball Super 8 Chippewa Classic Aug. 25 Indiana State 7 p.m. Aug. 26 Wisconsin-Green Bay 1 p.m. Aug. 26 Idaho State 7 p.m. George Mason Invitational Sept. 1 George Mason 7 p.m. Sept. 2 Lamar 10 a.m. Campbell 4:30 p.m. Panther Invitational Sept. 8 Northern Colorado 11:30 a.m. UW-Milwaukee 7 p.m. Sept. 9 Windsor 4:30 p.m. BSC Challenge Sept. 15 Nicholls State 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 South Alabama 10 a.m. Birmingham-Southern 7 p.m. Sept. 22 Western Michigan 7 p.m. Sept. 23 Northern Illinois 7 p.m. Sept. 28 Eastern Michigan 7 p.m. Sept. 30 Kent State 7 p.m. Oct. 6 Northern Illinois 7 p.m. Oct. 7 Western Michigan 7 p.m. Oct. 13 Bowling Green 7 p.m. Oct. 14 Miami 7 p.m. Oct. 17 Chicago State 7 p.m. Oct. 20 Ball State 7 p.m. Oct. 21 Toledo 7 p.m. Oct. 23 IPFW 7 p.m. Oct. 27 Akron 7 p.m. Oct. 28 Buffalo 7 p.m. Nov. 2 Eastern Michigan 7 p.m. Nov. 4 Ohio 7 p.m. Nov. 10 Toledo 7 p.m. Nov. 11 Ball State 7 p.m. Nov. 14 MAC Tournament First Round at Campus Sites Nov. 17-19 MAC Tournament at Toledo, Ohio Soccer Aug. 25 Michigan State 4 p.m. Aug. 27 IPFW 2 p.m. Sept. 1 Detroit 3 p.m. Sept. 3 Illinois State 1 p.m. Sept. 8 Niagara 3:30 p.m. Sept. 10 Canisius 11 a.m. Sept. 15 Nebraska 5 p.m. CDT Sept. 22 Ohio 3 p.m. Sept. 24 Akron 1 p.m. Sept. 29 Kent State 4 p.m. Oct. 1 Buffalo 1 p.m. Oct. 6 Ball State 3 p.m. Oct. 8 Miami Noon Oct. 13 Northern Illinois 3 p.m. Oct. 15 Western Michigan 1 p.m. Oct. 20 Bowling Green Noon Oct. 22 Toledo 1 p.m. Oct. 26 Eastern Michigan 3 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov. 5 MAC Tournament at TBA
Field hockey players decide to train at home instead of campus
(07/12/06 4:00am)
Normally over the summer a handful of field hockey athletes will remain in Mount Pleasant to attend summer classes and train for the upcoming season. Not this summer. Internships and summer jobs have pulled the team apart for the time being, something coach Cristy Freese said isn’t a bad thing. “Everyone is doing their own thing,” Freese said. “They need to get away and I think the break is good for them.” Most of the defending Mid-American Conference Tournament champions have taken it upon themselves to train by themselves without assistance from coaches or teammates. But that isn’t the case for sisters Allyson and Jessyca Doan, who are training together in their hometown of Ann Arbor. “It’s really beneficial,” Allyson said. “She’s (Jessyca) always around to run with and I think I have a real advantage there.” This summer Allyson is busy with a landscaping job at Eastern Michigan University. She also works in an Ann Arbor sports bar. Even with two jobs and training, the time away from school has been just what she needed. “I definitely needed a break,” Allyson said. “My body was exhausted.” Nicole Rao is working in a recreational building in her hometown of Pendleton, N.Y. She had the opportunity this summer to visit two of her teammates in South Africa. Samantha Sandham and Courtney Blanchard of Cape Town, South Africa welcomed Rao for a six-week stay. During that time Rao visited with Sandham and Blanchard’s families while also checking out tourist sites. “I got to see what life is like for them,” Rao said. “It was very rewarding.” Freese said summer pick-up field hockey games are popular for her athletes to participate in, especially the ones from New York and Pennsylvania. The Doan sisters also plan on trying to compete in pick-up games at the University of Michigan. Allyson said they happen over the weekend with nearby Ann Arbor Pioneer High School and U of M field hockey athletes participating. The team will report Aug. 10 for the season’s first practice as Central prepares to defend its title. “I love it (in Pennsylvania), but I’m excited to get back and defend our title,” Rao said. The season starts Aug. 27 with a home game against Syracuse.
World Cup doesn’t make soccer cool
(06/14/06 4:00am)
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get what the big deal is. Okay, so the World Cup is going on. That’s great. But why does everyone suddenly care about soccer? It’s not like soccer matters any other time. It’s not like most Americans can name many soccer players who aren’t David Beckham or even many teams that aren’t Manchester United. And forget about teams that play in this country. Last time I heard about American soccer, it was the Detroit Rockers and I was 12. I’m also convinced that 12 is the highest possible age that 90 percent of the people living in this country can reach and still think soccer is anything but boring. Yet here we are, and all my sports-fiend friends are interested in forcing me to watch soccer games whenever we hang out. They can’t seem to do anything while a game could be playing on TV. Sure, summer has a huge sports void. Baseball is only interesting in the highlights and basketball and hockey playoffs dwindle out early. But, I have to say it – soccer just plain sucks. The field is too big, there are too many players and nothing happens for way too long at a time. At least if the players could run each other over we’d have a game reminiscent of hockey or football, but that’s not allowed either. Just because countries compete against each other doesn’t mean soccer isn’t a snore. But for some reason, just like the Olympics, people seem to think the chance to rub it in Europe’s face elevates sports like figure skating and softball to prime-time levels. I can go watch people run back and forth on a huge piece of grass at my local kindergarten and be about as entertained as when watching the World Cup. I don’t need it on every TV in sight during the summer, too. Reruns are boring enough. Phil Hornshaw can be reached at news@cm-life.com
Young defense a concern
(04/03/06 4:00am)
A primary concern for field hockey coach Cristy Freese was the defense. After a three-goal first period by Michigan State Sunday in a 6-2 exhibition loss, the concern still remains. “It is pretty evident we need to work on our defense,” Freese said. “We made some mistakes, especially in the first period.” The Chippewas’ lost backs Laura Glaza and Kim Ferris to graduation. That leaves junior Erin Dottery to anchor a young defense. “I am just trying to be a leader,” Dottery said. “I just let them know where they need to be and try to lead by example.” CMU allowed the second lowest goals per game in the Mid-American Conference at 2.51 goals per game, and had three shutouts last season. “It would concern me more if we played defense like that three weeks from now,” Freese said. “That is what these games are for. We just need to work on some things.” The teams played three 20 minute periods at the Field Hockey Complex in an exhibition game. CMU settled down after the first period. It allowed just three more goals in the next two periods. “Our intensity was really good in the third period,” Dottery said. “We were playing really well with each other.” The Chippewas’ goals were scored by freshman Samantha Sandham and Dottery. This is the first of three weekends of exhibition games for CMU. It plays games against Kent State, Michigan State and Northwestern Saturday in Ann Arbor.
A never-ending cycle
(03/31/06 5:00am)
The alarm clock sounds just after 8 a.m. to start a day that usually doesn’t end until after midnight. It is a day packed with a full class load, practice and a strenuous workout schedule aimed to prepare an athlete for a season that is a distant eight months away. This is a typical schedule of an offseason athlete, and in this case, men’s basketball center Justin Blevins. “It’s a year-round thing,” Blevins said. “You’re always fighting to get your work done even if it’s just five minutes here or 15 minutes there.” The team resumed practice just three weeks after the season ended. Blevins’ Daily Schedule: 8 a.m. Alarm clock sounds 9 a.m. Business Calculus (meets four times/week) 10 a.m. Guitar class (Tuesday/Thursday) 11 a.m. Statistics class (Tuesday/Thursday) 12:30 p.m. Introduction to Marketing (Tuesday/Thursday) 2 p.m. Lunch 3 p.m. Practice on Monday/Thursday 4 p.m. Weight lifting at IAC (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) 6 p.m. Dinner 7 p.m. Homework study 7 p.m. Finance class on Monday/Wednesday 10 p.m. Free-time Midnight Bedtime Hobbies: Guitar, video games, hanging out with his girlfriend Favorite video game system: 8-bit Nintendo Favorite video game: Super Mario Brother’s 3 Favorite food: Fettuccini Chicken Alfredo Position: Center/Forward Many teams start individual workouts right after a season’s completion, while full practices can start less than one month later. The volleyball team’s season ended Nov. 15 with a loss in the Mid-American Conference Tournament. It restarted individual practice before the tournament concluded. “When you commit, you are committing for four to five years,” said sophomore setter Courtney Kersten. “If you want to get better then you have to get into the gym and do it.” Blevins said the offseason is as grueling as the regular season because of the weight-training schedule. The basketball team trains four days a week and practices twice a week, while the volleyball team lifts three days and practices four. Field hockey coach Cristy Freese said outsiders see athletes only in the competitive season and sometimes don’t understand what it takes to be a Division-I athlete. “You have to be a 12-month athlete,” Freese said. “They are always busy because when they’re not practicing they are lifting.” And when they are not doing that, they are in the classroom. However, he has learned to manage his time efficiently after playing at CMU the past three years. He’s a video game fanatic, plays guitar and still maintains a 2.9 grade point average. And he has a girlfriend in a relationship he calls “very strong.” Since Blevins can’t hold a paying job like non-athletes, he buys video games at garage sales and sells them in his own lucrative business on eBay. Kersten’s Daily Schedule: 6 a.m. Alarm clock sounds (Monday through Thursday) 6:30 a.m. Breakfast 7 a.m. Weight lifting 8 a.m. Practice 11 a.m. Weight lifting class (Tuesday/Thursday) Noon Lunch 1 p.m. Chemistry class (meets four times/week) 2 p.m. Library to study 3 p.m. Snack 3:30 p.m. Psychology class 5 p.m. Dinner 6 p.m. Free time 8 p.m. Homework or back to library 10 p.m. Bedtime Hobbies: Watching game film, hanging out with roommates Favorite TV shows: “American Idol” and the “OC” Position: Setter Quotable: “If you want to get better then you have to get into the gym and do it.” His sales have netted him more than $1,000 in the last three and a half weeks. Blevins, who said he owns every video game system ever made, has six 8-bit Nintendo’s stacked at his apartment ready to be cleaned and shipped out. “I clean up the games and make sure they work,” he said. “Then my girlfriend helps me send them out.” Even with the strenuous schedule, Blevins usually has the weekend to relax. “Friday is the best day for me,” he said. “It’s nice to be able to just sleep right through the alarm.” This Friday is an exception because he is traveling home to Marion to play in an alumni game Saturday at Marion High School. “These players do this stuff all year long,” said men’s basketball coach Jay Smith. “With recruiting, camps, lifting and practice, it becomes a full-time job.” With the volleyball season drawing closer, Kersten’s free time has become limited. Her health fitness major includes a lifting class, which makes her lift an additional two days. She starts spring volleyball Saturday and will help run a youth clinic Sunday. Kersten forces herself to study at the library during free time to maintain her 3.5 GPA. “I always feel like I am doing something,” Kersten said. “It’s tough sometimes to maintain everything. The library is a good place for me.” Neither Blevins nor Kersten struggled to get back on the court after their seasons ended. “We know we’re working for that goal of being a better team for next year,” Blevins said. “It wasn’t that big of a struggle. It wouldn’t be right any other way.”
Scoring not a problem, stopping teams might be
(03/31/06 5:00am)
Field hockey coach Cristy Freese said she isn’t worried about her team’s offense. She is concerned with the defense after two players were lost to graduation. This is just one of many things CMU will work on when it begins its spring competition with a game against Michigan State at 2 p.m. Sunday at the CMU Field Hockey Complex. “We’re trying to solidify our defense,” Freese said. “We will work together to accomplish those goals.” Backs Laura Glaza and Kim Ferris both graduated. They helped CMU allow just 2.51 goals per game, tied for second lowest in the Mid-American Conference. The Chippewas posted three shutouts last season. The offense led the MAC in goals, assists and points. It returns top goal scorers Alicia Balanesi and Kelly Jordan, who tied for second in the MAC with 11 goals each. The team competes in an eight-team spring league for the next three weekends. CMU plays at Michigan for three games April 8 against Kent State, Michigan State and Northwestern. It also plays Miami University and Ohio at Michigan State April 15. Another thing Freese wants to work on is getting the younger players playing time. “We want to give them some time in a starting role,” Freese said. “We want to get them acclimated to playing a bigger role.”
Recreational area slowly crumbling
(03/29/06 5:00am)
The Trout/Calkins courtyard features a wide range of recreational playing fields for students to enjoy. It has remained nearly dormant, however, even during the warmer spring and summer months – and it’s not hard to see why. Cracks and gouges have formed on the basketball and hockey courts, making the surfaces close to unplayable. Wooden boards are covering up missing fences on the tennis court. Sand from the volleyball area has scattered around the cement – even onto the makeshift track surrounding the area. “The (tennis) court was in decent shape, but on the basketball courts there were large cracks that could trip people up,” said Canton freshman Dan Levine. “There’s also a lot of un-elevated ground that can puddle up from rain.” Levin played tennis in the courtyard with friends during the early fall semester and said the damaged area needs work. If the area isn’t renovated, he said students and children could be at risk playing on the surfaces. Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said no price tag can be put on a possible replacement or renovation because it hasn’t been inspected yet. “You would determine the overall condition of the existing pavement to determine if a complete replacement was required versus partial replacement,” he said in an e-mail to Central Michigan Life. Levine said despite the condition of the courtyard, he doesn’t think a complete renovation is needed. “They could use better drainage on the courts so large puddles don’t form after a little rain,” he said. Another important concern, Lawrence said, is the access of heavy equipment into the area. “We would look at other utilities that may be impacted by a project in the area and sidewalks that could be damaged by heavy equipment,” he said.
INS doesn’t dampen Jamaican vacation
(03/15/06 5:00am)
I never went on spring break with my friends before. The wild trips to Cancun, Mexico or Miami never came to fruition. So when I decided to go to Jamaica with four of my friends, it was kind of a big deal. I left March 4 from Detroit and I was nervous from the get-go. See, a few years back someone stole my identity and somehow I ended up on the Transportation Security Administration’s “No Fly List.” Basically what that means is a giant headache every time I fly. Extra security checks, hassles about my identification and extra bag checks are just a few of my travel-induced migraines. So I said “screw it.” I procrastinated and didn’t get a passport and relied only on my birth certificate and driver’s license. As soon as I landed in Montego Bay I was detained by Immigration and Naturalization for about two hours – because I didn’t know the address of where I was staying. The first couple of days were sort of a shock and we were all forced to adapt a little. The refrigerator wasn’t very cold, the stove didn’t get very hot and we could only buy cases of beer during the day. And the local gas station doesn’t like it when a bunch of American tourists role up at 11 p.m. and buy beer and munchies, trying to use U.S. currency. Needless to say, we went and exchanged some money at Cambio King the next day. I felt sort of like a high roller. For every American dollar, I got $64 Jamaican. After changing $180 U.S., I rolled out with $11,520 Jamaican. After getting situated, we were ready to experience our Jamaican spring break. Sunday night it was a St. Patty’s party at Margaritaville in Montego Bay. It cost $30 U.S. to drink for free until 1 a.m. I think I blacked out around 12:30 a.m. after I had professed my love to a gorgeous Penn State field hockey player. Monday we went fishing in the Caribbean. It was great, but I wish I could have hooked a big barracuda. But I settled for the most comedic moment of the trip when two of my buddies were tossed out of the boat by a rolling wave. Note to self: Don’t stand up in small aluminum boats. Then it was off to a Jamaican strip club where the saying “whatever happens in Jamaica, stays in Jamaica,” is very appropriate. All day Tuesday we walked the beaches of Negril and found Red Stripe for $100 Jamaican – that’s about $1.50 U.S. After we got back to Montego Bay, it was back to Margaritaville where we ran into a whole crew from CMU and the Mount Pleasant area. Thursday was our last real party night, so we went to Negril again for some “Playboy Get Wet Beach Party.” Talk about false advertising. There were no Playboy Bunnies and the only people who got wet were those who had a hotel nearby and could go change their clothes. Oh, and girls from the east coast are stuck up – (fill in expletive here). It was a great trip that I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to get back. Dominic Adams can be reached at editor@cm-life.com.
