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(09/23/05 4:00am)
This could be a weekend of firsts for the Missouri State field
hockey team.
It is guaranteed one first, a Mid-American Conference game, but its
other first, a win, may be hard to come by.
The Bears are 0-6 this season, while CMU is 3-3 and earned four
votes in the STX/NFCHA top 20 poll this week.
Central hosts MSU, a new addition to the MAC, for a pair of games
Saturday and Sunday.
“I didn’t even know they were winless,” said senior Erica Takach.
“We
don’t base our play off the other team, all we think about is how we
need to play as a team on offense and defense.”
The Bears have been outscored by their opponents 18-4 this season
and outshot 125-46.
CMU leads the MAC in almost every major offensive statistical
category,
while the Bears are at the bottom of the conference in those
categories.
Central won the last meeting against the Bears 1-0 in 2002.
“They may look like a bad team on paper, but how a team plays on the
field is what counts,” said CMU coach Cristy Freese. “ We are at home
and have the opportunity for two MAC wins; this is a very important
series.”
The Bears have had some success at goalkeeper, leading the MAC in
saves. Bears goalie Kin Kinsch has 55 saves in four games. Kinsch
splits time in goal with Jessica Schuster, who sports a MAC-high 1.39
goals against average.
Melissa Millan leads the team with three points.
CMU watched tapes of its previous performances as preparation.
“Practices went well this week and everyone worked really hard to
get
ready for this weekend,” Takach said. “We are ready for MAC play.”
(09/21/05 4:00am)
The field hockey team gained national recognition Tuesday when it
received four votes in the STX/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll.
CMU’s 3-3 overall record may not be impressive, but it boasts three
impressive non-conference wins against New Hampshire, Virginia and
Vermont.
Two of the Chippewas losses have been close defeats to Big Ten
opponents No. 8 Michigan and Northwestern.
“It is nice to get recognition for our hard work,” said coach Cristy
Freese. “This is something that everyone can be proud of and hopefully
we will use it as a building block for the rest of the season.”
CMU has scored 15 goals in its first six games this season, compared
to 10 last season. The Chippewas hope their new-found offense will lead
the team to a better record than its 8-11 mark last season, a season in
which the team scored only 30 goals.
“One of our goals before the season was to be consistent on
offense,” said senior Erica Takach. “We have worked together on the
offensive side of the ball this year and it has led to big production.”
CMU has shown its resiliency this season losing no match by more
than two goals. The team has recorded two overtime wins, compared to
last season when the team lost its only overtime game.
“The overtime wins were huge this season,” Takach said. “Our
victories and the way we played showed we had the will to win. Our team
must take that attitude and effort into conference play.”
The field hockey team leads the Mid-American Conference in almost
every major offensive statistical category entering conference play
this weekend.
“This year the team has performed better,” Freese said. “Everyone is
playing tougher and working much harder. This is a good group of
players who listen really well and want to work hard.”
CMU enters MAC play with three of the conference’s top five scorers.
Junior Alicia Balanesi leads all scorers with 15 points, senior Alisa
Folk is tied for third with eight and Takach fifth with seven.
Balanesi leads the MAC in goals scored with six and has scored in
five of six games.
Takach leads the MAC in assists with five, which ties her career
mark.
CMU has seen major contributions from freshmen in 2005. The freshmen
have scored three goals and added five assists, compared to last season
when they contributed two goals and two assists all season.
Junior goalkeeper Danielle Frank is second in the MAC with a 3.15
goals against average. Her .674 save percentage is third.
“Danielle has made some big plays this season and is playing very
well,” Freese said. “She is more mobile and has quicker reflexes
since coming off her injury last season, it is nice to have her
healthy.”
(09/19/05 4:00am)
It’s not every day a CMU student gets to announce a World Cup
tournament.
But that’s just what John Schuett did this summer.
The Redford senior was chosen to be the only public address
announcer for the 2005 International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse
Associations World Cup in Annapolis, Md.
In addition to all games played by the 10 participating countries,
Schuett announced the tournament’s opening and closing ceremonies.
“The opening ceremony with the parade of nations was very
memorable,” said Schuett, who was paid for his work.
It was the next logical step for an expert PA announcer, which
Schuett has been since high school.
After learning CMU’s announcer was graduating, Schuett contacted the
Athletics Department to apply for the job.
Schuett is now in his fifth year of announcing CMU volleyball,
soccer, field hockey, basketball, wrestling and filling in at other
sporting events.
His experience at CMU helped him make connections at other
universities and on the national level, he said. He now regularly
announces sports at the University of Michigan and Michigan State
University.
The announcer typically does the starting line-ups, the play-by play
and any opening or closing ceremonies.
“My high school needed a PA announcer and I said I was interested
and started doing freshman games,” said Schuett about why he got
started in the field.
An important part of PA announcing is incorporating personality into
the work, Schuett said, while also making it enjoyable for people to
listen to.
“John is very outgoing, optimistic and he’s hilarious. He always has
a joke,” said Schuett’s girlfriend, Freeland senior Stacy
Pickelman.
Schuett’s involvement at CMU doesn’t end with PA announcing, though.
He is also in his second year as Program Board president.
“He has a lot of spirit and he isn't afraid to think big,” said
Jamie Brown, Program Board adviser and assistant director of Student
Life. “He helped create the CMU Rock Rally.”
One particular Program Board experience that stands out in Schuett’s
mind involves comedian Dane Cook, who came to campus during Schuett’s
freshman year.
It was Schuett’s first show that he worked at as a Program Board
member and they needed someone to introduce Cook. Schuett volunteered.
“Later, I got to sit next to him at dinner because he said he liked
the joke I used on stage,” Schuett said.
He said helping Program Board continue to grow is a big priority for
him this semester.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without his encouragement,”
Pickelman said. “I was shy as a freshman, but he knows so many people
on campus and introduces you to everyone he talks to. As a friend, he
is always there for you.”
Schuett is earning his degree in teaching, but would like to
continue with PA announcing in the future. For him, a dream job would
be to announce for a team such as the Detroit Redwings.
“My only regret is that I’ve been here for five years, but that has
helped me learn about myself as a person and figure out what I want to
do as a career,” he said.
(09/16/05 4:00am)
Coach Cristy Freese sent her field hockey team a strong message
after its 2-0 loss to Michigan Tuesday.
She thought her team lacked effort, and put them through grueling
practices this week.
Freese will see if those hard practices worked when CMU plays
Vermont today in Ann Arbor.
“Our intensity level must be higher against Vermont,” Freese said.
“We have to execute better in the passing game and when taking shots.
More quality shots that challenge the goalie must be taken.”
Senior Erica Takach said the team benefited from these practices.
“We had a very hard practice,” she said. “Everyone understands that
we didn’t put forth the effort against Michigan. We know it was a game
we could have won and should have won. Hopefully everyone understands
now that we must give all our effort every time we step on the field.”
Catamount goalkeeper Ariel Eber is one of the best in the country
statistically. She is ninth in the country with a .853 save percentage,
has a 1.61 goals against average and 29 saves.
Vermont’s lack of goal scoring has been a troubling factor this
season.
UVM (2-4) enters the game as one of the worst offensive teams in the
American East Conference. The Catamounts have eight goals in six games,
and are 2-29 on offensive penalty corner opportunities. Midfielder
Nikki Desch is tied for the team lead in goals with two.
CMU enters today’s game leading the MAC in most offensive categories
including: Assists, goals, points and shots. Junior Alicia Balanesi is
the MAC’s leading scorer with 13 points and five goals. Balanesi and
Takach are tied for the most assists with three each.
(09/14/05 4:00am)
CMU field hockey coach Cristy Freese expected more out of her team
Tuesday.
(09/14/05 4:00am)
There were many opportunities for the field hockey team to score in the
home loss to No. 8 Michigan Tuesday.
The Chippewas had 11 offensive penalty corners and eight shots on
goal, but could not convert any of them.
The result was a 2-0 loss.
“I am not happy right now,” said coach Cristy Freese. “Our team came
out strong for the first 10 minutes, then after that our effort and
play was disappointing. It didn’t matter that we were playing Michigan,
I expect to see the effort that we gave against Virginia every time we
play and we didn’t do that.”
The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead when junior Jill Civic scored on a
penalty corner at the 9:34 mark of the first half. The score remained
1-0 until late in the half when the Wolverines leading goal scorer
Katie Morris scored her sixth goal of the season giving U-M a 2-0 lead.
Freese said that she is not one to make excuses, but thinks the ball
might have affected play in the first half.
“Both teams struggled in the first half, the ball really seemed to
be sticking to players’ sticks,” Freese said. “It might have been the
heat and humidity combined with the fact that it was a new ball. Still
the ball was a quality game ball, we should have capitalized on our
penalty corner opportunities.”
The second half of the game went scoreless. CMU took three shots and
had two offensive penalty corner opportunities in the half, but weren’t
able to capitalize.
Senior Erica Takach was disappointed with the effort.
“We didn’t show the effort of a winning team,” she said. “Michigan
wasn’t as talented as last season’s team and we have the talent to beat
them. Our play today was very disappointing; we need to play with
effort for the entire 70 minutes of every game.”
The Chippewas held Michigan to 10 shots, an improvement from the 42
they allowed in last season’s 11-0 loss.
Junior Danielle Frank faced six shots on goal, allowing two goals
and recording four saves. Takach led CMU with two shots on goal. Junior
Alicia Balanesi’s four game scoring streak ended in the loss.
Michigan goalkeeper Beth Riley recorded six saves.
The Chippewas swept the Mid-American Conference individual honors
this week with Balanesi being named the Offensive Player of the Week
and Frank named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Balanesi has garnered the honor for the second consecutive week. She
scored two goals and had two assists in two games last week. Balanesi
scored the game winner against Virginia and assisted on the team’s
first goal against the Cavaliers.
Frank recorded five saves and allowed one goal in the win against
Virginia. She had four saves against Northwestern.
(09/12/05 4:00am)
Last season the field hockey team was thumped when they played at
Michigan.
The Chippewas were outshot 42-2 and Michigan won 11-0.
The Chippewas will get a chance at redemption when they host the
Wolverines at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Field Hockey Complex.
“It was an embarrassment, Michigan was a great team, but we played a
terrible game,” said coach Cristy Freese. “Hopefully our players
remember last year’s performance and come into tomorrow’s game fired
up.”
Freese said she is hoping for a large turnout for the game.
“Games like this mean a lot to field hockey, any time a school from
a power conference like the Big Ten comes to play at a smaller school
it’s good for the sport,” she said.
The Wolverines are 3-3 overall and enter the match on a three-game
winning streak.
Junior Alicia Balanesi extended her goal scoring streak to four
consecutive games as CMU split its two-game weekend series in Evanston,
Ill..
Balanesi scored her team-leading fourth and fifth goals, including
the game winner against Virginia.
It took an extra period in Saturday’s game as the Chippewas defeated
the Cavaliers 2-1 in overtime. CMU opened the scoring when junior
Cortney Blanchard netted her first goal of the season on a penalty
corner. UVA tied the game late in the second half.
“It was a big win and a big upset,” Freese said. “Virginia is a very
good team and is usually one of the better teams in the country.
Everyone worked hard and worked together in the win.”
It was a tale of two different halves in a 4-2 loss to Northwestern
Friday.
The Wildcats scored four unanswered goals in the first half to take
a commanding lead into halftime. CMU played better in the second half
scoring two goals, but it was not enough.
‘We were out shot, out played and out scored in the first half,”
Balanesi said. “We went into the half and made some adjustments
mentally and strategy-wise.”
Freese said the team must take the same mentality it did in the UVA
game against Michigan.
“We have to go in and not worry about what they are ranked,” she
said “We have to play hard the entire game and never let up.”
(09/09/05 4:00am)
Senior mid-fielder Erica Takach was the first to admit there were
moments last weekend where she and her teammates lost focus.
The focus this week for the field hockey team is sustaining
consistent play throughout the game.
CMU (1-1) plays at Northwestern today and Virginia Saturday.
“There were moments last weekend, in particular Friday, when the
team slacked off, myself included,” Takach said. “If one person on the
field isn’t talking or is slacking, then it creates a domino effect and
leads to breakdowns. That cannot and will not happen this weekend.”
Coach Cristy Freese said her team’s physical conditioning will be
tested this weekend.
“The games are going to be very up tempo and intense,” Freese
said. “We are facing two formidable opponents from premiere
conferences.”
Virginia is 2-1 and is coming off a 4-0 loss to Old Dominion.
“Virginia is coming off a tough loss and will be ready to play,”
Takach said. “We have to make sure to play the full 70 minutes and to
be on top of every loose ball.”CMU worked heavily on offensive and
defensive strategies for penalty corner situations in practice this
week.
“Connecting on scoring opportunities will be key for our team,”
Freese said. “We are playing top level competition, which means that we
will have less scoring opportunities. We must capitalize and not miss
out on easy goals like we did last weekend.”
(09/07/05 4:00am)
University President Michael Rao has formed a 13-member search
committee to aid in hiring a new athletics director.
After 11 years as athletics director, Herb Deromedi announced he
will retire Jan. 15. The first meeting to find his replacement will
convene Thursday in the president’s conference room at 3:30 p.m. in the
Bovee University Center.
Senior Associate Athletics Director Marcy Weston will represent the
athletics department.
“Our first step is to identify the process,” Weston said. “We have
to decide whether we are going to have an interim AD or hire a
permanent person in January.”
Athletic Director Search Committee
Stephanie Comai, Board of Trustees member
James Fabiano, community representative
Cristy Freese, head field hockey coach
Brian Kelly, head football coach
Kevin Love, Faculty Athletics Representative
Rich Morrison, associate vice president, Public Relations & Marketing
Scott Smith, chair of Faculty Athletic Committee
George Torreano, Alumni Board representative
Dennis Washington, director of corporate and foundation relations,
development & alumni relations
Marcy Weston, senior associate athletics director
Cali Clark, director, employment and compensation, human resources
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe representative to be determined
Student-athlete to be determined
Representing the coaches are field hockey coach Cristy Freese and
football coach Brian Kelly.
Stephanie Comai represents the Board of Trustees, James Fabiano is
the community representative and management professor Kevin Love is the
faculty athletics representative.
Rich Morrison, associate vice president of public relations, also
will serve on the committee.
Physical education and sport professor Scott Smith, chair of the
faculty athletic committee, and George Torreano, Alumni Board
representative, also will aid in the search.
“I don’t have any preconceived notions going in,” Smith said. “I
just want to see the best candidate put in place, whether it is from
the outside or within.”
Dennis Washington, director of corporate and foundation relations
for Development and Alumni Relations, and Cali Clark, director of
employment and compensation of human resources, also will serve on the
committee.
A member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe also will serve on the
committee, but that person has not been determined. Morrision said
there will be a student-athlete on the committee, but it also has not
been determined.
(09/07/05 4:00am)
Junior Alicia Balanesi has already scored as many points in the first
weekend of the season as she did all last year.
Balanesi scored seven points in the two games, and was named
Mid-American Conference field hockey Offensive Player of the Week.
She garnered the honor scoring three goals and assisting on one in
CMU’s split last weekend.
The Balanesi File
Scored seven points in two games against Saint Louis and New Hampshire this weekend
Her two goals tied her total goals scored in 2004
Named MAC Offensive Player of the Week for her performance
“Alicia played great in St. Louis,” said coach Cristy Freese. “She
made plays all weekend and kept us in both games. The team counts on
the upperclassmen to contribute and she did.”
Balanesi entered 2005 having scored only two goals last season. She
made quick work of tying that mark in the season’s first two games.
CMU started its weekend with a 3-2 loss to St. Louis Friday, but
rebounded to beat New Hampshire 5-2 Saturday.
The Chippewas were behind early Saturday, before scoring three
unanswered goals by senior Alisa Folk, freshman Samantha Sandham and
Balanesi.
New Hampshire scored again, but CMU scored twice in the last 20
minutes to seal the win.
“We played a complete game, everyone worked really hard and
contributed,” Freese said. “The offense was very impressive and the
mid-fielders were solid. It was a big win and something the team needed
after the way we played against St. Louis.”
Folk and Balanesi had two goals each and senior Erica Takach
contributed with two assists against the Wildcats.
“It was nice to see the offense get going like we did,” Folk said.
“Everyone fought hard the entire game and never let up. The defense
made some big plays and we got a nice contribution from our
underclassmen.”
Friday’s game was the exact opposite.
Central scored twice before allowing St. Louis to score three
unanswered in the win.
“The defense broke down and we struggled at mid-field,” Freese said.
“We played great in the first half, but once St. Louis scored its first
goal they took momentum and outplayed us.”
(09/02/05 4:00am)
One thing the field hockey team is used to is playing on the road.
CMU, which played all but four of its games away from Mount Pleasant
last season, opens its season at St. Louis University Friday and New
Hampshire Saturday. Both games are in St. Louis.
“Opening on the road really isn’t a big deal,” said coach Cristy
Freese. “It will be nice to get away from campus this weekend, since
there will be so many distractions with tailgating and the football
game.”
Freese enters her 20th year as the CMU coach, but one thing remains
constant — she’s still nervous before every season.
“We can’t wait to get onto the field,” Freese said. “The team worked
hard to get ready for this season and it shows. Our seniors are being
great leaders and everyone is communicating on the field. We have a lot
of strength at mid-field and hopefully that can help our young
defense.”
The Billikens are 1-0 this season and are coming off a 2-1
overtime victory against Missouri State.
Sophomore Kristin Lueders scored the game winner on a penalty corner.
Freese said it is important for CMU to get off to a strong start.
“The first 10-15 minutes of the game are going to be huge,” Freese
said. “St. Louis has a veteran team and home field advantage. We cannot
let them gain momentum or get set on offense.”
CMU returns leading scorers seniors Erica Takach and Alisa Folk, as
well as junior goalkeeper Danielle Frank.
New Hampshire enters the game with a record of 1-1 and is led by
senior co-captains Kaitlyn Skelley and Katie White. Skelley and White
have amassed five points each through two games.
“New Hampshire is somewhat like us; they are led by some good
seniors, but have a very young team,” Freese said. “It should be a very
competitive game.”
The Chippewas will be without starting forward sophomore Allyson
Doan, who is out because of an injury. Doan’s absence and other minor
injuries will test CMU’s bench.
“We’re not as healthy as I would like to be,” Takach said. “Many of
the girls have some kind of minor injury, but everyone is staying tough
and working through them. The freshmen have been awesome in practice
and will have to carry that onto the field this weekend.”
(08/25/05 4:00am)
When Athletics Director Herb Deromedi announced his retirement Aug. 17,
the timeliness was for more than one reason.
Deromedi said he feels it is the right time for him to step down. He
also did it so one of his associate athletics directors could have the
chance to become an interim athletics director.
“I really feel I have some competent people on my staff,” Deromedi
said. “It gives someone a chance to be an interim, and a chance to be
evaluated by administration, faculty and community.”
Deromedi’s retirement is effective Jan. 15. University President
Michael Rao will begin a search as soon as possible for a replacement
and said the possibility for an interim athletic director is highly
likely.
As for that candidate being from within the athletic department, Rao
said he hadn’t thought about that possibility.
“The chance for an internal candidate being hired is about the same
as an external candidate being hired,” Rao said.
Deromedi said he will step aside and not be part of the search
committee.
“I think people here wouldn’t have as good a chance if they weren’t
given a chance to be interim,” Deromedi said. “That played a big
part in the timing of my announcement.”
Rao will meet with coaches and administrators within the athletic
department today to begin gathering information for his search for an
athletic director.
“I want the search to be thorough, but not too long to get someone
here by January,” Rao said. “A lot will depend on the feedback I get
from the meeting.”
Derek van der Merwe, associate athletic director in charge of
compliance, said he is interested in the interim position.
“At this point we want the best candidate possible to maintain the
tradition here,” van der Merwe said. “I would be very excited if the
position was offered — just like many others would be.”
Senior Associate Athletics Director Marcy Weston has said publicly
she is not interested in the position.
But Deromedi isn’t going to be a lame duck athletics director in his
final months.
He will be working diligently getting the new electronic scoreboard
in place for next season. The scoreboard is now in the design process.
Deromedi became athletics director in 1994 after serving as head
football coach since 1978. He first came to CMU in 1967 to be an
assistant football coach.
He is responsible for the addition to Kelly/Shorts Stadium, the
building of the Indoor Athletic Complex and the new field hockey
complex that was built last season.
During his tenure, 34 teams have won Mid-American Conference
championships and CMU also has won numerous academic awards.
(08/25/05 4:00am)
CMU has a top contender to win a Mid-American Conference title in one
of its sports this fall.
The men’s cross country team has won the MAC crown the past three
years, yet the sport remains overlooked by most CMU students and fans.
The team lost some solid talent, but coach Craig Fuller is confident
a talented recruiting class and returning runners will propel his team
to another MAC title.
“We’re definitely going for a title; we’re expecting to win,” Fuller
said. “I’m sure Eastern Michigan and Miami are going to think we’re
dead in the water because we lost so many seniors, but we don’t mind
that; we're running to win.”
Another team showing promise for the 2005 season is the soccer team.
The Chippewas are coming off an impressive 2004 season, going
10-7-3, but lost in the MAC title game.
Second-year coach Tony DiTucci hopes this season will culminate in a
MAC championship.
“I always stress that this is (the players) team; it’s up to them to
take us as far as they want to take us,” DiTucci said. “We have two
blue-collared seniors and six very good juniors that are really going
to help with the leadership of this team.”
CMU’s other fall sports are in transition phases and have the talent
in place to contend for MAC titles.
The field hockey team took a step back last season, finishing the
season 8-10.
Coach Cristy Freese is preparing her team for a potential MAC title,
and is happy the team will play all its games at home this year.
The volleyball team finished a disappointing 7-23 last season.
Coach Erik Olson will begin his second season at the helm, and is
hopeful his team will show much improvement.
“I feel the talent level we have is much improved, really night and
day compared to last year,” Olson said in a press release. The women’s
cross country team, coached by Karen Lutzke, also experienced a rough
season last year, finishing 12 out of 13 MAC teams.
However, CMU has a solid base of runners returning, and the
Chippewas are ready to contend in the MAC.
Most of the time these small-market sports win more games and MAC
titles than the revenue sports, yet they don’t get much attention for
those feats.
The football team has not had a winning season since 1998.
Brian Kelly enters his second season as CMU’s coach, and he wants to
give fans something to cheer about.
“We’re definitely going in the right direction, and we’re much
further along than we were last year,” he said. “But that still has to
be validated on the field. We are much more conditioned and our
strength is increased, but can they translate that on the field? They
have to show me that they can go out and be productive as a team.”
A winning season for the football team or not, fans can take comfort
in knowing they have other championship caliber fall sports to root for.
(08/25/05 4:00am)
Ronnie Ekdahl, freshman defensive tackle and Saginaw Chippewa tribal
member, doesn’t believe CMU’s nickname is hostile and abusive.
But he doesn’t oppose the NCAA’s postseason ban on teams using
Native American nicknames.
Ekdahl takes pride in his heritage on and off the football field.
“I like certain points of the policy the NCAA instituted,” he said.
“I think the name is very respected here and everyone understands the
relationship between CMU and the tribe.”
The NCAA executive committee banned “hostile” and “abusive” mascots
and team nicknames from postseason tournaments beginning in February.
Teams with these mascots or nicknames cannot host postseason
tournaments and its logos must be covered during postseason play.
The field hockey team experienced a problem concerning the Chippewas
nickname last season.
Coach Cristy Freese scheduled the team to play at Iowa University,
but before the season began, Iowa canceled.
Iowa does not play teams with Native American nicknames.
“I felt like some outside people put parameters on us without
knowing the relationship we have between the tribe,” Freese said.
CMU athletes have also given back to the tribe by interacting with
the tribe.
“The athletes and coaches are the spokespersons of the nickname,”
Freese said. “It is something we truly identify with and are educated
about.”
(08/25/05 4:00am)
Field hockey coach Cristy Freese will rely on more than just her
experience to carry her team as she enters her 20th season at CMU this
fall.
(08/25/05 4:00am)
Look around campus and it’s not hard to notice all the changes.
(08/17/05 4:00am)
Herb Deromedi, Central Michigan University’s athletic director for 12 years, said Wednesday he will retire Jan. 15, 2006.
(07/13/05 4:00am)
The person who used to chase stray field hockey balls is thankful for
the newly constructed fence around the field.
The field hockey venue received the fence because of that problem
and
to keep other people off the field.
“Those things run forever when there is nothing stopping them,” said
Clint Huhn, director of facilities, of the stray balls.
The fence is four feet tall and is around the perimeter of the field.
It cost $18,000 to construct, which is in addition to the $650,000
spent on the original construction of the field last year. An
additional $1,500 was spent on moving sprinkler heads in the path of
the fence.
“We are trying to do the appropriate things that will make this a
quality Division I facility,” Huhn said.
Field hockey coach Cristy Freese said cheap bleachers on the hill on
the east side of the stadium could be a possibility.
“It would have a nice feel to go and watch the game,” she said.
“More
importantly, the fence will protect the field. It is not standing by
itself.”
The fence will also protect the field from any vehicles that could
possibly drive on it.
Huhn said the athletic department has a tentative two-year timeline
to
construct more bleachers.
“Right now we are coming up with seating locations,” he said. “We
are
still searching to find a more permanent solution.”
The press box used for Lyle Bennett Outdoor Track and the soccer
complex will also be used for the field hockey venue.
Huhn said there is no need to construct another press box.
(06/29/05 4:00am)
Associate Athletic Director Marcy Weston’s original plan was to stay at
CMU for five years and move on.
Now, 28 years later, she is beginning her 34th year at Central.
“My first job was two (years), then my next job was three, then I
said ‘I’ll be here five years, then I’ll go someplace else,’” Weston
said.
Instead of following her five-year plan, she is now an established
figure at CMU.
Weston said the integrity of her co-workers and the always-changing
student-athletes have kept her going on the job.
“I love the people I work with,” Weston said. “You combine that, and
you like the job and the people you work with and it’s a pretty good
deal.”
Working with student-athletes is the most rewarding part of the job,
she said.
“I always tell people I would hate working with all adults in an
office somewhere because I think it would be boring,” she said. “There
is nothing boring about my job.”
Athletics Director Herb Deromedi called Weston a leader in women’s
athletics.
“Marcy is extremely efficient and is someone that for me is a
pleasure to have the opportunity to work with,” Deromedi said.
Weston coached three sports during her tenure at CMU. She
started as a field hockey coach from 1972-74, then the
women’s basketball coach from 1974-76. Finally, she was a volleyball
coach from 1974-89.
Schedules were less strenuous and a single person could coach two
sports at one time, she said.
Volleyball was not her strongest sport, she said. Yet she enjoyed
most of her success while coaching volleyball.
She coached her way to four consecutive Association for
Intercollegiate Athletics for Women titles. The conference had all the
major colleges from Michigan including Western Michigan, Michigan and
Michigan State.
“After two or three years we won quite a bit so people think you’re
the volleyball expert,” she said.
Weston went to various different volleyball clinics during the
offseason to help perfect her coaching abilities.
“I had some pretty good athletes and I thought I was a pretty good
motivator,” she said.
She was a 2004 inductee to the CMU Hall of Fame for her efforts as
the volleyball coach.
In 1989, she was promoted to her current position of associate AD.
Women’s basketball coach Eileen Kleinfelter said Weston has great
integrity.
“As a coach, an administrator and an official, she has excelled in
all those areas,” Kleinfelter said. “Certainly, many coaches try to
follow her lead in doing things the right way.”
Weston went to the University of Dayton where he ended up trying out
for basketball, volleyball, field hockey and softball. She learned the
ins and outs of the sports that helped her coach the sports later in
life.
She also officiated women’s basketball games earlier in her career
and is now a spokesperson for NCAA women’s basketball officials. She
assigns all the officials for the NCAA Division I women’s tournament
games.
Weston said her relationship with people throughout the NCAA is good
public relations for CMU.
“I think it helps us with scheduling, it helps us with relations
with other universities,” she said.
(05/02/05 4:00am)
It was pretty fitting that the title to this year’s Central Michigan
Life video was, “This is your life.”
For five years, CM Life has been my life.
This is my final hurrah and the hardest thing I have ever written.
The fact is I didn’t do a whole lot with last week’s papers, next
year’s staff was been behind them; this one, however, is my last.
I have been a part of more than 400 editions of CM Life, whether it
was as a lousy sports writer or the editor.
The memories are priceless. The fun with the staff was as endless as
the criticism.
I have made friends and lost friends because of this newspaper and,
well, those who know me, know I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I have met more people through this paper than I could write about,
upset more people than I can fill the pages with, written things I wish
I could take back and didn’t write things I wish I would have.
Without this paper, there really is no Adam Trumble, so leaving this
to begin my full-time job at The Alpena News leaves a small gap in my
life.
For five years, this newspaper has been the biggest part of the most
memorable five years of my life.
In my five years, I have witnessed more than 25 Mid-American
Conference Championships, more than any other school.
I saw a perfect game by Amber Puchalski, an NCAA Tournament run by
the men’s basketball team, the softball team’s defeat of the No.1 team
in the nation, the building of three new residence halls and the
beginning of more and the opening of the library and health professions
buildings.
I remember taking tests in the testing center, checking books out of
Finch Fieldhouse and watching baseball at the old Theunissen Stadium.
I walked into the CM Life office in Anspach Hall before my freshman
year began and was handed the field hockey beat.
Today I will empty my desk out and become Adam Trumble — no longer
Mr. CM Life, a title I love but am ready to shed.
Having seen the paper improve each and every year, I leave knowing I
have done everything I can in my time here.
So as my space is running out, I will retire this four-year old mug
shot and leave this paper — the best college newspaper in the state —
with simply the following.
Thank you. It’s been fun and I would do it all over again in a heart
beat.
Life Editor Adam Trumble can be reached for comment at
amtrumble@yahoo.com.
