Sports

Women's Cyclones Look to Whisk the Competition Away

Photo by Marketing

Michael Stocks
Distribution Manager

Moraine Valley’s Women’s Cross Country team is looking forward to a promising and successful season.

The team only has two returning runners, but the new team members have various experiences.

“We are much deeper and more experienced than last year and consequently stronger,” coach Mark Horstmeyer said in a press release.

Last season the team suffered from injuries but came close to winning conference, losing by only two points. This year captain Ashley Shares, who last season was awarded First Team All-Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and All-NJCAA Region IV Division I also, aids them.

“Ashley has taken off little time. She has high expectations this year and is putting in the work she didn’t do as much as last year,” Horstmeyer said.

Also returning is Alejandra Dongo, who was awarded Academic All-American awards and is described by Horstmeyer as “the most courageous runner I’ve ever had. She is competing with a torn crucial ligament.”

This year is also the first in the program’s history that Horstmeyer has elected captains.

“I want those who show leadership off the field and what they do during workouts,” he said.

The team began practicing on August 2 and has improved greatly, showing good chemistry since then.

“This year I am blessed with a stronger and healthier women’s team,” Horstmeyer said. “I have a lot of experienced girls coming from high school.”

Strong expectations are held for Alexandra Dovgin of Andrew High School in Orland Hills.

“Alex comes from a good program at Andrew and had a really solid year in cross country and track,” said Horstmeyer. “I’m expecting great things from her by the time championship season rolls around in October.”

At press time, some of the new recruits are nursing injuries, but still look for Cande Pizzano, Nagieh Omer and Ashley Diggins, among others, to contribute to a potential championship season.

When asked about the improvements Horstmeyer wants to see, he noted he wants “the same they want, being better and faster….The women have worked out very well.”

The season starts on Friday, September 3 at Elmhurst College.

Michael Stocks can be contacted at mstocks19@hotmail.com

Men's Cross Country

Photo by Marketing

Frank Florez
Editor in Chief

Coming off of an “average” performance last season, the Men’s Cross Country team is hoping to make great strides toward improvement for this upcoming season.

Already in their fifth week of practice, the men’s team is certainly putting forth the effort to take the team to the next level; Head Coach Mark Horstmeyer definitely thinks so.

“The good thing I see is that we’ve got a lot of guys working hard,” said Horstmeyer.

In the team’s eleventh season, they will field their largest roster ever. The team will be led by returning runner and team captain Dimitri Demizas. Demizas became the first Men’s Cross Country runner to hold the title of team captain since the team’s inception in 2000. Demizas is the only runner returning from last year who took part in the NJCAA Champtionships at Illinois Central College last November when he finished at 150 of 259.

Horstmeyer made note of Demizas’s efforts over the offseason, citing the fact that Demizas took little to no time off between last year’s Nationals and the start of this season. Horstmeyer applauds the effort of the team as a whole as well.

“Dimitri has really put in the time,” said Horstmeyer “I’m really pleased with the way the kids have been responding to the workouts.”

Also returning to the team are second-year runners Joe Gonzales, Jim Johnson, Chris Lendich and Rich Sparks. With such a large roster, and only five returning runners, a lot of new blood will be joining the team.

This year’s group of newcomers includes Jon Altman, Luke Bronson, Abel Garcia, Raul Gonzalez, Ben Greer, Travis Kmetz, Brian Kolz, Felipe Rivera, Wilson Tan and Kellen Williams.

Horstmeyer makes it clear that chemistry and a common goal is what is going to keep these runners progressing forward.

“I want the same things they want,” said Horstmeyer “To be better, faster.”

The Cyclones are going to be put to their first test Friday, September 3, when they compete in the Early Bird Invitational at Elmhurst College for a shortened run to start off the season. The meet will be the first of the season for the team and will be at 5:45 p.m. at Eldridge Park at Elmhurst College. With the path the men’s team looks to be on this year, it’s going to be an exciting season for these runners.

Frank Florez can be contacted at Florezf@student.morainevalley.edu

Women's Volleyball

Amel Saleh
Entertainment Editor

Last weekend, the Moraine Valley Women’s Volleyball team played their first tournament and defeated all six opponents, earning Coach Gloria Couchlin her 400th career win.

Though to ask Coughlin, it’s nothing to get too excited over. The coach of 19 years takes a modest approach when it comes to her victories.

“It’s not a big deal,” Coughlin said. “It’s not something I get too excited for.”

However, Coughlin admitted there is another milestone she’s looking forward too.

“500 wins is a big one,” she said. “I’m hoping to be around for 500.”

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What Coughlin doesn’t hesitate to get excited about is her new team roster. This season the volleyball team welcomes several new faces, with only four players returning and nine new members. 

This year expect to see Donna Killeen (Marist), Rachel Levitt (Lyons), Kelly Stack (Sandburg), Molly Duckwall (Bremen), Bianca (Bremen), Allison Pytko (Stagg), Katie Yacko (Oak Lawn), Danielle Donahue (Lockport Central), and Katie Fitzer (Queen of Peace). Players are that are returning this year are Alicia Krupa (Oak Lawn), Shannon Ott (Oak Lawn), Carli Immordino (Richards) and Isabel Reyes (Eishenhower).

On Friday in Pool Play, MVCC defeated Harper College (25-18, 25-18) and Illinois Valley (25-13, 25-10). During the game against Harper College, Killeen led the team with 9 kills followed by Levitt with 8 kills and 2 blocks. Also adding to the offense were Hull and Immordino with 4 kills. Shannon Ott was also productive with 3 kills and 2 blocks and Yacko delivered 29 kill assists.

In the game against Illinois Valley, Levitt led our offense with 8 kills and 3 service aces with Killeen adding 5 kills. Stack was also on top of her game defensively with 12 digs and added 2 service aces.

On Saturday, MVCC picked up a win against Madison Area Tech and made Coach Gloria Coughlin pleased, which earned Coughlin her 400th win.

Some of the highlights included 6 total kills from Hull, Levitt, Immordino, Killeen, Ott and Stack.  Yacko also dished out 20 assists and Stack kept ground as Libero and managed to get 8 receptions and 7 digs.  Rachel Levitt was a hard working playing for us playing in the front and back row.

It was a very competitive championship match against Moraine Valley and Madison Area Tech. The responded well both offensively and defensively. Offensively with managed to gain 31 kills and 4 blocks and defensively with 55 digs and 28 perfect serve receptions.  MVCC took the win and ended the game with the final score being 25-20, 25-22.

The semi finals of the tournament did not seem to throw off the athletes. Rachel Levitt got tougher as the game progressed and went onto leading our team with 11 kills, no errors in 20 swings next to with her 2 block and 5 digs.  We also served a strongly scoring on 5 service aces and forced poor passing on many other serves.

Amel Saleh can be contacted at amel.saleh19@yahoo.com 

Women's Soccer

Photo by Dana Lenckus

Courtney Kuchan
Staff Writer

Starting strong last season, but ending with difficulties, the Moraine Valley Women’s Soccer team hopes stay equally as strong this season. 

They locked in victories against Truman College, Prairie State College and South Suburban College with sturdy scores of 9-0, 6-0, and 6-1 early in the season. The girl’s season ended unfortunately with a 2-1 loss at the Region IV Quarter Finals against College of Lake County due to a last minute goal by Lake County. The season closed with a record of 8-8-3.

“Hopefully, this year, we can balance both our offensive and defensive ends of the game,” Coach Jim Knawa said.

With mostly new girls on the roster, Coach Knawa is impressed by his team and sees great promise.

“Our talent level is varied, from the experienced high school standout to a player with no experience,” Knawa said. “This year's team has a great work ethic. They seem to bonding very well.”

The team’s first game is this Saturday, September 28 at Triton College. Last season the girls tied Triton 2-2 and hope to pull off a win in their first game this season.

Moraine students are welcome to the kick-off of the season and can find a game schedule on Moraine’s website.

“For next year, I would encourage any student to contact me if they are interested in playing soccer. Being a member of an NJCAA Division I program has numerous advantages,” Knawa said.

The first regional game is October 24.

Overall, Knawa is working the girls hard for a hopeful repeat of the beginning victories and to avenge the corner kick that cost them last year’s Regional game.

“Obviously, our main goal is to have a productive, winning season in competing for the conference and regional championship.” Knawa said.

Courtney Kuchan can be contacted at courtrk10@yahoo.com

A Sports Editorial

Michael Stocks
Distribution Manager

Any Chicago sports fan has an opinion about Jay Mariotti. He has been a vocal mudslinger who has burned many bridges with his accusations toward certain people.

However, on that changed on August 21, and many began accusing him of hypocrisy.

Mariotti was arrested on charges of domestic abuse against his girlfriend in California. What makes this ironic is that Mariotti has in the past gone on long-winded rants against athletes accused of domestic violence. He has called for the accused athletes to be released and boycotted.

Since the incident, Mariotti has posted a $50,000 bail and has yet to make a public statement as of press time. He has been suspended by AOL and has not been seen on ESPN.

So the man who used to condemn people for their inappropriate actions has gone into hiding when accused of the same. What irks many about the situation is that he has gone after people so harshly for their actions, but has now turned tail and ran.

When Jason Kidd was accused of domestic violence in 2002, Mariotti wrote: “A domestic abuser is not a hero in any arena…this is the baggage he inherited, the scrutiny that will never fade. “

Some have found it sad that so many people have taken delight in the case. But these people aren’t happy that he allegedly beat his girlfriend. They’re happy that someone who spent years dragging people through the mud to get his name across has gone into hiding to avoid the public criticism of being a hypocritical woman hitter.

Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but two weeks of silence has done nothing to help his case.

The most ironic part of the whole thing was just a week before the incident, Mariotti wrote an article for “AOL Fanhouse” criticizing MLB for being too soft on players for domestic violence cases.

Mariotti is awaiting trial on September 17.

Michael Stocks can be contacted at mstocks19@hotmail.com