march 28th

March 28, 2014

2 CLUB SPORTS ILLUSTRATED /// March 28th, 2014

For more information on any of the club teams, visit the website:clubsports.appstate.edu

email us [email protected]

or call us at theStudent Recreation Center(828)262-2100

Director of UREC:Joe [email protected]

Director of Club Sports:Erin [email protected]

Club Sports Specialist:Hannah [email protected]

Publicity Programmer:Miles [email protected]

Executive Officers:Jessie [email protected]

Ashley [email protected]

Tyler [email protected]

IN THIS ISSUE04

06

08

10

11

11

11

12 - 13

12

13

Cycling - Rainy Racing

Snowboarding - We Go Big

Baseball - Getting in the Groove

Equestrian - Being on the Equestrian Team

The Best Part of Club SPorts

Traithlon

Women’s SOccer

Team Updates

Fencing

Women’s Lacrosse

THE March 28th Edition of the Club Sports Illustrated

Designed by Miles Elliottwith assets from Marcie Ried

Cover Photo provided by Cycling Team

March 28th, 2014 /// CLUB SPORTS ILLUSTRATED 3

04

08

06

12 11 13

10


This past weekend the Cycling Team hosted out home race off the mountain down in Wilkesboro.

Schools from all over the Atlantic coast including Navy, Virginia Tech, Duke, UNC, NC State, West Virginia and more came to compete. On Saturday we had a road race in the morning followed by a team time trial in the afternoon. The road race was

the first one in our conference this season to have significant elevation gain. It was a nine mile loop with close to 1,200 feet of climbing per lap! All of the races would become strung out on the climbs as riders with different abilities formed into groups. Some of our highlight finishes from the race are Zeb Ramsbotham in 3rd for Men’s C, Anna Gannet 3rd for Women’s B, and Cinthia Lehner and Nina Laughlin who went 1st and 2nd in Women’s A. The team time trial

“We lead by a large amount but with four more weekends of racing there is no room for slacking off.”

by Zeb Ramsbotham, Member

Photo Provided by Cycling Team


course was a lumpy 4 miles out with a tailwind and 4 miles back with a headwind. Our Men’s B team finished 3rd with our Women’s A team finishing 1st.

Sunday was cold and rainy but everyone came out again for the crit in downtown North Wilkesboro. Crits are the NASCAR of the cycling world where you have a short course, usually less than a mile, and riders do many laps. The course in North Wilkes is a figure eight with sharp turns and some small but significant elevation gain. Despite the rain we still had a

fairly good crowd of spectators. Again on Sunday we had more great finishes. Danielle Romack won her first race in Women’s C, Eric Burton finished 5th in Men’s C, Gene Taylor 2nd in Men’s B, Anna Gannet 5th in Women’s B, Miles Hubbard and Forrest Howard 5th and 6th in Men’s A.

After this weekend the team is in first place overall in the conference. We lead by a large amount but with four more weekends of racing there is no room for slacking off. Without help from all of our sponsors and folks who support us in

general we would not be in this position. We also have to thank Wilkes county for allowing us to host our races there, the police department for all of their help, Brushy Mountain Bicycles and Talia’s Espresso for their services on Sunday. And of course our road Vice President Miles Hubbard for doing the work to make it all happen. This coming weekend we are off to Duke University for their home race where we will defend the overall spot we hold!

Photo Provided by Cycling Team


The Appalachian Snowboard Team somehow always knows how to “go out with a bang” when the season comes to a sad ending.

The team documented another amazingly gnarly snow season, by having the opportunity to travel to some amazing mountains such

as: Snowshoe, West Virginia, Bryce, Virginia, Wisp, Maryland, Massanutten, Virginia and then Whiteface Lake Placid, New York for the competitive season. This season, the team enjoyed the company of alumni member and old president Kim Elison for almost every race, due to the fact she always has the motivational, funny words to say to get the team up and going to rank within the top three teams each race.

“We are a funny, loud, reckless, daring, gnarly crew, who always knows how to make a good time happen.”

by KatrinaMatza,Secretary

Photo by Sara Beeken


As mentioned before, the members of our team somehow always “do it big” when it comes to anything. We are a funny, loud, reckless, daring, gnarly crew, who always knows how to make a good time happen. In this way, this season could not have ended in a better way. The members of the Appalachian Snowboard Team participated in the great Meltdown games of Appalachian Ski Mountain, making history in the events. The mastery of the monster truck sled was exposed on the Red Bull sponsored Schlittentag course. Members Breck Faison, Alex Martin and Megan Page were the creators of

this original life size masterpiece, which made it half way down before falling apart. But let’s be real, our team never gives up, thus the masterpiece was pulled the rest of the way to the finish line, with the loud cheers of the crowd cheering them on to success. It was an epic sled for an epic event.

Another epic seasonal end was the surprise bikini run accomplished by members, Katrina Matza, Shannon Hildebrandt, and Celcilia Hellem. The members became local celebrities for the day by surprising the entire mountain

with a full bikini run at the end of the day. “Yes, it was extremely cold and gutsy, but it was a great epic ending to the season and I am so glad I could share it with the amazing members of my team!” quoted Shannon Hildebrandt. The meltdown games were a huge success and the team has another great record of memories to put down in the books for the season. Like I said before, the Appalachian Snowboard team knows how to “go out with a bang”, so always be prepared!

Happy shredding for next season everyone!

by KatrinaMatza,Secretary


It has been an exciting two weeks for the men of the Club Baseball Team.

The Mountaineers traveled to Plant City and Clearwater, Florida over Spring Break to play four games and relax in the hot Florida sun. This is exactly what the team needed after a tough weekend against ECU, losing all three games 10-0. The team traveled to Plant City to play

their four games against Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Virginia Tech, and Illinois State.

On day 1, the Mountaineers went 1-1, beating Central Michigan 6-2 and losing to Bowling Green 11-3. Junior Mike Aiello pitched a complete, 7-inning game, allowing only 2 runs and 4 hits against Central Michigan. Sophomore Patrick Sekel went a combined 4-6 at the plate over the two games, reaching base five out of six times while scoring twice.

On day 2, the Mountaineers would unfortunately lose both games 8-2 to Virginia Tech and 11-7 to Illinois State. “We only had 10 guys, so that wasn’t easy,” said President Ben Duncan. “Every time we come to Florida, our plan is to just get better and have fun, win or lose. We did come away with our first win of the season, so I’m glad to see us heading in the right direction.”

by Patrick Sekel, Secretary

Photo Provided by Baseball Team


After the games, the team traveled to Clearwater for the rest of the week. The Mountaineers bonded while relaxing at the beach and attending a Phillies spring training game. The Mountaineers then returned home to prepare for the rest of their season.

The following weekend, the team hosted Wake Forest University at West Wilkes High School for their regular two, 7-inning games and one, 9-inning game series. The Mountaineers would come away with wins in the two, 7-inning games with scores of 10-3 and 5-3. Senior Tyler Piercy pitched a phenomenal first game, going 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 earned runs, and striking out 9. Sophomore John Smith went a combined 5-7 with a double, 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s, while scoring four times himself in the two games.

As the Mountaineers prepared for the sweep on Sunday, the game was unfortunately canceled to due rain. The game will be rescheduled for a later date not yet announced. “This weekend was great,” said Duncan. “This shows how much better of a team we are than what we showed against ECU. Our guys played with confidence and never got down on themselves the entire day. We’ve got an amazing team, and the pieces are starting to come together.”

The Mountaineers are now 2-3 in the conference (3-6 overall). They are currently fourth in the conference behind undefeated ECU and UNC as well as 4-1 Elon. Behind them are 1-4 NC State and 0-5 Wake Forest. This upcoming weekend, the Mountaineers play at Chapel Hill High School against UNC in a tough three games series March 29-30.

“We’ve got an amazing team, and the pieces are starting to come together.”

Photo Provided by Baseball Team

Photo Provided by Baseball Team Photo Provided by Baseball Team


One of the best parts about being on the Equestrian Team is how welcoming the group is as a club sport.

Anyone can join with any amount of experience and become a part of such an amazing group of athletes. Since being an equestrian is generally such an individual sport, it is nice to have such a different experience having a supportive team cheering you on at competitions. Although we have 3 separate teams (Western, Dressage, and Hunt Seat), we all come together as a whole club sport team through team bonding; going to competitions, lessons, and volunteering events (Horse

Helpers of the High Country). Club Sports is a wonderful organization that provides an opportunity for the team to become a family. As a club sport, however, our roster is quite incomplete. It would actually about double if it included our amazing equine teammates. We have the absolute pleasure to announce that Region H Intercollegiate Dressage Association named our amazing D’Arcy Pearce “Horse of the Year”. This coveted title is a huge honor and is battled for by the other colleges in our region, Virginia Tech, Virginia Intermont, and Wake Forest. We are thrilled to have such an incredible horse as a part of our team.

“This coveted title is a huge honor and is battled for by the other colleges in our region”

Being on theEquestrian Team

by April Kaiser, Treasurer and Nikka Hronis, Dressage Team Captain

Photo Provided by Equestrian Team

Photo Provided by Equestrian Team


There are hundreds of organizations on Appalachian State University’s campus that one can get involved with.

We offer service, academic, and athletic groups that students can become a part of. Club Sports is one of these incredible organizations. Being part of a Club Sports team is a unique opportunity that I have been able to take part in. It provides an outlet for athletic achievement in a distinctive environment. Unlike varsity sports, anyone can join Club Sports and participate. It is not membership by ability level, so anyone is welcome. It provides the opportunity for competition and travel, though. We have the

ability to play teams around the country and compete at Nationals. College is a time to explore new things and meet new people, and Club Sports offers that. Students looking to compete or students who just want to have fun at a new sport are all welcome.

by April Kaiser, Treasurer and Nikka Hronis, Dressage Team Captain

by Taylor Branton, Women’s Soccer Team Treasurer

Two Club Sport Athletes Share what the best part of Club Sports is

by Allison Crook, Triathlon Team Secretary

Some of the best parts about being a member of the club team is the relationships you make.

Some of my closest friends I met through the Club Soccer Team. Tournaments are some of the best times with the team. Being stuck together all weekend really allows you to get to know someone, and you will always be laughing with everyone. If you ask many of the girls on the team the same question, they will tell you they met some of their closest friends on the team as well. There are plenty of other great benefits of being part of a club team, but the relationships you make are by far some of the best memories you will have during your college years.

“Being stuck together all weekend really allows you to get to know someone, and you will always be laughing with everyone.”


After a nice and refreshing spring break the athletes of the Appalachian State University Fencing Club are back once more and raring for action.

With the resumption of regular meetings every Tuesday and Thursday at the newly refurbished Quinn Recreational

Center, ASU’s Fencing Club has set itself about to prepare for even more competitions that are to take place over the course of this semester. Some of the club’s most recent plans involve traveling down to the Raleigh Fencers Club where the North Carolina divisionals were hosted 2-3 weeks ago in order to participate in an unofficial tournament celebrating some of the gym’s new renovations on April the 5th as well as the

6th. ASU’s own club will also be hosting an unofficial tournament on April 26th and the 27 These competitions are being done in order to help encourage some of our more up and coming members to compete with, and meet other fencers from within the state.

Team Update

FENCINGby Alex Fogleman, Member

Photo by Chandler Jenkins


This past weekend, Women’s Lacrosse went to support the Men’s team when they played against Davidson.

We had a great time and a few members of the boys team came to our game the next day to keep score for us. We played against

High Point for the first time this semester and had a really great game. Becka Doyle started our game of well by scoring a goal within the first minute and we managed to take an early lead. As the weather cleared up, High point came back and managed to tie it up at 5 to 5 when we hit half time. After the first half, we went goal for goal until the end

of the game. Unfortunately, we lost 8 to 7 but we are incredibly proud of the fight our girls put up and will be looking forward to our rematch against High Point this weekend.

Team Update

WOMEN’S LACROSSEby Molly Lancaster, President

Photo Provided by Women’s Lacrosse Team

CLUB SPORTS ILLUSTRATED /// March 28th, 2014

For more updates,

Follow us on Twitter:@asuclubsports

Friend us on Facebook:Appstate Clubsports

march 28th

Documents

cycling team

womens b

mens b team

womens c

sports specialist

club teams

womens lacrossethe

team time trial