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JU Hockey Hits the Ice

April 16, 2013 By Emily Long Leave a Comment

Jacksonville University students are not letting the sunny Florida weather prevent them from lacing up their skates and hitting the ice.

Meetings for a new ice hockey club team have been occurring throughout the spring semester on and off campus. During these gatherings, students have discussed where practices will be held, how much the dues will be and other team-related topics.

Although it might seem like an odd organization for the Jacksonville community, there has been a desire for a club team for some time, according to Joseph Shapiro, junior aviation major.

“There was a strong need for JU to have an ice hockey team,” Shapiro said. “Many students have been waiting for a team to start.”

Currently, there is no limit to how many students can join the co-ed club. There will be dues to pay in order to cover referee fees, ice time and insurance costs, which have not yet been determined. Practices will be held at Jax Ice and Sportsplex, which is located at the corner of Emerson St. and I-95.

“The more people that come out, the better it will be for everyone,” Shapiro said.

As of now, the club is still working out all of the details, but they say they will be ready by this coming fall semester. While the leaders straighten out all of the specifics, they will be updating their Facebook page, JU Hockey, as more information is decided upon.

“You don’t have to be wanting to play to join the Facebook page; it is for everyone,” Shapiro said. “We will be putting out a lot of information about the team and what’s going on through the Facebook page, so it would very beneficial.”

In order to be on the team you do not have to have any experience, and the team plans to play against big schools such as Clemson University, the University of Florida and the University of North Carolina.

The team is also looking for sponsors to help push their club to the next level.

“If anyone is interested, please go to our Facebook page and message us for more information,” Shapiro said. “One sponsorship opportunity would be to buy board space on the ice.”

Along with having sponsors support the ice hockey team, the soon-to-be team would like their fellow Dolphins’ support as well.

“Please let everyone know that we are starting a team and spread the word around,” Shapiro said. “This is going to be the next big thing at JU, and we would love all of the school’s support.”

Filed Under: News, Sports

Dolphins Take Two of Three From Kennesaw State

April 16, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

The Dolphins baseball team headed back to Georgia, this time to take on A-Sun foe Kennesaw State.
Following a 14-4 blowout by the Owls on Friday which saw junior Chris Anderson struggle for the second straight week, sophomore Alex McRae dialed up a dominant performance as JU shutout Kennesaw St. 4-0.
The Dolphins got out to a hot start Saturday, scoring three runs in the top half of the second inning. Drew Luther and Nate Ricci each belted singles to lead off the inning. Garrett Ruckel laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Ricci and Luther to second and third.
One batter later, Zac Houck singled to plate Luther and Ricci scored on a throwing error making it 2-0 Dolphins. After stealing second, Houck scored on an RBI single off the bat of Nathan Koslowski for a 3-0 lead.
JU would strike for another run in the eighth to make it 4-0 Dolphins. Koslowski walked and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Braddock Rowe then knocked home Koslowski with an RBI single.
McRae would need nothing more as he tossed a complete game shutout. McRae allowed just three hits while striking out five.
In the rubber match of the three-game set, the Dolphins struck for 10 runs in the first two innings, helping themselves to a healthy, early lead.
Dylan Dillard and Jake Huxtable got on with back-to-back one out singles. Dillard then scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Brady North. Braddock Rowe, Luther and Koslowski each followed with singles. Ruckel then walked leading to a bases clearing three run double from Ethan Loosen making it 6-0 JU.
The Dolphins used five more hits in the second to push across four more runs as the first six JU batters reached base, pushing the lead to 10-0.
The Owls struck in the bottom of the fourth where they added four runs of their own cutting the deficit to six at 10-4.
After Kennesaw added another run making it 10-5, the Dolphins got one back in the sixth as Ruckel singled bringing home North who singled earlier in the inning, making it 11-5.
After cutting back into the lead making it 11-6, the Owls were threatening when North started an inning ending 3-4-1 double play ending the push by Kennesaw.
The Dolphins struck for one more run in the seventh to push their lead to 12-6. Houck led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Dillard. Houck then scored on a sac-fly by Huxtable.
Kennesaw St. added one run in the bottom half of the seventh cutting the Dolphin lead to 12-7.
The Owls started a rally in their last at-bat scoring three runs on three hits but fell just shy of tying the game and falling to JU 12-10.
The Dolphins (13-23, 6-6) next action comes up this weekend as JU travels to Northern Kentucky.

Filed Under: Baseball, Sports Tagged With: ,

Terry Alexander: “1″ Last Ride

April 16, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

Photo Courtesy of: judolphins.com

Saturday April 6, 2013 was more then just another sunny Saturday to the Jacksonville University family.
That Saturday, JU and the university athletic department retired the number of long-time baseball coach Terry Alexander.
Alexander has spent the past 34 years as part of the Dolphins coaching staff and the last 23 as head coach. In those 23 years, “T.A.” went 713-590-2, winning six conference championships and making 10 regional appearances.
Alexander’s 713 wins are a program record and helped him post five 40-win seasons.
The 2012 season was not the kindest to T.A., but he was able to grab his 700th career win with a 9-2 victory over University of South Florida in Tampa that March. Alexander also saw three of his players get drafted into the MLB.
The Minnesota Twins selected Junior Adam Brett Walker II, A-Sun first team All-Conference honoree, in the third round. Fellow junior and A-Sun first team All-Conference honoree, Dan Gulbransen was selected in the 16th round by the Houston Astros and senior Jonathan Murphy (brother of JU graduate and New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy) was taken three rounds later joining Walker with the Twins.
Alexander played his high school baseball at Lee High School here in Jacksonville. He went on to play college ball at Florida State where he was an outfielder. He was with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for two years before a back injury ended his playing days.
On November 27, 2012, it was reported that Alexander would be hanging up his JU jersey for the last time at the end of the 2013 season. The news came shortly after the Dolphins had their worst finish under Alexander with an 18-38 record.
Alexander is the longest-tenured and winningest coach in any sport in the history of Jacksonville University.
Alexander has a little over a month left in his final season as the Dolphins head coach. The last regular season home game is scheduled for May 12 at 12p.m.
With his departure, Alexander leaves behind a lasting legacy present in every aspect of the baseball program. Success going forward will have much to do with the blood, sweat and tears dedicated to the university by Terry Alexander.

Filed Under: Baseball, Sports Tagged With: ,

JU Locks Up Share of A-Sun Title with 16-2 Victory

April 16, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

Illustrated By: Matthew Martin

On a day where Jacksonville University honored their first ever lacrosse four-year senior class, the women’s lacrosse team locked up a share of the Atlantic Sun conference title with a 16-2 victory over Detroit.
Despite a 45-minute lightning delay, the Dolphins were able to blow past Detroit for at least a share of the inaugural A-Sun championship regular season crown and their third straight league title.
Senior Amanda Hurley scored three of her four goals in the first 10 minutes of the game to fuel a 6-0 Dolphins run to open the contest. Junior Brittney Orashen also scored two goals during the stretch helping JU to a 10-1 halftime lead.
With 22 minutes remaining, heavy rains and lightning blew through the Jacksonville area putting the game on hold for a while.
Junior Morgan Derner scored three goals and an assist and Taylor McCord added a pair of goals to go along with three assists.
The Dolphins final two games take them to Navy on Friday before they finish regular season play Sunday at Howard.
The A-Sun tournament will be hosted by JU at Southern Oak Stadium April 26-28.

Filed Under: Lacrosse, Sports Tagged With: ,

The Golf Gods Answer Australia’s Prayers

April 16, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

Adam Scott endured Augusta National Golf Club’s intense labyrinth of challenges and beauty, a prowling tiger and a wet Sunday trek through some of the most difficult holes in golf.
It was a week in which world No. 1 Tiger Woods was supposed to get back up on his high horse and claim his first major championship since the 2008 US Open. Since 2005, Woods has only finished outside the top six and top 10 once (40th in 2012).
Tiger had finally reclaimed the top spot in the world rankings a few weeks prior and has won three times already in 2013. A two-stroke penalty that was reviewed Friday night and handed down Saturday morning is what seemingly kept Tiger from challenging for the Green Jacket.
Heading into the final round of play, 2012 FedEx Cup Champion Brandt Snedeker and 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera were tied for the lead at -7. Adam Scott held sole possession of third place a shot back (-6) and Jason Day and Marc Leishman were tied for fourth at -5.
The last time Adam Scott was in contention at a major was the Open Championship just a year ago where he blew a four shot lead with four holes to play as he watched Ernie Els pry Scott’s first major victory away from him.
Headed to the eighteenth tee tied for the lead with ’09 Masters Champion Cabrera, Scott made it onto the green cleanly in two shots, leaving himself a 20-foot putt for birdie. Scott watched the ball roll smoothly online and rattle around the cup before it sunk, giving him a birdie and a one stroke lead with just one pairing behind him.
Unfortunately for Scott, that pairing included Cabrera. With Scott in, signing his scorecard, Cabrera hit his second shot to within three feet of the hole, on his way to a birdie to force a playoff.
Tied at -9, Cabrera and Scott headed back to the 18th tee to begin the sudden death playoff. In ’09, it was Cabrera defeating Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry in a playoff to capture the Green Jacket.
On 18 for the second time, both players drove the ball almost directly to the exact same spot, Cabrera just a few yards further. Scott’s second shot landed softly on the front edge of the green and rolled just off the front edge. Cabrera then almost mimicked Scott’s efforts landing a matter of inches behind him.
With everything on the line, Cabrera chipped his third shot sending the ball just over the outside lip of the hole, leaving him a tap-in for par. Scott sent his chip within a few feet and drained his par putt as well.
The playoff moved to the 10th hole where both Scott and Cabrera were on the green in two with makeable birdie putts ahead of them.
Cabrera was first to play his putt from about 15-feet. The putt looked to be online but for the second straight hole, grazed the outside lip of the cup sitting just on the edge where he would tap in for par.
Scott then had a 12-foot putt to win the Masters. With impending darkness looming, Scott called over caddie Steve Williams to help him read the putt.
“Do you think it’s just more then a cup?” Scott asked Williams.
“It’s at least two cups,” said Williams. “It’s going to break more than you think.”
With that bit of information fresh in his mind, Scott rolled the most important putt of his career. He rolled the putt 12-feet straight into the cup for his first major victory and the first Masters win for the country of Australia.
Scott overcame the demons clouding his mind of the 2012 Open Championship and sealed the victory.
With one 12-foot putt, the Aussie prayers had been answered.

Filed Under: Golf, Sports Tagged With: , ,

Tiger Gone Wild

April 3, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

Illustration By: Matthew Martin

It’s not unfamiliar for athletes to decline and seem to fall off the face of the earth later in their careers.

They get older, their play declines and they become expendable. Then there are others who make a bonehead decision and are pushed away and looked at as a shell of their former self.

I can’t think of anything more painful as an avid sports enthusiast than seeing an all-time great stick around too long. One could say that Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time (for now), stayed a few years too long with his stint in Washington. As recent as last winter, golf fans worldwide couldn’t help but ponder if Tiger Woods was done.

For the longest time, Tiger Woods was the number one player in the world. Woods has won over 25 percent of the PGA Tour events he has ever entered. When it looked as if Tiger was primed to go on a run to catch Jack Nicklaus’ major victories record, Woods’ world crumbled around him.

The outside perspective of Tiger was that he had everything: money, fame, a beautiful wife and he was at the top of his game. What more could he need?

As it turned out, Woods had a soft spot for beautiful women and lots of them. So there we sat. Tiger had a bum knee, was going through a tough divorce and his game seemed to be falling apart before his very own eyes.

At this point, many athletes would have packed their things, counted their losses and moved into a life after sports (I’m looking at you Barry Bonds.)

Not Tiger. I like to think that in my 20-plus years of living that I’ve loved and was glued to sports for every second of it. In those 20-plus years, I’ve yet to see anyone hate losing more then Tiger Woods. Woods has an unreal desire to succeed and an unrivaled hatred for defeat. The man may hate losing more then he loves winning.

The start of his on-course demise began when he lost the number one ranking to Lee Westwood. Woods then began a free fall to number 58 in the world, his lowest ranking since breaking onto the scene as a rookie in the ’90s. Everyone thought Woods was done. They thought that his game and knee had deteriorated and became so bad that we had seen the last of the once iconic Tiger Woods.

Woods’ drought spanned over the length of two years. Woods went from 2009 at the BMW Championship until early 2012 without a victory. Tiger’s luck seemed to be turning around in early 2012 and it all started at Bay Hill at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, an event he had won six times prior.

So here we are, just over a year removed from that moment and the unthinkable for many has occurred. Woods regained his ‘Tiger-esque’ play, reclaimed his number 1 ranking and is the favorite to win The Masters next week. Including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Woods won three times in 2012 including The Memorial hosted by Jack Nicklaus, and the AT&T National.

Now, a week before the 2013 Masters, Woods has already won three times this calendar year. Tiger won at Torrey Pines, where he seems to play well year after year, the Cadillac Championship at Doral and the Arnold Palmer Invitational for a record eighth time. With the win at Bay Hill, Woods solidified his position back at the top.

Still there are the critics who say Tiger needs to win a major before they will say he is “back.” And there are still those who dislike him for his former off-course antics and affairs.

Who cares what he does in his personal time? He is a human being just like the rest of us. We all make mistakes and we all have the right to do as we please. His personal life does not take away that he is one of if not the best golfers to ever play the game.

So while there are others who still whine and moan that he isn’t “back” I say watch out: Tiger’s on the prowl.

Filed Under: Editorial, Golf, Sports Tagged With: ,

Bears No Match for Dolphins, JU Wins Three

April 3, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

The JU softball team traveled to Macon, Ga., Easter weekend for a three-game series with the Mercer Bears.

The Dolphins started off hot with a sweep of the Friday double-header, shutting out the Bears in both contests.

In game one, freshman Cecile Gomez continued her dominant performance in the circle allowing just two hits in six innings to go along with four strikeouts on the way to an 8-0 victory.

Before Gomez even stepped foot in the circle, she was handed a three-run lead by her offense in the top half of the first.

Senior Sarah Simon opened up the scoring with a two-run home run, her twelfth big fly of the season. Sophomore Ashley Simon doubled and came around to score on an error by the Mercer defense.

The Dolphins added two more runs in the top half of the fifth inning as Ashley Simon sent a two-run home run of her own over the left field wall. The game came to an end an inning early as the Dolphins would add three more runs in the sixth to cap off the 8-0 win.

In game two, not much changed for either team. Senior Dale Tillman got the nod in the circle for JU and went seven strong innings, giving up just six hits and zero runs as the Dolphins pulled out a 6-0 victory.

Following a leadoff single by freshman Victoria Brown, junior Codi Kelly tripled, scoring Brown from first to give JU the early 1-0 lead.

Juniors Jacey Warner and Karson Tuck added to the lead in the second and third innings. Warner had an RBI single in the second and Tuck added an RBI double in the third.

Sarah Simon dialed up the long ball for her second of the day to lead off the fifth. Ashley Simon then doubled to left, bringing Tuck to the plate who sent the offering over the left field wall for a two-run home run, her second and third RBIs of the game.

In game three of the series on Saturday, the offense and pitching continued their strong play on the way to a series sweep with an 11-1 victory over Mercer.

Freshmen Victoria Brown, Cecile Gomez and Taylor Rossman combined to hold the Bears to just one run on three hits over five innings.

In the top of the first, Tuck continued her hot hitting along with Meagan Balding, who both notched bases-loaded singles, plating three runs for an early 3-0 lead. A walk and a double by Ashley Simon helped get the third inning going for JU. Tuck then tripled, clearing the bases and adding two more runs. Tuck then scored on a groundout putting JU up 6-1.

The Dolphins added four more runs in the fourth off of a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI singles. The game came to an end on a solo home run by Codi Kelly in the top of the fifth as JU closed out the weekend with an 11-1 win.

The Dolphins face Bethune-Cookman on Wednesday before traveling to Highland Heights, Ky. to take on Northern Kentucky.

Filed Under: Softball, Sports Tagged With: ,

The Great American Game

April 3, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

The month of April brings with it many things. It brings the rain, blooming flowers and signals the approaching conclusion of the school year.

Most importantly, the arrival of April means that baseball is back. Our national pastime has returned.

In late February, early-March, all 30 teams report to their Arizona or Florida spring training homes. Within the month of spring training, young players emerge, rosters take shape and the excitement begins to brew.

On opening day, just about every team thinks they have what it takes to win the World Series (keep dreaming Miami and Houston.) No matter what your record was a year ago, everyone gets some fresh faces and a clean slate.

While some teams’ chances of winning it all are much more realistic than others, each team starts the season with the belief that this is their year.

Favorites are chosen and Vegas lays down the odds, but teams still have to play all 162 games.

The 2012 campaign was filled with highs, lows, emerging stars and faltering veteran ball clubs as the Giants won their second title in three years. On the last day of the regular season, the Athletics won the AL West, the Orioles made the playoffs for the first time since the Ripken era and the Nationals dethroned the five-time NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies.

This offseason saw the already stacked Angels add former AL MVP Josh Hamilton to go along with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. The Marlins cleaned house sending Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes and a few other players to the Blue Jays who also traded for NL Cy Young recipient, R.A. Dickey. The Braves added the Upton brothers to bolster their outfield with Jayson Heyward.

This season brings with it many uncertainties and predictions. The sexy choice for the World Series right now is the Nationals, Tigers or the LA teams (Angels or Dodgers). The most interesting aspect of the season to me has to be the race for last place in the AL East.

Unfamiliar to the cellar for the most part of their existence, the Red Sox and Yankees appear to be fading into the distance with the emergence of the Rays, Orioles and sudden additions made by the Blue Jays.

Regardless of what happens, one thing is for certain: the next seven months will be some of the most exciting of the year. Throw your predictions out the window now because they’ll most likely mean nothing. Games aren’t played on paper and they play 162 games for a reason.

Filed Under: Baseball, Editorial, Sports Tagged With: ,

Dolphins Take One From Mercer, Set to Host Stetson

April 3, 2013 By George Wahl II Leave a Comment

Chris Anderson and the JU baseball team headed north to Mercer for an Easter weekend clash with the Mercer Bears beginning Thursday.

The Dolphins got on the board early as Jake Huxtable reached on a two base error and advanced to third on a groundout by Nathan Koslowski. Huxtable then scored on an RBI single from Alex McRae. Brady North then doubled, plating McRae for the 2-0 lead.

JU’s lead would soon disappear as Mercer added two of their own in the inning. Preseason All Conference player Derrick Workman blasted a two-run home run to knot up the score.

The Dolphins would keep the pressure on Mercer as they added a run in the second to reclaim the lead 3-2 on an RBI single by Huxtable that scored Dylan Dillard.

The Bears again responded immediately with a run in the home half of the second, knotting the game back up at three.

In the third however, Mercer added three runs off the bat of Nick Backlund who launched a three-run home run over the fence.

JU would cut into the Mercer lead with an RBI single from North to plate Huxtable and a suicide squeeze from Ethan Loosen that scored Koslowski.

Ahead 6-5, Mercer used the long ball yet again as David Reid Foley went deep to right, putting the Bears ahead 8-5. Mercer would add five more runs in the seventh, four of which on a grand slam by Austin Barrett, putting the Bears up 13-5.

The Dolphins bats refused to wake up Friday as JU fell for the second straight day to Mercer.

JU got their lone run in the top of the fifth off the bat of Drew Luther who laid down a suicide squeeze to score Loosen who singled earlier in the inning to tie the game at one.

The Bears scored two runs in the fifth and sixth, stretching the lead to 5-1. They would add another in the seventh and go on to win 6-1.

With the series already lost, the Dolphins took to the diamond to try and salvage one victory from the series.

Alex McRae started on the mound for the Dolphins as they defeated Mercer in game three, 5-2. McRae went six strong innings, walking three and striking out three on the way to his second victory of 2013.

With the score deadlocked at one, the Dolphins were able to break out for three runs in the top of the sixth. Garrett Ruckel led off the inning with a single and moved up to third on a sac bunt by Zac Houck. Koslowski then walked, bringing North to the plate. North sent the first pitch of the at bat deep to right hugging the foul line. The ball wrapped around the foul pole staying fair giving the Dolphins a 4-1 lead.

Each team would add one more run in the game as JU grabbed their 10th win of the season. JU improved to 10-18, 3-3 on the season.

Next up the Dolphins host A-Sun rival Stetson for a three-game weekend series. JU is set to retire long-time coach Terry Alexander’s number on Saturday at John Sessions Stadium.

Filed Under: Baseball, Sports Tagged With: ,

Pom-Poms and School Spirit

April 3, 2013 By Sam Faith Leave a Comment

TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, who do we appreciate? We should be appreciating the Jacksonville University Cheerleading team. The JU cheer team has put in much time and effort to keep our spirit strong on campus and continues to do so.

Coach Mea Felps-Darley has been diligently working to improve the JU cheer squad. Upon her arrival in 2003, the cheer team was non-existent. It is now a program that continues to evolve each year.

“I believe it has improved in recent years and has the potential to be the equivalent of that of larger schools,” said junior Preston Crabb.

That is ideally what Darley is aiming for and her position as Spirit Coordinator with the athletic department has put her in a favorable vantage point to do so. Coach Darley hopes to expand the program even further by beginning to recruit on the local level at high schools and creating two more cheer squads.

There will be a squad that will compete nationally as well as a co-ed cheer squad. Darley asks for the aid of JU students to improve school spirit by beginning to come out to all sporting events and build a sense of community and tradition within JU.

“We’ve really come a long way and continue to get better day by day,” said junior cheerleader Kristina Robbins. “It’s great to see the final product of all the hard work we do.”

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ,