November 11, 2009

In this issue: Women's Basketball | Men's Cross Country | Women's Cross Country | Equestrian | Men's Swimming | Women's Swimming

Last Week
No games scheduled

This Week
Nov. 15 vs. Lebanon Valley College 4 p.m.

The Hood College women's basketball team has the potential to have a breakout season in the Capital Athletic Conference this year and head coach Jay Butler feels confident that this is the group that can help the Blazers turn the corner as a contender in the league. Hood's top two scorers return from last season in senior forward Jen Willison (above) and junior guard Allyson Lethbridge. Now household names in the Blazer women's basketball annals, both Lethbridge and Willison have shouldered the load the last two seasons for a Hood squad that in the past has lacked depth and talent. The tandem has witnessed the vast improvement in both the commitment level and athleticism of Butler's recruiting class during preseason as several newcomers will be called upon to shine at key positions. Butler now has the versatility and flexibility to shuffle his lineup at will, which should enable the Blazers to climb out of the lower third of the conference standings. Hood will hold all 12 of its home contests at the Odom Fitness Center at Fort Detrick, less than two miles from campus.

Last Week
Nov. 7 hosted Capital Athletic Conference Championships 5th place (Heritage Farm Park, Walkersville, Md.)

This Week
Nov. 14 at NCAA Regionals (hosted by Lehigh University) 11 a.m.

Senior William Andrews was once again Hood's top finisher in 28:54.96 to earn a 31st-place standing out of 79 competitors. Teammates Brett Shelley (above) (29:02.61) and Blair Ames (29:09.85) followed close behind to garner the 33rd and 35th spots, respectively. Senior Brendan Greenlees came in 52nd in 30:31.60 and sophomore Dave Gudeman Jr., took 56th in 30:50.70 to encompass Hood's five scorers. Senior David McDuffie traversed the course in 34:59.02 for the Blazers.

Last Week
Nov. 7 hosted Capital Athletic Conference Championships 7th place (Heritage Farm Park, Walkersville, Md.)

This Week
Nov. 14 at NCAA Regionals (hosted by Lehigh University) 11 a.m.

Senior Jessica Stanley crossed the tape first for the Blazer women in 26:45.19, good for 19th place. She was a little less than 2:33 behind CAC individual champion and conference runner of the year Sarah Dawes, a junior from the University of Mary Washington. Sophomore Joanna LaBoue completed the 6,000-meter course in at 27:44.31 to place 29th. Freshman Erica Burgess ran No. 3 for Hood in 29:58.56 while juniors Sam Smith (30:56.16) and Kristina Coggins (above) (37:28.86) rounded out the Blazer scorers. Senior Janelle Dionne checked in with a time of 48:16.

Last Week
Nov. 8 at College of William & Mary

This Week
Fall season complete

The equestrian club team competed in its final Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) show of the fall season Sunday at a show hosted by the College of William and Mary at Carlton Farm in Williamsburg, Va. Team captain Amy Thompson competed in the beginning walk-trot-canter division for the first time after pointing out of the walk-trot division at the last show. For her debut ride, Thompson drew an older bay gelding named Legend who was listed on the horse description page as the “perfect ride." Thompson rode well and Legend lived up to his reputation as the pair placed second in their section earning Hood five team points. Katie Geiger (above) won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter earning a blue ribbon and seven rider points. Geiger drew a pleasant Appaloosa mare who allowed her to show her best riding skills and place over the riders from seven other schools. This first-place finish is Geiger’s second win at an IHSA show. Joe Morris and Cat Harasewych also competed for the Blazers in the advanced walk-trot-canter division and rode well. Both are first-year riders with Hood and in the IHSA. The IHSA spring season begins Feb. 20 with a two-day show hosted by the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va.

Last Week
Nov. 6 Lost to York College (Pa.) 27-222
Nov. 6 Lost to University of Mary Washington 27-222

This Week
Nov. 14 vs. Marymount University 2 p.m. (Senior Day)

The 200 medley relay squad of Andrew Bodine, Ethan Weidman, Matthew Benoit (above) and Chris Moreland started the meet with a seventh-place finish with a time of 1:50.69. Benoit also placed seventh in both the 200 free (2:07.64) and the 100 free (54.58). Junior Kyle Atras was eighth in the 200 free (2:33.45) and seventh in the 500 free (7:05.52). Weidman came in seventh in both the 100 back (1:11.59) and the 200 back (2:38.67) and took eighth in the 200 IM (2:35.38). Moreland finished seventh in the 100 breast (1:10.38), the 200 breast (2:39.29) and the 200 IM (2:19.69). Senior Thomas Williams placed eighth in both the 100 breast (1:30.88) and the 200 breast (3:13.58). Bodine touched the wall seventh in the 200 fly (2:31.06) and the 100 fly (1:02.75) and took eighth in the 100 free (56.06).

Last Week
Nov. 6 Lost to York College (Pa.) 38-208
Nov. 6 Lost to University of Mary Washington 34-212

This Week
Nov. 14 vs. Marymount University 2 p.m. (Senior Day)

The 200 medley relay squad of Taryn Scafide, Erica Hamor, Kristen Kucharski and Aleece Groome finished seventh in 2:14.16. Groome also took sixth in the 200 free (2:17.30), seventh in the 50 free (29.41) and fifth in the 500 free (6:25.75). In her first collegiate meet for Hood, senior Jen Graham came in eighth in the 200 free (2:56.97) and seventh in the 500 free (7:59.82). Kucharski placed sixth in both the 100 back (1:15.90) and the 100 free (1:02.75) and fifth in the 100 fly (1:15.68). Scafide finished eighth in the 100 back (1:26.11) and seventh in the 200 back (3:08.51). Andrea Haines (above) touched the wall seventh in both the 100 breast (1:29.40) and the 200 breast (3:14.61) and eighth in the 50 free (33.63). Hamor came in fifth in the 200 fly (2:38.15), fourth in the 200 breast (2:49.50) and seventh in the 200 IM (2:33.82).