Sports writers strive to capture the human element of sports when reporting, not so much for the entertainment of the reader, but to keep it from dying.
For the top sports stories of the year, The Maroon took this into account picking the events from 2006-07 that most affected the lives of the athletes involved.
Found in the stories below, commitment, perseverance, success, dedication and acceptance are just some of the qualities that describe what it means to be an athlete.
VOLLEYBALL GOES TO REGIONALS
After playing only four matches last season because of Hurricane Katrina, the ‘Pack returned to the courts strong, earning a 21-11 record and making the NAIA Regional Tournament.
Head coach Tommy Harold said, “The kids came back motivated … the experience toughened them up.”
Though ultimately losing to second-seeded Berry College in the semifinals, the ‘Pack kept it exciting to the very end and took two NAIA Top 25 teams to five games.
Not counting the Katrina semester, Loyola has made the regional tournament for the last seven years – this being Harold’s third trip.
Earlier in the season, fifth-year marketing senior Kelly Fridge broke the school’s all-time digs record with 2,849 – the third best in NAIA history. Fridge was also named GCAC Libero of the Year for her second time.
In December, the NAIA named Fridge and accounting sophomore Mary Seals and Region VIII. Seals, who made 18 kills against Berry placed 14th, in the league for kills.
Seals, Fridge and marketing senior Sarah Howard were also named to the All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team.
Harold plans to bring back ten members next year with several new recruits.
“I like the core we have coming back and expect another competitive season,” he said.
LADY ‘PACK WINS GCAC
Twin sensations Trenese and Trenell Smith, both psychology sophomores, made history leading the Loyola women’s basketball team to its first-ever Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles this March.
The Wolfpack went on to win the tournament title March 4 after defeating the Xavier Goldrush 73-68. This was also the first championship for GCAC Coach of the Year Dobee Plaisance.
“When that reality sunk in, I knew without a doubt it would be a matter of time before I could get the right combination in and win a championship,” Plaisance said in the March 9 issue of The Maroon.
Trenell Smith led the team to victory with 23 points, and her sister Trenese followed behind with 16 points.
“I wanted to win, and I was going to do anything possible,” Trenell Smith told The Maroon.
The fairy tale season came to an end when the women went on to compete in the NAIA Nationals, but fell short one point in the overtime period of the tournament opener. They ultimately fell 78-77 to Southern Nazarene.
SOCCER COACH RESIGNS
On February 14, Loyola head women’s head coach David Poggi resigned after accepting the position of the men’s head soccer coach at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.
Poggi joined the Loyola athletic program in 2005, but his first season was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina. He went on to coach the women’s soccer team in the fall of 2006.
In a statement printed in the February 16 issue of The Maroon, Poggi said, “This was a very difficult decision. My wife and I will miss the city of New Orleans and all our family and friends. Loyola has been very supportive of my efforts to create a rewarding and competitive environment for the soccer program. I want to thank Dr. (Michael) Giorlando and the rest of the Wolfpack family for their support and wish them all continued success.”
Athletic director Michael Giorlando knew it was a hard decision for Poggi and appreciates all the work he has done for the program and university.
“We want to thank coach Poggi for all he did under challenging circumstances, and we wish him his family the best at the University of the South,” Giorlando to The Maroon in February.
CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK
Limited by a shortage of runners, finance senior Matt Cagigal, history senior Richard Bouckaert and mass communication junior Mary Erin Imwalle strove for individual bests last fall.
All three competed in the NAIA national meet after their performances in the conference championships.
In the GCAC Championships, the three dominated the race, helping Loyola place third as a team. For the 8-km race, Cagigal and Bouckaert took first and second, respectively, with times of 27:04.07 and 27:19.18. Imwalle placed first in the 5-km with a time of 20:49.12.
The program struggled to maintain consistent team participation in meets this season. Busy schedules and work prevented the necessary five runners for several races – making the runners compete for individual scores.
With Cagigal and Bouckaert graduating this year, the program faces a difficult job of recruiting their replacements.
Teammate Zack Custer, English junior, said, “it has been an honor running with them and their leadership will be missed.”
Also, at the LSU Alumni Gold track meet earlier this month, marketing freshman Tyler Kaufman set a Loyola record in the men’s 400-yard dash with a time of 53:?43.
STAR FORWARD INJURED
Loyola men’s basketball forward Mario Faranda scared everybody when he injured his knee in the Feb. 3 game against Dillard.
But, after two surgeries and extensive rehabilitation, the ‘Pack’s leading rebounder and number two scorer expects a healthy return next season.
After a missed opponent’s shot, finance junior Faranda pivoted for the rebound when he felt his left knee pop out of place. He damaged and dislocated his meniscus and tore his anterior cruciate ligament – serious concerns for any athlete.
“I thought it was no big deal,” said Faranda, who had been playing with slight pains for several weeks.
Because of the injury, Faranda sat out the last eight games of the season.
The finance junior underwent two separate surgeries for his meniscus and ACL. A four-week rehabilitation between surgeries allowed time for strengthening.
“The doctors are absolutely confident I’ll be playing next year, ” Faranda said.
Though he has not been able to run on his knee, he recently started lifting weights. “I’m doing very well. I just have to get it strong,” he said.
“He’s (undergoing) rehab, it’s looking good, and we’re excited to have him back next season,” Zumo said.
Steve Heath can be reached at [email protected]. Jaune Jackson can be reached at [email protected].
