Club Sports

Did you catch the Plague? If you were at the ice rink any time OC's own ice hockey team took to the surface, you would have unquestionablly fallen victim (although watching some of the fan base, one might suspect rabies was the actual affliction).

The team compiled a 6-2 record in its amateur league play this past winter. The biggest of these vctories by far was the overtime win over regional powerhouse University of Toledo. The game was described by senior defender Ted Carleton as a "real David versus Goliath type of thing."

Regrettably, next year looks far from rosy. The nucleus of the team will be graduating or away. Graduates include all league wingman Jon Gonnelli, forward Greg Scranton, Park Burger, Carleton, and Ralph Cusegliero. Junior Dan Borque- rumored to be related to an NHLer of not-to-shabby ability, will be in Tibet while sophomore Even Kelley travels to China and junior Ben Bernard transfers to Case Western as part of the 3-2 engineering program.

What it boils down to is a forced rebuilding year for the team. On the bright side, they'll never have to worry about fan support.

Rugby might be relatively unknown to the rest of the United States, but Oberlin's women's rugby team is making sure that this campus knows about the up-and-coming sport. The rhino ruggers played two tough seasons this year, ending the fall season with 0-5 record, but improving in the spring to a 2-5-1 tally.

One of the few teams to play two full seasons each year, the team traditionally welcomes a host of new faces each semester. This year was no exception. Some key rookies who are sure to be key players when they return in the fall are sophomores Liz Solminine and Tiffany Tucker. In addition, three returners, juniors Heather Foster, Vanya Hollis and sophomore Kate Skillman will provide the backbone of the team next year. With the two wins coming late in the Spring season, the ruggers clearly improved throughout the year, leaving a positive outlook for the squad's future.

The team will lose several key seniors to Commencement: Kap Pitarys, Susanna Henighan, Erica Davila, Katherine Higgins, Kristi Schurman and Dina Lee. The team will miss them.

The Preying Manti didn't join the Flying Horsecows on a trip to Colorado [see story page 35], but the season wasn't a wash either. After going undefeated at the first ever Great Lakes Open-held here at Oberlin-the Manti chomped their way on through the sectional tournament to earn themselves a berth at the regional championships. As of May 6th, the Manti were ranked 35th in the nation.

From there, things didn't go as well as planned. Oberlin held their own during pool-play on the first day of competition, falling only to Notre Dame. Unlukily, they faced the same Notre Dame club the next day in the semi-finals, losing to them again. Neither loss was by more than four points however showing the grit that the Manti displayed all season.

Team members agreed that everyone played hard and, even though they were aiming to make the finals and beyond, it was a nice way to end the season. Next year will be an interesting one for the team who only loses two seniors but will be without the services of many students who will be studying abroad. "Even though it's a rebuilding year of sorts," said junior Abby Sullivan, "I'm looking forward to it. There have been years where there was a lot of team success despite a lack of returnees." Sullivan and sophomore Shawn Margles will co-captain the team next year as it embarks on yet another season of the strange and majestic sport that is ultimate frisbee.

Oberlin's intercollegiate bowling teams had good seasons all around. The women-also known as the Yeolizards-finished second to powerhouse Kent State at the Regional tournament in February. The men's team put up a fight at the OC Unconventional tournament in April, finishing thrd behind Akron and Kent State. The event was created and coordinated by the team members and was the first intercollegiate bowling tournament held in Oberlin in seven years.

Junior Jon Stoper rolled a team season high 252 at the Oberlin event while junior John Partridge netted a 234 in the Kent State tourney in November. Both bowlers will return for their final season in 1999-2000. Both teams lose a total of five members to graduation including three-year member Chris Neese, Josh Raisler Cohn, Greg Akagi, Michael MacInnis, and Joanna Katz.

The lane demons hope to continue their rise to the top of the region next year. Look for them at the College Lanes located next to the Cat in the Cream.