Jan. 13, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - After a one-tenth of a point victory over William & Mary in the ECAC Championships last season, one might think that after winning an astonishing 50% of his 32 conference championship meets and second in as many seasons, 33-year head coach Fred Turoff would be resting on his laurels.

Nothing could be further from the truth, as the Owls aim for a three-peat of ECAC Championships in 2009.

"The team members this year want to win as much as any other team, and they are training toward that goal. We have some tough opponents in the ECAC, and they are aiming at us, which will give us good incentive to try to stay ahead of them," offered the veteran coach. "We lost some terrific members from last year's team, however we'll regain the use of both Nick Iles and John Vogtman, who missed most or all of the season due to mid-year injury," added Turoff.

Leading an experienced senior class are co-captains Nick Iles and John Vogtman. Nick was a steady lead-off man two seasons back but snapped his Achilles tendon in January, thus missing the rest of the collegiate season. Vogtman placed third in the all-around and won vault plus other medals at the 2007 ECAC Championships and competed in both the NCAA Championships and US Championships. Sadly, after a fine start last season, a  knee injury at the Winter Cup Challenge forced him to miss the rest of the season. Both co-captains are healthy now and ready to show everyone how to compete well. Ryan Healy worked a few meets last season and may factor on pommel horse and rings. Rob Kay has improved greatly and is pushing for a spot on floor exercise, pommel horse and parallel bars. Jason Russo is expected to have a strong all-around effort in his final year. Nick and Ryan will have another year of competition after this one.

The junior class has some excellent competitors to compliment the seniors. Chris Bizub worked vault regularly last season and hopes to break in on floor exercise, rings and parallel bars.  Scott Bloomfield was a nice surprise last season according to Turoff, as he captured the ECAC vault title and nearly made the NCAA finals. He is also strong on floor exercise, parallel bars and horizontal bar. John Buckner will aim for a rings and vault position. Tyler Croteau contributed regularly on floor exercise, pommel horse, vault and parallel bars. Jesse Kitzen-Abelson has shown competing-team-level routines on pommel horse, parallel bars and horizontal bar. Pat McLaughlin is a solid gymnast who was the co-champion on floor exercise plus medaled in all-around and vault at last year's ECACs.

The sophomore class returns seven competitors, with Adam Al-Rokh as the lone returnee with collegiate experience. Adam tore a bicep in January and returned for latter meets in a limited capacity. This season, he is healthy and eager to erase memories of last season. Blake Collins is expected to compete for an all-around spot, while Logan Fiery expected to earn a steady spot on parallel bars and horizontal bar. According to Turoff,   Dan Pizzuta has improved on floor exercise and vault, while Evan Shepard has made strides on all events. Both could make an impact this season. Evan's twin brother, Stuart Shepard, is working toward next year, while Jeff Zack is expected to challenge for positions on floor exercise, rings, vault and horizontal bar.

New to the team are five freshmen. Matt Martin was a US junior champion on rings two years ago, before missing much of last season with an elbow injury. He is strong on all Another freshmen, Chris Mooney, injured his knee at the Black Jack meet in 2008 and missed most of the past season. Both are healed from surgery and aiming. Evan Burke has shown some excellent skills on floor exercise, rings and vault according to Turoff. Taylor Brana and Asa Croasmun are training toward next season.

This season features four regular-season home meets, the most the Cherry and White has had in many years. The Owls host Air Force in the season opener January 25, then host William & Mary on February 14 in a meet sandwiched between Temple Boys Invitational sessions. Penn State invades McGonigle Hall on March 6, with the final home meet, also the alumni homecoming and senior recognition meet, on March 21 versus Army and Navy. Army again hosts this year's ECAC Championships April 3 & 4.  Beyond that, the Owls' aim to compete in the April 16-18 NCAA qualifier and championships at Minnesota.