Although several members of the Loras men’s soccer team are from different countries, they all speak the same language: Soccer.

Four different countries are represented in the men’s varsity soccer team, and a total of six in the entire squad. Colombia, Peru and Holland all are represented.

Senior outside midfielder, Camilo Garces, feels that the soccer program made him feel welcome when he came from his home of Cali, Colombia.

He goes on to explain that “the team has a great spirit. So although I am far from my family, my team here has become my big soccer family. They make me feel at home.”

To some, soccer was their way of finding hospitality and friends in a new country. When they left their families at home, they searched for a new one to support them while they were away, and through the Loras men’s soccer team, they found just that.

But what makes this transition so smooth for these students?

Tim Ven Der Bergh, a sophomore transfer from Holland, said: “Alejandro Pino and the rest of the (Intercultural Affairs) staff were great. They really helped me adapt well to coming to a new country, and the fact that it’s such a small community helped me feel welcome.”

Loras prides itself on its community feel, and the soccer program is no different.

These students spend hours upon hours together every week.

They eat together, travel together, and many live together. But what brought them to Loras?

Is Loras a well-known school in these countries?

Not so much. So, what is it?

For sophomore forward Alejandro Cosmopolis, it was soccer.

“Coach (Dan) Rothert spoke to me about the soccer program and how the team was such a close group that they were more like a family. I wanted to be a part of that.”

Loras soccer’s great record over the past few years certainly doesn’t hurt. That success helped persuade Cosmpolis to pick Loras.

But it’s not all fun and games. There must be many difficult moments for these students, some coming halfway around the world, and leaving so much behind.

For Garces, the hardest part was getting used to the weather. I guess it does not snow as much in Peru as it does in Dubuque.

But the weather becomes a distant memory when he is on the field.

“If I’m playing soccer, it doesn’t matter what else is going on,” Garces said. “When I play soccer, I am home, no matter where I am.”

Now if only the women’s side of things could find a few friends from overseas to join their ranks.

But the women’s team does have players from four different states, which is not bad for a Division III college.

The Division of Physical Education and Sport Studies has introduced a new annual scholarship this year.

For two decades, the Al Schramm Award has been awarded annually to the most outstanding sport management majors. For the first time, the faculty presented another award, the John “Doc” Kammer Award.

The criterion for the Schramm award is as follows: the student must demonstrate a high level of academic performance, leadership in the field, in community activities, dedication for the development of physical skills, sportsmanship, healthful practices and emotional and moral growth.

The 2011 recipients of the Al Schramm Award were seniors Scott Johann, who is majoring in sport management; Eric Rife, who is majoring in physical education; and Kristy Demmer, a sport science major. Other students who were recognized were juniors Tim Kelly, Kathleen Loftus, Kelsey Smith and Kevin Zack, all of whom are majoring in sport management.

The first recipient of the John “Doc” Kammer Award was senior Michala Lensing, who is majoring in athletic training.

For those of you who do not know who “Doc” Kammer or Al Schramm are, here is a brief history lesson.

Schramm was a professor at Loras College from 1939-1981. During his stay at Loras, Schramm was a professor, as well as the chair, of the physical education department. He was also the intramural director and a coach. Schramm’s leadership catapulted Loras’ intramural program into one of the strongest in the U.S.

Kammer also very involved in Loras’ sports scene. He was the head athletic trainer from 1929-1971. It has been said that Kammer seemed to never miss a Loras athletic event — home or away. In 1983, Kammer was inducted into the Loras Hall of Fame.

It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white… the only color that really matters is green.”
That quote sums up the world’s greed for money, and also supplies some humor as it comes from one of America’s favorite shows, Family Guy.
The greed for money can also tie into the debate surrounding the Division I collegiate ranks, as many call for certain college athletes to be paid. Athletic directors and coaches all get the big money to recruit the highly touted players around the world that can make their teams the best in the game.
The players see what we all see. Good performance on the field will lead to the players’ jerseys being sold, but those players don’t receive any of that money.
This debate gets thrown around so many times, and I hear a lot of people say that athletes should get paid since the football and basketball programs bring in so much money to their colleges. The answer is simple to all those people who say Division I athletes are getting the raw end of the deal. I disagree.
Players on scholarships do not have to worry about financial problems in college or after their wonderful stay at a school, which makes it seem like fair exchange for what some of these schools cost to attend. Not to mention that the NCAA has a little program that goes unnoticed called the Special Assistance Fund that renders financial need for student-athletes’ basic and emergency expenses. They just need to fill out the appropriate paperwork.
Another popular position is to reward the athletes for all the money that football and basketball teams are awarded for television rights. This is a better argument.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) reached an agreement with ESPN just this summer that would give ESPN the television rights for 12 years, for a small chunk of change around $1.86 billion. And when that number is broken down to the 12 teams in the ACC, each school is expected to see somewhere around $12.9 million added to their annual revenues.
One thing people do not take into consideration, however, is that a Division I school must carry many other sports programs, and many of those sports will not see an inch of the revenue that football or basketball sees.
The University of California-Berkeley recently announced how financial issues will lead to their baseball program being cut after 2011. This is a baseball program that just last season reached the NCAA postseason and had a bright future ahead.
So the termination of baseball was not due to lack of production, but the popular, successful program still could not meet its financial obligations. Along with baseball, men’s and women’s gymnastics and women’s lacrosse will be eliminated. Altogether, California-Berkeley says the cuts will save the university $4 million per year.
And we want to pay our basketball and football athletes money instead of being able to fund these other sports and other student-athletes, not all of whom have scholarships? Doesn’t make sense to me.

It has been one of the most debated issues in sports to date. The issue over the rules of the National Football League overtime compared to the NCAA Football overtime rules. Everyone seems to have their own opinion on it, but the people with votes that count cannot seem to come up with a valid option to make overtime exciting.

For those who do not know the NFL overtime rules starts with a team winning a coin toss and if they win it they choose to receive because the first team to score wins, game over, good luck next week.

Fans can tune in for the coin toss, which is the most heart-wrenching part of overtime, to see who wins and then turn on Jersey Shore to see better action then what the NFL overtime is going to give you.

In college at least they know how to settle a tie with a bit of an offensive showdown. Each team gets a possession at the 25-yard line and then has four downs to score. The game continues until somebody wins.

Nothing is wrong with this set up because both teams get a chance to score and the only reason they do not win is their own faults. Who knew college could do it better than the pro’s. The only problem that people can call out on college is the 25-yard line is too close, but truth be told most kickers in college are about as good as Justin Beiber is at evading water bottles.

As I looked back on this past weekend’s action there were many games that went into overtime. Collegiately, Michigan State Spartans almost gave me a heart attack when they pulled a fake field goal pass on Notre Dame and won, instead the play seemed to give their own coach one, but luckily he is healthy and recovering. In the NFL, the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins showed why the overtime needs to be changed as it nearly took ten minutes of game play to determine a win.

Everyone has their opinion on what should happen in the NFL overtime such as a seven versus seven player overtime to show the talents of quarterbacks and wide receivers around the league against the defenses best. But the NFL would not allow such a thing to happen and would shut it down.

So why not take a page from the college books and make it more professional. Everyone’s concern about college is that they start too close, so how about in the NFL they give the ball to the team at their own 40-yard line and then they have to go 60 yards for a touchdown or settle for the field goal. Then let the opposing team have a chance and see what they can do. The one thing that is working against these teams in this new overtime format though? The teams only get the ball for two minutes and try to score.

Does anyone have a better idea? The proposed idea in this is a lot more exciting than watching one team has the ball, win, and never see what the other offense can do. We have asked the NFL owners for years, but they come up empty every time, so maybe they should look at the concerns people have with the college overtime, though popular with fans, and make it even better in the NFL. We are looking at you NFL owners.

Dan Neeble is professor at Loras College in the engineering and computer technology departments, but lately he has been getting his body ready for the rigors of Ragbrai for the summer.

“I have been working out to get some exercise,” said Neeble. “I’m trying to build up some strength, agility, and flexibility for Ragbrai.”

One of the key reasons for this is that fact that he has his own personal trainer, Jonathan Koenig. Koenig is a physical education major and his taking a class in the sports science department that offers Loras faculty personal trainers free of charge.

Neeble first heard about this opportunity from one of his colleagues and thought that he would give it a try. He signed up for the program and was later assigned Koenig as his personal trainer.

“Some of the other people that I have talked to that are doing the program say that they are learning a little more about what is a good way work out and what is a good to build muscle,” said Neeble.

The class starts out as just as any other class. They discuss how they should construct their workouts and proper ways of stretching before they actually get their clients or in this case the Loras faculty. Then they will meet with clients for the next six weeks to improve their physical fitness.

“We can show them exactly what they need to be doing and the proper ways to do it so nobody can get hurt,” said Koenig.

Each client fills out an evaluation sheet in which type of workouts they want to do or what type of the body they want to improve. In Neeble’s case, he wanted to improve his leg muscle for the 400 plus mile bike ride across the state Iowa so it will much easier.

“I went for a bike ride yesterday and I can tell that the endurance was a lot better than it had been just from the few times we work out together so far,” said Neeble.

The personal trainer also marks down the progress that their clients make in order to keep them on pace with their goals. One thing that Neeble really appreciates is the fact that it is a scheduled workout and it forces him to go to the Athletic Wellness Center to exercise.

“I rely on him (Koenig) for the knowledge and the understanding on how to do things, so if I’m not sure I am going to tell him,” said Neeble.

Snowboarders and skiers around eastern Iowa have come to Sundown Ski Resort to experience the thrill of going down snowy slopes. However, there are two snowboarders that are raising some eyebrows around the mountain.

The first is Wesley Muresan, who is starting to become a household name across the country at the age of three. He started to snowboard about two months ago and quickly showed how fast he picked up the sports.  Muresan is now going down the more challenging hills at Sundown and goes through the training park that includes jumps and rails.

Muresan snowboards with his eight year old Devin. “He beats me every time (down the hill),” said Devin. “I’m impressed.”

What start off as posting YouTube videos on the internet by his mother, Danelle, has started to snowball in something bigger.  He has appeared in an article in the Telegraph Herald and eventually led him to appear on the NBC’s “Weekend Today.”

“We have a lot of videos, and we been saving all of the stuff that has been on TV,” said Danelle.

Another snowboard is Gary Brody who is a month shy of 68. Brody started snowboarding about eight years ago after skiing for 30 years.

“It’s a change from skiing,” he said. “I think it’s a little more aggressive. Actually, I think it keeps you in better shape than skiing.”

The biggest concern that Brody has is, “trying to stay on his feet” because he is cautious about his body taking a stumble after a fall. Also getting off the lift provides a bigger challenge than someone who is on skis. Another challenge is that snowboarders can change direction a lot easier than skiers.

“I’m probably not as quick as the young people, because number one some of them don’t have very far to fall,” said Brody. “Number two, if they get hurt they can heal overnight where I can’t and it would probably take me awhile.”

These snowboarders may be different in age but they both got their start at Sundown. Muresan enjoys being with his family as his mother is now taking up snowboarding. Brody on the other hand enjoys the benefits of the exercise that it brings.

There is a place in downtown Dubuque where can people can try and escape the dog days of winter with their canine companions. Fido Fitness is the first indoor gym facility for both pets and people in the state of Iowa.

Mary and Mark Erschen have been offering Fido Fitness since 2008 but they were able to bring the dogs indoor since last October.

“It’s been a passion all my life to have an indoor facility to workout with my own dogs as well as other people,” said Mary Erschen. “So it just has been a dream for a long time and its finally coming to be a reality.”

Fido Fitness offers fundraiser for the Dubuque Humane Society each Saturday from 9-11 a.m. as they host “Agility Fun Day.” This where owners can bring in their dogs and have them train on equipment that Fido Fitness has to offer.  Another class is called “Sweat with a Pet” which is offered Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays nights at 6:30 p.m. The class teaches aerobics, flexibility, and strength training using modify exercises to include both dogs and their owners working out together.

“You will have to see this to believe this,” said Erschen. “It is just incredible what you and your pet are actually capable to incorporate into an indoor workout.”

Fido Fitness also offers private appointments and they are also looking to offer self-defense workshops. The first workshop is about the self-defense workshop works with people and deals with basic self-defense. The second workshop teaches a person how to deal with confrontations either an aggressive dog or a person. The third workshop deals how you can disarm a person and how to teach your dog to assist you to disarm a person without aggression.

“Puppy Mix” is a bi-weekly class offered on Sunday nights at five. The class teaches owners how to properly take care of their dogs in the way to give them better nutrient as well as how to give them proper exercise and “Safety Children and Pets” which another program for children in the first and second grade.

Another workshop that will be offered in May by Sue Barnes, who owns a three time national champion dock diving dog, called “Look Before You Leap.” The class will teach dogs how to dive into the water from the dock.

Fido Fitness is teaming up with PETCO to monthly performances or educational series. “They are very excited about having an indoor gym in the same city as they have a pet store,” said Erschen.

Erschen reports that sponsors have help benefited Fido Fitness. Earthborn Holistic has partner with the gym to promote better environmental practices and help the wellness of animals.

For more information about Fido Fitness go to Dubuque365.com and the Telegraph Herald.

Being in the same class room with your parents can seem embarrassing if not downright weird, especially if it is a class where fighting is encouraged. However, members at the Dubuque YMCA are taking a karate class that involves both parents and children.

Instructor Kyle Cox, father of six, first started teaching his own children the art of karate at home. Word spread across the neighborhood as other children wanted to learn. This all lead Cox to approach the Dubuque Y and ask if he could start teaching karate using their facilities.

“The first session we didn’t have a lot of turn out and it was difficult with having just all kids or all adults,” said Cox. “My wife wanted to get back into so we decided why not try a family thing, try a family karate class.”

One of the advertisement strategies used by the Dubuque Y was to host a Girls’ Scout Night to bring in the local area Girls’ Scouts. That is how Alyssa Honey first found out about the event and persuaded her father, Gary, that it was something that they should try together.

“She came home and she was really excited about and wanted to take the class,” said Gary Honey. “We felt that it would be a great thing to do together.”

The class has help out children that may be shyer as they can go along with somebody that they know such as parent or an older sibling. The main challenge of the class is trying to find something that is simple for the children to do but not simple not for the parents to get bored.

“What is really good about it is that parents can go home with the kids and work with the kids, too,” said Cox. “They can practice at home together and the adults pick it up a little quicker than the kids do and they can help the kids at home.”

By Daniel Harris
Special to the Lorian

When the Loras football team takes the field on Saturday mornings, the fans do not see how much work it takes to get the team game-ready. For one Loras sophomore, this hard work starts far before game day.

Kevin Zack, the team manager, is in charge of getting the Duhawks ready for game day throughout the week.

Kevin Zack

Zack can be seen on the field hours before practice begins, setting up equipment that the players will need for the day, and hours after practice editing down practice film for the players to watch during team meetings.

On game days Zack will not be seen by fans. He is the man behind the scenes for the Duhawks, filming every game for players to review, recording every play the team makes into a computer, and writing down each play called by the team. This is normally a three man job, but for Zack it comes naturally.

He excelled as a team manager in high school for all four years, and now has held the job for a little less than two years here at Loras.

Two summers ago, Zack applied to work for his favorite professional football team, the Minnesota Vikings.

“I got a number of one of the managers in the organization and I kept calling until they gave me the job,” Zack said.

During his time with the Vikings, Zack got to perfect his craft as a team manager. From the start of summer workouts all the way through training camp, he organized equipment for all of the players and made sure they always had what they needed to perform on the field.

“Since I worked with the team all summer, I got to know many of the players,” said Zack. “Adrian Peterson had to have the hardest handshake I have ever felt.”

His love for the game of football goes far beyond just the playing aspect of the game. Zack knew he wanted to be a team manger from the beginning.

“First off, I was asked to be one in high school. But honestly, I love the behind the scenes work that goes into a football game: jerseys, pants, equipment and water,” he said.

His dedication to his team has been well known and recognized. In high school, his coaches bought Zack a letter jacket to show their appreciation for his hard work and dedication to the sport.

He also received an honorary managerial doctorate and had the honor of having an award named after him during his senior year of high school.

Zack’s bid for managerial perfection has continued into his collegiate carrier as well. He has received high praise from Coach Steve Osterberger. “He is the best manager that I ever have had,” he said. “He is dependable and trustworthy.”

Players for the Duhawks even go as far to say that Zack has an effect on how they prepare for practice and games.

“He does affect how we play,” said sophomore wide receiver Gavin Kaiser. “He is serious about his work and he gets a lot of things ready for drills and helps out during those drills. He really makes things easy on us.”

But Zack’s hard work and dedication does not stop at just the football field. He is also the varsity basketball team manager, and he brings to the basketball court the same work and dedication that he shows on the football field.

To the coaches at Loras College, it has become obvious that this sophomore from North Branch, Minnesota is not just a normal team manager.

To them, Kevin Zack is a professional, and there is no doubt that he has a bright future at any level in the sports management world.

PLATTEVILLE, WI- On August 1, 2009, UW-Platteville’s head soccer coach, Enzo Fuschino, suffered a serve heart attack just two weeks before the 2009 soccer season.

“We were all pretty down because he’s been our coach and we had a great year last year and we were looking forward to feeding off of that,” says men’s soccer player, Chris Brown.

“We were all shocked,” says women’s player, Kim Schneckloth.

Allison Sanyi coaches men's and women's soccer at UW-Platteville.

Now last year’s assistant soccer coach, Allison Sanyi, is stepping up and filling the former head coach’s shoes this year.

“After the news calmed down the athletic director called me into his office and he told me I would be acting head men’s and women’s soccer coach,” recalls Sanyi.

However, Sanyi did have her doubt taking on the new position.

“Enzo is a great coach he lead these guys to first NCAA appearance that the college ever had and I just kept thinking I hope I can handle this as well as he did,” says Sanyi.

Both Brown and Schneckloth believe Sanyi has what it takes to coach two teams successfully.

“Once we heard that Allison was stepping in, we had a lot of confidence in her; we knew that we could keep it going,” says Brown.

“We knew she could handle it.  She’s a very good motivator and if we have a tough game she knows what we need to work on,” says Scheckloth.

“I didn’t know that would be the decision that was made you know a female coaching an all male college team isn’t usually the ordinary situation,” says Sanyi.

With all differences aside, Sayni and her two teams began practicing for a successful season.

“We all look at her the same as we would for another coach,” says Brown.

“We honestly haven’t had any problems and I don’t know if many people that or not because of a femlale coaching a men’s team, but these guys are a great group of guys they respond to me as they would for any other coach,” says Sanyi.

But Sayni has noticed the gender difference creates attention when the men’s teams plays at games.

“I think every time that a team comes down to play us or we go to play a team and I shake the other coaches hand say I’m Allison Sayni, the coach, here’s your roster; you can tell on their face they are a little shocked and I would be too because it’s not usual, but the Pioneer family it’s been fine and I’ve had the support from everybody at the university and all players and hopefully most of the parents” says Sanyi.

With the support from the UW-Platteville family and her two teams, Sayni has lead the men to a 2^nd place conference finish.

Emily.Allen can be contacted at Emily.Allen@loras.edu