Roberts Wesleyan Raiders fall sports previews

Cross Country
The Raiders men's team features three NAIA qualifiers, led by Julius Rono, and hopes to qualify as a team for the NAIA Championships. "Most of our top runners are upper classmen and have been running well over the summer and should race very well this season," said head coach Paul Kurtz.

Rono placed fourth one year ago and is joined by sophomore Wegene Degefa from Ethiopia and senior Matt St. James. Recruits joining the Raider runners include sophomore Evan Williams who will be running his first year of cross country and "was running mid 16's for 5k in his first season of competitive running" last spring during track season, Kurtz said.

NAIA National Championship qualifier Kelly Hanlon along with Amanda Sullivan, Sara Rice and Chelsea Wallace all return to lead a young women's squad. Catherine Kaidis, a freshman who was a NYS qualifier in high school, and sophomore Elisha Gielow are expected to bring quality depth to the women's team.

"We continue to be young, but we could be surprising this season," said Kurtz. "If they can stay healthy, we have the ability to run five women under 20 minutes for five kilometers. If we can do that, they may also finish high in the conference as well as possibly making a bid to the NAIA Championships."

Women's Soccer
After finishing four of the past five seasons under .500, the Raiders will look to increase their shooting percentage to pick off a few more wins.

Senior Aimee Legault will continue her assault on the all-time scoring record at Roberts after netting 18 goals last season. She begins this campaign ten shy of the top spot.

The midfield will be led by junior Donna Betolone, who scored five goals and handed out nine assists one year ago. Also in the midfield is Casey Epler, who is back from an ACL tear. "She sees the field with the greatest of ease and makes everyone around her better," Head Coach Dan Berg said.

All Greater Rochester first team members and Spencerport grad Laura Willit headlines the incoming class of players. Lindley Zimmerman will be expected to help with the offense after scoring 56 goals in her high school career. And Casey Keech will play midfield after winning a silver medal with the central team at the Empire State Games this past summer.

Local players who appear on the preseason roster include freshman Corrie Ingraham from Holley, junior Brittany Jones from Brockport, Joanna Patalano of Churchville, Joelle Truax from Byron and Bergen's Brette-Ashley Wilcox. Ingraham "should contribute right away as a defender and is a great back," said Berg.

"This season is going to be defined on how quickly we can come together as a team," said Berg. "With eight true freshmen and two red-shirt freshmen, we are going to be young. We will have a chance early on to see how we stack up with one of the best teams in the nation as we open with NAIA 2005 #7 Madonna College from Michigan. We have a great chance to compete for the American Mideast Conference if we come out and play as a team each and every day."

Men's Soccer
Following the Raiders first non-winning campaign in nine seasons and after losing their top five scorers, head coach Mark Fish has brought in 14 newcomers to the team led by midfielders Dustin and Dillon Tiddick.

Freshman Dustin led Owego Free Academy to the state semi-finals as Section IV champs after scoring a school record 23 goals and 45 assists. Brother Dillon enters as a junior after helping Herkimer County Community College to the 2005 national title.

Other recruits include Brett Littlefield, first team All-County at Hilton last season, and Section V first team All-County Justin Farr via McQuaid. Defender Marco Viana also arrives after winning a state championship with Gates Chili as does Shawn Summerville from Victor. Brockport grad Dan Cavanaugh and Spencerport's Tom Graham also dot the preseason roster as incoming freshmen - Graham after red-shirting last season.

Returning players account for just eight goals from last year led by Spencerport native Chris Farnsworth, who netted four. Senior Phil Schmitt will anchor the backline and step up to contribute offensively when the opportunity presents itself. Senior midfielders Jason Bays and Brenton White accounted for the other two goals last season among those not graduated. Junior Jack Burgasser will tend the net one year removed from allowing just over 1.5 goals per game.

"The Roberts Wesleyan College Men's Soccer coaching staff is very optimistic with the upcoming season," said Fish. "The blend of returning players with such a strong recruiting class will give Roberts the opportunity to compete at the National NAIA level."

Women's Volleyball
The Raiders finished with a 22-12 record after winning six of the last seven regular season matches before losing in the playoffs to Urbana University.

The team features senior leadership in the presence of Megan Penman and Jessica Biever, who finished 1-2 on the team in kills last season, and Jessi Arndt, who dished out over 1,000 assists in 106 games in 2005. Sophomore Brandi Naish returns as the leading shot blocker from last year.

Amanda Britton and Brockport's Jackie Steubing headline the incoming class. Britton is a middle hitter who led Cazenovia to the 2006 Regional Championships and held school records for blocks and kills in a season. Steubing was first team All-Section V and All-Monroe County during her final two high school seasons and was All-New York State in 2004.

"Amanda will add offensive power to our roster in the middle position and is a great shot blocker as the Raiders continue their domination at the net," said head coach Jim Vanderhoof on the Roberts website. "Jackie will add offensive and defensive power to our roster as an Outside Hitter."

August 20, 2006