PVCC Puma Press: March 2004

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	Photo by David Casadei
	PVCC’s Rachel Burger prepares to pitch during a Feb. 11 season opening doubleheader against conference foe Arizona Western Community College.
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Look around and notice the change. Days are lasting a little longer, the sun is shining a little brighter and the grass is just a tad greener. The leaves have fallen from all of the trees and the "brutal" Phoenix winter is finally over. So lace up your shoes, put your batting glove on, tighten the strings on your racket and polish your 5 iron, because the PVCC spring sports season is underway and this springs teams are ready for action.

Track

On your marks, get set, go! The Men and Women's track teams are all stretched out and are ready to focus in on another competitive season following last year's successful season, which saw the women win the indoor nationals and the men's team place 7th. The combined teams, consisting of nine sophomores and 40 freshman, look to be a "strong team," says Assistant Track Coach Todd Lehman. Lehman also says, "We have had success in our past, but we are always looking to grow and improve."

Some big events on this years schedule include the National Junior College Athletic Association's Indoor National Championships March 5-6, in Manhattan, Ks., and the NJCAA Outdoor National Championships, in Levelland, Tx.

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The bottom line is we’re hungry for a match.
—Nick Candrea
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In addition to having a strong team, the Puma track teams boast some of the highest team GPA's in the nation, with both teams averaging right around a 3.5 GPA. Lehman responds to why track and field is worth coming out to see, saying, "Track and field is so different because of its diversity. You can have all types of athletes, no matter big or small, and all can be included and compete."

Woman's Softball

The woman's softball team takes the field this spring, looking to establish a tradition. Three sophomores and 10 freshmen lead the young Pumas this spring, with hopes of improving on last year's inaugural season of 15 wins and 36 losses. The lady Pumas will take a swing at their 11-team conference in hopes of being one of the four teams to advance to the postseason playoffs.

Coach Damon Watson says, "If you come out to watch our team, you'll see a little quicker paced game than baseball, with quality athletic women giving it their all." Watson adds, "Softball is a good spectators' sport and is easy and fun to watch."

The team goals are to continue to improve every day and to make the playoffs in May.

Tennis

Men's tennis coach, Alex Ramirez, is geared up and ready to take to the courts this spring as he and the PVCC men's tennis team prepare for the 2004 Spring season. Two sophomores and three freshmen return to a team that last year made Nationals for the first time in PVCC history.

Ramirez says, "Last year we were inexperienced and we had to develop during the season. With only five guys, we're not very deep, so we're going with the same thing this year."

Ramirez looks to matches against Mesa and Scottsdale to help prepare the team for their ultimate goal, Nationals. The layed back Ramirez concludes with a smile, " I just tell the guys to have fun, battle and don't miss!

Golf

The women's golf season is underway and despite losing in their opening tournament to South Mountain, by one stroke, they hold much optimism for the season. The lady Pumas are led by second year coach Cindy Campbell. Only one player from last year's team, Jan "The Veteran" Campbell, returns welcoming six new faces. Randi Honga of Kingman High School, Amy Slauson, Amanda Quiroz and Jaime Sunder of Deer Valley High School, Sharla Bennett of Scottsdale Christian and Ashley Wolf of Barry Goldwater High School are all freshman making up the team.

Coach Campbell says, "The team goal is ‘take a swing at Nationals' and be one of the top three teams to make the tournament, which is in Florida. " The team looks no further than the school's initials, PVCC for their motto. "Practice with Vigor and Compete with Confidence." The Pumas practice four days a week, for two-and-a-half hours a day, with practices that started in the fall.

Coach Campbell says, "If you come out and see the girls play, you'll see some incredible swings and some really good golfers, who are dedicated to winning and improving."

In addition to the lady's golf team, the men's team is equally prepared and ready to out shoot their competition.

First year coach Nick Candrea is welcomed to the tee-box, as he takes over for a team consisting of one sophomore, five freshmen and already four signed letters of intent for next year. Sophomore Mike Leising, Freshman Bill Candler, a transfer from SCC, Jimmy Bickens of Sedona Red Rock, Blake Smith, Nat Sheldon of Cactus Shadows and Nick Siebers have been participating since January and are learning Coach Candrea's two key word concepts: "distance" and "direction."

Candrea says, "I tell the guys to focus on the course. Golf is a game where you focus on trying to beat the course, not the player." "With powerhouses Scottsdale and South Mountain (2nd in nation last year) in our conference, it's going to be tough," says Candrea, "but the bottom line is we're hungry for a match."