IN THISISSUE

04

THE REAL SEASON BEGINS06

08 ALPINE SKI TEAM

10 WINTER TRAINING

Director of URECJoe Carter, carterjr@appstate.edu Director of Club SportsErin Sanders, sandersec1@appstate.edu

Activities CoordinatorChelsea Watson, watsoncg@appstate.edu

Publicity ProgrammerAlyssa Gribble, gribblead@appstate.edu

Executive OfficersPhilicia Gibson, gibsonpn@appstate.eduIan McNeill, mcneillim@appstate.eduKatherine Uva, uvakr@appstate.edu

SPRING IS COMING!WOMENS ULTIMATE

WOMENS BASKETBALL

ALPINE SKI

WOMENS BASKETBALL

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Publicity ProgrammerAlyssa Gribble, gribblead@appstate.edu

Executive OfficersPhilicia Gibson, gibsonpn@appstate.eduIan McNeill, mcneillim@appstate.eduKatherine Uva, uvakr@appstate.edu

For more information on any of the club teams, visit the website:clubsports.appstate.edu

email us at: clubsports@appstate.edu

or call us at the Student Recreation Center(828) 262 2100

The February 6th Edition of the Club

Sports IllustratedDesigned by Alyssa Gribble

FENCING DURING WINTERWEATHER

JOINT CHAMPS

EXECUTIVE’S CORNER

12 THE WINTER CYCLING CONUNDRUMCYCLING TEAM

14 RIDING THROUGH IT ALLEQUESTRIAN TEAM

FENCING TEAM

MENS ULTIMATE

As anyone can imagine, playing a game of

Ultimate Frisbee in a wintery mix is quite

the challenge. The ASU Ultimate teams have

put up a strong fight against chilly winds,

snow storms, and below freezing practices.

But here in the mountains it is something

we face year after year. Frozen fingers, ice-

cracked disks, cold winds, and frosted fields

are nothing new to us. While some of the

lower land teams have the advantage of

longer practice seasons, the team here at

Appalachian has the real advantage. The

winter conditions leave us stronger and more

resilient each year. Our members face the

cold with a competitive grunt and smile to

go along, keeping in mind that what doesn’t

kill us, only makes us stronger, and stronger.

The wind may toss and turn the disks in

mid-air, but nothing will toss our spirits. Our

fingers and toes may freeze but our attitudes

will remain warm and joyful. To help ease

harsh winter nights that lay ahead, we keep

two things in mind: spring and Charleston.

Charleston is our upcoming tournament in

two weeks. The Nonads are looking forward

to going down south for a great tournament.

WRITTEN BY:

CORRIE MALONE,

SECRETARY

WOMEN’S ULTIMATE

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The spring weather is but a few cold weeks

ahead and we are all certainly looking forward

to it. With the thought of beaches and sunshine

ahead, the Nonads will make it through the

winter season without complaint or stutter. We

will practice through the snow and ice, until,

inevitably, sunny days arrive.

WE WILL PRACTICE

THROUGH THE SNOW AND ICE UNTIL

SUNNY DAYS ARRIVE

“

”

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WOMENS BASKETBALL

As the temperatures start to drop, the

Women’s Club Basketball team seems to be

more intense then ever. The girls are thankful

everyday that they chose to play a sport that

is indoors to avoid the cold weather in Boone.

With limited practice and time till the first

tournament of the semester in Maryland, the

players want to make every minute count.

Hopefully there are limited school-wide

cancellations that fall on our practice times. If

the whole campus is closed, then the women’s

team is not permitted to utilize the facilities.

It is encouraged for everyone to participate in

intramurals for more preparation. Since only a

limited amount of players on club can play on

the same team for intramurals, many girls are

contending against each other and forming

friendly rivalries.

With a new semester and new competition,

it is imperative that the girls practice hard

and efficient. So with each practice they look

to build on the foundation that was set in

the fall. The spring semester is where the

girls need to start making their games count

because they start playing the important

games that mean the most to determining

the success of their season. In order to have

a good seed in the national tournament at

North Carolina State University, they have

to attain victories over schools for these

regional tournaments in the

near future.

The coaches’ strategies are

to implement more offensive

plays to be more versatile on

the court and to scrimmage

more in practice. Because

there are a few new players,

the best way to get to know

them is to see how they

play and build chemistry.

The girls do not know what

to expect when going into

these bigger tournaments,

so they want to be more

prepared then ever. One

thing the coach has been stressing in practice

is executing set plays. He believes that if the

plays he calls are executed to perfection then

his team has a better chance to pull off the

win. The goal is to play together as a team

and do the best they can to outwork the other

team.

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WRITTEN BY:

ALYSSA HORAN,

SECRETARY

If you are a regular in watching the women’s

club basketball games, then you will notice

the new jackets that the girls will be wearing.

The girls were able to purchase ¾ zips with

Club Sports embroidered. They are very excited

to wear their first apparel purchase for the

year, and especially for the tournament this

weekend.

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“

”

THE GIRLS ARE THANKFUL EVERYDAY THAT THEY CHOSE TO

PLAY A SPORT THAT IS INDOORS TO AVOID THE COLD BOONE WEATHER

Being winter athletes, we skiers pretty much

depend on the weather more than anyone

(besides maybe snowboarding). The cold

and snow never fazes us and we actually get

excited when we check the weather and see

a large winter storm heading our way. The

colder the better! Precipitation is what we

depend on, and we’re constantly checking in

the hopes that we’ll get some fresh snow.

Not all snow is created equal, however. When

we practice and race we hope for a certain

consistency; the best kind of snow is hard

and packed. While most skiers are chasing

the powder, the ideal snow for a race course

resembles ice more than anything. This cuts

down on the possibility of the formation of

ruts, which slow us down and can even cause

serious injuries if you’re skiing carelessly. The

hard packed almost ice-like snow facilitates

catching an edge (if your edges are sharp) and

helps us power through turns. If the snow is

thick and powdery, it becomes slower and can

get “sticky” if it’s too warm. This will slow any

racer down, even with freshly waxed skis. The

only time soft, slushy snow can be slightly

appreciated is during practice. Instead of

bombing through the gates, slower snow can

help slow you down so you are better able to

focus on your form rather than speed. But of

course, no one ever really likes slush!

During the winter, there is a definite shift in

team morale. But it’s for the better! During

the off-season, we are, for the most part,

scattered around as a team. But when winter

rolls around, we all come together under one

common interest (or rather, obsession): the

love for skiing. There is more of a sense of

community on the team during the winter,

we all help each other out with gear and

tuning, and we show the new team members

the ropes. You can bet that there is someone

from the ski team out on the mountain every

day, even on the days we don’t have practice.

“

”

THE COLDER

THE BETTER

ALPINE SKI

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The days we have practice are a time for us all to get

together and hang out and learn how to perfect our

form and just have a fun time on the slopes in the

evening.

Even though this winter has been mild thus far, we’re

still out there every week enjoying every minute of

winter. As a sport that thrives on the cold weather that

most people hate, we always get excited when the first

flurries start to fall.

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WRITTEN BY:

REBECCA PURKEY,

CLUB SPORTS COUNCIL REP

lthough swimming isn’t directly affected as a

sport during the winter, there are definitely some

noticeable changes. It’s never a pleasant feeling

to get into water when it’s cold outside, especially

when you have to walk or drive in order to do so. Even though the

practice schedule is the same during the winter as it is during the

rest of the year, attendance is slightly less. Traveling through the

cold wind and snow to get in the water, and then knowing that this

has to be repeated when are wet on the way back is off putting, to

say the least.

On the other hand, it is often nice to be able to continue swimming

throughout the winter. If you don’t like the winter season,

swimming is sort of an escape. It’s encouraging to know that even

though getting into water during this time of year would never be

considered, we can still stay dedicated to our sport and swim even

when it would otherwise be unnatural.

Similarly, people are affected differently in regards to their

motivation and morale. Some get more dedicated, beating the

weather to continue doing something you enjoy is exhilarating, in

a way. Others get more tired during the winter and like to enjoy a

nice cup of something hot inside over taking a dip into the pool.

With there being both an increase and a decrease in activity

during the winter season, the same may be said of any of the other

seasons. Overall, winter does not adversely affect swimming any

more so than the other seasons, like summer, have a positive effect,

at least when considering year around or competitive swimmers.

If any one thing is consistent across the team due to the season

change, it is that practices tend to move a touch faster. Even if you

are a dedicated swimmer who doesn’t miss a practice through the

winter, you still want to get out earlier to have a more pleasant

trek home.

This picture from last season is tradition of App State Swimming.

The first snow to happen during practice brings everyone on the

team outside to take a glorious, goose-bump filled picture.

WRITTEN BY:

ROBERT COMPTON,

VICE PRESIDENT

A

SWIM TEAM

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IF YOU DON’T LIKE WINTER,

SWIMMING CAN BE AN ESCAPE

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WRITTEN BY:

CRAIG STEWART,

SECRETARY

winter weather is the worst weather

for cycling

Winter weather might be great for hot

cocoa and cozy fires but it is the worst

weather for cycling in Boone. A number

of reasons culminate to make me shake

in my cycling shoes thinking about winter

riding. From the harsh winter wind to the

cold road slush to the potent and bicycle

rotting street salt; riding bikes, in Boone,

in the winter can be very little fun.

The recurring frostbite will stick around

for thirty minutes after your ride is over.

Even if your ride was only a ten minute

stroll to school. The wind cuts through

everything. Our typical gear of lycra

provides no resistance to the wind. We

bundle up with everything we have but

there is always an article of clothing

we are missing: a hat, balaclava, shoe

covers, extra pants, or gloves. Many times

we start our rides with a false since

of hope. We start by climbing uphill to

the parkway, working hard and heating

up before our souls are scoured by the

snowy mix of a treacherous downhill.

When the temperature is below freezing,

a 40 mph downhill can provide a frigid

wind chill.

Boone itself can receive very little

snow from its geographic position but

neighboring areas such as snake mountain

hold on to the white stuff for quite a

while and are rarely maintained being

outside of the major thoroughfares. This

combination provides some surprisingly

slick conditions. Black ice on the backside

of a ripping turn is a recipe for road rash;

no bueno.

The opposite side of the spectrum is

road salt. If you haven’t noticed there is

enough halite on the streets of Boone

to successfully preserve all of the fish

in Bangladesh. Boone creek has been

recently categorized as a salt water

stream. So we better start looking out for

sharks and swordfish (that’s a joke). While

salt can have disastrous environmental

implications we seem to neglect the little

people. The potent road salt will do a

number on any bicycle. The bearings will

turn to squares, chain will deteriorate to

rust, a bad slip near your chainring will

end with a tetanus shot. And replacing

rusted bicycle parts is expensive. Riding

in Boone, in the winter, will end up

costing a pretty penny.

However, cycling consists of love. And

love can make even the most rational

economics student strap up his cycling

shoes, put on that balaclava and face

the outdoors because at the end of the

day - A bad day on the bike is still better

than a great day off of it. So we enjoy

the challenge and ride whenever we can

and if someone shoots down our ride

invitation it’s merely because they are

too #soft.

CYCLING TEAM

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WRITTEN BY:

MOLLY BOSTANCIC,

CLUB SPORTS COUNCIL REP

With the winter upon us, the

Equestrian Team is embracing it

with full force. All of our teams

show their dedication to the sport by

continuing our hour drive out to the

barn multiple times a week without

hesitation of the cold. We all bundle

up in multiple layers knowing that we

will be outside in the dark and cold

practicing. We are fortunate to have

covered arena’s at both of our barns

which we use to our advantage if the

ground frozen and unsafe for riding.

The hardest part about practicing

in the winter is the transportation

down to the barn. Since we practice

down in Taylorsville and Morganton,

the weather is often worse up in

Boone than it is down the mountain.

With our wonderful trainers being

so understanding, they often realize

that it is unsafe for us to be driving

down the mountain if the roads are

covered in snow and ice. If we are

able to safely drive, then we will

practice in all weather conditions

from freezing cold, to snow, to rain,

and shine. Luckily, most of our horse

shows are indoor or they have the

ability to be held inside, so rarely our

competitions are canceled due to the

winter weather.

The winter months greatly

strengthen our team and portray our

dedication to the equestrian sport. It

is not easy to willingly spend hours

outside in the cold, but we often

commit to this without hesitation.

Also, since we do not have as many

competitions in the spring semester,

we often try to focus on social events

and bonding within the team through

Valentine’s Day activities and games

during our weekly meetings.

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EQUESTRIAN TEAM

During the winter months of December,

January, and February, the Fencing Club

practices fencing mostly to maintain an

effective fencing skill set, refresh skills that

may have not been practiced during winter

break, and to instruct newer fencers about

the basic fundamentals of fencing. Some of

the fencers, especially most of the officers,

attended practice in December, but attending

practice in December is limited because of the

final exam week for the relevant fall semester

and winter break following immediately

after the final exams have passed. So far

during this past January the Fencing Club

has had several members return from the fall

semester as well as several new members

join the fencing team, so the practices for the

fencing team have been a mix of instructing

newer members about fencing properly and

refreshing the returning members. Because

of the different practice-related situations

each fencer has regarding whether or not they

attended practice in December, our practices

are slightly affected.

The Fencing Club’s practices are slightly

affected by the experience of the fencers,

whether or not they are a returning member,

and the techniques that the officers are

planning to teach during a given practice

session. Starting in January the officers have

been splitting the fencers into groups so we

can have more time to spend with fencers

practicing different techniques. Because we

are splitting into groups the officers can assist

the newer members more with learning how

to fence so the newer members can learn

faster and be able to learn more complex

techniques and concepts sooner. Even though

these newer fencers may not know much

during the winter months of this spring

semester and the returning fencers may be

eager to spend time with their families in

December, the morale of the Fencing Club’s

members is usually exceptional.

I have observed almost the entire Fencing

Club exhibit a high morale toward fencing

during the winter months. During this past

December when we had practice the fencers

that arrived were truly eager to be at practice

since the semester was ending and the

chance to fence with the other fencers was

not going to occur again until the spring 2015

semester started. Through my interactions

with several new members, and noticing

some members of at least one fencing-based

Physical Education course being new member

of the Fencing Club, the new members seem

ambitious toward gaining the skills and

knowledge necessary to fence as well as the

experienced officers who have been fencing

for at least one year. The practice sessions

FENCING TEAM

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seem to be working effectively toward inspiring the

newer members, returning members, and officers to

participate in fencing since the winter months have

not obviously lowered the morale of the fencers and

the feedback from the newer members regarding the

practice sessions has been positive.

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WRITTEN BY:

DAVID LONGWORTH,

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

his past weekend the Nomads traveled down south

to Clemson, SC to compete in the 2015 Joint Summit.

The Nomads were ranked 2nd coming in to the

tournament and were poised to make a run. Saturday

started with pool play in which App ran through the competition,

raking up a +29 point differential on the day. The Nomads also had

a 21 point streak that was spread across three games, including

dropping a bagel on College of Charleston in a 13-0 affair. The play

of the day Saturday went to Mitch Halloran, who got a Callahan

against C of C, to light up the sidelines. Along with this play Mitch

received the Lock Down D chain, which is awarded to the Nomad

who plays the best defense on that day of the tournament.

With four wins under their belt the Nomads headed to the closest

Chinese Buffet to make bad decisions. After the feast, many

Nomads were tired, including Jeff “Safari Master” Nordgren, who

miraculously put down 5 personal ice cream cups, making sure he

got his moneys worth from the buffet.

With Chinese food in their tummys, the Apps opened up Sunday

bracket play with fellow NC school Wake Forest. Wake proved to be

no test for the team as they rolled 13-4, still hungry for the crown.

Following the Wake game App played sectional rival

South Carolina in the semi finals. USC is a foe that has recently

topped App in their encounters but the Nomads got the best of

them this time, dropping a nice 14-7 final score on the Columbia

squad. With the taste of pork fried rice out of their mouths, the

Nomads were now hungry for a championship, in which they would

have to beat the hometown team Clemson. After some interesting

calls to start the game, the Nomads hit their rhythm and toasted

Clemson. The game included lots of chippy play, and even more

hammer scores for the Apps. After putting their hard hats on, the

Nomads certainly put in work this weekend, making it back to

Boone in time for the start of the second biggest game of the day.

Stand out performers on Sunday included Alex “party pat” Nicholos,

as well as great defense from Rob “High Land” Sprankle.

WRITTEN BY:

RYAN SCHANZ,

SECRETARY

T

MENS ULTIMATE

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THE NOMADS HIT THEIR

RHYTHM AND TOASTED CLEMSON

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/

This week’s Club Sports Council Meeting was BIG because we conducted a vote that resulted in amending the manual! The vote was conducted by Philicia and was in regards to the Developmental Tier. Currently, the Developmental Tier is a place for teams to go when they are voted into the program, but it is also a place for teams to “hang out” if they don’t really need anything from Club Sports other than the status. The thing about Club Sports that makes us so unique is how competitive our teams are. We put in the hours and play through the crazy climate all because we love our sport and we love the competition. This is why the Developmental Tier didn’t quite sit well with the executives. We didn’t like the idea of allowing

teams to have our name but not represent what we are really about. With that, we voted to amend the Developmental Tier so that this was no longer the case. Now, teams are only allowed to be in the Developmental Tier for one year until they are either voted into a funded tier or are voted out of the program altogether. This is exciting because it aligns very well with the rest of our program.

After that vote was conducted, Kyle Craft-Kulkin, our Activities Intern, led a discussion about the Leadership Tier and how it can be improved. He asked for feedback on how teams could see themselves benefiting from being rewarded for being leaders in other organizations on campus.

Towards the end of council, Ian showed us a video about the up and coming Battleship event that Club Sports will be hosting during Club Week. I’m not exactly sure what all this event will entail, but I do know that it will include canoes in the SRC pool. This video got everybody excited for the event.

Overall, it was a great second council meeting of the semester. We look forward to moving through the semester!

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WRITTEN BY PHILICIA GIBSON, CLUB SPORTS EXECUTIVE

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