PERSPECTIVES

The Daily Targum takes a close look at the top storiesthat happened this year on campus, New Brunswick, the state and the country.

MAYA NACHI

PERSPECTIVEST H E D A I L Y T A R G U M

P A G E P 2 M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0

Three months in office define Garden State’s futureBY COLLEEN ROACHE

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

The state of New Jerseychanged on Nov. 3 when thenGov.-elect Chris Christie spokesix little words — “Hey NewJersey, we did it.”

With a pledge to end corrup-tion, stimulate growth and lowertaxes in New Jersey throughbipartisan efforts, the former fed-eral attorney began his first termas the state’s 55th governor, afterdefeating the incumbent candi-date, Democrat Jon S. Corzine.

Republican students at theUniversity, like Christie Coalitionorganizer Alex Cohen, were gladto see the roots of the change theyworked for in Christie’s election.

“The state of New Jersey hasspoken,” said Cohen, a School ofArts and Sciences junior.“They’ve responded to all thetroubles of the state of NewJersey, such as corruption andhigh property taxes.”

Still, Ernest Mario School ofPharmacy first-year studentRich Burrell, who did not voteon Election Day, criticizedChristie’s failure to attack cor-porate crime during his time asfederal attorney.

“I think that it’s not good tohave a person in office who spenteight years not trying to huntdown people who are taking in[bribes] … while being an attor-ney for New Jersey, I don’t likethat at all,” he said.

Regardless of whether NewJerseyans supported their poli-cies on the issues, the econo-my was key in Christie’s elec-tion and something that he,Corzine and independent can-didate Chris Daggett dis-cussed in three debates heldprior to the election.

Meir Goldberg, a rabbi withthe Rutgers Jewish Xperienceon campus, supported Christiebecause of his stance on the economy.

“Christie seemed to be more fiscally responsible,” Goldberg said.

Christie comes into office in January facing an economic downturn in the state. Christie’s proposed budget will result in various cuts to different areas, including higher education.

JEFF LAZARO

Gov. Chris Christie’s approval ratings remain at about 50 percent according to a recent poll conductedby the Eagleton Institute of Politics, although controversy continues to follow some of his decisions.

MARIELLE BALISALISA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

In the weeks following theelection, 47 percent of voters saidtaxes — including property taxesand general taxes — should bethe governor’s top concern,according to an EagletonInstitute of Politics poll.

University College seniorJeffrey Guarneri said no matterwhat the governor does abouttaxes, he will never be able toplease everyone.

“When you cut taxes, you cutprograms, and when you raisetaxes, you piss people off,” he said.

Upon signing an executiveorder in February, Christie frozestate spending in several areas,including unspent funds forupdated energy systems in statefacilities and many long-termprojects, in an effort to balancethe state budget.

The budget for fiscal year2010 has a gap of just over $2 bil-lion, reflecting a 5.5 percent dropin sales tax revenue and an 8 per-cent decrease in corporate busi-ness taxes, Christie said.

“The facts are that revenuesare coming in $1.2 billionbelow what was projected lastyear, and [more than] $800 mil-lion in additional spending wasdone by the previous adminis-tration on their way out thedoor,” he said.

The governor has proposedcuts and reforms to NJ Transit,pension systems and school aid.

“School aid is a large propor-tion of New Jersey’s budget —especially of the amount whichhas not yet been spent in fiscalyear 2010,” Christie said. “Sowe cannot put our budget in bal-ance without putting someschool aid in reserve.”

Still, Christie said he wouldensure every school districtreceives the resources it needsfor instruction, and no teacherswould be laid off due to the budg-et cuts.

School of Arts and Sciencessenior Alex Delgado expressedconcern about the budget at the University.

“We need to stop getting cutsto Rutgers,” he said.

Higher education faces cuts of$62.1 million, according to theproposed budget. The Universitywill share $18.5 million of the bur-den, President Richard L.McCormick said. The figure rep-resents about 1 percent of theschool’s overall budget.

“Enrollments are at an all-timehigh, so there are more studentsrequiring services,” VicePresident for UniversityBudgeting Nancy S. Winterbauersaid. “We do not yet have a senseof the effects of this cut, but it cer-tainly will strain already taxedprograms and services and willrequire that needed expendituresbe delayed.”

Nat Bender, executive vicepresident of Union of RutgersA d m i n i s t r a t o r s - A m e r i c a nFederation of Teachers, believesthe University will be able to sus-tain the cuts.

“Tuition went up 3 percent.Enrollment rose as well. Rutgershas been bringing in hundreds of

millions for research from thefederal stimulus,” he said. “Statefunding is a fraction of the overallRutgers budget, so it is only onefactor to consider.”

The governor’s budget cutsfunding to the EducationalOpportunity Fund, which issuesacademic, personal and financialassistance to low-income stu-dents, by 8.7 percent, reducing itto $37.6 million from $41.2 mil-lion, according to statistics pro-vided by the University’s Budgetand Resource Studies.

“[EOF is] a program that is socritical in providing access to stu-dents who might otherwise notbudget season progresses,Trenton policymakers will realizethat EOF funding is a wise invest-ment in access to higher educa-tion,” Winterbauer said via e-mailcorrespondence.

According to an Eagleton pollconducted March 31 to April 3, 57percent of the 953 New Jerseyadults are not in favor of the governor’s plans to reduce school aid.

“We shouldn’t take away fromour children’s education,” NewBrunswick resident JanelleClarke said. “It will hurt us in the future.”

Gay marriage has also been adivisive issue in Trenton duringChristie’s time in office.

Christie refused to sign a billlegalizing gay marriage in NewJersey and said he favors thecurrent law that permits civilunions. New Jerseyans in civilunions receive almost all thesame rights as married couples,as per the Civil Union Act, whichwent into effect in 2007.

As of March, nearly half ofthose surveyed in an Eagletonpoll said they approved of thegovernor’s job, while 26 percentsaid they disapproved, and 26 per-cent were indifferent.

“[Christie]’s been really visi-ble in saying, ‘I’m going to dosomething about the mess inNew Jersey,’” said DavidRedlawsk, political science pro-fessor and Rutgers-Eagleton Poll director.

M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0T H E D A I L Y T A R G U M P ERSPECTIVES P3

BY NEIL P. KYPERSEDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The new Livingston residence halls may not becomplete until 2012, but thispast year a number of changeshave already been made to the campus.

The Livingston StudentCenter officially opened, and anew center for Social Justice

Education premiered at TilletHall — just a few tangibleimprovements to the campusnow in a renaissance period.

“The Livingston developmentproject will transformLivingston into a new profes-sional and business campus forRutgers University,” saidAntonio Calcado, vice presidentof University Facilities andCapital Planning.

The student center featuresnew technology, eateries and agame room with a soda bar.

Numerous interactive games,like virtual putt-putt, as well asclassics like Skeeball fill the room.

“Hopefully, lots of people willhold their events here,” saidAdam Helgeson, a School ofArts and Sciences first-year stu-dent. “It’s such a cool hangout

place. Once they’re done withclass on Livingston campus, stu-dents can come here to playpool or just sit at the bar for asoda or two.”

Construction of a new dininghall, which will be annexed tothe student center, has alreadybegun on the campus.

The new Social JusticeEducation center now providesa place for lesbian, gay, bisexu-al, transgender, intersex, queerand questioning groups to holdevents, as well as provide acomfortable place to relax.

“As we move more deeply intothe 21st century, vigilance is ever-more crucial as we struggletoward liberation,” LivingstonDean of Students Cheryl Clarkesaid. “We need to know that hav-ing a center requires that wemove beyond the safe space men-tality … to allow ourselves to beon the edge, to continue to chal-lenge institutional heterosexismand homophobia.”

Though unfinished, the largestendeavor on the campus is a newresidence hall slotted to provide1,500 more beds for Universitystudents and consist of multiplemid-rise apartment complexes.

Each apartment will have foursingle bedrooms along with akitchen, living room and twobathrooms.

The housing project will cost$215 million, which will be paidthrough a bond sale repayablethrough student fees.

The new residence hall willalso offer retail and support serv-

ices to the campus communityand visitors through street-levelstores. Outdoor areas, courtyardsand walkways will also be createdto help promote pedestrian activi-ty and student socialization.

“The vision that administra-tors have is good in theory,”said Josh David, a School ofArts and Sciences sophomore.“The new residence hall alongwith the combination of newprofessional schools, like abusiness school, will make avibrant campus community forstudents who live here.”

One of the most anticipatedimprovements is a potentialmovie theater on the campus.

“It would have to be some-thing that really … fulfills themission of the University and ismulti-functional,” Calcado said.“If we can link those two up in away that it is economically fea-sible, then certainly, it will beout there.”

This new theater could offerstudents a place to take film class-es during the day and transforminto a cinema in the evenings.

Overall, the improvementsseek to further the experience ofstudents at the University.

“What you’ll see is a continu-um of first-year students to professional studies,” Calcadosaid. “Part of the education atRutgers University is not just what you learn in a classroom, but par t of theprocess is learning from othersaround you. It will be beneficialfor everyone.”

University President Richard L. McCormick snips a bright red ribbon in April, signifying the opening of thenew Livingston Student Center. The center includes various components, such as a game room.

NICHOLAS BRASOWSKI / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Livingston gains new vision, look with fresh facilities

Activists mobilize efforts for local, global reformBY JOVELLE TAMAYO

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

The University’s Jerseyroots spanned a global reachthis year as students sacrificedmeal swipes, challenged theirphysical limits and ralliedtogether in attempt to improvethe lives of people locally and internationally.

Student groups stepped uphumanitarian efforts this year inresponse to devastating naturaldisasters around the world andcontinued to offer services to thelocal causes that needed it.

After a destructive earth-quake struck Haiti mid-January,University organizations suchas the Haitian Association atRutgers University, the BlackStudent Union, the LatinAmerican Student Organizationand a number of fraternities andsororities did not hesitate toplan events in support of therelief fund.

“We’re going to make it,”School of Environmental andBiological Sciences juniorStephanie Blaise said, express-ing optimism about the countryher family calls home.

Whether they were of Haitiandescent, students worked to helpensure Haiti would recover.

University groups plannedevents to contribute to therelief ef for t throughout thesemester, including variouscandlelight vigils and Pi KappaAlpha’s “Hansel for Haiti” blockparty in April, which raisedabout $450 for the Yele Haitiearthquake fund.

The New York Blood Centerdonated $1 towards a UNICEF-sponsored Haiti relief fund foreach of the 66 pints of blood stu-dents raised in January during ablood drive organized by the

University alumnus Charlie Kratovil organizes a fundraising event inDecember for Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen in New Brunswick.

DAN BRACAGLIA / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rutgers University StudentAssembly and the UniversityQueer Caucus.

The “Every Drop Counts”blood drive, held in protest of aU.S. Food and DrugAdministration ban that pro-hibits men who have had sexualcontact with other men fromdonating, collected more thandouble what a normal blooddrive on Busch campus receives,according to RUSA.

To celebrate the 40thanniversary of Earth Day thisyear, about 175 volunteers —composed mostly of Universitystudents — joined the annualeffort to clean up the RaritanRiver, Weston’s Mill Pond andMile Run Stream.

Rutgers Against Hungerlaunched its first Adopt-A-Familycampaign in October, where stu-dent organizations, fraternities,sororities, administration, aca-demic departments and alumnihad the opportunity to collectfood and clothes for local familiesin need.

Proceeds from “Run forRAH,” a 5K run during the fall homecoming weekend,helped RAH fill food pantries,sponsor programs and increasehunger awareness.

Sisters of five sororities inthe National PanhellenicCouncil and brothers of the IotaPsi Chapter of the Sigma Chifraternity participated in the22nd annual Derby Days inOctober. The weeklongfundraising event raised $34,000for the Children’s MiracleNetwork, Huntsman CancerFoundation and other charities.

The second annual Mr.Engineer pageant, hosted bythe fraternity Sigma Phi Deltaand the sorority Phi Sigma Rho,worked to demolish stereo-

types and raised about $5,500for New Brunswick’s EmbraceKids Foundation. The founda-tion aids the families of chil-dren with cancer and blood dis-orders with their financial andmedical needs.

The 12th annual RutgersUniversity Dance Marathonraised about $378,000 in Marchfor the Embrace KidsFoundation, about $55,000more than last year’s record-breaking total.

The state’s largest student-run fundraiser also broke arecord in participation with 714registered dancers — about 100more than last year — agreeingto stay engaged in the 32-hourweekend event without breaks.

“Dance Marathon is all ofthe most passionate peoplearound one cause comingtogether,” Assistant Director ofVolunteer Management JuliaCrimi said. “College studentshave such a bad stereotype,that they just drink and partyand don’t go to class, but hereyou have 1,000 people in thisgym for these kids.”

More than 4,000 runners and300 volunteers participated in theUniversity’s first Unite HalfMarathon in April, throughwhich about 10 charities raisedmore than $40,000 for their spe-cific efforts.

“It takes a lot more workthan what people realize for anevent like this to come together,” participant JenniferBuccigrossi said. “Without thehelp of volunteers, it would notbe possible.”

The Rutgers Cantonese Clubcollected 42 dresses and $700 inMarch at the Miss Hong KongPageant, where six girls repre-senting different Asian-Americanorganizations competed.

Proceeds, including the winner’s crown, were forward-ed to Becca’s Closet, an organi-zation that provides formalattire for high school students’ proms.

Though it faced some opposi-tion, “Operation Robin Hood,”University alumnus CharlieKratovil’s meal-swipe initiativeraised nearly $2,500 in donationsfor Elijah’s Promise soup kitchenin New Brunswick.

Students donated about$10,000 in meal swipes to thePalestine Children’s ReliefFund in March, and Engineers

Without Borders participatedin a meal sign-away program inApril to raise money forPlayPumps International, anonprofit organization thatinstalls water pumps in South Africa.

“I think people can donatetheir time to Elijah’s Promise[Soup Kitchen], they can’t donatetheir time to a water pump inAfrica … as easily,” LivingstonCollege senior Laura Tobin saidin March. “It’s a way for Rutgersstudents to have global reachbecause they can’t give theirphysical time.”

M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0 T H E D A I L Y T A R G U MP ERSPECTIVESP4

BY DEVIN SIKORSKIASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

When President BarackObama signed the new healthcare reform into law thisMarch, millions of uninsuredAmericans were given theopportunity to enhance theirhealth coverage.

“The bill I’m signing will setin motion reforms that genera-tions of Americans have foughtfor and march for and hungeredto see,” Obama said in a speechbefore signing.

Although Obama’s signaturesealed groundbreaking reformfor the U.S. health care system,the weeks and months leadingup to that day were long and arduous.

The controversy overwhether health care should bereformed captured headlinesfor months before U.S.Congress passed the bill onMar. 22 without a singleRepublican vote.

Obama said he knew the votewould be subject to criticism,analysis and predictions.

“But long after the debatefades away … what will remainstanding is not the government-run system some feared, or thestatus quo that serves the inter-ests of the insurance industry, but

a health care system that incorpo-rates ideas from both parties — asystem that works better for theAmerican people,” he said.

Although the vote itselfproved to be controversial, thesame could be said for themonths before the bill was pre-sented to Congress.

The struggle betweenRepublicans and Democrats toagree upon health care reformgained notoriety, leaving many atodds on both sides as to what todo with the bill.

“We have to start by taking thecurrent bill and putting it on theshelf and starting from a cleansheet of paper,” said Sen. LamarAlexander, R-Tenn. “Our view,with all respect, is that this is acar that can’t be recalled andfixed and that we ought to startover. But we’d like to start over.”

Obama said although theagreement upon health carereform terms could not beachieved overnight, it was still anecessary piece for the puzzle ofpassing the reform.

“Part of the goal … is to figureout what are the areas that we doagree on, what are the areaswhere we don’t agree, and at theend of that process then make anhonest assessment as to whetherwe can bridge these differences,”Obama said. “I don’t know yet

whether we can. My hope is thatwe can.”

The controversy over healthcare was not isolated to membersof the government officials, withUniversity students also weighingin on the issue.

Rutgers University CollegeRepublicans President RonHolden said health is a signifi-cant topic for the government totackle, but would like a dif fer-ent way of going about it.

“I think that health is one of themost important things,” Holdensaid. “Without your health, you’renothing, but I just don’t agree at allwith the way this administration isgoing about things.”

Though he said he doesbelieve Obama is passionateabout improving health care anddoes care about the American

people, Holden said the lawwould do more to cause problemsthan solve them.

“I see him bringing Chicago-style politics to Washington,I’m pretty sure that wasn’t thechange we we’re supposed tobe believing in,” said Holden, aRutgers College senior.

On the other hand, RutgersDemocrats President AlexHolodak was pleased with the new law, passed over what he described as a “historic” weekend.

“It’s a huge step in the rightdirection for the country,” saidHolodak, a School of Arts andSciences senior. “A lot of theprovisions that are in the billare going to immediately help alot of people.”

Holden and Holodak werenot the only University stu-dents pushing for reform, withstudents from the New JerseyPublic Interest Research Groupproviding opinion as well.

“The current health care sys-tem is failing America’s youth,”said NJPIRG intern SophiaFishbane, a School of Arts andSciences student. “Americansaged 18 to 24 are the most likelypeople in the country to lackhealth insurance.”

With an array of studentsproviding input on the impor-

tance of passing health carereform, other University mem-bers tried to show the benefitsfor such students.

Director of the EagletonInstitute of Politics RuthMandel said both immediateand long-term effects are dif fi-cult to predict due to the econo-my and other outside forces,but college students can direct-ly benefit from some aspects ofthe bill.

“The most important one Ithink for students at this stageis that they can stay on theirparents’ health insurance until[the age of] 26,” Mandel said.“That will have a personalimpact on them.”

Despite the controversialarguments between governmentofficials and University students,health care reform is now a lawand many are optimistic aboutits passing.

“Many, many men andwomen are going to feel thepride that I feel in watching yousign this bill … ,” Vice PresidentJoseph Biden said in a state-ment prior to the president sign-ing the bill. “But Mr. President,you’re the guy that made it hap-pen … You’ve done what gener-ations of not just ordinary, butgreat men and women haveattempted to do.”

Health care bill makes history, affects millions

“Americans aged 18 to 24 are

the most likely people in the

country to lack health insurance.”

SOPHIA FISHBANENJPIRG intern

athletic trainers. The resultswere disheartening.

“It got to a point where I wouldwake up in the morning and havetrouble walking,” he said. “I finallywent to the trainer and they sentme to get a bone scan. They real-ized I had stress fractures in bothmy shins. I couldn’t really do any-thing. The only way for them toheal is to sit out. I missed a lot ofmeets, period.”

Younger was forced to red-shirt his first indoor season withthe Scarlet Knights, and his reha-bilitation began to set him backfor the 2008 outdoor season.

After finally getting back inshape for the Penn Relays,Younger noticed somethingstrange on the side of his knee. Itturned out to be MRSA, a bacterialinfection that caused doctors toremove by drilling a hole inYounger’s knee. The surgeryrequired him to again redshirt andavoid contact with his teammates.

Younger’s sophomore campaignfared only slightly better. Duringthe trials for the 500-meter at theindoor Big East Championships, hepulled a hamstring but continued torun after the event in the 4x400-meter hurdles.

“I ran great considering, butthat kind of messed me up,”Younger said. “I couldn’t com-pete after that. My hamstring was

T H E D A I L Y T A R G U M P E R S P E C T I V E S M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0 P 5

BY SAM HELLMANCORRESPONDENT

Through her first two seasonswith the Rutgers softball team,Brittney Lindley started everysingle game at the hot corner.

In her first 56 games, playingfrom day one as a freshman,Lindley was eighth on the team inhitting with her .239 average, thirdon the team with 22 RBI and thirdon the team in runs with 20 to goalong one home run.

In her last 50 games, as a soph-omore, Lindley’s average shot upto a team-best .338, she has a team-best 33 RBI, a team-best 32 runsand a team-best 11 home runs —earning her The Daily Targum’sMost Improved Player of 2009-10.

“I just wanted to keep gettingbetter,” Lindley said. “It’s reallyhard as a freshman just to adjustand improve when you’re goingthrough so many new experi-ences outside of softball.”

Lindley’s 11 home runs this sea-son are good for second best inschool history with at least fourmore games to tie the record of 12set in 2004. Though she is the firstto say she isn’t trying to hit the ballout of the RU Softball Complex, she

THE DAILY TARGUM’S MOST IMPROVED

ATHLETE OF THE YEAR1) Brittney Lindley, Softball2) Chelsey Lee, Basketball3) Pat Biserta, Baseball4) Damaso Munoz, Football5) Ibrahim Kamara, Soccer

Sophomore’s production skyrockets

BY TYLER BARTOSTAFF WRITER

A Comeback Player of the Yearaward recipient usually has to sur-pass once-high expectations, over-come a grueling injury or reemergeduring a given season. Rutgersmen’s track and field sprinter AaronYounger, The Daily Targum’s 2010Comeback honoree, qualifies in allthree categories.

The junior from Franklinville,N.J., came to Rutgers touted as theschool’s eventual record-holder inthe 500-meter dash, a distinctionheld by fifth-year senior teammateSteve Swern.

“It’s great because ever sincemy freshman year it’s been meand Steve Swern and he had therecord in the 500,” Younger said.“The coaches were like, ‘Youshould get that. There’s no reasonyou shouldn’t have it.’ That wasalways in my mind.”

During the 2010 indoor seasonYounger took a renewed focus andconfidence to Navy’s Wesley A.Brown Field House, where he set afacility record in the 500-meter witha time of 1:02.95. Later at the indoorBig East Championships, Youngerfinally surpassed the record he wasdestined to reach — a school-besttime of 1:01.44 in the 500-meter,good for a Big East individual title.

Accounting for high expecta-tions: Accomplished.

To truly appreciate how farYounger came during the 2010indoor and outdoor seasons, allanyone needs to do is ask the juniorsprinter about his health care plan.What starts out as a simple ques-tion turns into a full-fledged biopic.

“Ever since seventh grade whenI started running track I’ve alwayshad shin problems,” Younger said.“They’ve never gone away. Duringthe season, they hurt. During theoffseason, they don’t hurt. It’s acompletely different situation com-ing from high school to college.High school practices weren’t near-ly as hard as they are now. Now Ican barely pick myself up off thetrack sometimes.”

Younger’s shin splits were sobad at one point that he wasforced to do something he vowedhe would never do — go see the

Sprinter overcomes career of injuriesTHE DAILY TARGUM’S COMEBACK PLAYER

OF THE YEAR1) Aaron Younger, Track2) Jack Barrett, Wrestling3) Prishani Seebadri, Gymnastics4) Natalie Clickett, Discus5) Scott Vallone, Football

AARONYOUNGER

BY KYLE FRANKOCORRESPONDENT

There are so many reasons whyGlenn Crooks could pat himself onthe back after the 2009 season.

Adversity? You bet.Injuries? Too many to count.Success? Highest ranking in

program history.But Crooks refuses to acknowl-

edge his 10th season in charge ofthe Rutgers women’s soccer teamas one of his best coaching jobs.Instead, Crooks points to his fifthyear as a collegiate head coach.

Back then, Long IslandUniversity tabbed Crooks, thenthe coach at St. Peter’s, as thefirst boss in program history.

So when Crooks talked abouthis toughest coaching job, hecouldn’t help but recall that firstseason when he had to start soft-ball players at right and left back.

Times changed for Crooks. Heis a long way from his days at thesmall Northeast Conference schooland comes off a season where heguided the Scarlet Knights to a 14-4-4 record and the second round ofthe NCAA Tournament.

“The reward of this year is howthe group dealt with adversity,”said Crooks, The Daily Targum’sCoach of the Year. “As adults,whether you’re the youngest play-er on the team or the oldest per-son in the program, you alwayslearn from these experiences.”

The odds started to stack upagainst the Scarlet Knights fourgames into the season when sen-ior Caycie Gusman tore her ACL.Three games later senior captainGina DeMaio did the same.

Rutgers lost starting rightback Rheanne Sleiman to anankle injury one game later in itsBig East opener and leading-scor-er Ashley Jones to a horror legbreak Oct. 11 against DePaul.

In total, five starters were lostfor a combined 82 games in 2009.Still, Crooks rallied his troops toa 14-win season, tied for second-most in program history. TheScarlet Knights won 16 in 2006.

“He had to game plan with alot less players and that’s some-thing that’s not easy to deal with,”said goalkeeper Erin Guthrie.“He dealt with that awesome andthe way we ended up showedhow well he was able to pullthrough what we dealt with.”

Crooks likes to deflect thecredit for the team’s success

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Head coach Glen Crooks guided his team to a 14-4-4 record and thesecond round of the NCAA Tournament despite a number of injuries.

Crooks leads Knightsthrough adversity

THE DAILY TARGUM’S COACH OF THE YEAR1) Glen Crooks, Women’s Soccer2) Scott Goodale, Wrestling3) Fred Hill Sr., Baseball4) Greg Schiano, Football5) C.J. Werneke, Volleyball

just kind of mangled up. I had toredshirt the spring season.”

Suffering disheartening injuries:Completed — unfortunately.

This year Younger returnedto the track with his onslaughtof injuries absent from his mem-ory, and the results showed.After maintaining an open, hon-est relationship with the coach-ing and medical staff, Youngerprovided the Knights a markedboost with his first full seasonson the Banks.

“I just talk to the trainers, doeverything I need to do, and trynot to have one of these self-ful-filling prophecies,” he said. “I leftit out of my mind and I’ve beenserious injury-free — knock onwood. I’ve got a couple meets left.I’ve had little tweaks here andthere but I’ve been able to comeback in no more than a week inhalf or two weeks.”

Often talked about as a sprint-er with limitless potential,Younger is no longer a prospectthat has not found a way to putthe pieces together.

Along with his facility recordat Navy and Big East indoortitle in the 500-meter, the juniorset a meet record at the PennState Northeast Challenge inthe winter and captured first atthe Colonial Relays inWilliamsburg, Va.

He also finished third in the500-meter dash at the 2010 BigEast Championships after finish-ing with the best time in theevent’s time trials.

Reemerging onto the nationalscene: Consider it done.

With all of his success andaccolades this season, Youngeris far from finished. With hismounting redshirts and his planto stay at Rutgers for five years,the Knights’ record-holder inthe 500-meter still has a lot of todos to check off before calling ita career.

“What could I have done if Ididn’t [get injured]? It just feelsreally good,” Younger said. “Itdefinitely makes me wish I was-n’t hurt before, but now that I’mnot it’s just great to go out thereand do what I’m supposed to doto win.”

away from himself. He gave mostof the dues to a stingy backlineanchored by Guthrie and seniorcenter back Jen Anzivino. TheScarlet Knights kept 12 cleansheets and conceded just 11goals in 22 games.

Anzivino, DeMaio, Gusman,Guthrie, Kristie Lang and BeckyWise are part of Crooks’ 2006recruiting class that producedone of the most successful fouryear runs in school history.Rutgers reached the NCAATournament three of the lastfour seasons.

This season the Knights wereranked as high as No. 9 andfound themselves shipped Southto Columbia, S.C., for the open-ing two rounds of the NCAATournament. They knocked offDuke 2-0 in the first round beforefalling to host South Carolina 1-0.

NCAA appearances arebecoming the trend inPiscataway. That is no mistake —Crooks expects his teams to bethere year in and year out.

“It would be hard for me toconsider any year successful — interms of our soccer goals — if wedidn’t qualify for the NCAATournament,” said Crooks, who is113-74-26 in his career at Rutgers.“Those are our expectations.”

Maybe Crooks is right.Maybe this adversity-filled andinjury-riddled season wasn’t hisbest coaching job. Maybe it wasthat first season where he wonjust one of 18 games and waslucky to keep his sanity.

Crooks did turn that LIU teaminto a conference champion twoyears later. He moved on toRutgers and so did the results.He may want to redirect anypraise headed his way but noteven Crooks would be able todeny the common denominatorof all those teams.

“I think in general he justloves soccer,” Guthrie said. “Heloves Rutgers and it’s awesomefor him that he’s finally recog-nized for all his hard work. Hehad to deal with all this adversitytoo and he did it so well.”

went from one home run as a fresh-man to 11 as a sophomore with atleast four more games to play.

She even smacked three in thesame day against Connecticut.

With two years left, Lindley is11 home runs shy of the schoolrecord, something easily shat-tered if she continues her pace.

“Ever since we were little, shehad a big bat,” said senior pitcherNicole Lindley, her older sister. “Itwas just a matter of time before shestarted seeing pitches and drivingthem. She’s done a good job.”

Not only did Brittney Lindleyemerge as a better hitter, but shebecame the Scarlet Knights’ bestimpact hitter, moving from sixth orseventh in the batting order to third.

“I think a lot of the girls on theteam this year really helped out,”Brittney Lindley said. “It’s a lot dif-ferent because I’m a lot more com-fortable on the team and I feel like

I play a bigger role and I’m beingmore of myself this year.”

Playing with one’s sibling canoften turn ugly, making every-thing a family competition, butnot for the Lindley sisters.

When Brittney Lindleyarrived at Rutgers from Cicero,N.Y., her older sister was alreadya junior and the ace of the ScarletKnights’ pitching staff.

That made her transition easier.“I’m used to playing with

Nicole,” Brittney Lindley said.“I push her. She pushes me andwe can be really honest witheach other.”

Nicole Lindley, who plays herlast home series as a Scarlet Knightthis weekend when Pittsburghcomes to Piscataway, said sheenjoyed seeing her sister evolveinto another leader of the ballclub.

She expects even biggerthings next year.

“I thought she was a good play-er last year, but I think this yearshe’s just more comfortable andthat comes with experience,” saidNicole Lindley. “Britt’s reallystepped up and tried to be a leaderon the field and I think that’s greatto show that a younger underclass-man can have that role too.”

T H E D A I L Y T A R G U MP E R S P E C T I V E SP 6 M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0

BY STEVEN MILLERSPORTS EDITOR

Tom Savage was the marqueename. Mohamed Sanu was the20-year-old who was not eligibleto play his senior year of highschool football.

Savage was the kid who madethe hour-and-a-half drive fromSpringfield, Pa., to Piscataway forevery spring practice. Sanu wasthe local boy who enrolled earlyand made a quick impression.

Both were on the recruiting cir-cuit since their early years, bothwere early commitments to theRutgers football team and bothearned the distinction as TheDaily Targum’s Rookie of the Year.

“I’ve known him since sopho-more year of high school,” Savagesaid of Sanu. “We were both get-ting recruited early and we were

BY SAM HELLMANCORRESPONDENT

From Knight to Patriot, cor-nerback Devin McCourty isalready making a name for him-self at the NFL level doing thesame things he did for theRutgers football team.

McCourty, The DailyTargum’s Senior Athlete of theYear recipient for 2009-10, is allover the Boston newspapers asone of the great character guysin the draft and best picks bythe New England Patriots inrecent years.

The Targum’s SeniorAthlete of the Year award goesto a senior that displays greatleadership, perseverance andembodies what it means to be aScarlet Knight.

Talk to anyone that knewMcCourty and he represents allof the above.

“Forget the physical talent,”said his coach, Greg Schiano,on what McCourty brings tothe next level. “There are a lotof guys in that league that havephysical talent. The way Devinis committed to preparation,both physically and mentallyfor the game of football, I thinkthat’s going to take him a longway in that league.”

McCourty embodies leadership with all-around performance

Duo takes offensive reins in first season on Banks

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Cornerback Devin McCourty, 21, played 110 plays against UConnthis season, impressing with his play on special teams and defense.

THE DAILY TARGUM’S SENIOR OF THE YEAR1) Devin McCourty, Football2) Hamady N’Diaye, Basketball3) Tim Brown, Football4) Erin Guthrie, Soccer5) Brittany Ray, Basketball

THE DAILY TARGUM’S ROOKIE OF THE YEAR1) Tom Savage and

Mohamed Sanu, Football2) Dane Miller, Basketball3) Joe Langel, Wrestling4) Steve Nyisztor, Baseball5) Lily Kalata, Lacrosse

DAN BRACAGLIA/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Mohamed Sanu expanded his role with Rutgers with the Wild Knight,which peaked with 148 yards and two scores at Louisville.

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom Savage became the second true freshman quarterback in schoolhistory to win his first career start, which came against Howard.

As a senior team captain lastseason, McCourty evolved into astronger leader in the secondary,with his twin brother Jason movingon to the NFL after he did not red-shirt during their freshman season.

McCourty also emerged as animpact player on special teams,both in the return game and kickand punt coverage. In the dra-matic 28-24 come-from-behindwin over Connecticut in EastHartford, McCourty played atotal of 111 plays and took a kickback for a touchdown.

“I’m just a guy that comes toplay every day,” McCourty saidafter being drafted. “Last year atRutgers, I was able to play corner-back and help on special teams.

“I feel like I’m a guy that’s goingto compete every chance that I get,whether that’s playing on defenseat corner or on special teams. Ithink it’s just been my ethic, eversince I got into college as a redshirtfreshman; that’s just working hardto build my way into the lineup.”

When his brother went as asixth-round pick to the TennesseeTitans last year, most experts wroteMcCourty off as a mid-round guy.

Then they started to watch tape,and listen to the things McCourtysaid and watched him blow up atthe NFL Combine — somethinghis brother was not invited to.

“It’s just been exciting towatch him through this wholeprocess,” said Jason McCourty.“It’s been different than minebecause his stock is higher andhe’s doing the Combine andstuff, but it’s great to see himgoing out there and making aname for himself.”

The Targum’s Senior Athleteof the Year award, however, is notsolely about athletic accomplish-ment. The award is more basedon leadership and character.

The Rutgers football team willnever be without character, butreplacing a leader like McCourtyisn’t going to be easy for a youngsecondary next season.

“Devin was a great leaderhere and I definitely learned a lotfrom him and from Jason whenhe was here,” said sophomorecornerback Brandon Jones. “He’sgoing to be great for the NFL andwe’ll definitely miss him aroundhere, but we have other guysready to step up too.”

talking and met each other at acouple of camps and we’ve been incontact since then.”

Thirty minutes into theirScarlet Knights careers, Seven toSix emerged.

Savage hit Sanu on an outroute for the first of sevencompletions between the twoin the season-opening loss to Cincinnati.

But as much as that firstgame ended the Knights’ BigEast chances before they even

really started, it also usheredin a new era of Rutgers foot-ball: The Seven to Six era,when the success of the teamwill rely heavily on the devel-opment of its heralded 2009recruiting class and the twoheadliners on of fense.

In their first seasons, bothproved they are up to the task.

It is no coincidence that bothwere around for practices in thespring before their freshmencampaigns, although they hadlargely different roles.

Sanu spent 13 of the 15 prac-tices at safety, before moving towide receiver out of necessity,but still felt the benefit of beingon a collegiate football field.

“It helped me get the speedof the game down, the physicali-ty of the players and just the ter-minology of the players —details you have to understandto get the feel of the game,” theSouth Brunswick High Schoolproduct said.

Savage spent his spring on thesideline, where he only stood forone-and-a-half games during the sea-son — one due to a concussion suf-fered against Florida International.

But the Cardinal O’Hara prod-uct took the opportunity to beginlearning the offense while he wasnot yet eligible to practice.

“I just think the fact that Iwas able to learn from theoffense and learn how the prac-tices work, so I didn’t getthrown out there cold turkeywhen I could play,” Savage said.“It was unfortunate that I could-n’t practice, but still watchingthe checks, watching the playshelped a lot for me.”

Head coach Greg Schianosaid the coaching staf f onlyasked Savage to master about60 percent of the offense duringthe season. The quarterbackwho threw for 2,211 yards and14 touchdowns had the chal-lenge of handling games, notwinning them.

But on a Halloween after-noon with the Knights trailingby three with 33 seconds leftand 81 yards to go at

Connecticut, Savage took thesnap and held the game in his hand.

He stepped up.The rest is history.It was the same way with Sanu

— who saved his best perform-ances for the big-time, nationallytelevised games.

The 6-foot-2, 215-poundwideout pulled in 639 receivingyards during the season, but ona Friday night af fair withPittsburgh, Sanu broke out theWild Knight — the power run-ning formation that accounted for 346 yards andfive touchdowns.

In four ESPN games atRutgers Stadium, Sanu aver-aged 24.5 rushing yards and93.5 receiving. He ran for 148yards, two touchdowns and onemassive stif f-arm on a Friday

morning against Louisville andhe had a pretty good gameearning Most Valuable Player honors at the St.Petersburg Bowl.

Both had their best per-formances in St. Petersburg —Sanu ran for two touchdownsand caught another one for 138all-purpose yards and Savagethrew for 294 yards and two touchdowns — and bothremembered the game as theirseason’s favorite.

But neither is satisfied.“Winning the bowl game —

that’s what everyone wants todo is win bowl games,” Savagesaid. “Of course we didn’t winthe Big East, so we’re not satis-fied with that. We’re back andwe’re hungry.”

The Big East should considerthat fair warning.

T H E D A I L Y T A R G U M M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0 P 7P E R S P E C T I V E S

Russo’s individual pursuits create success on matsBY A.J. JANKOWSKIASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

As a fifth grader growing up inNetcong, N.J., Dominick RussoIII was sick of losing.

A gifted athlete playing foot-ball, baseball and basketball, nomatter how hard he tried, theteam always fell short.

So Russo and his family decid-ed it was best to take matters intohis own hands.

“I played team sports, butour teams were always terri-ble,” the junior heavyweight ofthe Rutgers wrestling teamsaid. “My mom was worriedthat my self esteem might take

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Junior heavyweight D.J. Russo reached the 30-win plateau for the first time in his career, taking32 matches and earning 100 points in dual meets, while yielding only nine points.

1) D.J. Russo, Wrestling2) Devin McCourty, Football3) Hamady N’Diaye, Basketball4) Adam Bergo, Track5) Pat Biserta, Baseball

Guthrie’s record-setting career integral to team’s progressBY KYLE FRANKO

CORRESPONDENT

Erin Guthrie has never beenone to talk about her records. But

now that she’s moved on from theRutgers women’s soccer team andhad time to reflect on her career,she can’t help but smile when shethinks about her accomplishments.

Guthrie, a goalkeeper, finishedher senior season for the ScarletKnights in November and leftPiscataway with a career recordof 52-23-12.

She is the school’s all-timeleader in clean sheets (44) afterpassing Saskia Webber in a 1-0win over Towson Sept. 4 andappearances (87), passingUnited States internationalCarli Lloyd.

“While you’re doing it, it’s notsomething that you think about,”said Guthrie, The Daily Targum’sFemale Athlete of the Year for thesecond consecutive year. “I wasalways hoping we could just comeout with a win because we workall year long to play in tourna-ment games. But looking backnow, it’s definitely a reflection ofthe entire team more than justone player. A shutout may havemy have my name on it, but it’smore a reflection of the peoplewho were there all four years andit’s something that everybodyshould be proud of.”

Guthrie was penciled intohead coach Glen Crooks’ lineupsince the day she stepped on cam-pus as a freshman. After fouryears, Crooks is going to have toreplace one of the best players inRutgers history.

“Even in recruiting Erin theone thing we noticed is that shecame up big in the big matches,and that’s held true throughouther career,” Crooks said. “Erinwas a great leader, a great team-

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Goalkeeper Erin Guthrie won the Female Athlete of the Year awardfor the second consecutive year after recording 11 clean sheets.

THE DAILY TARGUM’S MALE ATHLETEOF THE YEAR

1) Erin Guthrie, Soccer2) Brittany Ray, Basketball3) Brooke Cantwell, Lacrosse4) Amy Zhang, Tennis5) Ashley Jones, Soccer

THE DAILY TARGUM’S FEMALE ATHLETE

OF THE YEAR

a hit. So she suggested that Itry an individual sport. So Itried wrestling.”

Since that decision over adecade ago, Russo andwrestling worked in per fectharmony. He was countychamp his first year on themat, albeit in the novice divi-

sion. However, Russo contin-ued to win throughout middleschool and high school, beingnamed county champ again ineighth grade.

“I guess I had a knack for it,”he said. “I always had success init and I was never falling behind.”But Russo never let this successget to his head.

“There are always better peo-ple,” he said. “When I’d go into[wrestling] clubs, I went upagainst people who had beenwrestling their entire lives. SoI’d get my ass kicked, but itmade me want to work harder.”

Entering his final season in ascarlet singlet, the heavyweight

from Lenape Valley High Schoolholds a 65-31 record in colle-giate wrestling. In his junioryear this past season, Russobroke the 30-win plateau enroute to a 32-8 overall record. Indual meets, he went 20-2 andscored 100 points for the teamwhile only yielding nine.

For his efforts, Russo is theTargum’s Male Athlete of theYear. He is also a two-time recipi-ent of the Ted Petty Award, whichrecognizes the team’s MostValuable Wrestler.

“With the rise of the footballprogram there are some greatathletes that come through here.To see a wrestler get rewardedfor what he has done is special,”said head coach Scott Goodale ofthe distinction. “I’m excited forhim. He put a lot of time into itand he deserves it.”

In his first year on the Banks,Goodale watched Russo struggleand finish the year 7-12. Sincethen, his results have skyrocket-ed and this year Russo wasranked in the top-10 nationallythroughout the season.

“I just think that D.J. has thisthought going on in his mind thathe can out-wrestle most heavy-weights,” Goodale said. “He hasan idea and a game plan of whatto do before he goes out which isgood. And he can wrestle a littlebit different from your typicalheavyweight. He knows going incertain maneuvers and holds hecan hit. He does a good job stick-ing to the game plan.”

Looking toward the future,there is no doubt that 2011 isgoing to be a signature year notonly for Russo, but also for theentire wrestling program atRutgers. The staff circled thisyear as its target year for every-thing to come together.

No matter what the outcomeof next year’s season has instore, Russo is just glad to holdhis own destiny.

“In a team sport you couldlose because someone else didn’tdo something right,” he said.“With wrestling it takes a lot ofthe B.S. out of it. It is completelyon you and you can’t blame any-one else.”

But the same lesson Russolearned when he first startedwrestling still applies: You canalways get better.

Russo’s season ended in theAll-American round of theNCAA National Tournamentwhen he lost to Mark Ellis ofMissouri in overtime. The lossnot only closed the book on theseason for the Scarlet Knights, italso extended the team’s streakof not having an All-American toeight years.

“D.J. is the type of kid thatknows when he should win amatch and when he shouldn’twin a match. And that’s whatwe are tr ying to get over,”Goodale said. “We are trying toget him to believe he shouldwin all the time. There’s stillsome doubt though, when hewrestles the top-tier kids. Andthat’s with everybody. And forhim to be a national champion,he has got to take that next step.

“Him becoming an All-American would have been greatfor Rutgers, would have beengreat for him and would havebeen great for the program. Butnow a month out of it, maybe it’sa good thing it didn’t happen.Because now he will be unbeliev-ably hungry.”

With his national tourna-ment experience, the heavy-weight who sealed the deal onso many Rutgers victories inthe past will be looked to as oneof the leaders on this team as itcontinues its ascension in thenational rankings.

For Russo, the pressure is justfine. He can take matters into hisown hands once again.

mate and one of the most popularbetween her peers that has everbeen at Rutgers.”

Guthrie’s leadership was cer-tainly tested in the 2009 season.The Scarlet Knights finished 14-4-4 and reached the secondround of the NCAATournament, but it did not comewithout adversity.

Five starters, including two sen-iors and the team’s leading scorer,missed a combined 82 matches.

“It takes a toll on the entireteam mentally and physically,”Guthrie said. “You’re put intosituations that you don’t pre-pare for in preseason and youdon’t expect that. There weresome rough parts of the season,but to turn around and play theway we did is definitely a reflec-tion on the entire team andcoaching staff.”

With adversity staring theteam in the face Guthrie wasunflappable. She had career-best 0.47 goals against averageand .885 save percentage. The Spar ta, N.J., nativeallowed just 10 goals the entire season.

Crooks expected that.“I’ve written her name in the

lineup for four years withouteven thinking about it,” he said.“You just can’t replace an ErinGuthrie and having her backthere is where it started.”

The reward for a record-set-ting career at Rutgers for Guthrieis a spot with Women’sProfessional Soccer league sideFC Gold Pride which selected thegoalkeeper in the fourth round ofthe 2010 draft.

Guthrie made Gold Pride’sopening-day roster and is list-ed as its third-choice goalkeep-er. On the team’s website,Guthrie’s profile appears rightabove Marta’s, the Brazilianwho is widely considered the best female player in the world.

“I was extremely excited,”said Guthrie, recalling the dayshe found out where she washeaded. “The level of play is alot faster and the speed of theshots that come at me are noth-ing I’ve ever seen before so itwas a big adjustment. But ithas been an awesome experi-ence because I get to play withsome of the best players in the world.”

Someday Guthrie may gether chance to play in a profes-sional match. If she does,Crooks will be watchingbecause there is one thing he issure of: “There just aren’t a lotof Erin Guthrie’s out there.”

PERSPECTIVES M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 0

T H E D A I L Y T A R G U M

P 8

BY A.J. JANKOWSKIASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

It’s not a sport that shines inthe mainstream. The participantsdon’t have agents or sign con-tracts. You can’t buy your favoriteathlete’s jersey. But to membersof the Rutgers wresting team whosacrifice their bodies day in and

day out, their dedication to thesport is a lifestyle.

And to head coach ScottGoodale, that sacrifice is worth something.

“I think it can be a revenue-making sport here at Rutgers,”the coach of The Daily Targum’sTeam of the Year said. “[Otherhead coaches around the country

and I] talk about this at conven-tions, it’s not about wins and loss-es sometimes. It’s about market-ing the program, putting it in thepublic eye and like I said I think we do a good job of that at Rutgers.”

At a university that emphasizesathletics, the team has an opportu-nity to tap into fan bases from othersports as well as the strong anddedicated wrestling communitywithin the state of New Jersey,Goodale said.

“We need to do a better job —and this is what we are trying todo at Rutgers — of getting it outin the mainstream and out toeverybody, to the football fans, tothe basketball fans,” he said. “Asa whole, the sport needs to do abetter job of promoting it. Theonly thing on ESPN is the nation-al finals. It’s a popular sport, butit’s a popular sport amongst itspeople. It needs to be populararound the country and aroundsports fans.”

On campus, people are startingto take notice of the team that went19-5-1, the highest winning percent-age of any Rutgers sport this year.

“I have people come up to me,who I don’t know, but who know meand start to talk to me,” said juniorheavyweight D.J. Russo. “So wecertainly have a following. I would-n’t compare it to football or basket-ball, but it’s growing.”

The popularity of the sport is onthe rise and not something that wasnoticed in the past.

THE DAILY TARGUM’S TEAM OF THE YEAR

1) Wrestling (19-5-1)2) Women’s Soccer (14-4-4)3) Football (9-4)4) Baseball (21-20)5) Tennis (14-8)

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Head coach Scott Goodale holds a 50-19-1 record since arriving atRutgers three years ago. The Knights finished last season 19-5-1.

ANDREW HOWARD/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Lamar Brown pins Virginia wrestler Brent Jones in the fourth overtime of the Knights’ 25-12 victory in their lone match at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. After stringing together a19-5-1 record, Rutgers finished the year ranked No. 21, its highest ranking in school history. Head coach Scott Goodale welcomes the 17th best recruiting class in the country next year.

Budding program’s season shows unlimited potential

“When I first came here weweren’t well known,” Russo said.“But now, when people meet us,we are a likeable group of guys.We are more personable thenother teams on campus. And of course, ever yone likes winners.”

Winning has been the mantraever since Goodale and his staffstepped onto the Banks. In thethree years since they took overthe program, the Knights are 50-19-1 against some of the topwrestling talent in the country.

This past season, Rutgersrode a 15-match unbeaten streakto its highest national ranking inschool history. After receivingvotes all year long, the Knightsbroke through at No. 22 after aweekend that saw them defeatthen-No. 23 Virginia at the LouisBrown Athletic Center and thentake down highly touted Navy thevery next night at the CollegeAvenue Gymnasium.

The team advanced to No. 21later in the season and that’swhere it would close out the year.The squad looks to go even high-er in the rankings next year andhas the lineup to do so.

“We are going to be top-10quality next year,” said Russo ofthe team that returns nine of its10 starters as well as bringing inthe 17th-best recruiting class inthe country.

“Whether or not we performlike one is a different story. But weare going to have guys in the top 20in their weight class in every spotand we have the chance to havemultiple All-Americans. We are asolid team that is going to take nextyear very seriously.”

The approaching year is alsowhen Goodale wants to see hisgrapplers’ success turn into a prof-it for the school.

“I think next year we need totake that step and make it a rev-enue-making sport,” he said.“That’s always been my vision andwhat I see in the future.”

One way to reel in more fans isto wrestle more matches at theRAC. The Knights have only com-peted there twice — last yearagainst Rider and this seasonagainst Virginia. However, bothtimes the team drew more than1,500 fans. That amount does noteven fit into the College AvenueGymnasium, where the team nor-mally competes.

“Not that we don’t like the Barn,but [the RAC] should be awrestling venue,” Goodale said. “Ithink administration and our athlet-ic department wants [to have morematches at the RAC]. We certainlywant that, and we need to keepdoing that. Plus we are 2-0 there.”