Get to Know Your Raiders: Lyndsay Barna

Junior Lyndsay Barna has made her mark on the women’s track & field team both on the track and in the field.

A four-time PSAC placewinner, Barna runs hurdles and competes in the long jump. At the PSAC Indoor Championships during her first season at Shippensburg, the Waymart native placed fifth in the long jump and sixth in the 60-meter hurdles. Last February, she placed eighth in the 60 hurdles at the same meet before placing eighth in the 100-meter hurdles at the PSAC Outdoor Championships.

A communication/journalism major, Barna has earned three PSAC qualifying standards so far this season after finishing third in the 60 hurdles and fifth in the long jump at the Bison Open & Multi last weekend.

Barna will compete at the John Covert Classic hosted by Lehigh University this Saturday. Shippensburg track & field will also send a squad to compete at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York City on Friday and Saturday.

Get to know Lyndsay Barna...

What is your favorite pre-meet ritual?

Having a team pasta dinner the night before the meet and just being able to spend time with teammates outside of practice.

What part of Shippensburg, either the campus or the town, do you most enjoy?

I love our stadium. Not only is it the nicest out of all of the other PSAC schools but it is one of the nicest stadiums in Division II.

What is the best class you've taken at Shippensburg?

Dr. [Ted] Carlin’s Electronic Media Basic Production class. He really is the best professor and made it easy to learn how to run the equipment for our broadcasting studio. He is also a great mentor.

If you weren't majoring in communication/journalism, what would your major be?

The other major I also wanted to do was exercise science because I wanted to be an athletic trainer like my older brother, Kyle. It has always been a passion of mine…that’s what made me decide to do the coaching minor.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why?

My favorite day of the week is usually Sundays. I love relaxing and watching NFL football all day.

Which are your favorite PSAC schools to compete against, and why?

Slippery Rock and East Stroudsburg are our biggest competition, especially when everything is on the line for the PSAC Championship. It makes it very exciting when the championship comes down to the last race.

If we asked your teammates to say a few words about you, what do you think they would say?

They would probably say that I’m always smiling, a hard worker and dedicated in the weight room.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

I was blessed in high school to be able to achieve two track & field state medals and a gold medal in gymnastics.

What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?

The hardest is trying to concentrate on your studies while traveling to meets. It’s hard when we travel for a few days at a time. Luckily for track, we usually don’t miss a lot of classes, unlike other sports that have games during the week.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned being a student-athlete?

To learn how to manage my time and also have some down time. After having a very busy week and having a lot of work to do, it helps when I can finally catch my breath and relax for a few hours instead of constantly working because no one wants to wear themself out.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

 “The sky’s the limit.” There is always room for improvement. I have followed that motto throughout high school and it still stays with me today.

If you could talk to children who are just beginning to show an interest in jumping or hurdling, what would you tell them they should focus on?

Do not get frustrated. Hurdling and jumping have so much technique involved and you will never get it right off the bat. It honestly takes years of practice to finally get it right. Stay patient.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future athletes at Shippensburg?

To show what leadership and sportsmanship is all about. Ship track and field is just one BIG family.

Get to Know Your Raiders: Caitlin Bamberger

 

Despite battling through several injuries throughout her career, senior forward Caitlin Bamberger has been a steady leader for the women’s basketball team over the last several seasons.

Her best year came as a junior last season, when the Blandon native started 23 games and averaged 7.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and was one of the PSAC’s Top-20 rebounders.

A human communication studies major, Bamberger has scored in double figures in 20 career games. Earlier this season, she suffered a serious knee injury that held her out of 12 games, but the senior is back on the court to finish up her career as an experienced post presence off the bench.

Get to know Caitlin Bamberger…

What is your favorite pre-game ritual?

This may sound rather strange but I shower before games, get my hair braided then put all my gear on in the same order. I guess you could say it’s a little superstition.

What part of Shippensburg, either the campus or the town, do you most enjoy?

Coming from a smaller community, Shippensburg makes me feel at home. The community is welcoming and they’re involved with a lot of things that happen on and off campus.  

What is the best class you've taken at Shippensburg?

I think I just started it – Sports Marketing. I’ve taken a lot of interesting classes here but this one seems like it will be very interesting and it’s a different side of sports that many people don’t think of.

If you weren't majoring in human communication studies, what would your major be?

Either Pre-Forensic Science or Criminal Justice (or both). My original plan was to be a pre-forensic science major, then I realized biology and all that other fun stuff wasn’t for me.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why?

I have three. Wednesday and Saturday – Game days. Sunday is the other one – it’s the one day that I get to relax and actually breathe without having to worry about class, work or basketball.

Which are your favorite PSAC schools to compete against, and why?

West Chester and Millersville. Both schools have rich histories in their basketball programs and are always very competitive.

If we asked your teammates to say a few words about you, what do you think they would say?

I would hope that they would say that I am a strong leader and determined. They all know I’ve had a rough career with injuries and I think they all can see that giving up is not an option.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

My freshman year I was voted “Newcomer of the Year” and “Most Improved Player” by my teammates, which means a lot because they saw all the hard work I put in after having to redshirt and come back from injury.

What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?

There are a lot of added responsibilities once you become a student-athlete. Obviously academics come first so you have to have a very set schedule to make sure you’re able to accomplish everything necessary.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned being a student-athlete?

Time management. There is a huge difference between the amount of time you spend with one class in high school and the amount of time you spend with one class in college. Knowing that there are other responsibilities such as practices, games, study hall and so on, it is critical that you’re able to manage your time wisely so you’re able to stay on top of your work.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

The one thing that I constantly say to myself is, “Pain is only temporary.” In many things that happen in life, there is a point of pain whether it is big or small. It is important to embrace that pain and push through it. With determination to move on, the pain will only subside and make you a stronger person.

If you could talk to children who are just beginning to show an interest in basketball, what would you tell them they should focus on?

Create a love for the game and don’t focus solely on one aspect of it. These days there are many basketball players that don’t have set positions because of their height, etc. It is critical to develop in every area of the game so you can be a well-rounded player. But most importantly, have fun in what you’re doing. If you’re able to fall in love with the sport, having fun becomes second nature.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future athletes at Shippensburg?

I want to leave more than just numbers. I want people to see how the program has developed over the time I’ve been here. I want future athletes to enjoy their time here and want to continue to build not just the basketball program but also the Ship athletics program as a whole. 

Get to Know Your Raiders: Cody Myers

In three seasons wrestling for the Raiders, senior Cody Myers has compiled an impressive 28-12 record with 10 of his career victories coming by fall.

The Three Springs native qualified for the NCAA Championships at 133 pounds last season after finishing fourth at the NCAA Super Region 1 Championships, capping off a 19-8 junior campaign.

This season, Myers, a criminal justice major, has gone 6-1 at 141 pounds with half his wins on pins. Myers posted a 3-1 record last weekend at the Mid-Penn Duals at Millersville, and he and his teammates will now travel to Newberry, S.C., for the Super Region 1 Duals this Friday and Saturday.

Get to know Cody Myers…

What is your favorite pre-match ritual?

After weigh-ins I always eat a blueberry bagel, a king size Hershey's bar with almonds (have to have some crunch in my chocolate) and drink a small Powerade while I'm getting dressed. Then I like to just sit by myself until 20 minutes before the match when I start to warm up.

What part of Shippensburg, either the campus or the town, do you most enjoy?

On campus I've come to like the Rec Center because I’m always in there getting extra workouts on the bikes. As for the town, I enjoy the University Grill on wing night.

What is the best class you've taken at Shippensburg?

It would have to be Criminal Law and Procedure with Dr. [Stephanie] Jirard. Her energy every day in the classroom made it fun, and the fact that she would randomly call on people made everyone study that much harder.

If you weren't majoring in criminal justice, what would your major be?

I don't think I would be in college if I couldn't do criminal justice. I've always wanted to have a career in criminal justice. Growing up I used to play cops and robbers with my brother, and I was always the cop.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why?

My favorite day would have to be Thursday because of the anticipation of the weekend and it’s usually the day we have a light practice.

Which are your favorite PSAC schools to compete against, and why?

My favorite would have to be Millersville because with them being located so close to us it feels like an old high school rivalry match. It also makes for a bigger crowd. The other school would have to be Gannon because our teams are usually very similar, and we match up well with them. It comes down to which team or individual will be on its “A game,” and the intensity level of our team increases.

If we asked your teammates to say a few words about you, what do you think they would say?

This is a rough one to answer, but I'm sure they would say you mean “old man Myers.” I feel they would say that I'm a very straightforward and intense person. They would also say that I'm not afraid to be loud and vocal at them, but yet I'm the first one to step in and help them in any situation they are in.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

There is one moment that stands out the most and it has nothing to do with material winnings. In high school I was wrestling in Oklahoma during the summer. I had just wrestled one of the best matches of my life, beating one of the top kids in the country. Cael Sanderson was there and he personally congratulated me on my win. Being young and for him to come to me like that was the greatest moment in my career.

What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?

Time management is a big one of course. Being able to balance studying, practice and extra workouts is tough, but I enjoy the constant need to be somewhere or do something.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned being a student-athlete?

Sacrifices and personal motivation. It isn't easy to miss social time with friends in order to get in that extra workout or stay caught up in the classroom, but when you succeed in the classroom and athletically you think of all the sacrifices you made and it makes the success that much better.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

"Run Fast, Jump High,” is a saying my mom tells my brother and I before any event we do. It's her way of saying, “do good.” “Don't believe in luck. Take advantage of the opportunity," is my dad's favorite thing to say because it's not luck that you've succeeded, it’s all the work that you've put in to get the opportunity to succeed at that time. So take what you've been learning and working on, and apply it.

If you could talk to children who are just beginning to show an interest in wrestling, what would you tell them they should focus on?

Don't focus on the wins and losses, but focus on the fact that you keep taking steps to getting better. Most importantly, keep it fun.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future athletes at Shippensburg?

Leadership. Always strive to be the best. Be a leader, not a follower.

Get to Know Your Raiders: Joel Flott

A two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, senior marketing major Joel Flott has been a valuable mid-distance runner on the men’s track & field team.

The Phoenixville native is a five-time PSAC place winner and was an indoor All-American last season while running the 800-meter leg of the distance medley relay squad that finished third at nationals (9:56.36).

This past weekend at the Gulden Invitational from Bucknell, Flott ran the third leg of the winning 4x400-meter relay team that clocked an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:20.24. In December, Flott began this season by establishing a new indoor PR in the 800 meters at the Bison Opener – also from Bucknell – with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:55.59

Get to know Joel Flott…

What is your favorite pre-meet ritual?

The night before each race I like to eat the fattiest food on the menu, especially when we are traveling. I have no rhyme or reason for this, it just happens. On race day, the first thing I always do is scope out a place to buy coffee. I absolutely have to have caffeine 2-3 hours before race time.

What part of Shippensburg, either the campus or the town, do you most enjoy?

My bedroom right above the Re/Max building, I have a sweet balcony that overlooks King St. It’s prime real estate for people and parade watching. I also enjoy reading a good book while sitting on the roof there.

What is the best class you've taken at Shippensburg?

If I had to nail it down to one class it would have to be Chemistry 103. The exams were the same as the homework and there was no final if you were satisfied with your grade. My favorite major class has been Personal Selling. We were given an excellent book to read and the professor really helped improve my presentation skills.

If you weren't majoring in marketing, what would your major be?

Social psychology. Marketing is a more applied form of social psychology and I really enjoy studying how people think and behave. Marketing happens to be more interesting because it is all about manipulating the general public.

What is your favorite day of the week, and why?

Saturday, because it is a day off of school and it’s normally a race day. It also means more times than not a chance to explore another college campus. The ability to travel around with a great group of people is very rewarding in itself.

Which are your favorite PSAC schools to compete against, and why?

All of them…bring it. Honestly, the more competition there is, the better. The best meet is PSACs. NCAAs is a great time, but the rivalry amongst the PSAC schools is very intense and we all have a certain level of respect for each other.

If we asked your teammates to say a few words about you, what do you think they would say?

It depends on who you ask. I feel as though most would say I am confident and poised. I’d like to believe that most would agree I am a strong leader and that I’m good at encouraging others to work toward their potential.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

Probably running my first provisional qualifier for the NCAA meet in the 800 meters. I was suffering from a severe migraine and wasn’t sure if I was going to run because of it, but I stuck it out and ran a personal best by two seconds. It is still my personal best today (but hopefully not for long). It also helped me earn All-Academic honors, which has been a great resume staple.

What's the most difficult part of being a student-athlete?

The most difficult part about being a student-athlete is the increase in responsibility and avoiding the normal perils of college extracurriculars. We are expected to represent the university in a positive way at all times and there is always something going on to distract us from our studies and sport.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned being a student-athlete?

You need to find your balance. School always takes precedent over sport. If you can balance your school work with your training and social life, everything will work out. Coach [Steve] Spence always preaches about living the lifestyle. It’s easy to see who lives the lifestyle, for the most part.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

The greatest advice I’ve ever been given came from a motivational poster of all places. It read, “Give your best and God will do the rest.” I try and give my best in every race knowing that I will be satisfied no matter what the outcome is. John Wooden had a similar definition of success, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

If you could talk to children who are just beginning to show an interest in running, what would you tell them they should focus on?

The most important thing is to develop a passion for the sport. You genuinely have to want to put in the hard work, otherwise you will always find an excuse to skip a workout or inevitably quit, which can be very tempting. The best runners have a hard time taking a day off because they really enjoy the benefits and rewards this sport has to offer.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind for future athletes at Shippensburg?

I want to leave Shippensburg better off than when I got here. Shippensburg has always typically been a powerhouse in track and field, but to me there is no reason not to want even more. The better Shippensburg competes on a national level, the better the recruits. We’ve been very fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff with the ability to turn recruits into top talents. My personal goals would be the continuing success for the mid-distance group. Our 800-meter group has been top-notch lately and we’ve really been able to push ourselves to new heights. I’d like to see that inner-team competition spread amongst the other training groups.