Get to Know Your Raiders: Jenn Deardorff

Senior Jenn Deardorff has been a valuable member of the softball team over the last three seasons as a reliable third baseman at the hot corner.

A native of Dallastown, Deardorff has started 51 games and appeared in 18 others throughout her career, totaling 11 hits. She played shortstop during her first two seasons and her 51 career starts are the most of any member on the club. 

The biology major was an NFCA Scholar-Athlete as a freshman and last season posted a career-best .912 fielding percentage. 

Deardorff and her teammates open up their 2013 season on Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Salisbury, N.C. to compete in the Catawba College Invitational. 

Get to know Jenn Deardorff… 

What is your favorite pre-game ritual?  

My favorite pre-game ritual is doing cheers on the field during warm-up (“Heyyyy Ship! What’s up Ship?”). This intimidates the other team and unifies our innies and outies. 

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

I love how the campus is close-knit and beautiful. Also, our softball field is one of the nicest fields in the PSAC. We travel a lot and Shippensburg is by far my favorite campus.

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

The best class I have taken was Histology with Dr. [David] Long. I learned so much, and he is a phenomenal professor. 

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

Accounting. I have always been good with math, and I think accounting would be a satisfying career. 

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

My favorite day of the week is Thursday because I can look forward to a weekend of relaxation.  

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

I always like competing against Millersville, because we have an unspoken rivalry. Our competitions against Millersville are always intense and exciting. I also like to compete against Kutztown, because they have a reputation for being good. We always play harder and faster against Kutztown, and it makes for a heart-pounding competition.  

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

I hope my teammates would say that I am a team player and a leader. Mostly, I think they would say that I am upbeat, loud and determined to win. 

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of? 

I am most proud of getting myself to this level of play. When I first started playing, I never imagined I would be where I am today.  

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

The most difficult part of being a student-athlete is managing time. Sometimes it feels like there are not enough hours in a day.  

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

The most important thing I have learned is to be flexible. Games and practices are moved constantly, and you have to be prepared to change your plans at a moment’s notice.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times? 

Never give up. Failure is not an option.

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

Fundamentals. The pace of the game always increases, but the game is the same at every level. If you can perfect the fundamentals then it will be much easier to increase speed.

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

The legacy I wish to leave behind for future athletes is that it is possible to be a good student and an outstanding athlete. I would love to leave behind my passion for the game as well. I see some athletes go through the motions everyday and forget why they are playing. Every day I wake up and thank god I was given the opportunity to be part of something amazing. I try to stay positive during every practice. I hope my teammates will continue to carry my energy in their hearts even after I graduate.

 

Get to Know Your Raiders: Caitlin Stuetz

 

One of the best hurdlers in both the PSAC and all of Division II, senior Caitlin Stuetz has been a standout for the women’s track & field team whether running the 60-, 100- or 400-meter hurdles throughout her career.

The Glenside native is a five-time PSAC champion, including back-to-back titles in the 100 hurdles and a 400 hurdles title last season at the PSAC Outdoor Championships. An exercise science major, Stuetz qualified for outdoor nationals last May and finished ninth in the 400 hurdles, falling one spot shy of earning All-America honors.

Stuetz’s two other conference titles are back-to-back 60 hurdles victories at each of the past two PSAC Indoor Championship meets. This weekend, Stuetz will look to make it three in a row as her and her teammates travel to Edinboro on Saturday and Sunday for the 2013 PSAC Indoor Championships.

Get to know Caitlin Stuetz…

What is your favorite pre-meet ritual?

Watching the Versus “You vs. Them” commercial. Also, I watch something to make me laugh like Phineas and Ferb’s classic “S.I.M.P. Squirrels In My Pants” music video or footage of my brother, John, dancing to Shakira’s “Beautiful Liar.”

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

Henderson Gym to see fellow exercise science majors, the upstairs of the CUB…to nap on their couches, the main floor of the library…to nap on their couches, and the track.

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

Exercise Physiology I & II. It taught me how the body reacts to exercise and how one could enhance their performance through nutrition, along with specific types of training.

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

Psychology or communication. I feel that people undermine how much these two categories influence anyone in just about any profession.

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

Friday or Saturday. Classes are over and I can relax and visualize for the meet. This is also when the sprinter girls get together off the track and have a pasta party.

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

Slippery Rock, because we have had an ongoing rivalry for years. We tend to compete the best when we go toe-to-toe with them at the PSAC Championship.

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

I think they would say that Caitlin (or Stuetz) is a determined individual who will lead and encourage the team with everything she has, keep what is in the team’s best interest at heart and leave you cracking up from a conversation or prank on Coach O.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

I guess I am supposed to say making it to the NCAA 400-meter hurdle final in Colorado last outdoor season. But in reality I think just being one of the girls nominated as MVP at outdoor PSACs this past spring was the proudest I have ever been. PSACs is when we focus everything on the team. The fact that I was able to peak and have massive PRs in all my events for my team meant the most to me.

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

I believe the hardest part is realizing you are not an average student. To be successful as a student-athlete, you cannot frequently go out or kill time like most college kids. You are constantly in a time-crunch and you need to learn to adapt to that by staying ahead or at least staying afloat.

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

Organization and communication. Chances are you are going to be late or completely miss something if you are not organized and write it down. I have my trusty planner where I document everything. If we even have lunch plans I am writing it down.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

My daddy has told me since I was little, “One day at a time, easy does it and mind your own business.”

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

Attend camps at universities that break down everything for you, watch films of pros and yourself and practice in the mirror. Hurdling is one of those things where you have to get worse before you can get better. If they’re interested in 300-meter or 400-meter hurdles, they should learn how to alternate lead and trail legs and then master it.

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

I hope to leave a legacy behind that reminds Ship athletes to put their team before themselves. At the end of your athletic career here you will remember the memories with your teammates more than your own statistics.

Get to Know Your Raiders: Josh Scott

 

Senior Josh Scott is a rare sight: a physics major who doubles as a pitcher on the Shippensburg University baseball team.

Throughout his career on the diamond, Scott, a York native, has pitched in 38 games and made 14 starts serving as a reliever and spot starter for the Raiders.

He’s recorded 10 victories – including a win over No. 12-ranked Tusculum last season and a PSAC playoff-clinching win over Mansfield in the 2011 regular season finale – and struck out 50 batters during his time at SU.

Scott and his teammates get back on the field this weekend in their 2013 season opener at Barton from Wilson, N.C. Shippensburg will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday against the Bulldogs.

Get to know Josh Scott…

What is your favorite pre-game ritual?

I have a couple good-luck rituals that I do before a game. I take off my wristband and put it into my back pocket, and I never step on the lines of the field. I always jump over them.

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

My favorite part of Shippensburg would have to be Sheetz. I live on Fort St. so it’s just a short walk, and they have everything there.

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

I love physics, but if I had to choose another major it would either be astronomy or some discipline of engineering. 

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

My favorite day of the week is Friday because it marks the end of the school week as well as the beginning of our weekend series.

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

I like competing against Millersville, West Chester and Kutztown. Those are the schools that have had the strongest programs in the Eastern Division while I’ve been here so there is always a little more intensity and energy for those games.

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

That’s a tough question, but they would probably tell you that I’m a nerd, which shouldn’t be too much of a surprise, being a physics major that pretty much comes with the territory.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of two games in particular that I started. The first is when I pitched against Mansfield my sophomore year and got the win that solidified our spot in the PSAC playoffs. The other was last year when we went to Tusculum, which was nationally ranked [No. 12], and I beat them to end their winning streak.

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

Missing class for games. Our spring schedule is pretty hectic so we miss a lot of class, which makes it difficult to keep up at times.

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

The most important thing I’ve learned is how to be organized and to have good time-management skills. If you manage your time appropriately it makes catching up on the material you missed so much easier.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

My dad always tells me that you have to “pick the low-hanging fruit.” This manifests itself in school, baseball and life in general. It means that you have to take advantage of what is easy and not let those moments slip away. Whether that is a general education class or a team with a poor record, you have to take care of business and not look past those moments.

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

They should focus on the love of the game. Baseball is a game, and games are supposed to be fun, so if you aren’t enjoying the game then you will never get any better no matter how many reps you take in the cages or on the field.

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

I guess the legacy that I’d like to leave is that I was hard-working and loved the game of baseball.

Get to Know Your Raiders: Eric Naylor

Eric Naylor has been one of the top swimmers for the men’s swimming team in each of his four seasons in the pool for the Raiders. As a senior this season, the Dover native has recorded over 20 times (either as an individual or as part of a relay) that have achieved the PSAC qualifying standard.

A geography major, Naylor has been a PSAC place-winner 20 times in his career (nine as an individual, 11 as part of a relay) while earning five individual and three relay All-PSAC Awards.

Naylor hopes to add to that total this weekend when he and his teammates get back in the pool at Cumberland Valley High School for the 2012 PSAC Championships beginning Thursday and wrapping up Sunday.

Get to know Eric Naylor…

What is your favorite pre-meet ritual?

I really don't do anything special before meets. I used to listen to music, but I always felt like it got me too focused. I need to be loose before I swim.

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

I like the town a lot, all the shops along King St. are fun to explore. I'm from a much smaller town than Shippensburg, so Ship seems pretty big to me.

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

Quantitative Methods of Geography with Dr. [Paul] Marr was the best class I've taken here. It was so hard and a lot of work, but after taking the class I feel like I learned so much.

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

I would have to say biology because I love the outdoors and wildlife.

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

My favorite day of the week would have to be Sunday. We don't have classes and we usually have off of practice on Sunday.

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

My favorite school to swim is Clarion because I am friends with a few guys on their team. We always have intense meets and great races.

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

Hopefully my team would say that I am a good leader, a good friend and am easy to be around.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

The athletic accomplishment I am most proud of would have to be my four All-American awards from high school. Being in the top 100 out of everyone in the nation was a great honor.

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

The time commitment to swimming is the most difficult part for me. Once the season is over I can finally relax a little.

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

The most important thing I've learned being a student-athlete would have to be that hard work pays off.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

Let your actions speak for yourself. To me, this is sort of what I strive for. If you do things right, work hard and be a leader, people will follow your lead. I never really like to talk about swimming, no one really likes to hear someone brag.

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

If my children were starting to swim competitively, I would tell them they have to play another sport, too. I'd make them try another sport because I would want them to really be sure they want to swim because, after all, swimming is just another word for exercising.

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

When I'm done here at Ship, I really hope that my teammates will see me as a respectful and caring teammate. They are all my brothers and I will never forget them, just as I hope they never forget me.

Get to Know Your Raiders: Raediah Lyles

In her final season with the Raiders, senior Raediah Lyles has filled an important role on the women’s basketball team, having started 16 of the team’s 21 games this season as a versatile forward.

A Pittsburgh native, Lyles scored a career-high 11 points in SU’s Wednesday night road victory at Kutztown while pulling down four rebounds and dishing out three assists. For the season, Lyles is averaging 5.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game and has been held scoreless just once.

When she’s not on the hardwood for the PSAC East first-place Raiders, Lyles is working toward her human communication studies degree while serving as a Resident Assistant in Mowrey Hall.

Get to know Raediah Lyles…

What is your favorite pre-game ritual?

When we post players come together during the warm-up and talk briefly about defeating the other team's post players. It gets me pumped up and adds a personal aspect to our efforts.

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

Since I am an RA [Resident Assistant], my favorite part of campus is my residence hall, Mowrey, because of the atmosphere we have, especially on my wing. My residents are like my little sisters and we have a lot of fun and take care of each other.

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

Art Appreciation with Dr. [Mark] Moilanen. I learned so much about a topic that I already enjoyed and Dr. Moilanen made the class so much fun. I actually looked forward to the class even on crazy review days and exam periods. 

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

I feel as though my major was made for me, but had I not discovered that, I would probably study exercise science in order to go to graduate school for physical therapy.

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

Definitely Friday because people are always in a better mood on Fridays than any other day. 

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

Slippery Rock, California (Pa.) and Indiana (Pa.), and that is simply because they are the closest to my hometown of Pittsburgh. I always have some supporters at those games because it’s just more feasible for family and friends to get there.

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

I think that they would definitely say that I am silly and I like to have fun, that I speak my mind, and that I'm a super emotional and passionate player. I love to have fun while playing.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

The athletic accomplishment that I'm most proud of has yet to come. I believe we have the potential this year to go extremely far and I want to be able to say at the end of this season that it was our conference championship and trip to the NCAA tournament for my senior year.

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

Balancing your focus. Since I'm so involved on campus in other areas, it is difficult to not “just get by” in each. I want to excel in everything I do but it gets hard to buckle down and focus when there is so much going on.

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

Mental toughness. When things get hard it is those that that can get through adversity that will make it through. 

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

Don't allow basketball to become an obligation. It is a privilege to play and it should be treated like so. Have fun when you play because it is something you truly love to do (my mother).

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?

Having fun, working hard (especially on defense), and becoming versatile. I would encourage them to learn every position on the floor regardless of their size. Being versatile can make a player much better than one who is talented in one area of the game.

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

I hope to leave a legacy of an emotional leader who played her heart out and never gave up. One who enjoyed the game and made others happy to play with her.

Get to Know Your Raiders: John Lindquist

Junior John Lindquist is 8-7 this season in his final campaign on the mat for Shippensburg University wrestling.

A two-time All-Academic selection and a mathematics major, Lindquist earned a 9-0 major decision at 165 pounds against Gannon on Saturday night to improve his record to 5-3 when wrestling up this season.

The owner of 26 career victories, Lindquist, a Penndel native, finished fifth at 157 pounds at the Super Region I tournament two seasons ago with a 4-2 record, including two pins.

Lindquist and his teammates look to rebound from Saturday’s loss to the Golden Knights with a 7 p.m. dual meet Tuesday night on the road at West Liberty. The Raiders then return home to Heiges Field House on Friday night for a 7 p.m. matchup against Anderson.

Get to know John Lindquist…

What is your favorite pre-match ritual?

To get a good warm-up in before our match and listen to my music and bounce around to make sure I am mentally ready for my match.

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

I enjoy the campus because I think it’s nice and easy to get around. There are also always fun events going on which makes being on campus enjoyable.

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

MAT 313-Statistics 1. As a math major and future math teacher, I really enjoy statistics and teaching a statistics class – especially a sports statistics class – would be my ideal job.

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

I would probably be a business major because I took a lot of business courses in high school.

What is your favorite day of the week and why?

Friday, because it’s the end of the week and that means I have the weekend to take a break from wrestling and school and just relax.

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

I would say Kutztown because the matches are always close and exciting. It's a fun atmosphere to wrestle in when the match is competitive.

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

That I am easy to get along with and I am fun to hang out with outside of the wrestling room and classroom. Or maybe they would say something about how I want to be a math teacher and that I do well in school.

Which individual athletic accomplishment are you most proud of?

Being a two-time All-Academic pick and placing fifth at Regionals two years ago and being only a few seconds away from making it to nationals.

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

Time management, because as a student-athlete you have to worry about going to class, doing your school work, going to practice, getting extra workouts at night to cut weight and making up class work when we miss classes due to traveling.

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

That need to make sure you do well in school and get good grades because if you don’t you won’t be able to wrestle. Our coach [Seth Bloomquist] has always said to us that the student is the most important part of being a student-athlete and that we come to college to get a degree.

What piece of advice stays with you at all times?

 "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect," said by Vince Lombardi, is one of my favorite quotes, which I think pertains to sports and life in general.

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?

Having fun and just going out on the mat and wrestling to the best of your ability. I also think it’s a good idea to wrestle as much as you can because it helps you get better and will help you become the best wrestler you can possible be.

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

That I was a good athlete who always did his best in the classroom and on the mat. Also, as this is my last year of wrestling at the college level, I want to actually make it to nationals this year to make up for coming so close to qualifying two years ago. I want to achieve the ultimate goal of becoming an All-American.