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. 

 

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.