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Vol. LXIV, No. 24
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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Vol. LXIV, No. 24
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
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(Photo by Stephen Goldsmith)
WORLD CLASS: U.S. men’s soccer national team assistant coach Jesse Marsch, right, races through a training run with the squad during their pre-World Cup training camp at Princeton University last month. Marsch, a PU men’s soccer star in the mid-1990s who earned All-American honors during his Tiger career, joined the U.S. team as an assistant coach earlier this year after retiring from Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. |
As the players on the United States men’s soccer national team practiced at their pre-World Cup training camp at Princeton University last month, they ended the daily sessions with timed runs around Myslik Field.
On several of the runs, former Princeton soccer star and current U.S. assistant coach, Jesse Marsch, jumped in and ran stride for stride with the likes of such American stars as Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley.
For Marsch, such hands-on activity exemplifies the role he has filled since joining the U.S. program earlier this year after retiring as a player after 14 seasons in Major League Soccer.
It would be understandable if Russ Steves had some mixed feelings last Saturday when he watched the U.S. men’s soccer team battle England to a 1-1 draw in the World Cup.
While Pennsylvania native Steves is a staunch U.S. supporter, the Princeton University soccer trainer has developed a bond with some of the leading lights of the English Premier League (EPL) through working with Chelsea and Manchester United (Man U) on the clubs’ U.S. tours.
Steves’ behind-the-scenes access has left him with some unforgettable experiences.
Fraser Graham came to a decision last fall that helped him make history this spring for the Princeton High boys’ golf team.
The multi-talented Graham, who also stars for the PHS boys’ ice hockey team, decided to forego travel hockey last fall so that he could put in time on his golf game over the off-season.
“I had a talk with my dad last summer and between the two sports, we thought it would make sense to concentrate more on golf,” said Graham, a junior. “In the past, I didn’t touch the clubs from October to March. This year, I played in tournaments in October and November and I went to Florida to play in February and March. I also starting working with a professional for the first time.”
Not a lot has changed around the Princeton Recreation Department Summer Men’s Basketball League since last year and that is a good thing.
As the league tips off its 22nd season this Wednesday evening at the Community Park courts, it will again feature nine teams, including such stalwarts as two-time defending league champs George’s Roasters and Ribs along with Dr. Palmer/Sportsmedicine and Princeton Youth Sports.
The league’s continuity is a source of strength. “It means we are doing something right,” said longtime league commissioner Ben Stentz in reflecting on the league’s health. “We are in excellent shape.”
The weather forecast last Saturday called for possible rain showers, putting the Princeton Girls Softball Association (PGSA) championship day in jeopardy.
Fortunately, the storms never came with the bats supplying the thunder around Grover Park as four PGSA divisions held their title games.
In the opener, the Panthers defeated the Buckeyes 20-7 in the rookies division (players ages 7 and 8 as of January 1). Leading the offensive charge for the Panthers was Samantha Singer, Olivia Corrodi, Virginia Venizelos, Bridget Lawn, and Samantha Campisi together with Letson and Kendall Nehlig. As for the Buckeyes, Carolyn Schwart, Ashley Evans and Cameron Davis provided strong efforts in a losing cause.