Spring Break
Charger athletics: one for the ages
Andrew Dodson
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Sports
Krout erupted with scream of celebration with his teammates and coaches joining. Here was conference title number one. The next day, Krout cruised to conference titles in the 400 and 200-meter dashes. All performances were national-qualifying marks and helped Krout earn GLIAC Freshman and Runner of the Year and Great Lakes Regional Athlete of the Year.
Charger Madness 2008: With so many memorable highlights, the final was difficult to choose. Move the timestamp to this past March, the GLIAC women's basketball tournament, round one. Playing Lake Superior State University, the lady Chargers, on paper, should have cakewalked through round-one play. But that nagging, scrappy team from the U.P. put up a tough effort, frazzling the Chargers, and held senior Katie Cezat, Division II National Player of the Year, to a season-low five points at the half. The Lakers were up 24-22 at half.
The Chargers struggled through the second half as well, never gaining a lead on the underdog Lakers, and it wasn't until a timeout at the four-minute mark that Charger fans began to see light.
Once back in the game, the Chargers were possessed. Stone cold. Not an inch of fear on their faces, not a hint of doubt. Never have I witnessed athleticism at its finest - basketball players executing the tightest defense possible and clutch play roaring through an arena.
The Chargers cut their 12-point deficit to seven, and the madness began to settle in.
A full-court press defense executed to perfection forced a Lake State turnover before they could even get over the half-court line. The Chargers scored, again and again and again. Chargers were up by one for the first time since 1:42 was left in the first half.
At this point, the Charger fans echoed through the rafters, and they knew they witnessed history. Emotions were high - instead of a section of student fans, we were one student section, doing our best to play as the sixth man in a game for the ages. The game closed with another rebound and two free throws from Cezat. Chargers: 62, Lakers: 60. Cezat finished with another double-double: 17 points and 18 rebounds. The Chargers went on to win the GLIAC crown four days later.
There is nothing in the world I would trade for being a Hillsdale Charger. Not only to witness such greatness, but to also call these athletes my colleagues, my teammates and my friends. Charger athletics have shaped my life for the better, and the experience will never be forgotten. Thanks for cheering and, as always, "Go Chargers."
Charger Madness 2008: With so many memorable highlights, the final was difficult to choose. Move the timestamp to this past March, the GLIAC women's basketball tournament, round one. Playing Lake Superior State University, the lady Chargers, on paper, should have cakewalked through round-one play. But that nagging, scrappy team from the U.P. put up a tough effort, frazzling the Chargers, and held senior Katie Cezat, Division II National Player of the Year, to a season-low five points at the half. The Lakers were up 24-22 at half.
The Chargers struggled through the second half as well, never gaining a lead on the underdog Lakers, and it wasn't until a timeout at the four-minute mark that Charger fans began to see light.
Once back in the game, the Chargers were possessed. Stone cold. Not an inch of fear on their faces, not a hint of doubt. Never have I witnessed athleticism at its finest - basketball players executing the tightest defense possible and clutch play roaring through an arena.
The Chargers cut their 12-point deficit to seven, and the madness began to settle in.
A full-court press defense executed to perfection forced a Lake State turnover before they could even get over the half-court line. The Chargers scored, again and again and again. Chargers were up by one for the first time since 1:42 was left in the first half.
At this point, the Charger fans echoed through the rafters, and they knew they witnessed history. Emotions were high - instead of a section of student fans, we were one student section, doing our best to play as the sixth man in a game for the ages. The game closed with another rebound and two free throws from Cezat. Chargers: 62, Lakers: 60. Cezat finished with another double-double: 17 points and 18 rebounds. The Chargers went on to win the GLIAC crown four days later.
There is nothing in the world I would trade for being a Hillsdale Charger. Not only to witness such greatness, but to also call these athletes my colleagues, my teammates and my friends. Charger athletics have shaped my life for the better, and the experience will never be forgotten. Thanks for cheering and, as always, "Go Chargers."
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