By Corey J. Corbin
Allied News Sports Editor
PITTSBURGH — New teams could grace the top of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship.
In voting by the conference’s coaches, sports information directors and media covering the event, the Waynesburg men and Thomas More women were picked to win the 2006-07 PAC championships at the PAC Winter Media Day Wednesday at Mellon Arena.
The Yellow Jackets, who return four starters from last year’s team which finished 16-11 and second in the PAC, earned just eight of 28 first place votes, but still edged Washington & Jefferson (160 points, 12 first place votes) in a close ballot. Other teams in the poll included two-time defending PAC champion Bethany (145), Westminster (132), Grove City (83), Thiel (62) and Thomas More (47).
“It’s an honor that the coaches think so highly of us, but as last season showed polls are just that — preseason polls,” said fourth-year Waynesburg head coach Frank Ferraro. “We feel the PAC is competitive from top to bottom and any team could emerge as the eventual champion. Our success last year was a reflection of our players really buying into what we were teaching them, and being picked first in the PAC this year is a result of their hard work.”
On the women’s side, the Saints return four starters from a squad that finished 20-8 and in second place in the conference in 2005-06. Thomas More finished with 23 of 31 first place votes and 208 total points, followed by defending PAC champion Washington & Jefferson (151), Westminster (146), Waynesburg (109), Bethany (95), Thiel (89) and Grove City (70).
“It’s nice to receive the recognition for our program, and I just hope the voters are as accurate as last year (when preseason favorite Washington & Jefferson won the title). We have a pretty experienced returning core and those players are looking forward to the challenge ahead,” said third-year Thomas More women’s head coach Brian Neal.
Staying with the women, the Titan women, coached by fifth-year coach Rosanne Scott, welcome back all five starters and eight letterwinners from last year's team that posted an 8-19 overall record and a 4-8 mark in the PAC for sixth place.
Among those starters is second team All-PAC selection Desiree Sterling, who posted 12.9-point, 5.7-rebound and 1.88-steal averages as a junior.
“Coming off last year, our expectations are high,” Scott said. “We have five starters back, so I expect us to jump into the mix. The kids are working hard and expect a lot out of themselves.”
The Tomcat women return four starters and seven players overall from last year’s 7-19 team.
Among the returning starters are former Sharon High and Farrell High standouts seniors Nicole Valentino and Fontella Jones.
Valentino averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 last year, while Jones posted 11.2 points and seven boards in 25 starts.
“We won’t have a problem scoring,” coach Artina Trader said. “The problem we’re going to have is defense. The key to the season will be if Valentino can be more consistent. Fontella has been our most consistent player.”
Under first-year coach Sarah Harris, the Wolverines return a wealth of experience in seniors Elyse Bogusz, juniors Rachel McCoy, Shannon Overdorff and Brittany Anderson.
McCoy is a two-time All-PAC selection and former Freshman of the Year winner. She led GCC in scoring (15.1), rebounding (9.0) assists (58) and blocks (52) in 2005.
“While I’m a new face, you’ll recognize most of my players,” Harris said. “I inherited a lot of experience and size inside. Everyone is a rookie. The players are adjusting to a new system, new coaches and are showing a renewed committment to the program. We’re looking to create our identity.”
On the men’s side, the Titan men, coached by fourth-year mentor Larry Ondako, return three starters and nine lettermen from last year's squad that went 11-16 and placed fourth in the seven-team league with a 7-5 record.
The Titans closed the season, winning six of their final eight contests and return Dom Joseph and Steve Bielich from injuries.
“From top to bottom, this is the most talented team that I played on or coached,” said Ondako, who is assisted by former George Junior head coach Ralph Blundo. “We’ve got everyone returning and it seems like a lot of other teams in the PAC have everyone leaving. We are not in a stage of transition like a lot of other teams.”
The Wolverines return nine letterwinners from last year’s 9-17 team. Seven of those nine players scored at least 100 points in 2005.
“We have a lot of question marks this year,” ninth-year coach Steve Lamie said. “We have a new offense and will be trying some new things.”
Thiel returns three starters in Joe Herrmann, Gary Gates and Tony White.
Herrmann, a former Jamestown standout, started 16 games, scoring 252 points with 139 rebounds, while Gates posted 160 points and 96 boards.
“This year is going to be a learning process,” former Kennedy Catholic and first-year Thiel mentor Tim Loomis said. “If we have to score more than 65 points, we’re going to lose, so for all of you coaches that like to score get ready for us to hold the ball. We’ll hold the ball until two seconds (are left on the shot clock), take the shot and go get the rebound, because we can’t shoot.”
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