By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
THE AMERICAN MEDAL push at the Olympic Games has been fun to watch. But sometimes we become so caught up in thinking our athletes should win, we forget about the true spirit of the games.
Yes, it was embarrassing in track that both our men’s and women’s 400-meter relay teams dropped batons and were eliminated in the first round. Both teams should always be medal contenders with the number of great sprinters we have in the U.S.
And I had to cringe when I saw the the U.S. women’s softball team lose to Japan for the gold medal in what very well could be the end of softball at the Olympics.
Our wrestlers didn’t fare as well as I thought they would and there were plenty of other mistakes that cost our athletes medals.
Still, we have to remember that they certainly aren’t trying to lose. Mistakes happen at all levels and losses follow. In great competition, clipping a hurdle in track or a muffed landing in gymnastics can be just enough to cost you a medal. Nobody feels the pain more than an athlete who loses.
The Olympics come around only once every four years, so if you fail, you may never have another chance to succeed on the greatest stage in sports.
Stars like Michael Phelps are different, but they don’t come around that often. He simply refuses to lose. But for mere mortals like most athletes, that isn’t the case.
Much like Phelps, the beach volleyball duo of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor are unbelievable. In winning the gold medal they won their 108th consecutive victory and 14th straight in Olympic play. We simply expect them to win.
Then there are times when we sit in wonderment about scoring when our American gymnasts or divers seem to get lower scores than Chinese performers. But that’s the nature of international competition. It’s a confusing system and don’t ever think that politics don’t come into play at times.
Still we need to be proud of every athlete who competes. It was fun to watch the Winklevoss twins in rowing, whose dad is a Mercer High graduate. They finished sixth, but still had a tremendous showing in their first international competition.
To see the 41-year old Dara Torres compete and earn medals in swimming was fantastic. It gives hope to all of us as we age. In fact, since I’m only 60 I may have to try out again for the U.S. wrestling team. Then again, maybe not.
I think just about every athlete, more than anything else, has dreams of standing on the medal stand at the Olympics with a gold medal around our necks as the National Anthem plays.
And it’s a good dream that I hope that every young boy or girl has. It most of all teaches us that there is more to sports than the money it can bring.
Perhaps that’s why I love the Olympics so much.
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PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! -
Petty an all-around great athlete in track and gymnastics
When Mercer County’s contingent convenes at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships this weekend, it will be well represented
Clay Allen, Matt Bell, John Yohman, Johnathan Jacoway, Jeremy Jansco, Nico Zahniser, DeShawn Coleman, Dan Jaskowak, et all, should haul home some hardware. But with all due respect, the aforementioned young men may or may not be best athletes in the area’s aggregation that will assemble this weekend at Shippensburg University. -
Lubarski, Richards, Petty, Allen shine at D-10 Track Championships; Hickory girls, WM boys team champs
Hickory High’s high-jump state champion Lauren Lubarski suffered a severe blow to open her competion at the annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships Saturday at Hickory HIgh Stadium.
She failed to qualify for state in the event she had won the previous year. -
Baseball, softball D-10 playoff pairings
The District 10 pairings for the baseball and softball playoffs have been released. Five area baseball teams and four (possibly 5) softball squads have qualified.
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