Rob Hermes can be reached at Rob.Hermes@loras.edu

Kayla Niner
Published: November 19, 2008

DUBUQUE- The Loras Men are back in the sweet 16 this year, but with a new confidence.

Coach Rothert says, “we have experience. We have been there before, and many teams in our group haven’t been to this point before, so we may not be as nervous as they are, and we get to play at home, so the advantages are on our side hopefully.”

The team made it to the final four last year but lost to Middlebury Vermont.

Student Assistant Coach, Luke Schweitzer says, “We’re still working hard, and getting back to going to the final 4 to build upon last year’s season, it’s what we have been working for all year and now it’s go time.”

Exciting news for the Duhawks, is that they play at the Rock Bowl on Saturday!

Schweitzer says, “We wouldn’t want it anywhere else, there is such a great atmosphere at the rock bowl and home crowd and playing on our home turf and we take a lot of pride in winning at home.”

Coach Rothert agrees that playing at home is an advantage, but they still have some things to work on.

Rothert says, “You know were just as excited to get things going I know the guys are anxious and wish it was tomorrow, but at the same time we have some things to work on between now and then to get things ready.”

The team only has two more days of practice before Saturday, where they take on Augsburg at 7:30.

Rothert says, “It’s going to be a fun night and every team at this level can battle and whoever is playing their best soccer that night is going to get to the final four so hopefully we can get a big crowd out there.”

Kayla Niner can be reached at Kayla.Niner@loras.edu

Jordan Rasmussen
Published: November 19, 2008

DUBUQUE- Every wonder how much time and dedication goes into being an Athletic Trainer? And why they do it? Jordan Rasmussen caught up with two seniors and got the scoop.

Adam Burke and Tara Squiers, our both Athletic Trainers. They find time to laugh and work, what’s the best part of the job?

“Being around the Athletics a lot, because a lot of them are really fun, and you just get to know a lot of people.” Squiers said. “Coming to practice every day, being a part of the team is a lot of fun, traveling to different schools.” Burke said

These trainers love what they do but there is a lot of time, work and dedication they spend with the athletes.

“We come like 1 to 2 hours early, depending on what sport it is, just to set up and get everything ready,” says Squiers.

“Athletes start coming in like a half hour before and we do all the taping take care of any injuries and do all the treatments they might need,” says Burke.

Training is more than taping and treatments. Sometimes injuries happen and Squiers is able to work under pressure.

When a huge injury happens. One example Squiers shared was, “During football season, one of the players collapse and we had to call the ambulance. We had to try to keep everyone else calm like all the football players and just kind of deal with the situation. “

Training can be difficult and exhausting… Burke always finds the fun in it, he says, “I just like coming everyday and spending time, especially with soccer, soccer has been a lot of fun, so I just like coming every day.”

Jordan Rasmussen can be reached at Jordan.Rasmussen@loras.edu

Crystal Klein can be reached at Crystal.Klein@lctv13.com

Nick Helten
Published: November 20, 2008

DUBUQUE- “You probably realistically aren’t going to get this to happen this smoothly, ok, lets go!” wrestling coach Ricky Casarez told his team at an early season practice.

Words of wisdom in the wrestling world, and something these Duhawks know well. Coming off a rare losing season, they’re ready to turn things around.

“We want to get back on trap, be up to par, do as good as we can and be right there in dual meets,” said an optimistic, and national ranked Erik Hanson.

The track their looking for is a winning one; one Loras wrestlers have grown accustomed to. So what are these guys doing to make that a reality? Senior Tom Drosopoulos thinks it starts with getting back to basics.

“Just concentrate on technique and conditioning and all of those will come together” he claimed.

But the wrestlers also know many of their competitors are thinking the same thing this time of year. The IIAC is once again the top conference in the nation, but the Duhawks aren’t ready to shy away.

“The conference is tough, but we’re right up there, though. We’re tough too.” said Hanson.

Come December fans will get to see if all those hours of sweating in the wrestling room paid off as the conference season gets underway. Loras opens their dual season against Elmhurst November 25.

Nick Helten can be reached at Nick.Helten@loras.edu

Chris Lehr can be reached at Christopher.Lehr@loras.edu

Nick Helten
Published: November 6, 2008

DUBUQUE- Thirty wins overall, eight wins in the IIAC, and a conference championship for Loras.
Needless to say, the players are excited.

“Its amazing!” said senior Maggie Hugulet.

The Duhawks have come a long way this years.
Last season the purple and gold limped to a last place finish in the Iowa Conference.
This season, things cleared up, but it wasn’t easy.

“We put in a lot of hard work. All the preseason work, it just really paid off,” Hugulet claimed.

Loras’ amazing turnaround wasn’t all about hard work and skill, it also had to do with atmosphere.
“We worked hard, but it was also about building chemistry, and I think we did that,” said an optimistic Kate Russell.

But work isn’t finished yet.
Loras hosts the conference tournament this weekend, and they know they’ll have to look inside themselves in order to win the tournament.

“We have to stay positive,” Russell said of their attitude, “and take it one game at a time.”

Thirty-two wins overall and An NCAA tournament bid?

We’ll have to see if all that hard work and chemistry can seal the deal for the Duhawks.