Spring Training Complete

April 14th, 2009
By: Steve May

photo: Sara Marshall

photo: Sara Marshall

The Raven’s football team recently completed their Spring Training schedule and Coach Preston Blakemore is pleased with the team’s progress.  “Our boys came in and have worked their tails off.  I’m impressed with our conditioning right now, we run well, and they are really hitting the weight room hard.”

The Ravens went 0 and 12 last season, and many football fans and alumni have called for Coach Blakemore to step aside.  When asked about this the Coach stated, “This will be my last year coaching the Ravens, but I look forward to continuing in the ETU Athletics program.” Though he did not explain what he meant, but some surmise he will become an Assistant Athletic Director.

Coach Blakemore began coaching the Ravens in 1999, and has posted three winning seasons, but the team really struggled last year.  “We suffered too many injuries to field a competitive team.”  Indeed, the entire starting offensive line was injured and out for the season after the second week.  This was followed by injuries to QB Matt Jenkins, HB Marcus Turner, and TE Jerald Finch.

Following the first winless season in twenty-years, Coach Blakemore fired Nathan Parks, the Strength and Conditioning Coach, and promoted Vesey LaBeaux to the position and made LaBeaux assistant Head Coach.

“I’m looking for a big turn around in our program this season,” Coach LaBeaux said.  “In fact I guarantee it.”

Tags: , ,
Posted in Sports | No Comments »

Missing Track Star Runs Again

April 9th, 2009
By: Dorine Mercy

photo by: Sara Marshall

photo by: Sara Marshall

On Tuesday, April 8th the ETU Track and Field team delayed their training due to the rainy weather conditions. Coach Donald Peterson rescheduled the meet for that evening at 6pm. While there is nothing unusual about these types of rescheduling on campus, this Tuesday appeared to be a very strange evening indeed.

As the team gathered, Peterson noticed a student clad in ETU uniform running at a brisk pace around the track. Peterson noted, “Something wasn’t quite right about him, he was wearing one of the old uniforms from about a decade ago. So, when he starts running toward us, I figure out that it’s Justin Pawlak.” Pawlak– who still holds the university record of a 9.8 second 100m–was reported missing in April of 1999 and had not been seen by friends or family since.

According to Peterson, “Pawlak ran by, and when I shouted at him the kid just kept going.” As Justin completed his loop, he ran from the field out onto the street and disappeared – literally.

Peterson reported the incident. Pinebox PD and campus security organized a search party and combed the campus and nearby thicket for evidence. After several hours the search was ended. Pawlak left no trace of his passing; footprints along what Peterson described as Pawlak’s path could not be found.

A committee made up of Peterson, former ETU alumni and ETU Athletics Director Bill Simms will meet tonight with parents and local officials to determine how best to continue Pawlak’s search.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Sports | No Comments »