ARCHIVES
NEWS
Marlin Chronicle staffers attended the Spring National College Media Convention
in New York City and came back with some news of their own. Victoria Scavo,
a senior communications major and Chronicle sports editor, was named the National
Student Journalist of the Year by the Society for Collegiate Journalists, the
nation’s oldest organization designed solely to serve college journalists.
The award honors an SCJ chapter member "who has represented the spirit
of the First Amendment by making an outstanding contribution to student journalism."
She received a plaque accompanied by a check for $500.
"I couldn't believe it," said Scavo, who is also co-captain of the
VWC tennis team, resident assistant, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority sister and Dean's
List student. She is also an award-winning feature writer who was born with
dyslexia, a reading disorder. "Her triumph," said newspaper adviser
Bill Ruehlmann, "is an example of what we can and ought to be." Ruehlmann,
the chapter adviser at VWC, was elected SCJ national president. He was SCJ Adviser
of the Year 2001 and had served three years as a national vice-president.
"We pulled Dr. Ruehlmann up," said Dr. William Lawbaugh, past president "because of his dedication, skill and leadership abilities." The nomination committee which was headed by SCJ members attending the conference, met to decide upon the slate of officers. "The committee figured he was the most well-rounded and open-minded for the job," said Keith Gwillim, a Clarion University student and committee member. The Marlin Chronicle won five awards in the annual SCJ newspaper competition. Meanwhile, the same weekend at the annual meeting of the Virginia Press Association in Roanoke, Va., the staff won seven awards in the college division of the statewide VPA newspaper competition (see box below).
"The national recognition is a real tribute to the efforts of our staff," said Rebecca Desjardins, who won two awards. Ruehlmann added, "The breadth and depth of these awards demonstrates other professionals besides myself think these student journalists are terrific."
The Marlin Chronicle won five awards at the annual National Society for Collegiate Journalists newspaper competition, along with seven awards at the annual meeting of the Virginia Press Association. The awards are as follows: Society for Collegiate Journalists Awards: National SCJ Student Journalist of the Year: Victoria Scavo Virginia Press Association Awards: Third Place for Editorial Writing: Paige Morton and Mike Touhill |
By JOSH HILL
When he transferred to Virginia Wesleyan four years ago, Jack Lingo never imagined
he would be in the situation he is now in, playing professional lacrosse. Last
month, Jack Lingo, was drafted to play in the upstart professional lacrosse
league called Major League Lacrosse. The Baltimore Bayhawks selected him in
the fourth round and 24th overall. Each round consists of six players. He was
the second Division III player chosen in the entire draft. Lingo played soccer
at Washington College in Maryland, but he was cut from the lacrosse team. He
decided to transfer after he was cut.
“Virginia Wesleyan offered to give me another chance,” said Lingo. “The coaches had faith and saw my potential.” Once he arrived, Jack decided to concentrate solely on lacrosse. At 5’10 and 150 pounds, he realized the need to work hard both on and off the field. Jack devoted himself to the weight room. He grew two inches and put on 50 pounds in a little more then three years. Jack’s size and speed made him a threat to every team and vital at the midfield position. He is an expert at face-offs, but is not limited to them.
“Jack has a unique face-off skill that makes him an important commodity,” said Virginia Wesleyan Lacrosse Coach Mike Pounds. “In addition to face-offs, he has great stick skills and can shoot well, which is very uncommon.” In his tenure at Virginia Wesleyan Jack took with him several post-season honors. His junior year he received 2nd team All-ODAC recognition, and 1st Team his senior year. “He didn’t impress people so much with his stats as he did with the impact he had on the game,” said senior lacrosse player and younger brother, Bill Lingo.
He was the only face-off player chosen by the Bayhawks, making him more suitable to be an immediate impact. Yet, Jack is optimistic about his expectations for the upcoming season. “I just want to play,” he said. The league minimum is $7500 a season and ‘big time’ players make well over $50,000. Lingo has not negotiated a contract yet. Despite the minimal pay, Jack keeps his head up and his hopes high. “I would play for free,” said Lingo. “It’s not about the money. I will do it until I can’t run anymore, or as long as they want me to.”
Major League Lacrosse is in its second year of existence, and has six teams. The selection process is a tedious one. An open tryout is mandatory. In order to be invited to the tryout a player must fill out a long application noting statistics, honors, and size. Along with the application, several letters of reference must be sent in as well. Once the applications are received, the selection committee decides which players are qualified enough to be invited to the tryout. The selection committee narrows the applicants down to 120, and takes 80 players from an open pool. The players competing for the 200 spots range from All-American Division I players to virtually unheard of Division III players such as Jack.
After the selection is made, and the tryout is over, 30 players are chosen.
Jack made the cut. He was chosen out of a prestigious field that included stand
outs from powerhouse schools such as Johns Hopkins, Duke University, University
of Maryland, University of Virginia and Syracuse University. When asked how
he did it, Lingo replied, “I had a good try out, but I got lucky.”
However, others believe differently. Pounds said, “He is everything a coach
could want. He has the right build, the right skills, and the right attitude
to succeed.” Many feel that Lingo can and will do well at the next level,
especially if he stays healthy. “Jack was a great player as well as a leader,”
said Pounds. “He is irreplaceable. He was a leader on and off the field.
You lose a guy like Jack and you must replace him with three others. He was
the complete package. He was everything you want in a student athlete. He has
a good head on his shoulders.”
Lingo feels that he has prepared himself about as well as he could to play professionally. “I wouldn’t do anything different,” said Lingo. He credits his time at VWC with preparing him as well. “My coaches had the utmost confidence in me,” he said. “At times, more then I had in myself.” Lingo feels that his play in the ODAC was essential. “It is one of the best conferences in the country, so you play the best competition,” said Lingo. “I had great coaches that stuck with me, too.”
He also credits much of his success to his dedication in the weight room. The game revolves a lot around the physical aspect. “He’s a lot bigger now,” says Bill. Jack represents everything VWC would like to embrace. He is a good athlete and student. When asked about his feelings on being a pro-athlete Lingo replied, “I’m getting paid to play a sport. I can’t get over that.” Lingo graduated in spring ‘01 with a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies.