The University of Akron Athletics
Read the Latest Edition of Zips Line – January 16, 2015
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IN THE RUNNING …
… Join our Track and Field team at 7 p.m. tonight as we host Kent State for our annual dual meet at the Stile Athletics Field House. You know about the rivalry, and hopefully you heard the wonderful news about Shawn Barber setting our facility record by clearing 19 feet in the pole vault and being named the Division I Male National Athlete of the Week by the USTFCCCA after his performance at last weekend’s Pole Vault Convention, so tonight is a great opportunity to witness 28 events packed into a couple of hours. Enjoy, and Go Zips!
JOIN US FOR THE NEXT ZIPS TRIP!
We’ll made a conscious effort to increase the away-game trips we offer based on your feedback, so I wanted to let you know about the next opportunity to hit the road with us. We will load a bus in front of the JAR at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, for the ride to Bowling Green for our Men’s Basketball game at 7 p.m. that evening. The cost is just $35, which includes a seat on the bus and a game ticket.
Make sure you come early to the JAR that day for our Women’s Basketball game vs Kent State at 2 p.m., which sets up perfectly to end right before the bus leaves. (We won’t leave without you and until the Women’s game ends if you let us know you’re going to the Women’s game.)
To sign up for this trip, contact Z-Fund Graduate Assistant Micklos Blake at 330-972-7142 or mb125@zips.uakron.edu. You also can register online here.
PURPLE OUT VS. BALL STATE …
When the Men's Basketball team takes the floor vs. Ball State on Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Zips will look a little different. To celebrate the life of former Director of Basketball Operations Dan Peters – also known as "Pete” – Zips Athletics and the Men's Basketball program will host its Second-Annual “Purple Out” event.
As part of the event, the Zips will wear purple uniforms in honor of Coach Peters. The uniforms will feature the word “Zips” on the chest and will carry the name “Peters” on the back name plate for all student-athletes.
Zips Athletics will also distribute 1,000 purple t-shirts with “Peters” on the back and the No. 14, Peters’ number at Canton Central Catholic High School in Canton, Ohio. Fans can also purchase “4 Pete’s Sake” lapel pins for $5, with all proceeds being donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. The event is in conjunction with the Coaches vs. Cancer Suits and Sneakers weekend.
Additionally, the Ball State game provides a chance for Danny, Coach Peters’ son, to attend the event. Danny is an assistant coach on the Ball State staff.
This is a great event for a great cause and will honor a man we all love and miss dearly.
ZIPS CONGRATS TO …
… Men’s Basketball Head Coach Keith Dambrot, who recorded his 350th career win in our impressive 67-50 win Wednesday vs. Bowling Green – come see them in action at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the JAR when we host Central Michigan (tickets available here) …
… Women’s Basketball, for scoring 100 points in regulation in our come-from-behind, 102-101 road victory over Toledo -- next up for Head Coach Jodi Kest and the squad is an away game tomorrow at Miami (Ohio) before returning home at 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. Ball State …
… Men’s Soccer’s Saad Abdul-Salaam, selected 12th overall by Sporting Kansas City in the MLS SuperDraft, becoming the 10thZip to be picked in the first round …
… three Indoor Track and Field student-athletes who earned MAC Athlete of the Week honors: Miles Baldwin for track, Shawn Barber and Claudia Garcia Jou for field events -- Shawn was also named our Student-Athlete of the Week …
… sophomore Hannah Plybon, named MAC East Women’s Basketball Player of the Week …
… Eric Hickson, who joined our Football coaching staff as an offensive assistant …
… our 14th-ranked Rifle program, which tied a school record during its meet versus Alaska … we are home at 9 a.m. Sunday vs. No. 7 Nebraska and Rose-Hulman at the Robert A. Pinn Shooting Range in Schrank Hall South …
… Good luck to our Swimming and Diving and Tennis programs, which resume competition this weekend. Swimming and Diving travels to Youngstown State tonight and to St. Francis tomorrow, while Tennis hosts Tulane at 10 a.m. tomorrow at LaTuchie Tennis Center in Stow …
… former Zips soccer stars Perry Kitchen, Dillon Serna and Wil Trapp, for being named to the pool of players selected to train with the U.S. Men’s National Team …
WHAT TO WATCH
… The latest edition of Z360, which includes features about our former Men’s Soccer standouts now playing in the pros, Men’s Basketball center Pat Forsythe, and some comments from me about the NCAA Convention that started yesterday in Washington, D.C. …
… This week’s Zips Weekly, with highlights from hoops and the Pole Vault Convention ….
TIMEOUT WITH MEG FINNERTY
We want this weekly e-mail to provide you with an inside look into our Athletics Department, and as part of that effort we will begin profiling a coach or member of our staff. This week, you’ll learn more about Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach Meg Finnerty.
Meg Finnerty, a 2012 Akron graduate, earned four varsity letters in the pool for the Zips during her time as a student-athlete, as her name is peppered throughout Akron's list of Top 10 times in program history. The Mansfield, Ohio, native is now in her second season on the UA swimming and diving coaching staff and spent her first year helping the squad to its first Mid-American Conference championship title in program history.
Does your experience as a swimmer at Akron help you from a coaching standpoint?
“I definitely think that my background as a swimmer has helped with building this program up. I know the ins and outs of the program as well as the commitment level and what it takes to be at the top. I also know a lot of people within the athletic department, and I made those connections as a swimmer here, so it is a little bit of an easier transition.”
Did you anticipate becoming a coach?
“Originally, I wanted to be a child and family counselor, so when this position opened up, it opened my mind to new ideas. I knew that I always wanted to work with people; I just didn't know which age group I wanted to work with. I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed working with young adults versus children and families. Ultimately, the similarities between the two are that I'm helping others and I think that's rewarding in any position that you have.”
What might someone be surprised to learn about you?
I am one of five girls, and we all did sports in college. My oldest sister swam at Akron, so that's kind of how I got that connection with swimming at Akron. Seeing her swim here and seeing this facility was really neat and an advantage for me. I have two other sisters who played soccer at Xavier University, and I have another sister who played lacrosse at Notre Dame College, and my dad played football at Miami (Ohio).
Coming from such an athletic family, how did you fall into swimming versus some of the other sports your sisters played?
“In the neighborhood where I'm from, summer league swimming is huge and it's very competitive. My dad belonged to a summer pool, so growing up he wanted summer league programs to be tradition for us. Then, when I was nine or 10, he gave me the option to do winter swimming and compete year-round, so I just got better from there.”
Read the full feature story on Meg Finnerty in the Zips Insider blog.
ASK THE AD
As always, if you have a question or want to comment about Zips Athletics, click here now or at any time on the "Ask the AD" button on the home page of GoZips.com.
Go Zips!
Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics
