6 SPORTS

Richard Schenck Sports Editor years coaching. Ball has a doctorate in nutrition and a masters degree in exercise science. There are so many young men and women that have very good high school (wrestling) careers that maybe dont get a scholarship or circumstances arent right financially, Ball said. We want those kids to come here; we want to get them while they still have that passion. Ball and Tisdale are adamant that they give students the best chance possible to have an opportunity to earn a scholarship or just to extend students passion for the sport. For some of these kids, its a reason for them to come to school when otherwise they might not, Ball said. Thats a calling card that, Hey I can wrestle there. By golly I can get my associates while I wrestle. Tisdale and Ball both preach strongly to the wrestlers that academics come first. We still think these kids can go in different directions, said Tisdale. The thing that we focus on here is education first. We want you to get a degree and we want you to do something.

Nov 11 - 24, 2013 www.lcc.edu/lookout

Wrestling club builds character

It may not be the most glamorous of sports; it may not rake in billions in revenue. But wrestling has something that very few sports can compare: history. Lansing Community College wrestling fell off the map over the years, but Head Coach Shane Tisdale and Wrestling Club Adviser Dr. Michael Ball have poured their hearts and souls into bringing this noble sport back to the students at the college. We said in 93, Why dont we have a wrestling team here? Tisdale said. (We needed) a true adviser and someone who wanted to help us and support us. Then we found Mike. Reestablishing the club was a two- to three-year process before it finally happened around 2004. Even though the wrestling club is not a varsity sport at LCC, Tisdale and Ball make sure the students train and go to matches just like a NJCAA team would. Tisdale has over 30 years of experience wrestling and 15

Photo by Suzanna Powers

LCC student Carlos Zamora (right) takes down Jeremy Conselcho during an LCC wrestlng practice in Gannon Building room 252 on Nov. 6.

Tisdale and Ball have resurrected this club for the students, with the students in mind first and foremost. They have invested the time, the knowledge,

and in some cases their wallets to make this happen. Any wrestlers looking to continue their passion for the sport and striving for bigger and bet-

ter things are welcome to join the club. Contact Shane Tisdale at www.lccwrestlingclub.com for more information on the upcoming season.

Athlete
Spotlight
Alyssa Abendroth
Q: What success did you have before coming to LCC? A.In high school I went to the state meet three times in cross country. In high school our team won

LCC Lookout Sports Editor Richard Schenck recently spoke with LCC sophomore cross country runner Alyssa Abendroth. A Bath alumni, Abendroth finished 14th out of 66 runners to help the womens team capture the NJCAA Region XII Regional Championship on Oct. 26. Q. What made you decide to run cross country at LCC? A. In college, I really wanted to run because I really liked it in high school. Ive been running since middle school so its all Ive really known. I thought it would be really cool to say to you ran in college. love with it now. close, maybe MSU, Central (Michigan) or Grand Valley. I am looking at sonography to become an ultrasound technician, or something in exercise science.

Photo by Suzanna Powers

the league meet three times in a row, so we had a lot of success as a team. I broke my own PRs (personal records). I was proud of myself for the way I performed.

Q: Where do you plan on going after LCC? A. Im not sure if I want to continue running, but it is definitely something I am keeping in mind. But I would like to stay

No more shame, no more paper bags; just wins

In the world of American professional sports sits the pantheon of success. With the likes of the Green Bay Packers, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Montreal Canadiens sitting at the table, could the Detroit Lions be next? It sounds laughable and downright insane, but after the amazing 31-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 27 featuring a last-second quarterback sneak by Matt Millen Era, the curse of Bobby Layne. Even Larry the Cable Guy joked about preparing Thanksgiving dinner by first putting the turkey in front of the Lions game so it would kill itself. Every successful team has a moment that signals the change for a franchise. Now the Detroit Lions have found it. From Barry Sanders and Herman Moore, to Bobby Layne and Jason Hanson, this franchise has had legends that have come and gone without reaching the top in the Motor City. Outside of the loyal ring of fans, Sundays have been nothing to truly look forward to unless your favorite team outside of Detroit came to town. Until now. The Lions have what they need to be a serious threat for the future. The Oct. 27 win over Dallas will be a day to remember, like a second-half Super Bowl onside kick, or winning the seventh game of the playoffs to go to the World Series. This current Lions team is built to last. It has a leader it has desperately needed in Stafford. He displayed his moxie in outsmarting everyone in the building and across the nation with his quarterback sneak against the Cowboys. The Lions also have the best pair of hands owned by Calvin Johnson in the game today. It may not be this year, but soon the Detroit Lions are going to be a team of which this state will be proud. If any city can rise with a team, it is the Lions. Detroit has seen Stanley Cups, NBA Championships and World Series titles. As the sad state of Detroit continues to wreak havoc on its citizens, any glimmer of hope the Lions can shed on the city will be welcome. Forward down the field.

Laces Out

Stafford it seems this could be the turning point the Lions need. Loyal followers have endured a myriad of paper-bag-wearing moments. There was the 0-16 season, the