The Observer, April 27, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 26
Seniors have much to celebrate after successful careers at Case
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Four years of sports and academics is a grind. Just ask any Case senior athlete. The toughest stretch of those four years might be these final weeks before graduation. With spring sports schedules stretching into May and finals looming, graduation seems so close, yet so far, with the amount of work still ahead.
However, at graduation on May 20, these athletes will be able to celebrate their hard work and achievements while looking ahead to bigger and better things in the years ahead. Here is a look at some of those accomplishments and career plans for a few Case senior athletes.
Andrea Newman, a member of the women's soccer team, has kept herself even busier off the field. A double major in nutrition and psychology with a minor in sports medicine, she has volunteered at University Hospitals in the Pediatric Rehabilitation Services Department. She has also spent time at the Cleveland Clinic Sports Center. Both of these experiences have helped her pursue her future endeavors in physical therapy. Starting this summer, she will attend the physical therapy graduate program at the University of Delaware. After attaining a doctorate in physical therapy, she plans to pursue an advanced certification, possibly in pediatric rehabilitation.
On the field, Newman's favorite memory was her trip with the team to New York during her freshman year.
"It was the first time I had been to New York City, and we came out with a high-pressure win against NYU," she said.
The highlight of her Case career was studying abroad in Australia during her junior year.
"Australia is an amazing place with some of the greatest people I have ever met," she said. "I would recommend to any and all to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Not only will it change your life, it'll change who you are and how you think about the world."
Amber Taylor also provided senior leadership for the women's soccer team this season. She will graduate with a B.S. in biology and B.A. in chemistry. After graduation, she will move to Atlanta, where she will teach secondary chemistry for Teach for America.
While at Case, Taylor particularly enjoyed traveling on road trips with her teammates.
"I enjoyed our away games, traveling with my teammates to other cities, especially when we came home with wins," she said, "as well as being able to really get to know other student-athletes, both through my sports medicine minor, and working through our team."
In addition to playing soccer, Taylor has been very active in Alpha Phi Omega, and she plans to stay active in the organization while in Atlanta. She also plans to be involved in the Student Global Aids Campaign.
Amanda Dellens, a third senior on the women's soccer team, agreed with Taylor that the fondest memory of playing soccer at Case was sharing time on the road with her teammates.
"The times I will remember the most are the trips to New York City and the other UAA schools with my team," she said. "It was so great to have the opportunity to play other great teams and travel to amazing cities at the same time. Coming home from a fun trip after winning was always a great feeling."
Dellens, who is a member of Phi Mu and currently serves as its second vice president, has also worked in the civil engineering department and as an SI in the math department. She came to Case from California, and is happy she traveled the long distance to be here.
"Coming to Cleveland was a huge change, especially the weather, but I am so glad I took a chance and came to Case, where I could play soccer and achieve my goals in school," she said.
Carrie Stoila, a nursing major and member of the women's swim team, juggled her time between swimming and clinicals. After graduation, she plans to stay in the Cleveland area and work at University Hospital in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Her fondest memories of swimming at Case came from the team's training trips during winter break.
"I don't think I've ever laughed so much while working so hard," she said.
Karyn Wheeler of the women's cross country team will graduate with majors in psychology and sociology. In addition to athletics, Wheeler was president of Psi Chi (the Psychology National Honor Society), participated in Big Buddies, worked as a psychology research assistant, and did research at the Mandel School. Next year she will attend the University of Texas in Austin where she will begin a Ph.D program in human development and family studies.
As for her fondest memory at Case, Wheeler recalled having a giant mud fight with her teammates at the finish line of the national meet.
"I have no idea what my time was at Nationals, but I'll never forget standing on that line and being so proud to be there with my other six teammates," she said. "Of all my experiences at Case, I will miss being goofy with my teammates and coaches the most. I'm sure there is not a more wonderful and fun group of people."
Cross country All-American Stephanie Nothelle will graduate with majors in biology and german. This spring, she earned a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA. She plans to attend medical school in the fall to further her studies.
Nothelle had numerous individual accomplishments as a runner at Case, but when asked what her favorite memory was, she cited a team triumph.
"Winning the UAA championships, when no one thought we could take down WashU, is definitely a moment to remember," she said.
Nothelle also studied abroad in Germany, participated in USG as a sophomore, was a member of Mortar Board, and volunteered at the Free Clinic and Judson Park.
Josh Dudek, a receiver for the football team, will move to New York City and work as a field engineer. A civil engineering major, Dudek was also active in Greek Life as a member of Sigma Chi, intramural sports, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The football team's win against Washington & Lee in the last game of this past season stuck out in his mind when recalling his career at Case.
"They were going to the playoffs and were supposed to roll over us," he said. "If only we had played that well the entire season."
Fellow football player John Stavlas will work as a business analyst in Beachwood after graduation. Stavlas also noted the football team's victory over Washington & Lee as a favorite moment of his college football career, as well the team's victory over the University of Chicago this year.
Stavlas is proud of the fact that he and the other graduating members of the football team stayed with the sport all four years.
"I believe we had an initial class of 50 recruits who came freshman year to play football and graduate in four years," he said. "We are finishing with around five or six who are going to have played four years of football and graduated in four years. We play sports at Case because we love the sport, our teammates, and competing on Saturdays. There are some thrills, but you have to play because you want to."
Senior soccer player Noah Marciniak will travel to the University of Texas – Austin to pursue a Master's of Architecture. He will graduate as a biomedical engineering major. Marciniak said that the team's victory at Rochester this year to win the UAA title and clinch the team's national tournament spot was his favorite sports memory. He also enjoyed "hanging out at Veale, lifting, chilling with the other guys from the team," and playing IM basketball.
Pitchers John Thuermer and J.R. Doolos are among the graduating seniors on the baseball team. Thuermer, a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, will attend law school after graduating from Case with majors in chemistry and political science. Doolos will return to Case to pursue a degree in the M.S. Finance program at Weatherhead. He was a member of Sigma Chi, Alpha Kappa Psi, and CASA. He will fondly remember traveling with the team, particularly on the annual trips to Florida.
Last, but certainly not least, swimmer Pat Rodjom will graduate from Case after a decorated career with the swim team. Rodjom will move to Washington, D.C. to work as an IT consultant, though he hopes to stay involved with the sport there and get into coaching. His best swimming memory was winning 2006 UAA Swimmer of the Year honors.
"Swimming over the years has built a competitive drive in myself," he said of how swimming will benefit him in the next phase of his life. "It teaches you to constantly push yourself and find new ways to succeed."
