Ben Buck
Staff Reporter

Men's soccer coach Colin Murphy goes the extra mile to make his program successful, even if it means going halfway around the world to find the best talent.

"We know that the top teams in our region have international players," Murphy said. "In order to win and stay competitive, we have to go and get them."

Four players from four different countries that currently hold roster spots include Ricardo Reyna from Panama, Ido Barcialy from Israel, Alex Bogbanovic from Croatia and Mike Guyette from Germany.

Reyna said that he, as well as the other international players, will be able to share their expertise of soccer with teammates.

"The importance of soccer in Panama is a lot higher," Reyna said. "Having played it all my life, it gives me a chance to help out my teammates with things they might not know about soccer."

Guyette was 16 when he moved from St. Louis to Germany and lived on a military base with his father.

He said he played forward in Germany and "scored a lot of goals," but has been playing defense for the Trojans since the team's experience is limited in that area.

"I'm willing to go where my team needs me and that is at defense right now," Guyette said. "There isn't any glory in defense, but this is where I can help the team."

Barcialy, from Israel, experienced difficulty obtaining a visa due to heightened security and missed preseason practices. He arrived in Mason City on Tuesday, August 31, just a day after classes began.

"Ever since the September 11 attacks, security is always a concern when you bring kids in from other countries to go to college," Murphy said.

Barcialy said since visiting the college three months ago, he knew NIACC was the place he wanted to be.

"I love everything about this place. The coaches, my teammates, the school, everything is just great," Barcialy said.

Bogbanovic, from Croatia, played indoor soccer in his home country and said he has adapted just "perfectly" to the environment.

"I'm out here to have fun, that's what soccer is all about, you run and have fun," Bogbanovic said.

Second-year starter Adam Pals said that the foreign players know what they're doing and are contributing immensely.

"It is very interesting learning about where they come from and the knowledge they have for the game," Pals said. "It really helps us with the skill and speed they bring to the program." Ryan McGuire, athletic director at NIACC, said the addition of international players is not only a benefit to the soccer program, but also to the school.

"It's a great asset for NIACC," McGuire said. "It gives them a chance to receive a quality education while playing the game they love."

These four players contribute their knowledge, leadership and culture in making the soccer program sucessful. Even with cultural diverences, they prove they still work together towards a common goal - victory.

Jeremy Koenigs
Staff Reporter

Last season the NIACC women's soccer team faced off against the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellow Jackets. A member of that RCTC team, Jamie Schleich, now calls her former opponents her new teammates.

Schleich, a sophomore transfer who hails from Caledonia, Minnesota, brings her leadership to a NIACC team as a player who has the skill to play all of the positions on the soccer field. "Jamie has unrealized potential," her coach Allan Allsup said. "She has demonstrated the skills needed to not only play her current position, but other positions as well."

So far for the former Caledonian Warrior, Schleich's sophomore season is going better than expected.

"The season is going great," Schleich said. "I am happy to be in a situation where everyone on the team respects everybody."

Respect is one word that could be echoed by teammate and fellow sophomore Crystal Masters. "Jamie is quick, upbeat, energetic and has a good shot," Masters said. "When we are down, either Jamie or JoElla (Hammen) tells a joke to get us back up again."

Whether it's joking around or motivating her teammates, Schleich said she likes to keep things positive for the women's soccer team which usually plays their games with less than the 11 players allotted for on the field.

"With all of the running around we do as a team playing eight on 11, I will definitely be in better shape at the end of the season," Schleich said. "Hopefully though, this season will be a learning experience and will unite us as a team."

With the returning experience of Schleich, although on a new team, Coach Allsup said he expects Schleich to be a leader on the team.

"Jamie will play various positions and fill one of our captain roles," Allsup said. "She has shown interest from four-year colleges and gives us experience that we will need."

Jonathon Braden
Staff Reporter

A torn ACL and a torn PCL. Those two sometimes career threatening injuries were what hampered sophomore utility soccer player Joel Gould's season last year.

According to NIACC men's soccer coach Colin Murphy, Gould was crushed, along with most of his freshman season, due to the injuries.

"He was absolutely devastated when he got the news, it was real tough for him," Murphy said. Due to the injury, Gould had to go through comprehensive rehabilitation work on his right knee and was forced to sit out much of his freshman season.

Gould stressed that his freshman season was not one to remember for him personally either. "Last year was the worst by far, knowing that you want to help your team, but not being able to do anything. I just felt helpless," Gould said.

Countless hours of rehab, one calendar year later and with a healthy right knee, Gould is more than ready for a season to remember, rather than one to forget.

"I've really been working hard, trying to get back to where I was before," Gould said. "I'm just hoping to get my speed and touch back."

All the rehab and the extra work were vital for Gould to be back in shape this season. But, it's simply his attitude throughout the whole process that has really impressed Murphy.

"Joel has really made no excuses for himself this whole time. I mean, he has dealt with the injury, but he doesn't let it affect him now," Murphy said. "He plays out there as if he never hurt his knee. If he makes a mistake, it's because he messed up, not because of his knee or something else."

Murphy added that with the 2004 season well into stride, it's very evident how hard Gould worked in the off-season.

"He has come back this year, close to 100% and he's playing great. You can truly tell he has committed himself to this team," Murphy said.

It goes without saying; Murphy is excited to see Gould on the field, instead off the field in crutches.

"Joel has loads of skill and he is just a fantastic player. It's great seeing that he has really put himself in a position to reach the goals that he set for himself and the team." Murphy said. With no soccer plans after this year, maybe it will be that helpless feeling, that helps motivate Gould to a successful final season.

"I am just looking to leave it all the field this year and do whatever I can to help the team," Gould said.

Brett Cooper
For the Logos

Nine of NIACC's sophomore baseball players were on center stage at the yearly All-Star Series Showcase in Centerville, Iowa on the weekend of September 18 and 19.

The All-Star Series is an annual event where the best junior college baseball players can compete in front of top college and major league scouts.

Anthony Alberts, Vince Anderson, Andy Biesanz, Shane Hansmeier, Nick Hoskyn, Jorge Marquez, Matt O' Brien, Chris Palmer and Jesse Seykora represented the Trojans at the event.

The showcase consists of a 60-yard dash, an infield practice, batting practice and two exhibition games.

These nine standout sophomores competed against the best Division I and Division II Junior College athletes.

"I think our guys stood out in the games because they can compete at the highest level," Coach Todd Rima said. "The All-Star showcase is a great opportunity to see the best in Iowa compete at a central location."

Players said they were motivated to do well.

"Getting extra attention from universities brings more options for me next year," Jesse Seykora said. "I will go and play my hardest, and let the chips fall where they may."

The NIACC baseball team looked to make a major impact at the showcase and felt well prepared.

"I believe we can make a huge impact because of the quality athletes participating," Anthony Alberts said. "Our work ethic, talent and intensity represented NIACC the best way possible." Last year alone, NIACC sent five athletes to continue their baseball careers elsewhere following their careers at NIACC, with three at the Division I level.

"Hopefully this year's event will open doors for us, like it did our fellow teammates last year," Alberts said.

Jason Benson
Sports Editor

There is a new buzz surrounding the sports world these days involving fantasy leagues. Leauges give fans a chance to run their own sports teams.

Fans can control anything from their own NASCAR, MLB, NFL, NHL, PGA and even NCAA rosters and pick who they want to start and who are the backups.

Today newspapers even include stat fantasy leaders for those involved in these leagues. This is a great way for fans to interact and be an owner.

Many people have played the fantasy sports game and enjoyed it. Heck, I even got involved in last year's NBA fantasy league on ESPN.com.

But lately, I feel that the fantasy thing is way overrated.

It seems that fans today are more concerned with how the players in their fantasy leagues are doing than how their favorite teams are doing.

If fact, the atmosphere at some games seems to be focused more on individuals than on teams. It's invaded the culture so much that there are even commercials like the Best Buy one where the guy goes nuts over an individual player's performance even though his team lost in the last second.

I'm not saying that this fantasy thing is bad but it seems that people are tuning into the games to see how a certain player is doing.

When I was in the basketball fantasy league, I tuned into a game not just to watch the basketball players and see who performed well but to watch two teams battle it out on the hardwood.

I used to check my standings once a week just to see how I was doing and to adjust my roster. A lot of us on campus are sports fans and enjoy seeing their regular teams.

But with fantasy leagues, it now seems that fans take it so seriously that we cheer on an individual player more than a team.

I do enjoy being in a fantasy league when I have time and I also enjoy watching the games. However, some of us are guilty of taking the fantasy leagues a little too seriously and need to get back to the basics and just enjoy the games.