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“Having to take the positives out of a negative situation:” spring sport student-athletes granted another year of eligibility

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In the midst of the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, Florida Tech has canceled spring sports and the remainder of winter sports for the rest of the semester.  On March 13, the National Collegiate Athletic Association announced that spring student-athletes would be able to receive an extra year of eligibility.

Despite spring student-athletes being granted another year of eligibility, on Mar. 30, the NCAA announced that they will not allow an extra year of eligibility for winter sports athletes. 

With the spring sports seasons being cut short in March, and two more months of the regular season to play, there were no playoffs or national champions for any spring student-athlete at Florida Tech. For some seniors, their last season was cut short. 

Harry Craik, a senior majoring in civil engineering, plays at his senior night game. Photo// Matthew Lanoue

“With athletes having an extra year of eligibility, rosters have a possibility of being larger next season,” said Vincenzo Catanza, a fifth-year senior on the baseball team majoring in electrical engineering. “It sets a weird situation because you recruited a freshman class and transfers coming in to replace the seniors,” Catanza said. “Now the seniors have a chance to come back.”

Catanza shared his frustration about the cancellation of the season saying, “I had a feeling it was going to be canceled seeing other schools and conferences postponing or canceling their season,” he said. 

Catanza also brought up how much of an honor it was to be a part of the Florida Tech family and be able to play the sport he loved with his closest friends. 

“I had to take the positives out of what could have been a very negative situation, Catanza said. “All those tears were not because baseball was leaving.”

The outfielder also added that his sadness from the spring sports cancellation stemmed from him no longer being able to play and have his friends and family watch from the stands. 

“I couldn’t put on the jersey that I thought I represented well, and wanted to represent well,” Catanza said. 

With Catanza being a fifth-year senior, he has the option to come back next year or to begin a new chapter in his life. He shares his thoughts on where he is with his decision stating, “I definitely consider coming back, but I am very fortunate for the fact I also have a job offer.” 

At this point in time, Catanza said he is still not sure if he will use his year of eligibility. “I have a tough decision ahead,” he added.

According to ESPN, concerns regarding the Coronavirus have also led to the cancellation of sports beyond the collegiate level. Such cancellations include March Madness and suspensions of the professional sports leagues, including the NBA, MLB, and even the Olympics that were set to take place this summer.

“I think it is necessary since health and safety comes first,” said Harry Craik, a senior basketball player majoring in civil engineering. 

“By removing sports, it disrupts the community behind it,” Craik said. 

He added that sports provide a huge amount of jobs for people, and now it impacts so many people since no sporting events are being held.

The end of the winter sports season, including playoffs for basketball, was also canceled due to the Coronavirus. 

Florida Tech’s men’s basketball team did not make the playoffs, so their season was not cut short. 

“I think this is really unfortunate since spring athletes worked so hard all year to get to the tournament and their chance to prove themselves was taken,” Craik said.

Florida Tech women’s soccer coach resigns

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by Elena Ciulli

Florida Tech women’s soccer coach, Jessica Monarch, resigned and has accepted a position as assistant coach for the women’s soccer program at Charleston University.
Monarch will be joining coaches Jose Gomez and Jackie Stoll at Charleston University.

Assistant coach Julia Kantor will take over this spring semester, and plans on remaining the assistant coach during next season. //Photo: Florida Tech sports

Before joining the Panther program, Monarch served for two years as a graduate assistant coach at Belhaven University and has since spent the last five years with the Florida Tech program. Monarch first started working as an assistant coach at Florida Tech and then became head coach in 2018.

The highlight of her tenure was in 2017 when Monarch led the women’s team to the team’s first-ever Sunshine State Conference tournament championship.

 Soccer players like Hailey Feela, a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences,  are looking forward to seeing what the fall season will bring to the team. “I am extremely excited about the new direction Florida Tech women’s soccer will be taking,” Feela said.

Monarch left the spot to her assistant coach Julia Kantor, a Florida Tech alumni. 

Kantor was assistant coach for the women’s soccer team for one year before stepping in as head coach until the position is filled permanently. 

Kantor said she is enjoying this experience, taking this moment as a good learning period and working to further cultivate her relationship with the team. 

According to the players, coach Kantor is managing the challenges well in the absence of a new head coach. 

Hailey Henderson, a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences, alike to Feela, is also looking forward to the incoming fall semester. “Now, more than ever, our team needs to come together and support each other to get what we want to achieve,” Henderson said. “I am fully confident in coach Kantor’s abilities and it’s time for me and the girls to come out stronger.”

According to Kantor, Florida Tech has begun the search for a new head coach.

Sports, we’ll miss you

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Why do we watch sports? Seriously, why do we constantly check scores and stats, scream when a big play happens, cheer when our team scores and go home feeling sick when they lose? What’s the point?

The act of sport is an escape. 

An escape from our job, an assignment due at midnight, a tough breakup, a sick loved one, or politics, politics, and more politics. 

Sports are the only thing on Earth that can bring people together no matter their political party, religious beliefs, race, sexual orientation, age, gender, or any other category that separates us as humans. 

Are we rooting for the same team? We are? Great! You’re welcome to our club. You’re rooting for the Patriots? Go kick rocks dude!

It’s that exclusive club of fans rooting for the same team or player that makes watching sports so special. 

The Coronavirus has ripped this escape away from us. 

Not only have all of Florida Tech sports been canceled, but practically all major American sports have been either suspended or canceled. 

This year you won’t get the opportunity to fill out 47 March Madness brackets because you want to tell your friends, “My bracket lasted the longest, I told you guys I know what I’m talking about.”

We may not even get to see the best NBA team hold up the Larry O’Brien trophy, or the best NHL celebrate with the Stanley Cup. 

Major League Baseball won’t be welcomed into the new season with the tradition of Opening Day. 

Professional golf season won’t tee off at Augusta National for the Masters Tournament on time. 

It’s all just gone, within a blink of an eye our escape from whatever is dragging us down in our lives is gone, and we don’t know when it’ll be back. 

I write this not to mope and have someone play a sad song for me on the world’s smallest violin, but to tell the sports-crazed fans out there that you’re not alone. 

We all should know how serious this disease is and the impact it could have on our country and our planet. 

Sports will return and everything happens for a reason. 

Maybe this a sign that we should all pay closer attention to our family, friends, co-workers, classmates and neighbors. 

While this feels like a nightmare, it will get better, our escape from reality will return. 

In the meantime, wash your hands, practice social distancing and watch reruns of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Giving high fives to strangers at a game will be back, but until then, sports, we’ll miss you.

Florida Tech athletic director Bill Jurgens has changed positions after 44 years

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By Elena Ciulli

44 years later — Bill Jurgens, long time Florida Tech athletic director,  has been promoted to vice president of international relations. 

Jurgens became Florida Tech’s athletic director in 1976, helping Florida Tech build 18 different sports and recruiting over 500 student-athletes. In his time as athletic director, Florida Tech won five NCAA titles: two in men’s soccer, two in women’s golf and one in swimming, as well as 35 conference team championships.

Bill Jurgens supports the women’s soccer team at their 2019 senior night match. Photo// Florida Tech Athletics Flickr

In May, Jurgens will begin his position as Vice President for University Relations. 

“It is something that I really want to do because I want to have a greater impact on the University,” Jurgens said. 

After 44 years as an athletic director, Jurgens will assist President T. Dwayne McCay with community responsibilities and developing awareness for  Florida Tech. Jurgen’s experience in the athletic department will allow him to promote the university through different areas such as sustaining optimum performances and what it takes to be a team player.  

Student-athletes seem to be sad that Jurgens is leaving the athletic department, but wish him the best of luck in his new position. Tania Kottke, a volleyball player majoring in business, is one particular athlete that will miss Jurgens as an athletic director. 

“It’s sad that Bill will not be in the athletic department anymore,” Kottke said. 

“But the legacy and the connections he built during his time will help him succeed in his new position.” 

According to Jurgens, getting more exposure and showing excitement for the university will be crucial. “I love Florida Tech for a variety of reasons,” Jurgens said. “FIT is a great academic institution and the people who work here are great.”

During his career, Jurgens had the chance to build strong relationships, which allowed him to meet numerous people, who became colleagues and eventually friends. 

One of those relationships started over 30 years ago, with the man that will act as interim athletic director until the position is filled, Pete Mazzone.

Arriving at Florida Tech in 1985, Mazzone has been involved with the university in a variety of roles: assistant athletic director, intramural director, game manager, teacher and head coach of the cross country team.

Years of experience brought Mazzone to be the candidate for the athletic director role, after being Florida Tech’s associate athletic director for years prior. “ It’s a new challenge and I am excited to implement my plans,” Mazzone said.  

Students like Pauline Cosson and Malte Stockhausen, both part of the cross country team, have welcomed the news regarding Mazzone’s upcoming position. The two seniors have full trust in their coach, relying on his organization and leadership skills. “ I am sure coach Mazzone will do a fantastic job,” said Stockhausen, a senior majoring in marine biology.  “He has always been very organized and fair to everyone, being a great example to all the student-athletes.”

Jurgens and Mazzone will work together in a transition period until Jurgens assumes his new role on May 1. 

As for now, any relevant changes have been communicated to all the Florida Tech athletic teams.

“Coach Mazzone deserved the role, and I am happy that all his hard work has paid off. I know he will be successful, ” Cosson said.

MLB investigated for sign stealing

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Multiple teams are being investigated by Major League Baseball for stealing signs from catchers.

The Houston Astros were exposed by a former player, who anonymously told Atlantic news reporter, Ken Rosenthal, that the team stole signs illegally to help their playoff success in 2017. The Astros would later go on to win the World Series that same year. 

The bench coach for Houston, or assistant manager, Alex Cora, is rumored by MLB investigators to be the creator of the sign-stealing strategy Houston used. 

The Washington Post reports that the Astros allegedly set up a camera behind centerfield for the team’s replay room, which helped the manager AJ Hinch to challenge a close play by the umpire. The camera behind centerfield would be connected to a video monitor that revealed the sign that the catcher was giving to the pitcher. 

Tyler Brown, a business major who plays baseball for Florida Tech, said the news shocked him.

“I could not believe it,” Brown said. “As more evidence was being revealed, I didn’t want to believe it happened, but it did.”

According to multiple news outlets, players would bang on a trash can in the dugout as a form of communication to tell the hitter what pitch was coming. Hinch and the Astros general manager, Jeff Luhnow, are suspended for a full season. also parted ways with the team, leaving them unemployed. The team was fined $5 million and lost their first and second-round draft picks in 2020 and 2021. 

“I definitely do not agree with the punishments, I think it is nowhere near harsh enough,” said Dominic Fraticelli, a Florida Tech freshman in software engineering and an avid baseball fan. Fraticelli has followed the scandal since the news broke.

“If you ban Pete Rose, the greatest hitter in all of baseball, for life because he gambled on games and there’s no evidence of him fixing games, then why wouldn’t you ban people who deliberately cheat the game to give themselves an advantage?” Fraticelli said. 

Cora was named manager of the Red Sox in 2018. He also led the team to a World Series championship in his first year as manager. The Red Sox are also currently being investigated for illegally stealing signs as well. According to ESPN, Boston had a replay room as well, and players would sneak into the replay room to get the signs from the catcher to help their hitters. There was no one ever monitoring the replay room, so players could freely come in and steal signs. Cora is no longer the manager of the Red Sox, and a replacement for the Red Sox team manager has not yet been chosen.

Carlos Beltran, a former player for the team, was also involved in the scandal. After being named manager of the Mets this winter, he resigned from his position after the cheating scandal escalated.

Houston is being investigated after recently learning they had buzzing devices hidden in their jerseys. Investigations have discovered that the number of buzzes felt alerted what pitch was coming. 

“I was stunned to hear this,” Fraticelli said. “Not only because I was a Yankees fan and we had lost to them two out of the last three years in the postseason, but more because it corrupts the integrity of the game.”

“It is still uncertain how the MLB will handle the situation so the cheating scandals do not occur again in the future,” said Jeff Korte, assistant baseball coach for Florida Tech. 

“They should randomly pull players from each team and discuss how they could improve the integrity of the game to combat future malpractice,” Korte added. 

The league is continuously investigating the scandal, as spring training workouts approach in early February. 

“Baseball has had this problem since the 1919 Chicago White Sox to the steroid era,” Korte said. “After thinking about it more, I realized how hard it was to play the game because people are always looking to find ways to make it easier.”

Florida Tech Sports Recap for Nov. 24, 2019

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Football: Overall record: 5-6

The Panthers finish their season strong with a blowout win on their home turf.
Photo // Florida Tech Athletics

Nov. 16 42-3 Win vs Shorter

Volleyball: Overall record: 4-27

The volleyball team ended their season on a 12-game losing streak and placed last in their conference. Photo // Florida Tech Athletics

Nov. 15 0-3 Loss at Saint Leo University
Nov. 16 0-3 Loss at University of Tampa
Nov. 22 0-3 Loss vs Lynn University
Nov. 23 0-3 Loss vs Nova Southeastern University

Men’s Soccer: Overall record: 12-3-1

After losing the second round of the conference playoffs, the Panthers still solidified a spot in the NCAA playoffs and secured a victory in the first round. Photo // Florida Tech Athletics

Nov. 14 1-3 Loss vs Palm Beach Atlantic
Nov. 23 2-1 Win vs University of West Florida

Men’s Basketball: Overall record: 2-3

The Panthers are off to a below-average start early on in their lengthy season. 

Nov. 8 75-92 Loss vs Benedict College
Nov. 9 84-88 Loss at Auburn-Montgomery
Nov. 14 111-71 Win vs Johnson
Nov. 16 81-63 Win vs Puerto Rico-Bayamon 
Nov. 23 70-75 Loss at Saint Leo University

Women’s Basketball: Overall record: 3-3

A .500 start six games into the Panthers season.

Nov. 8 67-75 Loss vs University of West Georgia
Nov. 9 75-73 Win vs Spring Hill College
Nov. 15 80-56 Win vs University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon
Nov. 16 53-75 Loss vs Clayton State University
Nov. 19 71-57 Win at Flagler College
Nov. 23 67-82 Loss at Saint Leo University

Washington Nationals fans flood capital streets

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Fans color the streets red as they gather for the parade.
Crimson // Jesse Villaverde

The Washington Nationals won the World Series for the first time in their franchise’s history on Wednesday, Oct. 30.

In the following days, a parade and rally were held in Washington, D.C., to honor and celebrate their World Series win.

The city was packed with fans waiting for the celebration of the team’s World Series title to occur. Streets were closed to escort the parade and lead them to the Capitol.

A young Nationals fan gets a front-row seat to the celebration.
Crimson // Jesse Villaverde

Fans flooded the sidewalks, cheering for their team. Young children were climbing up trees to get a better view of the parade.

David Milan grew up in Washington and has been a fan since 2005, the same year the Nationals were established.

“I grew up watching the Nationals,” Milan said. “They have not had a lot of luck in their time being in the league. Seeing them win it all was one of the best moments in my life.”

Milan’s girlfriend, Carly O’Neill, has recently become a Nationals fan since they started dating.

“He was on the floor and just so happy after they won,” O’Neill said. “It was a moment he will not forget and it was amazing to see him happy.”

This was the team’s first ever World Series appearance, playing inside Minute Maid Park, where they beat the Houston Astros in a best of seven game series.

The Washington natives were the underdogs in the playoffs, being the last seed in the National League bracket.

According to CBS Sports, the Nationals began their season with a record of 19 wins and 31 losses.

“It was a tough time for me as a fan,” Milan said. “However, I still stood by the Nationals and hoped they could find a way to play better.”

The Nationals, who used to train in Viera, Florida during the spring, would go on to have a record of 74 wins and 39 losses for the rest of the year.

This earned them a spot in the one game elimination wild card game round.

The Nationals now share their current complex with the Houston Astros—the team they beat in the World Series.

“It was shocking, but I believed they would finish strong,” Milan said. “They were fun to watch. Without them, I would not be here. I am excited to be in this environment and celebrate their championship.”

Jumbotrons displayed the Nationals team throughout the capital streets.
Crimson // Kevin Boodoosingh

O’Neill also discussed her first experience watching the Nationals.

“It was really exciting,” O’Neill said. “They reminded me of the team from the movie ‘Moneyball,’ when no one expected the team to win.”

The crowds cheered the loudest when the first-ever draft pick in 2005, Ryan Zimmerman, held up the World Series trophy from the bus.

Zimmerman, a longtime third baseman and first baseman, has been with the Nationals for 15 years.

“Seeing Ryan hold up the trophy was my favorite part because he has played for so long for the Nationals, and now he has his moment,” Joanne Lowry said. Lowry, a fan of the team, is from Harrisburg, Virginia, where the Nationals minor league team is located.

She has seen Zimmerman play since he was first drafted in 2005.

“To see him play for as long as he has, I am happy for him to finally win,” Lowry said. “He has been my favorite player since the Nationals became a team.”

Lowry spoke about what this parade meant to Washington.

“It is exciting, and memorable,” Lowry said. “I am happy to see people come together and be happy to celebrate a moment like this. The city binds together, it means so much to D.C.”

Men’s soccer undefeated despite injury

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The men’s soccer team is now 6-0 on the season and 2-0 against conference opponents.

Most recently, the Panthers took on defending NCAA Division II national champions, Barry University.

After taking a 1-0 lead, scored by Guillermo Segovia, Florida Tech struggled to further the lead and allowed Barry to tie up the game 1-1.

Senior midfielder Luca Campanini had a penalty kick opportunity to give the Panthers a one-goal advantage but it was blocked by Barry’s goalkeeper.

Campanini said after the game, “I need to make up for this and we need to win.”

With less than two minutes remaining in the match, Guillermo was fouled inside the box and was able to put his penalty kick in the back of the net.

“When the final whistle blew it was a sigh of relief,” Campanini said. “We should have really beat this team more easily than we did but they made it hard for us.”

This gave the Panthers their sixth win of the season, but along with their great success, there has also come heartbreak.

Graduate Student Solomon Wheatley was lost for the season as he suffered a torn ACL during their match against Limestone.

Wheatley had an assist on the game before the injury but he said he thinks he was getting tired because it was the last 10 minutes of the game.

“I tried to turn as players ran by me and my left foot was stuck in the grass as I turned,” Wheatley said. “I then heard a loud pop noise as if I had broken something and fell the floor.”

He said that normally when he gets injured he knows he can recover fast but this injury was different.

“I had to be carried off the field by my trainer so I knew it was more serious than other injuries but had no clue on what was to come.” Wheatley said if he’s being honest he’s in a difficult place right now.

“It’s been very hard for me to accept my injury and it’s going to get harder after I have my surgery,” he said. “I stayed back in the UK during last spring and trained myself to get in good shape for this fall, so for me to start off as well as I did, it’s been extremely upsetting.”

Senior midfielder Craig McCall said the loss of Wheatley has been massive and that the team was “gutted” when the news broke he’d be out for the season.

“The boys are going to have to fill a big void on and off the field with his absence, but we believe Sol will still have a big role in the team’s dynamic off the field with his character and leadership,” McCall said.

Graduate Student midfielder Morgan Gauthier said that the early season injuries have affected their play.

“It might be one reason why we are not playing our best football in the first few games as we aren’t able to rotate players as we would like to and get tired,” Gauthier said.

Regardless of maybe not playing to their full potential, the Panthers are undefeated and Wheatley said they show a lot of promise.

“My advice for the team is to just give everything into every opportunity whether that be in practice or games,” Wheatley said. “If we work harder than all of the teams there’s no doubt the soccer will take care of the rest. We have a lot of talent in our squad we just need to believe it.”

The Panthers next head on the road on Saturday, Oct. 5 to take on Nova Southeastern and try to remain undefeated.

California sets precedent for NCAA

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Playing under the NCAA is a privilege to earn that lasts once in a lifetime.

A dedicated athlete puts in hard work for their dream to pay off in their future.

Any athlete that wants to be great, fantasizes themselves being the next great player of their generation.

They dream of winning, making money signing big endorsements to companies such as Nike and Adidas.

In California, those dreams can now occur sooner to an athlete.

A new bill, known as the Fair Pay to Play Act, has been passed unanimously., in which college athletes in California are now able to get paid through endorsements and sponsorships, without any punishment.

The main limit to the bill is that an athlete that attends a school sponsored by Nike cannot sign an endorsement deal with any other brand, such as Under Armour.

The new bill was covered all over sports networks, creating some heated debates from constantly getting.

One of the most notable responses came from former University of Florida quarterback, Tim Tebow, where Tebow stated “It changes what’s special about college football,” Tebow said. “We turn it into the NFL, where who has the most money.”

The bill has been approved and is expected to be signed by the governor very shortly.

It will become official in 2023.

Florida Tech’s athletic director, Bill Jurgens, associates with the NCAA frequently due to his job as the A.D. Mr. Jurgens was well aware of the new law that was passed, and he said he is not surprised by the law.

He believes the NCAA “does a great job governing athletics and prepares athletes for professional sports. No one works harder than the NCAA with physical safety and mental safety.”

With the new bill being passed, Jurgens’ remark of preparing athletes for professional sports comes into play, as athletes are now making big decisions for themselves with endorsement contracts.

There is one concern the school’s athletic director has; “The safety of the college athletes are very important, and they must be smart with their decisions and life skills.”

College athletes in California must now make life-changing decisions.

Less than two percent of college athletes in all of college sports combined become professional athletes.

California college athletes are given a responsibility and an opportunity of a lifetime at a very young age, and must make their choices carefully.

Jurgens added a fact that the bill has been discussed with Florida, bringing all the terms passed in California, as a possible new bill coming to Florida as well.

If the new law moves to have an impact on Florida college athletics, this may expand on a big change coming to the NCAA.

Perspectives from college athletes are debatable, depending on what the athletes claim as their top priorities and what they focus on. Senior baseball player Blaise Maris is an athlete not in favor of the new bill.

“Not every college athlete has professional qualities. Getting paid makes it a job. College is stressful enough with classes, practices, and workouts. If you are not performing, then that ‘job’ weighs on your mind more, adding more stress.”

Athletes who are not qualified for business deals will have trouble managing their priorities with school and their sport.

If they are unable to keep their grades up to the appropriate GPA, the athlete will not be qualified to play, resulting in the athlete to lose out on their endorsement deal.

Maris also adds onto the thought of an increase of athletes going to play in California because of the Fair Pay to Play Act.

“I think that there are a lot of athletes that believe they should be getting paid right out of high school, so those people will probably go to California to start their journey. You will start to see better talent levels across the board in California.” Florida Tech football player Daniel Welch added his opinion towards the Fair Pay to Play Act.

He was able to view it as a benefit and as a possible concern.

“I think it could create an opportunity for athletes to be rewarded for being successful. However, I do agree with what Tim Tebow said earlier in the week, that it takes away what college football is about. It takes away some of the team aspect and makes it more individual.”

If athletes become selfish, and have problems as a team, the school’s team will not perform as well, which will lead to problems for the selfish athletes.

If the athletes struggle, they will not be awarded with endorsements, and possibly lose their deals and scholarships.

The college athletes must remain humble and focus on the main goal of winning and competing.

The Fair Pay to Play Act is the start of a new chapter in NCAA sports.

College athletes in California are now gaining the chance to get paid through endorsement deals.

If the bill is spread to other states, it will spread across the country, completely changing college sports, starting a new era that will continue to be debatable.

Panthers prepare for football kick-off

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Florida Tech football team leaves the inflatable Panther to start the game. Photo by Daniel Welch.

Classes have begun, students have started to get into the groove of their academic rigor and fall sports are in full swing, meaning Saturday game days have finally arrived with the kickoff of college football.

The Panthers posted a solid eight-win season last year, with just four losses, and were awarded an NCAA playoff spot.

While they were defeated in their lone playoff game last year, this season Florida Tech look to uphold their spot within the top 25 for the Division II football rankings.

According to players, the team trained three hours a day; combining weightlifting, conditioning and studying the playbook to develop their style of play and to get stronger.

Based on performances from last year, the Panthers have an optimistic perspective for this upcoming season and are looking to improve.

“Our program has never won a playoff game, so our first step is to win a playoff game and see what we can do,” said Daniel Welch, defensive leader and captain.

Despite losing key players, such as J.T. Hassell, who was at the time recruited by the Cleveland Browns, Welch remains positive and confident that the defense can get the job done.

“We lost some key guys, but we have a lot of returners and with the help of a new strength coach, we are ready to take the next step,” Welch said. “With every new season comes a new freshman class, hungry and ready to work at the next level of their athletic careers.”

Football players take a breather. Photo by Daniel Welch.

Welch added that the freshman class looks “strong and promising” as the newbies study the playbook for future game day success.

On the offensive side, quarterback and captain Trenton Chmelik hopes to make the best out of his senior season and leave a legacy behind.

“As a captain of the team, I try to emphasize to the younger guys to play with passion and to make every opportunity count, and to complete every obstacle with tenacity and discipline,” Chmelik said.

The first home game for the Panthers is Saturday, Sept. 28, against West Georgia; this is one of five home games scheduled this season.