SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
spartan's spotlighted in university's annual report...
CLEVELAND, OH (March 17, 2009) - Case Western Reserve University released its 2007-08 annual report last month as an eight video presentation and varsity athletics were prominent in the celebratory piece, as three of the videos highlighted Spartan student-athlete accomplishments.
The annual report is used to emphasize the University’s most exciting achievements of the year and the athletic department was proud to be significantly included in Case Western Reserve’s many successes. During the 2007-08 school year, the Spartan football team finished with an undefeated 10-0 record during the regular season, winning the University Athletic Association championship outright and making the NCAA Playoffs for the first times in school history.
Also for the second consecutive year the athletic department hosted a sports clinic during the annual Case for Community Day, where the University’s student-athletes spent the day playing sports with almost 300-hundred children from the Cleveland Public School system (pictured to right is coordinator/student-athlete Andrea Wojtowicz with President Barbara R. Snyder). Plus, one former Spartan wrestler and football player won a national entrepreneurship contest and opened Fresh Fork Market, a completely “green” business plan that connects local farmers with area restaurants.
These stories were relived in videos in the annual report, which were produced by the Office of Marketing and Communications at Case Western Reserve.
The football team’s incredible season was highlighted in the video titled “Inspiration” – which can be viewed here. Along with producing the first undefeated season in the modern era, the Spartans were also extremely dedicated in the classroom, which makes their remarkable accomplishments even more impressive. The team has also helped propel a new spirit and tradition throughout the campus that has helped build unity while putting Case Western Reserve’s athletic programs on the map. The athletic department strives to give student-athletes the best athletic and academic opportunities possible, and this video illustrates what happens when those two efforts come together. Click here to read an archived sports information office article.
“Football teams have great seasons all the time at this level, but I don’t think they are necessarily recognized on a stage like this,” said Head Coach Greg Debeljak. “We were very excited when we found out the University wanted to include our break out season in the annual report. Our student-athletes deserve the attention and hopefully will continue to give the campus more reasons to be proud.”
In the video titled “Partnership” – which can be viewed here, Case Western Reserve’s many community partnerships are put on display, which includes the athletic department’s involvement in Case for Community Day. Young children from Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy, Bolton Elementary School, Forest Hill Parkway, Daniel E. Morgan School and Mary McLeod Bethune School were invited to the Case Western Reserve athletic facilities to participate in a variety of sporting activities and games. The University’s student-athletes and coaches participated in activities at the Veale Center [track and field], Horsburgh Gymnasium [basketball], Adelbert Gymnasium [volleyball], and under sunny skies outside on Van Horn Field [soccer and football]. Click here to read an archived sports information office article.
“I have been a head coach for a dozen years now at four different schools and can honestly say that I had never been a part of anything like this until I came to Case,” said second-year Head Women’s Basketball Coach Jennifer Reimer. “It’s amazing what the University does as a whole community service wise, and I am proud of the fact our student-athletes are willing to volunteer time to work with these great neighborhood kids.”
Finally, in the video titled “Ingenuity” – which can be viewed here, five Case Western Reserve students, including former student-athlete Bob Gavlak, explain their journey from contest entrants to the opening of their own business. Gavlak now works as the Chief Operating Officer with Fresh Fork Market, a service that allows area restaurants to get in contact with local farmers in order to obtain the freshest ingredients possible. Gavlak is another prime example of how Case Western Reserve’s student-athletes take their academic and career goals just as seriously as their performance in their respective sport. Gavlak played football and wrestled for the Spartans, winning a University Athletic Association heavy weight championship in 2006. Click here to read an archived sports information office article.
“Bob was a scholar All-American and was a great wrestler,” Head Coach Bob Del Rosa said. “He had a great work ethic and always came to practice and meets prepared to give it his best. He’s done a heck of a job with Fresh Fork and is working very hard at it. I feel he is the type of person who will make it prosper no matter what,” said Head Wrestling Coach Robert Del Rosa.
-end-