Brian Vangorder
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
FroM THE ATHLETIC DIREctor COVER Association to “earn back” a year of high school football STORY sacrificed when he was unable to perform effectively A Football his first year in school after immigrating from Albania The Green and Gold tradition grows each year and with that with his family. I thought about the consequence of growth comes an ever-increasing Goodbye crop of impressive alumni. This that decision now that I have spent a “few years” in years Hall of Fame class is no intercollegiate athletics, and a few more in a courtroom. exception. W Week Events 7 By Rob Fournier The reaction of most to that resolution would have been Director of Athletics to decry the ruling, claim an injustice and sought a more favorable ruling. Not Serxho. He took the verdict as a positive – instead of football he would have a year to better himself academically and improve his English. I attended a funeral for a Wayne State University football Despite his youth, he knew his future depended more student-athlete. It was the second time in only two years on learning his new “native” language than on learning Coach Ryan Kelley and his staff enter 2013 on the a playbook. Eventually he mastered both – becoming heels of a third consecutive postseason berth. The that a like tragedy has impacted our athletic program. Warriors have their sights set on a GLIAC crown These are emotionally-wrenching experiences. Our an All-Conference selection as a defensive lineman and 5 before making it back to the NCAA postseason. sense of normalcy is shattered. The unexpected death earning honors on the Conference All-Academic Team. of a 22 year old in our society is not only extreme, it contradicts the promise we see in the future in these There is a lot of insight in that example – not only about 10 Softball Facility Growth young people. Serxho, but in a way, about all of us. Abraham Lincoln once remarked about immigration, “that it did not so I did not know Serxho Guraleci like his teammates, much matter where you come from in order to be an coaches and classmates. By all accounts, he was affable, American, but what you believe in.” Ironically 160 years well-liked and displayed a caring heart and generosity later we still debate immigration policy. Maybe the that belied his age. His infectious smile and attitude solution might be as simplistic as that axiom. Maybe it There were plenty of great acomplishments, records, honors and goals attained in 2012. Here could transform the mood of an individual…or a room is exemplified in Serxho Guraleci. is Wayne State Athletics Top 100 for the year. 8 of individuals. As Coach Winters remarked in his eulogy that day, “Serxho did not create relationships, he created By all accounts, Serxho Guraleci brought an unvarnished friendships.” And he had a lot of them. exuberance each day to life and shared that with all those that he met. On the day that he died, Head Coach Although each culture has its symbolism to mark death, Paul Winters called a team meeting in the football locker each share equally in its sorrow. In this case, its finality room. It was a family gathering. A place to grieve, a Men’s Tennis & Golf Preview 16 was a sharp contrast to the innocent exuberance, vitality time to comfort, a time to embrace, a time maybe to and freedom of youth. That difficult contrast makes us contemplate Mark Twain’s philosophical perspective. pause and reflect. Softball took home the GLIAC tournament last I won’t violate the trust of that meeting but I will tell you year but now it’ll be up to a younger group to 12 propel the team to its first College World Series Mark Twain had a quote that I have always thought one lasting image for me that afternoon. After he spoke, appearance since 2010. 1 From the Director 6 Academic Achievements profound and over the years have more and more Paul Winters asked if anyone wanted to say something 2 Blanco and Clark 13 Locker Rooms contemplated its significance. He once stated: “the two about Serxho. One by one, player after player, be it from 3 Garina and Lee 14 Donors most important days in your life are the day you are born the suburbs or the City, black or white, from affluence 4 Brian VanGorder IBC Warrior Club and the day you find out why.” Funerals provide a sober or those sustained by less meager resources, many got setting to contemplate that statement. We temporarily up and talked about their friend. Some were emotional, stop the clock to reflect back on a life lost and our own some insightful, some good-natured…but all with love. WWW.WSUATHLETICS.COM CONNECT WITH THE waRRIORS WARRIOR WITHIN Compiled and edited by the WSU Sports Information Office purpose. A time to examine priorities…and maybe to ROB FOURNIER Director of Athletics better define some others. In a society where we seek equality, fairness, and justice, JEFF WEISS Associate A.D./Media Relations JUSTIN ARBOGAST Sports Information Graduate Intern those building blocks were all seated around a locker ADAM BOUTON Sports Information Intern LISA SEYMOUR Assistant Athletic Director Serxho Guraleci had a pretty good perspective on life. room that afternoon. And in the end, maybe, just You felt that from his friends…but you knew it from maybe, a few found the answer to that question, why PRINTING Inland Press - Detroit, Mich. his actions. There was a story told at his funeral how we were born. PHOTOS Mark Hicks (WestSide Photo), Ron Harper, Chuck Anderson, he had petitioned the Michigan High School Athletic Justin Arbogast, and Tom Gorman SPRING 2013 WARRIOR WITHIN | 1 2013 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES - Blanco & clarK 2013 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES - Garina & LEE Bruno Blanco was a three-year medley team that finished eighth with swimming letterwinner (2004-2007) a then school record time of 3:25.83. Ania (Anna) Garina was a a freshman in 2004, beating 2002 for Wayne State University. four-year letterwinner in champion Kerry Walton of Notre The native of Rio de Janiero, Brazil, women’s fencing (2003- Dame, 15-10, in title bout. Garina He was a 19-time All-American in the was a 20-time First Team All-GLIAC 07) for the Green and earned her second straight NCAA pool earning nine First Team honors swimmer earning the honor nine times Gold. national title as a sophomore in as well as 10 Honorable Mention as an individual and 11 times on relays. accolades. 2005, defeating Notre Dame’s Amy Blanco was a four-time individual She was a three-time Orlando in the championship bout, Blanco recorded First Team All-America champion at the GLIAC meet winning national champion (2004- 15-6. honors in the 100 fly all three years the 100 butterfly all three seasons, 05, 2007) and a four-time placing third as a senior after finishing while also claiming the 200 butterfly sixth and eighth the two years prior. title in 2005 in a time of 1:52.97. Each First Team All-American. As a junior she finished second in His 2007 time of 49.12 broke his own year he set the GLIAC conference meet 2006 at NCAA Championships school record. record in the 100 fly with a senior time Garina was the first three- Ania (Anna) Garina, falling to Penn State’s Katarzyna of 49.65. time NCAA champion in Fencing Trzopek in title bout, 12-11. He also earned six First Team All-America women’s epee history and 2003-2007 accolades as part of relays with four In addition, he was a member of three coming during his senior campaign. GLIAC relay championships. As a senior, only the fourth women in Garina captured the 2007 NCAA At the 2007 NCAA Championship he swam the butterfly portion of the NCAA fencing history and national title, beating Notre Dame’s meet, he swam the butterfly portion of Bruno Blanco, first-place 200 medley relay (1:32.00) first in women’s epee to Kelley Hurley, 15-13, in title bout. Swimming the 200 medley relay (1:30.21) which and 400 medley relay (3:24.08), both win back-to-back NCAA came in under the previous national 2004-07 of which set WSU and GLIAC records. record (1:30.27), but was behind North The 2006 GLIAC champion 200 medley Championships. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, Garina Dakota’s first-place time of 1:29.86. relay squad had set the previous mark graduated from WSU in 2007 with Blanco also swam the butterfly leg of In 2006, Blanco earned two All- at 1:33.89. In addition, she became Athlete of the Year, finished her an accounting degree. the 400 medley relay (3:19.86 - 3rd), American honors as part of school the first WSU female fencer to win career with 199 dual meet wins, the which set the school record. He led record setting relay teams. He swam He was a two-time Academic All- most of any female epeeist in WSU off the 400 freestyle relay (3:04.59 - the third leg of the 200 medley relay GLIAC recipient, along with being an multiple NCAA championships. 6th), which also set a school record, team that placed seventh in a then Academic Honor Roll selection three history. and swam the second leg of the 200 school record time of 1:32.9. He also different semesters. Garina, who was selected as the freestyle relay (1:24.07 - 8th).