Panther Athletics dive into Winter Season

The Plymouth State University fall athletic teams are still out on the field and on the court, but that doesn’t stop the winter programs from getting underway this weekend. The Women’s Swimming and Diving team will kick off the winter season for Panther athletics, participating in the Wellesley College Relays on Saturday, November 5. The Panthers are looking to rebound after going 1-7 last season, finishing 11th in the New England Championships. The rest of Plymouth State’s winter teams get their seasons underway in the next few weeks. Men’s Ice Hockey is first up, beginning their season Saturday, November 12 at home against Nichols. The Panthers got back on the winning track last season, posting a 13-10-2 record while reaching the ECAC semifinals. Women’s Basketball kicks off their season Friday, November 18 when they host Roger Williams in the Cobblestone Inn Tournament. The Panthers are hoping to turn their luck around this year after going 9-16 for their second-straight losing season. Women’s Ice Hockey begins its season the following day, taking on North Country Community College at home. The Panthers completed their first season as a varsity team in 2004-05, going 3-8-0 in their inaugural year. Wrestling wraps up the weekend with their own season opener, competing in the Oneonta State Invitational on Sunday, November 20. The Panthers finished 6-14 last season, but improved to sixth in the New England Championships after finishing tenth in the 2003-04 season. Wrapping up season openers this month is Men’s Basketball, which hosts Castleton State on Tuesday, November 22. The Panthers had another solid season after going 19-10 for 2004-05, but came up just short in their bid for an NCAA berth after losing a double-overtime thriller to Western Connecticut in the Little East finals. The only teams not getting underway are the Men’s and Women’s Skiing programs. Competition doesn’t begin until January 13, 2006, when they travel to Cranmore Mountain. For a complete schedule of events for the 2005-06 season, please visit http://www.plymouth.edu/athletic/.