Panther Post
December 2019 - Volume #2
A Message from Heather Lyke
Dear Pitt Athletics Team,
I know it is a bit cliche but time is flying and it feels like a sprint toward the holiday season! It is hard to believe the fall semester and final exam period is over. As I reflect on this semester, it is evident that the changes are happening! For the first time in more than 50 years, our men’s soccer team reached and advanced in the NCAA tournament. Our volleyball team won its third straight ACC Championship, and we saw significant improvements in our other fall sports. Success is contagious, and I can’t thank all of you enough for all of your efforts in making this possible. It is never about one coach, one player or one individual...it is critical we surround our coaches and student-athletes with the best TEAM possible. I am thankful you all are a part of our Pitt Athletics TEAM.
I realize there is no true off-season in this profession, but I hope you all find some time to spend with your loved ones and share in your family’s traditions this holiday season! I love this time of year and holiday traditions! On a personal note, in our family, we begin decorating after Thanksgiving and after our annual Turkey Trot run! The first decoration we put up is always our homemade Advent calendar and then go in search of the biggest “real” tree we can cut down. I have to confess the last few years we have purchased the cut down tree from a local nursery! Did I mention time is flying?! As for cooking and baking, that is not my strong suit. :) As many of you know, everything I make has three ingredients or less, so I make great homemade peppermint bark (white chocolate and candy canes), rice krispie treats with green and red sprinkles (rice krispies, butter, marshmallows) and Christmas waffle pretzels (waffle pretzel, rolo and M&M on top). My poor kids! As for my creative side, every year, a dear friend and I make all the girls in our families a homemade gift using my grandmother’s button collection. She had thousands of buttons she collected so this fulfills my creative outlet and project each year.
Our Christmas day is spent in Canton, Ohio, at my parents’ house where all of my family and extended family congregates. We all wake up and exchange presents early in the morning (this is the ONLY morning that I skip my run!). We open presents one-by-one, youngest to oldest, and repeat until everything is opened. We laugh, play cards and games and often build a puzzle that was opened! There is no question it is important to make time to create memories and share in traditions with our loved ones during the holidays!
Every Christmas night, I write my resolution list for the upcoming year. I would encourage all of you to take some time over the next few weeks to think about the impact you made and all that we accomplished as a team in 2019 as well as what you can do to make a positive difference in our Department in 2020!
I wish you all a joyous holiday season and a healthy and happy 2020 filled with lots of WINS and MEMORABLE MOMENTS!
Hail to Pitt!
Heather
Welcome to Pitt Athletics!
New Hire | Title | Alma Mater | Office Location |
Devan Besong | Administrative Assistant | University of Pittsburgh (Bachelor's) | Fitzgerald Field House |
Samantha Bowlsbey | Assistant Director of Equipment | Ohio University (Bachelor's, Master's) | Petersen Sports Complex |
Matthew Kovacs | Assistant Director of Compliance | Roanoke College (Bachelor's), Liberty University (Master's) | Petersen Events Center (Lawn Level) |
Zack Matthews | Assistant Director of Development, Finance & Accounting | Ohio University (Bachelor's) | Petersen Events Center (Lobby Level) |
Congratulations Corner
Best Wishes to Penny and Kristian!
Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student Life Penny Semaia and Kristian McCloud were married Nov. 29, 2019, in Syracuse, N.Y.
Staff Spotlight
Fall 2019 Employee of the Quarter: Seth Graham!
- What video game are you hooked on right now?
- Cuphead
- What’s the best holiday gift you’ve ever received?
- I was given a Nintendo 64 as a kid!
- Do you have any unusual holiday traditions?
- For Christmas each year we go to Christmas Tea at the Omni William Penn hotel.
- What is your favorite memory of 2019?
- Becoming a homeowner.
- What were you doing in December of the year 2009?
- My high school football team I played on just won the PIAA State Championship.
- If you could invent a holiday, what would it be?
- My holiday would be National Disconnect Day - where the Internet gets shut down and everyone has to go outside and be offline for an entire day.
- Is a hotdog a sandwich? (and why)
- No. A hot dog is a hot dog.
Announcements
Pitt Athletics Phone Directory
The Pitt Athletics Phone Directory has been updated!
It is also available on the P: Drive (P:\1. BUSINESS OFFICE FORMS\Phone Lists)
Pitt United Way Campaign
The Pitt United Way Campaign has reached 70% of our $750,000 goal, and we need your help to get to 100%. This Friday, December 20 at noon is the deadline to make a payroll pledge online.
The deductions will begin in January. After December 20, credit card and bill me transactions can still be done online, and all other transactions can be done via paper pledge form.
It is easy to direct your dollars anywhere you’d like. Whether that’s an organization that you are passionate about, a particular area of community need, or a human services agency – any of these will benefit from your pledge to the United Way. If you are not sure where to give, but would like your United Way gift to help those in greatest need, make your gift to the Impact Fund.
Did you hear that everyone who donates gets entered into a drawing for great prizes? By donating now, you will be entered into the campus-wide prize drawings from now through March 2nd for prizes such as a vacation day, Pitt gear, lunch for two at the University Club, or a cake from Oakland Bakery. The next Pitt United Way prize giveaway will be January 6, 2020.
Donate online now at my.pitt.edu.
Thank you for supporting our community!
Athletic Events During Winter Recess
- Wrestling at Maryland - Friday, Dec. 20 (7 p.m., College Park, Md.)
- Men's Basketball vs. Binghamton - Friday, Dec. 20 (7 p.m., Petersen Events Center)
- Women's Basketball at Cincinnati - Saturday, Dec. 21 (2 p.m., Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Football vs. Eastern Michigan (Quick Lane Bowl) - Thursday, Dec. 26 (8 p.m., Detroit, Mich.)
- Men's Basketball vs. Canisius - Monday, Dec. 30 (Noon, Petersen Events Center)
- Women's Basketball at North Carolina - Monday, Dec. 30 (2 p.m., Chapel Hill, N.C.)
- Wrestling at Southern Scuffle - Jan. 1-2 (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
- Women's Basketball vs. Notre Dame - Thursday, Jan. 2 (7 p.m., Petersen Events Center)
Happy Holidays from The Panther Club!
We wish you a wonderful holiday season filled with family and friends, and a New Year blessed with good health and happiness. Thank you for your support of our student-athletes and the department.
- The Panther Club
Join Us!
Book Club
The Book Club selection for the month of December is is Conviction by Denise Mina! It is a thrilling murder-mystery that combines suspense, international intrigue and the murder of an entire family aboard a ship. It follows one woman who may just have all the answers...
Morning Hoops
Join us every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 a.m. sharp for Morning Hoops!
Meet in the PEC Practice Gym unless otherwise noted.
(and don't forget to bring your game)
Pitt Is Fit
Recipe of the Month
Exercise of the Month
Prone I-Y-T
Piggybacking off of last month’s issue, the common trend in today’s workplace environment involves sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time. This month we will address upper body deficiencies with the Prone I-Y-T. Below are the steps to perform this exercise:
- Lay on your stomach on a flat surface, with forehead facing the ground extend your arms overhead making the shape of an “I”.
- Point your thumbs to the ceiling, and keep them pointed up for the duration of the exercise.
- Use the muscles of your upper back to lift your arms off of the floor for recommended reps or time.
- Move your arms out to a 45 degree angle into the shape of a “Y”, and squeeze your upper back lifting your arms off the floor. Perform recommended reps or time.
- Move your arms once more so they are straight out to the side, making a “T”. Again, lift your arms off the floor for recommended reps or time.
This can be done for repetitions, such as 3 sets of 10 or for time, such as 3 sets of 30 seconds at each position. This exercise helps to strengthen the muscles of the shoulder and upper back, which tend to get weak from prolonged sitting in a slouched position. If done regularly, this exercise will help to reduce discomfort in the upper back and improve posture.