The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98466
No Reason To Wait New Head Coach Shawn Rychcik Expects His Team To Win Now A By Ryan Tice fter guiding Boston University to American East Conference championships and NCAA regional berths in three of the last four years, new NC State head softball coach Shawn Rychcik is ready to do similar things in Raleigh. The coach takes over a squad that went 23-31 and finished seventh out of eight teams in the ACC last year, but he expects the Wolfpack to find immediate success on the diamond despite a roster of just 14 athletes. ■PREVIEW softball "I'm expecting to win," he said. "I know it's hard and I know we've got to change some things, get some players in here to address a few needs — we're a little light in pitching — but our expectations here are to win. That's what I think the girls want — they want to win. The majority of them haven't had that success, haven't had that opportunity, but that's out goal. I don't want to be in a rebuilding stage." Rychcik knows he has some very talented players to work with, and he noted that the athletes have taken well to the new coaching staff and its philosophies. Some techniques needed to be tweaked, but there is a solid base in place to build on, and the Pack responded with a 6-1 record during the fall season, showing themselves and everybody else what they are capable of doing. "I told them, 'That's my expectation, don't pat me on the back for doing my job. It's what we're supposed to do here, and we're supposed to win,'" the coach said. "I'm pleased that I know we can compete. We have girls that are competitive. We've got to still get polished up and improve, but there is talent — we have some pitching that can hopefully keep us in games and give our offense the chance to win some games." The team features just two pitchers — sophomore Emily Weiman and freshman Chelsea Stanfield — but the coach is confident in the duo, and the middle of the batting order has some run producers, which should also help the youngsters in the pitching circle. "We've got a pretty small roster and Prior to taking over the Wolfpack, Rychcik led Boston University to American East Conference championships and NCAA regional berths in three of the last four years. photo courtesy nc state media relations 54 ■ the wolfpacker 54,56.Softball Preview.indd 54 12/11/12 2:34 PM