Former local standouts part of Cal U’s rising women’s program
CALIFORNIA – Their hearts are on the basketball court, but, for different reasons, neither can do what they once loved so much any more. Still, Uniontown graduate Beth Lengvarsky and Laurel Highlands graduate Shelbey Wardman are happy to be part of one of the hottest women’s basketball teams in the country.
Lengvarsky is a sophomore guard and Wardman is an assistant coach for a California University of Pa.’s squad that is ranked third in NCAA Division I and first in the east region. Coach Darcie Vincent’s Lady Vulcans have yet to taste defeat in 15 games.
Lengvarsky has appeared in just seven of those 15 victories, however, due to a nagging knee injury. She admits this may be her last season on the court and that she is playing this year against the wishes of those close to her.
“My knee is not good, it really isn’t,” Lengvarsky said. “It’s against a lot of people’s will that I’m even on the team. I’ve had four knee surgeries on the same knee. I had the screws taken out on Nov. 1 from the latest operation. It’s painful, but I’m going to finish out the year and see what can be done.”
What won’t be done is another trip to the operating room.
“I refuse to do any more surgeries on it,” Lengvarsky said.
Vincent feels for her injured underclassmen.
“It’s very unfortunate for Beth that since she’s been here, she’s wanted to be part of the team, but her knee has prevented her from doing what she wants to do on the court,” Vincent said. “I feel bad for her, especially mentally.”
“It hurts to sit on the bench and know you’re capable of doing what you used to do,” Lengvarsky admitted. “It’s frustrating, but I’m happy to be on the team, especially a team like this.”
That team has been statistically dominating so far. The Lady Vulcans lead the PSAC in scoring offense, scoring defense, scoring margin, rebounding offense, rebounding defense, rebounding margin, field percentage, field goal percentage defense and assists.
California 5-foot-11 junior forward Becky Siembak is second in the conference in scoring (19.5), and first in rebounding (11.6) and field goal percentage (.624). Senior Susie Gyarfas, a 6-9 center from Budapest, Hungary, leads in blocked shots (4.0). Forward Sameera Philyaw, a 6-1 junior, is third in field goal percentage (.593). Guard Megan Storck, a 5-4 freshman, is sixth in steals (2.43).
Vincent was lauded for the job she did in four years with the Slippery Rock women’s program before being hired by California. She was 52-54 in four years with The Rock. Her record in just two and a half seasons with the Lady Vulcans is 59-16, including 25-6 last year.
The difference is the players, according to Vincent, who is a Duquesne University graduate.
“The players I had at Slippery Rock were a bit more one dimensional than what we have here,” Vincent said. “We have more depth and versatility. Each night I can start a different lineup. Our opponents have to prepare for seven different kids, not just one or two or five. At Slippery Rock we seemed to have specialty players, where here we have more complete players.”
Vincent picked up another asset this season in adding Wardman to her coaching staff, which also includes assistants Andrea Gross and Heather Kearney.
Wardman played under Vincent for two years at Slippery Rock and left the school among the all-time leaders in several offensive categories, including 3-point shooting.
“Midway through last year I asked her if she’d be interested in being an assistant here,” Vincent said. “Heather and I kind of recruited her. Shelbey knows our style of play and what we’re all about. And Shelbey’s more relaxed than the rest of us, so she’s the perfect complement to the rest of the staff. She works with the shooting guards and she’s done a great job with alumni related jobs as well.
“She’s a wonderful asset to our program.”
Wardman misses not playing, though.
“It’s a big adjustment,” she said. “I’ve been playing basketball for the past 13 years. This is the hardest thing I’ve had to do … stay back and coach, but not play.”
Wardman graduated from Slippery Rock in 2002 with a degree in sports management and currently is working on her masters in criminal justice at California.
Wardman is happy with the way her four years at Slippery Rock unfolded, especially on the basketball court.
“I had a better career than I ever thought I would,” she said.
Wardman is back on the court these days in another capacity.
“I’m officiating now,” she said. “In fact, I think I might like that better than coaching. You get a whole different view on things when you look at it from the official’s perspective. It’s a challenge. I’ve done high school games, but I’d like to someday do college games, too.”
But for now, Wardman, Lengvarsky and Vincent are concentrating on what has turned out to be a very special Lady Vulcan season.
“We have rebounding, depth … there are a lot of great qualities about this team,” Wardman said.
“It’s fun to be on such an outstanding team,” Lengvarsky said. “I think this team here if very special.”