Published on March 1, 2018 at 12:30 am Contact Billy: wmheyen@syr.edu | @Wheyen3 Julie Cross picked up her first start of the season as Syracuse’s draw specialist last Thursday in a win over Albany.She took the first two draws of the game, winning one. But the third draw was taken by Morgan Widner. The two rotated most of the first half.Then, just before halftime, Widner tore the ACL and meniscus in her right knee. In the second half against Albany and now going forward, the draw is Cross’ to win — or lose.“I knew that I had to step up,” Cross said. “… In that moment I’m just thinking I’ve got to work as hard as I can, not only for myself or my team but for Morgan.”Widner will miss the rest of the season with her knee injury. Cross, who entered the campaign as Widner’s assumed backup, becomes the starter for No. 7 Syracuse (3-0). No one on the roster beside those two has taken a draw this season. The coaching staff has named Grace Fahey, a freshman, the backup to Cross, but it’ll be Cross assuming a role she anticipated sharing with Widner.AdvertisementThis is placeholder text“I obviously am going to step into a bigger role now,” Cross said. “I think just the trust in my teammates is going to be really crucial.”At 6-foot-1, the draw has always been a natural spot for Cross to contribute. At Syracuse, though, the position has been crowded. Cross, a junior, sat behind all-time great Kayla Treanor in her first season on campus. Then, Widner came in for 2017 and set the SU single-season freshman draws record.Those two standout performers minimized Cross’ draw reps. Her freshman season ended with just three draw controls. She jumped up to 14 in her sophomore year. So far this season, Cross has won 12 draws.With a thinner depth chart, Syracuse will likely stick with Cross even when she struggles. She’ll have to mix up her strategy to ensure the increased frequency of draw attempts doesn’t result in a lower success rate.“It’s going to be a lot of pressure,” Cross said. “But I think I can handle it mentally and physically.”Anna Henderson | Digital Design EditorA lot of work goes into winning a draw. Cross emphasized how important film will be for her to be prepared for an opposing draw specialist. In the past, Cross has almost always relied on using power to win draws while Widner used finesse. But now, Cross said she needs to add finesse to her game as well.To help her on each variety of draw, Cross said that there’s a power stick and a finesse stick. When asked about the difference, Cross said that the power stick is stronger but then laughed and said there wasn’t much difference. It comes down to reacting to her opponent, the ball placement and the referee’s whistle, she said.Syracuse assistant coach Regy Thorpe and Cross both emphasized the importance of wing play on draws, especially with this season’s new rules. Only three players, including the draw taker, can be inside the circle when play is initiated. With fewer players in the circle, the draw taker can be strategic and aim for a wing instead of just flicking the ball straight up. That leads to more 50-50 balls and, at least conceptually, less dependence on the draw specialist to dominate single-handedly.“If I can’t get (the draw) how I want to, I’m going to start relying more on the circle,” Cross said.Cross won’t be totally alone in taking draws. Instead of practicing them with Widner, she’s practiced with Fahey this week. The freshman from Boxford, Massachusetts, took draws in high school and would have been next up to take one against Albany if Cross needed a break, Fahey said. She worked sparingly on draws earlier in the season when the two players in front of her were healthy, but it’s become a more frequent aspect of her practices since Widner’s injury.Regardless of who heads out to the faceoff X at No. 11 Virginia on Sunday to take draws, it’ll be a group effort with the draw taker and the wings. Thorpe emphasized that the loss of Widner hurts but spoke also to the “next-man up” mentality that all the players have. That mindset sets Cross up to not miss a beat in the bigger role she now finds herself in.“I need to buy in and realize that now I’m going to be the girl taking the draw,” Cross said. “If I mess up, if I have a bad day, I’m going to need to fix it then.” Comments Facebook Twitter Google+
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Letterkenny artist Peadar McDaid scoops Derek Hill Award
Letterkenny painter Peadar McDaid is delighted to be this year’s recipient of the Derek Hill Award.Four pieces of Peadar’s art were selected, and he was awarded the overall prize at the Glebe Gallery last night.Speaking to Donegal Daily, Peadar says: “It’s great! It’s a nice feeling to get the award. Derek Hill has been an inspiration to a lot of artists and to pick up an award in his name is great.” “A lot of very well known artists have taken part in the competition, and to win the overall award – I’m quite chuffed!”Winner of the 2018 Derek Hill award Peadar McDaid pictured with the judges of the competition Michael McGee and Una Campbell pictured with Curator Adrian Kelly. Photo Brian McDaidTom Agnew, Marvin Baldemor, Samantha Ellis-Fox, Kate McSorley, Dee M. Shanny and Ruairi L Rodgers also scooped Glebe Gallery prizes.Glebe House and Gallery, located in Churchill, was the home to world renowned artist Derek Hill for 30 years. It now houses a wonderful array of artwork and plays host to artists from across the county showcasing their work.Artists in arms. Former winner Philip Mackey congratulates Peadar McDaid overalll winner of the 2018 Derek Hill award at the Glebe Gallery on Good Friday . Photo Brian McDaid“It’s a great exhibition and competition for people in the county. It’s a great place to show your work, there’s a lot of young Donegal artists and a lot of established artists alike who show their work there,” he says. Geraldine Durning ,Nuala Friel Wright, Rosin Mc Bride Margaret Jackson and Caroline Mackey at the Glebe Gallery. Photo by Brian McDaidPeadar has been painting for the past three decades, and teaches art full time. Peadar also runs an art programme that encourages positive mental health.The Letterkenny painter submitted four pieces to the competition, and although they were individual paintings it proved to be a winning combination.“I started walking last year and did a big walk for mental health last May which was an eight day walk around Donegal. I had taken photographs and gathered information about the county, I also did walks in Sligo and the Antrim coast and it gave me inspiration to work and to paint the landscape I had seen.“One of the paintings is based on a photograph of a man called Danny O’Donnell’s homeplace. It’s where his parents were born, where he was born, and where his kids were born.”Another one of his paintings captured a charming country road by the sublime heights of Bloodyforeland, with another painting depicting a breathtaking Turneresque cityscape. “The fourth piece was what I called a ‘wee book of paintings’. It’s twenty small paintings, smaller than the size of a postcard. They’re slightly abstract but are based on the colours of the landscape, the sea, the mountains, and rivers. They’re all oil on paper and are very small!”Peadar had been shortlisted for the award for the past five or six years, and was delighted to scoop the 2018 title.“I’d like to thank the judges for selecting me, putting me through and giving me the award. I’d like to thank the staff, Adrian, Jean, Noleen and Mary for their work, they’re very friendly and helpful.“Most importantly I’d like to say to the artists who submitted work and weren’t selected to keep it up, it just depends on the selectors on the day, don’t ever think your work is bad. “I’d like to commend the other artists that were selected and the runners up.”Letterkenny artist Peadar McDaid scoops Derek Hill Award was last modified: March 31st, 2018 by Elaine McCalligShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:derek hill awardglebe galleryletterkennypeadar mc daid