THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 1996 TAG: 9605040508
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 99 lines
They hear the same jokes over and over. Listen to the radio endlessly. Talk about life.
For Hampton Roads Mariners Mark Waite and Chris Penny, life really is a highway - one that runs from Pennsylvania to Virginia Beach.
Every week, the commuting Mariners pack up their soccer gear and head to Virginia Beach, or wherever the team is playing. They play in the Mariners' weekend games, then head back to Pennsylvania so Penny can get some sleep before returning to work at 8 a.m. each Monday.
``We have a lot of fun,'' Penny said. ``We do a lot of male bonding on the way down. We lived together for two years, but now we know each other more as people.''
The two students have been making the trek every weekend since the beginning of April and will continue to do so until May 12. At that point, Penny will graduate from Lock Haven University and Waite's graduate school at Bloomsburg University breaks for the summer.
`It's tough,'' Waite said of the commute. ``Last year, I lived in Virginia Beach and I was there from the beginning. This is very hard. First, because there are new players and you don't see them until the weekend. Second, you have to travel seven hours to get to games. I'm exhausted by the time I get back.''
Waite captained the Mariners from midfield during the past two seasons. This year, he decided it was time to go back to school. Unfortunately, the university that offered him the chance to pursue a master's degree in communications and teach soccer was seven hours away. After discussing the situation with Mariners general manager/coach Shawn McDonald, Waite decided to embark on perhaps the longest six weeks of his life.
``I've been loyal to the team and worked hard for two years,'' Waite said. ``But still, I don't know if lots of other coaches would put up with this.''
For Penny, the situation is slightly different. The senior health and physical education major is entering his first professional season. Earlier this year, he signed with the National Professional League's Philadelphia Kicks indoor team. He is on loan to the Mariners for the summer.
Penny has to adapt to the professional ranks while meeting the demands of his final semester of college.
``Right now it's a little strange, not being with the team all week,'' he said. ``We drive all that way and play 90 minutes of professional soccer with people we don't know that well. The players help us when we're down there, they help you fit in. I feel like the team chemistry may be missing a little bit.''
However, the chemistry between Waite and Penny is not. While Penny jokes about hearing the same lines and stories over and over, each has helped the other survive the trying trips. In fact, Waite is the one who brought the Mariners and Penny together. Sort of.
``I made Shawn aware of him,'' Waite said. ``Chris is a great player. I said it would be good to get him on our team. I told Chris about things at the beach and the nightclubs. Shawn told him about the team stuff.''
It is the team stuff that is new to the rookie defender. Trying to adapt from college to the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues' Select League is trying enough. Adding the separation issue intensifies the hardship.
``It's really a strange environment for me, because I'm not familiar with the area or the team,'' Penny said. ``Then we have to act and play as a team. It must be hard for the team to adapt to the way we play. I don't know what to expect, week to week, with new players and everything.''
It's been hard for McDonald to lead practices without two of his starters. He said he had agreed to the situation because both players bring solid talent to the Mariners' lineup. Further, neither is under the $70,000 salary cap until he joins the team full time. Waite and Penny receive travel expenses and an appearance fee each game.
Perhaps the most difficult part of the separation from the Mariners is conditioning. Waite and Penny concentrate on fitness because they have no one to practice with at home.
``I try to do as much fitness as possible,'' Penny said. ``The college teams have finished playing, so there's no organized practice. The work now is pure fitness - we don't have any ball work.''
What they do have is patience.
Tonight at 5, Waite will drive to Lock Haven to pick up Penny. The two will make the four-hour trek to Delaware for Saturday's game. After the game, they will drive to Virginia Beach for Sunday's 5 p.m. match against the Long Island Rough Riders, then head home.
Penny, a native of England, has added another wrinkle to this weekend's series. His parents, who have never seen him play in America, are coming over. They will see both games this weekend, and his graduation next weekend.
After the Mariners' game next Saturday on Long Island, Penny and Waite will move to Virginia Beach.
``It'll make a great difference,'' Waite said. ``I can't wait. I'll get into game shape and get to be more of a part of the team.''
But Penny said he may miss the weekend commute.
``It's been great,'' he said. ``I wouldn't change anything about it - apart from making Virginia Beach be a lot closer.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
``We have a lot of fun,'' Chris Penny, above, says of the treks he
and fellow student Mark Waite make to play for the Mariners.
by CNB