College Report: Valley natives helping UIndy girls basketball thrive

With a roster one-third full of Wabash Valley natives, the University of Indianapolis women’s basketball team is ranked fourth in the 2009-10 Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll, released this week.
UIndy (24-10 in 2008-09) enters the season returning most of the nucleus of a club that made its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance a season ago.
Terre Haute North junior Samantha Meissel, who needs only 42 points to reach the 1,000 mark for her young career, leads nine returning players for third-year Head Coach LeAnn Freeland.
Meissel was named a first-team pre-season all-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection. South Putnam senior Jessica Canary was a second-team all-GLVC pick. Canary needs just 25 points to join the 1,000-point club.
Owen Valley freshmen guards Nickole and Heather Gonser are newcomers for the Greyhounds this year.
Last season, Meissel averaged 18.7 points per game in earning first-team all-GLVC honors. Canary led the team in rebounding and blocks and averaged 14.4 points per game.
The Greyhounds ended the season ranked 24th in the USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Final Poll.
• • •
• Whitted first-team all-Summit — IUPUI senior post player Julia Whitted of Northview was recently named to the pre-season first-team all-Summit League women’s basketball team.
IUPUI, which finished fourth in The Summit League a year ago, returns two starters from the 2008-09 squad, including Whitted, who averaged 13.2 points per game to go along with 8.4 rebounds. In conference play, the 6-foot-5 center upped her play, posting 14.2 points and 9.3 boards in 18 games.
She became the 19th IUPUI women’s basketball player to go over the 1,000-point plateau in her final game of the 2008-09 season and has 1,004 points in her career. Overall, the first-team selection was the fourth straight for Whitted, who earned the honors at the end of her sophomore year and was on both preseason and postseason first teams last year.
IUPUI was picked to finish sixth in the conference, and will open the 2009-10 campaign with an exhibition versus Kentucky State on Monday at Conseco Fieldhouse. The Jaguars will open the regular season at Akron on Nov. 13 and will head to Bloomington to take on Indiana at 2 p.m. on Nov. 15.
• • •
• Duncan to EIU — Marshall quarterback Taylor Duncan recently made a verbal commitment to play college football at Eastern Illinois.
He also considered Illinois State and Ball State.
Eastern loses both starter Jake Christensen, who is a graduate student after transferring from Iowa, and previous starter Bodie Reeder, also in his final year of college eligibility.
“My mindset is to go there and compete,” Duncan told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette. “I can’t tell you what’s going to happen. I’m not expecting to start or anything. I am expecting to go there and work hard.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Duncan has passed for more than 1,000 yards this season. As a junior he racked up 1,891 yards on 105-for-186 passing with 24 touchdowns and four interceptions and 743 yards and 13 touchdowns on 156 rushes for a 7-4 team.
“Last year we were a pass-oriented team and this year we’re 50-50,” Marshall Coach Todd Evers told the Journal-Gazette. “He’s done a good job taking on the leadership as a senior. His (passing) attempts are 60 percent of what they were last year. His numbers being down really don’t reflect how he has progressed. He’s a very smart quarterback. I know he’ll succeed at the next level.”

FOOTBALL
Casey-Westfield
• Nick Murphy, Rose-Hulman, Sr. — Has two interceptions, including one he returned 52 yards for a touchdown.
• Mitch Snyder, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — Has completed 3 of 7 passes for 24 yards and one touchdown.
• Aaron Rhoads, Eastern Illinois, Fr. — No statistics this season.
• Kaleb Brandenburg, McKendree, Fr. — No statistics available.
• Andrew Kuhn, McKendree, Fr. — No statistics available.
Greencastle
• Kyle Nobles, Indianapolis, Fr. — Has not played this season.
Hutsonville-Palestine
• Ryan Roberts, Indiana State, So. — Has rushed 70 times for 279 yards and four touchdowns, while completing 38 of 83 passes for 360 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.
Local connections
• Shaine Tierney, St. Francis, Jr. — Has rushed 55 times for 373 yards and seven touchdowns, and has also completed 120 of 180 passes for 1,448 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.
• James Kirkendoll, Texas, Jr. — Has made 22 catches for 209 yards and one touchdown.
• Anthony Oden, Fr., Arkansas — No statistics available.
Linton
• Lance Irwin, Rose-Hulman, So. — Has made four tackles, including 0.5 for losses.
• Derek Barker, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — No statistics available.
Marshall
• Derek Eitel, Rose-Hulman, Sr. — Has completed 143 of 240 passes for 1,989 yards and seven touchdowns with nine interceptions.
• Tyler Howard, Indiana State, So. — No statistics available.
• Travis Johnson, Indiana State, Fr. — Has completed 22 of 48 passes for 152 yards with three interceptions.
Martinsville
• Bobby Short, Rose-Hulman, So. — Has made eight tackles.
• Ethan Nash, Rose-Hulman, So. — No statistics available.
Northview
• Joe Evinger, Louisville, Jr. — Has moved up to No. 2 on the depth chart at left guard after missing the first two weeks of practice due to administrative problems with his transfer. Has played in the last three games against Southern Mississippi, Connecticut and Cincinnati.
• Matt Crooks, Marian, Jr. — Has not yet kicked in a varsity game.
• Dylan Kruse, Marian, Fr. — No statistics available.
• Damon Smith, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available.
Owen Valley
• Ethan Kestenman, Rose-Hulman, So. — No statistics available.
Robinson
• Ben Wassel, Rose-Hulman, Sr. — Has made 20 tackles, including 2.5 for losses.
• Logan Laflin, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — Has carried the ball twice for four yards.
• Josh Kincaid, Southern Illinois, Fr. — Has made one solo tackle.
Rockville
• Mitch Downs, Franklin, Jr. — Has 57 carries for 247 yards and two touchdowns to lead team in rushing.
• Zach Clapp, DePauw, So. — Has not played this season.
• Kyle Fahey, Manchester, So. — No statistics available.
• Matt King, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available.
South Putnam
• Drew Christy, Rose-Hulman, Sr. — Remains sidelined due to injury.
• Conor Frame, Wabash, Fr. — Has played in one game this season.
Terre Haute North
• Steve Englehart, Rose-Hulman, head coach — Coached team to 4-4 record through eight games.
• Mike Ellis, Rose-Hulman, assistant coach — Has helped coach team to 4-4 record through eight games.
• Ethan Tyler, Rose-Hulman, assistant coach — Has helped coach team to 4-4 record through eight games.
• Derek Guggenberger, Butler, Sr. — Ranks third on team with 38 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and also has three sacks and one fumble recovery.
• Shawn Hines, Franklin, Sr. — No statistics available.
• Dan Millington, Indiana State, Sr. — Has made 31 tackles, six for loss, with three sacks.
• Justin Hall, Marian, Jr. — Has made four catches for 38 yards.
• Dan Watson, Marian, Jr. — Has played in one game this season.
• Chris Russell, Anderson, Jr. — Has 12 catches for 96 yards.
• Matt Seliger, Indiana State, So. — Has one incomplete pass this season.
• Aaron Edwards, Indiana State, So. — No statistics available.
• Jake Schaffer, Wabash, So. — Has not played this season.
• Scott Weatherford, Eastern Illinois, Fr. — Has not punted yet this season.
• Wade Bush, Indiana State, Fr. — Has no statistics this season.
• Frank Willis, Taylor, Fr. — Has one reception for four yards.
Terre Haute South
• Trent Miles, Indiana State, head coach — Picked up first collegiate head coaching victory against Western Illinois on Oct. 24.
• Pat Duncan, Rose-Hulman, Sr. — Has made 33 tackles, 7 for losses, 3.5 for sacks and four passes broken up.
• Michael Engle, DePauw, Jr. — Has rushed 6 times for 14 yards and one touchdown, and also has completed 22 of 41 passes for 420 yards with three TD passes and one interception.
• Kyle Harruff, Southern Illinois, Jr. — Has one pass reception for 14 yards.
• Kyle Toney, Indiana State, Jr. — Has no statistics for this season.
• Derrelle Hankins, Marian, So. — Has played in nine games, starting six, with 22 tackles (one for loss) and one fumble recovery.
• Koby Kraemer, Indiana State, So. — Has returned 23 kickoffs for 423 yards with a long of 36.
• Brock Lough, Indiana State, So. — Has four carries for seven yards and four receptions for 37 yards.
• Michael Mardis, Indiana State, Fr. — Has six catches for 30 yards this season.
• Josh Bridwell, Indianapolis, Fr. — Has started last eight games as offensive lineman.
• Brandon Heaton, Indianapolis, Fr. — Has not played this season.
• Elias Brown, Indiana State, Fr. — Has no statistics this season.
West Vigo
• Kameron Silcock, Franklin, Fr. — Has one pass reception for 19 yards and one kickoff return for 15 yards.
• Lucas Mackey, Hanover, Fr. — Has made one interception and ranks eighth on team with 22 tackles (two for losses).

October 31, 2009 11:48 pm

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College Report: Boyd back to Iowa, Graves playing in Europe

Two of the most recognizable names from the last 10 years of Wabash Valley athletics are in the news.
Former Union High School and Iowa basketball Brody Boyd has left the Wabash Valley for a second time to go to Iowa City, while ex-White River Valley and Butler basketball star A.J. Graves has started a pro career in Europe.
Boyd came back to the Wabash Valley after graduating from Iowa, and last winter served as an assistant coach on Mike Saylor’s staff at Terre Haute South. He has returned to what he calls his “second home” of Iowa City and is a program director at the North Dodge Recreational Club, while also helping coach the high school basketball team at Regina High School in Iowa City.
The lofty status given to former Hawkeyes, as well as the great experience he had there, guided Boyd back to his collegiate home.
“There are no pro sports here, and the kids look up to every Hawkeye player that comes through,” he said. “It is now my turn to be an inspiration to the kids and people who watched me play. I love it here.”
Boyd tells the players he is guiding that what happens to them is under their control.
“They want to know what it takes to get to the next level,” Boyd said. “I tell them to have a basketball and a pair of shorts and shoes, and the future is in their hands. It takes work, work, work.”
Boyd led the Hawkeyes in steals in 2004 and in 3-point shooting percentage in 2003.
Graves finished his Butler career as one of the best players in school history, but after one year of working in the private sector in Indianapolis the absence of basketball in his life led him to hire an agent and eventually land a job playing for the PBG Basket Poznan team in the Polska Liga Koszykowki league in Poznan, Poland.
“A year ago, I thought I had life figured out,” Graves told the Greene County Daily World. “I was completely mistaken. I wanted to walk away from the sport knowing that I could have played pro if I had chosen to. However, as the months passed by, I realized that the ‘not knowing’ was driving me crazy.”
In the regular-season opener Graves played 22 minutes and scored two points on two free throws, and had three assists.
During the preseason Graves said he averaged between 20 and 25 minutes a game, and had games of 19 and 17 points.
I I I
n Bits and pieces — The local connections of DePauw quarterback Spud Dick were overlooked in the Oct. 4 College Report.
Dick is the son of Roz and Gerry Dick, the former WTWO on-air personality who today hosts “Inside Indiana Business With Gerry Dick.” Spud’s grandmother, Judy, lives in Terre Haute with her husband, also named Gerry.
The family is originally from Clinton and has numerous relatives throughout the Wabash Valley.
Spud (yes, also named Gerry) graduated from Lawrence Central before moving on to Greencastle to destroy the DePauw record book. He led Lawrence Central to 10 victories his senior year.
n Several spring sports athletes have also found new homes.
Terre Haute South senior Jacob Hayes officially committed to play baseball for Ohio State last month, while former South softball standout Kelly Fougerousse has landed at Mid-Continent University in Kentucky. Fougerousse played one season at South Georgia College, qualifying for the National Junior College Athletic Association Championships, and played last season at Olney Central.
Turkey Run’s Alex Woody, a left-handed hitting catcher, is on ISU’s softball roster while former Casey-Westfield infielder Heather Austin is on the roster at IUPUI.
n Northview grad Matt Crooks made his first collegiate game appearance in a JV contest in September. Crooks, a junior, kicked five extra points. He and Terre Haute North grads Justin Hall and Dan Watson are three of the 10 remaining players from Ted Karras’ inaugural recruiting class three years ago.
n Southern Indiana head coach Rodney Watson has hired Chrisman native and former USI player Brent Owen as a graduate assistant coach.
Owen makes the switch from player to coaching staff after four seasons with the program. The three-time Academic All-GLVC performer, who appeared in 54 games as a member of the Screaming Eagles, posted his best game last season with career-high eight points in the win over Maryville University.
Prior to playing for USI, Owen was an Illinois All-State performer at Chrisman High School.
“Brent has already proven to be an invaluable member to our coaching staff,” said Watson. “Brent loves this university, appreciates his education, and is proud of USI basketball. He has helped us maneuver throughout the campus and community.
Owen graduated from USI this spring with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He is beginning work on a master’s degree in education.

CROSS COUNTRY
Bloomfield
Laura Riggins, Jr., Indianapolis – Finished 275 overall in 22:21 at the 37th Annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational.
Clay City
Adam Schroer, Jr., Taylor – Has not run this fall.
Greencastle
Joe Franklin, head coach, New Mexico – Has coached the Lobos to No. 21 rankings for both men and women.
Bethany Schroeder, Jr., Indianapolis – No results available.
Andy Weatherford, So., Indiana – Ran second for Indiana in the Indiana Open.
North Central
Robert Shiflett, Jr., Purdue – Has not run this fall.
Ethan Jacob, Fr., Southern Indiana – Has not run this fall.
North Vermillion
Clint Burney, So., Hanover – Finished 216th out of 265 runners with a time of 6:27.2 in the Wilmington Fall Classic.
Northview
Emily Pugh, Sr., Indiana State – Finished 63rd overall and fifth on team at Notre Dame Invitational in 19:11.
John Latta, So., Southern Indiana – Ran seventh on the team in 26:26.20 in the GLVC-MIAA Challenge, finishing 46th.
Kylee Thacker, Fr., Indiana State – Finished 117th overall and seventh on team at Notre Dame Invitational in 20:00.
Allie True, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Finished in the team’s top 10 in the Greater Louisville Classic.
Casandra Barnett ,Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Finished in the team’s top 10 in the Greater Louisville Classic.
Owen Valley
Micah York, Fr., Taylor – Had a time of 25:28 in the Bethel Invitational.
Robinson
David Ulrich, So., Olivet Nazarene – Finished 161st overall in 10:20 in the Brissman/Lundeen Invitational.
Shakamak
Austin Witt, Fr., Grand Valley State – Ran fourth on the team in the Michigan Intercollegiates, placing 17th in 25:53.1.
South Putnam
Caitlyn Croan, Jr., Franklin – Finished 117th in 7:02.2 in the Wilmington Fall Invitational.
Shannon Egold, So., Franklin – Finished 27th in 6:29.89, third on the team, in the Wilmington Fall Invitational.
Tyler Heavin, Fr., Franklin – Finished 59th in 32:11.31 in the Sodexo Grizzly Invite.
South Vermillion
Julia Costello, Sr., Indiana State – Finished 13th overall and third on team at Bradley Open in 18:56.
Terre Haute North
Kayla Alexander, Sr., Indiana State – Finished 28th overall, third on team, in Notre Dame Invitational in 18:38.
Josh Bedford, Jr., Indiana State – Placed 14th in Sycamore Pride in 16:45.0.
Zach Mayhew, Fr., Indiana – Named Big Ten “Runner of the Week” for winning his first collegiate race in the Indiana Open. He won by more than two seconds with a career-best time of 25:31.96.
Chad Braun, So., Rose-Hulman – Had season best time of 30:14 in Wilmington Invitational.
Kaycee Swofford, So., Taylor – Ran seventh on the team and 39th overall in a time of 21:09 in the Bethel Invitational.
Brandon Query, Fr., Indiana State – Finished 16th in Sycamore Pride in 17:14.0.
Terre Haute South
Adriane Wunderlich, Sr., Indiana State – Finished 112th overall and sixth on team at Notre Dame Invitational in 19:56.
Kristy Twitchell, So., Indiana State – Finished 62nd overall and ninth on team at Bradley Open in 20:55.
Andrew Sullivan, Fr., Indiana State – Finished 13th in Sycamore Pride race in 16:36.5.
Brianne Steppe, Fr., Franklin – Finished 206th overall in 8:00.4 in the Wilmington Fall Invitational.
White River Valley
Jennifer Hughes, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – No results available.
GOLF
Casey-Westfield
Jon Matthews, Sr., Monmouth – Stats not available.
Greencastle
David Lilly, Jr., Heidelberg – Opened play with a team-best round of 75 in the Mount Union Invitational and returned with an 81 to finish at 156, good enough for a tie for 30th.
Linton-Stockton
Chris Taylor, Sr., Southern Indiana – Shot a 76-79-155, fourth best on the team, as USI won the Maryville Fall Invitational.
Rachael Pruett, Jr., Ball State – Tied for 19th with a 75-77-152 as Ball State finished second of 16 teams in the Cardinal Classic.
Northview
Kade Baker, Fr., Rend Lake – Shot an 82 to lead Rend Lake’s No. 2 team in the Rend Lake Fall Classic.
Paris
Kadie Savoree, Jr., Valparaiso – Finished 29th overall with rounds of 144-140-284 in the Green Bay Lady Phoenix Fall Classic.
Robinson
Travis Whithaus, Fr., Vincennes – Shot 89-78-167 in the Vincennes Fall Classic.
South Putnam
Matt Hicks, Sr., Franklin – Played third on team at Manchester Fall Invitational by shooting 75-84-159.
South Vermillion
Joe Giacoletto, So., Rose-Hulman – Placed 49th among 58 golfers in Franklin Fall Invitational with 85-91-186.
Terre Haute North
Matt Payne, Sr., Franklin – Shot an 86-84-170, third on the team, in the Wittenberg Fall Invitational.
Emily Adams, Fr., Franklin – Has not played this fall.
Danielle Rosselli, So., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Information not available.
Terre Haute South
Diana Price, Jr., Indiana State – Has not played this fall.
Katelyn Gosnell, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Information not available.
Zach Hosking, Fr., Millikin – Does not play a fall schedule.
Turkey Run
Nathan Smith, Fr., Franklin – Shot an 83-89-172 for the Franklin B team in the Franklin Invitational.
ROWING
Terre Haute South
Morgan Rebeck, Fr., Indiana – No results available.
SOCCER
Greencastle
Hannah Spencer, Fr., Marian – Has played in 10 matches, starting none, and has scored one goal.
Local connections
Austen Stoelting (daughter of Traci Russell Stoelting), Fr., Jacksonville (Ala.) State – Has played in 15 matches, starting 13, and has attempted two shots on goal.
Kaitlyn Blacha (former Terre Haute resident), So., Purdue – Has played in eight matches, starting none, and has attempted four shots.
Baba Omosegbon (former Terre Haute resident), So., Harvard – Has started all 11 matches this fall, but has not scored.
Northview
Cayla Yockey, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Riverton Parke
Nicco Ungari, So., Hanover – Has played in two matches, and has not scored.
Sullivan
Briauna Davis, Jr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Emily Lahay, So., Indiana State – Has played in 11 matches at goalkeeper, starting 10, and has allowed only 18 goals while making 51 saves.
Katie Fogelsong, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Terre Haute North
Caitlin Smith, Sr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Erin Pugh, Jr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Chloe Laubert, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods – Stats not available.
Terre Haute South
Brice Humpolick, Jr., Illinois Wesleyan – Has played in 12 matches, starting one, and has two goals and four points.
Anna Pigg, Jr., IUPUI – The defensive specialist has played in 14 matches, starting 13, and has not scored a goal.
Garrett Fredrick, Jr., Manchester – Has played in 12 matches, starting five, and has not scored this fall.
Nicole Forsythe, Fr., Franklin – Has played in nine matches, starting none, and has not scored this fall.
Zachary Pigg, Fr., Indianapolis – Has played in six matches, starting none, and has not scored this fall.
West Vigo
Chandra Cortez, Fr., IUPUI – Has not played this fall.
Pablo Castillo, So., Danville Area CC – No information available.
TENNIS
Bloomfield
Bailey Maryfield, Fr., IUPUI – Won the back draw championship in doubles in the IPFW Invitational.
Owen Valley
Adrian Gillaspy, Fr., Franklin – Played No. 5 singles in fall season.
Jordyn Henson, Fr., Taylor – Has not played this fall.
Paris
Hannah Church, So., Millikin – Has a 0-12 record at No. 1 singles.
Rockville
Kelsey Hartman, Jr., Indianapolis – Won her only singles match of the fall season and has gone 1-3 at No. 2 doubles.
Terre Haute North
Dan Hopkins, head coach, Rose-Hulman – Coached women’s team to second place in HCAC tournament this fall.
Katie Clagg, Sr., Southern Indiana – Went 1-2 in singles matches and 2-2 in doubles during fall season.
Andrew Bostrom, Jr., Southern Indiana – Has not played this fall.
Brittany Farmer, Fr., Butler – Went 6-1 in singles during fall season, winning last four matches. Also went 4-2 in doubles.
Terre Haute South
Maddy Bogle, So., Kentucky Wesleyan – Went 5-2 in singles this fall, alternating between the No. 3 and 4 positions, and recorded a perfect 8-0 doubles record playing No. 1 and No. 2. Last fall, was an Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honoree. She played in 11 singles matches primarily at the No. 3 spot with five wins, and participated in 15 doubles contests at No. 1 position winning nine. She posted six Great Lakes Valley Conference wins in singles and doubles and earned the Women's Tennis Team’s Academic Award. She was also nominated by her coach for GLVC Freshman of the Year.
Katie Bilyeu, So., Valparaiso – Had 0-5 record this fall at No. 3 singles. In fall 2008, played third and fourth singles for Valpo in the fall, earning first collegiate victory in three sets against Saint Joseph’s after dropping the opening set. Teamed with Stephanie York in doubles action and shared the team lead with two wins, downing Wayne State at third doubles and Saint Joseph’s (Ind.) at the number two spot in the lineup.
Hunter Bullock, Fr., IUPUI – proved she was a worthy of IUPUI No. 1 singles slot, posting a 2-1 record and taking the back draw championship recently in the IPFW Tennis Invitational. Bullock lost in the first round before winning the rest of her matches. This brings Bullock’s season singles record to 6-6.
West Vigo
Joel Modesitt, Fr., IUPUI – Picked up wins at No. 4 singles against Marian and Indianapolis.
VOLLEYBALL
Bloomfield
Leairra Thompson, Fr., Vincennes – Has seven kills and three blocks in 18 games played.
Linton
Megan Barnes, Fr., Vincennes – Has played in 110 games, recording 84 kills, nine aces, 26 digs and 69 blocks.
Northview
Kaley Huffman, So., IUPUI – Has one assist and six digs this fall.
Brianne Arvin, Jr., Stephens (Mo.) – Statistics not available.
Rockville
Laura Payne, Fr., Lincoln Land CC – Has 12 kills, 132 digs and 10 aces.
Owen Valley
Sidney Stines, Fr., Vincennes – Has played in 112 games with 102 kills, 15 digs, 26 blocks and 13 assists.
Shakamak
Jessica Gilbert, Fr., Black Hawk College – Information not available.
South Putnam
Liz Mink, So., Franklin – Has played in two games this fall.
Terre Haute North
Carol Weatherford, Sr., Anderson – Has played in all 71 games, ranking second on team in kills with 174 and also getting 23 service aces, 68 digs and 93 blocks.
Casey Hayne, So., Oakland City – Statistics not available.
Terre Haute South
Kristen Seaton, So., Pepperdine – Ranks fifth on team with 87 kills, and also has seven aces, 22 digs and 31 blocks for the 10-7 Waves.
Sara Telezyn, So., Rose-Hulman – Has played in 35 games with 2 kills, 1 ace and 34 digs.
Amy Telezyn, Fr., Indianapolis – Recorded 31 digs on Friday and Saturday as the No. 12 ranked Greyhounds won three matches in the GLIAC-GLVC Asics Challenge in Dimondale, Mich. Indianapolis is now 26-1 and has won 12 straight matches. For the season, Telezyn has played in 12 matches, starting none, with one kill, seven assists, five aces and 42 digs.
Brittaney Pugh, Fr., Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) – Has played in 20 matches, starting four, with 11 kills, 335 assists (second on team) and 28 service aces.

Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.

October 18, 2009 12:14 am

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College Report: Gant, Hayes get glimpse of Big Ten atmosphere

Eight days ago, two of the highest-profile college football games played nationally — USC’s 18-15 comeback win at Ohio State and Michigan’s 38-34 home field victory over Notre Dame — were memorable thrillers decided in the closing seconds before six-digit crowds.
Each game had a highly recruited athlete from Terre Haute on hand, and if Terre Haute North’s Justin Gant eventually decides to become a Wolverine or Terre Haute South’s Jacob Hayes signs with Ohio State then the events of Sept. 12, 2009, may prove to have been an influencing factor.
Neither Gant nor Hayes is a football player, but Bowl Championship Schools wisely use such showcase stages to impress athletes being recruited for their other sports.
Gant, a 6-8 junior basketball standout, and Hayes, a highly-desired middle infielder with pop in his bat who has helped South win three straight baseball sectionals, shared almost duplicate memories of their college visits.
“The Michigan-Notre Dame game was probably the most fun sporting event I’ve been involved with,” Gant said. “We tailgated outside the basketball arena with the coaches and players, and playing corn hole with the players was a lot of fun. Michigan has two Indiana players on the team and the coaches made sure we talked.”
Hayes agreed.
“The Ohio State-USC game was probably the most exciting sporting event I have ever attended,” he said. “The stadium was so loud that I had to yell to my parents, who happened to be sitting right next to me.”
Both athletes also enjoyed the perspective that only having seats extremely close to the field can bring in such a setting.
“Standing on the field while the teams warmed up was great,” Gant noted. “You get a new appreciation to the size, speed and strength these guys have. Our seats were about the 15th row and the fans were nuts from the opening kickoff until the end. When Michigan scored with 11 seconds left I had people all around jumping on me, and going crazy. After the game, we got onto the field again and felt a part of the celebration.”
Gant, who averaged 13.0 points per game as a sophomore last year at North and had an excellent summer with the Indiana Elite AAU program, has received scholarship offers from Indiana State, Bradley, Evansville, Southern Illinois, Rice and Iowa. He also gets frequent calls or visits to practice workouts from the coaches at Butler, Michigan, Notre Dame and Wisconsin.
Time is on Gant’s side, and he is in no hurry to make a college choice as he continues to work on his game and add weight to his 200-pound frame.
“I don’t have a time table … I want to look at all of them and make the decision when I feel it’s right,” he said. “I still have two high school seasons left to play and don’t want to rush it.”
Gant has a 3.3 GPA and is interested in both a strong academic school and one whose system fits his playing style. He plans to study either business or engineering.
“That will play a factor also,” he said. “I have my family and coaches at North who are helping me with the process and I appreciate that a lot.”
Until then, Gant is continuing to schedule stops on his Midwestern tour. He planned to go to Notre Dame’s home game with Michigan State on Saturday, and is arranging a trip to Wisconsin in October.
Hayes was impressed at the volume of the Buckeye fans, even though it limited communication.
“The seats were great, and that made it even better,” he said. “It was a record crowd totaling over 106,000 people.
“The reputation of Ohio State football definitely became a reality that night,” he recalled. “It would’ve been a lot more fun afterwards if the Buckeyes could’ve held on for the win.”
Hayes has OSU as one of four schools he is considering most for his college choice, also listing Indiana, Indiana State and Ball State.
Ohio State has had a scholarship offer on the table for almost a month, Hayes noted, while an offer from Indiana also was received in the past week.
“I will be going over to Columbus next weekend for my official visit, so they could be expecting an answer then,” he said. “I am hoping to sign during the early signing period.”
Like many athletes, Hayes wants to have a chance to earn a spot on the field.
“I’m looking to go somewhere where I will be in a position to compete for a starting spot,” he said. “I don’t want to be sitting behind a bunch of guys at the same spot. I want to play.”
Hayes is also an excellent student, with a 3.7 GPA, and is considering pre-dentistry.
If he does become a Buckeye, Hayes would be following in the family footsteps of his cousin, Mike, who played in Columbus in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“Ohio State is really special to me because of that,” Hayes said. “He has always kind of been my hero, so it’s always been a dream for me to play at Ohio State.”

• Bits and pieces — Casey native Lori Blade will be inducted into the Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 24.
Blade is No. 12 on the all-time scoring list for SIUE women’s basketball with 1,144 points. She was the third player in school history to pass the 1,000-point plateau. Blade also was a standout in softball, having twice led the team in hits and runs batted in.
After her playing days, she served as an assistant coach for the SIUE women’s basketball team and then moved on to a highly-successful career as a high school coach. She led Carrollton High School to back-to-back state basketball championships.
• The parade of West Vigo baseball players to the college ranks is continuing. Aaron Welch, the slugging first baseman on last year’s 3A state runnerup team, is playing at Lincoln Trail, while current Viking senior Tyler Wampler has made a verbal commitment to attend Indiana State.
n Former Northview and Vincennes University baseball standout John Reberger is continuing his career at Indiana-Southeast.
• A couple of corrections are needed from the Sept. 6 column. Rose-Hulman assistant coach Mike Ellis is a Terre Haute North grad but was omitted from a list of Valley natives participating in college football, while former Patriot Kevin Dean was previously a coach for the Engineers but no longer serves in that role.
Another player with local ties has made his debut in big-time college football this year.
Former Terre Haute resident Anthony Oden, a 6-8, 328-pound offensive lineman, made his debut last Saturday for Arkansas in the Razorbacks’ win over Missouri State. He is, of course, the “little” brother of Portland Trailblazers’ center Greg Oden.
He originally signed to play for Arkansas in 2008, but instead attended Hargrave Military Academy. He was listed by Rivals.com as the No. 8 prep school prospect in the nation.

Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.

September 20, 2009 12:31 am

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College Report: Hayne joins Oakland City volleyball team

Terre Haute North grad Casey Hayne is following in the footsteps of her older sister, Madison, by transferring to Oakland City University to play volleyball this fall.
Hayne was a standout last year at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., finishing second on the team in assists and fourth in serving aces.
“Oakland City’s starting setter graduated last year which gives me a great chance to earn a spot as one of the starting six,” Hayne said. “After last season, I was given the opportunity to transfer to Oakland City on a volleyball scholarship. OCU also has a Criminal Justice program in which I can earn my bachelor’s degree, so this is a great opportunity for me both academically and athletically.”
The Lady Oaks start their season on the road next weekend at the Cumberland University Tournament in Lebanon, Tenn.
Madison Hayne started college at Indiana State, and transferred to Oakland City where she was a second-team National Christian College Athletic Association All-American in 2006 as team went 1-3 in NCCAA national tournament. She led the team with 249 kills and 40 blocks.
She is now an archivist with the Vigo County Historical Society and an assistant coach at Terre Haute South and with the Crossroads of America club program.
• • •
• Evinger gets late start – Northview grad Joe Evinger, a Louisville junior guard who transferred from College of the Canyons, participated in his first practice on Friday. According to blog sites from the Louisville Courier-Journal, Evinger was getting his paperwork “in order” and was only admitted to the school this week
Practice began earlier this month.
Nevertheless, LCJ blogger C.L. Brown liked what he saw.
“My first impression, dude is huge,” Brown wrote on Friday of the 6-6, 330-pounder. “Only junior Conrad Thomas, listed at 6-foot-6, 345 pounds, is bigger than Evinger. Once he gets up to speed I think he’ll be able to help the Cards upfront.”
It seems logical that Louisville may choose to redshirt Evinger this year to give him two full years of eligibility, but no information could be found on that possibility.
Louisville opens its 2009 season by hosting Indiana State on Sept. 5.
• • •
• Pigg, IUPUI honored — Terre Haute South grad Anna Pigg and the IUPUI Jaguars opened their soccer season on Friday night with a 2-0 loss.
Offensively, IUPUI controlled the pace in the early going, getting quality opportunities from Leslie Walker and Pigg in the opening stanza. Pigg forced EIU’s Kaylin Lorbert to make a diving stop in the 34th minute after getting free behind the Panthers’ defense.
Afterward, they received their 2008 Summit League championship rings.
The 2008 team won a school record 13 matches, including going 7-1 in Summit League play to earn a share of the program’s first-ever regular season crown. IUPUI also notched a school record eight shutouts.
IUPUI will play at Indiana State on Sept. 6.
• • •
• Locals shine in all-star game – Several college-bound Wabash Valley area high school basketball players, and others perhaps playing in their last organized game, competed in the second annual Olney Central College All-Star Game this summer.
Team Illinois, consisting mostly of players from Illinois but with some Indiana grads, defeated Team Indiana 79-73.
Josh Wilson of Riverton Parke collected 15 points and seven rebounds for Team Illinois while OCC-bound guard Chase Brinkley of Paris finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals.
Wilson hit four 3-pointers and Turkey Run’s Colin Brown had three treys.
For Team Indiana, Northview’s Austin Akers — also an OCC recruit — had nine points on three treys, three rebounds, one steal and several assists.
“Our recruits really connected and hit it off well,” Burris said. “They showed some glimpses of what they can do and that’s why we’re excited about those guys.
“Our kids were talking about how excited they were to get here in August, and we’re counting the days until they get here so we can get to work. We really like the freshman guards we have coming in.”
Terre Haute North’s Zach Harrison, who will walk on at Ball State, had 13 points and two rebounds while North Central’s Donnie Abrams (bound for Marian) had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Jacob Birch of White River Valley added three points.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.

August 22, 2009 11:28 pm

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Rosselli joins long line of Valley talent at SMWC

A big part of softball is having quickness and slap hitters who can place the ball where they want, so it’s not hard to figure why St. Mary-of-the-Woods Coach Gary Rodgers wanted recent Terre Haute North grad Kelsey Rosselli to join his program.
“She has good speed and quickness, which we look forward to using on offense and defense,” Rodgers said. “As an outfielder, she reads the ball off the bat very good and has the quickness to track the ball in the gaps. As a hitter, her quickness and speed will let us use her in the top of the batting order or in the nine spot as another leadoff hitter.”
Rosselli joins a long line of local athletes who continue their careers at the nearby school.
“Our graduating class left openings in our outfield and I look for Kelsey to step in and compete as a freshman for that position,” Rodgers said. “We are very happy that Kelsey chose Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College to continue her academic and softball careers.”
North Coach Jack Kirchner has a similar assessment of Rosselli’s skills.
“Kelsey is very quick in the outfield and gets a good jump on the ball,” he said. “I think she will make SMWC a good centerfielder.
“She knows the game of softball, reads hitters very well, speed, power, pull, being late and that kind of thing,” Kirchner added. “She’s a hard worker and we will miss her.”

• • •
• Woodason lands at OCU — After an excellent two-year baseball career at Lake Land College, North grad Andrew Woodason was set to continue playing at Division II Milligan College in Tennessee.
Some problems with his academic major were going to interfere with his studies, so he has changed plans and will now attend Oakland City University in southern Indiana.
“Milligan didn’t have my major and I would have had to drive to East Tennessee State to take most of my classes,” Woodason said. “OCU was a great fit for me academically and athletically. They have my major and have close to 100 percent job placement after graduation.”
Woodason noted that two other former Lake Land players are also now going to Oakland City, making the decision easier.
“Those two were my two best buddies on my team at LLC so with them being there with me, it will make it a smoother transition while going to a new school,” he said. “At OCU, the plan is for me to either play 1st or 3rd and to hit in the middle of the order at either the 4th or 5th spot in the batting line-up. I am looking forward to getting down there and meeting my new team and getting started with practice and fall ball.”
Woodason hit .366 his freshman year at LLC and this spring he hit .336 with six home runs and 26 RBI.
“Coach [T-Ray] Fletcher has been working hard at recruiting the best players he can to turn the program around, and with what we will have coming back and with the new recruits, I feel that we will have a really good team this year,” Woodason said. “Going to a junior college was probably the best decision I have made in my baseball career because I not only got to be on a team, but I was able to be a starter for the last two years which has enabled me to get a scholarship for the next two years at a 4-year so I can finish up my degree.”
• Franklin lands Greene County pair — Keith Cunningham, who quarterbacked Linton-Stockton’s football team to a 13-1 record last fall and a semistate appearance, was also a standout baseball player for the Miners and will play both sports for Franklin College.
“I am very glad to have this opportunity,” Cunningham told the Greene County Daily World. “Playing football and baseball have both been really important to me. Since about the second grade, they have both been a big part of my life.”
Cunningham, a shortstop on the baseball field, said he was pleased that he did not have to choose between his two favorite sports.
“It would have been hard to pick just one,” Cunningham said. “I love playing both of them and it would have been very difficult to choose just one.”
Bloomfield pitcher Cody Pearson also has committed to play for the Grizzlies. Pearson hit eight home runs this season and finished with 21 home runs, a school career record. He had a 5-1 pitching record and had a school-record 20 strikeouts against White River Valley.
Franklin College baseball coach Lance Marshall said he was pleased to have Cunningham and Pearson to join his program.
“Keith and Cody are both good student-athletes,” said Marshall, who has been head baseball coach at the NCAA Division III school since 1997 and also is the college’s coordinator of athletic recruitment. “I am very pleased to have both of them coming to Franklin College.
“Cody and Keith both are talented baseball players. They should be able to contribute to our program and fit in here very well.”
• Meggs hires assistant — New University of Washington baseball coach Lindsay Meggs has named Stanford assistant coach Dave Nakama as his top assistant coach.
Nakama will coordinate all the hitting, assist with team defense and oversee outfielders. He and Coach Meggs crossed paths in the Northern California Division II ranks when they coached at San Francisco State and Chico State, respectively.
“Having Dave on the staff is like having another head coach in the dugout,” Meggs said. “He has all those intangibles. He knows how to run the game both offensively and defensively, and even more valuable to me right now is that he knows the Pac-10 inside and out.”
“I’ve always loved the Northwest because of my collegiate experience,” said Nakama, who attended Willamette College in Salem, Ore. “This is a great opportunity to be in a place that I like a lot. It’s a great school. When I was at Stanford, it was my favorite trip, coming up to play the Huskies. And, I get to work with Coach Meggs, who I have the utmost respect for. I think he’s a great coach.”

Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.

August 08, 2009 11:02 pm

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