College report: Cummins bounces back from broken hand

When John Cummins suffered a broken hand early in his senior year at Purdue this spring, his college baseball career could have been over.
The possibility existed that the former Terre Haute North standout wouldn’t recover in time from the injury, or a replacement could move in and take over his spot for good.
Cummins bounced back from his March 8 injury and went on to record his best season for the Boilermakers, good enough to be voted by the league’s coaches as a third-team All-Big Ten Conference performer.
The first baseman appeared in 24 contests after mending, including 20 starts, and hit .420 (34 for 81) with six doubles, a triple, a home run, 15 RBIs and 17 runs scored.
“It was an honor to be selected for the third team All-Big Ten,” Cummins said. “It was a great way to end my senior season/career. From beating the number one team in the country [North Carolina] my freshman year, to finishing in the Top 5 in Big Ten batting average my senior year, it provided me with some great memories.
“It's been a fun ride.”
Cummins appeared in just 16 of Purdue's 23 league games, batting .441 (26 for 59) with six doubles, a triple, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored in conference play. His return to the lineup helped bolster an already potent Purdue offense and lift the Boilers into the final spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
Cummins finished his senior season hitting .400, second on the team, with 78 hits in 185 at-bats. He had eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 20 RBI and scored 21 runs.
He was also named Purdue's nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Growing up an Indiana University fan, Cummins put aside his personal preferences and chose to play for the Boilermakers – a decision he looks back upon as a good one.
“Coach [Doug] Schreiber made a house visit to what was then a ‘shrine’ to the Indiana Hoosiers,” Cummins recalls. “He later told me he never thought I would choose Purdue, but I loved the coaches, baseball program, and the education I was going to be able to get. It was fun playing along side my good friend John Phegley and playing against his ‘little’ brother Josh.”
Cummins, like many college athletes, considers his dealing with time management as one of the hidden by-products of his Purdue experience.
“I have met great people, traveled to great universities, and got to play at some great ballparks,” he said. “The hardest part of playing any D-1 sport is the time commitment. It’s like having a ‘job’ on top of your class schedule. In season, you’re traveling three or four days a week to play road games and mid-week games, and it becomes hard to stay up with class. At the same time, it forces you to learn how to manage your time and handle stressful situations.
“For most college athletes at any level, these attributes will pay off for them in their life after sports.”
Cummins credits his parents – Tom and Nancy – for the success he has been able to have.
“I wouldn't be where I am today if it were not for my mom and dad,” he said. “My old man pushed me to be the best I could be from day one. He taught me that to be the best you have to practice harder and faster than the other guy. I think that one simple idea of outworking your opponent got me to where I am today.”
His mother served a valuable role in emotional support on the bad days.
“She has always been a great coach/fan, always telling me I had a great game, even if I went 0-for-5 with 4 Ks (three backwards) versus Ohio State in my freshman year,” he said.
“I’ve had great coaches my entire life,” he added, also thanking Barry Jenkins – coach of his state championship 12-year-old Little League team – and North coach Shawn Turner. “ It's hard to thank all the people who have helped me. They all influenced me on the field in more than one way.”
Cummins is majoring in building construction management, and will return to Purdue this fall to finish up his degree requirements. This summer, he’s living in Chicago and interning with Weis Builders working on a project in Dallas.

• Comings and goings – A few additions have been made to a list of 2009-2010 commitments in the last edition of this column.
Linton’s Megan Barnes signed a letter of intent in January to play volleyball for Vincennes University next year. The 6-1 Barnes helped lead Linton to the 2007 Class 2A sectional championship.
“We look for Megan to have a chance to compete for a starting spot,” VU Coach Tina Miller told the Greene County Daily World. “We will probably move her from the middle to the right side.
“She has good size and a good arm swing. She will definitely be able to come in and help us.”
Union standout basketball player Megan Gambill will try out for Southern Indiana’s women’s team as a walk-on.
Former Paris golfer Kadie Savoree will be starting her senior year at Valparaiso University this fall, and recently became the school’s first-ever women’s golfer after the school decided to begin a new program. She will be able to continue playing after this season if she stays at Valparaiso for graduate school.
Adam Richart of Robinson, the starting catcher at Lincoln Trail College the past two years, will continue his baseball career at Indiana State, according to a release on the school’s Web site.
Terre Haute North softball standout Kelsey Rosselli will continue her career at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
Rockville’s Aaron Bridge, who had originally intended to go to Franklin College to play football and basketball, will instead go to Indiana State as a preferred walk-on football player.

• It’s a small world – Luke Johnson of Terre Haute North, a 2009 Butler graduate and former tight end for the Bulldog football team, has joined MainGate in Indianapolis as a staff accountant in the company’s finance department.
MainGate is a sports merchandising company whose clients include Danica Patrick Racing, Harley-Davidson, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the New Jersey Nets, the National Hot Rod Association, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and professional sports teams such as the New Jersey Nets, Cleveland Browns, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams.
One of Johnson’s co-workers is fellow North grad Marc O’Leary, a former Hanover College basketball standout.

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.

June 27, 2009 11:22 pm

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College Report: Vicars, Woods land at Alcorn State

Two longtime Wabash Valley baseball teammates from many past stops together have reunited once again, as Terre Haute South grads Cole Vicars and Bobby Woods have both signed letters-of-intent to continue their careers at Division I Alcorn State in Lorman, Miss.
They took different roads to get to their new home, however.
After teaming up to help the Wayne Newton Post 346 team to a runnerup finish in the 2006 American Legion World Series, Woods moved on to Olney Central College and Vicars returned to South for a monster senior season. He went to Vincennes University the following year.
They wound up exiting junior college at the same time, though, as Woods missed a season due to injury.
Vicars was the first to land a spot this spring with Alcorn State, a highly-successful program that came within two runs last week of winning the Southwest Athletic Conference championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
“They saw us play on our spring trip,” Vicars said. “My coach got talking to them, and they already had a couple of Vincennes guys on their team so that helped a lot. I got the best offer from there, and decided to go there.”
Collin Arnold, a pitcher from Lafayette, was Vicars’ teammate during his freshman season at VU and left-handed pitcher Jason Nantz of Blackford will be making the trip south with Vicars.
Vicars hit .409 and added three homers and 43 runs batted in for VU this spring.
“Vincennes was a really fun experience,” Vicars said. “I enjoyed playing there. I need to work on my game overall, and on my running speed,” he added. “They said I’d probably hit in the 2 or 5 hole in the lineup.”
Ninety percent of Alcorn’s 3,888 students are African-American, putting Vicars in the minority among the population there.
“That doesn’t matter to me at all,” he said about the student body makeup. “The school is different, and I’m looking forward to it.
“It’ll be nice going where I can now play year around and it’s a lot warmer,” he added. “They have a really good program.”
In talking with the Alcorn coaches, they mentioned a need for relief pitchers to round out their 2009 recruiting class. Vicars knew of one.
“I mentioned Bobby to them, and they talked to him and his coach,” Vicars said. “It’s nice knowing he’s going there too.”
Woods appeared in 15 games during his sophomore season at Olney, going 3-1 with a 4.20 ERA. He struck out 18 batters in 17 innings of work and only walked five.
“Bobby did a very nice job out of the bullpen,” OCC Coach Dennis Conley told the Olney Daily Mail. “He had one bad outing late in the season that raised his ERA, but he was very good early. I’m sure he’ll do well for them.”
Alcorn State went 29-19 this season and lost 12-10 to Southern University in the SWAC championship game.
“I chose Alcorn because it will be a great opportunity to play Division I baseball in some amazing southern whether,” Woods said. “I had shoulder surgery in 2007, and it was tough sitting out and missing a whole year of baseball. The more I sat out the more it made me work harder into getting better and becoming 100 percent again.
“I am ready to play D-I baseball,” he added. “It is going to be a great challenge that I believe I can compete in.”

• Bridwell to Indy — South senior Josh Bridwell, a state qualifier in both discus and shot put next weekend, will take both his track and field and football talents to the University of Indianapolis this fall to compete for the Greyhounds.
Bridwell was also a standout lineman for the South football team, starting every game at guard during this last three seasons and manning every spot from tackle to tackle at one point.
“I chose the U of Indy because when I took a visit it felt like home, and also I can do both the loves of my life: football and track and field.
“I love the fact that football is big there at the Division II level,” he added.
In Bridwell’s junior year, he was also a state qualifier in track and field and was the regional champion in the shot put. He knows it’s only going to get tougher.
“College track and field will be different than high school in the severity of it all, the lifting and the throwing,” he said. “The atmosphere will be great with a lot of excitement in throws. I have a chance to come in and be number one in shot put. I think that the coach from the U. of Indy can make me an All-American thrower and really bring out my potential.”
Eric Graves has been Bridwell’s track and field coach the past two years, and sees a bright future for him.
“Josh Bridwell has always been a competitor,” Graves said. “He has an extraordinary amount of talent and it shines brightest when the competition is close. I've seen him at meets when he wins by feet in throws and he enjoys those wins, but when he's behind on his last throw and it comes down to one performance, you can see the best of him.”
College also offers a sport not available in high school that Graves thinks may suit Bridwell’s talents.
“Josh has always been a consistent performer even under the most pressured situations, and that's what you need to compete at the college level,” he continued. “Josh will most likely stay in the shot put and discus. Depending on how well he can get his spin technique down, he may also throw hammer.
“Training in college will do him well. I expect Josh Bridwell is far from his peak.”
South football coach Mark Raetz used a similar word in describing Bridwell.
“Josh was a three-year starter for us on the offensive line,” he said. “He is a strong, athletic player and is definitely a tough competitor. He will be a great addition to the University of Indianapolis program."

• Rehmel signs with UCA — The long road to Division I basketball for 2006 Shakamak grad Jared Rehmel, detoured for a year by a broken back in a car accident, has finally gotten the sharpshooting guard to Conway, Ark., where he will perform for the Central Arkansas Bears.
Rehmel, a 6-foot, 160-pound guard, is transferring to UCA from Olney (Ill.) Central College. As a sophomore at Olney, Rehmel averaged 21.3 points per game and was the 12th leading scorer in the nation among junior colleges.
“Jared is coming off an outstanding career at Olney Central,’ said UCA head coach Rand Chappell. “He’s a guy that’s been extremely successful on every level he has played on.
“He led his high school team to a Final Four appearance. He was runnerup MVP this past year on a 20-win team. He’s produced on every team and we’re excited to bring a guy like that into our program."
Rehmel was named the 2009 Illinois Junior College Player of the Year, and will join backcourt mate Ryan Daniels as members of the Bears.
“Jared is a very good shooter,’ Chappell said, ‘but he also is a guy who is creative and plays with a high level of energy. He is good at creating baskets for himself and for everyone else around him.”
OCC Coach Mike Burris, who took a similar route from Eastern Greene to Olney Central and eventually to D-I at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, is going to miss Rehmel and his toughness.
“I’m really happy for Jared,” Burris said. “He had a great two years for us. He's been a winner everywhere he's been. He is a great kid from a great family. We will miss him and off the floor!”
Rehmel also fills a need for UCA.
“They needed a shooter and I think Jared has a chance to go down there and earn some minutes,” he continued. “They are getting a winner and I’m excited to follow Jared's progress down there.”

• Richards ready for new experience — Terre Haute North senior Emily Richards signed to swim for Ball State, but her comments were not received in time for the May 17 “College Report.”
“I chose Ball State because it is a small school that can give me the individual attention I am seeking without being as overwhelming as a huge state school,” she said. “The facilities and campus are beautiful and everyone I met on my visits was warm and welcoming.”
She regrets not being able to set a school record in the backstroke, but enjoyed her time as a Patriot.
“My high school career has been one filled with ups and downs, but overall I have learned a lot about myself,” she said. “This year I came within .18 of my goal time of the school record (59.25) which was disappointing, but I am still very proud of how I hard I worked over the past year to get to that place.
“Although I will miss swimming for North, I will be very pleased to swim for a new coach and on a new team and in a new pool to give me variety which I think will help my training,” Richards added.

• Snyder to Rose-Hulman — Rose-Hulman’s football team has enjoyed tremendous success at the quarterback position with eastern Illinois product Derek Eitel of Marshall.
Eitel has just one season remaining at the Engineers’ helm, but an heir apparent from a rival Illinois squad may be waiting in the wings.
Casey-Westfield’s Mitch Snyder, who led the Warriors to three straight runs deep into the Class 2A Illinois state tournament and a 2008 runnerup finish, has decided to become an Engineer both on and off the field.
“I really looked at the education side of the school before I made my decision,” Snyder told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette, noting that he also considered Eastern Illinois University and Drake University. “I want to be an engineer so Rose Hulman was really the perfect fit.”
Snyder set a state record for passing yardage in the state championship game and led the Warriors to a 46-6 record in his career. He was also a standout in basketball, and does not rule out a return to the hardwood at some point in his collegiate career.
Rose Hulman head coach Steve Englehart predicts success for Snyder in his program.
“I think he is going to be outstanding,” said Englehart. “He is a great young man that any program in the country would be proud to have and I think he can be just as good of a quarterback. He has great size and strength with enough athletic ability to make him a threat in a variety of different ways. He is going to have the chance to come in and learn behind a four-year starter and I think be the top contender to take over at that position in the future.”

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.

May 31, 2009 12:08 am

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College Report: Blank happy to be heading to Indy

Nate Blank does not regret the two years of college basketball he played at Gardner-Webb, but will feel much more comfortable the next two seasons as he suits up for the University of Indianapolis.
“My two years at GWU were a great experience,” Blank, a 2007 Indiana All-Star from Terre Haute North, said Friday after signing his letter-of-intent to transfer to Indy. “I got to do things and go places I never would have done had I not gone there, and I gained a lot of knowledge and skills while I was there.”
Blank’s freshman year was the better of his two seasons, being named Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year as well as making the Mid-Major All-American Team. He averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game — while hitting 60-of-157 shots from long distance, and 79.5 percent from the charity stripe.
“Beating Kentucky, playing UConn and Oklahoma in Madison Square Garden, having good games against the best teams … those were great times,” he said. “I’m leaving because I wanted to get back close to home, and also with the direction the program was heading it was the right time to leave.”
The Bulldogs were 16-16 in Blank’s first year and dropped to 13-17 this past season. His numbers fell off to 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, and he shot just .403 from the field.
Blank will follow in the footsteps of older brother Luke as a member of the Greyhounds. Luke, who is now attending the Golf Academy of America in Myrtle Beach, S.C., signed with Indianapolis out of high school and played two seasons for the Division II school.
NCAA transfer rules allow players going to a lower classification to not have to sit out a one-year waiting period like those moving up a division.
“I chose Indy because I did not want to sit out a year, and I have a great relationship with the coach,” Blank said. “I know he has it headed in the right direction, and I know a lot of my teammates there already.”
Indianapolis is led by former Indiana State assistant coach Stan Gouard. The Greyhounds lost five seniors from this year’s 9-18 team and play in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, one of the nation’s toughest DII leagues.
“I will be able to have a good basketball experience and be able to play right away,” Blank said. “I will be able to add my abilities to an up and coming DII program in a great league.”

• WVC plays well at nationals — After winning the Region 24 tournament earlier this month. Wabash Valley College’s softball team traveled to St. George, Utah, this week to compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association tournament.
The Warriors took a 43-3 record into the 16-team tournament as the ninth seed, and went 0-2 — suffering a pair of tough one-run losses.
North Central freshman Jacki Porter did her part, going 5 for 9 at the plate during the tourney as the team’s starting catcher.
Against Odessa College, each team scored a run in the sixth inning but no one else scored until Odessa got the game-winner in the bottom of the 12th. Wabash Valley had 12 hits, with porter going 3-5.
In the elimination round against Darton College, WVC scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 5-2 lead, but surrendered four in the bottom of the frame to fall 6-5. Porter was 2-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored
Porter will return for her sophomore year next season and will be joined by area standout Megan Vincent of Riverton Parke.
I I I
n Richards to Ball State — Emily Richards is one of six athletes to sign national letters of intent to attend Ball State University and compete for the swimming and diving program next winter.
“We look for this class to make an immediate impact for our program,” co-head coaches Bob Thomas and Laura Seibold-Caudill said. “This class is full of potential and we look forward to getting these fine young women in the pool this fall.”
Richards joins the Cardinals after a 2008-09 campaign which saw her capture a sectional title for Terre Haute North High School in the 100 back (59.42). A four-time sectional finalist, she went on place 26th at the state meet in the event.
As a junior, Richards took home second in the 100 back sectionals on her way qualifying for the state meet. Richards also won a Gold Medal Award and a Spirit Award during her prep career at Terre Haute North.
“Emily will give us some much needed strength in the backstroke events,” said Thomas.
“She has a tremendous amount of ambition,” added Seibold-Caudill. “Her drive and determination will be greatly appreciated.”
A well-rounded student, Richards will major in business at BSU. She will graduate this year in the top 15 percent of her class with honors.

• South’s Johnson to LTC — Terre Haute South’s Tessa Johnson became the fourth member of this year’s girls’ basketball squad to make her college choice when she recently signed a letter-of-intent to play for Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, Ill.
Johnson will undoubtedly circle Nov. 17 and Feb. 10 on the calendar next winter when LTC will battle nearby Vincennes University, which features former South teammates Megan Craft and Randa Rector.
“I like that it’s close to home, and also there’s no class on Fridays so I’ll get to come home or visit friends at other schools,” Johnson said. “When I went and visited we scrimmaged and I really like the style of play: fast pass, pushing the ball. And the coach [Chad Killinger] is a really nice guy.”
Johnson averaged 15.3 points and 2.9 assists per game this year, shooting 52 percent from the field, 39 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent from the free throw line. She earned all-Wabash Valley honors the past two seasons, and South had a 71-20 record during her career (59-10 the past three seasons).
“My goals are to hopefully improve my game and continue to play after attending Lincoln Trail, win lots of games, and just have fun and meet new people,” she said. “The coach mentioned me playing mostly 2 and sometimes 3, so I need to be able to knock down shots when the ball is kicked out to me. Also my ball handling could use a lot of improvement.”
Getting ready for the next level will be a little easier for Johnson than most athletes, since her father Howie played collegiately at Illinois and Indiana State and has coached her AAU teams for many years.
“All aspects of my game need to tremendously improve,” she said, “but I’m going to focus on shooting and ballhandling when I work out with my dad this summer!”
South Coach Dave Cassell only had Johnson for one season, but feels she is a great fit for the Statesmen.
“LTC is very athletic team, which fits her perfectly,” Cassell said. “She can use her quickness, and that’s one of her biggest advantages.
“This year for us she was a really tremendous senior with great leadership,” he continued. “She had a very versatile game, inside and outside, which makes her very tough to guard. The success she had in high school will serve her well in college.”

• Black Hawk signs Gilbert — Shakamak’s Jessi Gilbert has signed a letter of intent to play college volleyball for Black Hawk East Junior College in northwestern Illinois.
Gilbert gave up her senior season of basketball to concentrate on volleyball.
“It says a lot about her dedication to volleyball to give up something else she was good at,” Shakamak Coach Jeri Morin told the Greene County Daily World. “In the end it paid off and she received a great scholarship.”
Gilbert is a six-foot middle hitter who fits Black Hawk’s needs well.
“They were looking for a blocker and middle hitter which Jessi more than fills those expectations,” Morin said. “They were impressed with her stats and the film on her, but they were equally impressed with her personality and her attitude.

• Kuhn joins teammate — Casey-Westfield senior Andrew Kuhn will join teammate Kaleb Brandenburg as members of the football team at McKendree College.
“Andrew was one of our two returning linemen last fall that had to lead our interior line,” Casey football coach Keith Sinclair told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette. “With much inexperience up front, he had to be a leader to bring along our other linemen this year. He did accomplish this for us with a great season.”
Brandenburg and Kuhn helped lead the Warriors to runnerup in the IHSA Class 2A state tournament.

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 trib
starcollegereport@yahoo.com.

May 16, 2009 11:42 pm

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College Report: Phegley, Cummins square off in IU-PU series

In the last regular-season tangles between former North Patriots Josh Phegley and John Cummins, Indiana and Purdue are tangling in a three-game college baseball series this weekend at West Lafayette.
A doubleheader was scheduled for Saturday after a Friday night rainout, with a single game set for today at 1 p.m. That game will be carried live on the Internet via IUHoosiers.com.
At 10-4 in the Big Ten, Indiana was just half a game behind first place Ohio State and Illinois entering the weekend series. The Hoosiers are seeking their first Big Ten regular season championship in 60 years.
Phegley enters the weekend among the league’s top 10 in average (sixth, .379), slugging (second, .689) on-base percentage (second, .485), home runs (tied for first, 13), RBI (second, 54), runs (tied for first, 45) and walks (tied for third, 32).
Recently against Michigan, Phegley had a big series both at the dish and behind it. The junior went 6-for-11 with a pair of solo home runs on the weekend. The second bomb, in the eighth inning of Sunday’s contest, shifted the momentum back in Indiana’s favor after the Hoosiers surrendered a run in the bottom of the seventh in a tight ballgame. The catcher also threw out four of seven Wolverines trying to steal off of him.
Phegley posted his fourth career five-hit game against Morehead State on March 10, hitting three home runs and adding a double and single for six RBIs. The huge game vaulted Phegley to his second career Big Ten Player of the Week mention and he was named to the College Baseball Foundation’s National All-Star Lineup for Week Four.
Cummins ranks second on Purdue’s team in hitting at .387, with five doubles, one triple and 12 RBIs. Purdue is 18-21 overall and 5-9 in the conference.

Comings and goings — Cleaning out the Yahoo! Mail and Facebook inboxes of stuff from everywhere:
• Willis to Taylor — Versatile Terre Haute North football standout Frank Willis, who excelled as a receiver last year and even saw some emergency quarterback action, has signed to play for Taylor University in Upland.
As a junior, Willis caught 17 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns with a long catch of 65 yards. Last fall, he caught 30 passes for 589 yards and three scores, including a 70-yarder.
North Coach Chris Barrett hasn’t played a game without Willis yet, and misses him already.
“Frank is an outstanding young man who will be as difficult to replace off the field as he will be on the field,” Barrett said. “He is a natural leader who is not afraid to do the right thing as well as an outstanding receiver. He will have an outstanding career at Taylor.”
Willis is looking for the opportunity to continue his career.
“I picked Taylor because God called me there and they also have a pretty rockin’ football team,” he said. “I think the transition will be easy because people that go on to the next level in football have the will power to do anything that crosses their path, and to make a family and fight with them every week.”
n Pilipovich to Rose – North senior baseball standout Nick Pilipovich will be taking his talents to Rose-Hulman next year to compete for Coach Jeff Jenkins’ Engineers.
This season, Pilipovich is hitting .343 with four doubles, one home run, four RBIs and a .465 on-base percentage.
North Coach Shawn Turner also predicts good things for the versatile Pilipovich on the college diamond.
“Nick is a hard-working young man in the classroom and on the field, and he will give Rose-Hulman a player with the ability to play behind the plate, at first base, and in the outfield,” Turner said. “He has above-average footspeed and a strong arm and is dedicated to being the best player he can be.
“We are very proud of Nick for taking careof business academically as well as athletically to gain this opportunity at Rose-Hulman, and look forward to seeing his many accomplishments over the next four years.”
Pilipovich likes Rose for a variety of reasons.
“The main reason I picked Rose was because of the reputation Rose has upheld both with academics and athletics,” he said. “Rose has a very strong baseball program that is on the rise, and I want to be a part of it. I think the transition will be somewhat smooth, but I know that I have a lot to work on with my game to compete well on the next level.”
• Blank still thinking — Former North basketball standout Nate Blank has not yet decided on his next collegiate home since deciding to transfer from Gardner-Webb after two seasons.
The former Indiana All-Star is still mulling over several options.
“I still havent decided if I want to sit at a Division I school [after transferring] or play right away at a D-II,” Blank said.
D-I schools he’s been talking to are Ball State, Valparaiso, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky, while D-II schools on his list are Indianapolis, Hillsdale and Findlay.
• OCC hoops news – Former Shakamak standout Jared Rehmel has completed his eligibility at Olney Central and has not yet decided on his next home, either.
He plans to visit Central Arkansas in the “next week or so.” All good basketball trivia experts know that Central Arkansas is where Scottie Pippen began his basketball career as a walk-on.
UCA was an NAIA school then, but has moved up to Division I and is in the Southland Conference. The Cougars have already signed Rehmel’s backcourt mate from last year, 6-0 guard Ryan Daniels — who starred at Drake in 2007 on the Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament team.
Two other OCC Blue Knights from this year’s 20-10 team have also signed to play Division I next year.
Hoping to join that list are incoming freshmen Austin Akers, a 6-2 point guard from Northview, and 6-1 guard Chase Brinkley of Paris.
OCC Coach Mike Burris of Eastern Greene wore out the highways between Olney and Indiana this winter, coming to watch Akers a total of 12 times. Burris knows he found an overlooked gem in Akers, who has excellent point guard and shooting guard skills.
Brinkley was a two-time All-Apollo selection in basketball who averaged 20 points, five rebounds and four assists per game during his senior campaign as Paris went 17-12 and advanced to the championship game of the Class 2A Robinson Sectional.
He was also a standout football player at Paris.
“Chase is a tough kid who we think can come in and earn good minutes from day one,” Burris told the Olney Daily Mail. “He’s a strong guard who plays extremely hard. He was a two-sport star at Paris and his football experience has helped him be successful on the basketball court.”
• Axtell to SMWC – North Vermillion’s Derryn Axtell has decided to play college basketball at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
“I chose SMWC because I’ve always focused mainly on my academics and my goal is to attend medical school, and SMWC seemed like the correct avenue to choose to lead me there. Also after spending many years playing basketball, being offered to play there was just an added bonus to the school.
Hard work and unselfishness are two of Axtell’s best qualities.
“I played four years of varsity basketball, and I received the assist award every year. I’ve always known that I wasn’t the most talented team member, but I made it my goal to be the hardest worker and along the way learn as much as I could. As far as competition goes I’m ready for the challenge!”
• Brandenburg to McKendree — Casey senior Kaleb Brandenburg will take his football talents to the McKendree Bearcats this fall.
A co-captain of the 2008 IHSA Class 2A state runner-up football team, Brandenburg played many roles for Keith Sinclair, including starting fullback and starting linebacker.
“Kaleb was an improved player and student throughout his high school career,” Sinclair told the Mattoon Journal-Gazette. “Kaleb played a leading role this season as a captain of our team and developed good leadership qualities which were very important to our success.
Brandenburg scored 10 rushing touchdowns for the 13-1 Warriors and had one defensive touchdown and a safety. He finished his senior season with 110 tackles, two tipped passes, one interception, a quarterback sack and a blocked kick.

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.

May 02, 2009 11:41 pm

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College Report: North grad Andre Dickson winding down successful basketball career at Lindenwood

Lindenwood University’s men’s basketball team held the nation’s leading scorer to just 11 points as it won its first-round Heartland of America Athletic Conference Tournament game by an 82-75 score over Evangel on Thursday night.
Terre Haute North grad Andre Dickson scored 16 points as Lindenwood improved to 19-12 on the season going into Saturday night’s game against HAAC regular-season champion Mid-America Nazarene.
Dickson is winding down a successful Lindenwood career which saw him earn all-HAAC honors last year and has seen him rank among the league leaders in assists and free percentage over the past two seasons.
Lindenwood Coach Ryan Cherepkai, also a Terre Haute native, was contacted out of the blue by Dickson — a 2002 North grad — and quickly agreed to take him into the Lions’ program.
“I originally remember Andre playing at the Boys Club in the mid 90’s as a little guy while my brother [Ross] and I were playing against his two older brothers [Nate and John],” Cherepkai recalls. “Andre and I somewhat found each other as he saw that Luke Blank signed with us, then he e-mailed me asking if we were interested in having him play for us, of course I remembered him being an Indiana All-Star type player and it was a no-brainer for us.”
Dickson has started 25 of 31 games this season, averaging 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. He is shooting .412 from the field.
Dickson is a little older than the traditional college-aged student-athlete, and Cherepkai thinks that’s a benefit to him.
“He has been steady as well as spectacular in his two years for us,” Cherepkai said. “The advantages of him being a little older are that he takes nothing for granted and understands exactly what we need for him as our point guard to do to have success. Andre has some people very interested in his services overseas next year, and I believe that the interest will only increase as his career comes to a close.
“He has been great to coach over the last few years and I will definitely miss him on both sides of the ball next year.”
Since graduating from North seven years ago, Dickson has attended two different junior colleges, dropped out for a while, moved to Buffalo, N.Y., and then started to get the itch to play again.
“I started to miss playing the game so I went to Mayville State in North Dakota, didn’t like it there so got ahold of Cherp and I enrolled at LU,” Dickson said. “My career has been a helluva ride. Through all the setbacks and injuries, it’s been great and I’ve loved every moment.”
Included on that ride was a serious back injury during an automobile accident as a youngster.
“Things didn’t go quite the way I had planned but everything happens for a reason. I’m happy with the way things turned out, and through my journey through college I’ve met some great people.”
Several former Lindenwood players have had overseas careers, and while Dickson would like the opportunity to continue his career he is also planning for the day when he no longer takes the court.
“I’ve been getting contacted by some agency about playing overseas,” he said. “Sports management is what I’m studying, and I’m in the process of taking the test to become a sports agent. Mainly I’m going to go into business.”
• • •
• Craft shooting well — Terre Haute South freshman Megan Craft has continued her outstanding shooting skills as a member of the Vincennes University women’s basketball team this year.
VU (22-8) hosted 10th-ranked Monroe Community College Tribune on Saturday night in a NJCAA District Tournament game, playing for a chance to go to the NJCAA National Basketball Championship.
VU used an 11-game winning streak in the second half of the season to put itself in such a good position.
Craft has done her share and more, averaging 7.4 points and 2.4 assists per game for the 18th highest scoring team in the country.
She ranks ninth in the country in 3-point percentage at 49 percent, hitting 48 of 98 treys. Craft also is shooting .512 from the field (63-123) and .872 from the line (41-47).
VU is leading the nation in free throw percentage. The 362-for-499 performance yields a 72.5-percent clip at the charity stripe.
VU is also in the NJCAA’s top 5 in 3-point field goal percentage with 56 percent (fourth in the country).
Sophomore Hope Elam, who will be transferring to Indiana, remains the nation’s fourth-leading scorer and rebounder.

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.

March 08, 2009 12:10 am

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College Report: South’s Rector set to play for Vincennes

Randa Rector might not have been the Terre Haute South girls basketball player who the other team planned its scouting report around, but her outstanding all-around game has not gone unnoticed by college coaches.
Rector is the third member of this year’s top-10 ranked South team to make her college decision and will play next year for the Vincennes Lady Trailblazers.
She will join former South and long-time AAU teammate Megan Craft at VU, and joins Dragana Grbic (Butler) and Krista Smith (Indiana State) in becoming a college player. Tessa Johnson is also expected to make the leap to the college game but has not yet made a decision.
“Randa this year did everything for the team that she could,” South Coach Dave Cassell said. “Assists, steals, defense ….and toward the end of the year hit some really big shots and free throws in the fourth quarter. She just gives you all that energy.”
Cassell noted that Rector’s 5-10 frame made her a versatile defender for him, and also one for the next level.
“We could put her on anybody’s best guard, and she could stop them,” Cassell said. “She’s long and quick, and that’s pretty rare for a guard in the girls game. She can play a small, quick guard and also has the height and length to not be posted up on.”
Rector averaged over four assists per game this year while only making 47 turnovers, and also averaged 2.8 steals per game.
She admits not planning to play college basketball, but a conversation with Craft changed her plans.”
“Thanks to her, Coach [Harry] Meeks was interested in me,” Rector said. “One of my biggest fears was not going to be able to play with any of my friends anymore, but I’m excited that Megan, who I have played with since fourth grade, will be there to help me.”
South’s early exit from this year’s state tournament also played a factor in Rector wanting to continue her career.
“I wish we would have ended our season better than we did,” she said. “I don’t take losing very well, but It was harder on me knowing that was the last game I was going to play with them and as a Lady Brave. I’m really going to miss the other girls.”
She knows her game will have to continue to improve as the competition level gets even higher.
“I’m glad I decided to play college ball,” she continued. “It will be different than high school, but I think with a little work, I will be ready for it. I’m excited for the basketball season to start again because it ended too short for me. It’s going to be tough to play without the other girls.”
Cassell only served as South’s coach for one of Rector’s four starting seasons, but enjoyed it.
“She’s a catch for Vincennes,” he said. “She didn’t worry about scoring – she was focused in getting the ball where it needed to be and gave us great leadership. It was surely a pleasure to have her for a year.”
Turkey Run senior Meghan Doss will also be a Lady Trailblazer next year.
I I I
n Greene D-1 already — Rockville sophomore softball standout Lindsey Greene has made a verbal commitment to play collegiately for Illinois State, one of the traditional powerhouses of the Missouri Valley Conference.
Last year, Greene led the Rox with a .413 batting average, 19 RBI, two home runs, five doubles, three triples and a 1.44 ERA as a pitcher.
“I chose Illinois State because I loved the coaching staff and the people in general at the university,” Greene told the Daily Clintonian. “They have a great tradition of female athletics and the school is only two hours away. It’s great not only for softball, but for the educational experience as well.”
n Odds and ends — Meyers Leonard, Robinson’s 6-11 junior center who has already made a verbal commitment to the University of Illinois, is averaging 11 points per game this season. On Monday, in a loss to Salem, Leonard had another double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while also recording four assists, two blocked shots and a steal.
n Former Shakamak standout Jared Rehmel had 35 points and seven assists on Wednesday in Olney Central College’s 112-109 win over Lincoln Trail. OCC was 17-10 going into Saturday night’s game with Rend Lake.
n OCC is heavily recruiting Northview senior guard Austin Akers. William & Mary is among the many other schools interested in the services of the combo guard.
n Northview girls standout Spring Raines could be another Wabash Valley standout joining the VU program, as Coach Meeks is also interested in her services. Purdue-Calumet is among the other schools vying for her services.
n Indiana fell 14-4 to West Virginia on Friday in their baseball opener in the Big Ten/Big East Challenge at Bradenton, Fla. Terre Haute North grad Josh Phegley had a huge debut by going 4-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

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
.

February 21, 2009 11:38 pm

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Valley athletes join SIU-Edwardsville softball team

Southern-Illinois Edwardsville made its debut as a Division I softball program on Friday in the Centenary Tournament at Shreveport, La., by splitting a pair of games.
The long-time Division II power, coached by Casey-Westfield grad Sandy Montgomery, is moving up to the bigtime this year and lost a 4-2 decision to the host team before routing Bryant 14-0.
A pair of former Wabash Valley area standouts keyed the win over Bryant.
North Vermillion grad Whitney Davis got the start at first base and had a breakout debut, going 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored. She also walked once.
Former Casey all-stater Megan Murphy, who attended Illinois in the fall semester but transferred to SIU-E over the Christmas break, came into the game as a substitute at shortstop and went 2 for 2 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
Both players had key roles in a nine-run sixth inning for the Cougars.
Davis drew a leadoff walk and Murphy followed with a single. Both runners advanced on an illegal pitch, and both then moved up on a wild pitch with Davis scoring. Murphy then scored on a single.

In college recruiting news:
• Avon’s Austen Stoelting, a second-team all-state soccer performer for the Orioles last fall, will continue her career at Jacksonville State (Ala.).
She is the daughter of Terre Haute native Traci (Russell) Stoelting and granddaughter of Dean Russell of Terre Haute, both famous for softball umpiring. Traci Stoelting umpired in the Beijing Olympics last year.
Austen was the Avon team captain last year and earned first-team all-district honors, the Top Team Player Award, Mental Attitude Team Award, second-team all-state honors and was honorable mention academic all-state. She has a 4.0 GPA.
She played center mid and forward until her junior year, when her high school coached moved her to defense.
“He said I was a natural defender,” Stoelting wrote in her profile on PrepChamps.com. “I didn’t agree at the time, but it was the best move ever for me. My size and speed make me a tough defender.”
As the sweeper, Stoelting helped her team record 12 shutouts.
Jacksonville State is a Division I school that competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Rockville’s Laura Payne has signed a national letter-of-intent to play collegiate volleyball at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill.
She led the Rox to a 23-5 record last fall and a sectional championship.

Odds and ends
• Terre Haute South grad Brooke Daugherty had a nearly perfect night recently for Indiana-South Bend in a 106-76 rout of Purdue-Calumet.  Daugherty, a junior, hit 11 of 11 field goals with two 3-pointers and added 1 of 2 free throws to wind up with 25 points in 26 minutes of action.
She added 12 rebounds, two steals and an assist.
• Wendell Mardis of Terre Haute North had a collegiate high of 24 points and added three steals as Southwest Baptist defeated Northwest Missouri last month. Mardis hit 8 of 14 shots from the field, including 6 of 11 3-pointers.
SBU is 17-3 and ranked No. 6 nationally among NCAA Division II teams.
• Anna Pigg of Terre Haute South was one of 47 IUPUI athletes named to the Academic All-Summit League team for fall sports. The sophomore soccer player, who is enrolled in the School of Nursing, qualified for the honor by posting higher than a 3.0 GPA in the fall semester.
• Butler’s Derek Guggenberger earned second team All-Pioneer Football League academic honors this year.
• Northview’s Julia Whitted was selected as the IUPUI Female Student-Athlete of the Month for January.
Whitted averaged 15.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, tallying six double-doubles in nine games.  From Jan. 5 until Jan. 19, the 6-foot-5 center strung together five consecutive double-doubles.
Whitted’s sixth double-double of the month came on Jan. 26 at Oakland, when the junior matched her career high with 27 points while grabbing a season-high 14 rebounds in the Jaguars’ defeat.
For the month, IUPUI went 4-5.
The honor is the second student-athlete of the month selection for Whitted, who also won the award in February 2008.

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.

February 07, 2009 02:49 pm

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College Report: Northview grad Evinger set to sign with Louisville

The list of swimmers from Wabash Valley area colleges is not as extensive as it was a few seasons ago, when standouts such as Jenny Somerville made annual NCAA appearances.
There are still seven athletes and one coach known to be competing, though, and their progress is updated in a separate list running with today’s column.
The only newcomer to the list is Terre Haute South’s Tyler Gertz, who made Purdue’s team as a walk-on and is getting his feet wet (and more) for the Boilermakers.
• • •
• Mid-winter movement — There are a lot of other comings and goings among former area athletes.
They include:
• Northview grad Joe Evinger has made his college choice official, making a verbal commitment to play football for the University of Louisville.
The Cardinals struggled to a 5-7 record this year and missed out on a bowl game, losing their last five games following a 5-2 start.
How big of a deal is recruiting there?
The school will host a Signing Day Party on at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4, where Cardinal fans are invited to hear Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe and his staff unveil the 2009 recruiting class. The staff will show video highlights and give a brief overview of each signee.
Evinger, a mobile 6-7, 340-pound offensive lineman, recently completed his second season at the College of the Canyons in California where he earned first team honors in every conceivable category – including All-American.
Evinger had a desire to return closer to home, and told the Louisville Courier-Journal that he felt very comfortable there.
“I have a big family back home and that was an exciting factor for me to be getting closer,” he told the Courier-Journal. “Louisville is only three hours from my hometown, so that really helped make my decision easy."
Evinger was also getting serious interest from Kentucky, UCLA, Arkansas and Indiana.
Canyons Coach Garett Tujague feels Evinger will do well at the next level.
“He did a great job for us in learning our system and becoming a better football player in understanding schemes,” Tujague said. “He is also is in the best shape of his life. I know that if Joe takes what he learned here and applies it at Louisville, along with [offensive line] Coach Brent Myers, he could become one of the best.”
• Two former Indiana State players from area schools have transferred to Marian College in Indianapolis, where they will join a slew of other Wabash Valley area grads.
Broc Miller, who quarterbacked Evinger’s successful Northview teams but was switched to wide receiver at ISU, is now a Marian Knight. Terre Haute South grad Derelle Hankins, who earned one letter at ISU as a defensive lineman, has also made the switch to Marian.
• Andrew Woodason of Terre Haute North still has one season left to play baseball at Lake Land College, but he no longer has to worry about his future after this year.
Woodason has signed to conclude the last two years of his career at Milligan College in Tennessee.
“I am very excited about signing with Milligan, and having signed before the season started takes a lot of pressure off me,” Woodason said. “I can relax and play ball not having to worry about where I am going to go next year. I decided on Milligan because the coaches are younger guys that seem to have a lot of knowledge of the game and a strong desire to win.”
The frigid late winter-early spring games Woodason has played in for years will also give way to warmer temperatures.
“I have always wanted to play baseball in the South because of the better weather and more opportunities to be seen and advance to the next level after college ball,” he said. “Another reason for choosing Milligan is their strong academics — it is one of the top academic schools in the South.”
Lake Land Coach Jim Jarrett, who will be retiring after this season, predicts success for Woodason.
“Andrew is a solid player and leader,” Jarrett said. “He played third last year but will move to first this year, a more natural position,” Jarrett said. “He is a solid force in the middle of our order. He is a better person than a player and he is a terrific player.”
Last season, Woodason started 40 games, getting 41 hits in 112 at-bats for a .366, including five doubles and 23 walks.
He plans to major in business with a concentration on legal issues.
• Riverton Parke senior softball standout Megan Vincent will continue her career next year at Wabash Valley College in Mount Carmel, Ill., which finished seventh in the National Junior College Athletic Association championships.
Vincent had an 11-4 pitching record last season with 111 strikeouts in 109 innings with a 1.60 ERA. She also led the Panthers in hitting with a .360 average and had 21 RBI.
• • •
• Phegley honored again — Indiana University junior catcher Josh Phegley of Terre Haute North added First Team All-Ping! Preseason Honors to his resume, Ping!Baseball announced. The publication is the fourth publication to recognize Phegley as the top catcher in the nation heading into the 2009 season.
Phegley has already been named a Preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National College Baseball Writers of America. Rivals.com also named Phegley the top returning catcher in the nation. He was named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List this preseason as well.
Phegley also collected All-America honors from the National College Baseball Writers of America, the American Baseball Coaches Association and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper in 2008.
He finished off one of the best offensive seasons in IU history in 2008 with a .438 average - the second-best clip in the nation - to go along with 15 home runs, 80 RBI and 20 doubles.
The Hoosiers will begin their 2009 campaign against West Virginia in the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge on Feb. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. IU will also play Georgetown and South Florida in the three-day event.

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 starcollegereport@yahoo.com.

Local connections
Ashley Thompson, Sr., Delta State — Recently placed first in the 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:28.30 in a win over Ouachita Baptist.
Greencastle
Andrew Bretscher, Jr., Ohio State — Has posted the team’s best time in the 100 butterfly at 47.86 and has won that event four times this season. Was also a member of the 400 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams that have already qualified for the NCAA meet. Has the third-best 50 free time of 20.64 and the third-best 100 backstroke time of 49.24.
Tracy Menzel, Sr., Kenyon — Has the team’s top 100 breast time of 1:02.94 and is a member of the 200 and 400 medley relay teams.
South Vermillion
Cheri Baratto, Sr., Akron — Placed sixth recently in the 100 free in 1:00.00 against St. Francis and was seventh in the 200 IM in 2:27.57.
Terre Haute North
Kristy Shew, Jr., Valparaiso — Placed fourth in two events in a recent meet against Wisconsin-Green Bay, going 28.85 in the 200 free and 33.12 in the 100 back.
Terre Haute South
Tyler Gertz, Fr., Purdue — A walk-on member of the Boilermakers, Gertz has recorded a best time of 52.20 in the 100 free this year and a time of 10:04.77 in the 1,000/1,650 free.
Brent Noble, Sr., Eastern Illinois — Had his biggest day of the season at the “House of Champions” meet in Indianapolis, posting the team’s season best times in the 200 IM (1:59.99) and the 400 IM (4:19.00). Was also a member of the fourth-place 800 free relay team (2:08.51).
Donny Brush, assistant coach, Indiana — Has helped coach the Hoosiers to a No. 8 national ranking for the men’s team and a No. 13 national ranking for the women’s team.

January 25, 2009 05:31 pm

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College Report: Bassett dishes on the ups and downs of his basketball journey

Armon Bassett is turning to more familiar leadership in his quest to end one of the most nomadic college basketball careers in memory.
Bassett enrolled at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, earlier this month, making the Bobcats the fifth school he’s been connected to since graduating from Terre Haute South in 2005 and leading the Braves to the Class 4A Final Four.
Bassett had made a verbal commitment to attend the University of Missouri while in high school, but instead went to the Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia to improve his academic standing and played the 2005-06 season there. Two seasons at Indiana saw Bassett average 9.5 points per game as a freshman and 11.4 as a sophomore, getting third-team all-Big Ten Conference honors and leading the league in 3-point field goal shooting percentage. The well-publicized departure from IU, which Bassett addressed last week to Ohio media, took him to Alabama-Birmingham for the recently-concluded fall semester.
And now he’s a Bobcat.
The connection?
Bassett played for the Indiana Heat AAU team while in high school that was coached by Travis Steele, brother of Ohio Coach John Groce, and got to know the family well during that experience.
“Coach Groce is different from other coaches,” Bassett told the Athens Post. “He knows my story. Like Coach [Kelvin] Sampson can relate to people, but [Groce] actually knows what’s going on in my life. Like some personal stuff that I don’t trust many people [with].
“It’s a good decision with Coach Groce, and I feel all the way comfortable playing with him.”
Groce feels the same.
“When you look at everything he’s been through, as a coach, you’d be foolish not to do your due diligence and research it,” Groce told the Post. “We’re just focused on the fresh start that he has now and the chance he has to be here and to grow not only as a basketball player, but as a student and as a person.”
Bassett told the Post that many common rumors about his departure from IU were untrue.
“I had an option,” Bassett said. “The last phone conversation with Coach Crean, I had an option. I chose to leave. Unfortunately, the media doesn’t hear the whole story all the time, but I chose to leave.
“That was it, and no, I didn’t get kicked off the team for drugs.”
Asked why he didn’t talk about it sooner, Bassett said he thought no one would take his claims seriously.
“[Indiana] wasn’t all the way honest with the media with what was going on there,” he said. “I’m not going to go back and forth with [Crean] through the media, because he’s an established coach and people are going to probably take his word more likely than not so I wasn’t going to try and go against that.”
The UAB situation, which has put Coach Mike Davis under fire once again, saw numerous other players leave the team due to academic or other reasons the same time as Bassett.
“I just had some personal stuff going on back home,” Bassett said. “And I came there to play for Coach Davis, and I just don’t feel like he’s going to be there, for whatever reason, next season.
“Whether he’s going to another job or kind of falling out with the administration … I couldn’t wait until the end of the year.”
For now, Bassett is practicing with the Bobcats, members of the Mid-American Conference who currently have a 7-6 record — including a 12-point win over Indiana State last month.
The fall quarter ends on Nov. 22, so Bassett’s return to the court will be a few weeks sooner than if he had transferred to a school using semesters.
• • •
• Odds and ends — Northview grad Julia Whitted and the IUPUI Jaguars have struggled to a 7-7 record so far this season after making the conference tournament finals last year, but Whitted has held up her end.
The 6-5 junior led the team in scoring with 21 points in losses to Jacksonville and Missouri-Kansas City, and paced the team in rebounds with 12 in a win over Cornell and 10 in a victory against Northern Illinois.
She is averaging 12.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game, as well as 2.9 blocked shots.
• Emily Maggert of Paris has started every game for the 8-6 Ball State women’s basketball team, ranking second on the team among four players in double figures with a scoring average of 13.6. Her high game was 22 points in a loss to Temple in December.
• Lade Akande of Robinson has led Butler’s women’s team to a 9-6 record, and again leads the team in scoring with a 12.6 average.
• Shakamak’s Jared Rehmel continues to shine for Olney Central College, which is now 11-4 after Thursday night’s double overtime win over Rend Lake. Rehmel led the Blue Knights with 35 points in that game.
On Dec. 6, Rehmel hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play to give OCC an 80-78 lead over Lincoln, which tied the score with 3.4 seconds left. Rehmel hit another three at the buzzer to give OCC a dramatic victory.
OCC Coach Mike Burris said during the Wabash Valley Classic that Kentucky Wesleyan has already made an offer to Rehmel, and that seven or eight Division 1 colleges remain very interested in the spunky guard.

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

January 11, 2009 10:25 pm

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Former Northview football standout Joe Evinger racking up postseason accolades

Post-season honors have been pouring in for former Northview football standout Joe Evinger after his sophomore football season for the College of the Canyons junior college team in California.
Evinger, a 6-7, 340-pound sophomore offensive tackle, was named a first-team junior college All-American choice after earlier receiving first-team Region III All-California honors. He also was named as a first-team all-Southern California Football Association selection.
Evinger’s growing list of Division I schools recruiting him now includes Arkansas, Louisville, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Nevada and San Diego.
Evinger told rivals.com there will be two main factors when he reaches his decision next month.
“Location and education,” he said. “I want to be somewhere close to home so at least my family can get to the games. I'm also looking for a good education if things don't work out.”
Evinger also told rivals.com that his junior college experience has helped him in many ways.
“It gives you time to adjust to the next level,” he said. “Academically, it lets you get things back in order. It's like a second chance, kind of.”

• Colson gets DII scholarship — Northview senior softball player Shelby Colson will be attending Glenview State in West Virginia following graduation and will be a pitcher and first baseman for the Pioneers’ softball team.
Last year for Northview, Colson earned all-Western Indiana Conference honors while hitting .361 and leading the team with a pair of home runs. She slugged .528 and reached base nearly 40 percent of the time.
As a pitcher, Colson was 8-7 overall and posted a 3.57 ERA in 14 starts. She threw 84 1/3 innings and struck out 64 batters.
Glenview State Coach Rick Moore likes Colson’s hitting and pitching abilities.
“Any time a player can go to the mound and hit at the plate is a big plus in Division II,” Moore told the Brazil Times. “I think she'll play a lot of ball next year. Honestly, I think she's got the second best changeup that I've ever seen. If she can learn one more pitch, she'll be pitching a lot for us. But I have the feeling she'll be playing first base too.”

• Odds and ends — Statistics were not listed for Terre Haute South and Danville Area Community College graduate Brooke Daugherty for the current basketball season at Indiana-South Bend, but they are now available.
Daugherty ranks fourth on the IUSB team and 26th overall in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference at 7.3 points per game, while she is second on the team and tied for sixth place in the conference with 6.1 rebounds per game.
The Titans have a 6-9 record so far this season.
• Well-traveled Terre Haute North grad Wendell Mardis had a huge debut in November for Southwest Baptist, a Division II school in Missouri. The Bearcats went to Salt Lake City and won an 80-79 decision over the Utah Utes as Mardis had three points and two assists.
The Bearcats are 9-0 and are currently ranked No. 3 in the NABC/Division II Coaches Poll. For the season, Mardis is averaging 5.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists while averaging 15.6 minutes played per game.
His best game came on Nov. 28 against Rockhurst, as Mardis had 13 points on perfect 5-for-5 shooting (including two 3-pointers) and six rebounds.
• Terre Haute South grad Anna Pigg, a sophomore soccer player at IUPUI, was a key defensive contributor as the Jaguars tied for The Summit League regular season championship.
IUPUI finished 13-7 overall and 7-1 in league play, losing a tough 2-1 first-round match to no. 2 seed South Dakota State in the first round of the post-season tournament.
Pigg started all 20 matches, attempting two shots (one on goal) but made her biggest contribution helping key a defense that allowed only 0.85 goals per match and a .068 shooting percentage.
• Sophomore wide receiver Chris Russell of Terre Haute North was named as a first team all-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference wide receiver after an excellent season for the Anderson Ravens.
Russell finished the season with 37 receptions for a team-high 670 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned 23 kickoffs for 441 yards for a 19.2 average per return.
AU finished third in the conference with an overall record of 5-5, including a 4-3 mark in the HCAC.
• Butler junior linebacker Derek Guggenberger, another former Terre Haute North standout, was only named to the honorable mention all-Pioneer League team despite leading the Bulldogs in tackles.
Guggenberger had 41 solo tackles and 44 assists, six of those resulting in losses, with two sacks and one fumble recovery. Eleven Butler players were honored by the Pioneer League.
• Terre Haute South grad Kristen Seaton missed her entire sophomore volleyball season at Pepperdine with a foot injury. She was redshirted, though, and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
Seaton was expected to be a starter this season. Pepperdine finished the season at 20-8 and was ranked in the top 25 nationally, but lost a first-round NCAA tournament match to Long Beach State.

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

December 28, 2008 12:01 am

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