Nearly 60 Wabash Valley area high school graduates are playing college football this fall, along with five more serving as assistant coaches.
For the second straight fall, no players who attended area schools are competing at the 1-A Bowl Championship Series level. Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard is the son of former local resident Kelli (Miller) Pritchard.
About two-thirds of those are playing at the Division III or other small college levels, while many are playing at the former I-AA (now Bowl Championship Series Subdivision) level – including 10 at Indiana State.
Terre Haute North leads the Valley schools with 14 players competing, while Terre Haute South, Marshall and Northview each has six players competing. It’s a young group, with only eight players being members of the senior class at their respective schools. Such youth offers even more potential for greater success in the future.
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• Hanover-Butler game cancelled — Due to the heavy winds that devastated the Hanover College campus last Sunday, the Panthers cancelled all classes and athletic events for the past week.
Included on that list was the scheduled football game at Butler on Saturday, which will not be rescheduled. Missing out on one of their final collegiate appearances were Hanover senior offensive lineman Brock Goggins and Butler’s starting tight end, senior Luke Johnson of Terre Haute North.
• Scoring scarce — Touchdowns are normally hard to come by for the Valley graduates, many of whom are youngsters who are either waiting on their chance to shine, defensive players or offensive lineman.
North grad Justin Hall has already recorded 12 points this year, as the Marian sophomore wide receiver had caught nine passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns entering Saturday’s game with Valparaiso.
• A specialist in specialists — Cloverdale has only two players in college, but they are both kickers. Raine Young is a freshman placekicker at Manchester, while sophomore Brandon Mescall is a punter at Franklin.
• Early successes — Marian, with eight Valley grads on its roster, won two of its first three games. Included in the wins was a victory over No. 25-ranked McKendree.
Wabash is ranked No. 7 and Franklin No. 17 in the d3football.com national poll.
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Other college news:
• Mardis lands in Missouri — Wendell Mardis, the well-traveled point guard from Terre Haute North, will complete his college basketball eligibility this winter at Division II Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.
SBU is a member of the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and will open its season with a trip to play at the University of Utah on Nov. 15.
SBU Coach Jeff Guiot commented on his team’s trip to Salt Lake City.
“We’re very excited to start things off with Utah, a high-major D-I program. We’re starting the season with this game because we have very high expectations for this team.”
The Bearcats are the reigning MIAA regular-season champions, were a perfect 15-0 at home during the 2007-08 campaign, and were ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation last season.
The Bearcats return four starters to the 2008-09 team. Matt Rogers (6-10, junior), D’Ante Harris (6-3, senior), Nick Kovacevich (6-5, senior) and Brandon Burgette (6-0, senior) will be joined by key newcomers including transfers Mardis, Tomas Brock (6-1, sophomore, Missouri State), and Gerren Rogers (6-8, junior, Lincoln College).
Mardis played one season each at Southeastern Illinois and Illinois Central junior colleges, and played last season at Division I Alabama State before transferring to SBU over the summer.
• Doss to VU — Turkey Run senior point guard Meghan Doss has made a verbal commitment to play basketball for the Vincennes University women’s team starting in 2009.
VU Coach Harry Meeks expects the 5-1 Doss to fit into his program well.
“She’s fast and almost impossible to press,” Meeks told the Vincennes Sun-Commercial. “Along with being very good at getting the ball where it needs to be, she can shoot the three like you wouldn’t believe.”
Doss averaged 14 points per game last season, shooting 46 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range. Hoosier Basketball Magazine has chosen her to be a second-team all-state selection in this year’s edition.
“She’s had a great summer and is working hard on her strength, conditioning and explosiveness,” Turkey Run Coach Sam Karr told the Sun-Commercial. “She brings instant excitement to the floor and should have an outstanding senior year. Meghan will be one of the main reasons we’ll be ranked this year.”
Wabash Valley football products
Casey-Westfield
Nick Murphy, Rose-Hulman, Jr.
Cloverdale
Brandon Mescall, Franklin, So.
Raine Young, Manchester, Fr.
Hutsonville-Palestine
Ryan Roberts, Indiana State, Fr.
Local connections
Shaine Tierney, St. Francis, So.
Tavita Pritchard, Stanford, Sr.
Linton
Brock Goggins, Hanover, Sr.
Dan Allen, Marian, So.
Ethan Brewer, Indiana State, Fr.
Lance Irwin, Rose-Hulman, Fr.
Marshall
Troy Johnson, Indiana State, assistant coach
Derek Eitel, Rose-Hulman, Jr.
Chris Stepp, Indiana State, Fr.
Travis Johnson, Indiana State, Fr.
Morgan Miller, Greenville, Fr.
Alan Wolter, Greenville, Fr.
Tyler Howard, Greenville, Fr.
Martinsville
Ross Shotts, Blackburn, Sr.
Bobby Short, Rose-Hulman, Fr.
Ethan Nash, Rose-Hulman, Fr.
North Central
Ira Drummy, Anderson, Jr.
Michael Woodsmall, DePauw, Fr.
Scottie Austin, St. Joseph?s, Fr.
Northview
Joe Evinger, College of the Canyons (Calif.), So.
Matt Crooks, Marian, So.
Broc Miller, Indiana State, Fr.
Dayne Upperman, Marian, Fr.
Jered Timm, Marian, Fr.
Dylan Kruse, Marian, Fr.
Owen Valley
Ethan Kestenman, Rose-Hulman, Fr.
Paris
Chip Keys, Eastern Illinois, Sr.
Michael Mattingly, Franklin, Fr.
Robinson
Ben Wassel, Rose-Hulman, Jr.
Rockville
Mitch Downs, Franklin, So.
Zach Clapp, DePauw, Fr.
Kyle Fahey, Manchester, Fr.
South Putnam
Josh Buis, Eastern Michigan, assistant coach
Drew Christy, Rose-Hulman, Jr.
Terre Haute North
Steve Englehart, Rose-Hulman, head coach
Kevin Dean, Rose-Hulman, assistant coach
Jared Lange, Wabash, Sr.
Drew Oehler, Wabash, Sr.
Pat Hancewicz, Franklin, Sr.
Luke Johnson, Butler, Sr.
Shawn Hines, Franklin, Jr.
Seth Woodason, Harding (Ark.), Jr.
Derek Guggenberger, Butler, Jr.
Paul McGuire, SE Missouri State, Jr.
Dan Millington, Indiana State, Jr.
Justin Hall, Marian, So.
Daniel Watson, Marian, So.
Chris Russell, Anderson, So.
Matt Seliger, Indiana State, Fr.
Jake Schaffer, Wabash, Fr.
Terre Haute South
Trent Miles, Indiana State, head coach
Kyle Toney, Indiana State, So.
Pat Duncan, Rose-Hulman, Jr.
Michael Engle, DePauw, So.
Kyle Harruff, Southern Illinois, So.
Koby Kraemer, Indiana State, Fr.
Brock Lough, Indiana State, Fr.
West Vigo
Zach Avary, Marian, So.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.
College Report
College Report: Plenty of Valley atheltes suiting up in college football ranks
- College Report
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Catching up as the school year winds down
Odds and ends from here and there as the school year quickly winds down. For starters, high jumper Nick Jaeger of Terre Haute South was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s male track & field newcomer of the year:
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College Report: Lively earned collegiate upgrade with strong play
Hillary Lively signed to play Division II basketball at Maryville (Mo.) during her senior year at North Vermillion, but those plans changed and she would up at nearby Danville Area Community College — where she recently concluded an outstanding two-year career.
Lively was impressive enough to earn a Division I scholarship to Southeast Missouri State of the Ohio Valley Conference, and both her future and past college coaches think she will continue to succeed there.
“She fits what we need,” SEMO coach Ty Margenthaler said. “She has college experience, she is strong and physical and plays well around the basket and moves well.
“Her strength, rebounding and touch around the basket will be a big help. On the defensive end, she’ll be able to guard a true center.” -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley prep athletes getting ready for next level
The NCAA “regular” signing period begins Wednesday for all sports except football, field hockey, soccer, track and field, cross country and men’s water polo.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Conferences honor Valley softball players
Several Wabash Valley area college softball players have been honored by their respective conferences for outstanding play this spring.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Jake Newton makes big impact for Lincoln Trail College
Jake Newton had a long time between playing in competitive basketball games, a span of about 18 months, and used the frustration from that long dry spell to produce a stellar freshman season for Lincoln Trail College this winter.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed earns SEC Player of the Week honors
After belting three home runs during a five games last week, Kentucky sophomore left-handed pitcher/first baseman A.J. Reed was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Spring newcomers making marks
Several freshman baseball and softball NCAA Division I players from the Wabash Valley have already made immediate impacts at their new schools, while others are waiting for their turns to shine.
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COLLEGE REPORT: A.J. Reed named third-team preseason baseball All-American
Two-way sophomore standout A.J. Reed was one of three University of Kentucky players named third-team preseason All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Sponsler honored after big week for Wabash men's hoops
Wabash College freshman Ross Sponsler of Terre Haute North was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 6.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad Hughes finds success after facing preseason adversity
A.J. Hughes knew he was in for a battle as he competed with three other walk-on punters in the preseason for the lone starting job on the Virginia Tech football team.
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Etling, Meggs enjoying great year
It’s been a great year so far with more to come for a pair of longtime friends and St. Patrick’s School classmates.
Former Terre Haute resident Jack Meggs quarterbacked the Bellevue Wolverines football team to the Washington Class 3A state championship this fall, culminating with a 35-3 win over Sammamish Eastside Catholic — Bellevue’s fifth straight crown.
Danny Etling, meanwhile, has completed graduation requirements at Terre Haute South and is preparing for an upcoming high school all-star game and his first college classes in a couple of weeks. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley’s women’s college hoops players start strong
Several women’s college basketball players from the Wabash Valley have gotten off to good starts this season on the hardwood. Highlights:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Mayhew, Mascari provide fall highlights
Several dozen Wabash Valley athletes enjoyed successful fall seasons collegiately in cross country and tennis this year. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Former North teammates start strong in college
Former Terre Haute North teammates Ross Sponsler and Matt O’Leary made their college basketball debuts last week and had outstanding initial performances. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Shoemaker OBP leads Chisox farmhands
Former Indiana State, Olney Central and Northview baseball standout Brady Shoemaker opened a lot of eyes last summer in the Chicago White Sox farm system, earning him a spot on a mlb.com blog team that highlighted the team’s outstanding minor leaguers at each position.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Boeglin has plenty of ISU memories, but not all are related to basketball
Melanie Boeglin, an All-American who played on the women’s basketball team at Indiana State from 2002-2006, will be inducted into the 21st class of the Indiana State University Athletics Hall of Fame on Thursday.
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COLLEGE REPORT: North grad leading DePauw volleyball in winning streak
DePauw’s volleyball team has won seven straight matches entering this weekend’s DePauw Invitational, including four straight wins last weekend to capture the Rose-Hulman invitational title.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Engle moving up football coaching ranks
Michael Engle graduated from DePauw University in the spring of 2011 with a degree in political science and future plans to advance his studies in law school.
Being a coach’s son and a competitive athlete by nature, Engle has put those plans on hold for now. -
COLLEGE REPORT: From Terre Haute South to Division I competition to coaching careers
Adriane Wunderlich and Katelyn Bishop both turned stellar high school careers at Terre Haute South into Division I collegiate careers at Indiana State and Southern California, respectively.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Former prep athletes getting ready for fall college season
An impressive total of at least 122 Wabash Valley athletes and coaches will be competing collegiately for the first time during the upcoming school year or have changed schools to continue their careers.
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COLLEGE REPORT: SP’s Boetjer is Indiana’s Miss Softball
South Putnam’s Brooke Boetjer, who will be a freshman on the Indiana University softball team next spring, was named the 2012 Indiana Miss Softball last month between games at the North/South All-Star games in Carmel.
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College report: North grad Mayhew is second team all-American at IU
Indiana University running standout Zach Mayhew of Terre Haute North was honored earlier this month as a second-team All-American by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
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College report: Bloomfield runner to join IUPUI track, cross country teams
Bloomfield track/cross country standout Julie Riggins will be joining the developing IUPUI program next fall as one of six incoming recruits.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Roberts takes coaching position at UNC-Greensboro
Terre Haute native Mike Roberts is continuing his climb up the college basketball coaching ladder, recently departing Rice for a spot as the associate head coach at North Carolina-Greensboro.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Valley grads playing role for No. 13 Vincennes
A few springtime odds and ends:
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COLLEGE REPORT: Shouse making his mark for Danville Community College
Derek Shouse definitely flew under the radar in his one season of playing for the Terre Haute South boys basketball team last winter.
Not highly recruited, he made his way to Danville Area Community College as a walk-on with the hopes he could find his way onto the court at some point. -
COLLEGE REPORT: Bullock finds sunny home to continue tennis career
Most college athletes progress along similar paths to get to their final destinations athletically, but Terre Haute South grad Taylor Bullock’s route to the Eckerd College women’s tennis team was a little different than most.
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COLLEGE REPORT: TH South QB entertains Division I offers
Danny Etling’s trek to being a big-time college quarterback took a huge step this week when the Terre Haute South junior picked up a scholarship offer from Purdue, according to 247sports.com.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Seibert stepping up her game
Terre Haute South grad Haley Seibert has seen the usual ups and downs of her freshman basketball season at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne and is making the most of her opportunities this season.
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COLLEGE REPORT: Vikings Waters, Barton excited about college basketball
West Vigo grad Lauren Dailey helped the Lady Vikings basketball program to a lot of success at the end of the 1990s, and went on to play for Eastern Illinois from 2001-2004.
- More College Report Headlines
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