A receiver named Russell from Terre Haute North has emerged as one of the top Division III college football players in the state of Indiana. It’s not Mike and it’s not Wabash College, as the former Little Giant standout concluded his eligibility last fall.
Chris Russell, Mike’s younger brother, is a sophomore at Anderson and has had a breakout season as a receiver and kick returner.
Chris graduated from North in 2006 and attended Purdue for one semester before transferring to Anderson, where he also runs track. Last year as a sophomore, Russell caught 12 passes for 128 yards.
This season, however, Russell has hauled in 26 passes (third on team) for a team-high 329 yards and five touchdowns. His longest reception is 57 yards.
His best game came on Oct. 4 in a 56-12 win over Hanover, as Russell had six catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns. On Oct. 18, Russell had two pass receptions for 25 yards and returned nine kickoffs for a total of 176 yards.
Last Saturday, he had eight catches for 92 yards.
Russell has also returned 22 kickoffs a total of 430 yards for a 19.5 average.
Anderson was 3-4 going into Saturday’s game with Bluffton.
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In other college football news:
• Little Giants win title again — Wabash College celebrated Senior Day for its two former North Patriots on Saturday with a 60-7 win over Oberlin, giving the Little Giants their fourth consecutive North Coast Athletic Conference title.
Jared “Bubba” Lange is one of the team’s top tacklers on the defensive line, and Drew Oehler is one of the team’s top scorers as the first-string kicker.
• Bulldogs derailed — Butler had won five consecutive football games until Saturday’s 45-9 loss to Jacksonville. The Bulldogs are still 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Pioneer Football League.
Terre Haute North grad Derek Guggenberger had eight tackles to lead Butler on Saturday, and leads the team with 57 tackles (5.5 for loss). Guggenberger also ranks ninth in the PFL in tackles. Luke Johnson, Butler’s senior tight end from North, has caught eight passes for 47 yards and two touchdowns this season.
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• Hamilton GLVC’s top freshman — Terre Haute North grad Amy Hamilton continued her outstanding freshman cross country season for the University of Indianapolis on Oct. 25, finishing fifth in the 6-kilometer Great Lakes Valley Conference championships in 22:01.08 at Rolla, Mo.
Hamilton earned all-league honors for her top 10 finish and was later given GLVC Freshman of the Year honors as the Greyhounds placed sixth overall.
North grad Robert Roads placed 15th overall as Southern Indiana won its fourth straight men’s GLVC title.
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• Whitted honored in pre-season — The Summit League has announced that the IUPUI women’s basketball team, Summit League Tournament Finalists a year ago, was selected to finish fourth in the upcoming 2008-09 season in voting of the league’s media, coaches and sports information directors. Junior Julia Whitted of Northview earned her first Preseason First Team selection.
IUPUI, which finished fifth in The Summit League regular season a year ago, returns four starters from the 2007-08 squad.
Whitted was one of the country’s most-improved players in 2007-08, jumping from 3.4 points per game in 2006-07 to 14.4 last season. The Staunton native also averaged 8.8 rebounds overall and had 15.3 ppg along with 9.7 rpg in Summit League play. Her 3.3 blocks per game in conference play paced The Summit, as well.
The Northview product picked up her second straight First Team honor, as she was named to The Summit League Postseason First Team last season.
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.
Football individual recaps
(does not include Saturday’s games)
Casey-Westfield
Nick Murphy, Rose-Hulman, Jr. — Has made 25 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and has also added one sack and one forced fumble.
Cloverdale
Brandon Mescall, Franklin, So. — No statistics available.
Raine Young, Manchester, Fr. — No statistics available.
Hutsonville-Palestine
Ryan Roberts, Indiana State, Fr. — Has moved into starting quarterback position. Through eight games, has rushed 35 times for 66 yards and completed 17 of 28 passes with one interception for 129 yards. Began season on defense, and made a total of nine tackles.
Local connections
Shaine Tierney, St. Francis, So. — Has completed 24 of 37 passes with one interception as the backup quarterback for 424 yards and three touchdowns. Has carried the ball 19 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Tavita Pritchard, Stanford, Sr. — Has completed 97 of 167 passes with nine interceptions and seven touchdowns.
James Kirkendoll, Texas, So. — Has eight receptions for 106 yards (fifth on team) with one touchdown.
Linton
Brock Goggins, Hanover, Sr. — No statistics available.
Dan Allen, Marian, So. — No statistics available.
Ethan Brewer, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available.
Lance Irwin, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — No statistics available.
Marshall
Troy Johnson, Indiana State, assistant coach — Is in first season at ISU.
Derek Eitel, Rose-Hulman, Jr. — Has completed 102 of 181 passes for 1,255 yards with nine interceptions and nine touchdowns. Has rushed 57 times for zero yards.
Chris Stepp, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available. Currently sidelined with knee injury.
Travis Johnson, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available.
Morgan Miller, Greenville, Fr. — No statistics available.
Alan Wolter, Greenville, Fr. — Has made one reception this year, a 72-yard touchdown catch in a 59-0 win over Principia.
Tyler Howard, Greenville, Fr. — No statistics available.
Martinsville
Ross Shotts, Blackburn, Sr. — No statistics available.
Bobby Short, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — Has made five tackles.
Ethan Nash, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — No statistics available.
North Central
Ira Drummy, Anderson, Jr. — No statistics available.
Michael Woodsmall, DePauw, Fr. — No statistics available.
Scottie Austin, St. Joseph’s, Fr. — No statistics available.
Northview
Joe Evinger, College of the Canyons (Calif.), So. — Team is 8-0 and ranked second in Southern California Football Association poll.
Matt Crooks, Marian, So. — Backup kicker, has not attempted a kick this year.
Broc Miller, Indiana State, Fr. — No statistics available.
Dayne Upperman, Marian, Fr. — No statistics available.
Jered Timm, Marian, Fr. — Has made seven tackles, including four solos.
Dylan Kruse, Marian, Fr. — Has made three tackles, including one solo.
Owen Valley
Ethan Kestenman, Rose-Hulman, Fr. — No statistics available.
Paris
Chip Keys, Eastern Illinois, Sr. — Has carried nine times for 16 yards and one touchdown.
Michael Mattingly, Franklin, Fr. — No statistics available.
Robinson
Ben Wassel, Rose-Hulman, Jr. — Has made 30 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, and has also broken up two passes.
Rockville
Mitch Downs, Franklin, So. — Has carried the ball 14 times for 69 yards and one touchdown.
Zach Clapp, DePauw, Fr. — No statistics available.
Kyle Fahey, Manchester, Fr. — No statistics available.
South Putnam
Josh Buis, Eastern Michigan, assistant coach — Has helped coach team to 3-6 record overall and 2-2 in the Mid-American Conference.
Drew Christy, Rose-Hulman, Jr. — Remains sidelined after off-season automobile accident.
Terre Haute North
Steve Englehart, Rose-Hulman, head coach — Has led team to 20-8 record in third season as head coach (entering Saturday’s game).
Kevin Dean, Rose-Hulman, assistant coach — Is in his second season as an offensive coach for the Engineers.
Jared Lange, Wabash, Sr. — Tied for third on team with 31 tackles, including 10 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and one forced fumble.
Drew Oehler, Wabash, Sr. — Has made all four field goal attempts and 20 of 22 extra points this year.
Pat Hancewicz, Franklin, Sr. — Has played in three games, making two receptions for four yards.
Luke Johnson, Butler, Sr. — Has made seven catches for 48 yards and two touchdowns.
Shawn Hines, Franklin, Jr. — No statistics available.
Seth Woodason, Harding (Ark.), Jr. — Has played in eight of the team’s nine games and has made four tackles.
Derek Guggenberger, Butler, Jr. — Leads team in tackles with 57 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks.
Paul McGuire, SE Missouri State, Sr. — Backup center for SEMO.
Dan Millington, Indiana State, Jr. — Has 16 tackles, including two for loss, and has recovered one fumble.
Justin Hall, Marian, So. — Has carried the ball 12 times for 40 yards. Has made 14 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Daniel Watson, Marian, So. — No statistics available.
Chris Russell, Anderson, So. — Has made 26 receptions for 439 yards and five touchdowns.
Matt Seliger, Indiana State, Fr. — Has played in six games at quarterback, competing 9 of 27 passes with one interception for 39 yards.
Jake Schaffer, Wabash, Fr. — No statistics available.
Terre Haute South
Trent Miles, Indiana State, head coach — In first year as ISU head coach.
Kyle Toney, Indiana State, So. — No statistics available.
Pat Duncan, Rose-Hulman, Jr. — Has made 44 tackles (fourth on team), including eight for loss, and has also added three sacks, one broken up pass and one fumble recovery.
Michael Engle, DePauw, So. — Has completed four of seven passes for 39 yards as backup quarterback.
Kyle Harruff, Southern Illinois, So. — Is SIU’s backup punter, but has not yet kicked this season.
Koby Kraemer, Indiana State, Fr. — Has made four receptions for four yards, leads team in kickoff returns, ranks second in punt returns.
Brock Lough, Indiana State, Fr. — Has 87 yards rushing in 27 carries, with a long carry of 16 yards.
West Vigo
Zach Avary, Marian, So. — Has made four tackles, including three solos.
College Report
College Report: Chris Russell becoming big-threat WR for Anderson
- 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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Catching up as the school year winds down
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