TERRE HAUTE — 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.
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• 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.
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• 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.
College Report
College Report: Northview grad Evinger set to sign with Louisville
- 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.
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