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