Morgan Patterson
High school: Terre Haute South
High school coach: Cara Stuckey
College sport: Golf
College team: St. Mary-of-the-Woods
College coach: Steve Higham
High school career: 2011 state finalist. 2011 co-Vigo County champ. Nine-hole average 41.67 and 18-hole average 84.43. Four-year varsity player.
Patterson on the transition to college golf: “I cannot wait to get out and play as part of the St. Mary’s golf team. I have watched a few tournaments in the past and the competition definitely at a higher level. But Coach Stuckey has prepared me for that. It’s hard to practice golf in Indiana in the winter, since there is snow everywhere and the courses are closed. But once spring comes around you can bet I be on the putting greens and playing as much as I can. I enjoy being part of a team. Being on a team helps me adjust to the school, and people I am around.”
Patterson on her career development: “I began my golf career when I was 10, but never really strived to achieve so much, because basketball when I was younger seemed to fit me. My freshman year I put up the basketball shoes and traded them for golf shoes. I never thought in the four years I played for Coach Stuckey and Terre Haute South I would achieve and learn so much. During my freshman year, I was shooting in the 50s for nine holes, but I earned Rookie of the Year. My sophomore year I began getting lower scores (mid 40s for nine holes). I knew my junior year my team would depend on my score more, with losing two seniors from the previous season. Putting is where I gained strength in, and received Lowest Putting Average. During the summer of my senior year, my goal was to work at golf every day after work. There was pressure of bringing in a low score and stepping up and being a team leader as a senior. I prevailed, shooting some of my career best scores.”
Patterson on choosing the Woods: “I never thought I would have the opportunity St. Mary’s of the Woods has given me. I chose St. Mary of the Woods because it offered me a chance to further my education and carry on my golf career. I knew some of the girls from the Woods golf team, because they had once played with me at Terre Haute South. I heard nothing but great advice from them, family, friends, and teachers that had gone to St. Mary of the Woods. A large college like the size of Indiana University didn’t seem to fit me as well as a smaller college like St. Mary’s. I toured the campus the summer before my senior year and it felt like the ‘perfect fit.’ I am truly just beginning my career in golf and I know choosing St. Mary’s of the Woods could advance it even farther.”
Stuckey on Patterson: “Morgan took over as leader of our golf team her senior year and was No. 1 for us all season. The improvements she made in her short game and confidence helped her win county along with qualifying for state. Morgan’s positive attitude and willingness to improve will help her at the college level. The biggest adjustment she will have to make is the difference in yardage at the college level compared to high school."
Higham on Patterson: “Morgan is great young lady and comes from a wonderful family. She has an outstanding work ethic. Cara did a great job improving her skills. The added length of the college game is always a factor, and we all can work on our short game. Morgan is a very welcomed addition to our program and will be an outstanding student athlete.”
Connor Strain
High school: North Central
High school coach: Craig Grow
College sport: Baseball
College team: Evansville
College coach: Jamey Carroll (Newburgh native who played for five major-league teams)
High school career: Helped Thunderbirds to state runnerup finish last spring in Class 1A. Had a 9-3 pitching record with 99 strikeouts and 31 walks in 70.1 innings. Had seven complete games and three shutouts.
Why Evansville?: “I liked the small campus and it was fairly close to home. I got recruited by a lot of schools but they were one of the first ones that really showed me how committed they were to me. I got a chance to visit the campus, stay with some players, and visit with the coaching staff. I just knew it was the right place for me.”
How did Evansville find you?: “I went to a showcase in Plainfield, and the showcase shot a video of me on the mound. My pitching coach, Garrett Berger, sent the video to them, and they immediately started communicating with me.”
Strain on his role at UE: “Coach [Jamey] Carroll has told both my pitching coach and me that he expects me to come in and be a vital part of their starting pitching rotation from day one.”
What I need to work on: “I realize that it’s going to be a big jump in competition and talent level, but I’m going to continue working to get better. I plan on putting myself in a position to have a great spring season for North Central and then have a great summer travel season. I fully plan to show up at Evansville this fall and be ready to do anything I can to help the team.”
Coach Carroll on Strain being from a small school: “Sometimes it matters, but in his case I believe he has competed in some big games in his high school career and the summer travel baseball team he plays on has prepared him for the next level.”
Coach Carroll on what he likes best about Strain: “He competes! His arm slot works real easy and he creates a tremendous amount of sink.”
Coach Carroll on Strain’s role: “I believe he can be an immediate contributor on our pitching staff. How he competes on the mound with his sinker, slider combination, I feel he can be an impact pitcher in this conference.”
Rachel Welker
High school: Terre Haute North
High school coach: Abe Nasser
College sport: Golf
College team: Eastern Kentucky
College coach: Mike Whitson (former Indiana State coach)
High school career: Welker qualified for the state finals three times in high school. She finished sixth in 2010 and earned all-state honors. She is a three-time all-conference honoree and three-time sectional medalist, and set school records for lowest 18-hole round (69) and lowest nine-hole round (32). Garnered academic all-state honors in 2011 and is ranked fifth in a class of over 400 students. In addition to her golf success, Welker has won the sectional and qualified for the state championship three times in the pole vault.
Welker on signing to play in college: “Signing my National Letter of Intent was the best feeling. It feels great knowing that the college search is over and now I can just keeping working on my game. Now that I’m official, I can really get excited for the next chapter of my golf career at EKU.”
Welker on playing in college: “I am looking forward to the elevated level of competition I will be exposed to, as well as having the opportunity to work with coach Whitson at EKU. I am excited to test the limits of my game and push myself to a whole new level. Also, getting access to the top notch golf and training facilities at EKU is something I am looking forward to.”
Welker on what she needs to work on: “To prepare for Division I golf, I will intensify my short game practices and continue to challenge myself with longer course distances.”
Nasser on Welker: “Rachel Welker performed better than any other female golfer in Terre Haute North history. She qualified for the state finals 3 times and finished 6th in 2010 earning All-State honors. She holds the school records for 18 holes (3 under par 69) and 9 holes (4 under par 32). When I first met her 5 years ago she couldn’t break 50 at Hulman Links and five years later she regularly broke par during practice.”
Nasser on adjusting to the next level: “The adjustment to the next level is going to be more mental than physical. Can she go into this coming season confident and feeling like she belongs and deserves a spot among the top five on her team? That will be the challenge. Can she juggle the rigors of school work and social life that come as a surprise to many first year college students? I think Rachel will thrive in that environment. She’s been so involved with athletics, academics, and organizations during her high school career. I think college may actually serve as a relaxing experience for her.”
Whitson on Welker: “Rachel is completing a wonderful year of junior golf. Her improvement over the past couple golf seasons has been dramatic and that is a sign of her work ethic and athleticism. Rachel will also make a very quick adjustment to college golf and will be contributing right away next fall.”
 

Bloomfield
Jarrod Brett, men’s ass’t coach, Franklin — Has coached at his alma mater for nine years.
Elyse Weddle, So., Hanover — Averaged 9.8 points in first four games as a starting guard, ranking second on the team in scoring.
Chrisman
Brent Owen, men’s graduate assistant coach, Southern Indiana — In his second year as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.
Jordan Kindred, Jr., Eureka — Team’s second-leading scorer at 12.7 after seven games.
Cody Owen, Fr., Danville Area CC — Averaging 3.4 points per game.
Lindsey Ross, Fr., Millikin — Has not played in team’s first six games.
Greencastle
Chelsea Samuels, Fr., Elmhurst — Has scored two points in one game.
Linton-Stockton
Mike Carpenter, men’s head coach, Danville Area CC — In sixth season as head coach at DACC.
Local connections
Mike Roberts (former Terre Haute resident), men’s assistant coach, Rice — In his fourth year as an assistant at Rice.
Kelly Meggs (former Terre Haute North player), So., California-Irvine — Has played in all eight games this year, starting one, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 assists per game.
Noah Stewart (former Terre Haute resident), So., Olney Central — Averaging 8.8 points (fifth on team) and team-high 4.1 assists per game.
Justin Dooley (son of Terre Haute native Mark Dooley), Fr., Huntingdon (Ala.) — Stats unavailable.
Dylan McDaniel, Fr., Ancilla (son of former Terre Haute resident Mike McDaniel) — Has not played this season.
Marshall
Jon Prevo, women’s head coach, Rose-Hulman — In fifth year as head coach at Rose-Hulman.
Lucas Eitel, So., Indiana State — Averaging 1.9 points per game.
Martinsville
Heidi Dahnke, Jr., Illinois-Chicago — Has played in six games, averaging 2.2 points per game.
North Central
Donnie Abrams, Jr., Marian — Averaging 1.3 points and 1.0 rebounds per game.
North Vermillion
Hillary Lively, Fr., Danville Area CC — Originally committed to play for Division II Maryville, is averaging 9.1 points (fifth on team) in first year at DACC.
Northview
Austin Akers, Jr., Eastern Illinois — Averaging 1.6 points and 2.7 assists. Has 22 assists and only seven turnovers in 16.4 minutes per game.
Oblong
Drew Morecraft, So., Lincoln Trail — Averaging 3.1 points per game.
Owen Valley
Antonio Marshall, Sr., Olivet Nazarene — Leads team in scoring at 19.9 points per game, shooting 49.5 percent from field.
Mitch Stahl, Jr., Oakland City — Leads team in scoring at 15.6 points per game.
Nickole Gonser, Jr., Indianapolis — Ranks third on team in scoring at 9.9 points per game as a starting guard.
Cody Vest, So., Indianapolis — Not playing in fall semester, returning to team for spring semester.
Kaitlyn Sweatman, So., Missouri-St. Louis — Averaging 1.7 points per game.
Paris
Rodney Watson, head men’s coach, Southern Indiana — Is in third season as USI head coach.
Chase Brinkley, Jr.,  Illinois-Springfield — Averaging 5 points in two games this season, scoring 10 points in a loss to Findlay.
Zach Henn, So., Eureka — Averaging 4.9 points per game.
Dalten Temples, Fr., Parkland — Averaging 2.1 points per game.
Allison Englum, Fr., Lincoln Land — Has not played this season.
Riverton Parke
Josh Wilson, So., Ancilla — Averaging 8.4 points (fifth on team) and 4.2 rebounds.
Robinson
Meyers Leonard, So., Illinois — Second on team in scoring at 14.5 points and also leads team in rebounding at 6.8.
Ben Jones, So., Southern Indiana — Has played in all six games, starting one, averaging 2.5 points per game.
Rockville
R.J. Mahurin, So., Indiana State — Averaging 8.5 points per game, fifth on team, and averaging 1.7 rebounds per game.
Beth Mahurin, Fr., Murray State — Has played in four games and has scored two points.
Shakamak
Billy Newton, So., Oakland City — Averaging 4.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Marki Collins, So., Olney Central — Averaging 4.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
South Vermillion
Lou Gudino, men’s associate head coach, Indiana State — In his fifth season as an assistant coach at ISU.
Jenni McLeish-Marietta, Sr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods — Averaging 1.0 points per game in two games.
Andy Walsh, So., Wabash — Has played football for two years, is returning to basketball this winter. Did not play in team’s first seven games.
Amanda Kelly, Fr., St. Mary-of-the-Woods — Is scoreless in six games this year with three rebounds.
Sullivan
Mason Gregory, Fr., Olney Central — Averaging 4.6 points per game while shooting 61.9 percent from field.
Lara Benningfield, Fr., Olney Central — Averaging 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game
Terre Haute North
John Grimes (Gerstmeyer H.S), men’s head coach, Marian — In 35th year as head coach.
Clint Weddle, women’s associate head coach, Indiana State — In fifth season as assistant coach at ISU.
Molly Martin, volunteer women’s assistant coach, Rose-Hulman — In her first year of coaching after one of the best playing careers in Hanover College history.
Francesca McCarthy, So., Holy Cross (Ind.) — Had a solid outing recently against No. 13 St. Xavier, recording 8 points, 3 boards, 4 assists, and a steal.
Thomas Anderson, Fr., Olney Central — Averaging 6.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Justin Gant, Fr., Indiana State — Averaging 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game.
Logan Shipley, Fr., Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne — Got first collegiate basket recently against Judson.
Chase Jones, Fr., Franklin — Has not yet played this season.
Jake Newton, Fr., Oakland City — Sitting out season as a redshirt.
Terre Haute South
Jim Shaw, men’s head coach, Rose-Hulman — In 18th year at Rose-Hulman.
Melanie Boeglin, women’s assistant coach, Indiana State — In her fourth year coaching at her alma mater.
Spencer Harlan, Sr., Rose-Hulman — Averaging 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Megan Craft, Sr., Ball State — Has played in three games this year and is scoreless.
D.J. Shouse, So., St. Francis (Ind.) — Has played in two games and scored three points.
Jake Odum, So., Indiana State — Ranks third on team in scoring at 9.4 and leads team in assists at 6.2.
John Michael Jarvis, So., Olney Central — Averaging 9.5 points (third on team) and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Ike Worrell, So., Oakland City — Has not played this season.
Jacob Tanoos, So., Illinois Central — Is sitting out season as a redshirt.
Joey Etling, So., Wabash — Has not played this season.
Haley Seibert, Fr., Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne — Has averaged 3.5 points in seven games.
Anthony McGill, Fr., Illinois Central — Averaging 9.6 points per game (third on team) while shooting 41.4 percent from field.
Derek Shouse, Fr., Danville Area CC — Ranks second on team in scoring at 9.7 points per game. Also getting 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
Turkey Run
Jake Weaver, Fr., Lincoln Trail — Has not played this season.
Chelsea Francis, Fr., DePauw — Has played in one game this season.
White River Valley
Matthew Graves, men’s assistant coach, Butler — In ninth season as assistant at his alma mater.
Kelsey Anderson, Jr., MacMurray — Scored 13 and 4 points in team’s first two games as starting guard, averaging 5.8 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Alicia Tally, So., Olney Central — Averaging 9.2 points per game (fifth on team) and 2.6 rebounds.