WABASH VALLEY —
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.
The list accompanying is as accurate as possible, and any additions or corrections are welcome at the e-mail address at the end of the column.
Things always change, though, and it’s always possible that some of the people listed may have made alternate plans since originally signing or committing.
Two examples of how things go in college sports come from the Terre Haute North girls basketball program.
Outstanding incoming senior Nicole Anderson verbally committed to Bowling Green earlier this year, but has re-opened her recruitment after BGSU Coach Curt Miller was hired at Indiana.
Anderson has heard from Oklahoma State and Ball State, among others, and will undoubtedly find a solid home at the D-I level.
Ironically, Miller still wound up with a Valley player at Indiana after Clay City’s Carmela Roeschlein made the Hoosier squad this summer as a walk-on.
Recent North grad Morgan Seeley originally planned to play basketball at Lake Land College in Mattoon, Ill., but in the meantime received an outstanding academic scholarship to Indiana State and is going to attend school there.
Here are comments from a few more of those athletes and/or their college or prep coaches:
• Cody Gardner, Terre Haute North, baseball at Wright State – Gardner visited Wright State last month and committed to play for Coach Rob Cooper at the D-I school in Dayton, Ohio, that competes in the Horizon League.
He also considered Marshall, Tennessee-Martin, Eastern Illinois, Western Illinois and many junior colleges.
“Wright State is the perfect fit for me,” Gardner said. “Coach Cooper's program provides the best script that I can write for myself as a student athlete in college. I look forward to beginning my collegiate career at Wright State.”
Gardner, an infielder, completed an outstanding career at North last spring by being named to the all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference team for the second straight year. Ranked 14th in his graduating class of more than 400 students, Gardner also earned Academic All-State honors this year.
North Coach Shawn Turner appreciates the contributions that Gardner has made to his program.
“Cody Gardner has provided our program with a hard-nosed, get-after-it approach for four years now,” Turner said. “He consistently shows up to play and lead by example. His many contributions often show in the box scores throughout our lineup as his approach affects the rest of the guys who are playing.”
• Tyeson Mundy, Terre Haute North, cross country at Indiana – Mundy had an outstanding career at North with four appearances in the state finals, finishing 25th in the 2010 state meet and 32nd in 2011. His PR in the 3,200 meters in track is 9:25.00.
“Tyeson was very, very good during most of the cross country season this fall and has shown the potential to develop into a very good distance runner,” IU Coach Ron Helmer said. “While he has a lot of work yet to do, we think the desire and motivation to succeed are there and in time he will make a significant contribution to our success both in cross country and on the track."
• Jorden Brown, West Vigo, volleyball at Millikin – Brown earned three varsity letters in volleyball as a setter at West Vigo High School where she also lettered in basketball three times. As a junior, Brown set a school record for most consecutive serves with 18. As a senior, she was team captain and earned All-Conference and All-Wabash Valley honors.
“Jorden is a solid setter and server with good quickness and knowledge of the game,” said Millikin Coach Debbie Kiick. “I am looking forward to the contributions she can make to our program.”
• Chelsea Whitesell, Terre Haute South, softball at Grace – Whitesell is expected to play third base or catcher for Grace, an NAIA school in northern Indiana.
“Grace is a beautiful school and has everything I ever wanted,” Whitesell said. “The size is perfect, the teachers are wonderful and I can achieve all my goals there. I want to be a great asset to the softball team while working towards my degree.”
South Coach Steve Woerner will miss having Whitesell’s services but sees good things for her at the next level.
“Chelsea has been a great pleasure to have on our team,” he said. “She has a terrific attitude and is a hard worker.
“She is a team-first type of player who leads by example,” Woerner added. “She can play a number of positions and has a big bat.”
Joey Bennett can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.
College Report
COLLEGE REPORT: Former prep athletes getting ready for fall college season
- 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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