Wabash Valley —
Two standout senior basketball players were among several Wabash Valley athletes who made previous college sports commitments official this week, with others expected to make their commitments official soon.
Terre Haute North senior basketball player Matt O’Leary was one of four athletes to sign with Loyola (Chicago), joining Muncie Central forward Nick Osborne and Illinois guards Darell Combs of South Holland and Jeff White of Peoria Manual.
Murray State Head Women’s Basketball Coach Rob Cross announced the signing of two players to the 2012-13 team during the early signing period, as Kelsey Dirks of Robinson and Mississippi guard Erika Sisk signed National Letters of Intent to play with the Racers.
New Loyola coach Porter Moser, who previously was the head coach at Illinois State, is pleased with his first recruiting class at the school.
“Our staff has worked tirelessly to identify kids and recruit them,” Moser said. “We identified speed, shooting ability, mobility and toughness as our primary needs and we feel we addressed those initial needs with this first class.”
A 6-foot-7 forward, O’Leary contributed 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per game in 2010-11. O’Leary is an accomplished shooter who knocked down 40 percent (36 for 89) of his three-point field goal attempts last season and shot 50 percent (92 for 185) from the field overall to help his squad to an 18-8 overall record.
“Matt has tremendous range on his shot for someone who is 6-foot-8 but he is more than just a shooter,” Moser said. “He has worked very hard to develop a pull-up shot and on his dribble drive to the basket. Matt has a long arms and a frame that can allow for 15 more pounds. He plays in arguably the best conference in the state of Indiana where he is seeing top competition night in and night out. He comes from a culture where winning is paramount.”
Cross has added another Wabash Valley product to his program, as Dirks will join Rockville’s Beth Mahurin next season. Mahurin is a freshman.
“We are thrilled to be associated with the two young women that officially became Racers this week,” said Cross. “First and foremost Erika and Kelsey are fantastic students and outstanding young ladies. They will represent the Racers Family exceptionally well, both on and off of the court. We expect Kelsey and Erika to have an immediate impact on our program the moment they arrive on campus.”
Dirks, a key starter for Robinson High School was an Illinois Basketball coaches Association Class 1A-2A pick in 2011. During her junior season she averaged 18.2 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 blocks, 1.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game for the Lady Maroons. The 6-3 center was also an Associated Press Class 2A All-State pick in 2011. A strong shooter, she has averaged over 55 percent from the field since her freshman campaign.
She also maintains a 4.0 GPA.
“Kelsey has a chance to become a terrific player at our level because of her unique combination of length, athletic ability and work ethic,” said Cross. “She is a skilled post player, with the range to step out and knock down the three. We are extremely excited about her ability to rebound the basketball and alter shots on the defensive end. Her demeanor on the court is outstanding and she possesses all of the qualities we look for in a leader.”
• Bits and pieces — Terre Haute North grad Zach Mayhew earned all-Big Ten Conference honors for the third straight year with an 11th place finish in the Big The Championships on Oct. 30 in a time of 23:56.
• Shakamak grad Anthony Witt was named the Midwest Region Athlete of the Year after winning last weekend’s NCAA Division II Midwest Regional cross country crown in a time of 31:58, beating teammate Tyler Emmorey by two seconds.
Witt’s was named the regional athlete of the year award marked the fourth straight season that a GVSU runner has earned the honor.
Witt and the Lakers are training for the NCAA Division II National Championship, which will be run on Saturday in Spokane, Wash.
• Terre Haute North freshman David Knight and Terre Haute South senior Derrelle Hankins are members of the nation’s top-ranked NAIA football team, as the Marian Knights have gone from a new startup program five years ago to the No. 1 ranking after being previously top-ranked Saint Xavier 27-9 last weekend.
Marian, led by former Rose-Hulman Coach Ted Karras, is 10-0 on the season.
• Chad Killinger, former women’s head coach at Lincoln Trail, has returned to the JUCO level as a head coach after one year as an assistant at Marshall.
He is now the head coach at Moberly Area Community College in Missouri.
Killinger has 15 years of collegiate basketball experience, 11 of those seasons coming at the junior college level. He served four years as head coach at Lincoln Trail, where he posted a record of 91-36, including a NJCAA Women’s National Tournament appearance in 2010.
Killinger and Terre Haute South grad Tessa Johnson both left LTC after the 2009-2010 season for Marshall. Johnson is also not returning to Marshall and has ended her collegiate career.
Johnson’s former South teammate Dragana Grbic has also ended her two-year Butler career.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter and copy editor who now teaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com..
College Report
COLLEGE REPORT: North senior O’Leary signs with Loyola (Chicago)
- College Report
-
-
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
COLLEGE REPORT: Valley grads playing role for No. 13 Vincennes
A few springtime odds and ends:
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
Catching up as the school year winds down
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Texas Gov. Flies Over Tornado Damage
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
Raw: Suicide Bomber Kills 2 Americans, 13 Others
Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House
China, Others Want What's Under the Arctic Ice
Raw: 6 Die in Russian Ship Fire
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Twiggy, the Water Skiing Squirrel
Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony
Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash
Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder
Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner
Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion
Beyonce Is Pregnant!
SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT
Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
See Jennifer Lopez's New $10m Hamptons Mansion
Woman tricked into taking abortion pill
Emma Watson Goes Pantless
IRS scandal: Republicans seek to tie Obama to agency's woes
Play of the Day: Flipping to Safety
Pregnant Kim Kardashian Squeezes Her Swollen Feet Into Stilettos
Top Videos of the Week: Angry Taco Bell Guy, Glacier Moves on House, Dog Hates Baths
Cindy Crawford Stuns At Cannes
