Two Wabash Valley area tennis standouts were honored this week as the Summit League players of the week.
West Vigo freshman Joel Modesitt has been named the conference’s Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week, while Terre Haute South freshman Hunter Bullock was named the conference’s Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week.
It was the first such honor for each athlete.
Modesitt went 1-1 in singles play last week while going 1-0 in doubles action, helping IUPUI pick up two of its three points in a 4-3 loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay on Jan. 31.
IUPUI Coach Brandon Currie has been pleased with Modesitt and his improvement in his developing college career.
“Joel has been very impressive since he has arrived on the IUPUI campus,” Currie said. “He has an absolute passion for the game and is extremely competitive. He works extremely hard and hates losing.”
Currie predicts good things for Modesitt in the future, both short and long-term.
“He has had an immediate impact on our program, and he will play an important role in helping our team win a conference title,” Currie said. “I believe he is going to have a lot of success at the collegiate level, and has been a great addition to our program.”
Modesitt dropped his first singles match of the week on Jan. 30, falling in straight sets at No. 5 to Marquette’s Niko Boulieris. The following day, Modesitt controlled his match at No. 6, winning in straight sets over UWGB’s Gilles Cornelis, 7-5, 6-3.
He helped the Jaguars clinch the doubles point against Wisconsin-Green Bay as well, teaming with Taylor Tunis for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.
Bullock went 3-0 in singles play last week, picking up three of IUPUI’s four points over the weekend. She was 2-0 at No. 1 singles and 1-0 at No. 2.
For her efforts, Bullock was also named the school’s female Athlete of the Month for January.
The former Brave standout opened the weekend with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win over Butler’s Molly Casperson on Saturday morning at No. 2 singles. Moved to No. 1 singles for the Jaguars’ evening match versus Marquette, Bullock took down the Golden Eagles’ Paola Calderon at No. 1, 6-3, 6-7(0), 11-9.
Bullock capped her undefeated singles play on Sunday, defeating Illinois State’s Aniko Kiss in a super tie-break, 6-4, 1-6, 10-8.
Coach Cameron Benjamin is equally as pleased to have Bullock in his program.
“Hunter has been a great addition to the Jaguar family,” he said. “With one of the youngest teams in the Summit League with mostly freshman and sophomores, Hunter has become a great leader and a positive figure for the other girls to look up to.”
Bullock’s work ethic is one specific area that has pleased Coach Benjamin.
“She is one of the hardest workers on the team and is always putting in the extra time outside practice to continue to bring her game to its fullest potential,” he said. “She has gotten off to a great start and I am excited for what’s to come!”
I I I
n Liffick to ISU — Terre Haute South defender/midfielder Kayla Liffick was one of 13 student-athletes signed by Indiana State’s women’s soccer program last week.
Liffick was a four-year varsity starter who earned all-county honors after each season and was named to the all-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference team twice.
“Kayla is a home-grown player from Terre Haute and immediately caught our attention with her pace and sheer athleticism,” Coach Erika True said. “Kayla strikes a fantastic ball with both feet and will likely play wide for the Sycamores in 2010. We are happy to see local talent develop to a level that is capable of helping our soccer program create success.”
• Mason continues tradition — Northview senior baseball standout Caleb Mason will continue a school tradition next fall when he joins the Olney Central College program under Hall of Fame Coach Dennis Conley.
A hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, Mason will join a long line of ex-Knights who went from Brazil to Olney that includes Brad Pierce, T.J. King, Brady Shoemaker, Bowie Johnson and current Northview Coach Scott McDonald.
Basketball standout Austin Akers is also a freshman at OCC this winter and is one of the top junior college players in Illinois.
Last year, Mason appeared in 11 games and pitched 26 2/3 innings with 37 strikeouts, a 3.41 ERA and 15 walks.
“Obviously he’s going to head the staff, he’s got great stuff, probably the best stuff of any pitcher we’ve had in 20-25 years at Northview,” McDonald told the Brazil Times. “He’s got a great curveball, his fastball just explodes, but more than anything, I think it’s his work ethic that is going to help lead us. He works his butt off in conditioning and the kids really respect and look up to him.”
Mason had Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss his sophomore season.
“Obviously I had a lot of time to think about what I want to do and how I want to do it,” he told the Brazil Times. “I wanted to stay closer to home so I did a lot of work to get that offer, the best offer I could get. I’m pretty sure that I’m going to come in as a starter, pitching at least once a week and then maybe some third base.”
• Hutson up for top honor – Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson of Terre Haute North, the defending NCAA champion in the indoor pole vault and the outdoor pole vault, is one of 10 collegiate women’s track & field athletes from across the United States that have been named to the 2010 Bowerman Watch list by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“This is very exciting for Kylie and for the program,” John Gartland, Indiana State women’s track & field coach, said. “She has been linked with the very elite track and field collegiate athletes from across the nation.”
The Bowerman was established in 2008 to annually recognize the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track and field athlete and is administered by the USTFCCCA. It is named in honor of track and field pioneer Bill Bowerman, long-time coach at Oregon.
“This is the Heisman of track & field,” John McNichols, Indiana State cross country and track & field coordinator said.
In her junior season, Hutson won NCAA crowns during both the indoor and outdoor seasons with the pole vault, claiming personal bests in both championship meets to take the titles. During the outdoor championship, Hutson needed a clearance of 14’-5.75” (4.40m) to win the competition as with a first-attempt miss at 14’-1.75” (4.30m) placed her second going into the height. Hutson was the only athlete to clear 14’-5.25”, doing so on her first attempt and, before bowing out of the competition, she went on to attempt an NCAA-meet record height of 14’-6” (4.42m).
Hutson holds the Indiana State and Missouri Valley Conference records of 14’-3.25” (4.35m) indoors and 14’-5.25” (4.40m) outdoors. She is a three-time All-American and has competed in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships as a freshman, sophomore and junior. She also competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials and the 2009 U.S. Championships.
Joey Bennett is a former Tribune-Star sports reporter who now teaches and coaches at Northview High School in Brazil. He can be reached at tribstarcollegereport@yahoo.com.
College Report
College Report: Modesitt, Bullock making big impact for IUPUI tennis
- 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.
- More College Report Headlines
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Catching up as the school year winds down




