TERRE HAUTE —
Lindy Jones and Alexa McFadden helped form the backbone of the Terre Haute North track and field and cross country programs for the past four years, comprising half of the school’s 3,200-meter relay team that finished 17th in the IHSAA state meet last spring.
Jones and McFadden have decided to continue their running careers together at Indiana State, and the Sycamore coaches are very pleased.
“Lindy and Alexa have been great athletes in Terre Haute and Vigo County, and I am very excited to have them continue their running careers as Sycamores,” ISU women’s track and field coach Angie Martin said. “They will add great depth to our cross country program and they are training hard with Coach Gartland right now. I can’t wait to have them on the track. Their versatility will help us in the 800 meters on up.”
John Gartland, ISU women’s cross country coach, echoes Martin’s sentiments.
“I am delighted that Lindy and Alexa are running cross country for us this fall, and they have both looked very good in early workouts. Their background with Mike Dason and the strong Terre Haute North program has allowed them to step into our training program very comfortably. They will both make their collegiate debuts next week at the Sycamore Pride Meet.”
Jones was a four-time letter winner in both cross country and basketball at Terre Haute North and had personal bests of 19 minutes, eight seconds in the 5K and 16:06 in the 4K for cross country and a personal best 11:41.06 in the 3,200 during the track and field season.
“Lindy will be able to contribute to our team in cross country and has a lot of potential on the track,” Martin said. “Lindy is an athletic young woman. Not only was she a good high school runner but she was also a four-time varsity letter winner in basketball.”
Jones liked the proximity of ISU, and hopes to continue the long pipeline of success of Terre Haute athletes having success for the Sycamores.
“I chose ISU because it’s close to home and the coaching staff was always really encouraging since we were from Terre Haute,” Jones said. “It’s just a good feeling to run in front of the same community and be able to continue our relationships that we have built with friends and family who will be able to watch us compete.
Jones is looking forward to the overall intensity level of being a college athlete and the competition level.
“Everyone at Division I is very serious about what they do,” she said. “I need to keep working on the mental side of running, because I know that our coaches here have prepared me physically to be able to be a great runner and now I just have to stay focused and prove that on the course.”
McFadden had a personal best of 20:32 in the 5K cross country and a personal best 2:24.89 in the 800 meters during the track and field season.
“Alexa is another good athlete from the reputable Terre Haute North program,” Martin said. “Her high school coaches did a nice job in moving her up from the sprints to the middle distance events. Alexa has great potential on the track and will help add depth to our cross country squad. She is a young cross country runner and I am excited to watch her develop within our program.”
She also competed in the 2009 State Cross Country Championship, and additionally won four sectional and two regional titles in the 800 meters and as a member of the 3,200 relay team.
McFadden had never run cross country before her senior year at North, and is understandably still adjusting to the different challenges the sport offers.
“I definitely need to work on my endurance and getting used to the longer distances and more mileage each week,” she said. “The training level is definitely a step up and the amount of focus to have me more focused and more committed. Definitely I can be more mentally prepared for competition.
“It’s close to home and when I came on my visit here I got to meet the coaches and the team,” she added. “I really felt like I would be a good asset to the team.”
ISU also added four other track/cross country athletes for the 2010-2011 school year in sprinter Rachael Johnson of Gibson Southern, hurdler Jasmine Milton of Fort Wayne Northrop, vaulter Nicole Hope of Wilmington, Ohio, and distance runner Jessica Zangmeister of Fairview Park, Ohio, who is transferring from the University of Kentucky.
• • •
• Newton glad to keep playing – Shakamak grad Billy Newton wasn’t sure he was going to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level after becoming his school’s career scoring leader last year with more than 1,900 points.
But, a late offer from Oakland City will allow the versatile 6-5 forward to continue his career at a convenient location.
“The main reason I chose OCU is it’s kind of close by home so I can go home on the weekends,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to a school like in Florida, for instance, and never be able to go home. I also like the gym – it’s the same colors as Shakamak [light blue and white], so it feels like home.
“I also like that it is a small and very nice school,” Newton added. “Since I come from a 1A high school, it’s not overwhelming to me. Everyone here is very nice and respectful, as well.”
The Oaks have a traditionally strong program, and that’s another good drawing card.
“They won 19 games last year, and I would like to help them get to the 20-game mark or more each year,” Newton said. “Basketball at the next level will be more difficult for me, but I will be able to adjust pretty fast.”
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 running duo glad to be at ISU
- 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
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Today in History May 22
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
