Top Sports Stories of 2006
Roger Goodell tended bar, then passed the bar, then raised the bar for all Washington & Jefferson College graduates when he became commissioner of the National Football League in August.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

District College Basketball Roundup
Westminster (6-5) made 13 of 36 3-point attempts in a 98-73 win against Marietta in the MC Shrine tournament title game. Ryne Murray had 23 points and 11 rebounds for Westminster.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

District Basketball Roundup
Westminster 98, Marietta 73 - Freshman Ryne Murray's 23 points and 11 rebounds powered Westminster (7-5) to the championship of the 36th annual Shrine Tournament.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Local Basketball Roundup
Grove City 87, Wright State-Lake 77, OT - BLUFFTON — Ryan Gerber scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Wolverines in the consolation game of the Bluffton McDonald's Tournament.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30
Home Winning Streak Ended
With a long home winning streak on the line, give credit to Thomas More College women's basketball coach Brian Neal for scheduling tough opponents to fill the slate at this year's Winter Classic at Connor Convocation Center.
The Kentucky Post
 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29
RICH HISTORY: Former Westminster quarterback Rich Dalrymple works as public relations director for the Dallas Cowboys
Former Westminster College quarterback Rich Dalrymple, veteran public relations director for the Dallas Cowboys, can still manage a football game. His role has evolved over 25 years from a player who utilized his personality and intelligence to take charge of the Titans’ huddle.
New Castle News
 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 26
Local Leadership
There are days in a coach’s career that get ingrained in the memory forever. For Aaron Huffman, April 4, 2003 was one of those days.After leading the Bethany men’s basketball team to 11 victories in his first season, Huffman had the Bison program headed in the right direction. But he still felt he needed a few more pieces to make Bethany a champion.
The (Wheeling) Intelligencer/Wheeling News-Register
 

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24
Time of Year to Remember Old Friends
'Twas was the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except the Vindy computer mouse. How often does Christmas Eve fall on a Sunday? Not very often, but today that's where we find ourselves. Waiting on good Ol' St. Nick to make his appearance once again.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23
Names in the Games
Waynesburg College’s Jeff Nero was held scoreless in 19 minutes in an 89-82 win over Grove City College last Saturday in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference matchup. Nero did have three rebounds. Nero, a senior forward from Union, is averaging 14 points a game and 4.3 rebounds a contest. The Yellow Jackets are 4-2.
New Castle News

Ex-Marshall Coach Kokor: Film Goes Far Beyond Football
BROOKFIELD — Riding an emotional wave of 36 years worth of tears and heartbreak, the tragic tale of the worst disaster in American sports history hit movie theaters nationwide Friday. “We are Marshall” tells the story of a 1970 plane crash that killed nearly the entire Marshall University football team and the subsequent inspiring effort to rebuild the program from the ashes of that crash.
The (Sharon) Herald
 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22
Ellenwood Ejected During Latest Loss
John Ellenwood was hoping to earn his first head-coaching win Thursday when his Thomas More College men's basketball team played University of Cincinnati-Clermont at Connor Convocation Center. Ellenwood suffered his first ejection instead, and the Saints remained winless on the season, losing to the Cougars 88-66.
The Cincinnati Post

Local Briefs: Men's Basketball
In a back-and-forth game that featured eight ties and four lead changes, the Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball team managed a 62-60 victory over Earlham in the consolation game of the Jacksons Classic at Henry Memorial Center.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

Hanover Topples Titans, 116-90
HANOVER, Ind. — What a difference 24 years makes. Westminster College came out on the short end of a 116-90 contest against Hanover Thursday night in the first meeting between the teams since 1982. That year, Hanover won, 49-39, in a NAIA national tournament game. Thursday, the Titans trailed 62-49 at halftime.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21
PG West: Campus Notebook
PITTSBURGH - Blackhawk graduate Marc Lodovico and Ambridge Area grad Josh Parisi are starters on the Waynesburg College men's basketball team...Moon graduate Zach Engel, Burgettstown grad Steve Bielecki and Riverside grad Josh McCanna are also members of the Waynesburg College team, but all three have seen very little playing time. Engel is a sophomore, while the others are freshmen.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

PG East: Campus Notebook
PITTSBURGH - Trinity Christian graduate Kristen VanSickel set a Westminster College record in the 200-meter dash on Dec. 9, at the Marietta College First Glimpse Invitational at the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center in Marietta, Ohio.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

PG North: Campus Notebook
PITTSBURGH - North Catholic graduate Katie Lewandowski leads the Waynesburg College women's basketball team with an 11-points-per-game average. Lewandowski, a 5-4 senior guard, is shooting 74.3 percent from the foul line. She has also recorded 24 assists in eight games.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Rebuilding at W&J a Tough Task
WASHINGTON - Glenn Gutierrez knew it wouldn't be easy to turn around the Washington & Jefferson College men's basketball program. Not in a mere month. Not with a difficult nonconference schedule. Not with a team learning new offensive an defensive systems. But not even Gutierrez expected the Presidents to have a 1-10 record at this point in the season.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
Area College Basketball
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Dom Joseph had 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals to lead Westminster (5-4), which held off hot-shooting Pitt-Greensburg in the second half. The Titans have a winning record for the first time this season. Greg Rosatelli had 16 points and five assists, while Nick Adams had 15 points, Ryne Murray had 14 points and nine rebounds, The Titans outrebounded Pitt 39-29, allowing them to overcome a 61 percent shooting performance by the Bobcats. After the Titans took a five-point, 53-48 lead into halftime, Westminster's lead swelled to 12 points (60-48) just two minutes into the second half. On two occasions for the remainder of the game, the Titans went up by as many as 11 points and saw the Bobcats cut the lead to three points, before Pitt-Greensburg waged within one point with 32 seconds remaining.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Saints Top Division II Davis & Elkins
Thomas More College placed four scorers in double figures as the Saints won their eighth straight game, beating Division II Davis & Elkins, 69-65, on Tuesday in the Virgin Islands Winter Classic at St. Thomas. Senior Megan Wood recorded her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds. It was the fifth straight game and seventh overall that the forward has scored in double figures.
The (Cincinnati) Post

District Men's Basketball
Tim Drakeley scored a season and career-high 19 points in only 21 minutes, as Waynesburg (6-2) easily handled Frostburg State (4-6) while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor. Derrick Thornton led all scorers with 30 points and also grabbed 11 rebounds in leading Lake Erie (7-1) to a nonconference win at St. Vincent (7-2).
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Local Sports Briefs
The Waynesburg College Yellow Jackets scored a season-high 97 points and made a season-best 59.4 percent of their shots Tuesday night, as they posted a 97-72 victory over Frostburg State at the Marisa Fieldhouse. The win marked the fifth straight for Waynesburg, which improved to a perfect 3-0 at home this season. Junior guard Tim Drakeley led five players in double-figure scoring with 19 points, a season- and career-high.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19
Thomas More Football Coach Leaving Job
Mike Hallett, Thomas More College's head football coach since 2004, has resigned to become the head coach at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, Thomas More athletic department officials said Monday.
The (Cincinnati) Enquirer

Thomas More Football Coach Resigns
Mike Hallett has resigned as Thomas More College football coach, athletic director Terry Connor announced. The resignation is effective Friday. Hallett has accepted the head coaching position at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio.
The Cincinnati Post

District Roundup
PITTSBURGH - Senior guard Jon Koch (Plum) scored the 1,500th point of his career, but Defiance (7-2) managed to pull out the victory over Washington & Jefferson (1-9).
Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Saints Fall to Centre
The Thomas More College men's basketball team fell to 0-9 on the season Monday night with a 76-56 loss to Centre. Junior Brad Buckner led the Saints with 18 points. He also had four rebounds. Centre went on a 19-3 first-half run to open the game, and took a 17-point lead into halftime.
The Cincinnati Post

Another Close Loss for W&J Men
Washington & Jefferson held the largest lead of the game -- eight points with 2:49 to go in the first half -- but Defiance came back to claim a tightly contested 72-67 non-conference win over the visiting Presidents in a men's basketball game.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

Thiel's Valentino Named PAC Player of the Week
Nicole Valentino chose a most opportune time to post, arguably, her best collegiate career cage outing.
Valentino’s 25-point, 10-rebound, 4-assist line led the Thiel College basketball team to a recent 68-55 non-conference win over LaRoche College at Rissell-Beeghly Gymasia, earning her Presidents’ Athletic Conference player of the week laurels.
The (Sharon) Herald
 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18
Meet the New Guy at Heidelberg
On the day Mount Union wrapped up its ninth national title, Heidelberg hired a man who played on the Purple Raiders’ first championship team to revitalize its program. Mike Hallett, who just completed his third season at Thomas More, will become the 33rd coach at Heidelberg, replacing Brian Cochran.
The Advertiser-Tribune

Husband-Wife Team Leading Berlin
BERLIN — Pace Prosser is approaching his first birthday. Perhaps the Berlin toddler will receive a basketball as a gift. Of course, Pace already has a head start on his dribble. That’s to be expected considering his parents, Tanner and Rachel Prosser, coach the Mountaineers boys and girls hoops programs, respectively. Coaching and basketball come naturally to the Prossers, who met at Grove City College, where both Tanner, 25, and Rachel, 24, played four seasons.
The (Johnstown) Tribune-Democrat

Palermo Leads Bethany's Rout with 21 Points
BETHANY, W. Va. — Marc Palermo scored a career-high 21 points and added five rebounds and five assists as Bethany College defeated Mount Aloysius 123-105. Palermo (Ursuline) shot 6-for-9 from the field as the Bison (8-3) scored the fourth most points in school history.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Saints Mount Late Rally
CINCINNATI — The Thomas More College women's basketball team overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half Saturday to defeat Mount St. Joseph, 66-59. The Saints are 7-1, the best start in school history. Thomas More has won 13 of the last 14 meeting with the Lions and hold a 14-4 lead in the series.
The (Cincinnati) Post

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17
Geneva Upends Penn State-Beaver
BEAVER FALLS — The Geneva College basketball team got a couple of early Christmas presents Saturday. The Golden Tornadoes got a win and a strong return to the starting lineup by senior center Kyle McDermott as they held off stubborn Penn State-Beaver 80-68 in a non-conference game at Metheny Field House.
Beaver County Times

District Roundup
Hiram missed two free throws with four seconds remaining as Thiel (3-5) held on for a 63-62 win in its first home game of the season. Cory Chafee led Thiel with 16 points.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

College Basketball Roundup
Bethany (W.Va.) 123, Mt. Aloysius 105 - James Wallace scored a career-high 28 points, as Bethany (W.Va.) (8-3) scored the fourth-most points in school history in a win over Mt. Aloysius (3-5).
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Balance Key for Jackets
Katie Lewandowski led a balanced Waynesburg scoring attack with 10 points and the Yellow Jackets cruised to a 69-51 victory over visiting Mount Aloysius in a nonconference game Saturday.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

Waynesburg Women Dominate Boards in Win
The Yellow Jackets grabbed a season-high 57 rebounds, including 21 offensive boards, and Waynesburg used the advantage for a 69-51 non-conference victory Saturday over visiting Mount Aloysius College. Waynesburg (4-5) built a 41-29 halftime lead and cruised to the victory with a 28-22 second half.
(Uniontown) Herald-Standard

Area College Roundup
Thiel 63, Hiram 62 - GREENVILLE, Pa. — The Tomcats (3-5) held off a late second-half rally to prevail in the non-conference game. Michael McDevitt scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Terriers (2-5). Mike Staley had four assists. Cory Chafee led the Tomcats with 16 points. Joe Herrmann added 14 points and he pulled down 10 rebounds. Sharron Summerville chipped in with 13 points and he had four assists.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
Names in the Game: Catching Up with Local Athletes Competing in College
NEW CASTLE — Waynesburg College’s Jeff Nero was held scoreless in 19 minutes in an 89-82 win over Grove City College last Saturday in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference matchup. Nero did have three rebounds. Nero, a senior forward from Union, is averaging 14 points a game and 4.3 rebounds a contest... Grove City’s Shawn Carr registered 16 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 97-93 double-overtime loss to Hiram (Ohio) College on Wednesday.
New Castle News

Teter, McCutcheon Garner Little All-America Honors
WASHINGTON — This has been a week of honors for Washington & Jefferson College's Chris Teter and California University's Tim McCutcheon. Teter, who was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-America Team on Monday, was one of only 17 Division III players selected for the AP team. The North Canton, Ohio, native is currently in Aguascalientes, Mexico, where he will play for the United States team in the 2006 Aztec Bowl on Saturday.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

Local Sports Briefs
WASHINGTON — Jeff Linden tied his season and career highs with 24 points as Waynesburg College defeated LaRoche 83-69 in a nonconference men's basketball game Thursday night at Marisa Fieldhouse. The victory improved Waynesburg's record to 5-2 and extended the Yellow Jackets' winning streak to four games.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

Three Local Linemen Make Little All-American
PITTSBURGH — W&J's Teter, a member of the AFCA Division III All-America team, is one of 17 players from Division III on the AP Little All-America teams. Teter is the ninth player from W&J named to the team, following wide receiver Aaron Krepps on the third team in 2005 and strong safety Frank Pilato on the first team in '04.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

College Basketball Roundup
PITTSBURGH — Waynesburg (5-2) got 24 points from Jeff Linden and 15 from Tim Drakeley in an 83-69 victory against visiting La Roche (2-8). Adam Kostewicz has 21 points and 11 rebounds for La Roche, which made just 37.9 percent (25 of 66) of its field-goal attempts.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14
Area College Basketball Roundup
YOUNGSTOWN — James Wallace scored a team-high 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting from the field and Bethany outscored Marietta 34-28 in the second half to secure the victory. Ryan Besancon had 14 points and Brody Jackson had 11 for Bethany (7-3), while former Ursuline High standout Marc Palermo scored six points. The 62 points were the lowest in a Bethany win in two years. For Marietta (2-4), Matt Phillips scored 20 points and Matt Rucker added nine points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Gators Shake Off Slow Start, Top Thiel
MEADVILLE — They were out-rebounded and downright ugly from the free throw line. But with time winding down and the game on the line, it was an offensive rebound and a 5-for-6 effort at the stripe that spelled the difference. Jimmy Savage secured the board and Casey McClos-key made three out of four of those free throws to lead Allegheny to a 49-42 win over Thiel on Wednesday in non-conference men’s basketball action at the David V. Wise Center.
The Meadville Tribune

Long Holiday Break Doesn't Worry Coach
PITTSBURGH — St. Vincent (6-2), led by Javille Brooks (15.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 15 blocks) has won five games in a row and owns the league's best record, but its games don't count in the standings. ... Preseason pick Waynesburg (4-2, 1-0) features Jeff Nero (14.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg). ... The early disappointment is W&J (1-8), which was tabbed to challenge for the title under new coach Glenn Gutierrez. ... Westminster (4-4, 1-0), continues to launch shots from the beyond the arc and is the top-scoring team with 87.8 points per game. The Titans have six players averaging in double figures led by Craig Hannon (15.1 ppg, 35 3-pointers).
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
Carlisle an All-American
WACO, TX — Thomas More senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team. Carlisle finished the season with 125 tackles, which allowed him to tie the school's career tackles mark. It final collegiate tackle, a forced fumble, secured Thomas More's upset win over #13 Mount St. Joseph in Bridge Bowl XI. He added 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the 6-4 Saints.
WKRC 12 Cincinnati

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Lords Return Home, Lose to Wolverines
GAMBIER — The Kenyon College men’s basketball team fell to Grove City College, 76-70, on Monday night. Monday’s competition was the first home game the Lords have hosted since its 61-59 win over Allegheny on Dec. 2. They split a pair of road games before traveling back to Gambier to play the Wolverines. "It was frustrating because we were excited to get back home,” said Kenyon head coach Matt Croci. “We played a lot of road games in our first 10 games — seven — and it is frustrating to come home, having a decent crowd, and to play like that. The guys are frustrated, too."
Mount Vernon News

Saints Carlisle to Play in Bowl
CRESTVIEW HILLS — Thomas More senior linebacker Mark Carlisle has been named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-America team and will play this weekend in the Aztec Bowl. Carlisle, the Most Valuable Player in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, finished the season with 125 tackles, which tied the school record. His final tackle forced a fumble and secured Thomas More's upset win over Mount St. Joseph in the Bridge Bowl. Carlisle also had 8½ tackles for loss and an interception.
The (Kentucky) Post

Westminster Stays Hot, Tops Penn State-Behrend
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Dom Joseph and Chauncey Whitlow scored 12 points apiece, and Westminster shot 52 percent from the floor as the Titans defeated Penn State-Behrend, 73-55, in a non-conference basketball game Monday night. Craig Hannon and Nick Adams added 11 points each for the Titans (4-4), who have won three straight games and four of their last five. Steve Bielich added 10 points.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

W&J's Teter an All-American
WASHINGTON —  Washington & Jefferson left tackle Chris Teter was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III All-America team. Teter, a 280-pound senior, helped the Presidents lead the PAC in 12 offensive categories, including total ofense (357.5 yards per game), scoring (32.7 ppg) and rushing (182.6 ypg).
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

District Men's Basketball
PITTSBURGH — Ryan Gerber had a career-high 23 points as visiting Grove City (3-4) defeated Kenyon (5-5), 76-70, in a non-conference game. Gerber made 9 of 13 field goals, including 3 of 5 3-pointers. ... Westminster evened its record at 4-4 with its third win in a row after a 73-55 victory against visiting Penn State Behrend. Dom Joseph and Chauncy Whitlow each had 12 points for Westminster.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Westminster Win Third Straight
NEW WILMINGTON — Five players scored in double figures, led by Dom Joseph and Chauncey Whitlow with 12 points apiece, as Westminster (Pa.) men's basketball team (4-4) won its third consecutive game by beating Penn State-Behrend (5-3), 77-53, on Monday.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11
NAMES IN THE GAMES: Catching Up with Local Athletes Competing in College
NEW CASTLE - Waynesburg College men’s basketball standout Jeff Nero is off to a strong start this year. Nero tallied 11 points and six rebounds in a 93-71 win over Franciscan-Steubenville on Monday. A senior forward from Union High, Nero is averaging 16.8 points a game and 4.6 rebounds a contest.
New Castle News

Local College Notebook
WASHINGTON - Bethany women's basketball team has four area players on its roster -- Avella's Lisa Mitchell and Renee Brandenburg, South Fayette's Courtney Irwin and Trinity's Jennifer Scarborough. For Bethany's men Joe Testa, a Trinity graduate and freshman at Bethany College, has become one of the top scorers for the Bison in strictly a reserve role.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10
Waynesburg Men Go Overtime to Win PAC Opener
Tim Drakeley made five three-point field goals, including one as time expired in regulation that sent Waynesburg's game at Grove City to overtime and led to an 89-82 win for the Yellow Jackets in the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener for both teams Saturday.
(Washington) Observer-Reporter

District College Basketball Roundup
Waynesburg (4-2, 1-0 Presidents' Athletic Conference) rallied from a five-point deficit in the final minute to send the game into overtime, then outscored Grove City (2-4, 0-1), 12-9, in the extra session for an 89-82 win at Grove City. Beau Wilson led Waynesburg with 22 points.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

College Basketball Roundup
Waynesburg 89, Grove City 82 (OT) - Tim Drakeley's 3-pointer at the end of regulation sent the game into overtime, where Waynesburg (4-2, 1-0) cruised past Grove City (2-4, 0-1) for the PAC victory.
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Yellow Jackets Defeat Grove City in OT, 89-82
Tim Drakeley hit a 3-point at the end of regulation to force overtime, and Waynesburg made the most of the opportunity Saturday with an 89-82 victory at Grove City in the Presidents' Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Yellow Jackets (1-0, 4-2) rallied from a 9-point halftime deficit, capped by Drakeley trey. Waynesburg outscored the Wolverines 12-5 in the overtime period.
The (Uniontown) Herald-Standard

Area Colleges - Saturday's Games
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Westminster junior guard Craig Hannon (Union) scored 15 points to pass the 1,000-career point plateau, finishing with 1,005 to lead the Titans (3-4, 1-0) in their Presidents' Athletic Conference opener. Dom Joseph added 26 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Titans, who shot 14 of 44 from 3-point range.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Boyle, LaScola First Team All-PAC
Four Thiel College football standouts have been accorded first-team berths on the 2006 Presidents' Athletic Conference Football team. Grove City College placed two on the first team. Garnering honors for Coach Jack Leipheimer's Tomcats were Ricky Gable, senior offensive lineman who hails from Mars, Pa., and wide receiver Marc LaScola, a junior and a product of Wellsville.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
 

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8
Thiel's Brown Notches 100th Mat Win; Stewart Doing Well at W&J
SHARON - THIEL COLLEGE heavyweight Kyle Brown annexed his 100th career collegiate win recently by posting a 4-1 mark at the Rochester Institute of Technology Invitational. Brown (101-27), a 3-year starter and 3-time Dean’s List student, has been selected 3 times as a National Wrestling Coaches’ Association Scholar All-American. A physics major, he carries a 3.3 grade-point-average.
The (Sharon) Herald

Bethany Comes Up Short
BETHANY, W.Va. — The Bethany College men’s basketball team (4-3) nearly erased a six-point deficit in the final two minutes, but came up just short in a 78-77 loss to visiting Carnegie Mellon University (5-2) Wednesday night.
The (Steubenville) Herald-Star/Weirton Daily Times

Area Colleges - Thursday's Games
Grove City 69, Carnegie Mellon 66
PITTSBURGH — Junior center Rachel McCoy (Beaver Local) hit a layup and added a key assist in the final minute and the Wolverines rallied from a 66-63 deficit to earn their first win of the season.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator
 

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7
Humphrey Surprised by Points at Thomas More
Through all of her life, New Richmond resident Kristen Humphrey has never found herself as being the main offensive threat on the basketball court. How ironic is it then, that at the highest level, that's exactly what she has become. Humphrey, a 2004 Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy graduate, is averaging a team-best 12.4 points per game for Thomas More College. Her offensive output helped the Saints to a 5-1 record through the team's first six games.
Community Press & Recorder

Saint Knock Off Wittenberg
CRESTVIEW HILLS - The Thomas More women's basketball team overcame a poor shooting night to post a 45-36 non-conference win Wednesday over Wittenberg at Connor Convocation Center. "That had to be one of the ugliest games we've been apart of in quite some time," said head coach Brian Neal. "But the key was we hung tough and our half-court defense and rebounding kept us in the game until the final minutes when we finally put a run together."
The (Cincinnati) Post

Area College Hoops Roundup
HIRAM — The Thiel College women's basketball team improved to 4-4 with a road victory. Sophomore forward Amber Bodrick (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) led the Tomcats with 25 points and 11 rebounds. Bodrick shot 9-of-19 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Bodrick also had two blocks and an assist. Senior forward Fontella Jones (Farrell/Farrell) was also a force for Thiel. She scored 11 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and came up with five steals and two assists. In a tight game, senior Nicole Valentino (Sharon/Sharon) gave the Tomcats a 19-14 lead at the 4:36 mark of the first half. Thiel opens Presidents' Athletics Conference play Saturday at 2 p.m. when they travel to Bethany College.
The (Youngtown) Vindicator

Local Sports Briefs
WASHINGTON - Washington & Jefferson College senior defender Katie Orient was selected to the NSCAA/Adidas NCAA Division III Women's Soccer All-Great Lakes Region Team.--Orient was a third-team honoree. For the 10th time in her career, W&J junior Kaitlyn Orstein was named the PAC Women's Swimmer of the Week. Orstein earned her third conference honor of the season after leading the Presidents to their first-ever team title at Grove City College's James E. Longnecker Invitational this past weekend.
(Washington) Observer-Report

W&J Beats Denison for Gutierrez' First Win
WASHINGTON - Since taking over as the head men's basketball coach at Washington & Jefferson College this past spring, what Glenn Gutierrez wanted more than anything was to see the Presidents play impassioned defense. It might have taken a while for that request to set in - W&J gave up an average of 79 points per game in an 0-7 start - but the effort Gutierrez got from his team Wednesday night at Henry Memorial Center couldn't have made him more proud.
(Washington) Observer-Report

Drakeley's Turn to Lead Yellow Jackets
WAYNESBURG -- In looking at the Waynesburg College men's basketball team's surge late last season, and its first five games this year, there is one common thread -- no one player gets it done every game. Each time, it's someone else's turn to play the hero's role. On Wednesday night, it was reserve guard Tim Drakeley who was the anointed one to lead the Yellow Jackets to a hard-fought 69-66 victory over Juniata in a nonconference game at Marisa Fieldhouse. The outcome wasn't decided until Drakeley sank two free throws with one second remaining.
(Washington) Observer-Report

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6
Area College Basketball Roundup
MEADVILLE, Pa. — Westminster senior point guard Desiree Sterling (Newton Falls) scored a team-high 20 points, but they weren't enough as the Titans saw their four-game winning streak snapped. The Titans (4-3) built a commanding 18-point, 36-18 lead with one minute remaining in the first half. The Gators (5-1) then went on a 21-4 run covering less than six minutes to draw within one point. Katie Kestler led the Gators with a career-high 23 points. Sophomore guard Gina Brunetti (Cardinal Mooney) had 11 points for Westminster.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Presidents Beat Lady Tartans
PITTSBURGH - Washington and Jefferson defeated visiting Carnegie Mellon, 65-58, yesterday. Maggie Gibson led the Presidents with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5
Grove City Men Beaten by Juniata
HUNTINGDON, Pa. — The Grove City College men's basketball team dropped a 61-51 verdict to Juniata Monday in non-conference action. Juniata (4-2) closed the first half with a 16-4 run and owned a 29-17 halftime lead. Grove City (2-3) pulled to within 37-34 with 13 minutes left in the game but the host Eagles pulled away down the stretch. Juniata led by as many as 19, 56-37, in the second half.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3
Bodrick Scores 20 but Thiel Loses
GRANVILLE — Amber Bodrick, a Boardman native, scored 20 points for Thiel in a losing cause as the Tomcats lost in the consolation game of the Denison University Big Red Classic to Transylvania, 101-56. Bodrick, a Mooney High graduate, also had three rebounds and three steals for the Tomcats (3-4), while Fontella Jones, a Farrell native, added 12 points and three rebounds. Julie Leach led the Pioneers with 34 points and 10 rebounds.
The (Youngstown) Vindicator

Tormadoes Storm Past Rivals
BEAVER FALLS — Conventional basketball coaching wisdom says you don’t play a zone defense against a team averaging 11 three-point field goals a game. Geneva’s Jeff Santarsiero went against the norm Saturday night and that enabled the Golden Tornadoes to rally for an 83-80 win over archrival Westminster in a non-conference game at Metheny Field House. Geneva improved to 6-3 while Westminster fell to 1-4.
Beaver Count Times

Geneva Women Lose
BEAVER FALLS — The Geneva College women’s basketball team was able to overcome a 15-point halftime deficit Saturday night but eventually fell one point short as it dropped a 51-50 decision to Seton Hill in a non-conference game at Metheny Field House. Geneva (4-2) shot just 17 percent (4 of 23) from the field in the first half in falling behind 31-16. Renee Rawding (Blackhawk) led Geneva with 15 points, while Jackie Anthony (Rochester) added 14.
Beaver County Times

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1
Names In the Game: Catching Up with Local Athletes Competing in College
NEW CASTLE - Washington & Jefferson’s Josh Linton didn’t see any action in a 30-27 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor last Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Linton, a sophomore running back from Laurel, rushed for 229 yards on 31 attempts with one score on the season. Waynesburg College’s Jeff Nero netted 24 points in a 91-80 loss to Southern Virginia on Nov. 21.
New Castle News

Pressure Proves Tough on Saints
The Wilmington Quakers beat Thomas More, 77-57 Thursday night at Connor Convocation Center. The Wilmington pressure defense forced 22 turnovers which helped the Quakers score 29 points off turnovers and 13 fast break points.
The (Kentucky) Post
 

NEWSSTAND Archive - November 2006
NEWSSTAND Archive - October 2006
NEWSSTAND Archive - September 2006
NEWSSTAND Archive - August 2006

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