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News and Notes -- January 13, 2012
It's been a while since Professor Briggs took a look-see at how our local athletes are faring at the collegiate level. What better way to commemorate the new year -- and Friday the 13th -- my checking up on their respective progress. We'll have a fall recap and a winter update. This is not an exhaustive list, feel free to send any updates to ryanbriggs@zoominternet.net.
For the sake of convenience, I'll list the student-athletes together with others from their particular high school to give some semblance of organization to this.
FARRELL
> At Slippery Rock, D'Asia Chambers earned Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division Freshman of the Week recognition January 4 after her performance at Notre Dame (Ohio). Chambers made her season debut that game and recorded a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double. She has appeared in four games for SRU this year and is averaging 9.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She is playing 23.5 minutes per game.
> Marsell Holden is in his first season as a guard at Morehead State after two outstanding seasons at San Jacinto College in Texas. Holden has played in all 18 games for Morehead State (8-10) and has made six starts. He is third on the team in scoring, averaging 8.6 points per game. Holden has a team-high 40 three-point goals and he is 21 for 21 at the foul line.
> Patrick Horton is a freshman swingman for the Penn State Beaver (8-4) men's basketball team. He has played in all 12 games and is averaging 6.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Lions.
> Chloe' Stewart is a senior guard for the La Roche College women's basketball team. Stewart has started all 14 games for the Redhawks (10-4), who lead the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference with a 7-0 record. She is averaging 7.3 points and 2.6 assists per game.
> Dierica Blackwell is a junior guard at La Roche. She has been one of the Redhawks' top reserves, appearing in all 14 games this year. She is averaging 3.1 points per game while shooting 42 percent from the field.
GROVE CITY
> Pat Johnson and Brady Beech are both members of the Geneva College men's basketball team. Beech, a freshman, has made 10 starts at point guard for the Tornadoes. He is averaging 1.6 points per game while appearing in all 14 games. Beech is averaging 22.4 minutes per game.
Johnson has also played in all 14 games, making four starts. He is averaging 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
> Caleb Kolb is a redshirt sophomore at 174 pounds for the University of Nebraska wrestling team. He has recently returned to the Huskers' lineup and is 6-0 this year. For his career, Kolb is 48-20.
> Ian Abplanalp is a sophomore 133-pounder for the Mercyhurst wrestling team. He is 3-6 this season. Two of his wins have come by fall.
> Jordan Fee is a senior basketball player at West Liberty State. He has played in seven games for the Hilltoppers, who are 12-1 overall and ranked fourth nationally in NCAA Division II.
HICKORY
> Kelsey Trosch is a junior forward for the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team. Trosch has played in 12 of 13 games for the Lakers (8-5). She has made 10 starts. She is averaging 3.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field.
KENNEDY CATHOLIC
> Blair Rozenblad is averaging 13.7 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this winter for the Thiel College men's basketball team. Rozenblad has played and started 12 games for the Tomcats (10-4), who lead the Presidents' Athletic Conference with a 7-0 league record.
> Chace McKinney has started all 14 games this year for Thiel. McKinney is averaging 9.6 points per game while shooting 58 percent from the floor.
> Kyle Randall is a junior guard at North Carolina-Greensboro. He has played in all 16 games and made eight starts for UNCG (2-14). Randall is averaging 5.9 points per game and is second on the team with 31 assists. Randall led UNCG with a dozen points in a 90-63 loss at Duke December 19.
> Ashley Kirkpatrick is a senior forward for the Washington & Jefferson College women's basketball team. She leads the Presidents in scoring, averaging 13.7 points per game. Her 13 blocks and 7.9 rebounds per game also lead the team. Kirkpatrick has played in all 14 games and has started eight.
LAKEVIEW
> Cory King completed his redshirt sophomore season for the University of Pittsburgh football team. King made five starts this year for the Panthers, making four at left guard and one start at right guard. He played in all 13 games this year for Pitt, helping the Panthers advance to the BBVA Compass Bowl.
REYNOLDS
> Russ Conley is a junior center for the Penn State Behrend men's basketball team. He leads the Lions (6-8) in scoring, averaging 14.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Conley is shooting 50 percent from the field this season.
> Corey Brown is a senior 133-pound performer for the Thiel College wrestling team. Brown owns a 26-5 record this year, including a 21-4 mark against Division III foes. He has twice been named Presidents' Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week. Also on the Thiel roster is junior heavyweight Will Ringer, who is 12-13 this year at 285 pounds.
> Tony D'Urso is a junior 149-pounder for the Mercyhurst College wrestling team. He owns a 4-5 mark for the Lakers this winter. All nine of his matches have gone the distance this year.
SHARON
> Kellen Harris completed his career as a middle linebacker at Marshall, helping the Thundering Herd to a 20-10 victory over Florida International in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl St. Petersburg December 20. He recorded five total tackles in the victory.
This year, he played in all 13 games for Marshall, making five starts. He finished the season with 60 tackles, including six for loss. For his career, Harris played in 46 career games and made 215 tackles. He made 22 career starts.
> Jordan Moss is a redshirt freshman 149-pounder for the University of Pittsburgh wrestling team. Moss has compiled an 8-7 record this season.
SHARPSVILLE
> Three Sharpsville grads are members of the Westminster College women's basketball team. Senior Emily Montone has played in all 13 games for the Titans and has started six games. She is averaging 4.2 points per game.
Freshman Jenna Grandy has played in nine games this year for Westminster while older sister Katie Grandy -- a junior -- has appeared in three games. The Titans are 3-4 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and 3-10 overall.
SLIPPERY ROCK
> Adele Campbell is a sophomore center for the Mercyhurst College women's basketball team. She has appeared in nine games as a reserve this year.
> Karly Rhoads is in her sophomore season as a member of the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's basketball team. Rhoads has played in all 12 games for KWC (8-4) and has made four starts. She is second on the team in scoring with an 8.2 points per game average. She is also 18 for 18 at the line.
> Kourtney Rhoads is in her sophomore season at Kentucky Wesleyan and has also played in all 12 games (six starts). She is averaging 6.5 points per game and leads the team with 13 three-point goals.
> Brian Giesler is a freshman forward for the Grove City College men's basketball team. He has played in all 14 games for the Wolverines (6-8) and is averaging 3.9 points per game. He is third on the team with 11 three-point goals.
WILMINGTON
> Caitlin Lehberger is a senior member of the Westminster College women's swimming and diving team. She owns Division III's second-fastest time in the 200 breaststroke this year at 2 minutes, 19.44 seconds. She's also ranked fourth nationally in the 100 breast with a 1:04.19 clocking and fifth in the 200 individual medley (2:05.60).
> Questions? Comments? Something in between? I'll be adding to this list as winter progresses. Send a note to ryanbriggs@zoominternet.net