ProfessorBriggs.com
THE Sports
Authority in Mercer County!
Note: This does not reflect the opinion of Grove City College, WSAJ-FM, The Herald, or their respective sponsors and supporters.
News and Notes -- December 1, 2009
It's been a while since Professor Briggs took a look-see at how our local athletes are faring at the collegiate level. So here is a look at fall and winter sports athletes from the Mercer County area who are excelling at the next level:
> The Westminster College football team featured four locals on its roster this season. Sharpsville grad Mike Kudelko started at guard and earned Second Team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference recognition.
Meanwhile, freshmen Kyle Allen (West Middlesex) and Derrick Orloski (Slippery Rock) took over as the starting safeties for the Titans this year. Allen tied for the team lead with four interceptions and eight passes defensed. He recorded 25 tackles. Allen also led Westminster with 365 kickoff return yards.
Orloski recorded 35 tackles and one interception. He also forced one fumble and recorded three fumbles.
Also on the roster is junior linebacker Doug Orloski (Slippery Rock).
> Two locals earned All-Presidents' Athletic Conference recognition for the Grove City College football team. Junior offensive tackle Pete Polesnak (Kennedy Catholic) earned First Team All-PAC while junior kicker Craig Bicehouse (Slippery Rock) captured Second Team recognition.
Polesnak started nine games at left tackle and helped the Wolverines lead the PAC in first downs, third-down conversions and red zone scoring. Bicehouse, meanwhile, set a new Grove City record for points by a kicker with 53. He went 35 for 38 on extra points and went 6 for 9 on field goals.
Junior wingback Dan Van Dyke (Lakeview) played in all 10 games as a lead blocker for the Wolverines. He carried the ball nine times for 43 yards and also caught one pass for seven yards. He is a two-year letterman.
Also on the Grove City roster were sophomore defensive end Jake Priester (Mercer) and freshman guard Nick Nan (Mercer).
> Kennedy Catholic product Ross Gargano led the Thiel College football team with eight touchdowns and 48 total points this year. He ran for 149 yards and six scores this year while also catching 38 passes.
Sharon's K.J. Smith caught 13 passes for 108 yards for Thiel this year as a wide receiver. Meanwhile middle linebacker Ryan Dawes (Reynolds) racked up 41 tackles and one sack for the Tomcats this season.
> Reynolds graduate Jake McBride ran for a pair of touchdowns this year as a running back for Washington & Jefferson. McBride finished his senior season with 49 yards rushing as he saw duty as a fullback and halfback this year. He helped W&J to a 9-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs. Also on the W&J roster is junior wide receiver Joe Combine (Reynolds).
> Hickory grad Keith Yager posted a strong junior season as a defensive lineman for Gannon University. Yager recorded 40 total tackles, including 10.5 for loss this year in helping Gannon to a 6-5 record. Yager made 10 starts this year for the Golden Knights, who closed the season on a four-game win streak.
Also on the Gannon roster are sophomore tight end Destin DeMarion (Grove City) and freshman wide receiver Mike Tomko (Sharon).
> Kennedy Catholic grad Lee Sham caught 20 passes as a senior wide receiver for the Hiram College football team this fall. Sham played quarterback and wide receiver during his collegiate career and attempted five passes this year. He lettered all four years at Hiram.
> Grove City High graduate Caitlin Rothman recorded a strong sophomore season for the Allegheny College volleyball team (16-18, 10-6 North Coast Athletic Conference). Rothman finished third on the team with 181 total kills in 117 games played (1.55 avg). She recorded a .189 hitting percentage and led the team with 123 total blocks.
> Another GCHS grad, Sheila Ogden, helped the Penn State Behrend volleyball team to a 22-11 overall record this year. Ogden led the Lions with 294 kills in 114 games. Ogden hit .318 this year and also led Behrend with 81 blocks.
> Kellen Harris (Sharon) started all 12 games at middle linebacker this year for Marshall University and helped the Herd to a 6-6 record. He posted 67 tackles, fourth-best on the squad. Harris also forced two fumbles and made six tackles for loss.
> The Youngstown State University football team featured two locals on the football team in guard Eric Rodemoyer (Kennedy Catholic) and tight end Carson Sharbaugh (Wilmington). Rodemoyer started nine games at left guard for the Penguins (6-5) while Sharbaugh is a reserve as a freshman.
> Farrell product Chloe' Stewart is off to a strong start as a sophomore guard for the La Roche College women's basketball team this year. She is averaging 13.7 points per game for the Red Hawks (2-1). Stewart has nine three-point goals this year and fired in 19 points in a 59-58 win over Geneva November 17. Last year, Stewart made 27 starts and averaged 10.2 points per game over 28 games in helping La Roche to a 15-13 season.
> Another Farrell grad, Ti'eshia Stubbs, is a redshirt freshman for the University of Akron women's basketball team. She made her collegiate debut November 27 in a 79-43 win over Rider. Stubbs scored one point in five minutes of action.
> Grove City High graduate Beau Fisher is a senior 165-pound wrestler for the University of Virginia. This year, Fisher is 5-3 overall and owns a 2-1 record in dual meets. He has two pins this year. For his career, Fisher has a 27-29 overall record and six wins by fall.
> Grove City product Caleb Kolb is off to a fine start as a freshman 174-pounder for the University of Nebraska. Kolb is currently 4-1 this year for the Cornhuskers, including a pair of major decisions. He earned runner-up honors in the Amateur bracket at the Kaufman-Brand Open in Omaha November 21.
> Reynolds graduate Shaina Smith is a junior guard for the Clarion University women's basketball team. Smith has started all three games for CUP this year and is averaging 6.7 points per game. She leads the Golden Eagles (2-1) with 11 assists.
> Another Reynolds alum, Chelsea D'Urso, is a freshman guard at Geneva College. D'Urso has played 45 total minutes in three games and has 12 points for Geneva (2-2).
> The Westminster College women's basketball team features three Sharpsville High grads on the roster. Emily Montone is a sophomore guard and is averaging 14.5 minutes per game for the Titans (1-3). The Titans also have freshmen Miranda Summers and Katie Grandy on the roster. Both rookies have appeared in two games so far this season.
> Sharpsville grad Taylor Kress has appeared in all four games for the Bethany College women's basketball team and is playing about 10 minutes per game. She is 6 for 9 from the field this year.
> Sharpsville's Kasey Gardner is in her third year as a starter for the Shippensburg University women's basketball team. A 5-foot-8 junior, Gardner is averaging 19 points per game for the Raiders (3-2) this year. She is shooting 56 percent from the field while also playing 39 minutes per game. Gardner has 797 career points so far for Shippensburg in 60 career games.
> Kennedy Catholic graduate Blair Rozenblad is a forward for the Thiel College men's basketball team. He is in his first season with the Tomcats, where he plays for his high school coach, Tim Loomis. Rozenblad is averaging 20.8 points per game this year for the Tomcats (1-3). He is 6 for 11 on three-point attempts this year.
> Ashley Kirkpatrick (Kennedy Catholic) is a sophomore forward for the Washington & Jefferson women's basketball team. She has played in all four games for the Presidents (4-0) and has played a total of 26 minutes.
> Grove City High graduate Jordan Fee is a sophomore guard for the University of Detroit men's basketball team. He has appeared in two games this year for the Titans, who are 4-2 this season.
> Fee's high school teammate, Kyle Perrine, is a freshman guard for Grove City College. Perrine has played in three games this year and has eight points so far on the season.
> Hickory grad Jordan Wilds is a freshman guard for the Kent State men's basketball team. A 6-5, 190-pounder, Wilds has played in one game this year for the Golden Flashes (5-2) this year.
> Farrell alum Marsell Holden is off to a good start for the San Jacinto (Texas) College men's basketball team. Holden is averaging 14.7 points per game for the undefeated Ravens (12-0) so far. Holden is shooting 44 percent (40 of 92) on three-point goals this year. He is second on the team in scoring.
> Grove City High grad Julie Molloy is the leading scorer for the Slippery Rock University women's basketball team this year. The 5-9 senior is averaging 11.2 points per game and has team-leading seven three-point goals for SRU (1-4). She's joined on the team by Hickory product Chere' Marshall, who is also a senior. Like Molloy, Marshall has started five games for SRU and leads the team with 11 assists. Marshall is averaging 5.4 points per game.
> Grove City High's Maggie Orr is a first-year sophomore for the Grove City College women's basketball team. She has played in two games this year for the Wolverines.
> Reynolds graduate Chris Laverty is a member of the Seton Hill men's basketball team. He made his collegiate debut November 16 in the Griffins' 81-59 win over Juniata. Meanwhile, Reynolds teammate Russ Conley is a freshman center for the Penn State Behrend men's team. Conley has made one start for the Lions (2-0) and is averaging six points per game.
> Hickory grad Haley Hanson is a freshman guard for the Penn State Behrend women's basketball team. Hanson has played in three games this year for the Lions (2-1) and is shooting 46 percent (6 for 13) from the field.
> The Thiel College wrestling team features three locals in its starting lineup. Robbie Miller (Grove City/Reynolds) is the Tomcats' 133-pounder while Alec Miller (Grove City) is holding down the 165-pound slot. Reynolds grad Corey Brown is Thiel's 141-pound entry.
> Questions? Comments? Something in between? I'll be adding to this list as the winter progresses. Send a note to ryanbriggs@zoominternet.net