Campus Roundup: Area athletes finishing up, while some are just beginning
Friday, November 21, 2008
By Jon Christoff Sports Writer
A number of former local athletes have wrapped up their seasons in the fall, while some are still competing and others still are just beginning the winter season. Here's a look at what some of those individuals are accomplishing.
Wrestling
Brad Pataky, Penn State: The fourth-year sophomore, who redshirted and had an Olympic exemption, dropped a hard-fought match to Hofstra's Steve Bonanno during the Nittany Lions' upset loss to the Pride on Sunday. Pataky (2-3) held a 6-4 advantage before Bonanno escaped and was rewarded a stalling point in the match's final second. Bonanno wasted little time in the extra session, nabbing the winning takedown after countering Pataky's attempt.
Matt Kyler, Army: Kyler, ranked ninth at 149 pounds, picked up his fourth fall of the season in the Black Knights' 41-3 win over Franklin & Marshall. Kyler flattened Jay Tracy in 2:31 to improve to 7-1 on the season for Army, which will compete this weekend at the Body Bar Invitational at Cornell.
Tommy Barger, Lycoming: Barger went 2-1 at the Baldwin-Wallace Duals for the Warriors. Barger picked up a win by medical default, 9-7, in a 24-18 win over Thiel, and handled his opponent to the tune of a 13-3 major decision against the hosts. Lycoming returns to action on Sunday at the Messiah Duals.
Cody Billotte, Lycoming: Billotte is 0-1 for the Warriors (2-1) after dropping an exhibition match against Mount St. Joseph at the Baldwin-Wallace Duals.
Derek Caldwell, Lock Haven: Caldwell went 1-2 for Lock Haven at the University of Buffalo Open. The former Golden Tide grappler picked up a fall after dropping his first match, 9-1. Caldwell was then eliminated by 9-7 overtime decision. Lock Haven (0-1) travels to Rider on Saturday.
Women's Basketball
Brittany Barrett. Penn State-DuBois: Barrett is listed as a guard on the Penn State-DuBois roster. The Lions are 0-2 on the season.
Swimming and Diving
John Lytle, Notre Dame: Lytle, a junior for the Fighting Irish, won a pair of freestyle races for Notre Dame, which swept Miami (Oh.) and Cleveland State to improve to 3-2 on the season. Lytle finished the 50 free in 20.83 and the 100 in 45.6, while anchoring the 400 medley relay team. The quartet finished in 3:29.93 to beat Miami, and finish second to Cleveland State.
John Bodle, Westminster: Bodle picked up his first collegiate win with a personal-best 2:17.66 in the 200 butterfly, as Westminster handled Bethany, 91-18.
Brandon Boyer, Clarion: Boyer finished third in the 100 free and was also a member of the third-place 200 medley team in Clarion's loss to Duquesne. The former Clearfield swimmer finished the 100 free in 49.52, while recording a 21.87 split in the relay for the Eagles.
Brandon Good, Lycoming: Good, a tri-captain for the Warriors, placed in a relay and an individual event for Lycoming in a 114-84 loss to Susquehanna. Good finished fifth in the 500 free (5:59.22), while turning in a 23.93 leg on the 200 free relay.
Ryan Sayers, Washington & Jefferson: Sayers finished third with a final tally of 179.20, as the Presidents got by Baldwin-Wallace, 160-131.
Football
Andrew Janocko, Pittsburgh: Janocko and the 19th ranked Panthers are in control of their own destiny, as they travel to face Cincinnati this weekend. Pittsburgh needs to win two of its final three games to win the Big East and claim a spot in a BCS Bowl.
Tanner Kelly, Albright: Kelly was sacked eight times in a 34-9 loss to Delaware Valley that denied Albright the outright Middle Atlantic Conference championship. Kelly had a touchdown pass in the defeat as the Lions shared the conference title with the Aggies and Lycoming. Each team finished 5-2 in league play. Kelly finished with 192 yards through the air with a touchdown and an interception.
Albright has one more game to play, as it was chosen to play in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference South Atlantic Bowl, where it'll face Montclair State.
Mike Rocco, Lock Haven: The Mountie graduate played in four games for Lock Haven (0-11) and finished with a pair of tackles to his credit to go along with a three-yard carry.
Beau Ryan, Juniata: Ryan played in all 10 games for the Eagles (1-9), and had 23 tackles to his credit with six being solo. Ryan also had a tackle for a loss to go along with two passes broken up.
Nate Sipes, Slippery Rock: Sipes finished the season with 28 tackles to his credit for Slippery Rock, which ended its season at 5-6 after falling to East Stroudsburg, 38-21. Sipes recorded nine solo tackles, had two tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble.
Nick Sipes, Clarion: The Eagles finished the 2008 campaign with a 3-8 mark after handling Cheyney, 41-10. Sipes finished with three carries for 56 yards in the win to go along with one reception for 14 yards. The former Curwensville standout finished with 45 carries for 303 yards and three scores, and had 12 catches for another 104.
Shawn Sopic, Clarion: Sopic finished another big season in the Eagles secondary with a team-high three interceptions to go along with 65 tackles, which tied him for the team lead. Clarion finished its season with a 3-8 record after topping Cheyney, 41-10.
Volleyball
Erin Albert, Juniata: Albert was tabbed the Most Outstanding Player for leading the Lady Eagles to the NCAA Division III Women's Juniata Region title, which moved her team into the national quarterfinals. Albert finished with 13 kills to her credit with seven coming on her first nine swings of the first set. Juniata defeated Eastern University (35-2) 25-6, 25-16, 25-23 to move on.
Danica Hamm: Penn State-DuBois: Hamm was named to the USCAA National All-Academic team for the 2008 season. To be chosen, Hamm had to have at least a 3.5 GPA and accumulate significant stats throughout the season.
Amanda Knowles, Mount Aloysius: Knowles led the Lady Mounties to a 9-16 season after recording a team-high 229 kills to her credit to go along with 45 digs and 43 blocks. Knowles was also named the AMCC Player of the Week during the course of the season.
Michelle Peoples, Mount Aloysius: Peoples finished the season with 10 kills, 31 digs and five blocks to her credit for the Lady Mounties (9-16).
Men's Soccer
Mark Auman, Lock Haven: Auman and the Eagles finished a successful season with an 11-6-3 mark. Auman started nine games and played in 16 total, as the accumulated nine shots, three of which were shots on goal. The former Bison standout also had an assist to his credit for the Eagles.
Alan Baldwin, Westminster: The former Clearfield defender saw action in nine games for Westminster this season and finished with three shots to his credit. The Titans picked up a win in the NCAA Division III tournament before being bounced by Montclair State.
Lucas Feathers, Slippery Rock: Feathers and The Rock picked up a 1-0 overtime win over No. 14 Bloomsburg in the first round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Tournament last week, but had their season ended by the same score against Millersville.
The Clearfield alum had 13 shots on goal this season, and was tied for third on the team with four goals.
John Lhota, Washington & Jefferson: The Presidents had their season come to an end at the hands of Frostburg State, 1-0, in a first round game in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III South Championship. Lhota finished the season with a goal in 21 games played. Washington & Jefferson ended the season at 9-8-4.
Women's Soccer
Julianna Howell, Slippery Rock: Howell played an integral role in The Rock's upset of No. 24 Bloomsburg in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Tournament. Howell's goal added insurance to a 1-0 lead in the 60th minutes, and Slippery Rock tacked on two more to complete the upset.
The Rock couldn't build off it, however, as Mercyhurst ended their season with a 3-0 win. Slippery Rock finished 14-7-1. Howell finished with four goals and an assist, which put her third on the team with nine points.
Alissa Murphy, Juniata: Murphy appeared in nine games with one start for Juniata, which ended the season at 9-6-1. Murphy finished the season with one shot on goal to her credit.
Danielle Struble, Westminster: Struble had two shots in Westminster's 1-0 win over Catholic on Nov. 12, as the Lady Titans advanced to the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Division III South Championships, where they fell, 3-0, to Swarthmore
Struble finished the season with four goals and two assists after starting in 19 of 22 games. Westminster ended with a 15-5-2 mark.
Jen Williams, Lock Haven: Williams played in 11 contests for Lock Haven (9-9-1), which ended the campaign strongly at 4-1-1. The Lady Eagle sophomore finished the year with one assist and two shots.
Ali Yaple, Mount Aloysius: Yaple was a utility player for the Lady Mounties, who finished the 2008 campaign with a record of 2-12-1, and appeared in all 15 contests. Yaple finished the season with three shots on goal on offense, while starting three games in goal to finish with a 2-2 record and 28 saves.
Cross Country
Leah Carr, Penn State-DuBois: Carr recently finished 23rd in helping the Lady Lions to a third-place finish at the PSUAC Championships, which were held at Penn State Wilkes Barre.
All former area athletes who play a sanctioned college sport are eligible to be recognized by The Progress for their athletic endeavors in the College Roundup. Athletes are encouraged to have their school's sports information director fax, mail or email updates on their progress to the sports department. Updates can be faxed to 814-765-5165 or mailed to College Roundup, c/o The Progress Sports Department, Post Office Box 291, Clearfield, PA 16830-0291. Emails are also accepted at sports@theprogressnews.com.