Fall Weekly Release #2
FOOTBALL
Head Coach: John Snell
FINAL 2002
RECORDS: 8-2 overall
7-2 OAC
THIS WEEK -- The football team opens the 2003 season by hosting Allegheny (Pa.) at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea on Community Night. BW defeated Allegheny a year ago in Meadville, Pennsylvania, 22-2.
The Preseason Polls -- The Yellow Jackets are ranked anywhere from third to 15th in the five NCAA Division III preseason polls that have been released. BW is third in the d3football.com poll, sixth in the Street & Smith's Preseason College Football magazine, eighth in Sports Illustrated, 10th by The Football Gazette and 15th in Lindy's.
The OAC Polls -- BW was tabbed to finish second in the Ohio Athletic Conference by both the OAC Coaches and the Media who cover the OAC at the annual Football Media Day on Aug. 6 in Independence.
LAST YEAR -- In 2002, the Yellow Jackets finished 8-2 overall and 7-2 in the OAC. BW was third in the OAC Standings and ranked both 22nd nationally by The Football Gazette and 25th by the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association).
Returning All-American, Academic All-American, All-North Region and Academic All-District IV Players -- Senior safety Greg Koch (Olmsted Falls) returns as a second-team Division III All-American by The Football Gazette and honorable mention choice
by Hewlett-Packard. Senior offensive guard Joe Harbour (Upper San-dusky) returns as a second-team Academic All-American. Koch was joined as an All-North Region pick by senior quarterback Dan Larlham (Brimfield/ Walsh Jesuit).
Returning All-OAC, Academic All-OAC Players -- In addition to Koch, Harbour and Larlham, Tom DeLuca (Norwalk) returns as as second-team All-OAC defensive selection and senior Rob Becker (Dover) earned second-team All-North Region honors by the Football Gazette last year.
Statistical Leaders -- Offensively, Dan Larlham, Mark Anders and Dave LaBahn led the way. Larlham completed 141 of 216 passes for 65.3 percent and 1,873 yards with 16 TD and ten interceptions. He has an efficency rating of 153.30 and is also second in rushing with 493 yards in 120 attempts with 12 TD. Anders topped the team in rushing with 864 yards in 135 attempts (6.4 per carry) with a team-leading 13 TD. He has also caught 13 passes for 99 yards and one TD and averages 20.1 yards in 11 kick returns. Randale Richmond was third in rushing with 385 yards and three TD. LaBahn was the top receiver in 2002 with 38 catches for 619 yards and eight TD. Dave Ehrman was second with 22 catches for 264 yards and two TD and sophomore tight end Nate Wilder (Youngstown/ Cardinal Mooney) was third with 19 grabs for 279 yards and a TD. On defense, Greg Koch was the top tackler with 84 total stops and a team-leading five interceptions. Safety Jeff Fox (Willoughby South) was second in tackling with 61 stops.
Nate Mitchell was third in tackles with 53. Bryan Parobek was fourth with 52 tackles and second on the team with six QB sacks. Rob Wittensoldner was fifth in tackles with 50, third in QB sacks with five and first with 19 tackles for losses of 55 yards. Brady Myers was sixth in tackles with 43 and second in tackles for loss with 17 for minus 77 yards and led the team in QB sacks with seven. Tom DeLuca has the most pass breakups with 14 and is tied for fourth in interceptions with sophomore CB Justin Andes (Canal Fulton/ Canton Central Catholic) with two each. DeLuca also averages 22.7 yards per kickoff return. Matt Walker is averaging 9.1 yards per punt return.
In the kicking game, Rob Becker averaged an OAC-leading 39.3 yards per punt in 28 attempts, including eight that have landed inside the 20-yard line. Kevin Hille booted 36 of 42 PATs and four of seven FGs for 48 points.
MEN'S SOCCER
Head Coach: Reid Ayers
2003 Records: 2-0 overall
0-0 OAC
THIS WEEK -- The men's soccer team travels to Ada on Friday and will compete in the Ohio Northern adidas Classic. On Friday, BW plays Defiance. On Saturday, it faces Ohio Dominican.
LAST WEEK -- The Yellow Jackets had a 2-0 record and won the Penn State-Behrend Tournament in rie, Pennsylvania. BW defeated Hiram (3-0) on Saturday (Aug. 30) in the first round and Medaille, N.Y. (1-0) on Sunday in the championship game.
In the 3-0 win versus Hiram, junior midfielder Peter DeMichele (Erie, Pa./ Cathedral Prep), junior defender Ryan Golden (North Olmsted) and sophomore forward Geoff Andrews (North Ridgeville) each scored goals. Andrews, junior All-OAC defender David Mustar (North Ridgeville) and junior defender Adam McMahan (Brunswick) each earned an assist. In goal, sophomore Nate Christian (North Ridgeville) earn the win and had one save.
In the 1-0 championship game triumph versus Medaille, McMahan scored the game-winner in the second minute of the match. In addition, Christian and the Yellow Jacket defense held Medaille without a shot and recorded their second straight shutout.
Mustar Earns MVP Honors -- David Mustar earned Most Valuable Player honors at the PSU-Behrend Tournament for his efforts on defense. In addition to his defensive efforts, Mustar added an assist to the offensive attack.
Doubleheader in Two Weeks -- The Yellow Jacket men's and women's soccer teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday, September 14 against Thomas More (Ky.). The BW men will face Thomas More at 11:00 a.m. ad the women will kickoff at 1:00 p.m.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Head Coach: Reid Ayers
2003 Records: 1-1 overall
0-0 OAC
THIS WEEK -- The women's soccer team opens its 2003 home schedule when it hosts Ursuline on Thursday in its home opener at The George Finnie Stadium in Berea.
LAST WEEK -- The Yellow Jackets had a 1-1 record and finished second at the Penn State-Behrend Tournament in Erie, Pennsylvania.
BW opened the tourney with a 6-0 victory against Hiram on Saturday but lost to the host school 2-0 in the championship game on Sunday.
In its victory against Hiram, sophomore Emily Roll (Dover) scored the Jackets' first goal of the game during the 10th minute. Transfer forward Jenny Miller (North Ridgeville/ Miami of Ohio) would score the next two goals. She scored her first goal at the 15 minute mark and then gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead with her second goal during the 21st minute. Emily Panek (North Olmsted) increased the lead to 4-0 with a goal during the 35th minute. Junior defenseman Lindsay Shilling was credited with an assist on the goal scored by Panek. Freshman Ashley Belardo (North Royalton) also had a big game for the Yellow Jackets. She scored the fifth goal of the game as time expired during the first half and then added an assist on a goal scored by fellow freshman Kellie Corbett (Silver Lake/Cuyahoga Falls) in the second stanza and during the 81st minute.
In goal, two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Goalie of the Year Amanda Avram (Kirtland/Villa Angela-St. Joseph) was perfect and had two saves in 45 minutes of work. Freshman Emily Leonard (Stow) came off the bench to split time with Avram and had one save as the duo combined on the shutout.
In its championship game loss to Penn-State Behrend, the Yellow Jackets were held scoreless. Despite being out-goaled, BW and PSU-Behrend tied for shots at 8-8. Avram played the entire game, faced eight shots and had five saves.
Statistical Leaders -- Jenny Miller leads the Yellow Jackets in scoring with two goals for four points. She also leads the team in shots taken with 12. Ashley Belardo is second with a goal and an assist for three points. Emily Roll, Kellie Corbett and Emily Panek each have a goal for two points. Senior Lindsay Shilling (Jamestown, N.Y./ Southwestern Central) rounds out the BW scorers with an assist for one point. In goal, Amanda Avram leads the way with seven saves and is allowing 1.0 goals per game.
VOLLEYBALL
Head Coach: Vicki Brault
2003 Records: 1-3 overall
THIS WEEK-- The volleyball team will host the annual Marcia French Memorial Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the BW Recreation Center. The Yellow Jackets are the defending champions.
LAST WEEK -- The Yellow Jackets had a 1-3 record at the season-opening Mt. St. Joseph Tournament in Cincinnati. BW lost to 12th-ranked Ohio Northern, 3-1, lost to Thomas More (Ky.), 3-2, and lost to Savannah (Ga.) School of Art and Design, 3-2, in pool play. In the playoff round, BW defeated Buffalo State (N.Y.), 3-0, to place seventh.
Tourney Stat Leaders -- Senior three-time All-OAC and two-time All-Great Lakes Region middle hitter Cassie Palmer (Greenwich/ South Central) led the team in kills with 85 kills and was second on the team in total attempts with 183 and in hitting percentage at .344 overall. She also had a team-leading 13 total blocks (four solo and nine assisted).
All-Great Lakes Region outside hitter Emily Bowen (Tiffin/Colum-bian) was second on the team with 52 kills and led the team in total attempts with 197. She also had a team-leading 91 defensive digs.
Despite nursing an early-season injury, junior hitter Laura Leach (Nor-walk/ Senior) was third on the team in kills with 46 and in total attempts with 123. She led the team in service aces with eight and she also finished second on the team in total blocks with nine.
Freshman setter Kristne Habegger (Oregon) saw action in nine of the 17 games played and finished second on the team in set assists with 76. All-OAC senior setter Kerry Helm (Luckey/Eastwood) topped the team with 96. Habegger also had 22 digs and three service aces in her debut tournament. Helm also had 61 digs.
Freshman libero Kim Stohl (Norwalk/St. Paul) rounds out the top performers as she placed second with 73 digs.
Upcoming Events -- In three weeks, Sept. 19-20, the Yellow Jackets travel to St. Louis, Missouri to participate in the Washington University Tournament. At that tourney, BW will compete with preseason number one-ranked Wash. U., number two-ranked and defending Division III national champion Wisconsin Whitewater and third-ranked Juniata (Pa.).
GOLF
Men's Coach: Chris Kibler
Women's Coach: Jim Meyer
THIS WEEK-- The women's golf team opens the 2003 fall season with the two-day Grand Valley State Invitational beginning on Monday, September 1.
The men's golf team begins its season at the Olivet (Mich.) Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 5-6.
LAST YEAR -- The women's golf team had a solid season a year ago including a third place tie at the OAC Championships. Current sophomore Lauren Buckner (Westlake) led the way for the Yellow Jackets with a two-day total of 187 strokes and earned All-OAC accolades for her efforts. She was joined on the All-OAC team by current sophomore Emily Scheetz (Massillon/ Perry).
The men's golf team also had a strong season, highlighted by a third place finish at the conference championships. Current junior Steve Weir (Brunswick) shot a two-day total of 150 strokes to earn OAC medalist honors. In addition, junior Mark Speaks (Apple Creek/ Waynedale) was eighth and earned All-OAC accolades.
The 2003 Women's "Quickie" Preview -- Second-year Head Coach Jim Meyer returns five letterwinners. Buckner and Scheetz will be the top returning players and are joined by seniors Lindsay Light (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) and Karissa Kusick (Chicora, Pa./Karns City) and junior Sarah Todd (Seneca, Pa./Cranberry).
The 2003 Men's "Quickie" Preview
The men's team returns its entire roster from last season, including seven lettermen. Weir will be the leader. He will be joined by Speaks and sophomore 2003 spring season stroke average leader Rob Santerre (Cincinnati LaSalle) as the top players.
Weir Played in US Amatuer -- Steve Weir became the first Yellow Jacket golfer in school history to compete at the United States Amatuer Tournament in Pittsburgh, Pa. last week. Weir carded rounds of 85 and 80 and did not make the 36-hole cut.
Congratulations, Steve.
CROSS COUNTRY
Head Coach: Dr. Bill Taraschke
THIS WEEK -- BW opens its season on Saturday at the Hanover Invitational in Hanover, Indiana.
OAC Success -- The Yellow Jackets are no stranger to success in the conference having won a fourth consecutive conference title in 2002 and their 11th title in the past 12 years.
Regional and National Success -- BW made its fourth straight NCAA Divsion III national meet appearance last year including an eighth place finish was the best finish in school history
Returning All-OAC Runners -- Jennifer Southall (Willoughby South) will be the lone returning All-OAC runner.
The 2003 Women's "Quickie" Preview -- The women's team returns eight letterwinners including seniors Jen Southall, Khara Sosko (Ellwood City, Pa./ Riverside), Tara Perry (Brookpark/ Berea), Stacey Havaich (Austintown/Fitch) and Tatum Gruskiewicz (Williamsfield/ Pyma-tuning Valley) and juniors Lisa Bartkiewicz (Berea), Jaime Luketic (Rootstown) and Abby Cominsky (Fremont Ross).
Southall returns after placing 10th at last year's OAC Meet to earn All-OAC honors in the fall, and placing fifth and earning Division III track All-America honors in the 3000 meter steeplechase last spring. Havaich, who transferred to BW last fall from Division I Ohio University, was 14th at the OAC Meet and Bartkiewicz was 19th. Overall, Taraschke returns five runners who placed in the Top 23 at the OAC Meet.
The 2003 Men's "Quickie" Preview
The men's team returns four letterman in 2003. The team will be led by senior Jason Ream (Burton/Berkshire)
Ream returns this fall along with fellow lettermen in junior Josh Fetzer (Ashland/Senior), senior Brian Adkins (Berea), and sophomore Kevin Andrzejewski (Eastlake/North).
A year ago, Ream placed 36th at the OAC Championship Meet and his best finish was 21st-place showing a the Polar Bear Invitational at Ohio Northern University. In addition to last year's OAC Meet, Adkins was 42nd, Fetzer was 44th, and Andrze-jewski was 64th.