LeQuan Chapman has had a great career with the Shippensburg men’s track team but he still has some unfinished work ahead of him.
Chapman (Exeter) has five All-American certificates on his wall but coach Dave Osanitsch thinks there will be more to come.
“LeQuan will go down as one of the greatest all-around jumpers we’ve had here,” Osanitsch said. “He has dedicated himself to come back for one final indoor season of eligibility.”
Chapman wrapped up his outdoor track career by earning All-America in the long jump for the second straight season last spring with a career-best 24-81/4 effort. He also has three indoor All-American honors – the long jump in 2013 (eighth) and 2015 (seventh) and in the triple jump in 2014 (sixth). And, he was a second team All-American last year when he finished 11th in the triple jump.
“There’s the hope that he is able to have success once again at the PSAC Championships and his goal is also to place even higher than he has previously at Nationals,” Osanitsch said.
Chapman was named PSAC Field Athlete of the Year both indoors and outdoors last season.
MARTIN WORKING HARD >> Sophomore Dayne Martin is a key performer for the Albright women’s swim team. Martin (Governor Mifflin) competes in the 50 and 100 free but her main forte is relays. She’s on the top squad in the 200 free (1:46.70), the 400 free (3:33.37) and the 200 medley (1:36.01).
“Dayne is a coach’s dream,” coach Michael Hay said. “She is an extremely hard worker, never complains and always embraces putting in extra work. Her background as a multi-sport athlete at Governor Mifflin has allowed her to transition well into our training program and I am excited to see what she can accomplish as she continues to progress.”
Despite being just a sophomore, the coach feels she’s a tremendous example for the other swimmers on the team.
“Dayne is willing to make any sacrifice for the team,” Hay said. “She has consistently been one of our highest point-scorers and has dropped time consistently in almost every meet this season.”
WORTHINGTON IS DEDICATED >> Sophomore Kenneth Worthington competes in the high jump and long jump for the La Salle men’s track team. Worthington (Daniel Boone) kicked off this season by finishing 11th in the high jump (6-41/4) and 13th in the long jump (21-41/4) against a strong field at the annual Great Dane Classic which was held Jan. 6 at the Ocean Breeze Complex on Staten Island.
“Kenny is a hard worker and he handled the transition from high school to Division I extremely well,” assistant coach Erica Ferguson, who works with the jumpers, said. “His ability to overcome injury and score points for the team at our conference championship last spring (eighth in the long jump) shows the impact he has made and the dedication he has.”
According to the coach, Worthington worked hard in the offseason to prepare for the indoor and outdoor seasons.
“I’m excited to see what he can accomplish the rest of the year,” Ferguson said.
DUO WITH TOUGH BEARS – Sophomore Sydney Gundersen and freshman Julia Adams are members of the Ursinus women’s swim team that is 9-0 in dual meets this season and has recorded 36 straight victories.
Gundersen (Exeter) is the team’s top sprinter and broke the school’s 28-year-old record in the 50 freestyle at the league championship last season.
“Sydney returned for her sophomore season in great shape and has continued to lead the way for our sprinters,” coach Mark Feinberg said. “We can count on her for strong performances in every distance in the freestyle, she is among the conference elite in the butterfly and can even fill in to help us in the breaststroke or individual medley.”
Adams (Governor Mifflin) is a butterfly specialist and has performed well in both the 100 and 200 distances, but is branching out according to Feinberg.
“Julia’s incredible work ethic has landed her in our deep and talented distance lane,” the coach said. “She has become one of our best 500 freestylers and will be a top 16 seed in the 1650 free at the conference championships.”
The Centennial Conference Championship is Feb. 19-21 in Gettysburg.
“Sydney will be seeded very high at the championships and will be part of three or four relays that are all potentially looking to qualify for the NCAAs.”
HANNA CHIPPING IN >> Sophomore Chad Hanna is scoring points for the Washington & Jefferson men’s swim team. Hanna (Governor Mifflin) recently helped the Presidents defeat Penn State-Behrend 161-111 by swimming a leg on the winning 400 free relay (3:23.77), finishing second to a teammate in the 100 free (52.01) and finishing third in the 200 free (1:52.87).
Freshman Jeremy Glasner (Boyertown) is also helping out. He competes mainly in the 100 and 200 backstroke, the 400 IM and with the 200 and 400 medley relay.
The Presidents are 6-5 overall in dual meets with a 2-3 mark in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
KROTT CENTER OF ATTENTION >> Senior Miranda Krott is starting for the Marymount women’s basketball team, the Saints 13-3 overall and leading the Capital Athletic Conference with an 8-1 record.
Krott (Oley Valley) is a 6-foot-1 center and she’s averaging 8.8 points and 6.4 rebounds. She also has 28 steals and 21 blocked shots and had a season-high 22 points and nine rebounds in an 80-55 victory over Southern Virginia. She was 10 for 15 from the field.
“Miranda can create match-up problems for our opponents,” coach Ashley Rogers said. “She is very athletic and a strong player. We are fortunate to have the option for her to defend guards when the other team only has one post player in the lineup.”
The coach feels that Krott has the experience and talent to lead the team to another CAC championship. The Saints, who lost in the semifinals the past two seasons, were CAC champions in 2012-13.
“Miranda has the ability to dominate the boards and position herself for put-backs,” Rogers said. “And, she makes it difficult for shooters to get comfortable with her long arms and quick feet.”
NOCELLA LEADS THE WAY >> Senior Alyssa Nocella is the top scorer for the Bowling Green women’s gymnastics team. But that’s nothing new. Nocella (Boyertown) has been the top all-round performer during her four year career with the Falcons.
“This year looks to be no different,” coach Kerrie Turner said. “Alyssa is focused on continuing to improve her consistency and score in every event. She’s a three-time NCAA Regional qualifier and just missed qualifying for the Nationals by 0.025 last year.”
In losses to Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, Nocella had Bowling Green’s high individual score with a 9.825 on the uneven bars and led the team in All-Around with a score of 38.325.
“I know Alyssa wants to get to the Nationals but helping the team get to the postseason is more of a focus for her as she has matured into a true team player,” Turner said. “She has a true love for gymnastics and her passion for the sport shines through every time she competes.”
VALLELY A DRIVING FORCE >> Sophomore Brandi Vallely has led the Muhlenberg women’s basketball team to a 13-1 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the Centennial Conference.
Vallely (Oley Valley) is averaging 13.4 points and 7.7 rebounds a game. She leads the team with 144 assists – she leads NCAA Division III in that department – and 54 steals. She had a season-high 22 points in an 86-78 victory over DeSales. And, nine times the 5-foot-7 point guard has hit double figures in assists including 15 against Moravian.
“Brandi has been the driving force behind our team’s great success this year,” coach Ron Rohn said. “She’s the motor that makes us go. Her ability to push the ball in transition, her court vision to find opener players and get them the ball right when they need it is uncanny.”
The coach also lauded Vallely’s play on the other end of the court.
“Brandi has incredible anticipation on defense,” Rohn said. “She gets many deflections and steals which get our team out in the open court which is where we’re at our best.”
CLARK’S A VETERAN >> Senior Jasmen Clark (Oley Valley) is starting once again for the West Chester women’s basketball team which is 12-5 overall and 9-4 and in second place in the PSAC East standings.
The 5-foot-3 guard is averaging 5.7 points and has 34 assists and 31 steals. She’s hit 22 3-point baskets and had a season-high 17 points in a 70-48 victory over Seton Hill.
Including 17 games this season, Clark has started and played in 101 games during her career with the Golden Rams and has 706 points, 201 assists and 164 steals.
NOTHING STANDARD ABOUT WARNING >> Junior Lucas Warning (Kutztown) posted an early highlight with the Lehigh men’s track team by breaking the school record in the shot (57-1), a record that was set by John Hill back in 1972. It had been the longest standing record in Lehigh indoor track and field history.
“Lucas is an exceptional story,” coach Matt Utesch said. “He threw just under 48 feet at Kutztown which is not a bad mark for a high schooler, but certainly not a standard blue chip prospect. I have suspected that Lucas is not ‘standard’ in his two years here. The fact is the shot gets bigger and heavier in college and to think that an undersized high school prospect is going to show up and break a 40-year old record is not ‘standard’ by any means.”
Warning finished third in the shot in the Patriot Championships and fourth in the IC4A last season as a junior and finished eighth in the league meet as a freshman.
Ironically, a back injury earlier in his career made it some question whether Warning would ever throw again.
“But being ‘not standard’ Lucas worked in every way he could through the injury and came back to the weight room with renewed vigor,” Utesch said. “He put on some size and weight and continued to work in the circle.”
The coach said that Warning looked like a volcano waiting to explode waiting his turn to get in the circle.
“I think everyone knew the record was going down that day,” Utesch said.
DADDONA WORKING HARD >> The Penn State Berks women’s basketball team is 1-11 in the early going but the Nittany Lions are getting a big effort from freshman Deanna Daddona. The Brandywine Heights grad leads the team in scoring with an 18.5 average. In the team’s only victory, a 96-83 triumph over Cazenovia, the 5-foot-5 guard had a college career high 28 points, eight assists and five rebounds and played all 40 minutes. She followed that up with games of 23 points in an 87-65 loss to SUNY-Morrisville and 20 points in a 84-54 setback to Wells.
“Deanna has been a big contributor,” coach Kristin Hawley said. “The two things she faced coming in were the speed and the size of college basketball but she has not only adapted but has excelled in handling both.”
The coach moved Daddona to point guard in the middle of the season and she has 34 assists, but it hasn’t hurt her shooting.
“One of her biggest improvements of late is in her shooting accuracy,” Hawley said. “She’s been working on her mechanics during practices. Deanna is willing to put in the time to improve and her love for the game shows in her hard work and dedication.”
LESHER ON THE REBOUND >> Sophomore Kassidy Lesher (Hamburg) has led the 9-6 Dickinson women’s basketball team in rebounding in 12 of the team’s 15 games. She’s had a season-high 13 rebounds twice, including that number in a recent 53-44 victory over Haverford. The 6-foot-1 forward leads the team with an 8.9 average. She’s also averaging 5.5 points with a team-high 15 blocked shots, 11 assists and 10 steals.
“Kass has grown immensely as a player in the past year due to her dedication to getting better and her consistently strong work ethic,” coach Katherine Bixby said.
The coach would like to see Lesher more aggressive on the offensive side but has no problem with her defense.
“We’ve been impressed with her ability to absorb defensive concepts and apply them in games,” Bixby said. “Her presence in the lane and on the boards is crucial to our defensive success. We are extremely excited about her future with the team.”
LEIDY CONTRIBUTING >> Sophomore Nick Leidy (Schuykill Valley) is one of the top performers on the York men’s swim team. He has the best times in the 200 butterfly (2:12.83) and the 400 IM (4:24.50). And, he’s second in the 100 butterfly (56.83) and has picked up a pair of victories at that distance to start the second half of the season. And, he also swims with the 200 medley relay team.
“I am very pleased with the way Nick has been training,” coach Greg Doyle said. “During our Florida training trip, he stepped up and pushed himself through some very difficult sets. Those sets will better prepare him both physically and mentally for our conference championship.”
The Spartans compete in the Capital Athletic Conference Championships Feb. 19-21 in St. Mary’s City, Md.
“I’m very excited to see his performance in a few short weeks,” Doyle said.
BARSZOWSKI FITS RIGHT IN >> Freshman sprinter Alyx Barszowski (Twin Valley) hasn’t missed a beat running with the East Stroudsburg women’s indoor track team. She has the best time on the squad in the 55 meter dash (7.89) and is third in both the 60 meter dash (8.42) and the 200 meter dash (27.86).
“Alyx has been a pleasant surprise,” coach Chris Merli said. “She has adapted well to college training and is very conscientious. We see her qualifying for the PSACs in the 60 and 200 indoors and project her as a member of our 4×100 outdoors as well as the 100 and 200 dashes.”
