By Gary R. Rasberry
grasberry@dailystandard.com Football season provides a lot of local fans some relatively short trips to see some of the former area players now playing on the college level.
One player that has been stepping up into the spotlight is University of Dayton sophomore Kevin Hoyng. The Coldwater native started the first three games of the season for the 3-1 Flyers, missing last week due to a shoulder separation that sidelined him for the Austin Peay game.
Veteran Dayton coach Mike Kelly has used Hoyng as part of a platoon at quarterback with Brandon Staley. Hoyng has used his ability to scramble and option to put up a 10-for-20 passing record for 146 yards and a touchdown. Running, Hoyng has been potent, ranking fifth on the team in rushing with 102 yards and one touchdown.
Pax kicking straight at Findlay
Findlay junior Jeff Pax is another former Cavalier that has been successful on the college level. Pax, the placekicker for the 3-2 Oilers, has made 14 of his 16 extra-point tries and is 3-of-9 in field goals. His 23 points is second on the team in scoring.
Another area grad seeing plenty of time on the field for the Oilers is B.J. Wolters. The Marion grad has appeared in all five Oiler games, ranking second on the team in receptions with 20 and receiving yards with 240 to go along with one touchdown.
Otte defends well for Quakers
Wilmington sophomore defensive back Chad Otte (Marion Local) has been a key pass defender for the Quakers, who have started the season 1-2.
Otte has two interceptions this season so far and three broken up passes. The former Flyer quarterback has also been able to take a couple of snaps on offense, going 1-for-5 for 5 yards this season.
Wilmington hosts Heidelberg in Ohio Athletic Conference action this Saturday at Williams Stadium.
VOLLEYBALL
Puthoff named UF's top female athlete of week
Findlay sophomore Erin Puthoff was named the top female athlete at the school after helping the Oilers go 2-0 on the week, putting up big numbers along the way.
Puthoff is tops on the team in kills with 3.62 kpg in 42 games. Puthoff's 2.45 digs per game is also among the best on the team.
Fellow former Flyer Kelly Pohlman continues to be a strong player for the Oilers. Pohlman is second on the team in kills with 3.48 and averages 1.32 blocks per game in 31 games played.
Celina grad and UF junior Lana Beckstedt continues to be a libero for the Oilers, avergaing 0.56 digs per game in 32 games.
Freshman Jackie Kahlig (Coldwater) has appeared in one game for the Oilers this season.
Locals keeping Lions among nation's best
A pair of Grand Lake area players are currently helping the College of Mount St. Joseph volleyball jump out to a 11-3 mark and 1-0 in the Heartland Conference. The Lions are currently eighth in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll
Junior middle hitter Beth Fledderjohann (New Knoxville) and sophomore hitter Ashley Langenkamp (Marion) are both seeing significant time. Fledderjohann has played in all 54 games this season for the Lions, averaging 1.57 kills per game.
Langenkamp has appeared in 38 games, averaging 1.16 kills and 2.18 digs per game.
MSJ hosts its invitational starting this weekend.
Local flavor at DC
One of the teams heading down to Cincinnati is fellow Heartland Conference member Defiance. The Yellow Jackets are 11-4 heading into conference play.
Sophomore setter Diane Bruns (Marion) leads the team in assists with 5.97 per game and also plays stellar defense, averaging 2.45 digs per game.
Junior middle hitter Julie Steineman (New Bremen) also plays strong defense, averaging 3.81 digs per game and 1.88 kills per game.
Gehret favorite at tournaments
Ohio Northern senior Diane Gehret earned an all-tournament team honor for the third time this season as the Polar Bears went 1-1 at the Wittenberg Invitational last weekend.
Gehret had 26 kills and eight blocks in the two games for ONU, currently seventh in the AVCA poll.
Gehret averages 3.48 kills and 0.66 blocks per game for the Polar Bears.
Poling big help for Raiders
Wright State sophomore Sarah Poling (St. Henry) has been a big hitter as the Raiders try to break out of their 2-11 start to the season.
Poling leads the team in kills at 3.38 kills per game and is third in digs at 3.02 per game.
Wuebker leading way for Dukes
Duquense junior Diana Wuebker (St. Henry) has been the constant hitter for the Dukes volleyball team this season. Duquense is 7-8 on the season and 1-0 in the Atlantic 10 conference. Wuebker leads the team in kills with 3.64 kills per game and also leads the team in digs (3.15 dpg) and blocks (0.98 bpg).
CROSS COUNTRY
Olding still at the front, now for ND
Would there be any surprise that Sunni Olding would start her college cross country career at Notre Dame in the same manner she completed her high school career?
The Minster graduate finished second to teammate Stephanie Madia at the National Catholic Invitational held in South Bend on Sept. 17. The Irish swept the Division I titles for men and women with the ladies finishing with 28 points. Olding ran the course in 17:40.
Olding gets to stay on campus this week as Notre Dame hosts its invitational.
Gruber making run for Muskies
While Olding was at the front for her finish at the National Catholic meet, an old teammate was in the pack, just like old times.
Xavlier frehsman Joanna Gruber finished 52nd at the meet in a time of 19:54. The Musketeers finished fifth in the Division I team standings.
Roth makes first run Friday
North Carolina State junior Kris Roth (Celina) will get her first competitive run of the season on Friday at the Great American Championships in Cary, near the campus in Raleigh.
Roth, who placed 86th at the NCAA Nationals last season, is part of group currently ranked fifth in the nation in the FinishLynx Poll.
Roth will run in the Women's A-race starting at 4:45 p.m.
Winner gets season going for Barton
Barton College (North Carolina) freshman Corey Winner (Marion Local) competed at the Raleigh Invitational on Sept. 18, placing 40th overall.
The Bulldogs were sixth out of nine teams in the meet, but were the best among the non-Division I teams at the meet.
A week earlier, Winner finished eighth at the Greater Danville Cross Country Championships. |
