Jan 26 College News

Maple Leafs Can’t Snap #5 IWU’s 18-Game Winning Streak

MARION, Ind. – The Goshen College men’s basketball team could not keep pace with the #5 team in the nation, losing 48-72 on the road Tuesday night.

It was poor shooting throughout that plagued the Maple Leafs as they hit just 27% overall and 1-of-17 from 3-point territory. They also had only four assists, while the hosts hit 47% of their attempts and registered 16 assists.

The result was drastically different than a two-point loss to the Wildcats back in late November in Goshen. Indiana Wesleyan is a much different team at this point, though, having rolled off 18 straight victories, including a perfect 10-0 mark in the Mid-Central College Conference.

The Maple Leafs (8-15, 1-9 MCC) have a full week off with the weekend bye. They are back in action next Tuesday at Bethel College in Mishawaka


Illinois Volleyball, Softball Standout Signs With Goshen


GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College volleyball coach Jim Routhier and softball coach Lee Mast have teamed up before. They are back at it, pairing up to bring in Illinois dual-sport athlete Danielle Kerschhackl who recently signed a national letter of intent to play both sports for the Maple Leafs beginning in 2011-12.

Despite standing just 5-foot tall, Kerschhackl has been a standout in both sports at Elmwood Park High School in Chicago’s west suburbs.

On the softball field, Kerschhackl’s versatility led her to the varsity as a freshman when her team won conference, regional, and sectional titles. She has received multiple team awards, including Gold Glove, Most Versatile, and Rookie of the Year. As a junior in 2010, the future Maple Leaf batted .350 with an astounding .514 on base percentage.

Kerschhackl has also played travel team softball where her team finished ninth (out of 97 teams) in the NSA “A” World Series in Columbus, Ohio.

“When I first met Danielle, the first thing that got my attention was the communication that she had on the field with her teammates,” Mast explained. “She can play anywhere on the field, but pitch and catch. She may be short in stature, but she carries a big stick and also has tremendous speed.”

The athletic ability and quickness of Kerschhackl is also an asset on the volleyball court. As a libero and defensive specialist, Kerschhackl racked up 400 digs and 22 service aces on way to All Metro Suburban Conference honors as a senior.

“Danielle is a very good defensive player,” Routhier said. “She has amazing quickness and court awareness. She will be a great addition to our defensive program. We are very excited to have Danielle join us next year.”

Equally impressive off the court/ field, Kerschhackl is part of the National Honor Society, will graduate near the top of her class and has been given the Metro Suburban All Conference Academic Award on several occasions. The daughter of Michael and Denise Kerschhackl, Danielle intends on majoring in Communications after starting at Goshen in the fall


Rushville H.S. senior commits to USF basketball

RUSHVILLE, Ind. – Rushville High School senior Spencer Comer has selected the University of Saint Francis to continue his education and pursuit of basketball excellence starting in the fall of 2011-12.
Comer is a 6-foot-3 guard who is averaging 16 points, five rebounds and two assists for Lions, who are 11-2 and 5-1 in Hoosier Heritage Conference. He is ranked No. 7 as a shooting guard by Indiana Basketball Digest. He scored a career-high 27 points in a 71-67 defeat against Muncie Southside on Jan. 19, 2011.
“After he was here to watch the Bethel game, he told me he had made up his mind and that this was the place for him,” USF Head Coach Chad LaCross said. “Spencer is going to strengthen our perimeter defense. He will likely be able to guard three positions with his great lateral quickness, strength, and toughness. We’re lookin’ for guys who want to defend and Spencer really fits that mold.”
Comer also played quarterback on the RHS football team and was named to the All-HHC team. He was also AP Class 3A All-State Honorable Mention as a punter.
Comer averaged 17 points, six rebounds and three assists and had a single-game high 25 points as a junior at RHS in 2009-10.
Comer is the second high school senior to commit to USF. Greg Dickey, a guard at Tipton High School who has played on AAU teams with Comer, committed to USF in November 2010.


Shively named MCC Player of the Week


HUNTINGTON, IN—Huntington University senior guard, Tyler Shively, was named the Mid-Central Conference Player of the Week for the week of January 24-30, 2011.

Shively, an accounting major from Columbia City, Ind. (Columbia City High School), was the No. 22nd-ranked Foresters’ leading scorer in a pair of games this past week. Shively began the week with 25 points by shooting 66.7% (8-for-12) from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free line against the #11-ranked Cougars of Saint Francis. He followed that up with a 24-point performance that included the game-winning shot in the Foresters’ 73-71 overtime win at Marian on Saturday. He also grabbed three rebounds and dished out four assists against the Knights.

Shively currently leads the NAIA Division II in free throw shooting percentage at 93.5% (129-for-138). He also sits atop the MCC in 3-point field goal percentage (42.5%) and ranks third in conference scoring with his 19.4 points per game.