ON CAMPUS | Area college news and notes

John Carroll
Jenna Vrabel, who recently graduated from Ursuline High, will play softball at the Ohio Athletic Conference school. Vrabel played first base at Ursuline for coach Mike Kernan and third base for coach Kenny Miller on her summer team, Ohio Reign. She was a four-year letter winner at Ursuline, making first team All-Steel Valley Conference and All-Northeast Ohio. Jenna plans to major in physical therapy.
Baldwin-Wallace
Stacey Havaich (Austintown Fitch), a senior on the women's track team, gained three All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors at the conference championships. In the Outdoor Championships, she placed second in the 1500-meters with a career-best time of 4 minutes, 45.47 seconds, and she was a member of the 4x800 relay that placed third. In the Indoor Championships, she was second with the 4x800 relay. Havaich's career-best indoor performances were 1:21.42 in the 500, 3:07.12 in the 1000 and 4:52.94 in the 1500. Her top outdoor showing was 2:19.24 in the 800. Havaich, who graduated recently with a degree in fitness management, was also was a two-year letter winner in cross country. She is the daughter of Robert and Marcey Havaich of Austintown.
Also on the team was sophomore Sarah Speece (Western Reserve), who completed her second season after taking a year off from school. Speece competed in the javelin and had a season-best throw of 95 feet, 6 inches. Her brother, Brad Speece, is a 2001 B-W graduate. Their parents are Brad and Mary Speece of North Jackson.
Chuck Scarbrough (Howland) completed his junior year on the men's golf team. A major in business administration and political science, Scarbrough averaged 82.5 strokes with a best outing of 78 at the Denison University Ted Barclay Memorial Tournament. Last fall, he played four rounds in two tournaments and averaged 81.25, with a low round of 77 in the Otterbein Tournament. In Scarbrough's sophomore year, he played in five tournaments, with a 79.26 average, and had his top round of 70 in the Mount Union Tournament in the fall. In the spring of 2003, he played in one tournament and averaged 86.5, with his best round of 86 at Kenyon. As a freshman, Scarbrough was in one tournament and averaged 83.5, with a best round of 83 in the B-W Tournament. In nine career tournaments and 17.5 rounds, he is averaging 81.89. Scarbrough is the son of Sally and Charles Scarbrough.
Mariel Montoney (Crestview) will play volleyball at B-W. A 5-foot-9 outside hitter, Montoney plans to major in mathematics. While at Crestview, she played four years of volleyball and earned two varsity letters. She was also a cheerleader for three years and competed in track for two years. She was named honorable mention All-Tri-County, all-district and All-Columbiana County in volleyball. She was also named Crestview's Best All-Around Player as a sophomore, junior and senior. Montoney is the daughter of Michael and Judith Montoney of New Waterford.
Grove City
Senior basketball player Abby Moose (New Wilmington, Pa.) has been selected to the United States Deaflympic women's team. The U.S. team will compete in the 20th Summer Deaflympics in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 6-15, 2005. A 5-foot-6 guard, Moose is one of 12 hearing-impaired U.S. athletes that have been named to the squad.
Senior swimmer Drew McKelvy (Portersville, Pa.) was named to College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) second team academic All-America At-Large College Division. A four-year letterman, McKelvy graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in political science, Spanish and French. He finished his academic career with a 3.89 grade-point average, earning Dean's List distinction in all eight semesters.
Senior Peggy Whitbeck (Saegertown, Pa.) and junior Megan Hulick (Butler, Pa.) earned College Division Women's At-Large academic All-America honors from CoSIDA. A three-time national champion swimmer, Whitbeck was named to the first team, while Hulick, a three-year letter winner, was named to the third team.
Heidelberg
Matt Nero (Lakeview), Jon Raidel (Girard) and Matt Novak (South Range) will play football at Heidelberg. Nero played fullback, middle linebacker and long snapper. He was named to All-Trumbull County twice and to the All-Trumbull Athletic Conference defensive squad in 2003. He plans to major in education.
Raidel earned two letters as a kicker. He tied a school record with six extra points in a game. He plans to major in science education.
Novak saw action at wingback, outside linebacker and on special teams. He was awarded the team's defensive back of the year. He plans to major in business administration.
Mount Vernon Nazarene
Jason Irish (Lakeview), an outfielder-pitcher, was named NAIA All-American honorable mention. Irish batted .396 with 16 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 48 RBIs and 47 runs scored. On the mound, he went 7-3 with a 3.24 ERA and one save in 77 2/3 innings. Irish struck out 63 batters and walked only 24. He helped Mount Vernon Nazarene to a 41-19 record and the American Mideast Conference South Division and NAIA Region IX Tournament championships. The Cougars went 2-2 in the NAIA World Series to finish tied for fifth place and a No. 15 ranking in the final national poll.
Muskingum
Erin Zupko (Liberty), a senior outfielder for softball team, has been a big part of the Muskies' success the last four years. This season, Zupko played and started 46 games and batted .331 (45-for-136) with four homers, 25 RBIs and 41 runs scored, to help Muskingum compile a 43-7 record and win its seventh straight OAC regular season and tournament championships. The Muskies advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series for the third time in the last four years and placed fourth. They finished with a No. 4 ranking in the final USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll. It marked the fifth straight year that the Muskies won 40 or more games. Zupko was a member of Muskingum's 2001 team that won the Division III World Series championship.
Slippery Rock
Women's track and field standout Karyn McCready and coach John Papa were honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. McCready (Johnstown, Pa.) was named female athlete of the year for winning the NCAA Division II national championship and a third successive individual title in the javelin throw. McCready set a PSAC record with her national championship throw of 164 feet and also earned a berth in the U.S. Olympic Team trials.
Papa was selected as coach of the year after leading The Rock to a second successive team championship.
Westminster
Brittany McKee (Hubbard), a sweeper on defense and a four-year letter winner, will play soccer at Westminster. McKee, a two-year team captain, had three goals and nine assists as a senior last season to conclude her career with 10 goals and 25 assists for 45 points. She was a three-time selection to the all-district and All-Trumbull Athletic Conference teams, and a two-time all-state pick. She also made All-Trumbull County. McKee also was named Hubbard's most valuable player and best defensive player, and was a Wendy's Heisman nominee. Her other awards: Riordan's Lady Eagle of the Year (twice), Vindicator Player of the Year, Vindicator Performer of the Year (three times), Gatorade Will-to-Win Athlete of the Year, Action Athlete of the Week (twice) and Who's Who in Sports (twice). McKee also played softball and was a four-year letter winner and named all-county, all-conference and all-district. Academically, she was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year member of the National Honor Roll. She plans to major in speech communications.
Joe Billet (Leetonia), a 5-11, 195 tight end, strong safety and outside linebacker, will attend Westminster. For his career, Billet had 11 receptions for 270 yards, while on defense he made 160 tackles with two interceptions and three touchdowns. He won the best defensive back award at Leetonia and made the 100-tackle club. Billet also was named to the All-Quad County and All-Columbiana County first teams and also made All-Northeastern Ohio. The son of Andy and Bobbie Billet, Joe made the All-Tri-County League Academic first team and won the Robert McCoy Scholarship. He plans to major in secondary education.
Cory Criss (West Branch), will compete in soccer and cross country at Westminster. He will major in pre-medicine. Criss set a school record for the most goals scored in one season. He was named to the all-district, All-Mahoning County and All-Northeastern Buckeye Conference first teams. Criss also plays for the Sons of Italy club team. He also competed in track and was a two-time county and conference champion.
Dusty Rhodes (Niles), a 6-0, 190 punter and outside linebacker, is heading to Westminster. Rhodes averaged 39.5 yards per punt as a senior while registering 32 tackles, including five for losses, and forcing one fumble. He had a 12-yard reception playing tight end. An All-Metro Athletic Conference honorable mention, Rhodes was named the best punter in the high school division at the Ray Guy Punting Camp and was ranked the second-best punter at the 2003 Penn State kicking camp. He also is an Honor Roll student. His parents are Paul and Marlene Rhodes.
Brian Walton (Struthers), a 5-7, 160 running back, will attend Westminster. A three-year letterman, Walton led the Wildcats in rushing as a senior and was named the team's most valuable player. He also was picked to the All-Metro Athletic Conference second team. Walton was a member of the National Honor Society and was chosen for the United States Achievement Academy. The son of Terri Walton, Brian plans to major in pre-medicine or secondary education.
David Colella (West Middlesex), a 6-1, 185 kicker and a pitcher-outfielder who won three letters in both sports, will attend Westminster. He batted .322 on the baseball team this year and won the C.W. Smith All-Tourney Team Scholar-Athlete award. The son of David and Linda Colella of New Castle, Colella also was a member of the National Honor Society and plans to major in biology.
Wooster
Evan Agona (Girard/Ursuline) concluded his baseball career with a .315 batting average (51-for-162) in 90 games. He had four homers, seven doubles and 29 RBIs. An outfielder-designated hitter, Agona got off to a strong start this season with a .441 batting average (15-for-34) during the spring break. But then he was hit by injuries and illness and wound up with a .313 batting average (21-for-67) with four doubles and two home runs. He also drew walks 25 percent of his at-bats (24-for-91) and achieved a .512 on-base percentage, which was No. 2 on the team among regulars. He also scored 22 runs and drove in 18 runs in 32 games, starting 24 of them. Agona helped Wooster to a 37-10 record, the North Coast Athletic Conference championship and a No. 13 ranking in the nation in NCAA Division III. The son of William and Pamela Agona, Evan is majoring in business economics, with a minor in urban studies and education.
Dean Palombaro (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) also was on the team as a freshman outfielder. Palombaro was used primarily as a pinch runner. He played in four games, scored two runs and won a letter. Palombaro is the son of Albert and Joyce Palombaro.
Vindicator staff reports