Area athletes make college choices

June 23, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

By Curtis Pulliam

Austintown Fitch senior Jessie Driver will continue his basketball career at Mount Union.

This past season, Driver made the All-American Conference first team, was named AAC player of the year and Fitch’s team most valuable player. Driver was also selected to the Division I All-Ohio, averaging 18.3 points per game. Driver also led the Falcons with 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per contest.

The Falcons were 18-5 this past season and 10-2 in the AAC American Division.

“Each year he got better and better,” head coach Brian Beany said. “The rewards were well deserved and well earned. I think it [Mount Union] is a good fit for him.”

FOOTBALL

Poland’s Nick Rizzo will play football for Baldwin-Wallace University. The offensive lineman started in all 24 games for the Bulldogs in his last two seasons. Poland went 10-2 this past year, losing to state champion Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the Division III state tournament.

“I am extremely excited,” Rizzo said, who played guard and tackle for the Bulldogs. “I really enjoyed my time at Poland. The opportunity to go play at the next level was just a dream of mine.”

BOWLING

Canfield senior Paul Harris will bowl at Muskingum next year. He earned four varsity letters at Canfield, as well as three first-team AAC all-conference selections. Harris was a two-time state tournament qualifier, earning individual first team All-Ohio honors. He was a key member of Canfield’s Division I 2013 state championship squad. He plans to major in special education.

SWIMMING

Senior swimmers Daniel Bogen and Michael DiDomenico of Canfield will swim for Westminster. Both were four-year letterwinners for the Cardinals. Bogan earned All-Ohio honors in three of his four seasons. Bogan also made first-team all-conference four times in both the Northeast Aquatic Conference (NEAC) and All-American Conference (AAC). He plans on majoring in chemistry.

DiDomenico was a two-time All-Ohio selection. Additionally, he earned first team all-conference honors three times in both the NEAC and the ACC. A two-time state meet qualifier, he was also a member of the 2014 200-freestyle relay team that recorded a state runner-up finish. DiDomenico is looking to get into the field of science at Westminster.

BASEBALL

Mooney senior Gino DiVincenzo will play baseball for Ashland. For the Cardinals this season, DiVincenzo played second base and pitched. He posted a 7-0 record, striking out 64 batters in 45 innings. Offensively, he hit .293. DiVincenzo plans to major in nursing.

Pitcher/outfielder Colton Crissman will play baseball for Westminster. The Canfield senior posted a 3-2 record and held opponents to a .191 average. From the plate, Crissman had a .403 on-base percentage. Defensively, he posted a .931 fielding percentage. The Cardinals finished the year with a 14-8 record, placing second in the AAC. Crissman is planning on majoring in exercise Pphysiology.

“Colton is a rare three-year starter and varsity letterman for the Canfield baseball program as a pitcher and outfielder,” Canfield head coach Matt Koenig said. “Colton will be in great hands with head coach [Tim] Mulligan, at Westminster, who was on staff here in Canfield. Colton has had an outstanding career here at Canfield for the last three years.”

SOFTBALL

Melissa Maiorano of Boardman will play softball at Muskingum. Maiorano led the Spartans in several offensive categories this year. Additionally, Maiorano made first-team all Federal League and second-team all-district.