Sports

ON CAMPUS

Nicole Lyons would like to vault back into the lineup.

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After missing last season with a broken foot, Nicole Lyons returns to action as Louisiana State University women’s gymnastic team opens its season on Jan. 8.

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The Louisiana State University women’s gymnastic team opens its season Friday, Jan. 8 against Maryland in Baton Rouge and after missing last season with a broken foot, Lyons is hoping to see action this season with the nationally ranked Tigers.

“We’re hoping that Nikki can come back from her injury,” coach D-D Breaux said. “She had a dynamic impact in our lineup in 2008.”

Lyons (Crestwood and Northeast Gymnastics) hit 9.900 in the vault four times that season, including the NCAA Regionals. She also was among the leaders on the beam (9.900) and on bars (9.850). But she had to take a medical redshirt last season with the injury.

“I’ve been practicing vault and bars, but I just started practicing beam again,” Lyons said. “I have changed some of my skills to implement new skills that I can land on one foot, so it has been something different to learn.”

Breaux is hopeful for a full return by Lyons.

“We are hoping that Nikki can come back,” the coach said. “She is a key. She has beautiful bar work and we would like to be able to think she is durable enough to be able to go out there and compete.”

Breaux feels that Lyons is coming around.

“She is physically kind of touch and go, but the go part of what we are doing with her is excellent,” the coach said. “She really looks good and is really practicing well on bars and two days a week on vault. We’re hoping she can sustain her gymnastics. If we can limit the amount of training she can do and have her ready on Fridays, she will make a difference in our vault and bar lineups.”

Sitting out last season was tough for Lyons.

“It was hard watching everyone compete, but I think it made me a stronger person and made me more determined to come back,” she said. “I still went to the gym every day and did what I could do. Once I got my cast off, I did all the strength exercises I could do and I did drills on bars. And, I stayed every day and watched the team.”

Lyons missed the competition, however.

“I had never sat out longer than a week before I came to college,” she said. “Not doing gymnastics just killed me. So now that I’m back, I just want to compete so badly.”

DUO HELPING WARRIORS – Senior John Dougherty (Bishop Hoban) and sophomore Mike Tonart (Dallas) are hard-working performers with the Lycoming men’s swim team.

Dougherty competes in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyle events and the 200 free relay for the Warriors.

“John is our captain,” coach Jerry Hammaker said. “He has shown great ability and drive in previous years and that has earned him a spot on our school record board in the 200. His senior year has proved to be a busy one with student teaching observations and classes, but he is giving every possible effort to the team.”

Tonart’s main events are the 50 free, the 200 breast and with the relay teams.

“Mike has been a true diamond in the rough type of swimmer for us,” Hammaker said. “He shows a constant will to improve and puts forth 100 percent effort every day in training. He shows improvement each time he swims and is a real asset to our program.”

MESSINGERS SEEING ACTION – Brothers Myer and Henry Messinger are members of the University of Sciences in Philadelphia men’s basketball team. They are from Trucksville and played at Dallas.

Myer, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward, is starting and averaging 9.0 points and 6.3 rebounds. He also has 11 assists and had a career-high 25 points in a 73-71 loss to Lincoln.

“Myer can contribute from either forward position,” coach David Pauley said. “He played major minutes as a freshman and he will continue to improve. His play will be a big part of what we do this season. He will be counted on to contribute at both ends of the floor.”

Henry, a 6-foot-5 freshman forward, has played in eight games and started one for the Blue Devils, who are off to an 0-8 start.

“Henry will see minutes this year,” Pauley said. ‘His ability to play either guard or the small forward position will give us greater depth. He has tremendous athletic ability and a great upside. His play and continued development will be a key to our overall success.”

ACCORDINO SIDELINED – The season ended just as it started for Hofstra wrestler Justin Accordino (Coughlin). Accordino suffered a season-ending knee injury in the North Carolina State Open on Nov. 21.

“We were excited about Justin’s progress in many areas and were looking forward to some great things from him before the injury,” coach Jim Sheehan said. “I know that he will work hard in rehabbing his knee and will be back better than ever next season.”

Accordino was 4-0 at the time of his injury and ranked 16th in Division I at 149 pounds.

In his first two seasons with the Pride, Accordino wrestled at 141 pounds and had a two-year record of 38-21 with 15 pins and 11 major decisions.

PANZITTA WORKING HARD – Junior Michael Panzitta (Bishop Hoban) is picking up points competing with the Carnegie Mellon men’s swim team.

Panzitta recently finished second in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 backstroke in a meet against Rochester and Washington and Lee. He also swam with the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.

“Michael has done a great job so far this season and has been swimming faster than most of last year,” coach Matt Kinney said. “He is working hard at achieving NCAA standards this season and has become a huge factor in the success of our dual meet season. He is a great young man in and out of the pool and adds many positive attributes to our program.”

GRATILO ON THE MAT – Kris Gratilo (Pittston Area) has seen limited action with the Lock Haven wrestling team but Bald Eagles coach Robbie Waller likes what he sees from the freshman who is 1-2 thus far at 180 pounds.

“Kris has been a great surprise addition to the wrestling team,” Waller said. “He has a great work ethic and is a very enthusiastic personality. I expect him to continue improving and more success will come his way.”

Lock Haven will compete in the Southern Scuffle next Tuesday and Wednesday in Greensboro, N.C.

IT’S COACH KEMMERER – After a standout wrestling career at Kutztown University, Joe Kemmerer (Crestwood) has moved into coaching and is a graduate assistant at Division I Liberty University.

Kemmerer is a two-time NCAA Division II champion (2007 and 2009) at 133 pounds.

“Coach Kemmerer is one intense individual,” Liberty coach Jesse Castro said. “He is doing an excellent job in the development of our lower weights. We are excited to what he brings into the room.”

ROLE FOR CARLIN – Bridget Carlin (Berwick Area) is serving as backup point guard on the 7-1 West Chester women’s basketball team but the senior is seeing plenty of action despite that fact.

Carlin’s friend and housemate Megan Stewart is the starter, but Carlin is seeing 13 minutes of action a game and is usually in the lineup in the crucial closing minutes.

“Megan won the starting job and Bridget has very unselfishly played backup,” coach Deidre Kane said. “In our style of play, she sees plenty of action and when the game is on the line, they play together. They may not start together, but they finish a lot of games together.”

Kane feels that it’s a good situation for both players.

“Every day in practice they go at it,” Kane said. “They make each other better. The way they go at each other you’d never know they were friends.”

Carlin is averaging 2.6 points with 12 rebounds, 11 assists and six steals.

CARSIA GOES THE DISTANCE – Senior Ashley Carsia (Hazleton Area) is competing in distance free style races and is a member of most of the relay teams for the Bloomsburg women’s swim team. Coach Stu Marvin likes what she brings to the table every day in practice and in meets.

“Ashley is a very influential member of our team,” Marvin said. “She brings pride and leadership to the program and never seems to have a bad day. She’s always smiling and encouraging others to work hard, which is an invaluable quality necessary for a team to be successful.”

Carsia is also doing a job in the pool.

“Ashley posted one of the fastest times of her career in a 400 medley relay race early in the season,” Marvin said. “Her goal is to make our PSAC Championship team and contribute valuable team points.”