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Times Leader Staff
Sunday, March 09, 2003 Page: 4C
ADA, Ohio – King’s College wrestling standouts Mitch Marcks and Jim Morgan
finished just one win short of a national championship as both grapplers
placed second in the NCAA Division III National Tournament Saturday at Ohio
Northern University.
The Monarch duo became the first King’s wrestlers to reach an NCAA
championship match since Larry Danko placed second in 1990. Each wrestler also
earned all-American honors for the second consecutive year. Morgan was fourth
last season and Marcks placed eighth.
In the 125-pound final, the third-seeded Marcks lost 6-4 in double-overtime
to top-seeded Heath Ropp of Wartburg College of Iowa. Third-seeded Morgan then
suffered a 6-1 defeat at the hands of fifth-seeded Wil Kelly, also of
Wartburg.
Marcks held a 4-3 lead but Ropp escaped with 0:30 left in the final period
to tie the score. Neither wrestler scored in the first overtime period and,
after winning the mandatory coin flip at the end of the first overtime frame,
Ropp (32-2) chose bottom. The Wartburg standout reversed Marcks 17 seconds
into the period to claim the victory. Marcks concluded the season with a 36-2
record.
Morgan gave up a first-period takedown and second-period escape to fall
behind 3-0 entering the final period. Morgan scored on an escape in the third
period to cut the lead to 3-1, but with 0:10 left, the Monarch junior shot in
for a takedown and was countered by Kelly to take a 5-1 lead. A riding time
point would give Kelly (22-4) his final margin of victory. Morgan concluded
the year with a 38-2 record and saw his 35-match winning streak come to an
end.
Marcks reached the finals with a 7-6 victory over Cortland State’s Jason
Peck. In the 141-pound semis, Morgan downed Springfield’s second-seeded Keith
Polesky, 3-2.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rochester 59, Scranton 45
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The University of Scranton shot just 25 percent from the
field, its second worst shooting effort of the season, in dropping a decision
to Rochester in a second-round game of the 2003 NCAA Division III
championships at Palestra Arena.
The Lady Royals made 16 of 64 field goals. They shot 7-for-29 in the first
half, but stayed within three at the half, 21-18.
Scranton trailed 35-27 with 13:10 left before the Yellow Jackets went on a
21-15 spurt to take a 56-42 lead with 3:08 left. The Lady Royals could get no
closer than 12 points. Scranton’s 45 points was its lowest of the season.
Sophomore forward Tara Gemmel led Scranton (23-5) with 14 points. Senior
forward AnneMarie Russo had eight points and nine rebounds. Kelly Wescott
paced the Yellow Jackets, now 22-4, with game-highs of 16 points and 13
rebounds.
Russo, who started 111 consecutive games at forward for the Lady Royals,
finishes her career with 1060 points and 927 rebounds. Her point total ranks
her 16th on Scranton’s all-time list while she finishes third in rebounds.
WOMEN’S SOFTBALL
Roanoke 5, Wilkes 3
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Wilkes University suffered a setback to 13th-ranked
Roanoke College at the East-Atlantic Challenge at Virginia Wesleyan College.
Trailing 2-0, the Lady Colonels tied the score in the second. Melissa
Babcock started the inning with her first home run of the season. Alexis
Petite scored the other run by walking, moving to second on a Kim Graver
single, going to third on a fielder’s choice and scoring on an error.
Roanoke plated three unearned runs in the fifth to take a lead for good.
MEN’S BASEBALL
King’s 7, Rochester (Minn.) 4
Mount St. Mary’s 3, King’s 0
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Nick Sorino knocked in two runs and Rob Medlock picked up
a victory in relief as King’s defeated Rochester University of Minnesota.
Charlie Jenkins was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
In the nightcap, King’s received five scoreless innings of relief from
senior Bill Serafin in its loss to Division I Mount St. Mary’s of Maryland.
Jenkins led the offense with two hits.
MEN’S TENNIS
TriState 7, King’s 0
Embry-Riddle 9, King’s 0
WINTER PARK, Fla. – King’s was swept in a pair of matches, with No. 2
singles player Eric Calabrese winning the only set for the Monarchs. His 7-6
opening set win came against TriState University’s Pat Hoelschur.
MEN’S LACROSSE
King’s 7, Cazenovia 5
SCRANTON – Carlo Ciotoli scored three goals and had one assist to lead
King’s College over Cazenovia College.
Chris Reilly added two goals to help the Monarchs (1-0) in their season
opener. Ryan Thomas had a goal and three assists.
King’s travels to Muhlenburg on Wednesday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Ebenezer teams split games
LAKE ARIEL – Evan Negroni scored 18 points as Ebenezer Faith Christian
ended its season with a victory over Muhlenburg Christian Academy in the
Northeast Pennsylvania Christian Academy Tournament.
Negroni had 16 points on Friday in a 38-24 loss to Gateway Christian.
Ebenezer finished its season at 5-10.
The Ebenezer girls finished the year 2-14 with a 38-17 loss to Canaan
Christian on Friday. Candie Garnett paced Ebenezer with six points. Teammate
Jessica Callahan made the all-tournament team.