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By MATTHEW CROSS mcross@leader.net
Sunday, January 30, 2000 Page: 8C
Jennifer Buckley of Mountaintop has been named head coach of men’s and
women’s track and field at College Misericordia, which will begin competition
in spring 2001.
“The addition of track and field complements our existing programs and
provides our student-athletes with a new competitive opportunity,” said
Michael Mould, athletic director at Misericordia. “In addition, the mission
of College Misericordia has always been to meet the needs of the community.
With such a tremendous track and field presence on the high school level
throughout the region, we felt this was a way to continue that tradition.”
Buckley was a PIAA state champion at Bishop Hoban High School and is a
graduate of Kent State University, where she earned 10 varsity letters in
track, indoor track and cross country. She was a four time All-American in the
800-meter run and was a semifinalist at the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Buckley served as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of
Tennessee. Although she’s aware of the many challenges associated with
building a new program and facility, Buckley is looking forward to the
opportunity to be involved with every phase of the process.
“I hope to develop a competitive program that attracts dedicated
student-athletes,” Buckley said. “My collegiate athletic career was a
tremendous experience, and I would like to share that with the
student-athletes.”
For now, Buckley is focused on recruiting and filling a roster for the 2001
season, and she knows she won’t have to look far to find talented
student-athletes.
“Our number one priority is to get the word out,” Buckley said. “I know
this area produces many talented track and field athletes, and I want them to
be aware of the new opportunity to compete on the collegiate level.”
Scranton freshman honored: Derek Elphick, a freshman center on the
University of Scranton men’s basketball team, has been named the Middle
Atlantic Conference Freedom League Player of the Week for the period ending
Jan. 23.
Elphick averaged 18.5 points and eight rebounds per game as the Royals won
two games to extend their winning streak to seven.
Coach Bob Bessoir considers Elphick the team’s saving grace underneath the
basket and a big reason the team has turned around its fortunes after going
0-2 to start the conference season.
Elphick scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds in a 61-48 victory
over FDU-Madison on Jan. 19. On Jan. 22, in a 91-61 rout of King’s College, he
scored a season-high 24 points and had eight rebounds.
Elphick is averaging 10.2 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds for the
Royals.
PAC salutes Misericordia star: Willie Chandler, a freshman guard for
Misericordia, was named co-Player of the Week in the Pennsylvania Athletic
Conference for his scoring and rebounding last week.
The Scranton native averaged 32.7 points, 9.7 rebounds and 3.7 steals in
three games last week. As the nation’s leading scorer in Division III,
Chandler is getting 27.7 ppg this season.
Hazleton Area graduate stars for Susquehanna: Senior guard Rob Makarewicz,
a Sugarloaf native and Hazleton Area High School graduate, leads Susquehanna
University in scoring (16.6 ppg), foul shooting (53 of 61) and three-point
shooting (28 of 76) this season.
The second-team MAC Commonwealth League All-Star in 1998 has scored in
double-digits 14 consecutive games this season. The team is 11-4 overall and
5-2 in the conference.
Albright freshman stars: West Pittston native Amy Buzinski poured in 15
points and had eight rebounds and three assists in limited playing time
against Susquehanna last weekend.
The Albright freshman is averaging about 10 points and five rebounds per
game for the Lady Lions.
Former WVC players boost LJC: Bishop O’Reilly High School graduate Tom
Stambaugh scored nine points Jan. 22 to help Lackawanna Junior College (13-2)
defeat Essex Community College 77-55 and earn its 11th consecutive victory.
Stambaugh, a sophomore, also had seven rebounds, three assists and two
steals.
He leads the No. 6 Falcons in blocks and is second in both scoring and
rebounding. His 16.5 ppg make him the fourth-leading scorer in the National
Junior College Athletic Association Region 19 Division II ranks.
Former GAR High School standout Aubrey Keatts had six points, two rebounds,
one assist, one steal and one block to help Lackawanna.
Call Cross at 829-7127