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Kirah Koshinski is having another All-American season with the No. 25-ranked West Virginia women’s gymnastics team.

The Berwick grad currently ranks 19th in the country in the vault (9.865 average), moving up four spots in the past week. She’s also ranked fourth in the Southeast Region in the vault and 16th on floor (9.815). In the Big 12, she ranks fifth in the vault and ninth on floor.

She’s a two-time All-American earning second-team honors in vault both as a freshman and sophomore — the only West Virginia gymnast ever to earn regular-season All-American honors.

“One of Kirah’s biggest contributions to the team is her consistency,” coach Jason Butts said. “It starts with her work ethic and her drive every day in practice to be the best that she can be. You combine that with her love for competition and you have a winning formula for consistent success.”

The coach feels that her confidence builds up everyone around her.

“Kirah has proven time and time again how important she is to this team’s success,” Butts said.

West Virginia is 5-4 with three of the losses coming against Nationally-ranked teams. The Mountaineers travel to Denver, Colo. Saturday to face No. 12 Denver and No. 21 George Washington.

Moss tough on the mat

Freshman William Moss is having a nice first season with the Colorado Mesa wrestling team. Moss, from Kingston (Wyoming Seminary), finished fourth at 141 pounds at the Rocky Mountain Championships last Saturday in Colorado Springs. In back-to-back battles with CSU-Pueblo on Jan. 19-20 in Grand Junction, he defeated No. 7-ranked Clay Archer 7-1 in a 24-18 loss the first day and came back to score a come-from-behind pin the second night against a different opponent as the Mavericks won 20-18. Moss is 14-8 overall and 5-3 in dual matches with five pins.

A win for Lewis, Gaels

The Iona women’s basketball team is suffering through a tough season but the Gaels finally won their first game, a 52-42 Metro Atlantic Conference triumph over St. Peter’s on Jan. 28 in New Rochelle and junior Alexis Lewis led the way with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Holy Redeemer grad leads the team in scoring (13.7), rebounding (8.3) and steals (44). She came back with another double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds but the Gaels lost 90-47 in a league test to Quinnipiac last Sunday in Hamden, Conn. to drop to 1-22 overall and 1-12 in MAAC play.

Good start for Hockenbury

Sophomore distance runner Dominic Hockenbury kicked off his indoor track season with the Syracuse men’s team at Boston University’s John Thomas Terrier Classic on Jan. 26 in Boston. He competed in the 5,000 meter run and finished 10th with a time of 14:34.83. That currently ranks 12th on the Atlantic Coast Conference performance list and the effort was a big improvement over his performance in the same meet last season when he finished 18th with a time of 14:41.63.

Grega selected to team

Old Dominion senior Danielle Grega was one of 21 field hockey players who earned a spot on the United States National Development Team after three days of an intensive tryout Jan. 14-16 in Lancaster that included scrimmages with the Women’s National team. The two time All-Big East Conference selection and a National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-South Region pick started all 18 games for the Monarchs and had seven goals and six assists for 20 points.

Matusiak helps Highlanders

The New Jersey Tech men’s swim team hosted Senior Day in the first-ever collegiate swim meet at the Wellness Natatorium on Jan. 27 on Newark, N.J. and senior Jack Matusiak had a solid meet for the Highlanders in a 229-57 victory over Monmouth. The Dallas grad swam the anchor leg on the winning 400 medley relay (3:35.76) and the third leg on the winning 200 free relay (1:28.81). He also finished third in the 50 freestyle (22.23) and the 100 freestyle (49.63).

Banas matches her best

Scranton sophomore Caroline Banas was named Landmark Conference Field Athlete of the Week after she finished second in the high jump at Susquehanna’s S.U. Challenge last Saturday in Selinsgrove. The Holy Redeemer grad’s 5 foot, 5 ¾ inch effort matched the height she hit when she captured the event at the River Hawk Opener on Dec. 1 also in Selinsgrove. That leads the conference and is tied for the fifth best jump in NCAA Division III thus far this season.

Rookie honor for Zaneski

Freshman Stanley Zaneski was named Liberty League Rookie of the Week on Monday after a big effort for the Ithaca men’s swim team in a 197-97 league victory over Union last Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y. Zaneski, from Edwardsville (Wyoming Seminary), captured the 50 freestyle (21.39) and the 100 freestyle (47.58). He also swam a leg on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:37.33) and the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:20.42).

An honor for Montana

Taylor Montana, 5-foot-11 sophomore forward, was named Co-PSAC East Player of the Week last Monday after two big games for the 8-15 Bloomsburg women’s basketball team. The Berwick grad had a pair of double-doubles with 16 points and 13 rebounds on Jan. 31 and came back with 13 points and 11 rebounds in a 66-54 triumph over Lock Haven last Saturday. Montana averaged 14.7 points and 10.7 rebounds in the Huskies last three games. She leads the team in scoring (9.5) and rebounding (6.5).

Grohowski’s coming on

Junior Amber Grohowski is averaging just 4.8 points a game for the Delaware Valley women’s basketball but the 6-foot center has scored in double figures in three of the team’s last four games. The Hanover Area grad had 10 points in a 67-50 victory over Eastern on Jan. 24 in Doylestown, 10 points in a67-50 victory over Wilkes on Jan. 27 in Wilkes-Barre and 10 points in a 78-64 loss to Misericordia last Saturday in Dallas which dropped the Aggies to 7-14 on the season.

Big effort for Gearinger

Haverford junior Dylan Gearinger, a Berwick grad, was named Centennial Conference Track Athlete of the Week after he captured the 5,000 meter run at Tuft’s Cupid Challenge last Saturday in Medford, Mass. Gearinger posted a time of 14:29.56 which is the fifth fasted in Haverford history. The time was converted for the track size and currently ranks first in the Centennial and second on the Division III performance list.

Berwick alum Kirah Koshinski ranks 19th in the country in the vault, and fourth in the Southeast Region.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_12-WVU-ASU-GYM.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick alum Kirah Koshinski ranks 19th in the country in the vault, and fourth in the Southeast Region. WVU Athletic Communications

Berwick alum Kirah Koshinski, a two-time All-American, earned second-team honors in vault both as a freshman and sophomore.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/web1_26240870_1769219896461697_7750863003645845565_o.jpg.optimal.jpgBerwick alum Kirah Koshinski, a two-time All-American, earned second-team honors in vault both as a freshman and sophomore. WVU Athletic Communications

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader

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