Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Swimmers Ben Spencer and Josh Grzech had big performances in the PSAC Championships last weekend in York and both are hoping that their efforts have earned them bids to the NCAA Division II Championships March 14-17 in Greensboro, N.C.

Spencer, a Clarion senior and Tunkhannock Area grad, earned three NCAA B cut performances in the meet, winning the 200 breaststroke (2:00.50) and finishing second in the 200 IM (1:49.97) and the 400 IM (3:57.34). He also finished sixth in the 100 breaststroke (56.88) and swam anchor legs on the winning 800 free relay (6:42.91), the 400 free relay which finished second (3:04.27) and the 400 medley relay which finished fourth (3:25.62). The Golden Eagles finished fourth in the team standings.

“I’m extremely proud of Ben and his performance at the PSACs,” coach Bree Kelley said. “He had very high goals and he not only achieved them, he crushed them.”

Grzech, a Bloomsburg senior and Crestwood grad, helped the Huskies finish second. He captured the 100 backstroke with a NCAA B cut time of 49.22, finished third in the 50 freestyle (20.95), ninth in the 100 freestyle (46.26) and tied for 12th in the 200 freestyle (1:43.93). Grzech was a key contributor in the relays — the 200 medley finishing first (1:30.91), the 400 free finishing first (3:03.77) and the 400 medley finishing second (3:19.34).

Gearinger a double winner

Haverford junior Dylan Gearinger captured the 5,000 meter run last Saturday and came back to win the 3,000 meter run last Sunday at the Centennial Conference Indoor Track Championships in Collegeville. The Berwick Area grad posted a time of 14:50.69 to take the 5k and a time of 8:39.76 to finish first in the 3k. He currently ranks fourth in the 3k (8:15.96) and seventh in the 5k (14:20.35) heading into the NCAA Division III Championship March 9-10 in Birmingham, Ala.

A title for Banas

Scranton sophomore Caroline Banas set a meet record when she captured the high jump at the Landmark Conference Indoor Track Championships last Saturday in Selinsgrove. She cleared 5 feet, 5 ¾ inches. The Holy Redeemer grad’s best effort in the event came when she finished first at Cornell’s Deneault Memorial Feb. 17 in Ithaca with a 5 foot, 7 ¼ performance. That’s fifth best in NCAA Division III and will earn her a spot in the NCAA Championship March 9-10 in Birmingham, Ala.

A first for Washington

Junior Darius Washington was named to the MAC Freedom first team on Feb. 22 for his play with the Eastern men’s basketball team. The 6-foot-1 guard, a Holy Redeemer grad, was second on the Eagles in scoring (13.2) and assists (55) and he averaged 3.1 rebounds and had 22 steals. Washington connected on 76 of 180 shots from 3-point range (42.2 percent). Eastern saw the season end with a 74-69 loss to DeSales in the first round of the league tournament Feb. 21 in St. Davids.

Lewis did her job

The Iona women’s basketball team suffered through a 2-27 season with a 2-16 mark in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference but the Gaels got a big effort all season long from 5-foot-10 junior guard Alexis Lewis. The Holy Redeemer grad led the team in scoring (14.2), rebounding (8.5) and steals (57). She also had 40 assists and 10 blocked shots and hit 59 of 199 3-point attempts (29.6 percent). And, she was the team’s high scorer in 18 games and had 11 double-doubles.

End of line for Harris

Senior Christine Harris saw her season and her college career come to an end when Buffalo State dropped a 5-0 decision to SUNY-Oswego in the Northeast Women’s Hockey League semifinals last Saturday in Buffalo, N.Y. Harris, from Mountain Top (Wyoming Seminary), finished with a goal and eight assists, the latter tied for second for the Bengals who finished 13-11-2 overall and 9-6-2 in league play. Harris played in 103 career games and had 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points.

Good effort by Hawkins

Lehigh freshman Madisyn Hawkins competed in her first Patriot League Indoor Track Championships on Feb. 17-18 in Bethlehem and finished fifth in the pole vault with a height of 12 feet, 7 ½ inches which was a personal record. The Coughlin grad made that height on her third and final try. She had passed on the first five sets and she hit the mark in the 10th overall set. She tried three times but failed in an effort to reach 12 feet, 11 ½ inches.

A good start for Thamert

Freshman Michael Thamert played in 23 games and had two goals and two assists for the Chatham men’s hockey team, the Cougars suffering through a 2-20-3 season. The Crestwood grad picked up his first collegiate goal and first collegiate assist in a 2-2 tie with SUNY-Canton on Jan. 5 in Canton, N.Y. He scored the tying goal late in the third period. His other score was a power play goal in a 4-1 loss to Lebanon Valley on Jan. 26 in Pittsburgh.

Poray comes up short

Luther senior Billy Poray just missed earning a berth in the NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. The top three finishers in each weight class at the Lower Mideast Regional last weekend in Dubuque, Iowa earned a berth to the Nationals but the Coughlin grad had to settle for fourth place at 165 pounds when he dropped an 8-2 decision in the third place bout. Poray was 24-16 this season with a pin, six major decisions and a technical fall and finished 76-50 for his career.

Two thirds for Edkins

St. Lawrence junior Matthew Edkins finished third in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at the Liberty League Swim Championships last weekend in Ithaca, N.Y. The Lake-Lehman grad posted a score of 493.50 in the 1 meter and a 529.25 total in the 3-meter. He set a school record in the prelims in the 3-meter with a score of 561.00. Edkins earned All-American honors as a sophomore when he finished eighth in the 3-meter dive at the NCAA Division III Championships.

Dissinger gets a fifth

Shippensburg senior Bryanna Dissinger finished fifth in the 5,000 meter run at the PSAC Indoor Track Championships last weekend in Edinboro. The Dallas High grad posted a time of 17:54.57. She also finished 14th in the 3,000 meter run with a personal best time of 10:32.27. Dissinger finished sixth in the 5k at last year’s PSAC indoor meet. Her best event is the 3,000 meter steeplechase during the outdoor season. She won the title at last spring’s outdoor championship.

Clarion senior Ben Spencer, a Tunkhannock Area grad, earned three NCAA B cut performances in the PSAC Championships last weekend.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Spencer-CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgClarion senior Ben Spencer, a Tunkhannock Area grad, earned three NCAA B cut performances in the PSAC Championships last weekend. Submitted photo

Bloomsburg senior Josh Grzech, a Crestwood grad, helped the Huskies finish second at the PSAC Championships.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/web1_Grzech-CMYK-1.jpg.optimal.jpgBloomsburg senior Josh Grzech, a Crestwood grad, helped the Huskies finish second at the PSAC Championships. Submitted photo

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader

Reach Times Leader sports at 570-829-7143 or on Twitter @TLsports