UMES's Rodriguez named NCAA Division I Player of the Year

All-American Maria Rodriguez

DETROIT, MI -- Maria Rodriguez has a big hand in the success of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) women's bowling program and Wednesday she was recognized for it with the NCAA sport's highest honor.

Rodriguez was names the Division I Player of the Year by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) at the NCAA Tournament Banquet on the eve of the championship.

"What an honor," said Rodriguez. "I am truly humbled by this; it is great to be recognized by the coaches who have driven this sport to where it is. For me it justifies all the hard work, all the sweat, blood and tears that have literally gone into my college career. It is an awesome feeling."

Rodriguez is the first National Player of the Year UMES has ever had since becoming a Division I program and, along with teammate Kristina Frahm one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

"I am so proud of Maria," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "I know she feels vindicated. She gave up a lot to come here and start her bowling life anew but in the end it has been great for her and great for our program and university. She has been a driving force in elevating this program to the status we have today. She deserved this award."

Frahm joined Rodriguez as a First-Team All-American, the second selection of her career and fourth overall. Martha Perez was a Second-Team All-American and Anggie Ramirez earned her first All-American selection being named to the third team.

Rodriguez earned her third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year award earlier this season and finished with an average of 210.44. She was named to three All-Tournament Teams this season, was a MEAC Bowler of the Week and even had time to earn the honor of top bowler in her nation's Team Trials. She also earned her third All-MEAC award this season and posted the second highest pinfall of any women's bowler at any ISC sectional.

HAWKS SET FOR OPENING DAY OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Live Video | Tournament Central | 2011 UMES Post-Season Guide (NCAA)

TAYLOR, Mich. - Arriving in Detroit Tuesday night, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team got settled and prepared for the coming days and their pursuit of a second national championship in the last four years. For seniors Maria Rodriguez, Kristina Frahm and Martha Perez a title would mean a nice set of bookends for their careers. The three were freshman on the 2008 championship team.

The Lady Hawks arrived early at Skore Lanes on Wednesday to get in their 90-minute practice session and tested different shots, balls and positioning as well as reading the shot (the oil pattern laid down on the lanes the teams will bowl on for the event). Following their practice, each team member had to select and enter just five balls for tournament use, checking them in, having them weighed and even having uniforms inspected for championship play.

After a daunting trip to two different Target stores (the team had to purchase matching belts for competition), they settled in for some rest before the banquet that evening. After winning numerous awards, including four All-American honors, Rodriguez being named Player of the Year andFrahm earning the NCAA Elite 88 Award it was off to a team meeting and bed for the long day ahead.

By UMES Athletics

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Hampton Pirates hoops coaches earn contract extensions

Hampton University men's basketball coach Ed "Buck" Joyner and women's basketball coach David Six, who each led their teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament titles and NCAA appearances in their second seasons, received three-year contract extensions on Wednesday.

Joyner's Pirates went 24-9, won their first MEAC tournament since 2006 and posted their first 20-win season since the 2001-02 season. "I'm just happy with the fact that they think I'm capable of leading the program into the near future, and hopefully further than that," Joyner said.

The Lady Pirates went 25-7, won the MEAC regular-season title with their second straight 20-win season and fell to Kentucky in overtime in the first round of the NCAA.  "I think the best is yet to come," Six said. "We were a stone's throw away this year, and I really believe eventually we're going to knock that door down."


Videographer: inclusiveva; 2010 Daily Press Citizen of the Year: Dr. William R. Harvey, President, Hampton University. Presented at Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities 2011 Peninsula Humanitarian Awards Dinner  

JOYNER AND SIX GET NEW CONTRACTS AT HAMPTON

HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University men’s basketball coach Edward Joyner Jr. and women’s basketball coach David Six have both received new three-year contracts after guiding their respective teams to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament championships and the resulting automatic berths to the NCAA tournament.

In announcing the new contracts, athletics director Lonza Hardy Jr. praised his second-year head coaches for their “inspiring leadership and skillful coaching.”

“Coaches Joyner and Six have certainly lived up to my expectations,” stated Hardy. “Their leadership and high quality of coaching have inspired our student-athletes to excel on the basketball court as well as in the classroom. I’m proud of what they have accomplished as our head coaches and I eagerly await the outstanding things that are in store for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. With Coach Joyner and Coach Six at the helm, the sky is the limit for the heights that our programs can reach.”

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Videographer: SPEARSthruHEARTS; The seniors at Hampton University celebrate 100 days left until their graduation.

Tony Harvey Stays At TSU

HOUSTON - Texas Southern University basketball coach Tony Harvey told FOX 26 Sports Wednesday he has decided not to pursue the vacant head coaching job at Eastern Michigan. Eagles officials contacted TSU athletics director Charles McClelland Monday to let him know of their interest in Harvey.

Harvey was named Southwestern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year after leading TSU to the SWAC regular season championship this past season and a spot in the NIT.

"After carefully evaluating the situation, which I believe is a wonderful opportunity, I have decided to continue with my plans at TSU," Harvey said "

TSU hoops coach a hot commodity after recent success ‎

Texas Southern men's basketball coach Tony Harvey said Wednesday that Eastern Michigan has contacted him about its vacant head coaching position.

Harvey, who grew up in Benton Harbor, Mich., and served as an assistant at Eastern Michigan from 1996-99, led TSU to a 19-13 record in 2010-11 and the program's first Southwestern Athletic Conference regular-season championship since 1998. The Tigers, who went 16-2 in conference regular-season play, failed to reach the NCAA Tournament after being upset in the semifinals of the SWAC tournament but received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament, where they lost to Colorado in the first round.

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Gray returns to Florida A&M to coach QBs

Tallahassee, FL - Assistant coach Steven Jerry stood a few feet from the Florida A&M quarterback unit. He didn't say much to them. Quinn Gray did most of the talking and the three quarterbacks were obviously zoned in. That was about three weeks ago, before Gray officially became quarterbacks coach for the Rattlers.

On Monday, Gray became the second former Rattlers player on coach Joe Taylor's staff with a fulltime job, joining defensive coordinator Earl Holmes. Like Holmes, Gray played in the NFL after leaving FAMU.

Gray returns as part of Taylor's staff restructures following the departure of Tim Edwards, who worked with Holmes as defensive coordinator, and tight end coach Edwin Pata. As part of the change, Taylor took the load of quarterbacks and receivers coaching off Jerry, leaving him as receivers coach and recruiting coordinator.


Videographer: FAMUTube1887; A Day in the Life of A Radio Personality

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Xavier Gold Rush close regular season with 7-0 loss at Tulane

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana closed its regular season Wednesday with a 7-0 loss at Tulane in the first-ever men's tennis dual match between the schools.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the XU men (11-9) and their seventh in 10 duals since a 6-3 victory March 4 at Vanguard which propelled them into the NAIA's top 10. It also was the regular-season finale for Tulane (11-10), which has won three straight and five of its last six.

Rodrigo Rappaccioli clinched the doubles point for Tulane when he and Shaye Wali defeated Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson 8-4 at No. 2. Rappaccioli clinched the dual with his 6-1, 6-1 victory over Amir Rahbar at No. 4 singles.

Giles-Osborn was the only Gold Rush player to win a set, but he lost 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-3) to Joe Young at No. 2 singles. Zach Taylor, playing No. 3 singles, forced a second-set tiebreaker before losing 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) to Radu Ionescu.

The loss was Xavier's fifth in seven duals this season against NCAA Division I opponents.

The Gold Rush, ranked eighth in the NAIA, will compete next in an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament April 29-30 at Chattanooga, Tenn. Xavier's women still have two regular-season duals remaining.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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Bethune-Cookman Wins MEAC Golf Showcase

Bethune-Cookman's men's golf team and B-CU women's player Kimberly Wong both won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Showcase hosted by Savannah State University in Savannah, Ga.

The B-CU men edged Savannah State by one stroke, 909-910, to win the five-team event. B-CU's Emmanuel Petrich finished third with a three-round total 225, followed by Matthew McKnight (fourth, 228); Jamichael Jones (fifth, 231); Rafael Abda (seventh, 232) and Alex Clapp (10th, 235).

Wong posted six birdies in 36 holes as she posted a four-stroke victory over teammate Vanessa Adame, 153-157. Marie Bergelin was eighth (178), Maxine Gardner ninth (182) and Miranda Rose 10th (190) for the WildCats, whom finished nine shots behind Hampton's 661 for the team runner-up spot.

SSU men finish 2nd in MEAC Showcase golf tournament

Savannah State University’s men’s golf team finished second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Showcase on Tuesday, shooting a 58-over-par 910 in the three-round event at Henderson Golf Course. Bethune-Cookman shot a 57-over-par 909 to win the event.

SSU’s Ryan Lassiter shot 218 after rounds of 72-76-70 to finish first. The Tigers’ Andrew Atkins shot 223 after rounds of 72-77-74 to finish second. Bethune-Cookman’s Emanuel Petrich shot 225 after round of 77-75-73 to finish third.

Florida A&M was third at 950, North Carolina Central was fourth at 994 and Hampton was fifth at 1,022.

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Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey a candidate for EMU job

Houston, TX - Texas Southern coach Tony Harvey, who has roots in Michigan, is a candidate to become the next men's basketball coach at Eastern Michigan. EMU athletic director Derrick Gragg contacted Texas Southern athletic director Charles McClelland as a courtesy Tuesday and expressed his interest in Harvey.

"Eastern Michigan's athletic director left me a message as a courtesy, saying he was interested in Tony Harvey," McClelland said Tuesday evening. "He never mentioned an interview, but I didn't call him back either."

Harvey, a 1983 graduate of Benton Harbor High School, was an assistant coach under Milton Barnes at EMU when the Eagles finished 23-10 in 1997 and then won the MAC tournament in 1998. He was also an assistant coach at Missouri when the Tigers reached the Elite Eight in 2002.

Harvey recently finished his third season as head coach at...

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Videographer: UrbanSportsITG
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