By Dave Krider
MaxPreps.com
Conor McCullough, a rising senior at Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), set a national record (248-11) when he placed second in the six-kilogram weight throw during the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. LSU sophomore Walter Henning placed first with an American junior record of 252-04.
Earlier, Rowlett, Texas, rising senior Marquise Goodwin had given the USA a first place in the long jump with an outstanding leap of 25.39 feet. He was only the third American long jump champion in the meet’s history and the first since 1992…On the final day, recent Garner (N.C.) graduate Booker Nunley placed second (13.45) in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, while Jordan Hasay, a rising senior from Mission Prep (San Luis Obispo, Calif.), finished fourth (4:19.02) in the women’s 1,500-meter run.
Football Notes
* Earl Tillman, the first-year head coach at Booker T. Washington (Miami, Fla.), suffered a broken leg while trying to break up a brawl (he wound up on the bottom of a pileup) following a 7-on-7 scrimmage game against another Florida power, Pahokee. The Miami team had just won a first-round tournament game, 22-21, on a last-second two-point conversion when tempers flared. Miramar – led by blue-chip quarterback Eugene Smith – won the title by nipping Miami Columbus, 8-7.
* Richland outlasted Mesquite, 35-32, to win the FSN Southwest 7-on-7 Texas state tournament in College Station. Anton Arthurs starred with 13 catches – three for touchdowns – to overcome a 26-14 halftime deficit. Phillip Gonzales, who did not play in the finale due to severe cramps, was named MVP.
* New York City nipped Long Island, 21-20, during the 13th annual Empire Challenge, which drew a record crowd of 11,005 to Hofstra University. Jeffrey Legree, who passed for 144 yards and two touchdowns – including the winner to Stephen Benjamin in the corner of the end zone with 23 seconds left – was named MVP. New York City was coached by Fred Olivieri, who just retired with a 26-year record of 170-110-4 at Staten Island powerhouse Curtis.
* Turning to Delaware, Larry Cylc has left the head coaching position at Wilmington A.I. du Pont for personal reasons to take an assistant post at St. Georges Tech, which will play its first year of varsity football this fall. The 52-year-old coach has a 130-86-4 record with a pair of state championships. He twice was named state coach of the year…Zach Tartabull, son of former Major League baseball player Danny Tartabull, has the makings of a standout football player for Valencia (Calif.). The rising 6-0, 185-pound junior caught nine touchdown passes in six games during the Huntington Beach Edison 7-on-7 tourney.
* In Pennsylvania, rising senior Eddie Mateo has transferred from Bethlehem Catholic to Freedom. Last year he ran for 1,175 yards and 14 touchdowns and also stood out on defense. In addition, he is a guard in basketball and sprinter in track…Southern California’s Corona Centennial is re-loading with transfers Taylor Martinez, a quarterback from San Bernardino Cajon, and Brandon Brown, a junior linebacker from Norco.
Football Recruiting
* On the recruiting front, Notre Dame has received three recent commitments from rising seniors. They include premier offensive guard Chris Watt (6-4, 285), from Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.); outstanding California corner back Marlon Pollard (6-0, 160), who had 60 tackles and three interceptions at Valencia before transferring to San Bernardino Cajon; and versatile Tyler Eifert (6-6, 220), tight end-safety from Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
* Mississippi State also has received three recent commitments, all on the same day from rising in-state seniors: Macon Noxubee County receiver Patrick Patterson and linebacker Deontay Skinner along with Fulton Itawamba Agricultural fullback William Shumpert. Patterson, who has great hands, had a spectacular junior year with a state-leading 72 catches for 1,415 yards and 14 touchdowns. Skinner had 122 tackles as a junior.
* Central Michigan University received a great pledge from Louisville Trinity running back Tim Phillips, who will be a candidate this fall for Kentucky’s Mr. Football. As a junior, the 5-6, 165-pound speedster (4.4 40) ran 225 times for 1,852 yards and 29 touchdowns as Trinity won the state title. During his sophomore year, he gained 1,200 yards and scored 22 touchdowns as Trinity also won the state title.
* Duwyce Wilson, a 6-3, 185-pound wide receiver from East (Columbus, Ind.), has made a commitment to Indiana University. As a junior, he snared 49 passes for 947 yards (19.3 average) and 12 touchdowns… Ball State University has a pledge from underrated 6-4 tight end-linebacker Jacob Green, who made 107 tackles and scored six touchdowns as a junior at Wyoming, Ohio.
* Tulsa University has reached into Texas (The Colony) to get a pledge from Tony Peoples (5-11, 175), who ran for 1,812 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior…Offensive lineman Pat Eger (6-6, 270), who helped Pittsburgh Thomas Jefferson to a 16-0 record and Pennsylvania’s Class AAA state title, has chosen the University of West Virginia.
Basketball Notes
* The USA defeated Venezuela, 82-73, in the opening game of the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championships in Formosa, Argentina. Travis Wear, a 6-10 rising senior from Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), led the Americans with 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Ryan Kelly, a rising 6-9 senior from Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.), added 12 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Kemba Walker, who soon will enter the University of Connecticut, also scored 12 points and dished out five assists.
* Long-time Indiana coach Dean Foster has retired at Mishawaka Penn. He compiled a career record of 426-327 - including a 169-70 mark in 10 years at Penn – and took two different teams to the state Final Four…American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) rising senior guard Kenny Boynton was named upperclass MVP at the recent Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia, Pa. Boynton also was MVP at the NBA Players Camp, which projects him as a strong candidate for National Player of the Year in 2008-09.
* Indiana Elite One routed the Terre Haute Jammers, 59-33, to win the 17-and-under Gold Division championship during the Kentucky HoopFest in Louisville. The Hoosiers, who won five games by an average of 15.4 points, were led by Bloomington South rising junior guard Jordan Hulls with 13 points. The champs reportedly have nine Division I players. One of them is rising junior guard Ray McCallum Jr., who is transferring from Bloomington North to Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.) since his father, Ray McCallum Sr., now is the head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy.
* Boo Williams Summer League (Hampton, Va.) defeated Team Breakdown (Miami, Fla.), 73-62, to win the annual AAU Junior Girls Super Showcase at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Danielle Jackson (Woodbridge Forest Park) led the champs with 19 points and Ta’Shauna Rodgers (Suffolk King’s Fork) added 18. The losers were led by Aerial Wilson (Rockledge) with 19 and Bianca Lutley (Pensacola High) with 17.
* Mount Tabor (Winston-Salem, N.C.) rising senior guard C.J. Harris has made a commitment to Wake Forest University. The 6-2 standout averaged 19.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 4.5 steals last year for a 26-4 team…Kentari Nettles, a 6-9 rising junior at LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.), has pledged to the University of South Alabama. Nettles transferred last year from Mobile Murphy and had to sit out his sophomore year, but he will be a force this winter while teaming with 6-10 senior DeMarcus Cousins.
* The University of Mississippi has received a commitment from 6-8 Reginald Buckner, who averaged 16 points, 13.7 rebounds and 6.7 blocks as a junior at Manassas (Memphis, Tenn.)…The Rutgers University women’s program received a major commitment from 6-4 rising senior Christine Huber, who averaged 17 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.4 blocks, 2.8 steals and 2.7 assists last year…Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.) has an incoming freshman, 6-4 Cole Huff, who could be talented enough to start on the varsity.
Volleyball Notes
* The U.S. Junior Men’s National team defeated Mexico, 25-14, 25-23, 25-19, to finish third during the NORCECA Continental Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador. The U.S., which posted a 4-2 record, was led by Erik Shoji, a recent graduate of Punahou (Honolulu, Haw.), who is headed for Stanford University. Shoji was named the tournament’s best defender, receiver and libero. Cuba defeated Canada to win the title.
* Pali 17 Kaepa (Pacific Palisades, Calif.) defeated previously unbeaten Balboa 17 Quiksilver (Costa Mesa, Calif.), 16-25, 25-23, 19-17, to win the 17 Open Division during the USA Junior Olympic Boys Volleyball Championships in Sandy, Utah. The winner’s Oliver Deutschman was named MVP. The 17 Club Division was won by OVA VB Rags (Kaneohe, Haw.) with a 25-21, 26-24 triumph over Pilipa’s 17s (Hilo, Haw.). MVP honors went to the champion’s Spencer Bishop.
* The U.S. Girls Youth National team swept Mexico, 25-17, 25-14, 25-20, to capture the gold medal during the NORCECA Continental Championships in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Tori Dixon (Savage, Minn.) and Ashley Wittman (Shakopee, Minn.) each scored 10 points for the U.S., while Erica Denney (Centennial, Colo.) had five blocks. All three are rising juniors.
* AJV 17 Mizuno (Austin, Texas) defeated Skyline 17 RoShamBoJason (Murphy, Texas), 25-22, 20-25, 26-24, 25-21, to capture the 17 Open Division crown during the 29th USA Junior Olympic Girls Championships in Dallas, Texas. The winner’s Elly Barrett was named MVP….PrepVolleyball.com has ranked the University of Florida’s recruiting No. 1 for the 2007-08 season. Texas is No. 2, California 3, UCLA 4 and Southern California 5. Florida’s class is anchored by National Player of the Year Kelly Murphy (Joliet Catholic Academy, Ill.).
* Rancho Valley (Alta Loma, Calif.) defeated Sports Shack Asics (Los Angeles), 25-17, 25-22, to win the 18-and-under division during the 25th annual Reno Volleyball Festival at the University of Nevada. Third-seeded Portland (Ore.) 17 Gold routed Laguna Beach (Calif.), 25-16, 25-12, to go unbeaten in the 17-and-under division. The five-day tournament is billed as the biggest women’s event in the USA with 680 teams, 1,087 matches and 9.240 players.
Lacrosse Notes
* The North nipped the South by identical 13-12 margins during the Under Armour All-America Classic at Towson (Md.) University. In the boys game, Tim Rommel scored the winning goal with 57.8 seconds remaining. MVP honors went to North goalie Steve Rastivo, who had nine saves…In the girls game, The North’s Erin Brennan, who was named MVP, and Shannon Smith each scored four goals. Brennan notched the winning goal with 1:15 left. Courtney Kirk had three goals for the South.
* The U.S. boys routed Japan, 27-0, during the International Lacrosse Federation under-19 Championships in Coquitlam, British Columbia. It was the Americans’ first shutout in history and their largest margin of victory since 1996. Craig Dowd led the winners with seven points and Andrew Feinberg had six goals.
* The Baltimore Crabs defeated the Colorado Favorites, 13-6, to win their third consecutive Dr. Tom Watts Memorial Boys under-19 Division I Memorial Tournament championship in Vail, Colo. Attackmen Joe Cummings and Alex Capretta each had two goals and two assists…In a matchup of Baltimore (Md.) powers, Heros nipped M&D Lax, 7-6, to win the girls Gold Division behind the efforts of MVP Katie Schwarzmann.
Golf Notes
* Cory Whitsett, No. 2 in national rankings, won the prestigious American Junior Golf Association’s Rolex Tournament of Champions in Newburgh, Ind. The rising junior at Memorial (Houston, Texas) was the only player to beat par with 2-under-286. Earlier this summer he topped a talented field to win the Western Junior…The girls division was won by Jennifer Johnson, a rising senior from La Quinta, Calif., with 5-over-293. She is ranked No. 11 nationally and has made a commitment to Arizona State.
* Juliet Vongphoumy, a rising sophomore at Providence LaSalle Academy, is making a big splash in the Rhode Island golf world. Last spring she became the first girl to win the boys state golf title. The 14-year-old phenom also was the first female to compete in the 103-year-old Rhode Island Golf Association Men’s Amateur Championships, though she failed to qualify for match play after two rounds.
Baseball Notes
* Aaron Mayfield, a recent graduate of LaRue County (Hodgenville, Ky.), tied a national record when he threw back-to-back perfect games against Corbin and Heath…In Wisconsin, senior Lee Severson, an infielder and closer, played all nine positions as Brookfield Central defeated Wauwatosa West, 4-1.
* Alex Meyer has been named Mr. Baseball in Indiana. He completed his senior year at Greensburg with an 8-0 record, 0.95 earned run average and 108 strikeouts. He also batted .407 with 13 doubles, nine home runs and 39 RBIs.
Swimming Notes
* The world spotlight definitely will be shining on 15-year-old Elizabeth Beisel, who is the youngest member of the USA Olympic swim team. The rising junior at North Kingstown (R.I.) qualified by finishing second to a pair of world-record setters in both the 200-meter backstroke (2:06.92) and the 400-meter individual medley (4:32.87). Margaret Hoelzer won the 200 back in 2:06.09, while Katie Hoff took the 400 IM in 4:31.12.
Also, keep an eye on 12-year-old Grace Carlson of Lake Oswego, Ore. She is the youngest USA swimmer in history to qualify for the Olympic Trials. She swam the 50-meter freestyle, but did not qualify.
Potpourri
* During the Summer Soccer Showcase in Greensboro, N.C., the U.S. under-17 Men’s National Team defeated Bridge FA, 11-1; BW Gottschee, 3-2; and Cal Odyssey, 3-2. Soony Saad and Jack McInerney led the U.S. with four goals apiece. Joseph-Claude Gyau had a hat trick against Bridge FA.
* Fourth-seeded Team Illinois rolled past California, 45-18, to win the U.S. Junior National Greco-Roman Wrestling Duals in Oklahoma City, Okla., for the second consecutive year. The champions, who finished 8-0, ousted top-seeded Minnesota, 40-22, in their closest match.
