The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Local athletes shine in college
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: February 1, 2007
Chelsea and Dexter athletes are making their marks at all levels collegiately this winter season.
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At the University of Michigan, Dexter's Jeff Marsh is a key member of the Wolverines' No. 11-ranked wrestling team. A junior, Marsh has a 9-8 overall record at 157 pounds for U-M. At the National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa Jan. 13, Marsh lost to the nation's No. 2-ranked 157-pound grappler Trent Paulsen from Iowa State 9-2. The No. 6-ranked Cyclones beat U-M 25-15.
At Michigan State University, Chelsea senior Allison Sayers finished second in the one-meter diving competition for the Spartans' women's swimming and diving team against Oakland University Jan. 19. Sayers also placed third in the three-meter diving event for MSU.
Also for the Spartans, Chelsea senior Dani Sawyer was a member of MSU's third-place finishing 400 freestyle relay versus Oakland in women's swimming and diving. She also was on State's fourth-place 200 medley relay team which stopped the clock in 1:54.32.
Sayers and Sawyer helped lead the Spartans to a 3-5-1 overall record this season. The duo next prepare for the Big Ten meet Feb. 8 through 11 in Minneapolis.
At Calvin College, Chelsea freshman John Mantel is averaging 7.6 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per outing for the Knights' men's basketball team. The 6-foot-8, 230-pound post player leads Calvin with 16 blocked shots this season. He also is shooting 72 percent from the free throw line and 39 percent from the field. Calvin is 10-7 overall and 5-2 in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
At Ohio State University, Dexter sophomore Christina Sarnecki was a member of the Buckeyes' second-place finishing 400 freestyle relay in OSU's 193-101 win over Kenyon College Jan. 21 in women's swimming and diving.
At U-M, Dexter's Lindsey Smith and Hannah Smith have helped lead the Wolverines' women's swimming and diving team to a No. 10 national ranking. On Jan. 20, Michigan defeated Northwestern 162-132. Lindsey Smith, a senior, finished second in the 200 freestyle in 1:49.69 and second in the 100 freestyle in 51.17. She also was the anchor for U-M's first place 200 medley relay (1:43.23).
Hannah Smith, a sophomore, finished first in the 100 backstroke in 56.83, first in the 200 backstroke in 2:01.57 and fourth in the 50 freestyle in 24.03 in the Wolverines' victory over the Wildcats.
This season, Lindsey Smith, a five-time NCAA All-American and six-time Big Ten champion, owns Michigan top times in the 100-yard freestyle (49.66), 100-meter freestyle (56.88) and 200-yard freestyle (1:46.92). Hannah Smith, a NCAA All-American and Big Ten champion in the 200 freestyle relay last year, owns U-M top times this season in the 100-meter backstroke (1:06.31) and 200-yard backstroke (1:59.30). The sister duo also have combined to lead the Wolverines in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:31.29), the 200-meter freestyle relay (1:45.60), the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:20.32) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:16.19).
Chelsea senior Ali Mann led Bowling Green State University to a 90-62 victory over host Western Michigan University in women's basketball Jan. 24. Mann, a 6-1 forward, finished with 21 points to pace the No. 16-ranked Falcons (17-2, 7-0 Mid-American Conference).
Behind Mann, third all-time in BGSU scoring with 1,587 points, the Falcons have won 10 straight games and 32 consecutive contests in the MAC. BGSU's No. 16 national ranking is the highest in school history and the highest in MAC history for a women's basketball team.
At the Air Force Academy, Dexter junior Eric Ehn is a candidate for the Hobey Baker Award which is college hockey's highest honor. The Hobey Baker Award is similar to college football's Heisman Trophy in its significance. This season, Ehn is the top scorer in college hockey with 19 goals, 26 assists for 45 points. The Falcons are 12-9-5 overall and 9-4-5 in the Atlantic Hockey League.
At Michigan State University, Chelsea redshirt freshman Dan Lewis finished sixth for the Spartans in the one-mile run (4:16.04) at the Red Simmons/Jack Harvey indoor track and field invitational at the University of Michigan. Also competing for MSU's men's track and field team is Chelsea freshman Ian Girard in distance events.
At Hope College, Dexter freshman Jenny Cowen is averaging 4.3 points per game for the Flying Dutchmen's women's basketball team. The 5-9 guard is also third on the team in three-point shooting making 16-of-52 from beyond the arc for 30 percent. Cowen has played in all 17 Hope games this season. The Dutch are 15-2 overall and 7-2 in the MIAA.
Also at Hope, Chelsea seniors Jacob Holton and Andre Bravo are members of the Flying Dutchmen men's swimming and diving team. Holton, a captain, competes in freestyle events, while Bravo participates in backstroke and butterfly events. The Dutch are 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA.
At Kalamazoo College, Dexter's Kelsea Howell scored a team-high 20 points, with seven rebounds and four steals in the Hornets' 63-55 loss to Adrian College in MIAA women's basketball action Jan. 24. Howell, a 5-11 junior swing player, leads Kalamazoo in scoring this season with a 14.6 average. She also hauls down 5.5 rebounds per game. The Hornets are 3-15 overall and 2-8 in the MIAA.
At U-M, Dexter sophomore Lex Williams finished first in the 3,000-meter run in a personal best 8:02.36 at the Red Simmons/Jack Harvey indoor track and field invitational hosted by the Wolverines Jan. 20. Williams' time was a NCAA qualifying time. Also competing for U-M's men's track and field squad is Dexter sophomore Tony Nalli. Nalli placed 10th in the 3,000-meter run in 8:33.04 at the Red Simmons/Jack Harvey invite.
At Michigan, Dexter fifth-year senior Erin Penn (formerly Cobler) ended her career tied for second in U-M volleyball history in matches played with 126. The 6-1 outside hitter and two-time team captain led the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament losing in the first round to Cal Poly 23-30, 30-26, 25-30, 23-30 last December. Penn recorded four kills, three assists, nine digs and two blocks in her final collegiate match.
A history major, Penn was named U-M Sportsmanship Award nominee for the third straight year. She ended up ninth all-time in blocks at Michigan with 334 and was the 11th Wolverine to record 1,000 kills in a career. She finished with 292 assists, 743 digs and 334 blocks in her career. Penn also was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection.
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