Rock's Kengor Honored Again

Rock's Kengor earns 1st-team NCBWA Division II Preseason All-America honor

AUSTIN, Texas – Slippery Rock University senior shortstop Will Kengor was named Thursday as a first-team member of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II Preseason All-America team.

The preseason honor came on the heels of Kengor’s selection last spring as a third-team NCBWA postseason All-American.

Kengor (ken-JUR) also earned second-team Daktronics All-America and third-team Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-America honors in his junior season.

A native of Pittsburgh and graduate of Central Catholic High School, Kengor led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ranked second among all NCAA Division II hitters with a .449 batting average last spring. Kengor's average was 33 points higher than his closest PSAC rival in 2013 and was the fourth-best single-season mark in Rock history.

A left-hand-hitting leadoff hitter for The Rock, Kengor led the PSAC and tied for second nationally with eight sacrifice flies and ranked second in the PSAC in total hits (79) and on base percentage (.502), third in triples (5), fourth in slugging percentage (.597) and sixth in doubles (16). His hits total was the seventh-best in Rock history. In addition, Kengor led SRU in runs batted in (28) and stolen bases (12 of 15) in 2013.

Prior to being named to the three All-America teams last spring, Kengor was named to first-team All-Atlantic Region honors by the ABCA, Daktronics and the NCBWA and was a first-team All-PSAC-Western Division selection.

Kengor became eligible for NCBWA Preseason All-America status this spring by earning a spot on the organization’s Preseason All-Atlantic Region Team.

Seven other members of the 2014 Rock squad earned a spot on the “Other Players to Watch” list in the NCBWA’s preseason all-region balloting. That group included pitchers Jon Anderson, John Kovalik, Ryan Oglesby and Kyle Schneider; outfielders Adam Urbania and Jake Weibley and utility player Kevin Jovanovich.

As a team, The Rock was ranked seventh in this year’s NCBWA Division II Preseason Atlantic Region poll.

SRU compiled a 31-21 final record, earned a fourth-place finish in the PSAC-Western Division final standings and made a conference-best, eighth-consecutive appearance in the PSAC's postseason tournament in 2013.

Coach Messer

Veteran head coach Jeff Messer welcomes back six everyday starters and five top pitchers from last spring’s team.

The 2014 Rock schedule is scheduled to open Feb. 22 with a noon doubleheader vs. Walsh University at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe.

Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Fax: 724.738.4761
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
www.sru.edu

A ROCK SOLID Education

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

McCombie Racks 4th Honor

Rock's McCombie collects fourth All-America honor

LIBERTY, Mo. – Slippery Rock University senior punter James McCombie was named Thursday to D2Football.com honorable mention All-America honors.

The All-America honor was the fourth received by McCombie, who the Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team committee named last week to first-team honors.

Earlier, McCombie was named to second-team All-America honors by Daktronics and third-team honors by Beyond Sports Network.

In addition, McCombie previously received first-team all-region honors from the Hansen committee and Daktronics and first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division status in voting by the division's head football coaches.

A native of Nicktown, Pa., and graduate of Bishop Carroll High School in Ebensburg, McCombie ranked first in the PSAC and fifth among NCAA Division II punters last fall with a per-punt average of 43.2 yards.

McCombie had 12 punts that traveled 50 or more yards last fall, headlined by a career-best-tying 74-yarder in the season opener at Northwood. McCombie also had 13 of his 53 punts land inside the opponents' 20-yard line this fall and only nine result in touchbacks.

A park and resource management major at SRU, McCombie finished his four-year career as The Rock's first-team punter with a 40.5 yards per punt average. McCombie had six punts that traveled 60 or more yards, 34 punts that traveled 50 or more yards and 67 that landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line during his 208-punt college career.

 Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Fax: 724.738.4761
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
www.sru.edu

A ROCK SOLID Education

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

McCombie Earns All America Honor

SRU's McCombie earns second-team Daktronics All America honor

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Slippery Rock University senior punter James McCombie was named Wednesday as a second-team member of the Daktronics, Inc., All America Football Team.

The All America honor, voted upon by sports information directors at the 168 football-playing NCAA Division II institutions in the nation, came on the heels of McCombie being named earlier this month as a first-team All Super Region 1 performer.

McCombie also earned first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division honors in voting by the division’s head football coaches.

A native of Nicktown, Pa., and graduate of Bishop Carroll High School in Ebensburg, McCombie ranked first in the PSAC and fifth among NCAA Division II punters last fall with a per-punt average of 43.2 yards.

McCombie had 12 punts that traveled 50 or more yards last fall, headlined by a career-best-tying 74-yarder in the season opener at Northwood. McCombie also had 13 of his 53 punts land inside the opponents' 20-yard line this fall and only nine result in touchbacks.

A park and resource management major at SRU, McCombie finished his four-year career as The Rock’s first-team punter with a 40.5 yards per punt average.

McCombie had six punts that traveled 60 or more yards, 34 punts that traveled 50 or more yards and 67 that landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line during his 208-punt college career.

McCombie was the second member of The Rock’s PSAC-West champion, conference runner-up and NCAA playoff-qualifying team to earn a second-team All America honor. Senior linebacker Quindell Dean earned that status earlier this month from Beyond Sports Network.

The two All America performers were included in a group of 18 seniors on this year’s Rock squad, which compiled a 9-3 overall record and earned an NCAA playoff berth for the first time since 1999.

Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Fax: 724.738.4761
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
www.sru.edu

A ROCK SOLID Education

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

SRU Football Quintet Garner All American Honors

Rock football quintet garners Pre-Season All-American honors

Quindell Dean, Jaimire Dutrieuille, Anthony Saunders, LaQuinn Stephens-Howling and Derek Walker were among the players named to the 25th Annual USA College Football Division II Pre-Season All-Americans team

ROSELAND, N.J. – Five members of the 2013 Slippery Rock University football team were recently included on the 25th Annual USA College Football Division II Pre-Season All-Americans roster.

Derek Walker

Senior defensive end Derek Walker and senior cornerback Anthony Saunders were both named to third-team honors, while senior linebacker Quindell Dean, sophomore return specialist Jaimire Dutrieuille and senior wide receiver LaQuinn Stephens-Howling each earned honorable mention status.

The preseason honors came on the heels of the Rock quintet earning second-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference-Western Division honors last fall.

Walker, a native of Pittsburgh and graduate of Brashear High School, recorded 37 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss (-38 yards) and 3.5 quarterback sacks (-36 yards) in 2012. Walker also batted down one pass and was credited with one quarterback hurry.

Anthony Saunders

A native of New Kensington and graduate of Valley High School, Saunders led the PSAC in passes defended with 17 and ranked eighth in interceptions with three. Saunders returned two INTs for touchdowns, 50 yards at Seton Hill in the season opener (Aug. 30) and 42 yards vs. Gannon (Sept. 15), and ranked fourth on the team with 62 total tackles.

Quindell Dean

Dean, a native of Uniontown and graduate of Uniontown High School, was The Rock’s second leading tackler last fall with 79 total tackles. Included in his takedown total were seven tackles for loss (-45 yards) and four QB sacks (-35 yards). Dean also intercepted one pass, which he returned 27 yards, broke up nine passes and recorded one QB hurry.

JaimireDutrieille

Dutrieuille, who hails from Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Woodland Hills High School, averaged 28.6 yards on 24 kickoff returns, including a 92-yarder for a touchdown vs. Gannon (Sept. 15), as a true freshman in 2012. Dutrieuille also caught 28 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns in The Rock’s spread offense.

LaQuinn Stephens-Howling

A Johnstown native and graduate of Greater Johnstown High School, Stephens-Howling, was The Rock’s top pass receiver last fall with 37 catches for 464 yards and five touchdowns.

Dean, Walker and Saunders headline a group of eight Rock defensive starters returning for the 2013 season. Led by Stephens-Howling, The Rock also return eight starters on offense, and Dutrieuille is one of two specialists returning.

The Rock, under the leadership of 26-year head coach George Mihalik, finished the 2012 season with a 6-5 overall record and tied for third place in the final PSAC-Western Division standings.

The Green and White open their 2013 schedule Sept. 7 with a road game at Northwood University in Midland, Mich. before hosting Shippensburg University the following week in the home opener at Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
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Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
www.sru.edu

A ROCK SOLID Education

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

SRU's Kengor Earns More Honors

Kengor earns two more All-America honors

Rock junior shortstop Will Kengor was named Wednesday as a third-team All-American by both the American Baseball Coaches Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association

5/29/2013

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University junior shortstop Will Kengor collected his second and third All-America honors Wednesday when he was named to third-team status by both the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Wednesday's honors came on the heels of Kengor's selection last Friday as a second-team Daktronics, Inc. All-America performer in voting by the nation's NCAA Division II sports information directors.

Missouri Western State University's Michael Schulze was named as the top shortstop in the nation by all three organizations. Mount Olive College's Mike Mercurio was the ABCA second-team All-America shortstop, while Benedict College's Lydell Moseby earned second-team NCBWA honors.

Kengor led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ranked second among all NCAA Division II hitters with a .449 batting average last spring. Kengor's average was 33 points higher than his closest PSAC rival in 2013 and was the fourth-best single-season mark in Rock history.

A left-hand-hitting leadoff hitter for The Rock, Kengor led the PSAC and tied for second nationally with eight sacrifice flies and ranked second in the PSAC in total hits (79) and on base percentage (.502), third in triples (5), fourth in slugging percentage (.597) and sixth in doubles (16). His hits total was the seventh-best in Rock history. In addition, Kengor led SRU in runs batted in (28) and stolen bases (12 of 15) in 2013.

Prior to being named to the three All-America teams, Kengor was named to first-team All-Atlantic Region honors by the ABCA, NCBWA and SIDs and was a first-team All-PSAC-Western Division selection.

Kengor led SRU to a 31-21 final record, a fourth-place finish in the PSAC-Western Division final standings and a conference-best, eighth-consecutive appearance in the PSAC's postseason tournament during the 2013 season.

The Rock, under the leadership of 28-year head coach Jeff Messer graduate only three members of their 2013 squad.

Kengor was one of only four Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference student-athletes who earned ABCA All-America honors, one of five PSAC players who earned NCBWA All-America honors and one of six conference players who earned Daktronics All-America honors.

A native of Pittsburgh and graduate of Central Catholic High School, Kengor was joined on the ABCA third-team All-America list by Shippensburg University infielder Pat Kregeloh, California (Pa.) catcher Kyle Petty and Millersville University pitcher Chris Murphy.

Murphy and Petty both received first-team NCBWA All-America honors, as did Shepherd University outfielder Ryan Messina, while Pitt-Johnstown second baseman Jake Warner and Millersville first baseman Zach Stone were second-team selections. Joining Kengor on the NCBWA third-team list were Winston-Salem State's Tyler Hickernell (designated hitter) and Travis Moore (outfielder), along with Shippensburg pitcher-first baseman Pat Kregeloh.

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Bob McComas
Sports Information Director
Slippery Rock University
1 Morrow Way - Room 201 Old Main
Slippery Rock, Pa. 16057
Office: 724.738.2777
Cell: 724.421.5658
Email: robert.mccomas@sru.edu
www.sru.edu

A ROCK SOLID Education

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh