Local Sports

Monday, March 15, 2010

UF roundup: Smithey earns All-America honors, twice
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- University of Findlay sophomore Curtis Smithey earned a pair of All-America awards Saturday to lead the Oilers at the NCAA Division II national indoor track and field championships.

Smithey, an Elmwood graduate, posted a fifth-place finish in the men's 400-meter dash in a time of 47.59 seconds. He also teamed up with Greg Schaible, Lyndon Johnson and Simon Bernard for a sixth-place showing in the 1,600-meter relay (3:15.09). It's the second straight year the Oilers have earned All-America honors in the relay.

Findlay sophomore Derrick Vicars also earned a spot on the awards stand in the shot put as he finished sixth with a toss of 57-7. The Oilers' Nathaniel Kurtz was 10th in the weight throw at 61-7.

UF's men's and women's teams both scored 10 points in the meet, with the men finishing 14th overall and the women tying for 19th in the 46-team field.

Two former Columbus Grove standouts also competed as members of the Ashland University men's team.

Sophomore Cory Meuleman earned All-American honors for the Eagles with an eighth-place effort in the weight throw (63-9½). Senior Blaine Maag ended up 11th in the shot put (55-1/4).

Senior Stephanie Charnigo and Raven Clay picked up All-American awards for the UF women's team.

Charnigo picked up her fourth career indoor All-American award by crossing the finish line fourth in the 800 (2:12.55). Clay, meanwhile, placed in the 60-meter hurdles for the second straight year with a fourth-place showing (8.34).

Randi Depp finished 10th in the weight throw (55-9¾). Lindsay Schmitmeyer crossed the finish line 13th in the 800 (2:16.53).

Schnell-McCoy is three-time All-America

CANTON -- University of Findlay sophomore Nikki Schnell-McCoy put together the best performance in program history Saturday night to cap the Oilers' weekend at the NCAA Division II swimming and diving championships at C.T. Branin Natatorium.

Schnell-McCoy posted the highest finish ever for UF women in D-II competition by making the “A” final and finishing fourth in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:01.79.

It was her third All-America award on the weekend as the Toledo Notre Dame Academy product added a sixth in the 100 back Friday and teamed with Lindsay Hatteberg, Brittany Balitzkat and Jillian Herbst to earn All-America honors and finish 14th in the 400 medley relay Thursday.

Hatteberg completed her career with a 10th in the 100 freestyle in 51.48 seconds. It was the fourth All-American award on the weekend for Hatteberg, who also recorded top 16 showings in the 50 free and 200 free.

Schnell-McCoy and Hatteberg also teamed with Jill Herbst and Brittany Balitzkat to finish 29th in the 400 free relay (3:39.7). The Oilers were 21st overall in the 37-team field with 39 points.

Roughnecks struggle

OMAHA, Neb. -- There will be no All-Americans for the University of Findlay wrestling team this season.

Four Roughneck wrestlers fell a match short of All-America honors after they were eliminated in the second consolation round at the NCAA Division II national tournament at Nebraska-Omaha.

It's the first time since 2001, the school's first year competing in Division II, that the Roughnecks haven't produced an All-American.

Findlay heavyweight Matt Clum was nearly able to advance as he dropped a 5-1 overtime decision in his final bout.

Jeremy Espinoza (149) suffered an 8-4 decision to Minnesota-Mankato's Travis Eig, Michael Lybarger (157) fell 5-1 to Wisconsin-Parkside's Dillon Bera and Dan Stevenson (197) lost 6-4 to Northern State's Matthew Mueleners.

The Roughnecks ended up 31st in the 39-team field with two points.

UF First Round Results

133 -- Naveed Baghari (San Francisco St.) maj. dec. Jan Ulinski (UF), 14-1.

141 -- Jay Sherer (Augustana) dec. Josh Falk (UF), 5-3.

149 -- Latra Collick (Newberry) dec. Jeremy Espinoza (UF), 6-3.

157 -- Danny Grater (Fort Hays St.) maj. dec. Michael Lybarger (UF), 11-0.

184 -- Derek Ross (Nebraska-Kearney) dec. Jeff Havelka (UF), 8-2.

197 -- Tyler Copsey (Augustana) dec. Dan Stevenson (UF), 6-2.

285 -- Chris Dempsey (Pitt-Johnstown) dec. Matt Clum (UF), 3-2.

First Consolations

133 -- Shane McQuade (St. Cloud St.) pinned Ulinski (UF), 6:00.

141 -- Andrew Milanak (Gannon) dec. Falk (UF), 3-2.

149 -- Espinoza (UF) dec. Tyler Juby (MSC), 14-9.

157 -- Lybarger (UF) dec. Justin Decker (Upper Iowa), 3-2.

184 -- Derek Scala (St. Cloud St.) dec. Havelka (UF), 6-1.

197 -- Stevenson (UF) dec. Vincent Bordi (San Francisco St.), 3-2.

285 -- Clum (UF) dec. Jesse Boggs (New Mexico Highlands), 4-2.

Second Consolations

149 -- Travis Elg (Minnesota-Mankato) dec. Espinoza (UF), 8-4.

157 -- Dillon Bera (Wisconsin-Parkside) dec. Lybarger (UF), 5-1.

197 -- Matthew Mueleners (Northern St,) dec. Stevenson (UF), 6-4.

285 -- Charlie Alexander (Western St.) dec. Clum (UF), 5-1, OT.

On the Net: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-wrestl/champpage/m-wrestl-div2-index.html

UF team wins regional

The University of Findlay Western Equestrian team placed first overall, had both the Champion and Reserve High-Point riders and snatched up 10 of the 12 available qualifying positions in the regional meet hosted by UF Sunday.

Katie Morehead was the American Quarterhorse Association High-Point champion and Andrew Wolf was AQHA Reserve High-Point Rider.

Wolf and Morehead qualified for the national semifinals to be held March 26-29 in North Carolina in the Open Reigning competition. Also qualifying for the national semifinals were Morehead and Heather Allenby in Open Horsemanship, Ashley Drown in Advanced Horsemanship, Madison Hallas and Alyssa Salva in Novice Horsemanship, Ashley Wolf and Elise Gerken in Intermediate Horsemanship, and Heather Keiswetter in Walk Jog.

Collette notches win

Kyle Collette notched the lone win for the University of Findlay men's tennis team in an 8-1 loss to Walsh Sunday. Collette, a Findlay High graduate, topped Mark Innes of Walsh 7-5, 7-5 at No.1 singles.

SINGLES

No.1 -- Collette (UF) def. M. Innes (WU) 7-5, 7-5.

No.2 -- Esber (WU) def. Hebda, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (13-11).

No3 -- Yung (WU) def. Smedley, 6-1, 6-2.

No.4 -- G. Innes (WU) def. Simard, 6-0, 6-3.

No.5 -- Kugler (WU) def. Little, 6-2, 7-6 (8-6).

No.6 -- Gable (WU) def. Brooks, 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles

No.1 -- M. Innes/G. Innes (WU) def. Collette/Hebda, 8-4.

No.2 -- Esber/LeGrange (WU) def. Smedley/Simard, 8-3.

No.3 -- Yung/Pucci (WU) def. Brooks/ Little, 8-6.

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