Colin Voreis is getting a fresh start in a new program.

The 6-foot-7, 230 pound forward from Vermilion High School, transferred from the cold of University of Alaska-Anchorage to southwest Florida's Ave Maria University, a second-year basketball program in the sunshine state.

Ave Maria, a Division II school, is a private Roman Catholic university founded by Tom Managhan in 2003. Managhan is a philanthrophist and retired founder of Domino's Pizza. The school is located 17 miles east of Naples, Florida.This is the second year of the Gyrenes basketball program, but its first year competing in the Florida Sun Conference in the NAIA.

"I'm so excited, words can't explain how excited I am," said Voreis who is an economics major. "We have five returners and nine freshmen, so it's nice going from the younger guy to the older guy. I was named a captain, which I was pretty happy about. I think I should be getting some good minutes this season. I had the opportunity to come out here and I figured it would be a nice new start. I'm feeling great now. It feels good to not being injured anymore. I'm getting back acclimated with everything and I'm starting to get back to my full self."

Voreis heard about the school last year from one of his grandparents, who live nearby. One set of his grandparents live in nearby Naples, while his other grandparents live north of Naples in Pensagorda.

"When I was in Alaska, I really didn't have the chance to play in front of family. My mom came up once and saw me play and my dad came up when I tore my ACL. It's nice having family around. It makes me feel a little more at home. The flight to Florida is much cheaper than Alaska."

Last year, Voreis tore his ACL and couldn't play most of his sophomore season at Alaska-Anchorage, where he played as a freshman and was a part of a Seawolves team that went 29-6 and made it to the NCAA Division II Final Four. Voreis averaged about seven minutes per game while playing behind All-Americans Carl Arts and Luke Cooper.

"I learned so much there, playing under two All-Americans there my freshman year. That was probably one of the best basketball experiences I ever had, going to the final four. Those guys showed me so much, how to lead a team, how to prepare for games and all the little things that go unnoticed. That has definitely helped me a lot to get where I'm at right now."

Ave Maria's head coach Jamon Copeland, who is in his first year after three seasons as assistant coach at Texas State, is excited about Voreis.

"We are very excited to have Colin join our program," Copeland said. "He is a very physically strong forward with tremendous footwork who can play both the 4 and 5 positions for us and we expect him to have a tremendous impact in helping our interior defense and rebounding immediately. He also has good skills facing the basket, shoots well out to 15 feet, and is physically imposing around the basket. Colin is a great student who will fit in perfectly with the Gyrene community."

As a high school player at Vermilion, Voreis was twice named All-Ohio Division II Special Mention. He averaged 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game at Vermilion.He helped lead the Sailors to a West Shore Conference co-Championship — Vermilion's first league title in 16 years.

He also earned a selection to the 2007 Ohio High School Basketball Coaches North-South All-Star Game. He was also the team MVP for three years and a team captain his senior year.

Voreis likes being closer to home after being nearly 4,000 miles away in Alaska.

"The biggest difference so far has been travel. The furthest we go here is Georgia, which is not that far compared to three-hour plane rides to Seattle for every home game. School is a lot harder here, the teachers work you pretty hard. I have a former Notre Dame teacher and a few others that are pretty tough on the students."

Ave Maria is 3-2 going into Friday's Emmanuel College Classic where they'll play Truett-McConnell College in Franklin Springs, Georgia.

"The weather is absolutely a big difference, it's been over 80 degrees every day since I've been here. It's nice to be able to walk around in shorts all day. It makes me you feel better too. Especially with hurting my knee, the warm weather is helping that too."

Southview's Adriene Rodriguez is using his senior year at Ohio Dominican as motivation.

Rodriguez, who entered this season a four-year starting point guard for the Panthers, is playing this basketball season with the motivation of helping his team earn a national tournament berth, possibly grab a future spot overseas playing professionally and a earn a place in ODU school history as he nears 1,000 career points and 300 assists.

Ohio Dominican, a former Division III school, is in a transition year as it moves up to D-II next season.

So the Panthers will have to compete this season as an independent member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic (NAIA), playing in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). They'll still have the opportunity to qualify for the NAIA National Championship Tournament, but will not get a chance to play for a Mideast Conference championship or its normal conference awards.

Next season, ODU, along with Lake Erie College, will join the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and officially be a D-II NCAA team.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez is focused on helping his team get through this season, while he looks forward to his future.

"I'm real excited because it's my last year and I'm looking forward to seeing how good my senior year can turn out," said Rodriguez, who entered the season with 813 points and 242 assists. "Hopefully, if everything goes good, I can just keep playing basketball and then play professionally somewhere."

Going into tonight's game at Cedarville University, ODU is off to a 0-4 start, but Rodriguez isn't worried.

Beside a 34-point loss to Georgetown College (91-57), the Panthers have been in close games in their other three losses to McKendree University (65-53), Ashland University (66-61) and Spring Arbor University (67-60). The Panthers even had an early 15-point lead against D-II Ashland and led by seven in the fourth quarter, but ended up losing by five.

"We're young," Rodriguez said. "We have a whole bunch of new looks and new offenses and defenses. It's been tough so far, but our team is starting to come together a little bit more. We're getting better and better everyday, but it's a work in progress. Hopefully, we can get to where we want to be soon."

Rodriguez, a team captain, has learned a lot in his four years at Ohio Dominican.

"I've learned to just try to let the game come to me and try not to do too much," Rodriguez said. "I try to control my team and be more of a leader. My leadership on the court has improved. I've become more of floor general and a leader vocally. I've improved defensively, because in college, coaches are more defensive-minded."

Last season, Rodriguez was named honorable mention All-American Mideast Conference for his play after finishing his third-straight year as the Panthers' starting point guard. He averaged nearly 13 points per game on an up-and-down year, adjusting to a new coach Artie Taylor, who completed his second year at the helm.

"I was excited about it, but at the same time I wasn't satisfied," Rodriguez said. "I knew that I could do better than that if I kept working."

The Panthers won three straight to end the regular season and finished .500 at 15-15 overall, but just missed the conference tournament after finishing in a four-way tie with Notre Dame, Rio Grande, and Daemon — who won the tie-breaker to earn a postseason berth.

"We haven't made it to a national tournament in my three years so knowing that it's my senior year and my last chance to do it motivates me," Rodriguez said. "Our goals as a team is to win 20-25 games and make the national tournament."

Rodriguez battled a high ankle sprain his sophomore season and had to sit out nearly two months. He still made 11 starts in 26 games played and finished fifth on the team in scoring (8.7 ppg) and third in assists (61). He also recorded 21 steals.His freshman year, he appeared in all 31 games and averaged 29 minutes and eight points per game, while leading the team in assists with 91.

While at Southview, Rodriguez averaged 22 points and four assists per game and was selected the Lake Erie League Player of the Year, along with first team All-Lorain County and All-Morning Journal. He was also an honorable mention All-Ohio and second team All-District.

"Time has gone by so fast," Rodriguez said. "I thought high school went by fast, but I think college went by even faster. It's been a good experience playing college basketball. I'm glad that I did take this opportunity. I feel like it not only make me a better person on the court, but off the court as well. College has done a lot for me. I'm just grateful that I had the opportunity to play."

Rodriguez feels fortunate that he was able to play four years of college basketball and still has a dream of playing professional. And if that doesn't pan out, he plans on using his criminal justice degree and become a probation officer or a parole officer.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play basketball professionally," Rodriguez said. "It always has been something I've always wanted to do. If the opportunity is there, I will jump up on that. If something happens and I can't go play overseas, I'll always have my degree to fall back on."

Other local Panthers at ODU

Also joining Rodriguez at ODU are Oberlin's Aaron Gibbs and Morgan Jones.

Gibbs, a sophomore, scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his first game with the Panthers and continues to impress in a starting role. Jones has averaged three points coming off the bench.

Gibbs is a transfer from Division I Presbyterian College, where he made three starts and played in 29 games, after red-shirting as a freshman. He graduated from Myers Park High School in North Carolina after attending Oberlin his freshman and sophomore season.

Jones, a freshman walk-on, is Oberlin's all-time leading scorer and averaged 34 points, seven steals, four rebounds and two assists per game last season for the Phoenix.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Sarah Foster (#143) is second runner from left.

Edison’s Sarah Foster, a junior, has helped lead Ohio State women’s cross country to a remarkable turnaround this season.



For the first time in its 28-year history, the OSU women’s cross country team will compete for a national title on Monday, Nov. 23 at the NCAA Division I Championships in Terre Haute, Ind.



Foster was one of three OSU runners to make the 2009 Great Lakes All-Regional team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The three student-athletes are the first members of a Buckeye squad to be named to the All-Regional team in school history.



Her sophomore season in outdoors, Foster set the second and third-best 10000m times in school history. She also finished fifth in the 10000m at the Big Ten Championships and 11th in the 5000m.



In indoor season this year, she owned the top team time in the 5000m, a 14th-place run of 17:01.06 at the Big Ten Championships.



At Edison, Foster was a Division II state champion in the 3200m in 2005, while also earning All-Ohio honors.

Stay tuned for a feature story by Zach Dzurick on Foster and how OSU does in the NCAA Championships.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Westlake’s KateLynn Riley closed out a tremendous college career playing volleyball at The College of Wooster, earning North Coast Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year honors.

Along with the player of the year honors, Riley earned a second-straight NCAC First Team selection.

Riley had a remarkable season, leading the conference in kills (443), points (539), and hitting percentage (.352), while tallying the second most blocks per set (1.05).

Her place in Fighting Scots’ history was cemented during the season, as she moved into second-place on the all-time kills list (1,519), and fifth in blocks (327). Her .352 hitting percentage was the second-highest single season mark ever, and her 34-kill match against Oberlin College (Oct. 17) was the highest by any NCAA Div. III player this season.

For the year, Wooster went 21-10, their fifth 20-win campaign this decade. Wooster entered the NCAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed, but dropped its semifinal match with No. 2 seed Hiram College on Friday night. Riley, who totaled nine kills in the loss, was named to the all-tournament team.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Brookside's Dawn Ondercin signed a letter of intent to continue her softball career at Lake Erie College next season.

Ondercin helped lead the Cardinals to a sectional championship and a district finals appearance last season.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Edison's Taylor Emody and Emily Stewart made it official Thursday afternoon at Edison High School.

Emody signed with Ohio University to play baseball, while Stewart signed with Clarion to play volleyball.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Avon Lake's Nikki Chiricosta, a four-time state qualifier and a state champion her freshman year, has made it official, signing to join her sister Christine at Bowling Green State University.

Chiricosta made it official on Wednesday in Avon Lake's Media Center.

She will be joining her sister, who will be a senior next season.

The pair won a state championship in doubles when Nikki was a freshman and Christine was a senior at Avon Lake.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

The Lorain County Community College men's basketball team is entering its third year of playing in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

The junior college Commodores play their second game of the season today at Butler County Community College after starting the season off with a 101-85 road loss to Essex County College. Then the Commodores will have their home-opener this Friday against seventh-ranked CC-Allegheny of Pittsburgh.

LCCC plays in the Ohio Community College Athletic Association with Cuyahoga Community, Columbus State, Sinclair State, Clark State, Lakeland Community, Owens Tech and Cincinnati State. LCCC is considered Division III, while Cincinnati State is Division I and the other schools are considered Division II.

Ralph Berrios, who enters his ninth season as head coach, was an assistant coach at Southview for 14 years under Larry Stark. Stark, who retired as the Saints' all-time winningest coach, serves as Berrios' assistant.

"We're really excited about the team," Berrios said. "This is probably the most balanced athletically, and strongest teams since I've been here. I'm looking forward to seeing the kids mature and by the end of the season, I expect to have more players receiving accolades and accomplishments from conference."

Last season the Commodores finished the season 11-17 after finishing 7-16 in 2007, their first season competing at the NJCAA level.

LCCC went undefeated in its last season competing at the club level, ultimately finishing third in its season-ending tournament.

Devaujhn Boddie, a 5-foot-9 point guard, was named to the NJCAA preseason All-America team. He led the Commodores in scoring last season, averaging 23 points per game.

"He may be the smallest player on the floor, but he's still the best player on the floor," Berrios said. "He's a great young man who has proved himself at each level he's played. He's proved that hard work pays off and the rewards are just starting to come in."

Boddie, who was named All-American while prepping at Archbishop Hoban High School, hopes to contribute to LCCC's first winning season in the NJCAA.

"We've got a really great team this year and I believe we're going to do really well," Boddie said in a press release. "I have a big thing on my shoulders now. I have to perform every game now that I'm All-American."

While Boddie is running the point position, 6-foot-9 Antione Norris, of Akron Kenmore, will play center. Jay Silva, who is from Escala Logis in San Paulo, Brazil, is a 6-5 forward.

Local players on this season's LCCC roster include Josh Harris (Brookside), D.J. Hall (Western Reserve), Tyrell Holley (Admiral King) and Jeff Knepper (Keystone).

Tonio Wesley (Euclid), Jacob Pope (Akron Firestone), Felton Jones (Cleveland East High) and Bruce Johnson (Lyndherst Brush) round out the Commodores' roster.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

The Lorain County Community College volleyball team made history last week, making it to regionals for the first time in school history.

The Commodores, who are considered Division III in the Ohio Community College Conference, play in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

They finished as runner-up in the NJCAA Region XX, District G, D-III tournament played at Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland.

Their loss was to Butler Community College in the championship match that would've sent them to nationals.

Midview's Kathleen Goodman, Clearview's Stefanie Soto and Western Reserve's Brannigan Fannin made the All-Tournament team for their outstanding play in the tournament.

"We're all very excited," LCCC coach Jennifer Lee said in a press release. "This is the first time in LCCC's volleyball history that a team was in the regionals."

Fannin was also nominated for an All-American award and is ranked sixth in the country for most blocks (105) and seventh in the country in kills (311).

Soto is ranked second in the country in digs (526) and is being considered for All-American honors.

Goodman was named to the Honorable Mention list for All-Conference.

Other locals on the team are: Kaela Hines (Elyria), Christine Parker (Southview), Anne Henderson (North Ridgeville), Hannah Sedar (North Ridgeville), Holly Klesta (Elyria), Pamela Urwin (Bay) and Terri Brozewicz (Avon).

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Alexa Porter has always loved a challenge.

At Elyria Catholic, Porter played on the boys golf team and loved the challenge of competing at a higher level.

She was a three-time state qualifier and even finished in the top 10 in her junior season. Her seventh-place finish at state earned her All-Ohio honors. She was also a three-time All-Region player and earned North Coast League MVP honors after that stellar season.

After her high school career, schools such as Memphis, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana were lined up to pursue her and her talents. She chose the University of Memphis.

As a freshman, she played in 10 tournaments and even tied for second place at the Conference USA Championship. She also earned all-tournament team honors.

In just her third-ever collegiate start, she took eighth in the Johnie Imes Invitational. She also took 15th at Pat Bradley Championship.

Although she enjoyed the success in just her first year playing college golf, she wanted more of a challenge. So she transferred to the hot south — Texas, to attend Texas A & M.

"(Memphis) wasn't a great fit for me all around," Porter said. "So I decided in the summer to pursue a different path and to look for something that fit me a little better. I found it in Texas."

She is thrilled in Texas and has stepped up to yet another challenge. The facility is top-notch and its golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus.

"I am happy at Texas A & M," Porter said. "I don't have any regrets, but I do miss a couple things at Memphis. Overall, it's a great place to be here in College Station, Texas. The weather has been really nice. We have a great facility. We play on a championship golf course on a daily basis that challenges each and every one of us. It's tough, but it's also great too to be challenged every day."

She loves the challenge of playing Division I golf, but its been a grind everyday, as she adjusts.

"The biggest difference in high school golf and college golf is I work out three days a week at six o'clock in the morning, and I have five classes that are killer-hard," Porter said. "Then I have to go to practice and qualify in the afternoon. It's definitely a load. This year has been so hard. I've been completely overwhelmed.

"It's a great school. I have to work my butt off in the classroom though ... I've met a lot of awesome people here. I love the Aggies. We have a lot of traditions here and to participate in a lot of things is very cool and it's exciting. I've adjusted to Texas pretty well, but I still look forward to going home."

Although she has adjusted to living in her third state in three years, Porter still loves her hometown.

"It's definitely very different here," Porter said. "There are a lot of things different from Ohio. I love Ohio and I miss it. I'm still a big Ohio State fan and I love the Cavaliers."

Last year, in her sophomore season at Texas A&M, she almost was a part of a first-ever as the Aggies almost notched a Big 12 Championship.

"Last year we had a chance to win the Big 12 Championship on the last day, which was awesome," Porter said. "We were six shots back from Oklahoma State, but they ended up beating us. It was still great to duke it out with them. At regionals in Arizona, we were really close there too. We were only like six shots from making it to nationals. We haven't gone past that mark as a team yet, but we're definitely there. We've been close so we've tasted it, but we're definitely out for blood this year."

swalker@MorningJournal.com