Navy Sports

Navy Men's Track & Field: Harris to Race at USA Track & Field Championships

For Immediate Release
Monday, June 18, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Navy’s Harris to Race at USA Track & Field Championships

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Navy men’s track & field middle distance runner Paul Harris (Woodbury, Minn.) has been selected to compete at the 2007 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 800-meter run at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis this weekend, it was announced on Monday morning.

The first round of the 800-meter run will take place on Thursday at 5:05 p.m. The semifinal competition is slated for Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., with the top-eight times qualifying for the final round on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.

The top-three finishers in the 800-meter event on Sunday earn a spot on the U.S. National Team that will race at the 2007 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Osaka, Japan, on August 24 through September 2.

Harris, a 2007 All-American in the indoor 800-meter run, qualified for this year’s USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship with a school-record 1:47.55 showing during the preliminary round of the IC4A Championship in May. He enters this weekend’s championship with the 22nd-fastest time among all qualified runners and second-best clocking among qualified collegiate runners.

Harris’ 1:47.55 showing ranks as a ‘B’ cut qualifying time for both the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Competing on what is considered one of the fastest tracks in the world this weekend, the Navy middle distance runner has an opportunity to reach the ‘A’ cut standard for both events. Automatic entry into the U.S. Olympic Trials requires a time of 1:46.50 or better, while the IAAF established 1:46.00 as the ‘A’ cut time for the 2008 Olympics.

The Navy rising senior owns the five-fastest 800-meter run times in program history and is the lone runner in school history to post a sub-1:49.00 clocking on the outdoor track. The product of Woodbury, Minn., is the first Navy runner in nearly a decade to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in back-to-back years.
 
Draft Fulfills an Officer's Dream (Contra Costa Times)

Draft fulfills an officer's dream
Contra Costa Times
Contact Cam Inman at cinman@cctimes.com
Article Launched: 06/17/2007 03:01:42 AM PDT

You wouldn't think the 1,266th pick of baseball's amateur draft would create a buzz, especially aboard a U.S. Navy ship on the western Pacific seas.

But Jonathan Johnston, a gunnery officer on the USS Peleliu, went "ecstatic" when he learned the A's drafted him in the 42nd round on June 8.

"Baseball is something I've done for 20 years of my life, and I'm good at it," Johnston, a catcher, said in a late-night phone call last week from the USS Peleliu in undisclosed waters. "Every kid dreams of playing baseball. To play baseball and serve my country, that'd be great."

That's also a tricky scenario. But it's one Johnston, his tight-knit family in New Jersey, his Navy shipmates and the A's all hope comes true.

"It'd be a nice story," A's scouting director Eric Kubota said.

It's already a phenomenally inspiring tale about not giving up on a dream, and Johnston knew just how to cash in on his draft-day reality when he called home and spoke with his father in Hamilton Township, N.J.

"As soon as I found out and got to talk to him, I told him, 'Happy Father's Day,' " Johnston said.

Karl Johnston, who's celebrating his 49th birthday today, is as thrilled as his oldest son, and like everyone else, he wants to know when, or even if, his son will be able to start playing for the A's.

Johnston's only a year into his five-year commitment to the Navy, and he's not looking to shirk that responsibility. He'd prefer being reassigned, perhaps near an A's
Advertisement
Click Here!
minor-league affiliate -- possibly in Phoenix, Stockton or Kane County (Ill.) -- so he could also split time as a Navy recruiter.

"We'll support whatever the military's decision is," Kubota added.

Johnston's putting his request in writing to Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter, who last year suspended an early-release program because of the war in Iraq. Johnston's not looking to get released, however.

"I'm a guy that's big on commitment," Johnston, 23, said. "I made a commitment to the Navy. It's very important to me. I committed to something and I'm sticking with it. ... I just requested an opportunity to play."

It's been a year since he finished his fourth and final season at the Naval Academy, doing so by batting .317 and setting a program record with 35 stolen bases.

Several teams -- including the Cincinnati Reds -- expressed interest leading up to the 2006 baseball draft. But when his name wasn't called, he returned home dejected from a draft-day party with friends.

"That night at the dinner table, he said, 'I can't believe I don't ever get to play baseball again,' " recalled his mother, Glory Johnston. "I told him, 'It's not over if you don't want it to be over. If it's meant to happen, it will.'"

Thanks to the A's, Johnston became the first position player -- and just the third overall -- drafted in the 112-year history of Naval Academy baseball.

Since then, Johnston -- or, "Jay" to his friends, and "Ensign" to the Navy -- is being congratulated by the 1,500-member crew throughout the USS Peleliu's passageways.

"Everybody's been pulling for me," Johnston said.

They've been deployed since May 23 as part of a four-month humanitarian mission, repairing hospitals and schools and providing medical assistance. They were in Guam last weekend and are proceeding into Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Johnston oversees eight sailors, so handling a future A's pitching staff shouldn't be anything new. He's also in charge of the ship's machine guns and rifles, so dealing with a wild pitch shouldn't be too daunting.

And just how does he keep his baseball tools from getting rusty? Picture this:

-- He hits whiffle balls in a hangar bay.

-- He carries a spare mitt so he can play catch with any volunteer (and good thing he did, because no one else brought a mitt on his current voyage).

-- He runs up and down ramps to keep strong the legs that have made him such a multipurpose threat on the field.

"Obviously I'm not playing," Johnston said, "but I'm doing the best I can."

Here's his self-described scouting report:

Left-handed hitting catcher. ... Just started switch-hitting this year. Athletic, so can make the adjustment. ... Runs well. Used to steal bags all the time. ... Good arm. ... Moves well behind the dish. ... 5-foot-11, 195 pounds.

"He's a very good defensive catcher, and he runs like the wind," Karl Johnston said.

So how does one find out about being drafted when you're halfway around the world?

For Johnston, news zipped down the family tree, starting with younger brother Shawn's scouring of the Internet's draft tracker. He relayed the news to his mother, who then told her twin daughters -- "They screamed," Glory said -- and the girls rushed to the nearby ballpark to tell their dad, who was coaching American Legion Post 313.

"They were driving down the street, horns blaring and telling me Jonathan got drafted," Karl said. "It made me feel very good."

Karl already had heard the news, though, once Shawn called his younger brother, Karl Jr., at the field.

Meanwhile, Jonathan happened to call home, and it was Glory who told him he got drafted.

"I love you mom," he replied.

His allotted time on the ship's phone quickly ran out, so he rushed to find his executive officer, who already had the draft results up on his computer.

The USS Peleliu is based in San Diego, and so is the U.S. Military All-Stars with whom Johnston has played. Doing so helped spark a February tryout with A's area scout Craig Weissman.

"Weissman really kept his hopes and spirits up," Karl Johnston added.

The connection with the A's doesn't end there. Chris Pittaro, the A's national field coordinator, is a fellow native of Hamilton Township and has known of Johnston since his days in American Legion ball.

"I relayed to the (A's) office that the kid, make-up wise, is one of the best you'll run into," Pittaro said. "Craig reiterated that, too, and, plus, he liked him as a ballplayer."

Kubota met Johnston at a San Diego State baseball game this spring and praised his demeanor and athletic ability. As for the prospect of being a 42nd-round pick, keep in mind that Keith Hernandez also was one and he played 17 seasons in the majors.

"We're waiting to see what happens," Kubota said. "We're obviously in a time of military conflict, so it's hard to imagine they'll let him out (of the Navy). But we wanted to provide him an opportunity."

The Raiders provided a similar one in 1986 to running back Napoleon McCallum, a fourth-round pick out of Navy. He played that year for the then-Los Angeles Raiders, then finished up his Navy commitment before returning to the Raiders for the 1990-94 seasons.

McCallum, who sustained career-ending broken leg in the 1994 opener against the 49ers, hopes Johnston gets to play ball. But McCallum is also respectful of other military personnel whose personal goals also are on hold.

"He'd probably make more (of a difference) in recruiting and showing a positive image of the Navy," McCallum said. "I thought they had a provision for gifted and talented athletes, but I don't know if that's the case in a time of war. That's the only strike against him.

"I feel bad for him, but I feel bad for our country, too."

Johnston said McCallum and former NBA star David Robinson, another Naval Academy product, have been "very encouraging" to him.

"They made the Navy look good," Johnston said. "They were good in sports and strived to be the best competitors."

The A's have now given the Navy a chance to look good, too.

"The Oakland A's is a great organization that prides itself on its minor-league system. They make bold moves," Johnston said. "This is one of them."

Best-case scenario, Johnston is playing in the Arizona League in a few weeks, if the Navy approves the switch and lets him fly home early from the humanitarian mission.

Maybe the Arizona fall league is another scenario. Maybe the military operations in Iraq will decide his fate.

Only the Navy knows.

"He told me, 'Dad, all I want is a shot. That's all I need,'" Karl Johnston said. "With his work ethic, something very good will come out of it."

Perhaps something already has.

"It's amazing. Coming out of high school, I didn't think I had a chance to get drafted," said the 1,266th selection of this year's draft. "I worked so hard.

"It's satisfying, but it's just the beginning."
 
Navy Baseball: Harris Named Baseball America Third-Team All-American

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Mitch Harris Named Baseball America Third-Team All-American

DURHAM, N.C. – For his exploits on the mound and at the plate, Navy baseball pitcher/outfielder Mitch Harris (Jr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) has been selected a 2007 Baseball America Third-Team All-American as a utility player, it was announced on Friday night.

Harris is the first player in Navy’s 112-year program history to earn All-America status twice during his career, as he was named an ABCA/Rawlings Third-Team All-American pitcher last year. This marks the seventh time in school history that a Navy player has been tabbed an All-American.

Heading into the College World Series, the Navy right-hander is one of only two pitchers in the nation to rank among the top 25 in ERA (24th, 2.14 ERA), strikeouts (19th, 114 K) and strikeouts per nine innings (fifth, 12.1 K/9 IP).

The product of Mt. Holly, N.C., concluded his junior season with an 8-5 record on the mound with a 2.14 ERA over 14 starts, spanning 88.2 innings. During that time, he struck out a Patriot League-record 119 batters and limited the opposition to a meager .181 batting average. The hard-throwing right-hander went at least five innings in all 14 outings, nine of which quality starts (6+ IP and 3- ER). He also struck out more batters than innings pitched in 13 of his 14 visits to the mound in 2007.

As a hitter, Harris batted .293 (51-for-174) on the year and led the team in doubles (10), triples (four), home runs (eight), RBI (47) and slugging (.534). His eight round-trippers were tops among all Patriot League hitters in 2007 and placed him third on the program’s single-season home run list. Against Holy Cross on March 31-April 1, he became the second Navy hitter in program history to belt a home run in three-consecutive games and the first to do so against Patriot League pitching.

Harris was selected Second-Team All-Patriot League as both a starting pitcher and a designated hitter in May, becoming the first player in school history to earn all-league accolades at two different positions within the same year.

Two weeks ago in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, Harris was selected in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves organization. He is currently playing summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League.

With the help of Harris, the 2007 Midshipmen broke the school record for wins in a season with 35 and advanced to the Patriot League Tournament for the 12th time since joining the league in 1993.
 
Navy Baseball: Harris Selected ABCA Second-Team All-Region

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Harris Selected ABCA Second-Team All-Region

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy baseball starting pitcher Mitch Harris (Jr./Mt. Holly, N.C.) has been named a 2007 ABCA Second-Team All-Northeast Region selection, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Harris is the first player in school history to earn ABCA all-region accolades multiple times during his career. Last season, he was named a first-team all-region selection prior to being tabbed a third-team All-American.

Last Friday, Harris was named a 2007 Baseball America Third-Team All-American as a utility player, becoming the first player in the program's 112-year history to earn All-America status twice during his career.

Heading into the College World Series, the Navy right-hander is one of only two pitchers in the nation to rank among the top 25 in ERA (24th, 2.14 ERA), strikeouts (19th, 119 K) and strikeouts per nine innings (fifth, 12.1 K/9 IP).

The product of Mt. Holly, N.C., concluded his junior season with an 8-5 record on the mound with a 2.14 ERA over 14 starts, spanning 88.2 innings. During that time, he struck out a Patriot League-record 119 batters and limited the opposition to a meager .181 batting average. The hard-throwing right-hander went at least five innings in all 14 outings, nine of which quality starts (6+ IP and 3- ER). He also struck out more batters than innings pitched in 13 of his 14 visits to the mound in 2007.

Harris was selected Second-Team All-Patriot League as both a starting pitcher and a designated hitter in May, becoming the first player in school history to earn all-league accolades at two different positions within the same year.

Two weeks ago in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, Harris was selected in the 24th round by the Atlanta Braves organization. He is currently playing summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod League.

With the help of Harris, the 2007 Midshipmen broke the school record for wins in a season with 35 and advanced to the Patriot League Tournament for the 12th time since joining the league in 1993.
 
Hurley Puts Golf on Hold To Fulfill Naval Commitment

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002146.html

Billy Hurley III has played in his last professional golf tournament for a while, though he is determined to resume his golfing career once he completes the final two years of his five-year military commitment as a graduate of the Naval Academy.

This week, Hurley, a 25-year-old native of Leesburg, shipped out to Pearl Harbor, where he'll be based when he's not at sea, serving as an officer on the destroyer USS Chung-Hoon, named for the first Hawaian-born admiral and a World War II hero. Over the next two years, he'll likely be aboard ship for about nine months, leaving little time to work on his game....
Click to expand...
 
Navy’s Metz Moving on Up

http://www.news-register.net/articles.asp?articleID=20938

Darrah Metz has taken a big step up the women’s basketball coaching ladder.

The Ohio Valley native, who spent the past three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Navy, has been hired to fill those same roles at the University of Evansville by Purple Aces head coach Tricia Cullop.

‘‘We’re very fortunate to be able to add a person of Darrah’s caliber to our basketball family,’’ Cullop said. ‘‘She came highly recommended by three of my coaching peers....
Click to expand...
 
Navy Men's Track & Field: Harris Competes at USA Track & Field Championship

For Immediate Release
Friday, June 22, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Paul Harris Competes at USA Track & Field Championship

INDIANAPOLIS – Navy men’s track & field middle distance runner Paul Harris (Woodbury, Minn.) finished sixth in his first-round heat of the 800-meter run at the 2007 USA Track & Field Championship held at the Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium in Indianapolis on Thursday afternoon.

Harris crossed the finish line with a time of 1:49.65 and placed 27th among all competitors on Thursday. The top-two runners in each heat plus the next eight-fastest times qualified for the semifinal round on Friday evening.

Harris, a 2007 All-American in the indoor 800-meter run, qualified for this year's USA Outdoor Track & Field Championship with a school-record 1:47.55 showing during the preliminary round of the IC4A Championship in May. Harris' clocking ranks as a 'B' cut qualifying time for both the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The Navy rising senior owns the five-fastest 800-meter run times in program history and is the lone runner in school history to post a sub-1:49.00 clocking on the outdoor track. The product of Woodbury, Minn., is the first Navy runner in nearly a decade to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in back-to-back years.
 
Curran: Mids’ top gun on soccer field

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062007/olnespo201330_32359.shtml

Meggie Curran, who led the Good Counsel girls soccer team to four consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament titles from 1999-2002, was recently flipping through an old journal when she came across an entry from October 2002. At the time she was at Naval Academy Preparatory School gearing up for her freshman season with the Naval Academy women’s soccer team and, after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament, was amid months of painful physical therapy. In the entry, she vowed never to endure such torment again....
Click to expand...


curransp062007_rgbb.jpg

Good Counsel graduate Meggie Curran was recently honored with the Naval Academy’s Vice Admiral Lawrence Sword for Women.
​
 
Navy Men's Lacrosse Media Guide Ranked No. 2 In The Country

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 22, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Navy Men¹s Lacrosse Media Guide Ranked No. 2 In The Nation

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-The Naval Academy Men¹s Lacrosse Media Guide, produced by the Navy Sports Information Office, was ranked No. 2 in the country by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Associate Sports Information Director Stacie Michaud was the writer and editor of the publication, Director of Publications Kelli Sheesley handled the layout and design and Phil Hoffmann was the photographer.

The top five consisted of Army, Navy, Massachusetts, Notre Dame Women and Notre Dame Men.
 
Commentary: Lacrosse truly just a game for these guys

The Carson-based Riptide feature Jarboe, Pieczonka and Gill, three U.S. Naval Academy graduates who are on active duty.

http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/8152092.html?showAll=y&c=y

Mickey Jarboe, Chris Pieczonka and Graham Gill have turned the plot of "You're in the Navy Now," a 1951 movie starring Gary Cooper, upside down.

Jarboe, Pieczonka and Gill are graduates of the United States Naval Academy on active duty. That's not light and whimsical. Not in these troubled times.

Lt. Jarboe is a helicopter pilot stationed in San Diego. He has had tours in South America in the war on drugs, and in the Middle East at the epicenter of the war on terrorism....
Click to expand...
 
Marine Piccioni delivers message of perseverance

http://www.altoonamirror.com/Sports/articles.asp?articleID=12953

Anthony Piccioni stood among the crowd at the Blair County Convention Center Friday evening, garbed resplendently in his “Dress Blues.’’ Asked what it was like to be able to see himself in the mirror so attired, Piccioni’s casual, amiable demeanor became earnest.

“I actually feel bad about wearing this uniform yet, because there are so many guys [in the Middle East], they live and die for this uniform,’’ said Piccioni, a recent graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with the rank of second lieutenant who has chosen a service commitment in the Marine Corps.

“I feel very honored to even put this uniform on.’’...
Click to expand...


b1Piccioni.jpg

Former PSFCA standout Anthony Piccioni was the keynote speaker at PSFCA awards banquet Friday.
​
 
Cape League Extra: Pitcher has pro potential

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/SPORTS/706220327

The question is not what will Mitch Harris do with his future, but rather what will he be allowed to do.

Harris, the Bourne Braves' 6-foot-4 inch, right-handed strikeout machine, will be a senior at the United States Naval Academy next year. He also has developed into a pretty fair pitcher, something neither he nor Navy foresaw when he signed as a third baseman out of South Point High School in Belmont, N.C.

When the Atlanta Braves drafted Harris earlier this month in the 24th round (738th overall), he became the first Navy junior ever selected in the major league draft, and only the second Navy player ever chosen. Toronto took Matt Foster in the 13th round in 2003. Foster sat out two years before he was allowed to play a full season of pro ball, and was eventually released....
Click to expand...
 
Navy Men's Cross Country/Track & Field: Niemi Named Second-Team Academic All-American

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Niemi Named ESPN The Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two weeks after earning first-team academic all-district accolades, Navy’s Michael Niemi (Duluth, Minn.) has been tabbed an ESPN The Magazine Second-Team Academic All-American, it was announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Tuesday morning.

Niemi is the fourth Navy men’s track & field member and second men’s cross country runner to earn Academic All-America status in program history. Navy men’s track & field/cross country competitor Eric Eckstrand was the last Navy runner tabbed for the award , as he was a third-team selection in 2004.

Niemi’s second-team kudos are the highest by a Navy men’s track & field member since Matt Bogdan was named a first-team at-large selection in 1992. Niemi was also the lone representative from the Patriot League on this year’s Academic All-America teams and becomes the 10th track member and seventh cross country runner in league history to earn Academic All-America distinction.

The product of Duluth, Minn., earned a spot on the national ballot by virtue of his first-team academic all-district honors two weeks ago. Initial nominees for the district ballot must have been of at least sophomore standing, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and either were a starter or key reserve.

Niemi, the 2006 Patriot League Men's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, served on both the Navy men's cross country and track & field teams during his four-year career in Annapolis. He ran in 21 cross country meets between 2003-06 and scored in all seven meets this season, highlighted by four top-15 finishes. With the track & field squad, the product of Duluth, Minn., posted a victory in three different events and competed at the IC4A Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase this year. In 2006, he earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors by winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the league's outdoor championship.

In the classroom, Niemi graduated 19th in his class of 1046 with a 3.94 cumulative grade point average while majoring in systems engineering. He posted a 4.0 grade point average in five semesters, earning Superintendent's List recognition five times and Commandant's List honors on seven occasions. The three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member in both cross country and track & field maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average among his major's courses.
 
Cape League Extra: Pitcher has pro potential

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/SPORTS/706220327

The question is not what will Mitch Harris do with his future, but rather what will he be allowed to do.

Harris, the Bourne Braves' 6-foot-4 inch, right-handed strikeout machine, will be a senior at the United States Naval Academy next year. He also has developed into a pretty fair pitcher, something neither he nor Navy foresaw when he signed as a third baseman out of South Point High School in Belmont, N.C.

When the Atlanta Braves drafted Harris earlier this month in the 24th round (738th overall), he became the first Navy junior ever selected in the major league draft, and only the second Navy player ever chosen. Toronto took Matt Foster in the 13th round in 2003. Foster sat out two years before he was allowed to play a full season of pro ball, and was eventually released....
Click to expand...


bilde


​
 
Navy Offshore Sailing Stays Busy in the Summer

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Navy Offshore Sailing team has been active during Block 1 with four boats that participated in a variety of events. The Block is wrapping up this week and two of the four crews sailed home to Annapolis early Monday morning.

The crew of Swift, led by skipper Mark McClure earned second place in class in the Annapolis - Newport Race and also took honors for Best Performance by a Service Academy boat. Also participating were American Promise (skipper Ryan England), Tomcat (skipper Chris Hamilton) and Polaris (skipper James Lawsing).

Both Swift and American Promise participated in the Marion to Bermuda Race. American Promise won both the Naval Academy Trophy for best finish by a Chesapeake Bay entry and The Bartram Trophy for the Best Fleet finish by a Service Academy crewed boat. Swift earned a trophy for second place in her class.

While Swift and AP raced to Bermuda, Tomcat and Polaris participated in Block Island Race Week off the coast of New England. Tomcat finished fourth in IRC class 0 and won the trophy for best finish by a Service Academy entry and also scored a second-place trophy in the Around the Island Race. Polaris finished 7th also in IRC class 0.

Block 2 begins July 1. Matt Recker will skipper the 66-foot Zaraffa in both the Annapolis to Solomons Race and the Around Long Island Race.
 
Navy Lacrosse - Former Mids to play in MLL All-Star Game

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Men's Lacrosse Contact: Stacie Michaud (410) 293-8773
For more information on Navy Men's Lacrosse, log on to www.NavySports.com


Former Navy Lax Standouts Named to MLL All-Star Rosters

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Former Navy lacrosse standouts Mickey Jarboe ('00) and Graham Gill ('05) have been selected to play in the Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game it was announced over the weekend. Televised by ESPN2, the MLL All-Star Game is set for a 12:30 pm face-off at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass. on July 8 where the Eastern Conference will battle all-stars from the Western Conference.

Jarboe and Gill are among seven former Navy lacrosse players who are on the Los Angeles Riptide roster this summer. Joining the two MLL All-Stars are Sean Donnelly, a member of Navy's Class of '92 who served five years as a member of the Civil Engineering Corps and is currently a real estate developer in San Francisco; Mitch Hendler ('05), stationed in San Diego as a Force Protection Officer on the USS VANDEGRIFT; Chris Pieczonka ('05), also stationed in San Diego as a Force Protection Officer on the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN; Matt Russell ('06), an ensign in the Navy who is based out of San Diego and Jon Birsner ('06), who is a member of the team but is currently at sea.

A helicopter pilot based out of San Diego, Jarboe returned to the game of lacrosse this summer where he has led the Riptide to the Western Conference lead with a 4-2 record. He owns the MLL's third-lowest goals-against average, giving up 13.26 per contest, while stopping better than 50 percent of the shots he has faced.

While at Navy, Jarboe garnered All-America recognition twice and was the recipient of the highest honor bestowed upon a collegiate goalkeeper, the Ens. C. Markland Kelly Award, in 1999 and 2000.

Gill, who is finishing up flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas this week, played his inaugural season with the New Jersey Pride in '05 and was acquired by the Riptide last year and played in eight games. He is the team's fourth-leading scorer with 16 points on 13 goals and three assists. His 13 goals are the second most on the team behind Michael Watson's 16 and tied as the 15th most in the league.

A two-time All-American, Gill led the Mids to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Mids' journey to the National Championship Game against Syracuse in 2004.

In addition to the game, the All-Star festivities will include the Bud Light MLL All-Star Skills competition, which will take place at halftime. The events will consist of the fastest shot, accuracy and freestyle contests with Gill competing in the fastest shot battle.


2007 All-Star Roster: Eastern Conference
No. Name Pos. Team
0 Mikey Powell A Boston
1 Dan Cocchi M Long Island
3 Roy Colsey M Philadelphia
4 Chris Passavia D Boston
6 Brian Dougherty G Philadelphia
7 Kyle Sweeney D Philadelphia
8 Peter Vlahakis M Long Island
9 Matt Striebel M Philadelphia
11 Kyle Dixon M Washington
12 Matt Ward A Washington
13 Stephen Berger M Long Island
14 Ryan Boyle A Philadelphia
15 Chris Garrity G Washington
17 Brodie Merrill D Rochester
18 Kyle Harrison M New Jersey
22 Casey Powell A Rochester
23 Matt Poskay M Boston
24 John Grant, Jr. A Rochester
41 Nicky Polanco D Long Island

Head Coach: Tony Resch, Philadelphia
Assistant Coach: Bill Daye, Boston


2007 All-Star Roster: Western Conference
No. Name Pos. Team
2 Brendan Mundorf A Denver
5 Eric Martin D San Francisco
6 Brian Langtry M Denver
7 Geoff Snider M Denver
9 Josh Sims M Denver
12 Graham Gill M Los Angeles
15 Jeff Sonke M Denver
19 Kevin Leveille A Chicago
21 Sean Lindsay M Los Angeles
22 Ryan Powell A San Francisco
25 Chris Rotelli M San Francisco
26 Pat Heim N Chicago
29 Lee Zink D Denver
30 Mickey Jarboe G Los Angeles
36 Mike Culver D Chicago
37 Benson Erwin M Denver
40 Trevor Tierney G Denver
44 Greg Bice D Los Angeles
77 Spencer Ford A Los Angeles

Head Coach: John Tucker, Los Angeles
Assistant Coach: TBA
 
Navy Women's Track & Field: Andrews Named First-Team Academic All-America

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Contact: Jonathan Maggart (410) 293-8771

Andrews Selected ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-America

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy’s Kirsten Andrews (New Holland, Pa.) has been named a 2007 ESPN The Magazine First-Team Academic All-American in women’s track & field/cross country, it was announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Wednesday morning.

Andrews, a 2006 ESPN The Magazine Third-Team Academic All-America selection, is the first Navy women’s track & field member in school history and the second in Patriot League history to earn Academic All-America honors twice in her career. Only Fordham’s Lauren Gubicza in 1992-93 had earned the Academic All-America distinction multiple times in her career before Andrews joined the elite class on Wednesday.

Andrews also became the first Navy women’s track & field competitor in program history and the second in Patriot League history to earn First-Team Academic All-America kudos. Prior to Wednesday, Bucknell’s Kelly Marsh in 1991 was the lone first-team selection from the league in the sport.

A native of New Holland, Pa., Andrews earned was one of 15 first-team selections and one of two Patriot League members selected for this year’s Academic All-America teams, as Bucknell’s Melanie Buczko was named to the third team.

Andrews earned a spot on the national ballot by virtue of her first-team academic all-district honors two weeks ago. Initial nominees for the district ballot must have been of at least sophomore standing, have a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA and either were a starter or key reserve.

A two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year in women’s track & field, Andrews broke four school records during her senior campaign and graduated from the Academy holding six program records. The indoor team captain earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors in five events this year and was named the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Meet at both the indoor and outdoor championship in 2007. She has earned All-East recognition six times during her career and became the first midshipman in program history to compete in two events at the NCAA East Region Championship last year. At the 2007 NCAA regional championship, she tied for eighth place in the pole vault, the highest finish by a Navy competitor in school history.

In the classroom, Andrews earned a 3.91 cumulative grade point average while majoring in quantitative economics. She posted a 4.0 grade point average during each of her final-four semesters and graduated 37th out of her class of 1046. She was named to the Superintendent's List each of the last-four semesters and was honored on the Commandant's List during all eight of her semesters in Annapolis. This past spring, she was one of 29 females in the country to earn a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, which she will use while doing graduate studies in the field of operations research at the University of Delaware.
 
Lange Reveals 2011 Recruiting Class

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy men's basketball head coach Billy Lange recently announced his third full recruiting class which features five players, including one transfer. The Class of 2011 is a diverse group as three guards and two interior players make up the recruiting class. Lange is confident that all five players will come in and make a significant contribution.

“We feel once again that we went out and got players that will contribute right away,” said Lange. “We are really excited about this group’s athleticism and toughness. We have added size and recruited a pair of traditional centers in Mark Veazey and Jeremy Wilson that will rebound and block shots and help our interior game significantly. We also have a pure point guard coming in O.J. Avworo, who played very well last year at the University of Idaho. Romeo (Garcia) gives us a lot of toughness, plays great defense and has a feel for the game like a point guard, even though he can play multiple positions. Lastly, Greg Brown has a tremendous upside. He can shoot the ball well, can jump and rebound. He played in an outstanding conference (WCAC), so he knows what it takes to be successful.”

Three of the five incoming players are from Texas. Since Lange has taken over the Navy basketball program, he has landed six players from the state.

“I have to give some credit to assistant coach Eugene Burroughs, in landing those players from Texas. He has recruited that state hard and has developed some strong relationships there,” said Lange. “It’s a great state to recruit in. There is a lot of talent there and a lot of the families there have the same values that the Naval Academy does.”

O.J. Avworo • Guard • 6-0 • 180 • Houston, Texas • Alief Elsik High School • University of Idaho
Will sit out the 2007-08 season per NCAA regulations after transferring from the University of Idaho ... Avworo was one of the top freshmen in the Western Athletic Conference, averaging 3.6 ppg, 3.1 apg and 2.6 rpg, while starting 24-of-31 games at the University of Idaho ... was one of four Vandals to play in all 31 games and his 24 starts were the second most on the team ... his 95 assists were tops on the squad and Avwero recorded an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.30 ... ranked second on the squad with 21 steals ... scored 10 points at Boise State (Feb. 7) ... recorded a strong floor game in an overtime loss against Fresno State (Feb. 3) with five points, nine rebounds and eight assists ... dished out eight assists in a loss to Utah State (Feb. 10) ... scored nine points on 4-of-6 shooting with five assists and no turnovers while playing all 40 minutes against Idaho State (Dec. 6) ... added eight points in just 17 minutes against South Dakota State (Nov. 16) ... dished out!
seven assists with six points and four rebounds at North Dakota State (Dec. 16) ... recorded at least five assists eight times on the season ... averaged 6.7 rpg in the last three games of the year ... snared season-best three steals with five assists, four points and three rebounds at nationally-ranked Nevada (Jan. 6) ... averaged 10.8 ppg, 11.3 apg, 3.8 rpg and 3.6 spg as a high school senior at Alief Elsik High School ... ended his career as the school’s all-time leader in assists (924) ... led the Houston area in assists per game (11.3) and dished out 409 helpers as a senior leading team to a 24-8 record ... was the state assist leader as a senior ... was a three-time all-district selection and was a Class 5A Honorable Mention All-State selection, while leading Alief Elsik High School to an 84-26 record in his four years with a district title ... was a team MVP twice ... ranked by TexasHoops.com as one of the top 24 players in the state ... received recruiting intere!
st from Stanford, Rice, Colorado State, SMU and Charlotte, before deci
d
ing on Idaho ... made the school’s honor roll all four years and was a member of the debate team ... full name is Ojevwe Avworo ... son of Augustine and Stella Avworo ... born Nov. 9, 1987, in Warri, Nigeria ... has five siblings.

Greg Brown • Guard • 6-4 • 185 • Waldorf, Md. • St. Mary’s Ryken High School
A 2006 graduate of St. Mary Ryken High School ... team played in the WCAC, one of the toughest high school conferences in the country ... second-leading scorer on team, averaging just over 16.0 ppg ... helped team to a 16-11 overall record and a 9-9 league record ... high school teammate of West Virginia’s John Flowers ... played on the same team as several other Division I prospects ... played last season at NAPS, averaging 10.0 ppg ... garnered interest from Dartmouth, Boston University and Virginia Military ... son of Gary and Charmaine Brown ... born Sept. 11, 1988.

Romeo Garcia • Guard • 6-4 • 205 • Cypress, Texas • Cypress Creek High School
Garcia had an outstanding high school career, leading Cypress Creek High School to a 23-12 record as a senior and a Spring Branch Championship ... was a two-time Class 5A All-District player ... earned team MVP honors in 2006 and was the team’s top defensive player as a sophomore in 2005 ... also received interest from Army and Air Force ... ranked in the top 100 by TexasHoops.com in its final 2007 rankings ... was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America while at Cypress Creek ... full name is Romeo Garcia III ... son of Romeo, Jr. and Viola Ney Garcia ... born Sept. 25, 1988, in Houston, Texas.

Mark Veazey • Forward • 6-10 • 215 • Lilburn, Ga. • Meadowcreek High School
A four-year letterwinner in basketball, Veazey graduated from Meadowcreek High School in 2007 ... helped lead team to two region championships and a combined 52-8 record during his final two seasons in Georgia’s largest class ... was a two-time team captain and was an All-Region selection ... high school teammate of Michigan State recruit, Chris Allen, who was one of the top players nationally, and rising senior Teondre Williams, who is garnering interest from Florida, Illinois and Tennessee... was one of the top players at the Chick-Fil-A Classic during his senior year, leading the prestigious national tournament with 12.0 rebounds per game ... three-year member of National Honor Society ... full name is Mark William Veazey ... son of John and Marjorie Veazey ... born Dec. 7, 1988, in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jeremy Wilson • Center • 6-9 • 233 • Helotes, Texas • Sandra Day O’Connor High School
Wilson lettered three times at O’Connor High School, graduating in 2006 ... was a two-time All-District selection, including a first-teamer in 2006 ... was the South San Antonio MVP in 2006 ... was All-Region and a San Antonio All-Star ... averaged a double-double as a senior ... ranked No. 50 by TexasHoops.com in its final 2006 rankings ... received interest from Texas State, Liberty, Wyoming and Youngstown State ... played last season at NAPS ... was a member of the chess club as a high school freshman ... full name is Jeremiah Brown Wilson ... son of Bryan Wilson and Rebekah Herrick ... born on July 19, 1987, in Bastrop, Texas.
 
CSTV TO CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH FIVE-DAYS OF PROGRAMMING FIREWORKS SHOWCASING BEST OF ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE

NEW YORK (JUNE 27, 2007) * CSTV is dedicating Independence Day Weekend to the action and excitement of the service academy athletic programs with a five-day programming block featuring the best of Army, Navy and Air Force, including a look at the Army-Navy football rivalry, one of the most renowned in the sport.

Beginning Saturday, June 30 at 10 a.m. ET and continuing through July 4. This showcase features compelling Army, Navy and Air Force games, in addition to a variety of original programming.

Viewers will be able to re-live great moments and history from basketball, football and lacrosse games, including the Army-Navy rivalry. Some of the programs and games to be featured include:

Dog Days: Navy Lacrosse

Airing Saturday, June 30 at 7:30 pm ET

CSTV spent several days with the Midshipmen in the off-season, capturing a behind-the-scenes look at the Navy lacrosse program¹s rigorous conditioning program patterned after Marine Landing Zone Training in Quantico. CSTV was there for the 5:00 a.m. workouts in the fall and again in the frigid month of February.

Anchors Aweigh for Honor & Glory * The History of Navy Football

Airing Saturday, June 30 at 8:30 pm ET

This one-hour special narrated by James Coburn details some of the highlights of Navy¹s football history, including the Heisman winning-seasons of Quarterback Roger Staubach and running back Joe Bellino.

Football: Air Force @ Navy ‹ Played on 10/8/05

Airing Saturday, June 30 at 1:00 pm ET

Navy's Joey Bullen kicked a game winning 46-yard field goal with 0.4 seconds left, giving the Midshipmen their first lead of the game and the lead in the race for the Commander-In-Chief¹s Trophy.

Football: Army vs. Navy

Airing all day Wednesday, July 4 beginning at 9:00 am ET

A marathon of the best games of this famed rivalry, which originally appeared on CBS Sports, are chronicled in this special.

Basketball: BYU @ Air Force * Played on 2/27/07

Airing Tuesday, July 3 at 6:00 pm ET

In what was Air Force's only home loss of the season, BYU secured a share of the Mountain West Conference title with its 12th conference win of the season. The loss snapped Air Force¹s 30-game home winning streak, which equaled BYU's for the longest in the nation.

Lacrosse: Army @ Navy ‹ Played on 4/14/07

Airing Sunday, July 1 at 6:30 pm ET

Despite a furious comeback where Army tied the game at 9-9, Navy pulled out a hard-fought win.

For the full programming schedule, log on to www.CSTV.com
<http://www.cstv.com/> .


About CSTV Networks

CSTV Networks, Inc., now part of the CBS Corporation, is the leading digital and cable programming company dedicated to college sports. Connecting more fans to more college sports than any other company, its many platforms for programming distribution include CSTV: College Sports TV, televising regular-season and championship events for 35 men's and women's college sports; CSTV.com and its network of more than 215 official athletic sites; CSTV All Access, broadband services providing live audio and video of more than 10,000 events annually; as well as satellite television and radio, in-flight entertainment, wireless networks and more. Further information is available at www.CSTV.com <http://www.cstv.com/> .
 
Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson Announces Class of 2011

For: Immediate Release
Sent: June 27, 2007
Contact: Scott Strasemeier (410) 293-8775

Navy Head Football Coach Paul Johnson Announces Class of 2011

ANNAPOLIS, Md.-Navy head football coach Paul Johnson released the names of the 2007 Navy football recruits on Wednesday evening as 47 prospects representing 20 states went through induction ceremonies and began plebe summer.

"I think this group has a chance to be pretty good for us down the road," said Johnson. "As always, we emphasized speed and athleticism and I think this class has that."

The state of Georgia produced the most prospects with seven, while North Carolina and Florida have five players each in the incoming class. There are four recruits hailing from Texas and three each from California and Pennsylvania.

Navy football season tickets are currently on sale at the Ricketts Hall Box Office, by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY, or by logging on to the web at www.navysports.com. Navy's home opener is Sept. 15 against Ball State in a 5 p.m. contest that will be televised nationally by CSTV.

The list is also attached as a PDF for better viewing


NAVY FOOTBALL CLASS OF 2011

Name Position Hgt. Wgt. Hometown/High School
John Angelo DB 5-9 180 Newport Beach, Calif./Santa Margarita
Andrew Barker OL 6-4 280 High Point, N.C./South West Guilford
Jeff Battipaglia OL 6-4 265 Newtown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep
Shane Bothel DL 6-3 240 Marlton, N.J./Cherokee
Donnie Bowers OL 6-6 230 Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier
Julius Bratton SB 5-8 185 Woodlawn, Tenn./Northwest
Ryan Brown QB 6-4 200 Danbury, Conn./Joel Barlow
Joe Buckley K/P 5-9 170 Dowington, Pa./Malvern Prep
Chase Burge DL 6-4 240 Rushville, Ohio/Fairfield
Andre Byrd SB 5-7 165 Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles
Lee Calloway DL 5-11 240 Ft. Myers, Fla./Dunbar
Matt Cook OL 6-3 272 Little Rock, Ark./Central Christian
J.J. Cosh SB 5-9 175 Manhattan, Kan./Riley County
Jake Cross DL 6-2 275 Seffner, Fla./Armwood
Kori Cumberland DL 6-4 265 Jacksonville, N.C./Southwest-Onslow
Joe Davis CB 6-0 185 Olmsted Falls, Ohio/St. Edwards
Robby Davis QB 6-0 185 Peach Tree City, Ga./Starrs Mill
Kyle Delahooke K 6-1 185 Pasadena, Calif./Maranatha
Ricky Dobbs QB 6-1 190 Douglasvile, Ga./Douglas County
Kevin Edwards DB 6-2 175 Charlotte, N.C./Vance
Brian Gilbert DL 6-1 250 Panama City, Fla./Bay
Trey Grissom OLB 6-3 220 Garner, N.C./Garner
Taylor Hamilton DE 6-3 220 Leawood, Kan./Blue Valley North
Jerry Harburger LB 6-0 212 Baltimore, Md./Eastern Technical
Gregory Harrell WR 6-4 200 Plano, Texas/Plano
Wes Holland SB 5-11 197 Pelham, Ala./Pelham
James Howell DB 5-8 175 Fleming Island, Fla./Fleming Island
Greg Jones SB 5-10 180 San Antonio, Texas/Ronald Reagan
Kalin Krause LB 6-0 230 Mobile, Ala./St. Paul's Episcopal
Clyde Lydick DL 6-4 240 Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands
Emmett Merchant DB 5-9 185 Riverdale, Ga./Riverdale
Wyatt Middleton DB 6-0 200 Norcross, Ga./Marist
Matt Malloy OL 6-3 243 Berlin, Md./Stephan Decatur
Vince Murray FB 6-1 205 Union, Ky./Ryle
Nick Peterson OLB 6-2 200 Annapolis, Md./Broadneck
John Ponce LB 5-9 180 Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Mission Viejo
Mike Schupp WR 5-10 165 Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep
James Simien LB 6-1 210 Lawrenceville, Ga./Norcross
Tyler Simmons LB 6-3 208 Goldsby, Okla./Washington
Patrick Snow OL 6-1 248 Houston, Texas/Clear Lake
Travis Sudderth LB 6-2 215 Lilburn, Ga./Parkview
Michael Sweeney LB 6-3 215 Floral Park, N.Y./Kellenberg
Mario Washington WR 5-9 170 Boiling Springs, N.C./Crest
John White K/P 6-2 190 Atlanta, Ga./St. Pius X
Sean Williams DL 6-3 220 Beaverton, Ore./Jesuit
Jason Wright DB 6-1 190 Granger, Ind./Penn
Billy Yarbourough DL 6-5 245 Columbia, S.C./Ridge View
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top