Press releases

Twenty-one scholarship athletes commit in early signing period

Binghamton University has signed 21 scholastic and junior college athletes who will become the school’s first NCAA Division I recruiting class in 2001-02.
Spanning nine sports, seven states and two countries, the athletes signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period, which was from November 11-18.

Baseball bolsters lineup with four recruitsNinth year head coach Tim Sinicki signed three high school seniors and one junior college player to athletic scholarships for the 2001-02 school year. Shawn Collyer (Cortland, N.Y.), Tom Gaube (Vestal, N.Y.), Brian Lindsay (Horseheads, N.Y.) and J.B. Stovall (Chesapeake, Va.) each signed National Letters of Intent, and will begin their collegiate careers in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Collyer is a right-handed hitting shortstop from Cortland High School who was named first team all-league, first-team all-Central New York and fifth team Class B all-state as a junior. The 6-foot, 180-pound infielder batted .526 last spring.

"Shawn is a tremendous athlete who has the ability to play all the infield positions as well as the outfield, " Sinicki said. "He has the ability to be a major contributor for our program."

Gaube, 6-1, 170 pounds, played third base for nearby Vestal High School, but will move to the mound for BU’s 2001 season. Over the summer, Gaube played for the District 6 champion legion team. Tom is the son of Jerry Gaube, who pitched for Binghamton from 1973-76. He signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees in July, 1976.

"Tom’s a solid third baseman, however, with his arm strength, I believe he can be an outstanding collegiate pitcher," Sinicki said. "We’re expecting him to make an immediate impact on our program."

Lindsay is a 6-2, 165-pound shortstop from Horseheads High School. A first team All-Southern Tier Athletic Conference selection as a junior, Lindsay also led Horseheads to the Class A state championship in 1999.

"Brian comes with a great deal of experience at the scholastic level," Sinicki said. "He’s a four-year starter at an outstanding Class A program, and I’m expecting big things from him immediately."

Stovall is a 6-2, 210-pound, left-handed pitcher who plays for Young Harris (Ga.) Junior College. He went 8-2 last spring, helping the team post a 37-13 record. Stovall was a first team all-state selection as a Virginia high school senior for Green Brier Christian Academy.

"J.B. will step right into the top of our starting rotation," Sinicki said. "He’s a tremendous competitor who will get the ball for conference and key non-conference matchups."

Women’s swimming signs standout from EnglandThird-year coach Benji DeMotte has signed another immensely talented international athlete - this time bolstering his women’s program with the addition of Hanna Clegg (Fareham, England). One year after inking men’s standout Chris McGuire, DeMotte has added a second swimmer with national-level experience.

Clegg competed in England’s Olympic Trials in the 50-meter, 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke, advancing to the semifinals in each event. When converted to yards, Clegg’s times in the 200 back would surpass BU’s existing school record by an astounding seven seconds, and her times would be approximately one second off the NCAA Division I qualifying standard.

Clegg has captured the Hampshire County championship in all three backstroke events in each of the last three years. In November, she received the Michael Austin Harlick Award as the county’s Outstanding Sports Person of the Year for swimming.

"Hanna is the most dominant recruit we’ve ever had," DeMotte said. "She is the first female athlete with Olympic-caliber talent, and will obviously have an instant impact on our program. She has the potential to make the NCAA Division I cut, and along the way, win her event in every dual meet our team competes in."

Softball signs two recruits to scholarshipsSixth-year head coach Holly Brown signed two high school seniors to athletic scholarships for the 2001-02 school year. Marybeth Yerdon (Lacona, N.Y./Sandy Creek) and Jennifer Whitley (Westbury, N.Y./Carl Place) each signed National Letters of Intent, and will begin their collegiate careers in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Yerdon is a two-time all-state selection from Sandy Creek High School. She is a three-time league all-star and two-time sectional all-star. Three times she led her high school team to the state final four, highlighted by a championship in 1997. Yerdon, who can play several positions, is entering her sixth year on the varsity team at Sandy Creek. She batted .427 as a sophomore and .389 last spring. Over the summer, Yerdon helped the Central team capture the gold medal at the Empire State Games. At Binghamton, she will join her sister, Margaret, who is the team’s pitching ace.

Whitley is a first team all-state shortstop from Carl Place High School. In 1999, she batted a team-best .400, with an on-base percentage of .636. Whitley led her team to the 1999 Nassau County championship, and Long Island regional championship. She was also named all-division, all-conference and all-county.

"Mary is a true all-around player, who can play almost every position and play it well," Brown said. "She has spent a lot of time around our program watching her sister, and she will fit in very well. Jennifer swings a powerful bat, and has great hands. She will be an offensive threat for us."

Volleyball signs four recruits to scholarshipsOn the heels of his team’s second straight ECAC Championship, second-year head coach Glenn Kiriyama has signed three high school seniors to athletic scholarships for the 2001-02 school year. Anne Crocus (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), Jennifer Smith (North Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Michele Heck (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) each signed National Letters of Intent, and will begin their collegiate careers in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Crocus is a six-foot middle hitter from Freedom High School. She was an all-state selection who led her scholastic team to back-to-back conference titles and the 1999 District XI Division IIIA championship. She was a first-team all-conference and all-district player, and was named Express Times Player of the Year in 1999.

"Anne is a strong, athletic player who can dominate at the net with both her hitting and blocking," Kiriyama said. "She’s an impact player who is actually young in her development as she only starting playing volleyball in high school. She has the potential to develop into one of the premier middles in the area."

Smith is a 5-10 setter from North Tonawanda High School who was a two-time All Western New York selection. She led her team to three consecutive state Class A championships, and also was a four-time all-conference pick.

"Jen is one of the top setters in the region, and I feel fortunate to have her join our program next year," Kiriyama said. "She is a versatile athlete who was an outside hitter for many years before converting to setter last season. She will certainly be a major factor in our success in the coming years."

Heck is a 5-10 outside hitter who earned all-conference and all-region honors for Resurrection High School. As team MVP, she led her team in solo blocks and block assists, and was named to the all-tournament team at the prestigious ASICS Junior National Volleyball Championships. Heck was also invited to play in the Pepsi Cola High School Senior All-State Tournament.

"Michele is extremely quick with an explosive jump," Kiriyama said. "She is a great athlete who will be instrumental in our transition to Division I."

Women’s tennis signs recruit from Long IslandThird-year head coach Jamie Campbell signed one scholastic senior to an athletic scholarship for the 2001-02 school year. Alexis Brill (Syosset, N.Y.) signed a National Letters of Intent, and will begin her collegiate career in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Brill is the top singles player for Syosset High School, where she went 32-4 as a junior. She is currently ranked 25th in the section for 18s, and is a three-time all-conference selection. In 1997 and 1998, Brill led Syosset to the Division I Nassau County championship, and was named team MVP in 1999.

She has attended the Nick Bolleteri camp in Florida for the past three years, and has also attended the Eastern Excel Tennis Camp as well. In recent years, she has played in national-level tournaments in Texas, Missouri, Virginia and California.

"Alexis will immediately impact our lineup," Campbell said. "She is a great athlete who covers the court well. She is quick and agile, and certainly has a solid foundation to become a super collegiate player."

Women’s basketball bolsters program with five recruits
Third-year head coach Laurie Trow has signed five high school seniors to athletic scholarships for the 2001-02 school year. Dagmara Bartula (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North), Andrea Herold (Rye, N.H./Portsmouth), Molly Miller (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian Academy), Laura Scordino (Vestal, N.Y.) and Karisa Quam (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) each signed National Letters of Intent, and will begin their collegiate careers in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Bartula is a 6-foot-2 center who is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds in her senior year at Glenbard North High. She was an all-conference and all-area selection as a junior, and also was named MVP of the Glenbard East Tournament.

"Dagmara has the size and strength we need," Trow said. "She is very athletic and can run the floor well. She is also a tremendous defensive player."

Herold is a 5-foot-5 point guard from Portsmouth High School who averaged 17 points, five assists, four rebounds and three steals in her junior season. She was a first-team all-state selection, and was named honorable mention USA Today Player of the Year in the state of New Hampshire. A four-year starter, team MVP and captain, Herold led her 1999-00 team to the state tournament. She has been tabbed by USA Today as a Player to Watch in New Hampshire entering her senior season.

"Andrea is a true point guard," Trow said. "At 5-5, her size is deceiving. She is a hard-nosed competitor with a tremendous work ethic."

Miller is a six-foot forward who averaged 15 points and 9.0 rebounds for a Vincentian Academy team that was ranked number one in Class AA last season. She was named to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette all-league, all-section and "Fabulous Five" teams. Miller also was ranked number three in Western Pennsylvania in the "Super Girls Scouting Report." She has led Vincentian to three straight sectional championships.

"Molly brings versatility to the 3-4 guard position," Trow said. "At 6-0, she shoots the ball very good from the perimeter. She is physical enough to play inside as well."

Scordino is a 5-foot-8 point guard from nearby Vestal High School, where she followed in the footsteps of current BU All-American guard Bess Greenberg. She averaged 17.6 points and 5.2 assists as a junior, earning all-state honors for the second straight year. She led the conference in scoring, surpassing the 1,000-point plateau along the way. Scordino also chipped in 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 steals. As a sophomore, she led Vestal to the state quarterfinals and a 20-3 record. In each of the past two summers, she has steered the Central New York team to a silver medal at the Empire State Games.

"Laura has the ability to play the 1 and 2 guard positions," Trow said. "She is a tremendous shooter and has the ball-handling skills and the smarts to play point guard."

Quam is one of the top-rated players in the state of Minnesota - a candidate for the prestigious Ms. Basketball honor entering her senior year. She averaged 18.5 points and 6.3 rebounds for a Kenyon-Wanamingo team that went 24-4 and advanced to the state Class A quarterfinals last year. She also averaged 4.0 assists and 3.1 steals, and could move over the 2,000-point scoring plateau this season.

"At 5-11, Karisa can play any perimeter position," Trow said. "She is a pure shooter at the 3-point range. She is also able to create her own shots."

Men’s basketball signs three recruits to scholarshipsFirst-year head coach Al Walker has signed two high school seniors and a junior college player to athletic scholarships for the 2001-02 school year. Andy Hannan (Minneapolis, Minn./Holy Angels), Roman Davis (Walnut Cove, N.C./South Stokes) and Anthony Green (Philadelphia, Pa./Marshalltown CC) each signed National Letters of Intent, and will begin their collegiate careers in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Hannan is a 6-foot-6, 190-pound guard from Academy of Holy Angels. Last season as a junior, he was a unanimous all-conference selection after averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 blocks per game. For the past two summers, Hannan has played for the Howard Pulley AAU team - one of the premier travel teams in the Twin Cities.

"Andy is a wonderful young basketball player," Walker said. "He has size, skills, athleticism and tremendous savvy - the entire package to be an outstanding collegiate guard."

Davis is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from South Stokes High School. As a junior, he averaged 15.6 points and a team-high 10.5 rebounds, earning all-conference honors. Davis led South Stokes to the second round of the state tournament.

"Roman is an outstanding young player," Walker said. "He is athletic, skilled and hungry. When we get him in the weight room and continue to develop his perimeter skills, Roman will become a tremendous collegiate forward. He is a fabulous addition to our program."

Green, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound point guard originally from Philadelphia, played for current BU assistant coach Randy Dunton last season at Marshalltown Junior College in Iowa. He averaged 13.1 points and five assists per game. Green also shot 45% from three-point range, and earned second team all-region honors after leading Marshalltown to a 21-9 record in a league that has produced the last four national champions. Green played scholastically for Germantown High School and then at Cedar Grove Prep School, drawing interest from UMass, Providence and LaSalle among others. While at Germantown, he led the city of Philadelphia in scoring with a 24.0 average. He will have two years of eligibility remaining. He is playing for Gloucester County College in Sewell, N.J. this season.

"We are excited to have Anthony say yes to Binghamton," Walker said. "He was Coach Dunton’s point guard at Marshalltown, and proved himself as a scorer, defender and leader in one of the toughest junior college conferences in the country. Anthony is an impact player for our program."

Wrestling signs two-time sectional championFourth-year head coach Mike Fusilli has signed added another scholastic standout to his program. Matt Barnes (Skaneateles, N.Y./Marcellus) has signed a National Letters of Intent, and will begin his collegiate career in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Barnes is a two-time Section III champion for Marcellus High School. At 119 pounds, he placed sixth at the 2000 state championship, and already owns more than 100 match victories.

"Matt is a very good athlete with a lot of wrestling experience," Fusilli said. "He is a two-time champion in one of the best sections in the state, and defeated the defending state champion last year. He has shot to win the state title this year, and will then compliment our lower weights at 133 pounds."

Men’s track and field signs standout hurdlerSixth-year head coach Mike Thompson signed one of New York State’s premier hurdlers to an athletic scholarship for the 2001-02 school year. Neil Case (West Winfield, N.Y./Mount Markham) signed a National Letters of Intent, and will begin his collegiate career in Binghamton’s first year of NCAA Division I.

Case placed third in the Class C/D 400 hurdles at the 2000 outdoor state meet for Mount Markham High School, and is also a standout on the school’s football and wrestling teams.

"Neil is a big, strong kid with a solid work ethic and attitude," Thompson said. "He has untapped potential, and could surprise a lot of people at the state meet this season, so we feel fortunate to have signed him early. We look for him to make an immediate impact on our program."