Miami Ohio University Athletics
Miami University RedHawks
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Nov. 12, 2003
OXFORD, Ohio - This afternoon in conjunction with Miami Basketball Media Day, the athletic department released all of its signees that have signed National Letters of Intent for the NCAA Early Signing Period.
Below is a short synopsis of the signees. A complete release of each sport's signees available on individual sport pages.
MEN'S BASKETBALL - TWO SIGNEES
Lawrence Ross (Battle Creek, Mich./Battle Creek Central): Ross averaged 17.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game as a junior, while averaging 9.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg and 4.0 apg during his sophomore stint at Battle Creek Central. Last season, Ross earned honorable mention all-state recognition and all-city and all-conference accolades. He also was tabbed a Nike All-American. During his sophomore campaign, the Bearcats claimed the conference and district titles. Ross is a two-year letterwinner and is team captain. He also has been on the honor roll all four years.
Chad Troyer (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep): Troyer averaged 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a junior and has helped Seattle Prep to 15-5 marks the past three seasons. Heading into the 2003-04 campaign, the Panthers are ranked No. 2 in the state. Troyer is a three-year letterwinner and is in his second stint as team captain. As a junior all-metro second team honors and has been on the honor roll all four years.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL - THREE SIGNEES
Katie Guerriero (Jackson, Mich./Lumen Christi): Guerriero, a 6-foot-1 forward, is averaging a double-double of 19.2 points and 11.5 rebounds per game this season for the Lumen Christi Titans. Honored by the Detroit Free Press during the preseason as one of the Top 15 players in Michigan, Guerriero led the Titans to a district title last season while averaging 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She is a three-time all-area selection by the Jackson Citizen Patriot. During the summer, Guerriero competed with Michigan's AAU Gold team that competed in the National Junior Olympics.
Jaclyn Leininger (Winona Lake, Ind./Warsaw): A 6-foot forward, Leininger has been selected as a preseason first-team all-state honoree by Indiana Bball.com. Leininger averaged 21.2 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 2002-03, while leading the Tigers to a 21-2 record. Her 21.2 ppg were the fourth-highest scoring average in Indiana's largest class, and she is the leading returning scorer in all of Class 4A this season. A 2003 Indiana All-Star, Leininger is considered a strong candidate for Indiana's prestigious Miss Basketball award. Her Warsaw H.S. team presently is ranked No. 1 in the state.
Laura Markwood (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg): Markwood, a 6-foot-2 forward/center, averaged 19.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last season while converting an impressive 67 percent of her shots and 79 percent of her free throws, including a school-record 26 in-a-row at one point. An all-conference, all-district, all-region and honorable mention all-Ohio performer, she has led Perrysburg to a combined 39-7 record over the past two seasons and set the school record for points in a season with 469 during the 2002-03 campaign. During the off-season, Markwood competed with Team Ohio at the AAU Junior Olympics.
WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY - SIX SIGNEES
Elise Bottarini (Canal Winchester, Ohio/Fisher Catholic): Bottarini finished second at the Ohio State Division III meet in the shot put, with a throw of 40-0, while throwing the discus 134-0 for a third-place finish. She enters her senior campaign as the top returning thrower in Division III and the third-best thrower in the state.
Kristina Bolterstein (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark): Bolterstein finished second in the high jump at the Division I Ohio State meet as a junior, following a sixth-place finish as a sophomore and third-place finish as a freshman. Her top jump of 5-9 3/4 was the top jump in the state of Ohio last season, and she is the top returning senior in the state this season.
Carol Eckerly (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek): Eckerly is expected to compete in both cross country and distance track events. This year, Eckerly placed fifth in the state cross country meet after taking eighth place as a sophomore. As a junior, she finished sixth at the state meet in the 1,600 meters (5:02) and enters her senior track season as one of the top three returning seniors in the state.
Sarah Henize (Bucyrus, Ohio/Bucyrus): Henize competed well in the 800-meters as both a junior and sophomore, claiming second- and fourth-place honors, respectively, at the Ohio state meet. As a senior, she begins the season with the second-fastest returning time in the state in the 800 (2:14). A regional champion in cross country, Henize finished 12th at the cross country state meet, as well.
Sarah Landau (Geneva, Ill./Geneva): Landau won the AA Illinois State Championship in the pole vault as a junior, while posting a state-best 12-0 vault.
Jennifer Stoll (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee): Stoll finished second at this year's Wisconsin state cross country meet, leading her Pewaukee High School team to a state championship. As a junior, Stoll finished third at the state meet. During her junior track season, she ran a leg on the state-champion 4x800 relay, as well as taking second in the one-mile (5:00) and third in the two-mile events at the state meet.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING - ONE SIGNEE
Lauren Evanosky (Westport, Conn./Staples): As a junior, Evanosky earned all-America status in the 100 backstroke. She also claimed class 'L' state championships in both the 100 back and 200 individual medley as both a sophomore and junior. She also was a YMCA National finalist in both the 100 and 200 back, and the 200 and 400 IM.
VOLLEYBALL - ONE SIGNEE
Carli Reihman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) Reihman is a two-time all-state selection, earning first-team distinction as a senior and second-team honors as a junior. She is a two-time first-team all-conference and all-city selection and played on the Sports Express Club team, which finished fifth nationally last summer. As a sophomore, she helped Ursuline Academy to a state runner up finish, while leading the team to a state title in 2002 and a state runner-up finish as a senior. The Lions posted a 25-4 mark over her senior stint. Reihman boasts a 4.0 grade-point average.
HOCKEY - SEVEN SIGNEES
Nathan Davis (Rocky River, Ohio): Davis, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound forward with the USNDTP is the fourth player from the U.S. program to commit to play for Miami. His older brother, sophomore Matt Davis, is currently a defensemen on the RedHawk's squad. So far this season, Davis has scored two goals and one assist in 14 games. Both of his goals have been scored on special teams, one on the power play and one shorthanded.
Alexandre Lacombe (Orleans, Ontario): For the second consecutive year a member of the Gloucester Rangers in the Central Junior Hockey League is signing with the RedHawks. Lacombe, a 5-foot-11, 180-point forward for the Rangers this season, has scored eight goals and nine assists for 17 points. He also has recorded 44 penalty minutes in 15 games.
Nino Musitelli (McComb, Mich.): Head coach Tom "Chico" Adrahtas of the Danville Wings, a member of the United States Hockey League, once again is supplying the Red and White with two talented players in Nino Musitelli and Brad Robbins. Both Musitelli and Robbins played the 2002-03 season with the Compuware Ambassadors. Musitelli, who had signed an NLI last year but decided to play with the Wings for an extra year of experience, is a fleet-footed, 5-foot-8, 180-pound forward that is currently tied for ninth in the USHL in scoring. He has registered 7-9-16 and a +4 rating in 16 games this season.
Brad Robbins (West Bloomfield, Mich.): Joining Musitelli next year with the RedHawks is the 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman, Robbins. Robbins is tied for ninth in the USHL among blueliners with two goals and four assists for six points. His +7 rating is tied for third in the league while he also has recorded a league-best 53 penalty minutes in 16 contests.
Mitch Ganzak (Redford, Mich.): Also signing with the RedHawks out of the USHL is Ganzak, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound defenseman from the Green Bay Gamblers. In 13 games this season for the Gamblers, Ganzak has notched three assists, a +2 rating and 25 penalty minutes.
Ryan Jones (Chatham, Ontario): Jones, a 6-foot-0, 200-pound forward from the Chatham Jr. Maroons of the Western Jr. B League in Ontario is Miami's final installment for the 2004-05 freshman class. Jones is leading his team in scoring this season through 18 games with 20-15-35. Eight of his 20 goals have been tallied on the power play, and he also has recorded 30 minutes in the penalty box.
Raymond Eichenlaub (Wilmette, Ill.): Eichenlaub, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound forward with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the USHL also signed a letter of intent. Eichenlaub is tied for 12th in the USHL among defensemen with five points (1-4-5). He also has recorded a -5 rating and 14 penalty minutes.
BASEBALL - FIVE SIGNEES
Evan Armitage (Milford, Ohio/Milford): Armitage, a senior at Milford High School in Milford, Ohio, signs a letter of intent to attend Miami after finishing his junior year with a .455 batting average and Greater Miami Conference First-Team honors. Armitage a 5-foot-10, 155-pound middle infielder, recorded 31 RBI, four doubles, two triples and five stolen bases last season as a junior. Last season, Milford was 30-3 overall and ranked as high as No. 5 in the USA Today high school baseball poll.
Connor Graham (Bowling Green, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit): Graham, a senior at St. John's Jesuit high school in Bowling Green, Ohio. A 6-foot-6, 235-pound, righthanded pitcher and middle infielder, Graham was 4-2 last season with a 2.14 earned run average for St. John's in the Toledo City League. Graham was named a First Team All-City selection last year as well being a Second-Team All-District honoree. This past summer, Graham pitched for Underwood-Orr and notched a 5-2 record with a 1.37 ERA.
Christopher Niro (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit): Niro, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound senior outfielder at Walsh Jesuit high school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, signs with the Red and White after batting .424 with six home runs and 30 RBI last season. In 2003, Niro was voted to the All-Ohio Second Team and All-Cuyahoga River Baseball Conference team. While on his 2003 Summer League team, Diamond Boys travel team, Walsh was named the Most Valuable Player of the Nitschwitz Tournament at Wright State University.
Tom Boleska (Burlington, Ontario/Notre Dame): Boleska, a 6-foot-0, 185-pound, righthanded pitcher from Notre Dame High School. While high school statistics were not kept last season for Boleska, his 7-1 record for Team Ontario commands quite a bit of attention. Boleska maintained a 2.41 ERA in 64 innings pitched with 67 strikeouts in 2003 for Team Ontario. He has a cumulative 36-17 record over three years with Team Ontario, and is a two-time Central Ontario All-Star selection.
John Ely (Flossmoor, Ill./Flossmoor): Ely, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound pitcher at Flossmoor High School. With three years on the mound in the books, Ely has compiled a 27-5 career record along with one perfect game. He was an all-conference and all-area selection as a junior, and was named the 2002 SICA East Pitcher of the Year.