Kinsey, Reichert earn Softball All-Ivy Honors
Penn freshman second baseman Annie Kinsey and sophomore designated player Stephanie Reichert received first team All-Ivy honors for their play during the 2005 season.
Kinsey, whose .368 batting average for the season was the third highest in the Ivy League, led the Quakers in batting average and had 43 hits and 16 RBIs while striking out only twice during her rookie season.
Reichert, native, led Penn with 17 runs during the season. Her .340 batting average during Ivy League play was also among the Quakers' best.
Sophomore outfielder Kaelin Ainley, freshman pitcher Ann Ferracane, junior infielder Jen Nichols and sophomore catcher Brandi King all received honorable mentions.
? Fred David
Football Releases '09 Recruiting Class
The Penn football team's freshman class in 2005 will feature three offensive linemen over 270 pounds and a tight-end who played center for his high school basketball team.
Chris Kovalcik, Alessandro Cesan, and Tyler Anthony weighing in at 290, 280, and 275 pounds respectively will join a Penn squad that lost two offensive lineman that started all 10 games in 2004 to graduation. Joining them will be Josh Koontz from Mechanicsburg, Pa, who was named first team All-State in both football and basketball.
The 33 member 2009 recruiting class features players from 14 different states including seven players from California.
? F.D.
M. Hoops announces recruiting class
The men's basketball team released its five member class late yesterday. As preveiously reported, two local stars Aaron Cohen from Abington Friends and Kevin Egee of Ridley High School will join the defending Ivy Champs to play guard. They will be joined by forward Cameron Lewis from Maryland, Tommy McMahon a guard from California, and Brennan Votel, a forward and "Mr. Kentucky" finalist.
? F.D.
Wrestling brings in deep, talented class
The Penn wrestling team will bring 14 new wrestlers to West Philadelphia in the fall hoping to improve on its 30th place finish at the NCAA Championships in March.
The Class of 2009 is headlined by five wrestlers ? Rick Rappo (112 pounds), Cesar Grajales (135), Dan Burkholder (140), Matt Dragon (152) and Colin Hitschler (171) ? all of whom were ranked as one of the top-12 seniors in the country at their respective weightclasses by InterMat.
"This was just an absolute outstanding class by any measure," coach Roger Reina said.
Rappo is one of the biggest catches for the Quakers but may have one of the hardest adjustments. The Holland, Pa., native took home a state championship as a junior and went 42-1 as a senior.
Although his numbers are impressive, Rappo will be forced to move into the 125 pound weightclass at Penn, the smallest offered at the collegiate level. Rappo "is an outstanding competitor from a great program and we wanted him in our colors," said Reina.
The graduation of Doug McGraw (141), Kyle Bernholz (149), and Richard Ferguson (165) leaves a big hole in the middle of the Quakers' lineup card, which could give the incoming class a chance to have a big impact.
Grajales, ranked as the No. 6 senior in the country at 135, will have a chance to grab the starting spot at 141 pounds. He is a four-time Florida state champion and boasted a 181-2 career high school record.
Burkholder, who should see action at 141 or 149 pounds, finished his senior season 25-1 and captured a state championship in Pennsylvania.
Dragon could move into the starting lineup at 157 pounds if junior Brock Wittmeyer moves back to his listed position at 165 pounds. Dragon, ranked as the No. 4 high school senior at 152 pounds, did not drop a match this season, going 45-0.
Despite the promise in the lower portions of the lineup, the biggest problem for the Quakers still lies with the departure of their biggest wrestler. With no heavyweights other than Feast, a three-time All-American, listed on last year's roster, it appears newcomer Jayson Bowlsby, whose father was a three-time All-American at Iowa, will be the top candidate to replace Feast, although Benjamin Reiter will challenge him.
"It's going to be a challenge for those freshmen to step in at heavyweight but they both have potential," Reina said. "While it is a big step for them I think it also provides some opportunity."
Two members of the Class of 2009 will meet their siblings on the mat when they arrive. Andrew Valenti, brother of Matt, posted a 26-7 mark as a senior. Colin Hitschler will join his brother Rob in extending the long Hitschler legacy within Penn wrestling. Charles Hitschler, the pair's grandfather, and their father, also Charles, both grappled for the Red and Blue.
Also joining the Penn wrestling program are Neil Cisper, Brett McCurdy, Andrew Coles, Matthew Deluca, Daniel Zander and John Sullivan.
? Jeff Greenwald
