PAC alums to represent Bloomsburg at NCAAs
Dix, Cubbler are school’s lone qualifiers for NCAA Division II Championships
Bloomsburg University will be sending two swimmers to the NCAA Division II Championships – junior Becca Cubbler and red-shirt junior Kyle Dix.
Cubbler, from Royersford and a Spring-Ford graduate is invited in three events – the 500 free, the 1,000 free and the 1,650 free. Because she posted a B cut time, she’ll also compete in the 100 freestyle. Cubbler is seeded 15th in the 1,000 (10:10.60), 16th in the 500 free (4:55.46) and 22nd in the 1,650 (17:08.71). Her top time in the 100 free is 51.83.
Dix, from Schwenksville and a Perkiomen Valley graduate, has been invited for the 50 freestyle. He’s seeded 18th with a time of 20.09. Because he hit B cut times, he will also be able to compete in two other individual events. He’s seeded 28th in the 100 butterfly (48.22) and 38th in the 100 free (44.94).
This will be Cubbler’s first trip to the Nationals. Dix has earned seven All-American certificates, four in 2016 and three in 2017. The top eight finishers in each event earn All-American honors.
The championship will be held March 13-16 in Indianapolis, Ind.
NATALIE WOJCIK (21ST CENTURY CYBER CHARTER
SCHOOL) >> The Michigan freshman from Douglassville was named Gymnast of the Week and Freshman of the Week in the Big Ten Conference it was announced last Tuesday after she collected her fourth all-around title of the season with the eighth-ranked Wolverine women’s team. Wojcik had a career-high 39.750 score aided by the first perfect 10 of her college career as the team topped Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio State and Rutgers to capture the league title on Feb. 23 in Toledo, OH. The 10 came in the vault. She also placed first on bars (9.950) and beam (9.925) and fourth on floor (9.875). It was her third Gymnast of the Week honor and her sixth Freshman of the Week honor of the season.
CAROLINE DUFFY (METHACTON)
>> The junior led the St. Joseph’s women’s indoor track team at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships Feb. 23-24 in Fairfax, Va. Duffy finished fourth in the 400 meter dash (55.68) and eighth in the 200 meter dash (25.57).
“I certainly should give credit where credit is due, and Caroline was our top performer,” coach Melody O’Reilly said. “She is a true competitor and a team player. She never fails to step up and make the Hawks look good.”
ANAMARIE BRUNI (PERKIOMEN
VALLEY) >> The junior is leading off and playing center field for the South Florida softball team, the Bulls 9-8 after an 8-1 loss to No. 13 South Carolina last Friday in Tampa. Bruno is hitting .313 (15-for-48) with three doubles, a home run, five runs batted in and a team-high nine runs scored. She’s also stolen 10 bases in 12 attempts. The homer, a three-run blast, came in a 3-0 victory over Texas State on Feb. 24. In center field, Bruno has handled 30 chances without an error.
KEVIN BASCH (POTTSGROVE)
>> The 6-foot junior and the Delaware men’s swim team wrapped up the season by finishing fifth with 195 points at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships Feb. 2124 in Christiansburg, Va. Basch finished fifth in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 15:49.68. He also finished 12th in the 500 freestyle in 4:33.27. Prior to joining Delaware, Basch was a standout distance freestyle swimmer at Division III Franklin & Marshall.
BRENDAN MARION (METHACTON)
>> The sophomore helped the Worcester Poly wrestling team finish fourth in the Division III Northeast Regionals on Feb. 24 in Providence, R.I. Marion made it to the consolation semifinals at 165 pounds before losing an 8-6 decision. He won his first round match of the tourney on an injury default but was beaten 6-3 in the second round. In the consolations, Marion scored a pin in 48 seconds and another in 2:13 before seeing his tourney come to an end with the semifinal loss.
MIKE GAMA (PERKIOMEN
VALLEY) >> The freshman is coming out of the bull pen for the Cabrini baseball team, the Cavaliers 7-2 on the season after an 8-1 victory over Alma last Friday in Kissimmee, FL. The left-hander had a standout first game for Cabrini. He worked three innings in relief and gave up one hit, no runs, walked one and struck out seven in a 6-3 victory over Catholic on Feb. 15 in Washington, D.C. In three games, he’s worked 6.2 innings and given up six hits and two runs, both earned, with 10 strikeouts.
SUSAN BOSSLER (POPE JOHN
PAUL II) >> The 5-foot-6 senior guard was named to the Atlantic East Conference second team after a solid season with the Gwynedd Mercy women’s basketball team. Bossler led the Griffins in scoring with a 14.1 average. She connected on 58 of 148 3-point attempts (39.2) and scored in double figures in 17 games. Gwynedd Mercy finished the season 10-16 after losing firstround of the league tourney 70-53 decision to Marywood on Feb. 18 in Scranton. Bossler had 13 points in the game.
FRANKIE KRAUSS (SPRINGFORD)
>> The senior finished fourth at 184 pounds in the NCAA Division III Southeast Regionals on Feb. 22-23 in Williamsport and missed out on a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament. Krauss was beaten in the semifinals and then was beaten in the third place match, that winner earning a national berth. He finished the season with a 29-6 record with four pins, four major decisions and four technical falls. His career record was 89-32.
MARIE VALENTI (BOYERTOWN)
>> The 5-foot-9 senior defender is off to a good start with the Navy women’s lacrosse team, the Midshipmen 3-1 after a 14-6 non-league victory over Villanova on Feb. 27 in Villanova. Valenti has seven ground balls, seven caused turnovers and a draw control. She has played 68 games in her career and has nine goals and six assists for 15 points. She also has 139 ground balls, 92 caused turnovers and 45 draw controls.