Exeter grad chasing MAC title
Jonathan Bieber has been impressive once again with the Albright men’s indoor track team but it’s a good bet that the best is yet to come from the senior sprinter/hurdler.
Bieber, an Exeter Township grad, is getting close to his time of the season – the Middle Atlantic Conference Championships. This year’s indoor meet is set for Feb. 23-24 in Bethlehem.
Bieber has been knocking on the door in the 60 meter hurdles at the indoor meet. He was fifth last year, second as a sophomore and ninth as a freshman. Outdoors, Bieber will be shooting for his third straight title in the 110 hurdles.
“I am pleased with where Jon is currently at in regard to his times,” coach Deneen Ebling said. “He has run faster times this year than he was running last year at this point of the season.”
The coach said that they’ve had to modify Bieber’s training a bit due to some injuries.
“We hope that with the modifications and the rest coming up he’ll be refreshed to compete at our conference meet,” Ebling said. “I’m positive that Jon will bring all he has to the meet and have a great performance.”
Bieber is currently ranked third in the 60 hurdles on the MAC performance list with a time of 9.06, close to his careerbest 8.96. He’s also ranked fifth in the 60 meter dash (9.49) and with the 4x200 relay (1:40.55). And, if he wants the branch out, his 1000 meter time from early in the season (3:00.37) ranks 11th on the league list.
XAVIER SMITH (DANIEL BOONE) » The senior sprinter is rounding into form with the Penn State men’s indoor track team. At the Penn State National on Jan. 26-27 in University Park, Smith captured the 60-meter dash in a season-best 6.72. That stands fourth on the Big Ten Performance list. He also finished fifth in the 200 meter dash in 21.31. That stands eighth on the league list. Smith is also a member of the 4x400 relay which stands second after winning the event at the Clemson Invitational on Jan. 1920 with a time of 3:08.17. JARED LUCKANITZ (GOVERNOR MIFFLIN) » The junior finished first in the 800 meter run and ran the anchor leg on the 4x800 relay which finished second at the 20th Annual Bison Open on Jan. 26-27 in Lewisburg. His time in the 800 was 1:56.54 and he stands in first place on the PSAC performance list with an adjusted time of 1:54.90. The 4x800 time of 8:08.92, stands second on the PSAC list. Luckanitz kicked off the indoor season by winning the 1,000 meter run in 2:32.86 at the Golden Bear Invitational on Jan. 11-12 in Kutztown. DAN DOWNS (DANIEL BOONE) » The 6-foot-5 senior middle hitter leads the Penn State Altoona men’s volleyball team in kills (107) and total blocks (36). He also has nine service aces, 154.5 points and a .351 attack percentage for the 6-7 Lions. Senior Ryan Dry (Daniel Boone) has 64 kills, 12 total blocks, nine service aces and has 17 digs and has scored 81 points with a .352 attack percentage. Freshman Ian Rathgeb (Daniel Boone) has played in eight matches and 21 sets and has 36 digs and 26 kills. EMONIE REVIERE (GOVERNOR MIFFLIN) » The Millersville sophomore is moving up on the PSAC women’s indoor performance list. She finished fifth in the 200 meter dash (26.15) and fifth in the 60 meter dash (7.99) at the 20th Annual Bison Open on Jan. 27 in Lewisburg. Her adjusted time of 25.75 in the 200 is tied for sixth on the list and her time in the 60 is tied for 16th. On Feb. 3, Reviere ran in two relays for the Marauders at the Susquehanna Invitational in Selinsgrove. The 4x200 finished first (1:45.05) and the 4x400 finished third (4:05.15).
BRETT KULP (EXETER) » The sophomore continues to battle with the Franklin & Marshall wrestling team, the Diplomats 1-11 overall and 0-8 in Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association matches. Kulp, who wrestles at 141 pounds, is 15-11 overall and 6-5 in dual matches and 10-7 against EIWA foes. In a 23-13 loss to Bucknell on Feb. 2, he dropped a 14-3 major decision but in a 31-16 setback against Penn on Jan. 27, he posted a 14-4 major decision. And, he lost a 3-1 decision in a 33-12 loss to Brown and a 4-3 loss in a 30-6 setback to Harvard on Jan. 20 in Lancaster.
MIKE MILLER (BERKS CATHOLIC) » The senior guard has had a hot hand of late for the Alvernia men’s basketball team. In the last eight games, he’s averaging 17.2 points a game to help the Golden Wolves go to 5-3 during that span. He had a season-high 28 points in a 79-66 loss to Lycoming on Jan. 31 and had 15 points in a 57-56 triumph over Messiah on Feb. 3 to put Alvernia at 10-11 overall and 5-7 in MAC Commonwealth play. Miller leads the team in scoring with a 15.3 average and is averaging 3.3 rebounds a game with 22 assists.
NANA FOULLAND (BERKS CATHOLIC) » The 6-foot10, 235-pound senior center and the Bucknell men’s basketball team continues to roll along, the Bison winning 10 straight to go to 17-8 overall and 11-1 in the Patriot League after two league wins last week – 83-71 in overtime against Army on Jan. 31 and 74-59 over Lafayette on Feb. 3, both games in Lewisburg. Foulland had 15 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots against the Cadets and 10 points and five rebounds against the Leopards. He’s second on the team in scoring (15.6) and rebounding (6.5) and leads in blocked shots (45). LAURA SIMPSON (BOYERTOWN) » The 6-foot junior continues to be a key performer for the Simmons women’s swim team, the Sharks wrapping up the regular dual meet season with a 212-88 victory over Mount Holyoke on Feb. 3 in South Hadley, Mass. Simpson won all three individual events she competed in – the 200 freestyle in 2:01.55, the 500 freestyle in 5:24.38 and the 200 IM with a personal best time of 2:21.93. Simmons is priming for the New England Championships Feb. 15-18 in Kingston, R.I. BRANDI VALLELY (OLEY VALLEY) » The Muhlenburg senior leads NCAA Division III in total assists (180), assists per game (8.6) and assist-turnover ratio (4.30). The 5-foot-7 guard is also third on the team in scoring with a 15.2 average, is averaging 6.5 rebounds a game and leads with 45 steals for the Mules who are 20-1 overall and 15-1 after a 74-57 league victory over Franklin & Marshall on Feb. 3 in Lancaster. Vallely had 22 points, eight assists and five steals in the game. She led Division II in assists as a sophomore with 263.