Local graduate competes for PSU
Tyler Bagoly went from a talented red-shirt last season into a solid performer as a red-shirt freshman for the Clarion wrestling team this season.
Bagoly, from Reading and an Exeter Township graduate, is 12-8 overall and 3-4 in dual matches at 184 pounds for the Golden Eagles who are 5-5 overall and 2-1 in Eastern Wrestling Association matches.
The highlight of the season thus far was finishing third in the PSAC Championships on Dec. 8 in Kutztown. As a freshman, Bagoly had a 17-9 record in open tourneys and captured the season-opening Clarion Open with a 5-0 record.
“Tyler has really stepped up this season,” coach Keith Ferraro said. “He’s wrestling hard and doing really well, especially for a freshman wrestling in the upper weights.”
The coach said that Bagoly continues to improve in the practice room.
“He’s a hard worker and we really enjoy having him on the team,” Ferraro said.
The coach also feels that his wrestler’s upside is very high.
“He’s such a strong mat wrestler,” Ferraro said. “His skills on top are a big part of why he’s having quite a bit of success so quickly in his career.”
The junior captured the 200 breaststroke for the Shippensburg women’s swim team which competed in the Bison Invitational on Feb. 2 in Lewisburg, the meet dominated by Division I teams. Her time (2:28.29) was a PSAC qualifier. Johnson also finished 12th in the 100 freestyle and hit a PSAC mark with a time of 55.93 in her first raced at that distance this season. She was 16th in the 50 free (26.39) and helped the Raiders’ 200 free relay which finished sixth in 1:39.45.
The sophomore is competing in dual meets at heavyweight for the Delaware Valley wrestling team. He’s 6-5 after a 20-5 technical fall to give the Aggies five points in a 38-11 loss to Centenary (N.J.) Feb. 7 in Hackettstown, N.J. Four of his victories have come via pins. Daniels posted an 8-12 record at heavyweight as a freshman and also had four pins which tied him for second on the team. He went on to finish in sixth place at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship. The 6-foot, 168-pound freshman prepped for the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Championships with a strong performance for the Albright men’s swim team which is 8-0 overall and posted a 6-0 league mark after a 205-49 victory over Misericordia on Feb. 2 in Grantham. Guiliano finished first in the 100 backstroke in 54.86 and was third in the 200 backstroke in 2:02.12. He also swam the leadoff leg on the winning 200 medley relay (1:36.37) and swam the third leg on the winning 200 free relay (1:28.35).
The sophomore has been a solid pointscorer for the Lehigh men’s swim team competing in the 200, 500 and 1,000 freestyle and the 50, 100 and the 200 backstroke. He’s
MARK SELDERS - PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Penn State’s Morgan Shigo competes in the hammer throw.
finished in the top six in eight out of his last 10 events for the Mountain Hawks. His top finish was a second in the 200 free in 1:43.57 in a 202-80 Patriot League victory over rival Lafayette on Nov. 16 in Easton. Feryo has recorded three thirds and three fourths down the stretch.
The 5-foot-7 senior guard hit a jump shot as time expired to give the Lebanon Valley women’s basketball team to a 70-69 MAC Commonwealth victory over Lycoming on Jan. 23 in Williamsport. She finished with 12 points in the game. Eck had 11 points in a 69-61 league triumph over Hood on Feb. 2 in Frederick, Md. She’s averaging 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds with 47 assists and 26 steals for the Dutchwomen, who are 12-10 overall and 8-5 in league play.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward had 14 points and 14 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as his Clarion men’s basketball team dropped an 87-56 decision to Seton Hill in a PSAC game on Feb. 2 in Greensburg. It was his sixth double-double of the season. He followed that up with 17 points in an 88-42 loss to Mercyhurst on Feb. 6 in Erie. He’s averaging 12.1 points and leads the team with 7.9 rebounds and is tied for first in blocked shots with 10. The Golden Eagles are 4-15 overall and 2-13 in league play. The senior is primed for a big finish to his career with the Penn State men’s indoor track team – both indoors and outdoors.
Shigo finished first in the weight throw at Penn State’s Sykes & Sabock Challenge Cup on Feb. 2 in University Park with a personal best toss of 73 feet, 8 ¾ inches. He also finished first in the Penn State National with a heave of 73 feet, 2 inches. Shigo figures to be the one to beat in the Big Ten Conference Championships Feb. 22-23 in Ann Arbor, Mich. He finished fourth in last year’s meet with a 72 foot, 4 ½ inch effort. He went on to finish 10th in the NCAA Indoor Championships last March with a toss of 68 feet, 5 ¾ inches.
“Morgan has been a pleasure to coach over the past three years and continues to develop into one of the best hammer and weight throwers in the NCAA,” throws coach Lucais MacKay said. “His hard work and determination to be a ‘grinder’ has developed and benefited him in his time here.”
Once the indoor season ends, Shigo will concentrate on the hammer throw this spring. He finished third in the Big Ten title meet last spring with a toss of 226 feet, 6 inches and went on to finish 10th in the NCAA East Regional with a 223 foot, 11 inch effort. Then, he saved the best effort for last as he earned All-American honors for finishing sixth in the Nationals with a career-best heave of 237 feet, 9 inches.
“It was very satisfying to see Morgan be able to compete in the NCAAs both indoors and outdoors last year and earn AllAmerican honors,” head coach John Gondak said. “We have our champion portion of the season ahead and I’m looking forward to seeing what Morgan can do.”
The 6-foot-2 junior forward has been a key performer down the stretch for the James Madison women’s basketball team, the Dukes 16-4 overall and leading the Colonial Athletic Association with an 8-1 record after a 71-59 overtime victory in a league game against Towson on Feb. 3. Merritt didn’t score a point in the first half but had 11 in the fourth quarter and finished with 16 points. She had 10 points and four rebounds in a 65-48 league victory over William & Mary on Jan. 26. She’s averaging 7.6 points and 6.0 rebounds a game. ABBY KAPP (BOYERTOWN) >> The Bucknell women’s basketball team is 18-4 and tied for first place with American in the Patriot League standings and the 6-0 sophomore has come up big in two recent league victories. She had 10 points and five rebounds in a 77-43 victory over Navy on Jan. 30 in Annapolis, Md. and had 14 points and three steals in a 62-51 triumph over Boston University on Feb. 2 in Boston, Mass. Kapp has started all 22 games and is averaging 9.3 points and 2.8 rebounds with 27 assists and a team-high 35 steals.