LOCAL COLLEGE NOTES

Around the region

• Mitchell College freshman Alfonzo Stokes was named New England Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Week in men's basketball. Stokes scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in his collegiate debut against NYU last week in Mitchell's season opener at the Hampton Inn Jim Beaudry Classic.

• Connecticut College senior Danny Aschale and junior Meredith Cronin have been selected to participate in Saturday's NCAA Division III cross country championships at Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. Aschale will be making his second straight appearance. He earned All-America honors last year by placing 35th overall. Cronin will compete in the nationals for the first time. The 6K women's race begins at 10:45 a.m. with the 8K men's race to follow at 11:45.

• UConn Avery Point and Always Home announced a partnership that start with a supply collection at four upcoming home basketball doubleheaders. Always Home, passed out of Mystic, helps preventing family homelessness by addressing immediate needs of housing. A supply drive will take place during four upcoming games: Thursday's men's and women's doubleh eader against Springfield Tech starting at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday's men's game against Northern Essex at 1 p.m., a Saturday, Dec. 7 doubleheader against Massasoit starting at 1 p.m., and a Jan. 8 doubleheader against Southern Maine starting at 4 p.m. Fans attending these games are asked to bring any new items, including: twin and queen sheet sets, baby formula (all ages and stages), pots and pans, blankets (all sizes), adult shampoo and conditioner, cutlery, diapers (all sizes), toothpaste and tooth brushes, dishes and dish soap, baby shampoo and body wash, body/ hand soap, and grocery store gift cards/gas gift cards. Admission is free.

• Wesleyan freshman defensive lineman Nick Helbig, a Fitch High School graduate, earned a share of the rookie of the year award in football in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Helbig, who was also a first-team selection, finished tied for first in the league in sacks at 7.5 and also had 39 tackles for the Cardinals, who finished second and went 8-1 overall.

• UConn senior guard Christian Vital was selected to the American Athletic Conference weekly honor roll for men's basketball. Vital averaged 20.5 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in two games.

• University of Saint Joseph sophomore defender Jenna Banta, a Montville graduate, earned Great Northeast Athletic Conference honors for women's soccer for the second straight year. Banta was named to the third team after being on the second team last season. Banta helped the Blue Jays post seven shutouts and go 10-6-1 overall.

• Norwich's Madison Lacy swan a leg on the winning 200-yard medley relay team in Western Connecticut State University's recent swim meet against FDU-Florham.

• Sophomore Shea McManaway, a Norwich Free Academy graduate, is one of the leading receivers for the Endicott College football team. He has caught 42 passes, five for touchdowns. The Gulls (8-2) will compete in the 2019 New England Bowl Series, hosting Dean College on Nov. 23. Another former Eastern Connecticut Conference player is on the Dean roster. Fitch graduate Pedro Mojica, a freshman linebacker, has appeared in seven games.

• WPI (9-1) also is playing in the New England Bowl Series, facing Western Connecticut State University. Reserve linebacker Blake Bragaw,a sophomore from East Lyme, is on the WPI roster while Norwich Tech graduate Xavier Wright,a freshman wide receiver, and sophomore defensive lineman Dante Ford of New London play for WCSU.

• Jada Lucas, a junior guard from New London, is off to a career best start for the University of Hartford women's basketball team. She is averaging 15.8 points through four games after averaging just two points in 29 games last season. She scored a career high 21 points in a loss to Rhode Island and led the team in scoring in three games.

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