AW, Delta grads at Owens named Academic All-Americans

7/23/2008

Matthews

unknown

Anthony Wayne High School graduate Adam Brentlinger and Delta High School graduate Stephanie Matthews were two of five Owens Community College athletes who were named Academic All-Americans this month.

Brentlinger and Matthews were named to the National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American Team.

Brentlinger, of Whitehouse, was a freshman catcher for the Express baseball team that posted a 31-6-1 record in the spring. The pre-business administration major also was an Ohio Community College Athletic Conference All-Academic selection. He achieved a 3.64 grade-point average for the academic year.

Last season, Brentlinger collected 20 hits, had 13 runs batted in, and finished with a .476 batting average.

Matthews, a sophomore catcher from Delta, also was an OCCAC All-Academic selection. She helped the Express softball team capture the OCCAC title with an 11-1 record. Matthews had a .222 batting average with three RBIs. She is majoring in registered nursing and posted a 3.62 grade-point average.

The three other Owens student-athletes who earned Academic All-American honors were David Davis of Detroit (basketball), Laura Gerhardt of South Milwaukee, Wis. (basketball), and Melanie Schroeder of Leipsic, Ohio (basketball).

The group is among only 44 Owens athletes to receive the award since 1994.

"Owens Community College is extremely proud of our five Academic All-Americans for their hard work and dedication exhibited within the classroom," said Michael Rickard, the school's athletic director.

"Their success as scholars is a positive reflection on the college's athletic programs and commitment shown toward educational values."

•

BASKETBALL: Scott High School graduate David Sweeney, Jr., has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Indiana Institute of Technology.

Sweeney was one of just seven players to earn first team all-City League honors last winter. The 5-11 guard averaged 20.9 points per game last season, which was second highest in the City League. He also was named to the All-Blade team.

Sweeney committed to Indiana Tech after being recruited by several other colleges, including George Mason, St. Louis, Bowling Green, and Toledo.

He said he chose Indiana Tech, a small Division II college in Fort Wayne, Ind., for its engineering school. Sweeney, who graduated with a 3.80 grade-point average, also earned a $1,500 scholarship from BCSN.

•

GOLF: Maumee native Rob Jackson earned all-conference recognition for his outstanding play for the Blackburn College golf team this spring.

Jackson, a 2006 graduate of Toledo Christian High School, was named to the all-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference second team this season.

Jackson carded a 54-hole total of 242 to place sixth at the conference tournament at Governors Run Golf Club in Carlyle, Ill. on April 21-22.

On the season, Jackson averaged an 81 per round and was one of Blackburn's most consistent low scorers. He opened the season with a solid 75 at the Wheaton College Spring Break Classic at Hilton Head, S.C. Jackson then tied for 26th with an 80 at the Illinois College Invitational in Jacksonville, Ill.

In addition, Jackson tied for 36th with a two-day total of 160 at the Knox College Invitational in Galesburg, Ill.

Jackson transferred to Blackburn after spending one year at Owens Community College. He was a first-team All-Ohio Community College Athletic Conference selection and helped the Express win a conference title in 2006.

While at Toledo Christian, Jackson was named Toledo Area Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Jackson will enter his junior year this fall at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill.

Send information to: mmonroe@theblade.com. Or mail it to us at: The Blade Sports Dept., 541 North Superior St., Toledo, OH, 43660, Attn: Campus Notes/Mark Monroe.