Organized. Steady. Clutch.
Those are just three words that can be used to describe the start of the football season for the Navy Midshipmen, who have won all four of their games this fall.
Perhaps those three words could also be used to describe Navy’s kicker: Nate Kirkwood. The Greencastle-Antrim graduate has been near-perfect for the Midshipmen, converting both of his field goal attempts and 22 of 23 extra points.
In College Corner this month, we’ll take a closer look at Kirkwood and other former Blue Devils competing in the college arena.
In the months to come, College Corner will be shining the spotlight on Chambersburg and Waynesboro, before rotating coverage back to Greencastle.
Are we missing anybody? Send additions for College Corner to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Below is a sport-by-sport, athlete-by-athlete look at how former Greencastle athletes have performed up to this point in the college season:
Football
Nate Kirkwood, Junior, Navy
Kirkwood, a 6-foot-2, 174-pound kicker, has been about as close to automatic as one can get.
Kirkwood has converted 22 of 23 extra points for the unbeaten Midshipmen (4-0, 3-0 AAC) and is 2 for 2 on field goal attempts. Both of those field goals were long tries, from 45 and 46 yards out, and Kirkwood drilled both in last weekend’s 41-18 win over UAB.
Navy will travel on Saturday, Oct. 5, to face Air Force (1-3), a team coming off a 31-19 loss to Wyoming.
Ethan Shank, Junior, Juniata
Shank is Juniata’s leading tackler through four games this fall.
Shank, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound defensive back, has accumulated 29 tackles while breaking up two passes and recovering a fumble.
His biggest game came on Sept. 7 in a 61-41 loss to Gettysburg, when he racked up 11 tackles, recovered a fumble, and defended a pass.
The Eagles (1-3) return to Landmark Conference play on Friday, Oct. 4, when they host Wilkes College (2-2), a team coming off a 28-21 win over St. John Fisher.
Garrett Blubaugh, Freshman, Juniata
Blubaugh has seen action in three of four games for the Eagles.
A 5-foot-9, 185-pound linebacker, Blubaugh has totaled six tackles and a half tackle for loss this season.
Carter Coons, Freshman, Juniata
Coons, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide reciever, has been inactive for Juniata so far this season.
Darren Kline, Sophomore, Misericordia
Kline has played in all four games for Misericordia and recently recorded the first sack of his career in a 35-20 loss to FDU-Florham on Sept. 21.
Kline, a 5-foot-8, 200-pound linebacker, has totaled 12 tackles this fall, including two tackles for loss, while also recording a QB hurry.
The Cougars (1-3, 0-3 MAC) return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 12 with a road game at Albright (1-3, 0-3 MAC), a team coming off a 41-20 loss to Eastern.
Jake Yelton, R-Freshman, Lock Haven
Yelton is looking for a fresh start at Lock Haven after transferring in from Shepherd over the offseason.
Listed as a 6-foot, 215-pound tight end, Yelton has been inactive through for games this season.
The Bald Eagles (2-2, 1-0 PSAC) return to action on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they hit the road to face Yelton’s former team, Shepherd. The Rams (3-1, 1-0 PSAC) are coming off a 38-0 win over Shippensburg.
Jacob Kumfert, R-Sophomore, Akron
Kumfert, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman, has been inactive through five games for Akron.
The Zips (1-4, 0-1 MAC) return to the field on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they play host to Bowling Green (1-3), a team coming off a 30-27 loss to Old Dominion.
Sawyer Brookens, R-Freshman, Shippensburg
Brookens, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound tight end, has been inactive through four games for Shippensburg.
The Raiders (1-3, 0-1 PSAC) are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they travel to face West Chester (0-4, 0-1 PSAC), a squad coming off a 23-21 loss to Bloomsburg.
Sall Bangura, Freshman, Shippensburg
Bangura, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound defensive lineman, has been inactive through four games for Shippensburg.
Logan Shiffett, Freshman, Shenandoah
Shiffett, a 5-foot-10, 215-pound linebacker, has been inactive through three games for Shenandoah.
The Hornets (3-0) open their season in the ODAC on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they host Randolph-Macon (2-1), a team coming off a 28-24 loss to RV Berry College.
Parker Funk, Freshman, Randolph Macon
Funk, a 6-foot, 255-pound defensive tackle, has been inactive through three games for Randolph Macon.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1) return to action on Oct. 5, when they travel to face Shenandoah (3-0), a team coming off a 62-27 win over Juniata.
Logan Alvey, Freshman, Westminster
Alvey, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound quarterback, has been inactive through three games for Westminster.
The Titans (3-0, 3-0 PAC) resume play on Saturday, when they host Washington & Jefferson (3-1, 3-1 PAC), a team coming off a 30-27 loss to Carnegie Mellon.
Soccer
Mia Libby, Sophomore, Messiah
With Libby starting in the Messiah lineup, the Falcons are off to a winning start this fall.
Libby, a 5-foot-2 midfield player, has started in seven games for Messiah. She’s recorded an assist and has taken nine shots, including two shots on goal. Libby’s assist came in a 2-0 win over McDaniel on Sept. 11.
The Falcons (4-1-3) return to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with a game at Shenandoah.
Thomas Oberholzer, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Oberholzer is off to a monster start for Mont Alto with 19 points, more than triple that of the next leader on the Lions’ roster.
Oberholzer, a 6-foot, 175-pound midfield player, has started in all eight games for Mont Alto this fall and has recorded eight goals and three assists.
His biggest game came on Sept. 14, when he poured in three goals and two assists in a 10-0 victory over PSU Wilkes-Barre. Most recently, Oberholzer posted two goals and an assist in a 3-0 win over PSU Hazleton on Sept. 28.
The Lions (2-6, 2-0 PSUAC) return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they host PSU Lehigh Valley.
Courtney Andruczk, Junior, High Point
Andruczk, a 5-foot-5 forward, is currently the points leader for High Point.
She has appeared in all 10 games for the Panthers, including seven starts, and has recorded two goals and an assist.
Andruczk most recently found the back of the net on Sept. 25, when she recorded a goal in the 71st minute to seal a 2-0 win over Long wood.
High Point (4-4-2, 1-0 Big South) returns to the pitch on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when it travels to take on Gardner-Webb.
Foday Bangura, Junior, Villanova
Bangura has appeared in four games for Villanova.
Bangura, a 6-foot-1 defender/midfielder who hails from Greencastle and went to Mercersburg Academy, has made two starts for the Wildcats, and has seen 135 minutes of playing time.
Villanova (0-5-4, 0-2 Big East) is back in action on Friday, Oct. 4, with a home game against Connecticut.
Gershon Bangura, Sophomore, Northampton C.C.
It’s been a productive start to the season for Bangura, who has started in every game for Northampton.
Bangura, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound forward, has racked up six goals and two assists in eight games for the Spartans. He posted two goals in a 5-2 win over Delaware County C.C. on Sept. 14. One day later, Bangura added two more goals and an assist in a 9-0 victory over Lehigh Carbon C.C.
Bangura most recently found the back of the net for a goal in a 2-2 draw with Montgomery County C.C. on Sept. 24.
Northampton (5-2-1, 4-2-1 NJCAA) returns to the field on Thursday, Oct. 3, with a home game against Montgomery County C.C.
Rylee Henson, Sophomore, La Salle
Henson has started in every game for La Salle, which has lost just one of its 12 games.
Henson, a 5-foot-8 defender, is a key member of an Explorers’ defense that has allowed just one goal per contest.
La Salle (6-2-4, 1-1-2 Atlantic 10) is back in action on Thursday, Oct. 3, when it travels to face George Mason.
Haley Noblit, Freshman, Liberty
After totaling a school-record 110 goals over the course of her career at Greencastle-Antrim, Noblit is already scoring goals for the Liberty Flames.
Noblit has appeared in all 12 games for Liberty, recording two goals and two assists in 376 minutes of playing time. She most recently found the back of the net on Sept. 12, when she recorded a goal and an assist in a 6-0 win over George Mason.
The Flames (9-1-2, 1-1 Conference USA) are back on the pitch on Thursday, Oct. 3, for a home match against UTEP.
Caleb Baine, Freshman, Seton Hill
Baine, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound midfield player, has been inactive through seven games for Seton Hill.
The Griffins (4-1-2, 0-0-1 PSAC) return to field on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they play host to California (Pa.).
Madisyn Baine, Sophomore, Lancaster Bible
Baine, who grew up in Greencastle and went to Grace Academy, has appeared in all seven games for Lancaster Bible this fall.
Baine, a 5-foot-6 forward/midfield player, has seen 299 minutes of playing time and has taken one shot this season.
The Chargers (1-3-4, 0-1 United East) resume play on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they host Cairn.
Field Hockey
Olivia Winslow, Senior, Virginia Wesleyan
Winslow, a 5-foot-10 forward, recently scored her first goal of the season for Virginia Wesleyan, finding the back of the net in a 5-0 win over Lancaster Bible on Sept. 21.
Winslow has appeared in four games for the Marlins and has seen 37 minutes of playing time.
The Marlins (8-1) return to competition on Saturday, when they host Roanoke College.
Cross Country
Taryn Parks, Senior, North Carolina
Parks is off to a solid start with a pair of Top 10 finishes and a PR in the 5K.
She kicked off her season on Aug. 30 by posting a 5K time of 17:24 at the Charlotte Opener, good enough for third place. Parks knocked 10 seconds off that time at the Virginia Invitational, where she ran a college-best 17:14 to take eighth.
Parks most recently competed at the Nuttycombe Invite on Sept. 27, running a 6K time of 21:12 to take 71st place.
North Carolina is back in competition on Friday, Oct. 18, when it travels to run in the Princeton Invitational.
Kyle Baker, R-Freshman, Shippensburg
Baker has seen action in all three of Shippensburg’s invitationals this fall.
Baker opened his season on Sept. 6 at the Shippensburg Galen Piper Cross Country Challenge, completing the 6K race in 20:25 to take 19th place.
He returned for the Kutztown DII/DIII Challenge on Sept. 13, and landed a 29th-place finish with an 8K time of 28:02.
Baker most recently competed at the Dickinson Long-Short Invitational, posting a time of 12:59 to take 30th place in the 4K race.
The Raiders return to racing on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they travel to Lehigh to compete at the Paul Short Run.
Isaac Boyer, Freshman, Delaware Valley
Boyer is enjoying his first year of college cross country as an active runner for Delaware Valley.
He’s competed in three 8K events for the Aggies, starting with the Aggie Open on Sept. 7, a race that saw Baker run to a 13th-place finish in 34:20.
Baker followed up that effort with a PR time of 32:25 to take 33rd at the Osprey Open on Sept. 14. He most recently competed at the Messiah Invitational on Sept. 28, running to a time of 34:07 to take 114th place.
Delaware Valley returns to the field on Saturday, Oct. 12, when it travels to compete at West Chester.
Shavari Maharaj, Sophomore, Hofstra
Maharaj kicked off her first season of college cross country by competing at the LIU Fall Festival on Sept. 7.
Maharaj finished 12th in the 5K race with a time of 24:27.
The Pride return to competition on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they travel to the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University.
Hayden Parks, Freshman, Buffalo
Parks kicked off his college career at the Yellowjacket XC Invitational on Sept. 21.
He placed 37th in the 8K race with a time of 27:20.
Buffalo returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 5, when it travels to the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University.
Weber Long, Junior, Wake Forest
Long has been inactive through three invitationals for Wake Forest.
The Demon Deacons return to racing on Oct. 11, when they travel to Charlotte, N.C., for the Royals XC Challenge.
Volleyball
Madie Eagler, Sophomore, Saint Vincent
Eagler, a 5-foot-8 setter, leads Saint Vincent in assists this fall.
Eagler’s appeared in 13 matches, including four starts, and in 48 sets of work she’s recorded 220 assists, 22.5 points, five kills, 16 service aces, 44 digs, and three blocks.
She’s recorded double-digit assist totals in all but one match this season. Eagler most recently took the court in a 3-1 win over Harlow on Sept. 27, recording 26 assists, two digs, a kill, and a service ace.
The Bearcats (5-9) return to the court on Wednesday, Oct. 2, with a home match against Mount Aloysius.
Golf
Sydney Barnes, Sophomore, Millersville
Barnes has been active on the golf course for Millersville this season.
She kicked off her season by shooting a 21-over for 20th place at the McDaniel Fall Invitational on Sept. 14. Barnes then competed at the Vulcan Invitational on Sept. 16-17 and finished in 39th place.
Barnes most recently competed at the Millersville Invitational on Sept. 23-24, shooting a 35-over for 31st place.
The Marauders return to action on Sunday, Oct. 7, when they travel to face Kutztown.
Timothy Ehko, Senior, Geneva
Ehko has been a consistent scorer in the Geneva lineup, producing for the Golden Tornadoes over five meets this season.
Geneva opened its season at Waynesburg University on Sept. 3, with Ehko shooting a 79. One week later, Ehko carded an 86 at the Bethany Invitational on Sept. 10.
After posting a 17-over 89 at the Saint Vincent Invitational on Sept. 16, Ehko recorded a pair of Top 5 finishes in ensuing meets.
Competing on Sept. 20 against Kent State at Tuscarawas, Ehko recorded a 79 for fourth place. He then shot an 81 to take fifth place in a home match against Bethany, Carlow, and La Roche on Sept. 23.
Geneva returns to the course on Thursday, Oct. 3, when it travels to compete at the Grove City Invitational.
Ben Irr, Sophomore, PSU Mont Alto
Irr has emerged as a leader for Mont Alto in his second year on the golf course for the Lions.
After opening his season with a 10th-place score of 78 at the PSUAC Invitational on Sept. 5, Irr stormed to a first-place finish with a 74 at the PSU DuBois Invitational on Sept. 8.
Playing on his home course at Penn National Golf Club on Sept. 11, Irr was once again a winner at the PSU Mont Alto Invitational. He carded a 70 to defeat the field by six shots.
Irr most recently competed on Sept. 21, shooting a 15-over at the Cardinal Fall Classic.
The Lions return to action on Monday, Oct. 7, when they travel to compete in the PSU Hazleton Invitational.
Cooper Swam, Freshman, York College
Swam has been inactive through four meets for York College.
The Spartans return to competition on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 5-6, for the Mason-Dixon Collegiate Invitational at Waynesboro Country Club.
Hunt Seat
Madison Shanholtz, Sophomore, Wilson
Wilson has yet to release its roster for this season, but Shanholtz is projected to return to the Phoenix.
Wilson opens its season on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 12-13, at Penn State.
Equestrian
Kaylee Papa, Sophomore, Emory & Henry College
Papa is listed on the roster for Emory & Henry College’s IHSA equestrain team.
