Very few college football teams get to play into January, but Nate Kirkwood and the Navy Midshipmen earned that right.
Kirkwood, a Greencastle-Antrim grad and starting placekicker for the Midshipmen, had a brilliant senior campaign for Navy. Not only was Kirkwood accurate — he missed just one kick all season — he was also clutch. Kirkwood guided the Midshipmen to victory in the Army-Navy game, and later helped his team conquer Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl.
In College Corner this week, we’ll take a closer look at the exploits of Kirkwood, while also shining the spotlight on 34 other former Blue Devils competing at the college level. This list includes Mia Libby, who led the Messiah women’s soccer team to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight, and Joel Amstutz, who is having a sharp freshman season for the Roberts Wesleyan’ cross country and indoor track squads.
In the months to come, College Corner will shift focus to Chambersburg and Waynesboro, before circling back to Greencastle-Antrim.
Are we missing anybody? Additions for College Corner can be sent to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Football
Nate Kirkwood, Senior, Navy
With the foot of Kirkwood — a 6-foot-2, 174-pound kicker — paving the way, Navy posted a masterful season on the gridiron.
Kirkwood was 53 for 53 on extra points this fall and converted 10 of 11 field goals, with a long field goal of 48 yards. He also blasted off 12 kickoffs for an average of 54.4 yards per boot.
Kirkwood was an essential piece of the Midshipmen’s come-from-behind 17-16 win over Army on Dec. 13. Trailing 16-7, Navy cut the deficit with a field goal from Kirkwood. Then in the fourth quarter the Midshipmen scored a touchdown, which was capped off by a game-winning extra point from Kirkwood.
Navy was invited to the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2, and with 3.4 million fans watching the televised game, Kirkwood went 5 for 5 on extra points in a 35-13 win over Cincinnati.
If this is the end of Kirkwood’s career, it was a good one. He played in 34 games for the Midshipmen, totaling 182 points on 21 field goals and 119 extra points.
Navy wraps up its season at 11-2 (7-1 American Conference).
Carter McCauley, Freshman, Susquehanna
With McCauley serving as one of the primary pass-catchers, Susquehanna advanced all the way to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals this season.
A 6-foot-3, 185-pound wide receiver, McCauley hauled in 23 receptions for 421 yards and five TDs. His most recent TD came in a 26-3 win over Wilkes on Nov. 8. McCauley was later crucial in helping his team advance past the opening round of NCAAs, catching four passes for 81 yards in a 38-32 victory over Washington and Jefferson on Nov. 22.
The River Hawks (11-3, 6-0 Landmark) saw their season come to an end on Dec. 13 with a 40-10 loss to Johns Hopkins in the national quarterfinals.
Ethan Shank, Senior, Juniata
Shank’s brilliant four-year career came to a conclusion, but not before he put on a final fireworks show.
A 5-foot-11, 187-pound defensive back, Shank went bonkers over his final two games, rolling up 25 tackles and two tackles for loss. He finishes his season as Juniata’s second-leading tackler with 89 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, while also defending five passes.
Shank wraps up his career with appearances in 34 games, a span that saw him total 289 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and a sack, to go along with three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and 13 pass breakups.
The Eagles finish their season at 2-8 (0-6 Landmark).
Parker Funk, Sophomore, Randolph Macon
Funk, a 6-foot, 255-pound defensive tackle, has played in one game since our last update.
He took the field on Nov. 15, recording a tackle and a QB hurry in a 42-15 win over Hampden-Sydney. Funk played in five games this season, totaling 10 tackles, including 2.5 sacks, to go along with two QB hurries and one forced fumble.
Randolph Macon wraps up its season at 9-2 (8-0 ODAC).
Darren Kline, Junior, Misericordia
Kline has appeared in one game since our last update: A 27-21 win over King’s College on Nov. 15. In that game, he posted a tackle.
A 5-foot-8, 200-pound linebacker, Kline played in five games this season and totaled three tackles.
Misericordia ends its campaign at 7-4 (7-2 MAC).
Jacob Kumfert, R-Junior, Akron
Kumfer, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman, competed in one game for Akron this fall.
He made his appearance on Nov. 4 in a 44-10 win over UMass.
The Zips wrap up their fall season at 5-7 (4-4 MAC).
Sawyer Brookens, R-Sophomore, Shippensburg
Brookens played in every game for the Raiders this season.
A 6-foot-3, 210-pound tight end, Brookens made the first catch of his career, for six yards, in a 48-7 loss to West Chester on Nov. 1.
Shippensburg concludes its season at 3-8 (3-4 PSAC).
Sall Bangura, R-Freshman, Shippensburg
Bangura, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound tight end, was inactive for Shippensburg this season.
Logan Alvey, Sophomore, Mount St. Joseph
Alvey, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound quarterback, was inactive for Mount St. Joseph this season.
The Titans wrap up their campaign at 6-5 (5-1 HCAC).
Soccer
Mia Libby, Junior, Messiah
With Libby, a 5-foot-3 midfielder, in the starting lineup, Messiah marched all the way to the NCAA Division III Elite Eight.
Libby started in all 25 games for the Falcons this season, totaling five assists and five goals, including three game-winners. She took two shots on Nov. 22 in Messiah’s final game of the season: A 1-0 overtime loss to Washington University in St. Louis in the national quarterfinals.
The Falcons finish their season at 22-3 (7-0 MAC Commonwealth).
Courtney Andruczk, Senior, High Point
Andruczk played in all 20 games for High Point this season, including 12 starts, totaling one goal and one assist.
A 5-foot-5 forward, Andruczk finished her season with 46 minutes of playing time in a 5-0 loss to Virginia on Nov. 14. She ends her career with appearances in 45 games, including 20 starts, compiling four goals and two assists along the way.
The Panthers conclude their campaign at 5-10-5 (3-3-2 Big South).
Foday Bangura, Junior, Villanova
Bangura, a 6-foot-1 defender, played in 10 games for Villanova this season, including seven starts.
He most recently took the field on Nov. 7, playing for 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Marquette.
The Wildcats wrap up their season at 7-6-5 (2-3-3 Big East).
Rylee Henson, Junior, La Salle
Henson was a key defender for a La Salle squad that allowed 1.72 goals per game this season.
She played in 17 games for the Explorers, including 16 starts, and totaled five assists. Henson most recently took the pitch on Oct. 31, taking two shots in a 3-1 loss to Dayton.
La Salle closes out its season at 7-8-3 (4-4-2 Atlantic 10).
Haley Noblit, Sophomore, Liberty
With Noblit, a 5-foot-5 forward/midfielder, playing in 17 of 22 games, Liberty posted a winning season and got to play in the opening round of the NCAA Division I Tournament.
She totaled one goal and four assists in 723 minutes of playing time this fall.
Noblit most recently took the field on Nov. 14, logging 46 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Clemson in the opening round of the national tourney.
Liberty ends its campaign at 14-4-4 (6-0-2 Conference USA).
Caleb Baine, R-Freshman, Seton Hill
Baine, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound midfielder, was inactive for Seton Hill this season.
The Griffins finish their fall at 11-6-1 (7-2-1 PSAC).
Ana Pinieski, Freshman, Lancaster Bible College
Pinieski, a Greencastle native who went to Shalom Christian, got a fair amount of playing time for Lancaster Bible College in her first season of college soccer.
A goalkeeper, Pinieski made five starts for the Blazers, posting a 2-2 record with eight saves and a 3.93 goals against average.
Lancaster Bible ends its season at 10-7 (5-3 United East).
Field hockey
Kelsey Beauchamp, Freshman, Lincoln Memorial University
Beauchamp got a wealth of on-the-job experience this fall, starting in all 18 games for Lincoln Memorial University.
A 5-foot-8 defender, Beauchamp totaled one goal and one assist.
The Railsplitters finish their season at 6-12 (3-7 SAC).
Cross country/indoor track
Joel Amstutz, Freshman, Roberts Wesleyan
After closing out his fall with a brilliant showing in the cross country postseason, Amstutz is off to a solid start in his first season of indoor track.
The NCAA Division II East Region Cross Country Championships, held on Nov. 8, saw Amstutz blast off for a 10K PR time of 33:32.7 to earn 28th place. His performance earned a spot at the national meet on Nov. 22. There, he took 252nd in 34:34.6.
Amstutz returned to competition on Dec. 5 at YSU Icebreaker, taking ninth in the 3,000 with a time of 9:05.24.
Roberts Wesleyan returns to competition on Jan. 30-31 for the YSU Annual Collegiate Invitational.
Kyle Baker, Junior, Shippensburg
Baker nailed down a PR and a trip to the medal stand at the Gulden Invitational on Jan. 24. Competing in the 3,000, Baker blasted off for a sixth-place finish in 9:05.52.
He opened his indoor season on Jan. 17 at the Alvernia Winter Invitational, taking 11th in the mile (4:35.85) and 13th in the 800 (2:04.25).
Shippensburg returns to competition on Friday, Jan. 30, for the Bucknell Bison Invitational.
Isaac Boyer, Sophomore, Delaware Valley
Boyer has seen action in two invites this season, recording a Top 10 finish and a PR along the way.
He kicked off his season at the Alvernia Rust Buster on Dec. 6, zipping to an eighth-place finish in the mile with a 5:30.30. Boyer was back in competition on Dec. 12, running for a PR time of 10:36.0 in the 3,000 to take 44th place.
Delaware Valley returns to competition on Saturday, Jan. 31, at the PLEX Shootout.
Shavari Maharaj, Junior, Hofstra
Maharaj has been inactive for Hofstra up to this point in the season.
The Pride return to action on Friday, Jan. 30, at Metropolitan Indoor Championship.
Claire Paci, Sophomore, Connecticut
After a long break following the cross country season, Paci is back in action for Connecticut’s indoor track squad.
Competing at the Penn Elite on Jan. 24, Paci ran to a 32nd-place finish in the mile with a time of 5:03.44.
It was her first time racing since the cross country postseason, which she closed out with 6K competition at the Big East Championships (34th in 21:24) on Oct. 31 and the NCAA Division I Northeast Region Championships (122nd in 21:49).
The Huskies travel on Friday, Jan. 30, to compete at the Harvard Invitational.
Piper Linn, Sophomore, Connecticut
Linn, a pole vaulter, has two indoor meets under her belt this winter.
She competed at the Beantown Challenge on Jan. 17, vaulting 11-5.75 for 13th place. Linn improved upon that mark on Jan. 24 at the Penn Elite, leaping 11-6.25 for 11th place.
Ashton Botzan, Junior, Indiana (Pa.)
Botzan has landed two Top 10 finishes in two meets this winter.
The pole vaulter kicked off his season on Dec. 5-6 at the Bucknell Bison Opener, soaring to a 10th-place finish with a height of 13-5.25. Botzan placed even higher at the SPIRE Midwest Open on Jan. 24, taking seventh with a vault of 13-3.5.
The Crimson Hawks return to action on Friday, Jan. 30, for a meet at Bucknell.
Seth Stouffer, Junior, Indiana (Pa.)
Stouffer made his season debut at the SPIRE Midwest Open on Jan. 24.
The sprinter took 18th in the 200 (23.24) and 33rd in the 60 (7.43).
Aidan Horan, Junior, West Liberty
Horan has honed his craft in the shot put, competing in three meets this winter.
His best throw over that span, a heave of 34-4.25, garnered a 33rd-place finish at the Muskie Meet on Jan. 17. Horan most recently competed at the Ashland Invitational on Jan. 24, taking 41st in the shot (31-11.5).
West Liberty returns to competition on Friday, Jan. 30, for the Youngstown State Multi Mid-Major Event.
Claire Coons, Senior, Millersville
Coons opened her season with a pair of Top 10 finishes, and a PR, at the Bucknell Bison Opener on Dec. 5-6.
At that meet, she ran a PR time of 2:27.48 in the 800 for ninth place. Coons also guided Millersville’s 4×400 relay squad to a sixth-place finish in 4:16.55.
Millersville returns to competition on Friday, Jan. 30, at the Bucknell Bison Open.
Volleyball
Madie Eagler, Junior, Saint Vincent
Eagler, a 5-foot-8 defensive specialist, has seen action in one match since our last update.
Eagler competed in a 3-0 win over Pitt-Greensburg on Nov. 1, posting two kills, 13 assists, three blocks, and a dig.
She finishes her season with appearances in 14 matches, including one start, and in 45 sets of work she totaled 18.5 points, 160 assists, one ace, 20 digs, and eight blocks.
Saint Vincent finishes its campaign at 9-15 (7-9 PAC).
Masalyna Miller, Freshman, Wilson
Miller, a 5-foot-7 middle blocker/outside hitter, finishes her first season of college volleyball with 15 appearances, all starts, in 23 of Wilson’s matches.
In 53 sets of works she totaled 105 points, 77 kills, five assists, 20 aces, 69 digs, and 13 blocks.
The Phoenix wrap up their season at 2-21 (2-8 Big East).
Kaylee Batistig, Freshman, Wilson
Batistig, a 5-foot-6 opposite hitter/setter, has seen action in one match since our last udpate.
She took the court on Oct. 28, playing for one set in Wilson’s 3-0 win over Valley Forge. Batistig finishes her season with appearances in 13 matches, including five starts, a span that saw her total 12 points, eight kills, three aces, 31 digs, and one block.
Alaina Garling, Freshman, Shepherd
Garling, a 5-foot-8 setter, was inactive for Shepherd this season.
The Rams wrap up their season at 19-11 (8-6 PSAC East).
Equestrian
Kaylee Papa, Junior, Emory & Henry College
Papa is listed on the roster for Emory & Henry College’s IHSA equestrian team.
The team most recently competed at the IHSA Tournament of Champions on Dec. 6, taking sixth out of 16 teams.
The Wasps return to competition on Feb. 7, when they host an IDA meet.
Wrestling
Aurelius Dunbar, Graduate, Duke
Dunbar, a Greencastle native who went to Mercersburg Academy, has been Duke’s primary starter at 165 pounds this season.
Dunbar is 5-4 this winter with a pin and a technical fall. His most recent victory came on Dec. 3, when he pinned Tucker Cell in 2:48 in the Blue Devils’ 24-22 victory over Gardner-Webb. Dunbar recently took the mat on Jan. 18, when he lost a 4-1 decision to Jared Keslar in his team’s 40-0 loss to Pittsburgh.
Duke (6-9, 0-1 ACC) returns to competition on Friday, Jan. 30, with a home match against Virginia.
Basketball
Eli Sterling, Sophomore, PSU Altoona
Sterling has seen part-time action for PSU Altoona this winter.
A 6-foot-3 forward, Sterling has appeared in 12 games and in 81 minutes of playing time he’s totaled 18 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, five steals, and two blocks.
He posted a season-high six points in a 69-67 win over Wooster on Dec. 6. Sterling most recently took the floor on Jan. 7, playing six minutes in his team’s 90-53 loss to Hilbert.
The Lions (8-9, 2-6 AMCC) are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 31, when they play host to Hilbert.
Cheerleading
Kamille Reines, Freshman, Shippensburg
Reines, a flyer, has been showcasing her skills on the sidelines for Shippensburg this season.
