December 7, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Local Sports

CHC doubleheader nets wins for hoopsters Griffin men charge past Defenders in home debut
by TOM UTESCHER

Chestnut Hill College’s Shawn Bolling dribbles down the court. For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photos by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

There was cause for excitement, but not much anxiety at Chestnut Hill College’s Sorgenti Arena last Saturday, as the men’s basketball team took control in the middle of the first half and cruised to an 80-63 victory in their home opener.

The Griffins leveled off their season record at 2-2 with the weekend win, which signaled the start of play in the North Eastern Athletic Conference for both CHC and visiting Baptist Bible College. The Defenders slipped to 2-1 overall with the setback.

Chestnut Hill had dropped it first two bouts this season against a pair of strong opponents, Philadelphia University and Widener. In their third straight road game, the Griffins secured their first victory, beating Valley Forge Christian College, 83-79, as senior guard Shawn Bolling booked 14 points to pass the 1000-point mark in career scoring.

CHC women return home to win conference debut
by TOM UTESCHER

Chestnut Hill College’s Judy Parise navigates past a Baptist Bible College opponent. For more photos visit www.chlocalphotos.com. (Photo by Jimmy J. Pack Jr.)

After starting out the 2006-2007 basketball season with five games on the road, the Chestnut Hill College women’s squad finally saw their home court last Saturday afternoon.

After a lackluster beginning, the Griffins (2-4 overall) gained a three-point edge by halftime and continued on to beat Baptist Bible College (1-1), 72-59, in a bout that was the North Eastern Athletic Conference opener for both ballclubs.

On offense the locals spread the points around, ending up with double-digit efforts from senior forward Andrea Carter (13 points, 13 rebounds), senior point guard Judy Parise (12 points, five assists), junior forward Tara Walsh (12 points), freshman forward Jenna Beck (10 points, five rebounds), and senior forward Kate Quintus (ten points).

CHA Blue Devils down GFS in squash debut
by TOM UTESCHER

In the squash season opener for both schools, Chestnut Hill Academy’s Blue Devils recorded a 7-0 decision against the visiting Germantown Friends School Tigers last Friday afternoon.

New GFS director of boys’ athletics brings experience

Micah Hauben

This fall GFS welcomed Micah Hauben as its new director of boys’ athletics. Hauben came to GFS from Massachusetts, where he coached at Deerfield Academy, Boston University and Newton South High School, and taught at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Other career highlights include serving as the associate director of the Chinese Basketball Association Draft Camp in Oregon, establishing an extensive instructional nursery and elementary basketball program for boys and girls ages 2-12 in the Boston area, and founding and developing his own intensive high school summer basketball program. Hauben graduated magna cum laude from George Washington University with a degree in sport management, where he earned academic all-American honors as a member of the varsity water-polo team, and has a sport management master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts.

Squash stars to clash at CHASS
by TOM UTESCHER

Peter Nichol (left) and John White are pictured playing a pro match in 2004, when both men held the #1 world ranking at various times. (Photo © by Debra Tessier)

To launch the 2006-2007 winter squash season, the CHASS (Chestnut Hill Academy/Springside School) Squash Club is bringing in a pair of racquet aces to play a December 13 exhibition match at the local facility, which is located on the CHA grounds.

Scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM, the bout will feature Peter Nicol and John White, who have both held the number one world ranking on the international pro squash tour. White, who now resides in Exton, PA, grew up in Australia but competes on behalf of Scotland, while Nicol is a Scot who actually plays for England.

Both men are currently 33 years old and each one last held the monthly world number one ranking in 2004. Nichol, a lefty who first gained the top spot in the standings back in 1998, retired from the pro tour in October of this year, when he was still ranked sixth. In the monthly Professional Squash Association international rankings, the London resident held the number one spot 60 times from 1998 to 2004.

GFS boys clinch G’town tournament

The Germantown Friends School boys’ varsity basketball team captured the Germantown Community Basketball Tournament championship this past weekend in twin wins over Bodine and Roxborough high schools on Dec. 1 and 2. Senior GFS captains Marek Loder of Flourtown and David Gould of Germantown were named to the All-Tournament team, with Gould taking home MVP honors. Although Loder and Gould were outstanding, coach Bill Dooley noted that “it was truly a team effort over both nights,” which allowed GFS to win the tournament for the first time in 17 years.

GFS girls hoopsters second in tourney

The Germantown Friends girls’ varsity basketball team opened the season with a 57-28 win over Germantown High School in the first round of the Germantown Community Tournament, hosted by GFS. The Tiger defense did a terrific job putting pressure on the ball all game. Nina Voith and Shelby Tucker led the team with 6 and 7 steals. Talitha Smith came off the bench and gave the team a lot of energy drawing an offensive charge and scoring 13 points. Voith led the team in scoring with 27 points.