Published: June 07, 2009 12:27 am      

College signings in brief

Four Greater Johnstown football standouts have announced their intentions to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

All four players ended their careers for the Trojans with a record of 22-11.

Quadir Christian, a three-year letterman at running back and a defensive back, will continue his career at Juniata College. As a running back he rushed for 1,236 yards, collecting 16 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns. On defense, Christian had 37 tackles and two interceptions.

Louise Jones and Geneva Jones are the guardians of Christian.

Jon Maurizio, a punter and placekicker for the Trojans, will also continue his playing career at Juniata College. A three-year letterwinner, Maurizio converted 22 extra points and three field goals. As a punter he averaged 32 yards per punt. He is the son of Wendy and Albert Maurizio.

James Haggerty will attend St. Vincent College and play for the Bearcats. He was a three year letterwinner. As a center Haggerty was instrumental in helping Trojans running backs rush for 2,480 total yards.

He is the son of James and Evelyn Haggerty.

William Claar will continue his career at Bethany College and will major in business. Claar lettered for three years at offensive and defensive tackle. At offensive tackle he helped the running backs to rush for nearly 2,500 yards. As a defensive tackle he was credited with 32 tackles and two sacks. He is the son of Kristina and Ken Piner and William Jr. and Chris Claar.



Seven Richland athletes to continue careers

Seven Richland High School student-athletes committed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Nate Adam will play football and participate in track at Waynesburg.

Brooks Lohr will play football at Waynesburg, and Tim Ripple will play football at California.

Ali Kormanik will continue her softball career at Mount Aloysius College.

Calsie Boyd and Ashton Walton each will participate in track and field at Seton Hill University.

Chad Miller will wrestle at Pitt-Johns-town.



Westmont’s Curry to play football at Shippensburg

Dan Curry signed a letter-of-intent to play football at NCAA Division II Shippensburg University this fall. A senior at Westmont Hilltop, Curry played offensive and defensive tackle for coach Matt Glennon’s Hilltoppers.

He was a three-year varsity letterman and also a member of the 2006 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference Junior High championship squad.

As a junior, Curry was named to the LHAC all-conference team. He received honorable mention status in the LHAC as a senior and a sophomore.

He was selected to participate in this year’s Ken Lantzy Finest 40 football game.

In addition to football, Curry is a four-year letterman in hockey and a three-year letterman in track.

He is the son of Jim Curry and Pam Vranich, and the stepson of Tim Vranich.



Central Cambria’s O’Saben headed to Slippery Rock

Central Cambria senior tailback Andrew O’Saben will continue his academic and athletic careers at Slippery Rock University, where he will play football for the Rockets.

O’Saben became the Red Devils’ single-season rushing leader last season as he helped Central Cambria advance to its second straight District 6 Class AA championship game.

He finished his career with more than 2,700 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.

A three-year letterwinner in football at Central Cambria, O’Saben will participate in the Ken Lantzy Finest 40 all-star game this month. He also lettered four years in track and competed in the 100-meter, 200-meter and high jump events. He is a two-time member of the Red Devils’ 400 relay team that made its second straight appearance at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg.

O’Saben was a Tribune-Democrat first-team all-area pick and a Southern Alleghenies Football Coaches Association Offensive Award winner.

He is the son of Phil and Jo O’Saben of Mineral Point.



Windber’s Henger to golf at Virginia apprentice school

Windber’s Blake Henger will continue his academic and athletic careers at The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va. where he will play golf under a partial athletic scholarship.

Henger will major in world class shipbuilding and welding and technology.

He lettered four seasons in golf. Henger was a three-time letterman in baseball, earning WestPAC all-conference status this spring. He also lettered twice in basketball and was on the Windber Rotary All-Tournament team as a senior and the AmeriServ Senior Hoops Showcase.