Athletics

Parker Wins Under Armour AD of the Year Award

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:59:49 MDT

Helena-MT. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) announced their winners of the Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year Award (ADOY) today. The winners will be recognized during the 44th Annual NACDA convention at the James J. Corbett Luncheon on Saturday, June 20 at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Florida. Carroll College Athletic Director Bruce Parker was selected as the NAIA West Region Winner.

“To be honored by your peers is always very special. This is a great field that I am fortunate to work in,” said Parker, who has just completed his sixth year at Carroll. “It has been a wonderful year for Carroll College athletics and I'm so fortunate to be able to work with outstanding student-athletes. I'm blessed with great coaches, an incredible support staff and a senior administration that truly understands the value of a strong athletic program. Carroll College is a very special place!"
NACDA Executive Director Mike Cleary explains the ADOY Award as being essential because it highlights the efforts of athletic directors at all levels for their commitment and positive contributions to campuses and their surrounding communities.
"Our Honors and Awards Committee recognized a need for an award such as the AD of the Year," said Cleary, who oversaw implementation of the program to allow all NACDA officers and Honors and Awards Committee members to participate in the awards process, should they be elected. "The program brings to light the exceptional jobs done by athletics directors across the country. These 29 winners exemplify that, providing us with a group of outstanding athletic directors who excel at their jobs."
Beginning his seventh year at the helm of Saints’ athletics, Parker was recently selected as the President of the National Athletic Directors Association (ADA) and appointed to serve on the NAIA National Administrative Council, keeping Carroll College in the forefront of NAIA athletics. During his term as Athletic Director at Carroll, Parker has previously been honored as the NAIA National Athletic Director of the Year, as well as being recognized twice as the NAIA Region I Athletic Director of the Year, and the Frontier AD of the year on three occasions.

“I believe that Bruce is well-deserving of this award,” said Carroll President Tom Trebon. “He has exceeded all of the standard expectations that a college president would have for an athletic director. He has mobilized fan and corporate support that has created excitement on our campus, in our athletic programs within the city of Helena and across Montana. He has provided leadership at a time of unprecedented success in our individual sports and supported the success with significant fundraising and community outreach. Bruce has transformed the face of Carroll athletics and its role in our community.”
The athletic and academic successes have been plentiful at Carroll under Parker. The Fighting Saints have captured the Frontier Conference George Bandy Memorial All-Sports Trophy twice in Parker’s tenure and finished second three times. The Fighting Saints’ football program has won nine consecutive Frontier Conference Championships including five NAIA National Football Championships. Conference championships and national tournament appearances have also been plentiful in men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and soccer. Last season was not only a successful year for Carroll athletics on the field or court, but also in the classroom; seven of Carroll’s nine athletics programs were honored as NAIA Scholar Teams. The teams earned at least a 3.0 team grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) during the academic year. The women’s soccer team at Carroll topped the charts with a 3.89 team grade point average, which was the highest in the entire nation.
“Bruce Parker represents the type of Athletic Director who is visionary, transformative and pro-active,” said Dr. Jim Hardwick, Carroll Vice President of Student Life. “His energy and enthusiasm level will amaze you and his genuineness and likeability will disarm you. He is articulating the experience of the student-athlete in terms that inspire others to offer support previously unheard of at our college.”
All NACDA-member directors of athletics in the United States, Canada, and Mexico who met the criteria were eligible for the award. Among the criteria were: service as an AD for a minimum of five academic years, demonstration of commitment to higher education and student-athletes, continuous teamwork, loyalty, and excellence, and the ability to inspire individuals or groups to high levels of accomplishments. Additionally, each AD's institution must have passed a compliance check through its appropriate governing body (NCAA, NAIA, etc.), in which the institution could not have been on probation or cited for a lack of institutional control within the last five years during the tenure of the current athletics director.
Nominators were NACDA-member directors of athletics, institutional presidents and conference commissioners. Special selection committees composed of current and former directors of athletics, present and past NCAA and NAIA presidents, current and former commissioners and other key athletics administrators voted on nominees for the award.
NACDA, now in its 45th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Capital golf standout Ternes signs with Carroll College

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:34:05 MDT

By Independent Record - 05/20/09

Capital High standout athlete Ben Ternes has signed a letter of intent to join the Carroll College golf team this upcoming fall, Saints head coach Bennett MacIntyre announced on Tuesday.

The two-time Capital High team MVP took second place this past year at the Montana AA golf tournament, shooting a 1-under-par 141 at the Green Meadow Country Club, earning all-state golf honors.

He was also a second-team all-state basketball player his senior year.

"Ben is the type of athlete who will put in the extra time to practice," MacIntyre said. "When you have people like that who are driven in your program, it makes everyone else better."

Ben is expected to come in and play right away for the Saints ,who should have some depth heading into next season. Carroll returns four starters from a team that finished in fourth place in the Frontier Conference.

Carroll freshman Jim Mee was named second team all-conference in 2009 and led the way for the Saints with a 74.1 stroke average. He'll have some friendly competition with the addition of Ternes.

"Ben has the ability to not only be a consistent scorer for our team, but has the ability to go low. Next year is going to be a lot of fun watching our team compete," MacIntyre said.

Ben is the son of Mary and Dave Ternes and carries a 3.4 GPA.

Saints Sign Two

Mon, 11 May 2009 13:45:50 MDT

Helena, Mont.—Carroll College women’s soccer coach David Thorvilson has announced the last of his incoming class for 2009 with Rachell Kuntz and Laura Maddock signing NAIA/Frontier Conference Letter of Intent.

Kuntz and Maddock both hail from Bismarck, North Dakota and play for Saint Mary’s Central High School. These two ladies will be the first to venture west from their state to play soccer for the Saints.

Kuntz is a four year varsity starter and a first team all-state selection since her sophomore year. She is a member of the National Honor Society and maintains a 4.04 GPA and ranks second in her class. Kuntz primarily plays a defensive midfield roll for her HS team and should be able to play a similar spot for Carroll College. Rachell plans to major in Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy at Carroll College.

Maddock is also a four year varsity starter and has been an all-state as well as all tournament selection from her freshman year on. In 2008 Laura was chosen as the Gatorade West Region Play of the year. She has also received the honor of Wendy’s Heisman Award winner her senior year at Saint Mary’s and is a three sport standout in Soccer, Volleyball, and Hockey. Laura is a member of the National Honors Society and maintains a 3.96 GPA. Maddock plans to major in Nursing at Carroll College.

“I am very pleased to sign two outstanding student athletes to our program. Both Rachell and Laura will help strengthen our midfield. Maddock is a 6’1 left footed player and can play anywhere down the center of the pitch for us and Kuntz thrives on being able to transition the ball from defense to offense. I think both these young ladies will have a big impact on our program and I am excited to watch their careers unfold here at Carroll College,” said Thorvilson.

The Saints will check in for pre-season on August 10th and will open the regular season at home Saturday August 29th. The team will be returning a larger number of returnees and have set goals very high for the 2009 season.

-Saints-

Players react to Veltri�s signing

Fri, 01 May 2009 09:34:09 MDT

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record - 05/01/09

Brandon Veltri, right, coaches alongside former head coach Gary Turcott during a basketball game this past season at Carroll College. Veltri was named the new head coach Thursday. (File photo by Lisa Kunkel Independent Record)

Brandon Veltri will be tested by die-hard Carroll College fans and the Helena community over the next few years, facing the reality that all new coaches must when taking over a program.

But in the locker room and around the P.E. Center, his appointment as the new men's basketball coach has already been widely accepted.

"It's always hard to follow somebody whose been at a place a long time," said former head coach Gary Turcott, who was present at Veltri's induction on Thursday. "But, Brandon is going to continue a lot of the same recruiting philosophy, offensive and defensive philosophy, and I think people are going to continue to enjoy the style of play that he puts out on the court."

Carroll's athletic director, Bruce Parker, said he didn't open up the position when Turcott announced his retirement on April 2 after 19 years at the helm, though Parker did have more than 50 messages - e-mails and phone calls - from coaches across the country jockeying for the position.

Still, the Saints decided on a 30-year-old with little head coaching experience except for two games when Turcott went on a respite to see his son play.

Veltri knows the pressure that he will be under in his first year at the helm. The Saints have won 20 games or more the last five years, they are constantly battling for a position in the NAIA national tournament, and last season proved to be the best the Frontier Conference has ever been. By the end, the second-ranked team in the conference, Rocky Mountain College, ended up winning a national title.

*
"I think the expectations are high at Carroll for all the sports," Veltri said. "I don't think that's going to change because Turcott's gone.

"I think that's one of the reasons why this hire makes sense. Who better to continue what Turcott has built here than one of his assistants."

Veltri doesn't like the word "rebuild," especially with so many young recruits still waiting to take over a squad that loses five seniors, three of them starters.

Those young players are already buying into the transition and are looking for the best.

"I think Brandon will do a great job. He's been a great individual coach," said Chase Godecke.

Working personally with Veltri, who concentrated on his old position at the post, the sophomore from Dillon got to know Turcott's successor on a daily basis.

"He would work with you individually and if you were doing something wrong, he'd go over it with you until you had it right," Godecke said.

And his personality always made it easy for the student-athletes communicate with the coaches.

"If you need anything, you can go to him," Godecke said.

Josh Saunders knows he's leaving a program that will only get better with time.

The senior guard from Great Falls said that the coach's own comments during the press conference - when asked what kind of coach he is, Veltri took a deep breath and said "calm" - were true.

"At the same time, I know he has a passion for the game and for the kids, which, from a players' perspective, you can read that right away," Saunders said.

As for Veltri's duties breaking down the other team's offense during a game and making second-half adjustments:"He's very cerebral that way and Xs and Os-wise, there's no doubt that he's going to be a good coach."

Most importantly, "he understands the type of kids he needs to bring in here. Kids that can make adjustments at half time, kids that are able to make changes on the run."

Turcott couldn't agree more. He said that Carroll has concentrated on bringing kids in from the high school level, especially those from Montana.

"So many colleges throughout the country have really become schools that live and die by transfers. They're transfer universities," Turcott said. "We have never done that. Our philosophy all these years has basically been based on high school athletes, preferably from Montana, and supplemented with a transfer here or there."

"There isn't anybody else that we know that's doing it that way. I think it fits our institution and fits our community."

And those recruits are looking forward to the new era under Veltri. Often when an old college coach leaves, so do the players.

Freshman post Andy Garland, an honorable mention All-American from Missoula, said he hasn't heard of any players who are planning to cut and run.

Instead, they're getting ready for a new season under a coach that has worked closely with them in their stay and now has to be ready for a tough season and nearly a brand new squad.

"It's going to be real difficult to start, especially when we lose the seniors that we have," Garland said. But, "I think Coach Turcott has done a good job prepping him."

"Nobody expects him the first year that he coaches to be mistake free," Turcott said. "Everybody goes through a learning curve, and every coach learns every year."

Still, as Parker pointed out during the press conference, in Veltri's two games at the helm, he's a perfect 2-0.

"It's always hard losing a coach, especially one with as much power as Coach Turcott had," said redshirt freshman Casey Rogers of Billings. "But Veltri's going to come in and do a good job.

"I think he's ready."

NOTES: Sol Jones will remain as a part-time assistant coach while Kurt Paulson will be moving to a new college to complete graduate work ... Parker has said he will open up Veltri's former position as full-time assistant coach and sports information director nationwide for applicants.

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller -is-at- hotmail -dot- com

The guard changes

Fri, 01 May 2009 09:32:24 MDT

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record - 05/01/09

Carroll College didn't have to look anywhere else to find the perfect replacement for retired men's head basketball coach Gary Turcott.

The best choice was already on their staff.

Former associate head coach Brandon Veltri accepted the role on Thursday during a press conference in the Carroll P.E. Center gymnasium, leading the Saints into a new era after 19 years under Turcott's instruction. Turcott announced his retirement on April 2.

"I am very, very proud to be able to hire Brandon Veltri. He's proven that he can be a head coach at this level, he's worked under who I think is one of the finest coaches in the country in Gary Turcott," said Carroll athletic director Bruce Parker. "He's a hard worker, he's very loyal to Carroll College and I think he could be here for a long time.

"He's got a lot of enthusiasm, and I think the transition for our players, our staff and the campus and the Helena community will be an easy one."

While the 30-year-old Veltri will certainly bring youth and energy to the position, he guaranteed that not much will change for the Saints, who saw unprecedented success in Turcott's tenure and in the six years that Veltri was on staff.

"I think that's something we're all sensitive to during this process, the transition from coach Turcott to whoever the new coach was going to be," Veltri said before the crowd of 40 or so family, friends and media members. "I understand where these players are, I understand what we're capable of doing.

"It's not a rebuilding program here. The foundation is already in place."

In his tenure, Veltri has been the program's recruiting coordinator and overseen the team's in-season scouting while coordinating scheduling and travel.

His on-court duties included working with the Saints post players and in-game defensive adjustments. With his help, the Saints have garnered 14 All-Frontier Conference picks the past six seasons as well as eight All-America honorees.

Since his arrival, the Saints have compiled an impressive 140-49 overall record and won three Frontier Conference titles. He helped the Saints to a pair of "Elite Eight" appearances and a berth in the NAIA's "Fab Four" in 2005. Carroll has won 20 games or more in each of the past five seasons, including a school record 28 wins in 2005 that was surpassed by the 30 wins the following season.

Much of Carroll's success is thanks to the "blocker-mover" offense that Turcott and former assistant - now women's head basketball coach - Shawn Nelson developed years ago, as well as a stifling man-to-man defense.

Veltri said that he has no intention of changing those schemes strategies that have helped the Saints to so much success.

He'll also keep three core values he learned from Turcott; the first of which is to never cut corners.

"He always prepared for each contest the very same," Veltri said. "He would never underestimate an opponent, and never be intimidated by an opponent."

Veltri said that Turcott would rewrite every plan five or six times until it was extremely simple to teach.

The second value was to always be humble; give credit to the players when the team wins, and take blame for when it loses.

"You're always one game away from being an embarassment in the business," Veltri said.

And finally, to surround yourself with good people and treat them well.

Veltri has undoubtedly been the recipient of such respect. His journey to Carroll College began in his high school days when he and twin brother Brock Veltri were searching for a small college where they could play basketball at.

When Veltri's high school basketball coach in the Salt Lake valley called Turcott to ask if he was interested, the Saints' coach told him there wasn't room but they could try Mark Amaral, a former Carroll assistant coach who had taken up head coaching duties at Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Wash.

"There were small schools we were looking at playing for," Veltri said. "We were both 6-5 post players that couldn't jump.

"We knew what our limitations were. We were fortunate to play those two years at Port Angeles."

After leaving Peninsula, the Veltri brothers both returned to their home state to graduate from the University of Utah. Brock went to graduate school at Idaho State right Utah and Brandon followed suit a year later.

In 2004, Turcott went looking for a new assistant coach after Shawn Nelson took over the women's program, and a phone call to Amaral gave him a name to contact: Brock Veltri.

"Six years ago Coach Turcott made a phone call to a very hard-working, self-motivated, talented basketball coach and offered him the assistant position here at Carroll College," Brandon Veltri said. "Fortunately, he turned the position down and gave Coach Turcott my phone number instead."

Veltri accepted the position and spent the first few years avoiding a cramped cubicle to join Turcott in his office, drawing up plays on a dry erase board and examining the other teams' strategies.

In his first year, Veltri and Turcott also put together a plan.

"He said that if I came to Carroll College, and if I put in the time and effort that he would help me to become a head coach," Veltri said. "Today that goal has become a reality."

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller -is-at- helenair -dot- com

Carroll names Veltri new head basketball coach

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:46:54 MDT

Carroll College Press Release

Brandon Veltri, a long-time assistant coach at Carroll College, has been named as the Saints' new head men's basketball coach, announced Athletic Director Bruce Parker on Thursday. Veltri replaces the veteran Gary Turcott, who announced his retirement three weeks ago after 19 years at the helm of the Carroll men's program.

"Brandon has done an outstanding job assisting Coach (Gary) Turcott and has been involved in all aspects of the program," Parker said. "I have been impressed with his work on and off the court as well as his abilities in the areas of recruiting and scheduling. He has been fortunate to have Gary as a mentor in this profession. Brandon has more than earned a shot at this position and I am confident that he will continue the tremendous success that the Saints have enjoyed over the past 19 years."

In his six seasons with the Saints' men's basketball program, Veltri has been the program's recruiting coordinator, oversaw the team's in-season scouting and coordinated scheduling and travel. His on-court duties have included work with the Saint post players and in-game defensive adjustments. The Saints have also garnered 14 All-Frontier Conference picks the past six seasons as well as eight All-America honorees.

Veltri's biggest supporter has been Turcott, the dean of Frontier basketball coaches who compiled a record of 376-223 in his 19 seasons at the helm of the Carroll men's program. "Brandon has been a huge part of our success over the past six seasons," Turcott noted. "I have tremendous respect for his coaching abilities as well as all of the other aspects of being a college basketball coach. He has a bright future ahead and will make an outstanding head coach."

"I am very pleased that Brandon Veltri has accepted the position as head coach for our men's basketball program at Carroll," said Dr. Tom Trebon, president of the college. "Replacing a man like Gary Turcott is daunting and nearly impossible. Such a task could truly be done only by finding a coach who has learned and worked at Gary's side. Coach Veltri is, in this regard, a perfect choice and will build on Coach Turcott's legacy, continuing to lead our outstanding Saints men's basketball program to excellence on the courts and in the classroom."

During Veltri's tenure at Carroll, the Saints have compiled an impressive 140-49 overall record and won three conference titles in the past five seasons. He helped the Saints to a pair of "Elite Eight" appearances and a berth in the NAIA's "Fab Four" in 2005. Carroll has won 20 games or more in each of the past five seasons, including a school record 28 wins in 2005 that was surpassed by the 30 wins the following season.

"I want to thank the administration at Carroll, including President (Tom) Trebon, Dr. (Jim) Hardwick and Athletic Director Bruce Parker. Their support and confidence in me is inspiring," said the 30-year-old Veltri. "I am grateful for this tremendous opportunity and humbled to be named the next Men's Basketball coach at Carroll College. Over the past 20 years, Coach Turcott has built a program with a rich history of success and I look forward to expanding on the foundation which he has established."

"Brandon Veltri has earned this promotion to lead our Men's Basketball program," said Dr. Jim Hardwick, Carroll's Vice President of Student Life. "His hands-on experience in coordinating student-athlete recruitment and game scheduling at Carroll provided him with valuable preparation for this position. The mentoring he has received from Coach Turcott on supervising practices, managing games and preparing for national tournament competition will insure a seamless transition. Brandon understands the quality of student-athletes that succeed well at Carroll College and he will build on the merits and legacy of the winning tradition established by Coach Turcott."

The Saints will return two starters - senior Chris Medina and sophomore Andy Garland - from last season's 20-7 team that was in and out the NAIA's top 25 ranking. Garland was a first team All-Frontier Conference selection, the league's "Freshman of the Year" and an honorable mention All-America pick. Medina proved to be one of the league's top newcomers and one of the Saints' top scorers and rebounders. Carroll is finalizing its 2009 recruiting class and Veltri and his staff are expected to sign at least six newcomers.

Prior to his stint at Carroll, Veltri was a graduate assistant for Coach Doug Oliver and the Idaho State Bengals of the Big Sky Conference. A native of Salt Lake City, he attended Judge Memorial Catholic High School before moving on to Peninsula College in Port Angeles Wash., where he played basketball along side his identical twin brother Brock Veltri (Seattle Pacific University interim head coach) and Carroll assistant Sol Jones.

"During Coach Turcott's tenure, the Saints have had several great basketball players as members of the program, and yet even better people," said Veltri. "Individuals like Guy Almquist, Brandon Boedecker, Shawn Nelson, Mark Venegas, Bill Pilgeram, Kevin Downs, JD Solomon, Kevin Van Nice, Andy Brown, Jeff Hays and many others. It is my hope that the players from the past and the Helena community will be proud of the teams we put on the court in the future. We will continue to recruit quality young men that will make a positive impact on our basketball program as well as to our community. Finally, I want to thank Coach Turcott as he has been a tremendous mentor and teacher to me and an even better friend."

Veltri graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from the University of Utah in 2001, and earned a Master of Arts in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in May 2003. In addition to his coaching duties, Veltri also served as the Director of Sports Information at Carroll.

A search to fill Veltri's staff as well as the sports information director position will begin immediately. He will begin his head coaching duties on August 1.

Brekke inks with Saints basketball team

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:00:00 MDT

By Independent Record - 04/30/09

Carroll College women's head basketball coach Shawn Nelson has announced the signing of Helena's own Kelsi Brekke of Capital High.

Brekke, a 5-foot-8 senior guard, averaged 19.2 points per game, shot 39 percent from behind the arc, and sank 86 percent from the foul line for Coach Bill Pilgeram's squad.

She also led the Bruins to the Class AA state tournament and handed two-time defending champion Missoula Big Sky their only loss of the year.

"We are excited to have Kelsi join our program. She is an outstanding scorer and has the ability to stretch out the defense with her 3-point shooting," says Coach Nelson. "She has really developed into an all-around scorer and can get to the foul line and hit big free-throws."

Brekke is a four-year letter winner in both basketball and softball.

In basketball, she earned first-team all-state honors as a sophomore, second-team all-conference honors as a junior, and first-team all-state honors as a senior. Her success on the basketball court earned a spot on the Super State Team named last week.

In softball, she was named honorable mention all-conference as a freshman, second-team all-state as a sophomore, and first-team all-state as a junior. In addition, she was named to the Super State Team in softball as a junior.

"You don't see too many high school athletes that have the ability to be named to the Super State Team in multiple sports. I think it speaks very highly of her competitiveness and work ethic," Nelson said.

Brekke holds 15 school records, including the single-game mark of 41 points, and had four games with over 30 points this season. She scored 36 in Capital's upset win over Big Sky.

"Kelsi is a very consistent player, but has the ability to score points in bunches and change games. That is a quality that will help our program," Nelson said.

Brekke is a four-time Academic All-State selection in both basketball and softball and plans to study accounting at Carroll College.

"I chose to go to Carroll because I felt it would be a good fit for me for both basketball and academics," Brekke said. "I have been watching Carroll basketball since I was young and I have always wanted to be part of the team."

Versatile JC point guard signs with Saints women

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 09:08:21 MDT

By Independent Record - 04/28/09

Carroll College head women's basketball coach Shawn Nelson announced the signing of Otero Junior College point guard Alex Dunn on Monday.

Originally from Hunter High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, the 5-foot-6 guard earned first team All-Region during her junior and senior seasons and was named third team All-State in Utah following her senior year.

Dunn will address a need the Saints had at the point guard position this past season and allow other players to return to their natural positions.

"Alex has a tremendous sense of how to play the point guard position and makes everyone on the floor better," Nelson said. "She is extremely fast in the open court and sees the floor exceptionally well."

At Otero Junior College this past season, Dunn led her team to a 21-9 record and a trip to the Region IX Tournament. She started all 30 games this past season and averaged 9 points per game, was the second leading rebounder at 5.3 rebounds per game and averaged 4.5 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.

"Alex is such a good rebounder that she will really be able to initiate our break," Nelson said. "Having point guards that can rebound will really help our up-tempo style of play."

Academically, Dunn was named to the dean's list with a 3.79 cumulative GPA.

"Carroll has everything I look for in a school; a good academic program, a friendly and supportive community, and a basketball program that fits me," Dunn said.

Dunn will have two years of eligibility for the Saints and was the first in this year's class to sign. The Saints will be releasing the names of additional signees in the days to come.

No. 1 defense holds strong in Saints scrimmage

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:41:49 MDT

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record - 04/19/09

The Saints No. 1 defense held their offensive counterpart scoreless, proving that the squad that's still trying to hammer down its top two lines has plenty of muscle during the final spring scrimmage in Nelson Stadium.

"We came out and said we weren't going to give up any points," said sophomore linebacker Thomas Dolan. "They were able to get inside the 30-yard line and then we shut them down."

The top defensive squad gave up a total of 129 yards on 35 plays (3.7 ypp) against the first- and second-string offenses, using everything including its nickel and red-zone defenses.

Carroll's total offense, meanwhile, finished with 424 yards, 22 first downs and three TDs on 112 snaps.

Sophomore running back John Camino rushed for 71 yards on seven carries to lead the offense, though much of that came during a 44-yard touchdown burst against second-stringers. He would score once more in a designed red-zone situation.

"Kudos to the defense today, they did a tremendous job and do every spring," Camino said. "Offensively, we need to pick up our game a little."

Freshman quarterback Matt Ritter rushed for another TD, capping a 70-yard drive between the No. 2s, and junior quarterback Gary Wagner added a 3-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Bubba Bartlett during a red-zone drill.

Both sides of the ball are working to refine their play as they fill in gaps left by graduation.

The offensive line has to replace two tackles with All-American Adam Brockway and Dan Layton leaving, while the receiving corps replaces three starters from its roster.

Carroll's two other experienced receivers, sophomores Corey Peterson and Christian Prosperie, were on the sidelines with injuries, giving Wagner and Ritter a young corps to work with.

With a chance to shine, no receiver saw more action than redshirt freshman and Capital High graduate Casey Lamping.

He had six receptions for 56 yards and was thrown to throughout the scrimmage.

While he dominated with the second-string squads, he had a little trouble getting going against the No. 1s, dropping a few passes.

"He's going to be a big-time weapon for us," Wagner said. "I think he got the jitters and dropped a couple passes. We told him he has to have a short-term memory."

Some of the passes would've been tough to catch as an experienced secondary came to meet him just as he was reaching for the ball.

After hitting Lamping for 30 yards on two passes in a single drive, Wagner went to him again in the end zone, but Andrew Lopez flew to the play to break up the catch.

Though they lose cornerback Chase Gill and strong safety Zach Richardson, the secondary brings back Pat Regan and Matt Waldenberg, both with starting experience at the corners, and Cody Lamb at free safety.

With so much strength and a few safeties injured, the scrimmage gave a few other players their chance to make some big plays.

"There's quite a lot of depth," said Tucker Vezina, who is fighting for a key back-up role at the strong safety position. "I'm just doing my best to get out on the field."

Vezina was able to sub in to the top lines and make stops a few runs at the line of scrimmage.

At receiver, Lat Wipplinger was able to cut up some of the defense, snagging four receptions for 56 yards. Meanwhile, Bartlett proved why he's taking up the spot at starting tight end left by All-American Marshall McEwen, using four short receptions to power his way to 26 yards.

Both quarterbacks played well as Wagner finished 14-for-25 for 125 yards and Ritter went 13-for-27 for 113 yards and one interception.

"Gary put the ball on the money," said Saints head coach Mike Van Diest. "I thought Gary and Matt both threw the ball pretty well.

"I think the one thing, too, on both sides the quarterbacks were able to scramble."

When the QBs broke away from the pocket, they were able to make tosses for first downs. But, Ritter was caught four times trying to escape, giving up 23 yards.

Van Diest said that he was running a rather basic defense, sending a blitz here and there to prepare the Saints for their first competition this fall, Azusa Pacific.

All in all, Van Diest said, the team showed it had some strengths and weaknesses that they'll be able to key in on over the summer. And, while they know their starters, the Saints still need to find who their key backups will be across the board.

"Spring's about getting people in there to see what they can do," Camino said. "We have two days left (of spring practice) and we had a good scrimmage but we had a few mistakes. We'll watch the plays on film and try to fix them."

NOTES: Lamb knocked the ball loose from Camino to force a fumble, which rolled out of bounds ... Matt White finished with a sack and the lone interception against Ritter ... David Kries and Isiah Linnell, who replace All-American Zach Thiry, shared duties at punter, averaging 52.5 ypp, thanks in part to a strong wind and some good bounces.

Offensive statistics

Scoring plays

No.2 vs. No. 2 - Matt Ritter 1 run (Connor Janhunen kick)

No 1 vs. No. 2 - John Camino 44 run (Janhunen kick)

No. 1 vs. No. 2 Red zone - Bubba Bartlett 3 pass from Gary Wagner

No. 1 vs. No. 2 Red zone - Camino 4 run (Janhunen kick)

Team Statistics

Total plays 112

First downs 22

Total net yds 424

Rushes-yds 50-186

Passing 238

Interceptions ret 1-8

Comp-Att-Int 27-52-1

Sacked yds lost 4-23

Punts 4-52.5

Fumbles-Lost 1-0

Penalties 2-10

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Camino 7-71, Gabe Le 6-40, Gary Wagner 3-15, Ryan Egan 5-25, Matt Ritter 11-(-9), Brian Lee 1-7, Greg Bosick 2-4, Jeff Deal 7-16, Chance Demarais 8-17.

Passing - Wagner 14-25-0-1 125, Ritter 13-27-1-0 113.

Receiving - John Von Eschen 1-9, Anthony Hogan 1-5, Dominic Santucci 2-17, Deal 2-16, Lat Wipplinger 4-52, Cole Whitmoyer 1-13, Pete Richter 1-3, Jared Hunt 2-25, Bubba Bartlett 4-26, Casey Lamping 6-56, Isiah Linnell 1-14, Le 1-(-1), Billy Wagner 1-3.

Carroll�s Gordon taking on new responsibilities

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 10:13:32 MDT

By JEFF WINDMUELLER - Independent Record - 04/17/09

Mac Gordon knows he has some big shoes to fill.

Not only has he moved to the "Mike" linebacker spot, which for the past three years has been dominated by All-American and 2008 NAIA Player of the Year Owen Koeppen, but the Carroll College junior is also the only remaining starter from last fall's linebacking corps.

After graduating five linebackers, three of them starters and the two others as top backups and special teams players, the Saints have needed some strong senior leadership over the spring.

Gordon hasn't waited until after the summer to step into the role.

"He knows what he's doing, and he knows what he's expected to do," said Saints' head coach Mike Van Diest. "I think by his intensity on the field, the young players see how they're supposed to practice.

"I hope this summer he'll be a little more vocal with the players around him."

Soon to be starting for the third straight season and twice a second-team all-Frontier Conference player, Gordon is taking the reins of a rather young and inexperienced defense and will be guiding them again when the Saints' White team takes on Purple during their final scrimmage of the spring season Saturday in Nelson Stadium, beginning around noon.

"It's kind of lonely now being the only guy left with a few friends around," Gordon said. "It's definitely a different feeling, but not a bad feeling."

Gordon isn't completely alone. Sophomore Thomas Dolan joins him as one of the more experienced players on the team, backing up Brandon Day at the "Will" position while also starring on special teams.

"I felt like my position last year was to come in and not lose a beat," Dolan said. "This year's definitely going to be a change, because I'm playing a lot more."

Dolan's numbers last year were close to that of a starter with 53 total tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

Of course, Gordon finished just behind Koeppen and graduating strong safety Zach Richardson on the defensive charts last year with 66 total tackles. He also had 7 TFLs, one sack and one interception.

Taking over the position as Carroll's main run-stopper, Gordon is expected to perform even better this fall.

"I think he's ready for that because he's played alongside Owen for two years," Van Diest said. "He knows what to expect."

The coach said that Gordon has the speed, strength and emotion to be at the heart of the defense.

"He has the perfect linebacker mentality," Van Diest said.

In other words, he simply loves to play.

Still, it will take a lot more to bring the Carroll defense together. While they have some strong returners on the defensive line with Mike Ogrin and Garret Thompson, as well as the secondary, where Mike Waldenberg, Pat Regan and Cody Lamb bring game experience, there are huge question marks at the backup positions.

It's a problem Carroll hasn't had until recently.

Since 2005, the Saints have been able to substitute players frequently and not lose intensity on the field.

Backups like Garret Garrels and Chanler Buck, both NCAA Division I transfers, meant that injuries to the linebacking corps wouldn't slow the Saints down.

But, with so many gone, Van Diest is looking for others to step up.

He's seen tremendous strides from redshirt freshman Thomas Robinson, but also expects senior leadership from guys like Matt Tummel, who saw significant time on the field last year as a backup.

Though young, the linebacking corps is talented and Gordon knows they will all be pressured to perform.

"They have to take a breath, listen to what coach is saying and just play football," Gordon said. "Everything can seem like a drill, but this game is fun and you have to make it fun."

Jeff Windmueller: 447-4065 or jeff.windmueller -is-at- helenair -dot- com