College Report: Corey Johnson makes a splash on Geoducks soccer team
Thursday, September 11, 2008 6:05 PM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleIt didn’t take much time for former Mark Morris High standout Corey Johnson to settle in with The Evergreen State College men’s soccer team.
In fact, after five games, the freshman forward has already added his name to the team’s record book.
Johnson netted an unassisted hat-trick in the first half of a recent 8-0 victory over Walla Walla University, moving him into a tie for third place on the Geoducks’ all-time list of goals scored in a game. He netted his first goal three minutes into the match when he dribbled in close to the WW goal and lightly tapped the ball in.
Johnson knocked in his second score nine minutes later, and capped the hat-trick in the 27th minute when he followed up on a loose ball that rolled past the WW goalie. The three goals give Johnson five scores and an assist in five matches.
Perry tosses 3 TD passes in Vikings' opener
Former R.A. Long High star Adam Perry completed 23-of-38 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns for Western Washington University in the Vikings’ 36-27 season-opening loss to Western Oregon University.
Perry, a senior, is one of nine returning starters on the WWU offense. He passed for 1,587 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
“Adam was solid most of the year until injuries started to slow him down at the end,” WWU coach Robin Ross said on the school’s Web site. “He’s got a better handle on the offense now that he’s in his second year with it.”
VanZanten joins Cougars' track team
Ex-Mark Morris track star Ross VanZanten is now a member of the Washington State University track team. VanZanten, a hurdler and high jumper, caught the eye of the Cougars’ coaching staff after establishing an MM school record in the high jump at 6-feet-8 1/4, and finishing third with a leap of 6-4 in the Class 2A state meet.
“Ross is without question the top high jumper in the state of Washington this season,” Cougar jumps coach Matt McGee said on the WSU Web site. “He is a very hard-working and dedicated athlete who is also mechanically proficient in his event. We are very excited to have him join us and expect he will be a 7-foot-plus jumper here as a freshman.”
Tony Polis transfers to PLU
Another former MM athlete, Tony Polis, is continuing his collegiate basketball career at a new location. Polis, a 5-9 point guard, has transferred to Pacific Lutheran University from the University of Puget Sound.
“Tony is a player’s player. He understands what his teammates can and cannot do, and he puts them in situations where they can be successful,” PLU men’s basketball coach Steve Dickerson said on the school’s Web site. “He comes from a great high school program, Mark Morris, and his basketball IQ is off the charts.”
Polis saw limited minutes in 10 games last season at UPS.
Bergeson coaching at Sacramento St.
Another former MM basketball player, Brady Bergeson, is now an assistant coach of the men’s basketball team at Sacramento State University. The 30-year-old Bergeson served as an assistant coach for the past six seasons at Metropolitan State College of Denver, where he was the lead assistant for two campaigns.
As an assistant with the Hornets, Bergeson will work with guards, assist in recruiting and oversee the team’s academic progress. He will be with the Hornets when they visit Big Sky Conference rival Portland State on Feb. 8.
Starr named to WCCBL first team
Kelso High graduate Taylor Starr has elevated himself to elite status among Pac-10 Conference pitchers after a successful summer as a member of the West Coast Collegiate Baseball League champion Corvallis Knights.
Starr, who will be a sophomore at Oregon State, was named the league’s first-team reliever after posting a regular-season record of 0-2 with a 2.66 earned run average and a league-best eight saves. In the postseason, Starr picked up two saves and a victory in the 4-1 title game win over Wenatchee when he blew a save opportunity in the 10th inning, but struck out the side in the 11th.
Besides being named the “top prospect” by Major League Baseball scouts in attendance at the league’s All-Star Game held in Moses Lake, Starr was ranked third among the top-10 prospects in the WCCBL by Baseball America.
According to Baseball America, Starr hit 94 miles per hour at the All-Star Game and was consistently in the 92-94 range throughout the summer. It’s also noted that his fastball had above-average movement, and his two-seamer showed arm-side run in to right-handed batters along with some sinking motion.
Honors for Roubicek
Castle Rock’s Nathan Roubicek, who recently graduated from Lander University in Greenwood, S.C., was named to the Presidential Honor Roll for the Peach Belt Conference. Roubicek, who played baseball at Lander, is one of 903 student-athletes in the conference who earned the honor and received a certificate from the conference office.
Rick McCorkle is a sportswriter for The Daily News. If you know of a college student-athlete not mentioned in this column, contact him at rmccorkle@tdn.com or 577-2529.
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