Cheyney University recently held its sports banquet to recognize some of the Wolves’ top athletes. Simone Carter was named the Female Athlete of the Year. Carter is believed to be the first Cheyney female to participate in the Indoor National Track Championship.

Tim Hume was chosen as the Male Athlete of the Year. Hume was named the PSAC Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Upshaw Award (Best Division II lineman).

Shanavia Thomas and Justin Watkins received Rookie of the Year honors. Thomas is a two-sport athlete who is doing extremely well in track this spring. The freshman has already put her name in the Cheyney record book. She owns the school record in the long jump as well as the 200 meters and has qualified for the PSAC championships in both events. She is also a starter on the Lady Wolves basketball team.

Watkins is an integral part of both the football and track team. He will be participating in the PSAC Outdoor Track and Field championships at Bloomsburg University.

Janelle McKelvey won the Female Presidential Scholar Athlete award. McKelvey played volleyball at Cheyney. Brandon Baylor received the Male Presidential Scholar Athlete award.

The coaches handed other awards in each sport.

Outdoor track (women):

MVP: Shanavia Thomas

MIP: Natasha Lyburn

Unsung Hero: Alean Rhodes

Outdoor track (men):

MVP: Nate McCoy

MIP: John Melvin

Unsung Hero: Kendell Thomas

Cheer

MVP: Oshaki Thomas

Unsung Hero: Shkera Alston

Unsung Hero: Ciera Brown

Football

MVP: Tim Hume

Leadership: Dominic Crowell

Most Improved: Stan Banks

Bowling

MVP: Danielle Mines

MIP: Taylor Billington

Unsung Hero: Janae Silver

Men’s basketball

MVP: Jason Sabb

Sportsmanship: Brandon Baylor

Unsung Hero: Anthony Jeune

Cross country (women)

MVP: Jasmine Pitt

MIP: Taniqua Purdue

Unsung Hero: Natasha Lyburn

Cross country (men)

MVP: Jon Soussa

MIP: Nate McCoy

Unsung Hero: Kendell Thomas

Indoor track (men)

MVP: Kemuel Wright

MIP: Lonnell Wilson

Unsung Hero: Kalik Mitchell

Indoor track (women)

MVP: Simone Carter

MIP: Jasmine Carter

Unsung Hero: Ayasha Lyke

Women’s basketball

MVP: Nadirah Brown

MIP: Linda Henderson

Unsung Hero: Alexis Peterson

Volleyball

MVP: Denise Hill

MIP: Jamyra Wilson

Unsung Hero: Nichel Bryant

Tennis

MVP: Giovannie Laguerre

Most Improved: Jessica LaRoda

Unsung Hero: Jessica LaRoda

 

Jones Memorial clinic set for June 9

The Little Bobby Jones Memorial Basketball Clinic will be held on June 9 at the Carousel House, 4300 Avenue of the Republic. The event is sponsored by “Philadelphia Legends.” The program will begin with a basketball clinic for the special population at 10 a.m.

After that, there will be the Little Bobby Jones Memorial Awards at noon. Then, the program will have a Philadelphia Student Athletes/Academic Basketball Clinic from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be a commemorative basketball game at 3 p.m.

 

Germantown, MLK High Schools hold alumni and staff basketball game

Germantown High and Martin Luther King High School alumni and staff basketball teams will battle on the basketball court to determine who’ll wear the coveted Northwest District basketball crown. The game will be played on May 11 at Martin Luther King High, Stenton Avenue and Haines Street. The tip-off will be at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Proceeds from the game benefit the scholarship programs at each school, as well as other related activities. For more information, call (215) 224-1404 ext. 4, or (215) 276-5253 ext. 1500.

 

Contact staff writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Bernard Hopkins, light heavyweight world champion, celebrated his 47th birthday with the unveiling of the new Bernard Hopkins wax figure, which was created by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Hopkins became the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title in May 2011.

 

Alvin named CIAA Player, Newcomer of the Week

Malik Alvin, former Simon Gratz star who plays for Shaw University, has been named the CIAA Player and Newcomer of the Week. Alvin has averaged 22 points a game in Shaw University’s three victories. Alvin scored 28 points for the Bears in a 103-89 victory over Chowan. He also had six assists in that game. He has scored 28 points four times this season.

 

Baseball Hall of Fame internship program

For any college student who are interested in landing an once-in-a-lifetime summer experience in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2012 internship program, can apply for the 2012 Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development. The internship program provides students the chance to join the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum team in a 10-week summer internship, offering meaningful, hands-on training in numerous professional career fields.

The Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York. For full details on the program, go to www.baseballhall.org/intern. January 31 is the deadline for all applications. You have to apply online.

 

Cheyney University’s Simone Carter sets new mark

Simone Carter, Cheyney University track and field star, set a new school record in the 60 meter dash covering the distance in 7.60 to win the event last Saturday night at the Armory in New York. It was the fourth fastest time in Division II this season. In addition, Carter finished fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 25.10 that night, which is also a school record.

 

Evan Rodriguez to play in East-West Shrine Game

Evan Rodriguez, Temple tight end, has been selected to play in the 87th East–West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 21 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The game will be televised on the NFL Network, kicking off at 4 p.m. from Tropicana Field. Rodriguez joins Owl teammate offensive lineman Derek Dennis on the East roster, coached by former Army coach Bobby Ross.

 

Kee-ayre Griffin to play in Astro Turf NFLPA Bowl

Kee-ayre Griffin, Temple defensive back, has been selected to play in the inaugural Astro Turf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday, January 21, the NFL Players Association recently announced. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on NBC Sports. The defensive back will be one of 100 draft-eligible players competing at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson, California.

 

La Salle’s Duren named Big 5 Player of the Week

Tyreek Duren, La Salle sophomore guard, has been named the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week. Duren averaged 17.0 points and 4.5 assists while making 11 of his 14 attempts in a week which the Explorers defeated city rival Penn and dropped a close contest at Dayton.

 

Drexel’s Damion Lee named CAA Rookie of the Week

Damion Lee, Drexel freshman guard, has been named Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Week. It was the second time this season that he has earned this honor. Lee averaged 17.5 points and 2.5 rebounds in Drexel’s two victories this week. He tied a career-high when he scored 21 points in Drexel’s 60-53 win over George Mason.

 

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Shaw University defeated No. 2 ranked Ashland (Ohio) 88-82 in overtime to win the NCAA Division II women’s basketball championship. The Lady Bears had to rally in order to secure the national title. They were down by 11 points at halftime.

Nevertheless, Shaw was able to come back and win its first national championship. The last time a Black college women’s basketball team captured a national crown goes all the way back to 1988 when Hampton University won the Division II championship.

 

Cherry & White Game to be held at Lincoln Financial Field

Temple’s annual Cherry & White football game, the final team scrimmage of the spring season, will take place at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, April 14 at 11 a.m. Admission is free. All fans must enter through the Pepsi Gate at Head House Plaza.

Parking is free in Lot K to all who arrive before 11 a.m. Vehicles arriving after kickoff will be charged $15 to park due to the Phillies’ 4:05 p.m. game with the New York Mets.

This is the first time the Owls have played their spring game at Lincoln Financial Field, their home stadium since 2003. In years past, Temple hosted the Cherry & White contest at its on-campus practice facility, Edberg-Olson Hall, currently in the midst of a $10 million expansion. Construction has significantly reduced sideline space and balcony access for spectators. The expansion is expected to be completed in July.

The Owls open the season with Villanova in the fourth annual Mayor’s Cup at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday, August 31. Temple entertains Maryland on Sept. 8 before heading to Penn State on Sept. 22. The Owls’ final non-conference game is Nov. 17 at Army.

Temple will play in the Big East Conference this fall. The remainder of the schedule is expected to be announced by the end of March.

 

Simone Carter named PSAC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year

Cheyney’s Simone Carter becomes the first track athlete other than Neely Spence to garner the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Year award since 2007-08, as Spence had a stronghold on the award for the last three seasons. Carter, who was the track MVP of the 2011 PSAC Championship after setting a new PSAC Championship record in the 60-meter dash for the second consecutive season at this year’s championship, won in 7.62 seconds.

Her top time of the season in that event was even faster – 7.54, the top mark in the PSAC this season and just .06 of a second shy of the PSAC all-time indoor record. Carter also won the 200 meter at the PSAC meet, coming in at: 24.90, also the best time in the PSAC this year and just.02 of a second shy of both the PSAC all-time and championship records.

She ended the year with the fifth-best time in the PSAC in the 60, and qualified for the NCAA meet in the 60, where she finished in 11^th place. Carter is the first-ever individual from Cheyney – male or female – to earn a PSAC Indoor postseason award.

 

Contact Staff Writer Donald Hunt at (215) 893-5719 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .