BASKETBALL TEAMS READY TO START PRACTICE

October 15 First Day for Preseason Drills

EDINBORO, PA - The Edinboro University men's and women's basketball teams will open preseason practices on Friday, October 15. The two teams will open the 2004-05 season roughly a month later, with the men's team debuting at West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday, November 13, and the women's team opening up in the Millersville Classic on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20.

Coach Stan Swank enters his 18th year in charge of the Edinboro women's basketball team, winning 289 games during that time. A year ago the Fighting Scots finished with an 18-10 record despite a rash of injuries that decimated the backcourt. Swank must replace a pair of starters, including floor leader Courtney Thompson, who finished her career second in career assists with 474.

However, the Fighting Scots welcome back eight letterwinners, along with several key newcomers. Maria DiVecchio (Erie, PA/Villa Maria) earned second team All-PSAC West accolades a year ago. The 5'11" forward averaged a team-high 14.1 ppg. along with 4.9 rpg. The frontcourt also features Megan Zitner (Milan, OH/Edison). A 5'10" senior, Zitner was coming off ACL surgery a year ago and did not really return to form until February. She ended the year averaging 8.9 ppg. and a team-leading 5.2 rpg.

Senior Jodi Calderone (Freedom, PA/Ambridge) and junior Callie Iorfido (Ambridge, PA/Ambridge) return to the backcourt. Calderone averaged 8.9 ppg. but missed the final 14 games, and the entire PSAC campaign, with a broken finger. Iorfido was averaging 7.3 ppg. with 100 assists and 57 steals when she went down with an injury and missed the final seven contests.

Jessi Montie (Erie, PA/McDowell) and Kelly Calderone (Freedom, PA/Ambridge), Jodi's younger sister, figure to see plenty of action. Montie is a 5'9" guard who averaged 7.0 ppg. Caldeone, a 5'8" guard, is a transfer from the University at Buffalo who averaged 5.1 ppg.

Men's basketball coach Greg Walcavich has won 266 games in his 15 years as Edinboro's head coach and 420 games in all. A year ago his Fighting Scots finished at .500 with a 14-14 record, but were 8-4 in the PSAC West, marking the fourth straight year they finished either first or second.

A combination of seven returnees and five newcomers has Walcavich excited entering the season, but a demanding early season schedule could lead to a rough start. Jakim Donaldson (Pittsburgh, PA/Oliver) and Rob Sims (Bedford Heights, OH/St. Peter Chanel) provide the Scots with a solid forward/guard combination. Both have earned All-PSAC West honors the last two years, with Donaldson a first teamer both seasons and Sims earning second team honors last year after being selected to the first team a year earlier.

Donaldson, a 6'8" senior, was recently named a Street & Smith's honorable mention preseason All-American. He averaged a double-double for the second straight year with 14.8 ppg. and 11.5 rpg. He led the PSAC and ranked second in Division II in rebounding. Donaldson also blocked 62 shots. Sims struggled with his shot a year ago, but still averaged 14.4 ppg.

Junior Dan Grabill (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) started all 28 games at point guard a year ago, averaging 8.2 ppg. Plenty of competition is expected in the backcourt among returnees Will Winegarner (East Cleveland, OH/Cleveland Heights) and Tom Grabill (Edinboro, PA/General McLane) and talented newcomers Torry Mitchell (Erie, PA/Central), a transfer from Mercyhurst, Chris Ravello (Odenton, MD/Archbishop Spalding), who played two seasons at Canisius, and freshman Devon Knight (Export, PA/Penn Hills), who helped lead Penn Hills High School to the PIAA AAAA state championship.

The frontcourt returns Arvin Kotrri (Ridgewood, NY/Caesar Rodney), a 6'8" senior who averaged 6.8 ppg. and 5.1 rpg. as a reserve, while welcoming a pair of newcomers, Daren Tielsch (McKees Rocks, PA/Montour) and Ryan McLemore (Garfield Heights, OH/St. Peter Chanel). Tielsch, a 6'7" junior, was Penn State's top freshman in 2001-02, then played one game a year ago at Robert Morris. McLemore is a 6'7" freshman who has drawn comparisons to Donaldson.

~ Fighting Scots ~

Edinboro Athletic Press Release Index

Created on ... October 14, 2004