|
EDINBORO, PA – Edinboro University has
been notified that the NCAA has granted men’s basketball
player Daren Tielsch (McKees, Rocks, PA/Montour) a sixth
year of eligibility.
Tielsch, a 6’8”, 240 lb. forward, has
played two seasons at Edinboro, helping the Fighting Scots to the
PSAC Championship and the NCAA Division II Playoffs both years. He
played his freshman season at Penn State in 2001-02, then
transferred to Robert Morris and sat out the 2002-03 campaign per
NCAA transfer rules. He played just one game for the Colonials in
2003-04 before suffering a serious leg injury. He joined the
Fighting Scots in 2004-05.
"If applicable, the extension
request is an option for all student-athletes and we are very
pleased that the NCAA saw fit to grant Daren this opportunity,"
commented Associate Director of Athletics Todd Jay. "In
recent years, the NCAA has really addressed student-welfare issues
and they obviously looked very closely at this particular case.
The entire process was months in the making but the conclusion
makes it all worthwhile. I am thrilled for the student-athlete,
his family and our basketball program."
The additional year does come with a catch. The
NCAA concluded that Tielsch must sit out one game after
participating in the inaugural Division II All-Star Game earlier
this year.
“It was a unique case for the NCAA,”
Jay noted. “It took them 12 days to determine whether an
actual violation had even occurred because when he played in the
all-star game he had exhausted his eligibility; thus making it
an allowable contest for the student-athlete.
“After he was granted the additional
year, we self-reported what was potentially the extra benefit.
We respect the NCAA’s stance and accept their ruling
(one-game penalty). Now it is time to move on and have all this
behind us.”
Tielsch will be forced to miss the November 15
season opener at West Virginia Wesleyan.
Tielsch led the Fighting Scots in both scoring
(18.7 ppg.) and rebounding (9.5 rpg.) a year ago, leading the PSAC
in rebounding and ranking seventh in scoring. He shot 54.5 percent
from the floor (214 of 393) while finishing first on the team in
steals (37) and second in assists (81) and blocked shots (42). He
set a school record for free throws attempted with 210, making
120. His 580 points scored represents the fifth-highest total in
school history, and his 296 rebounds stands ninth. Tielsch led
Edinboro in scoring 15 times this past season and was the leading
rebounder on 22 occasions. He finished with 17 double-doubles and
scored 20-or-more 16 times. That included seven of the last eight
games, as he averaged 23.9 ppg. during that period.
Tielsch was a first team All-PSAC West
selection and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the PSAC
Championships as Edinboro defeated Shippensburg, 52-51. Edinboro
finished with a 21-10 record.
“We’re thrilled to have
Daren back for another season,” stated head coach Greg
Walcavich. “He’s been a terrific part of our program for
the last two years and we don’t see why he won’t be a
terrific part this year. I’m thrilled he was granted the
opportunity.”
In his first season as a Fighting Scot, Tielsch
averaged 13.4 ppg. and 7.2 rpg. while playing in 25 contests, with
Edinboro finishing 24-7. He has played in 55 career games, scoring
1,029 career points.
|
