The Wesley College football team has continued to ascend from their slow start to the season, climbing into the national rankings as well as the regional rankings.
In addition to being ranked in both the AFCA (25) and D3football.com (20) Top 25 polls, the Wolverines are also now ranked fourth in the regional polls, used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee to select and seed tournament teams.
In the East region, Wesley has been ranked fourth behind Hobart (8-1), St. John Fisher (8-1) and Alfred (9-0). At 7-2, Wesley sits in a comfortable spot amongst the East region, and if the Wolverines win on Saturday and the rankings hold after the final week of regular season the team would likely host a first round playoff game.
The squad will still have to take care of business on Saturday when they take on William Paterson in their regular season finale. A win over the Pioneers would grant the Wolverines at least a share of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship, and the conference’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first in the program’s history.
Wesley has a rich tradition of reaching the postseason, including 11 straight NCAA Tournament appearances. However, all of the Wolverines’ prior postseason bids have come as at-large selections. The Wolverines have never won a conference automatic qualifying bid. That could change come Saturday.
College field hockey
Wesley’s Seymour makes All-CAC: Morgan Seymour was named to the Capital Athletic Conference All-Conference Second Team on Thursday morning, earning her second consecutive second team honor.
The Wolverines’ back was the most consistent part of the Wesley defense, starting in all 20 of the Navy and White’s games this season on the back line. The senior defender made a total of 22 defensive saves on the season, leading the Wolverines, the CAC, and the nation in the defensive category. Seymour also netted a goal and dished off an assist this year.
The Smyrna native was the only representative on the Wolverines to earn All-Conference honors. The squad posted a 5-15 record, including a CAC victory over conference foe Frostburg State.
Women’s basketball
Wesley picked eighth in conference: The Wolverines were selected to finish eighth in the Capital Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Thursday afternoon.
The Wolverines were picked ahead of conference rivals Frostburg State and Southern Virginia and just behind St. Mary’s College. Mary Washington was selected to finish first in the conference with six first-place votes, while Christopher Newport received four first-place votes to finish second in the poll.
The Wolverines finished last season with a 7-18 record, including a 6-12 mark in conference play, narrowly missing the CAC Playoffs. Wesley returns four of their five top scorers as the Wolverines will attempt to get back to the CAC Tournament for the first time since the 2010-11 season. 2015 CAC Second Team All-Conference selection Brionna Johnson will lead the Navy and White into the season with high hopes. Tiyanna Gibbs, Alexus Stroud, and Monshea Newsome-Murrayalso return from last year’s starting lineup and will be joined by six other returners as the Wolverines open their season on November 15 when they host Widener.
Local bowling
PBA event in Laurel this weekend: Bowling legend Johnny Petraglia will be in the field for this weekend’s PBA50 East Region Craig Pezzano Memorial Tournament at Bryan’s Center in Laurel.
Petraglia is the only bowler to have won a PBA national or PBA50 event over six decades. Sam Maccarone, points and money leader on this season’s PBA50 East Regional tour, also is in the field. Qualifying play on Saturday has squad times at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The top 16 qualifiers will battle in match play on Sunday for the $3,000 winner’s check.