Thomas College in Waterville announced Thursday that it is discontinuing its varsity golf and volleyball programs.
Deb Biche, the Terriers’ athletic director, said lack of student interest in the offerings was among the primary concerns.
“Making a decision to eliminate a sport is always a difficult one and this was part of our strategic plan to improve the overall experience of all our student-athletes,” Biche said in a press release. “Careful analysis of these two sports has indicated that participation has been historically low and the prospectus for recruitment also indicated that a turnaround in participation is not likely.”
Biche said the decision is not a reflection of the coaches of the programs being eliminated.
The cuts leave Thomas, which competes as a member of the NCAA Division III North Atlantic Conference, with 13 varsity athletic programs.
Thomas will continue to sponsor men’s baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer and tennis along with women’s basketball, cross country, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and tennis.
Thomas golf has been a lower-level program in conference competition in recent years. The Terriers finished fourth among seven NAC teams last fall after placing fifth the previous three years and fourth back in 2005.
Thomas volleyball has struggled mightily, compiling a 16-89 overall record, including a 2-39 conference mark, in five seasons spanning 2005-09.
The Terriers finished seventh out of eight teams in 2009, was sixth of seven teams in 2008 and wound up last the previous three seasons.
Roberts signs NLI with UMaine
Ashleigh Roberts, a 5-foot-9 guard from Wilmington, Del., has signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a basketball scholarship from the University of Maine.
Roberts starred at Concord High School in Wilmington, finishing as the program’s career scoring leader with 1,646 points. She ranks eighth on Delaware’s all-time list.
Roberts averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds last winter on her way to a spot on the all-state first team.
“There’s a certain toughness about her,” said UMaine coach Cindy Blodgett. “She’s not afraid to mix it up and she’s not afraid of contact. She brings that physicality with her game.”
Blodgett said Roberts is an outstanding rebounder and can play either of the guard spots.
“Her rebounding numbers are somewhat staggering,” Blodgett said. “At the end of the day, she’s a basketball player. She wants to be exceptional.”
Roberts joins 6-1 center Jaymie Druding of Orchard Park, N.Y., and 6-3 center Alison Nalivaika of Worcester, Mass., who signed last November, in UMaine’s recruiting class.
Calbick signs with Black Bears
UMaine baseball has finalized its spring recruiting with the signing of Alex Calbick.
The 5-11, 185-pound infielder from Burnaby, British Columbia, has signed an NLI and will attend UMaine in the fall.
Calbick is a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and plays for the Coquitlam Reds of the British Columbia Premier Baseball League.
“He’s got the potential to come in here and hit in the middle of the lineup right away,” said UMaine coach Steve Trimper. “He’s a big-time kid.”
Calbick previously played with Black Bears pitcher Jeff Gibbs and was referred to UMaine by former Bears assistant coach Greg Hamilton, who is the coach of the Canadian Junior National Team. Calbick was an all-league, first-team pick last season after batting .333 with a home run and 21 RBIs.
Trimper is impressed with Calbick’s extensive international playing experience.
“He has played such high-level baseball, that’s one of the biggest pluses,” Trimper said. “We’re obviously very thin in the infield this year, so obviously he will help us out.”
Last fall, UMaine received NLIs from catcher and infielder Matt Verriere of South Paris, outfielder Colin Gay of Franklin, Mass., infielders Mike Connolly of Bridgewater, Mass., and Troy Black of Mississauga, Ontario, and pitcher Shawn Coughlin of Branford, Conn.
Cole Bone Marrow Drive April 28
The UMaine football team is gearing up to host the annual Jeff Cole Memorial Bone Marrow Drive.
The event will be held April 28 from 3-7 p.m. at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center on the Orono campus.
By submitting to a simple swab of the mouth and answering a few questions, participants may be placed on the bone marrow registry. Bone marrow transplants are used to battle cancer and other serious illnesses.
The drive is named in honor of former UMaine football assistant coach Cole, who died in 2004 after a long bout with cancer.
Leverone sets Monks’ HR mark
Emily Leverone of Hampton, N.H., has set the career home runs record at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish.
The sophomore outfielder hit three home runs Wednesday in the Monks’ sweep of Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader against Lasell. Leverone now has 13 home runs, breaking the mark of 12 set by Kelly Premo from 1999-2002.
Saint Joseph’s (27-5) owns a 23-game winning streak.