Sports

Crew, Golf & Soccer: 3 Avenger Alum Excel

Jennifer Bannon '09, John McCarthy '09 and Lauren Eckles '10 have competed on the college level with distinction.


Jennifer Bannon, a 2009 graduate of East Greenwich High School and current junior at Long Island University, led the Long Island Blackbirds to the Division 1 Northeast Conference title this fall. Along with the team’s success, Bannon was named the Northeast Conference’s goalkeeper of the year and was put on the ballot for the women’s soccer college player of the year award.

Bannon, a four-year varsity goalkeeper from ‘04-‘08 at EGHS, earned All-State honors in 2008 after leading the ’08 Lady Avengers to the Division 1 semifinals. She also earned all-division, all-area, and all-region honors in ’08 along with second team all division honors as a junior in ’07.

When playing for LIU, Bannon started every game as a freshman, leading the NEC in save percentage with a .868 average and recording seven shutouts. As a sophomore, Bannon recorded five shutouts and was named to the NEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

To vote for Jen Bannon for the women’s soccer college player of the year, go to http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/college/wplayerpoll.php before Dec. 15 and submit your vote.
   
John McCarthy, a 2009 grad of East Greenwich High School and a current junior at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., led the Skidmore Thoroughbreds to the DIII Liberty League Golf Championship qualifier title. McCarthy shot a tournament-course record, five-under par to help Skidmore earn the right to host the Liberty League championship in April. The match-play event will include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Rochester, and Clarkson College with the winner claiming the league's automatic NCAA Division III berth.
   
Along with McCarthy’s late season heroics, he was also crowned All-Liberty League First Team as a junior. At East Greenwich High School, McCarthy was lettered in golf and hockey and received All-State honors as junior and senior in golf. McCarthy was also a champion of the Rhode Island Junior Am in 2008.


Lauren Eckels, a 2010 grad of East Greenwich High School and current sophomore at Ohio State University, had every intention of playing lacrosse in college before finding out that the sport did not accommodate her busy schedule.

Instead, Eckels decided to try her hand at Ohio State’s club crew team. On the way to the meeting, she was intercepted by one of the Varsity coaches and was persuaded to try out. Without knowing the first thing about rowing, she tried out for the team, won her way into the first Novice 8 boat and went on to help her team win the Big Ten Championship last Spring.

She returned this year to the Varsity squad, with hopes of repeating the championship season and winning at the NCAAs in May 2012. OSU is currently ranked in the top 10 nationwide.

Author Scott Cullinane is a senior at East Greenwich High School.



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