Oct 16, 2007
By Matt Florjancic
D3sports.com
Time management.
It is one of the keys to a successful college career. Learning how to handle the rigors of an academic schedule and collegiate athletics is not an easy adjustment to make. Managing classes and assignments while going to practice for one sport takes time.
Enter Xander Jones.
The Ohio Wesleyan senior from Pomfret, Conn., spends his free time on the soccer, football and baseball fields. At Ohio Wesleyan, he began as a soccer player in the fall while pitching for the baseball team during the spring. Once a new kickoff rule was instituted in college football, Jones was called upon to help the Battling Bishops.
"I am involved primarily with baseball and soccer," Jones said. "I have been a starter for all but two weeks in my baseball career and I have been the first backup goalkeeper for the past two years and this season will be my third year as backup. With all of these activities going on it is tough to find room for other organizations around campus.
"I chose to try football because the coaches approached me with the opportunity to try out for the team," added Jones. "The thing that pushed them my way was the fact that the kickoff spot had been moved back to the 30, and I think that they wanted someone that would give them the chance to get inside the 20 on kickoffs."
In addition to his kickoff expertise, Jones has attempted an extra point for the Battling Bishops. Currently, Ohio Wesleyan is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
On the soccer field, however, it is a different story. The Bishops are 10-5, including a 7-2 record at home. Individually, Jones is 1-0 with a shutout. As the reserve goalkeeper, Jones has played nearly 134 minutes of action, stopping seven-of-eight shots with a 0.67 goals-against-average.
"I have never had a favorite sport," said Jones. "In my mind it has always been whatever is in season. In high school, I played soccer, hockey, and baseball and in my senior year I quit hockey to play squash. The activities I participate in aren't the big thing, it's the competition. I absolutely love competing against other people and other schools; it provides a thrill that some people really don't understand."
Being able to balance three sports is one thing. Having soccer and football being in the same semester requires focus and patience.
"It has been quite difficult to balance my fall thus far," Jones explained. "Luckily my coaches are very understanding and that makes things much easier. Coach (Tyler) Mott, my baseball coach, knows that I am not going to be around in the fall. And he knows that although I'm not playing ball, I am still being an active participant in other activities.
"Soccer and football [are] very difficult to handle because obviously they are in the same season," he added. "My coaches though have been very understanding of my situation. On Wednesdays and Fridays, I will make my way to football practice and do what needs to be done. On the other days I will be with soccer. Although it is quite time-consuming, I find that it is great to be a part of these teams and I wouldn't want it any other way."
From undefeated records to building camaraderie with teammates, being on three teams has provided many great memories for Jones.
"My OWU experience has been very exciting," said Jones. "I have been a part of many great things and that is more than I could've ever expected. Between school and athletics, things overall have just been great and I don't know that I could have asked for anything better.
"I have so many great memories I don't even know where to begin," he added. "But I think that the greatest things were going 20-0 in the regular season of my sophomore year in soccer. I know that we lost in the first round, but it was still a great fall. Also, I don't think that anyone would deny that throwing a no hitter couldn't have been a good time. When I completed that, it was one of the greatest feelings ever."
Jones tossed the no-hitter on March 27 of this year in a 2-0 victory against Wittenberg. The no-hitter was the tenth in school history and the first in more than 13 years. Jones walked the first batter of the second inning and then retired the remaining 18 hitters.
While playing multiple sports is unique for today's college athlete, it is a family tradition in the Jones household.
"My parents' support has been great even from a great distance," he said. "They obviously can't make it to games, so they are constantly checking the internet to see how we are doing.
"It is great to get their support since they were both multi-sport athletes as well," he added. "My father played football, lacrosse, track and basketball at Hobart College in upstate New York. My mother played volleyball, basketball, track and tennis while attending Ripon College in Wisconsin. So the fact that both of my parents have been a part of so many sports has made things easier and they have been able to provide great advice regarding my multi-sport attempts."
Jones is currently trying to win championships on the field, but his ultimate goal in athletics is to help others after graduation.
"In terms of career goals, I really hope to be a great teacher," he said. "I want to coach and I want to teach and at the end of my career and life, I simply want to be a person who has changed someone's life. It doesn't matter if it is a huge significance or not, I just want to know that for someone that I have been around that I made a difference in their life."
Waynesburg is 6-0 in 2007. The last time they achieved such a mark, Lyndon B. Johnson was president, in 1967.
Behind a great individual effort from defensive end Mike Czerwian, the Yellow Jackets defeated Bethany on the road by a 45-7 count last Saturday. Czerwian had six total tackles, including three and a half for a loss of 24 yards. Two of his stops were sacks. Czerwian also tallied two pass breakups on the day.
Offensively, Robert Heller and Jamelle Price led the ground game for the Yellow Jackets. Heller rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Price, who carried five times for 33 yards, also crossed the goal line twice for scores.
After a home contest against Thiel, the Yellow Jackets will prepare for the high-octane offense and physical defense of the Presidents. If Waynesburg and Washington and Jefferson come up with victories, the two schools will be undefeated with the winner taking sole possession of first place in the Presidents Athletic Conference.
In one of the Games of the Week last Saturday, Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve did not disappoint in the Academic Bowl as the two teams needed overtime. The Spartans claimed the road win with a 20-17 decision, remaining undefeated in 2007. CMU running back Travis Sivek had the best individual performance of the afternoon with 141 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Case's Tom Brew had a game-high 21 tackles. Jeff Brown finished with 12 stops for the Spartans. Brian Calderone (Case Western Reserve), along with Jon Scholl and Jon Bodnar (Carnegie Mellon) each had 11 tackles.
Tri-State linebacker Courtney Pearson had 12 solo stops in a 23-20 overtime win against Adrian. Despite trailing 13-3 at the end of the first quarter, a ten-point second period drew the Thunder even with Adrian at the break. After an overtime field goal attempt was no good for Adrian, Justin Hoover kicked the game-winning score on fourth-and-1 from the 16-yard line for Tri-State.
The remaining undefeated teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference will meet in Indiana on Saturday afternoon when Oberlin and Wabash clash. The Yeomen defeated Earlham 42-14 on Saturday. Running back R.V. Carroll ran more like a BMW against Earlham with a 217-yard, four-touchdown performance. Carroll was given the NCAC Offensive Player of the Week award. Conversely, Wabash won a close game against Wittenberg at home 24-17. Wabash quarterback Matt Hudson completed 23 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown.
No. 5 Capital (OAC). Up two spots with 24-6 victory vs. Ohio Northern
No. 9 Washington and Jefferson (PAC). No change after 58-18 win at Westminster
No. 14 Wabash (NCAC). No change following 24-17 victory over Wittenberg
No. 16 Ohio Northern (OAC). Down five spots with 24-6 loss at Capital
Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve (UAA), receiving first votes following 20-17 victory at Carnegie Mellon
Oberlin Yeomen (3-3, 3-0 NCAC) at Wabash Little Giants (6-0, 4-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. Oberlin has a duel offensive attack with R.V. Carroll at running back and Greg Mangan calling the signals under center. However, the Yeomen have not met a defense like the Little Giants. Wabash has held opponents to 96 points in six games.
It is one of the keys to a successful college career. Learning how to handle the rigors of an academic schedule and collegiate athletics is not an easy adjustment to make. Managing classes and assignments while going to practice for one sport takes time.
Enter Xander Jones.
The Ohio Wesleyan senior from Pomfret, Conn., spends his free time on the soccer, football and baseball fields. At Ohio Wesleyan, he began as a soccer player in the fall while pitching for the baseball team during the spring. Once a new kickoff rule was instituted in college football, Jones was called upon to help the Battling Bishops.
"I am involved primarily with baseball and soccer," Jones said. "I have been a starter for all but two weeks in my baseball career and I have been the first backup goalkeeper for the past two years and this season will be my third year as backup. With all of these activities going on it is tough to find room for other organizations around campus.
"I chose to try football because the coaches approached me with the opportunity to try out for the team," added Jones. "The thing that pushed them my way was the fact that the kickoff spot had been moved back to the 30, and I think that they wanted someone that would give them the chance to get inside the 20 on kickoffs."
In addition to his kickoff expertise, Jones has attempted an extra point for the Battling Bishops. Currently, Ohio Wesleyan is 2-4 overall and 2-2 in the North Coast Athletic Conference.
On the soccer field, however, it is a different story. The Bishops are 10-5, including a 7-2 record at home. Individually, Jones is 1-0 with a shutout. As the reserve goalkeeper, Jones has played nearly 134 minutes of action, stopping seven-of-eight shots with a 0.67 goals-against-average.
"I have never had a favorite sport," said Jones. "In my mind it has always been whatever is in season. In high school, I played soccer, hockey, and baseball and in my senior year I quit hockey to play squash. The activities I participate in aren't the big thing, it's the competition. I absolutely love competing against other people and other schools; it provides a thrill that some people really don't understand."
Being able to balance three sports is one thing. Having soccer and football being in the same semester requires focus and patience.
"It has been quite difficult to balance my fall thus far," Jones explained. "Luckily my coaches are very understanding and that makes things much easier. Coach (Tyler) Mott, my baseball coach, knows that I am not going to be around in the fall. And he knows that although I'm not playing ball, I am still being an active participant in other activities.
"Soccer and football [are] very difficult to handle because obviously they are in the same season," he added. "My coaches though have been very understanding of my situation. On Wednesdays and Fridays, I will make my way to football practice and do what needs to be done. On the other days I will be with soccer. Although it is quite time-consuming, I find that it is great to be a part of these teams and I wouldn't want it any other way."
From undefeated records to building camaraderie with teammates, being on three teams has provided many great memories for Jones.
"My OWU experience has been very exciting," said Jones. "I have been a part of many great things and that is more than I could've ever expected. Between school and athletics, things overall have just been great and I don't know that I could have asked for anything better.
"I have so many great memories I don't even know where to begin," he added. "But I think that the greatest things were going 20-0 in the regular season of my sophomore year in soccer. I know that we lost in the first round, but it was still a great fall. Also, I don't think that anyone would deny that throwing a no hitter couldn't have been a good time. When I completed that, it was one of the greatest feelings ever."
Jones tossed the no-hitter on March 27 of this year in a 2-0 victory against Wittenberg. The no-hitter was the tenth in school history and the first in more than 13 years. Jones walked the first batter of the second inning and then retired the remaining 18 hitters.
While playing multiple sports is unique for today's college athlete, it is a family tradition in the Jones household.
"My parents' support has been great even from a great distance," he said. "They obviously can't make it to games, so they are constantly checking the internet to see how we are doing.
"It is great to get their support since they were both multi-sport athletes as well," he added. "My father played football, lacrosse, track and basketball at Hobart College in upstate New York. My mother played volleyball, basketball, track and tennis while attending Ripon College in Wisconsin. So the fact that both of my parents have been a part of so many sports has made things easier and they have been able to provide great advice regarding my multi-sport attempts."
Jones is currently trying to win championships on the field, but his ultimate goal in athletics is to help others after graduation.
"In terms of career goals, I really hope to be a great teacher," he said. "I want to coach and I want to teach and at the end of my career and life, I simply want to be a person who has changed someone's life. It doesn't matter if it is a huge significance or not, I just want to know that for someone that I have been around that I made a difference in their life."
Yellow Jackets continue toward meeting with Presidents
Waynesburg is 6-0 in 2007. The last time they achieved such a mark, Lyndon B. Johnson was president, in 1967.
Behind a great individual effort from defensive end Mike Czerwian, the Yellow Jackets defeated Bethany on the road by a 45-7 count last Saturday. Czerwian had six total tackles, including three and a half for a loss of 24 yards. Two of his stops were sacks. Czerwian also tallied two pass breakups on the day.
Offensively, Robert Heller and Jamelle Price led the ground game for the Yellow Jackets. Heller rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Price, who carried five times for 33 yards, also crossed the goal line twice for scores.
After a home contest against Thiel, the Yellow Jackets will prepare for the high-octane offense and physical defense of the Presidents. If Waynesburg and Washington and Jefferson come up with victories, the two schools will be undefeated with the winner taking sole possession of first place in the Presidents Athletic Conference.
News and notes
The Capital Crusaders continue rolling along in 2007. Despite the loss of wide receiver Derick Alexander for the season and an injured quarterback in Marty Assmann missing time, Capital has continued without missing the beat. Capital defeated the Ohio Northern Polar Bears 24-6 at home Saturday afternoon. Wade Bartholomew threw for 161 yards and three touchdowns. C.J. Steele had 11 tackles and two interceptions on defense, while punter Tom Gantner dropped four punts inside the 20-yard line. Steele and Gantner were honored with OAC Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week awards on Monday.In one of the Games of the Week last Saturday, Carnegie Mellon and Case Western Reserve did not disappoint in the Academic Bowl as the two teams needed overtime. The Spartans claimed the road win with a 20-17 decision, remaining undefeated in 2007. CMU running back Travis Sivek had the best individual performance of the afternoon with 141 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Case's Tom Brew had a game-high 21 tackles. Jeff Brown finished with 12 stops for the Spartans. Brian Calderone (Case Western Reserve), along with Jon Scholl and Jon Bodnar (Carnegie Mellon) each had 11 tackles.
Tri-State linebacker Courtney Pearson had 12 solo stops in a 23-20 overtime win against Adrian. Despite trailing 13-3 at the end of the first quarter, a ten-point second period drew the Thunder even with Adrian at the break. After an overtime field goal attempt was no good for Adrian, Justin Hoover kicked the game-winning score on fourth-and-1 from the 16-yard line for Tri-State.
The remaining undefeated teams in the North Coast Athletic Conference will meet in Indiana on Saturday afternoon when Oberlin and Wabash clash. The Yeomen defeated Earlham 42-14 on Saturday. Running back R.V. Carroll ran more like a BMW against Earlham with a 217-yard, four-touchdown performance. Carroll was given the NCAC Offensive Player of the Week award. Conversely, Wabash won a close game against Wittenberg at home 24-17. Wabash quarterback Matt Hudson completed 23 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown.
Great Lakes teams in D3football.com's Top 25
No. 1 Mount Union (OAC). No change following 59-0 victory against WilmingtonNo. 5 Capital (OAC). Up two spots with 24-6 victory vs. Ohio Northern
No. 9 Washington and Jefferson (PAC). No change after 58-18 win at Westminster
No. 14 Wabash (NCAC). No change following 24-17 victory over Wittenberg
No. 16 Ohio Northern (OAC). Down five spots with 24-6 loss at Capital
Others receiving votes: Case Western Reserve (UAA), receiving first votes following 20-17 victory at Carnegie Mellon
Games of the Week
Hope Flying Dutchmen (3-3, 3-0 MIAA) at Adrian Bulldogs (4-2, 1-2), Saturday, 1 p.m. Adrian started the season with a legitimate chance to knock the Flying Dutchmen off the top of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. However, back-to-back losses to Olivet (14-13 at home) and at Tri-State (23-20 in overtime) have the Bulldogs reeling. On the other hand, Hope lost its first three games of the season, but have rebounded, going 3-0 to start MIAA action. If anyone besides Hope is to have a shot at the MIAA crown, Adrian must upset the Flying Dutchmen Saturday afternoon.Oberlin Yeomen (3-3, 3-0 NCAC) at Wabash Little Giants (6-0, 4-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. Oberlin has a duel offensive attack with R.V. Carroll at running back and Greg Mangan calling the signals under center. However, the Yeomen have not met a defense like the Little Giants. Wabash has held opponents to 96 points in six games.
