Published: June 21, 2009 12:29 am      

Eight Richland seniors commit to colleges

Eight Richland High School graduates signed letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers this fall.

BASEBALL

Bob Carbaugh will continue his baseball career under scholarship at Seton Hill University. Carbaugh was a three-year letter winner for the Rams. He pitched and played first base and third base. The Rams won the Laurel Highlands Conference in 2008 and were in the district playoffs this year. During Carbaugh’s senior year he was awarded four athletic letters – golf, football, basketball and baseball. He was a four-year letterwinner in golf. Carbaugh was a member of the Laurel Highlands baseball team at the Keystone State games. He also played for the Johnstown Jay Sox traveling baseball team in the fall of 2008. Carbaugh is currently playing his summer baseball with the Delweld entry in the AAABA league.

Carbaugh is an honor roll student and recently received the American Legion award for possession of the high qualities of courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship, and service. He plans to major in hotel and restaurant management at Seton Hill. He is the son of Dan and the late Gayle Carbaugh.

FOOTBALL

Brooks Lohr has announced he will continue his football career at Waynesburg University. He is a multi-sport athlete, earning letters in football, wrestling and tennis. Lohr played numerous positions during his four years on the varsity football squad. He wore both No. 66 and 33 while playing center, tight end and defensive end, becoming a three-year letterman. Lohr also lettered two years in wrestling. As a member of the Rams tennis team, Lohr was a three-year letterman and was named to the LHAC all-conference tennis team.

Lohr plans to major in business while playing football for the Yellow Jackets. He is the son of Sherry Lohr and Michael Lohr.

Tim Ripple has announced he will continue his football career at California University of Pennsylvania. Ripple was a four-year varsity football letterwinner. He spent time on the field as a cornerback, wide receiver and kick-off return specialist.

Ripple was the District 6 leader in yardage for 2008, named to the LHAC all-conference team and participated in Saturday’s Ken Lantzy Finest 40 all-star football game.

He was named to the All-Tribune Democrat first-team offense and also honored as second team All-State by the Pennsylvania Football News. His basketball career at Richland included three years as a letterwinner, a 2008 Laurel Highlands all-conference team member and participation in the Tribune Democrat/AmeriServ High School All-Star game.

Ripple will attend California to continue his education and his football career. He is the son of Jerry and Paula Ripple.

FOOTBALL/TRACK

Nate Adam has announced he will continue his football and track and field career at Waynesburg University. Adam, a standout multi-sport athlete, is a three-year letterwinner on the Rams football team, a four-year letterwinner on the hockey team and a four-year letterman for the Richland track program.

Adam was a starting wide receiver for two years on the football squad as well as team captain. He earned Laurel Highlands all-conference honors in 2008 and was named to the Ken Lantzy Finest 40 All-Star team. During Adam’s hockey career, he was a PIHL All-Star for three years as well as being named to several other all-star squads. His accomplishments in track include qualifying for District 6 competition four years, being named to the Laurel Highlands all-conference team his junior and senior years, and being a state track qualifier in both high jump and on the 1600 relay team last month.

His other activities include student council executive board, homecoming court, ski club and alter server at St. Benedict’s parish.

Adam is an honor roll student.

He was given two awards at the Richland senior banquet: 2009 U.S. Marines distinguished athlete award and 2009 District 6 sportsmanship award.

Adam plans to major in nursing/nurse anesthetist at Waynesburg. He is the son of Chris and Christy Adam.

SOFTBALL

Ali Kormanik has announced she will continue her softball career at Mount Aloysius College. A four-year starter and letterwinner for the Lady Rams, Kormanik earned the Laurel Highlands all-conference award this season. Last season, the Lady Rams were the Laurel Highlands conference champs. Kormanik had 391 strikeouts as starting pitcher throughout her four years as a starter. Kormanik ranks second to her older sister, Kaitlyn, for the highest strikeout record at Richland.

She has also participated in concert choir, powder puff football and played varsity tennis for three years. Kormanik is an honor roll student at Richland. She plans to major in the medical imagining program at Mount Aloysius. She is the daughter of Dan and Melanie Kormanik.

TRACK AND FIELD

Calsie Boyd has announced she will continue her track and field career at Seton Hill University where she received an athletic scholarship for track, a presidential scholarship, a sisterhood grant, and a community service grant. Boyd is a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Rams for indoor and outdoor track and competitive cheerleading. She was named to the all-LHAC girls track and field squad. The Lady Rams were the Laurel Highlands Conference champs in 2006, 2007, and 2008. 

Boyd was the champion in 2008 and 2009 of the Tri-State championship for indoor track and field for the high jump.

She was named to the all-state indoor track and field team in 2008 in high jump for placing second at indoor states. In 2009 she was named to the all-state indoor track and field team in the high jump and triple jump by placing 3rd at indoor states in both events.

In addition, she has won District 6 titles in triple jump in 2008 and 2009, and broke the 29-year old record in 2009 by jumping 37-111/2. At outdoor states in 2008 she placed second in high jump. This year at outdoor states she placed third in high jump and fifth in triple jump. She attended the USA Track & Field national championship in North Carolina in June of 2008 where she placed seventh in the nation for high jump.

She was awarded the U.S. Marines distinguished athlete award at Richland. As a member of the Richland competitive cheerleading squad, her team placed seventh at the UCA National Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Fla., in February. As a Turner all-star cheerleader she earned two national titles at the UCA All-Star Cheerleading Championship in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, her squad also placed eighth in the world at the UCA World's All-Star Competition. She has also participated in key club, French club, student council, a dancer at concept dance, a violinist in the Richland orchestra, and powder puff football. Boyd is an honor roll student at Richland and a member of the National Honor Society, National Honor Roll, and the National Society of High School Scholars. Boyd plans to major in health sciences at Seton Hill and intends to become an orthodontist. She is the daughter of Rick and Tammy Boyd

Ashton Walton has accepted a track scholarship to Seton Hill University in Greensburg. Walton has been a member of the Richland High School track program for the past four years. She has specialized in the 100 hurdles and several other sprinting events. She has qualified and competed at the state level all four years with Richland.

Walton has been a member of the Richland cheerleading competition squad for four years. The cheer squad competed at the national level all four years.

She was also a member of the cross country team during her junior and senior years. Walton has been on the honor roll for the past four years, and she is a member of the key club, SADD, Spanish club, the Tobacco Free Coalition, the student council advisory board, and was vice president of her class her sophomore and junior years. Walton plans to major in the physician assistant program at Seton Hill. She is the daughter of Marco and Brenda Walton.

WRESTLING

Chad Miller has announced he will continue his wrestling career at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Miller was a four-year varsity wrestler and letterman for the Rams.

He holds the school record for most wins in a single dual meet season with 20 wins as a freshman; Miller was a two-time regional qualifier and also a two-time state qualifier in wrestling. He finished his Richland wrestling career with 118 wins and 30 losses. Miller won LHAC all-conference honors for both football and wrestling in 2008 and 2009.

He is a three-year letter winner in football and baseball, and was named the football defensive player of the year. He was awarded a tennis letter this year, his first year of competition. Miller was given the outstanding athlete of the senior class award.

He is an honor roll student and has participated in the French club, yearbook staff and student council.

Miller plans to major in biology at UPJ and continue his education to become a chiropractor. He is the son of Tom and Lisa Miller.