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Golfer Gowan, other Chaps sign with schools

Fresh off an eighth place individual finish at the NJCAA National Championship Golf Tournament, Midland College golfer Neil Gowan has signed with the College of Charleston, MC coach Delnor Poss announced on Wednesday.

Gowan, the team captain, helped lead the Chaparrals to a fourth place finish in the team standings during last month's nationals at Odessa Country Club. Gowan finished with a four-round total of 3-over par 291.

Gowan, who is from Reigate, Surrey, England, also won the District Preview Tournament at Abilene's Diamondback Golf Club and had 12 top five finishes and 15 top 10 finishes during his two-year career at Midland College.

Also signing from the MC golf team were Nathan Park with Cal State San Marcos and Alex Sobstad with Cal State Monterey Bay.

Park, from Coto de Caza, Calif., was a very steady player for the Chaparrals and finished with a 75.26 scoring average.

Cal State-San Marcos is an NAIA program.

Sobstad, who is from Trondheim, Norway, was another steady player for the Chaparrals who finished with a 75.38 scoring average.

Cal State Monterey Bay just won the NCAA Division II national championship.

The golf team wasn't the only sport at Midland College which had its sophomore athletes recently sign with four-year schools. Here's a breakdown of recent signees reported by the college:

Baseball

The MC baseball team, which finished with a 33-26 record, a second place finish in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and had an appearance in the Region V Tournament, had three players sign recently with four-year schools.

Leading the signees is second baseman Joe Wielbruda, who signed with the University of North Florida.

The Youngstown, Ohio, native was a two-time all-WJCAC first team selection who led the Chaps this past season with a .425 batting average, 90 hits, 57 runs scored, plus 27 RBI.

Nick Smelser, an honorable mention all-WJCAC selection, signed with Texas State University in San Marcos.

Smelser, who is from San Antonio, started at shortstop this past season and was among the Chaps' best hitters, batting .341 with five home runs and 50 RBI.

All-conference catcher Ryan Small has signed with Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

The 5-foot-9 Longview native was second on the team in hitting with a .398 batting average to go with one home run and 22 RBI.

Women's Basketball

The Lady Chaparrals recently had two players ink four-year schools as Jessi Cowden will stay in the area and play at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, while Titania Simmons will head to Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Tourbeau Sports Group: US Open Cup shines bright with NAIA Soccer ...

The Open Cup plays a huge role in the overall development of not only the sport, but directly to the clubs and players themselves. The tournament allows games to be played at smaller venues instead of hosting at large stadiums which detracts from the intimacy from which the Cup creates through its design. It allows smaller communities to connect and enjoy high-level soccer without having to leave their front step. Moreover, it allows some of the smaller clubs and its amateur players a more leveled playing ground through comfortable environments and increased familiarity. For participating players, it allows them the chance or platform to not only grow as a player, but also expose them to different opportunities in the future. The dream of every young soccer star is to become a professional player at the highest level. But to be fair, this opportunity is very far-fetched. Therefore, it is safe to say most players would love the chance just to play For a majority of amateur clubs, whether in the PDL (Premier Development League), NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) or the USASA (US Adult Soccer Assoc), players who make up these clubs are the most-talented current collegiate players, past collegiate or professional players or young international players who have squeezed their way into the system in one way or another. Among the current collegiate players, a large amount of success and visibility has been coming from those in the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics). As the Third Round of the US Open Cup is set to begin, there has been a high success rate for players in the NAIA, both current and past, who have participated in the annual event. These players have not only participated in the Cup, but they have also contributed for their club in the regular season in a big way. In all eight Third Round matchups, there is some type of affiliation of current or former NAIA players participating deep into the prestigious domestic cup. From Hartland, New Brunswick, the 6-1, 185-lb. defender is not new to the USL. Snelgrove signed with the Charlotte Eagles after graduating from Houghton College in 2007. He played there until 2009. He took the 2010 season off to care for an injury. At Houghton, Snelgrove scored two goals and contributed 13 assists in his four years, earning all-conference honors three times and receiving 2007 NAIA All-America honors. FC NY and Snelgrove both will be primed to step up on the pitch against players such as De Rosario, Dane Richards, Agudelo, Tim Ream, Henry and many more. Chicago Fire’s goal keeper coach. While at Judson, Hyde was a part of a very successful era.  In 2002 the team won the program’s fifth NCCAA National Championship with a 20-7 record.  The following year his team won 17 matches and then his senior year Judson went 23-1-1 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament losing to the eventual national champion (Lindsey Wilson).  The 2004 season also brought a perfect 21-0 regular undefeated season. Shaka Bangura who joined the Kickers 2011 squad after a one-year stint with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the USSF Division II.  Making his professional debut on April 21 against the Minnesota Stars, Bangura made 14 appearances with the Islanders en route to the 2010 Pro League Championship and the Caribbean Football Union Club Champions titles.  earning Appalachian Athletic Conference First-Team honors, he was named conference player of the year his senior season.  The AAC Freshman of the Year was named Montreat College “Male Athlete of the Year” in 2007 and earned NAIA All-Region Team honors in 2008. Bangura has already netted three goals and an assist in 2011 in just eight appearnces for the Kickers.

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