College Insider: Fairfield’s Sams among top wrestlers at Bellarmine

Freshman Andrew Sams is making an immediate impact with the Bellarmine University wrestling program.

The Fairfield High School graduate is tied for second among the Knights with 13 wins at 174 pounds. Sams ranks third in falls (three), team points (51) and takedowns (34).

Bellarmine, which is 1-5 in dual competition, will compete in Manchester’s Spartan Mat Classic on Jan. 13 at 9 a.m.

Men's basketball: Sophomore forward Ryan Middendorf (Lakota East) is the third-leading scorer for Lake Erie with an 8.8 average.

Middendorf is playing 19.8 minutes per game off the bench and is averaging 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists. He’s shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 76.9 percent from the charity stripe.

The Storm, 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, will host Trevecca Nazarene on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Women's basketball: Sophomore forward Arianne Whitaker (Lakota West) has started every game and is averaging 4.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest for Chattanooga.

Whitaker is shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and 64.7 percent from the foul line for the Mocs (9-5). She has 12 assists, 11 blocks and seven steals.

Chattanooga will begin Southern Conference play at home Jan. 4, facing North Carolina-Greensboro at 5:30 p.m.

Women's swimming: Freshman Marisa Crisci (Fenwick) helped John Carroll capture the Fredonia (N.Y.) Blue Devil Invitational championship Dec. 3.

The Blue Streaks topped the nine-team field with 893 points. Allegheny was second with 788.5.

Crisci was part of the first-place 200-yard medley relay squad (1:50.84). She was second in the 400 medley relay (4:08.16), fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:02.17), sixth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:43.24), 11th in the 200 back (2:22.0) and 400 free relay (3:54.32), and 12th in the 50 free (26.07).

John Carroll will host Gannon on Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.

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