2000-01 Cardinal Signees

July 16, 2001

Baseball
Men's Basketball
Women's Basketball
Field Hockey
Football
Men's Golf
Women's Golf
Women's Soccer
Softball
Men's Tennis
Women's Track & Field

BASEBALL

Dan Cunningham, a 6-0, 185-pound outfielder from South Suburban (Ill.) College. With leadoff-type speed, the Chicago native will bring experience and an aggressive style of play to the Cardinals' outfield.
Landon Helm, a 6-3, 205-pound right-handed pitcher from Russell County High School. With a lively arm and deceptive motion, the Jamestown, Ky., native will bring strength and athleticism to the Cards.
Zach Jackson, a 6-5, 195-pound left-handed pitcher from Seneca Valley High School. Considered to be one of the best left-handed pitchers around by the U of L coaching staff, the Cranberry Township, Pa., native will be counted on to contribute on the mound right away.
William McKenzie, a 6-7, 220-pound right-handed pitcher from Walters State (Tenn.) Community College. McKenzie, a native of Kingsport, Tenn., has already been drafted twice and is expected to make an immediate impact on the Cards' rotation next season.
Daniel Plasencia, a 5-11, 175-pound outfielder/second baseman from Jesuit High School, one of the top programs in the country. A native of Tampa, Fla., Plasencia was named most valuable player last year at the Florida High School State Tournament.
Patrick Sadler, a 6-0, 190-pound right-handed pitcher from Trinity High School. Rated among the top-100 high school players in the country by Baseball America, Sadler displays a live arm and a very good breaking ball. The Washington, Pa., native also plays third base and swings the bat well.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Brandon Bender, a 6-9, 245-pound forward/center from Ballard High School. Bender averaged 18.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 blocked shots as a senior, leading Ballard to a 32-2 record and a ranking as high as fourth nationally this year. He shot 56 percent from the field. The Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky, Bender is ranked among the nation's top 50 prospects by most recruiting services. He is ranked 22nd nationally by the Hoop Scoop and 35th by both ESPN and The Sporting News.
Dennis Coutee, a 6-6, 215-pound guard/forward from Jeffersonville (Ind.) High School. A preseason Indiana all-state selection, Coutee averaged 18.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists as a junior last season, leading Jeffersonville to a 23-3 record and the state 4-A Final Four.
Carlos Hurt, a 6-2, 180-pound guard who is among the top prep players in the nation. Hurt averaged 17 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.3 assists and four steals as a junior last season for Alief (Texas) Elsik High School. Hurt and his family moved to Louisville over the summer and is playing his senior year at Moore High School.
Larry O'Bannon, a 6-5, 195-pound forward from Male High School. O'Bannon averaged 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a senior, leading Male to a 32-4 record and a runner-up spot in the state championship this year. He shot 58 percent from the field and 85 percent at the free throw line. O'Bannon, who was listed among the top 25 unsigned seniors by The Sporting News, is eighth on Male's all-time scoring list with nearly 1,900 career points.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Angel Bradley, a 5-8 guard from Osborne High School in Marietta, Ga. The all-county performer averaged 16.5 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as a junior and was named to the Cobb County Tip Off Club "Fab Five" team. Bradley, who was named the MVP of the Blue Chip High Exposure camp this past summer in Louisville, was also named to the Cobb County Prep Team of the Year during her sophomore and junior seasons.
Lyndsey DeWitt, a 5-8 point guard from Upper Sandusky (Ohio) High School. As a junior, DeWitt averaged 22.1 points, 5.0 assists and 5.8 rebounds per contest as she helped lead her team to a 20-4 record. DeWitt was named honorable mention all-America and first team all-state, all-league and all-district as a junior and first team all-league and all-district and honorable mention all-state as a sophomore.
Nina Simotes, a 6-0 wing player from Minooka (Ill.) High School. As a junior, she averaged 22 points, six assists and six rebounds in leading her team to an 18-8 record and a second-place conference finish for the third consecutive season. A three-time first team all-area and all-conference selection, Simotes was named honorable mention all-state as a junior.
Amanda Wolke, a 6-1 forward from Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan. Wolke, the No. 1 ranked junior college player in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report, was a preseason NJCAA All-American and All-Jayhawk Conference selection. She averaged 25 points, 16 rebounds and seven blocks in the exhibition season that consisted of seven games.

FIELD HOCKEY

Suzanne Irwin, a Louisville native, helped lead Ballard High School to the 2000 state semifinals. As a forward, she led Ballard in assists and was named to the 1999 HockeyPoint All-State Tournament First Team and was an All-Jefferson County selection in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, she was tabbed by the Louisville Voice Tribune as a "Sophomore to Watch."
Olivia Netzler, a forward from Marian College, Goulburn in New South Wales, Australia. She was a member of the 2000 Under-21 New South Wales State Hockey Team and a member of the 1998 and 1999 New South Wales Under-18 Hockey Squad. She received the Marian College Annual Award for Sporting Excellence in 1995 and 1997. In 1996, she was a member of the Souther New South Wales Under-16 Hockey team which competed in the Australia Wide Tournament.
Kimberly Hughes, a defender, led Henley High School (Largs North, South Australia) to the 2000 Telstra title. She was vice captain of the Under-18 State Field Hockey Team and the runner-up Most Valuable Player of the South Australia Under-18 Indoor Hockey Team. Hughes is also a member of the South Australia Sydney Youth Olympics Hockey Team and was the captain of the 2000 Grange Royals, the Under-17, winners of the Smartplay Junior State Championships.
Jessica Schmidt, a defender from Glenelg High School in Sykesville, Md., was a varsity captain on the 1999 and 2000 Regional Champion teams. She was a 1999 and 2000 First Team All-County selection. Schmidt was also a member of the 2000 American Indoor Champion Lady Glads field hockey team. Her accolades are not limited to field hockey, she was a 1999 indoor track state qualifier in hurdles and pole vault, and a 2000 state qualifier in pole vault, 100 meter hurdles and the 4 X 1 relay. She finished third in the 2000 County Pole Vault Championship and also placed third in the 11 meter hurdles at Regionals.

MEN'S GOLF

Mark Anderson, a two-time South Dakota state champion and the state's player of the year in each of the past two seasons while attending O'Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. A National Honor Society student, Anderson was a national qualifier in 2000 for the USGA Boys' Amateur and the USGA Public Links Championships, finishing in the top 64 at the boys' event. He also posted a pair of top 10 finishes in AJGA events this season.
Brett Jones, a two-time all-Kentucky honoree in the links and a second team all-state selection in basketball as a junior for Tilghman High School in Paducah, Ky. Jones finished third a year ago in the Kentucky High School Championship and was honored as the state's top player with the Mr. Golf Award. He is currently ranked 92nd in the nation by one national junior golf rating system and owns a resume with several top 15 finishes in American Junior Golf Association events.
Charlie Woo, a native of Ontario, Canada, was a member of the 2000 Canadian National Junior Team. He also captured the 2000 Ontario Junior Masters Championship firing a 54-hole total of 205 (-11) in which all three of his rounds were in the 60s. Woo is a multiple winner on the Canadian Junior Tour over the past three seasons with wins at tournaments such as the Richmond Junior Open, the Horseshoe Valley Junior Open and the Diamondback Junior Open.

WOMEN'S GOLF

Candace Pasechnik, will join her sister Cindy, a sophomore on the Cardinal squad, when the team hits the links next fall. A four handicap, Pasechnik participated in the 2000 Canadian Ladies Golf Association, an invitation only event, and finished second at the Calgary Golf and CC Ladies Club Championship. Pasechnik, who won her flight at the 1998 Calgary Junior Ladies City Tournament at Canyon Meadows Golf Club, was also a member of the 1999 Junior America's Cup Provincial team.

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Liz Bradstreet, (Palmyra, New York/Monroe CC) - Junior college team only lost two games during her two years, and was regional champion and national finalist both seasons. Was first-team All-Conference, first-team All-Region and first-team NJCAA All-American as team captain. Named the third best player in her region. Played on same junior college team as fellow signee Melissa Wark.
Leigh Carroll, (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota West HS) - High school teammate of fellow signee Gina Lower. Plays for the Ohio Premier club team. Set a record for minutes played in a season her junior year, setting the mark for the men's and women's teams. Tallied 13 goals and 21 assists as primarily a back.
Sandy Klabecheck, (Champlin, Minnesota/Champlin Park HS) - Captain of her high school team her senior year as well as the Rebels Club Team. Named Most Improved Player in '97, earned the Hustle Award in '98 and '99, and All-Conference her final two seasons of high school.
Gina Lower, (Hamilton, Ohio/Lakota West HS) - Lower was captain of her high school team and a member of the All-League team three seasons. Was '99 co-defensive MVP with fellow signee and teammate Leigh Carroll. Plays for the Cincinnati Classics/Hammer, one of the premier club teams in Ohio, state champions in '96, '97 and '98.
Lisa Martin, (Barrington, Illinois/Lake Zurich HS) - Captain and MVP for the '00 season. All-Conference, All-Area and All-Sectional first three years of high school as she is in the midst of the 2001 campaign. Notched 24 goals and 28 assists entering the season. Lake Zurich was sectional champion in '98, regional champs in '98, '99 and '00, and conference champions last season. A member of the Eclipse Select Club Team with fellow Cardinal signee Mandy Rost, three-time state champions.
Meredith Miller, (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick HS) - MVP her senior year, Miller was All-Conference and All-County as a goalkeeper. Earned the All-Academic award for the Pioneer Conference. Has played for the Internationals Soccer Club Team for the past seven years, winning the Ohio State Cup six of those years and regional champions in '99 and '00. Current member of the Ohio State Team.
Heather Orahood, (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City High School) - Graduated one year ahead of schedule, and currently plays for Team Ohio Premier Dayton Club Team. Captained the 2000 squad and was named to the senior All-Star team, as well as All-Ohio Valley Conference. A three-year varsity starter, Orahood was defensive MVP in 1999.
Mandy Rost, (Palatine, Illinois/Palatine HS) - High school team competes in the spring. Named All-Conference, All-Sectional, All-Regional and Illinois All-State first three years of high school. Has 52 goals and 49 assists in her first three seasons. Plays for the Eclipse Select Club team, state champions in '97, '97 and '00, regional semifinalist in '00 and regional champion in '98. Club teammate of fellow signee Lisa Martin.
Melissa Wark, (Penfield, New York/Monroe CC) - Teammates with U of L signee Liz Bradstreet in junior college, losing only two games in her two seasons. Lead the team in scoring with 18 goals. Touted as first-team All-Conference, All-Region as well as 2000 NJCAA All-American. Also named to the NJCAA Championship All-Tournament team.

SOFTBALL

Sara Bausher, an outfielder/shortstop from Nevada State High School Champion Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. She earned the Sunset Region's Most Valuable Player award in 2000 and All-Southern Conference honors in 1999. She also plays for the Firecrackers Gold travel ball club, one of the country's top gold teams.
Lisa Estes, a catcher/outfielder from Ramona (Calif.) High School. During her prep career, she has been named Best Defense and First Team All League and served as captain of the League Champion team. Estes plays for American Pastime Gold travel ball club which finished seventh in the country at the Gold Nationals.
Krystle Herold, a righthanded pitcher from Elsinore High School in Wildomar, Calif. She has been named the League's Most Valuable Player, First Team All-League and California Interscholastic Federation All-Tournament. Herold, who led Elsinore to the 1999 league championship, plays for American Pastime Gold travel ball club, which finished seventh in the country in the Gold Nationals.
Kimberly Miller, an outfielder from Valencia High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. An all-league selection and most valuable player award winner, Miller plays for the Valencia Choppers Gold travel team which finished 13th at the Gold Nationals.
Aja Sherman, a righthanded pitcher/first baseman from from Durango High School in Las Vegas. During her career, she has been named All-Sunset Region Most Valuable Pitcher, Nevada All-State Team Honorable Mention and first team All-Sunset Region.

MEN'S TENNIS

Todd Hiscox, the No. 1 Under-18 player in Australia, will join the Cardinals next fall. Hiscox hails from New South Wales, Australia.
Octavian Nicodin, a native of Bucharest, Romania, is the No. 2 junior player in his country and was ranked as high as the top 50 in the junior world rankings in singles and doubles. He was a singles finalist in the Romanian Nationals and a semifinalist in the Argentinian Junior Championship. In doubles, he reached the semifinals in the international junior championships in Paraguay, Uraguay, Argentina, Egypt and Finland.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD

Kelley Bowman, one of the nation's top high jumpers, comes from Berea High School in Berea, Ky. She set the Kentucky state record and had the country's fourth best High Jump mark (5-10.5) of 2000 in winning the Kentucky Class A State High Jump title, the third consecutive state high jump title for Bowman. In total, Bowman has earned six Kentucky State Championships, having also won three consecutive titles in the 300 meter hurdles.

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