|
|
APR.
20 — Goshen Picks Up Pair Of Two-Sport Standouts
Buller
and Feldman to bring talents to Leafs' basketball, volleyball
programs |
Goshen,
IN — Combining its recruiting efforts to land a pair of
top-notch athletes, the Goshen College women’s basketball
and volleyball programs announced the signings of Bethany Christian
High School senior Jess Buller and Triton High School (Bourbon,
Ind.) senior Carly Feldman Tuesday, further improving already
strong programs. The 5-9 Buller and 5-11 Feldman bring versatility
to both sports, as both athletes hope to make immediate contributions
during both the volleyball and basketball seasons.
“It’s not often that you can find an athlete with skills good enough
to play two sports at the college level,” said Steve Wiktorowski, Goshen
women’s basketball coach. “Incredibly, we think we’ve found
two young ladies that can play both basketball and volleyball at a very high
level.”
Buller elected to stay close to home after finishing as Bethany’s career
leader in kills (548) as an outside hitter in volleyball and the second leading
scorer in basketball with 763 career points. She also concluded her roundball
career with 372 rebounds and 242 assists, while knocking in 119 three-pointers — tops
in school history.
“Jess is a versatile
player who will help strengthen us at several positions,” Wiktorowski said. “She
has the shooting and ball handling skills to play on the perimeter, yet has the
size and strength to play some inside. Being the daughter of a coach, she has
a great feel for the game and sees the floor very well.”
Buller was voted Most Valuable Player by her volleyball teammates for the past
two seasons, and finished with 429 career assists to go with her career-leading
kill total.
“Jess is a strong outside hitter and has very strong serving skills,” said
Val Hershberger, Goshen assistant volleyball coach. “She’s a great
addition to the Goshen volleyball program and will bring strengths to the classroom
as well as the court. She will work very hard and will push others on the team
next fall.”
Feldman comes to Goshen after a stellar two-sport career at Triton, leading her
volleyball team to two IHSAA state finals appearances as a sophomore and junior
while being named to second team All-State status following her senior season.
In three seasons as a varsity starter for the Trojans, Feldman helped her team
to a combined 77-33 record while averaging 6.9 kills per game and 2.6 blocks
per game from her middle blocker position as a senior.
“Carly is a great player, but even more importantly is a great person,” said
Gayle Perry, Triton head volleyball coach. “She has a great attitude and
will succeed in many areas at Goshen College.”
Feldman brings a wealth of talent to the Leafs’ basketball program as well,
averaging 12.8 points per game and 12.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Feldman
leaves Triton as the school’s seventh-best career rebounder (513 total
boards) and collected a ridiculous 21 caroms against South Newton High School
in February of this season. Her 300 rebounds as a senior was the second-most
in single-season history for the school, and placed her as the fifth-best rebounder
in the state of Indiana.
“We think we landed somewhat of a sleeper in Carly Feldman,” Wiktorowski
said. “She really impressed us in her workout with her ability and might
be the most athletic player we have signed this year. We had a real need to improve
our rebounding, and Carly gives us someone who possesses that skill. We feel
that with her athletic potential she will become someone who improves tremendously
and makes a strong contribution over the next four years.”
In addition to the duo’s athletic ability, both are standout students as
well — Buller said she plans to pursue secondary education along with biblical
studies, while Feldman will major in math education. Buller joins her older brother,
Jordan, in the Goshen athletic family, as the current sophomore is a standout
point guard for the men’s basketball program.
“A big draw for me was that I could play two sports at Goshen, as well
as feeling that the school would challenge me spiritually, athletically and educationally,” Buller
said. “Jordi has proven that you can be away from home a mile down the
road, and I felt very comfortable here. Both programs are going through exciting
times, and the chemistry and players on both teams are really great. I think
this school will challenge me like I’ve never been, and it will make me
a better person because of it.”
Feldman said she chose Goshen for many of the same reasons, but mostly because
it just felt right.
“The main reason I decided to attend Goshen College was the faith that
I experienced on my visit,” Feldman said. “With all of the college
visits that I had taken, Goshen was the only place that I felt was very strong
in their beliefs and tried to maintain a good Christian campus basis. I have
had great success with academics in high school, and I plan to work just as hard
in college. I was impressed with the facilities and people I met at Goshen, and
am really excited to continue my education there.”
The tandem joins LaVille High School senior Kelsy McKee and Pendleton
Heights
High School senior Sarah Arnold in the women’s basketball recruiting class,
and are the first signees of the year for the Leafs’ volleyball program.
Wiktorowski’s team concluded the 2003-2004 season with an overall record
of 26-9 and the program’s first ever berth in the NAIA National Tournament,
while the Goshen volleyball team finished 2003 with a 24-13 mark, the second-best
finish in school history.
“With Jess and Carly, we get two outstanding young women who will continue
to improve both our programs and our campus with their being here,” Wiktorowski
said. “Jessica is a great student who brings leadership potential and will
naturally add to our team chemistry. Carly has a very outgoing personality and
is very team oriented which will make it easy for her to fit in well with her
new teammates. We think that both these individuals will have a very positive
impact on both the women’s basketball and volleyball programs here at Goshen
College.”
Check back to this website for the most up to date recruiting information and
team news. |
  Jess
Buller
|
|
|
|
