Ex-Wave stars shine in college

A handful of ex-Fallon stars are making waves this spring on the collegiate circuit.

From making a racket to running track to competing on the diamond, five standouts are entering the second half of their season.

Haley Jorgensen is in her second year of tennis at St. Mary’s, a Division III school in Minnesota.

The Cardinals came back from a 2-1 hole to defeat Macalester 6-3 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference battle Saturday afternoon at the University of Minnesota Baseline Tennis Center.

“That was a huge win for us,” Saint Mary’s coach Jeff Halberg told the team website. “Any win in the MIAC is big, and when you can win a match against a team that was picked ahead of you in the MIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, it makes it that much sweeter. Everyone contributed to a great team win.”

Jorgensen and partner Stacey Buss picked up Saint Mary’s lone win in doubles play, while the Fallon product was also victorious in singles with a win. Jorgensen is 8-4 this year in singles and 6-6 in doubles play.

Tanner Boone is also in his second season running track at the University of Great Falls (Mont.) in the NAIA.

After placing in the top 15 of three of his winter meets, Boone made his outdoor season debut last weekend at the Al Manuel Invite held at the University of Montana. Boone took ninth in the 5,000-meter run in 16 minutes, 9.55 seconds.

“Tanner’s race was a breakthrough performance,” UGF coach Bill Brist told the school’s website. “He did a nice job of running with Jace and was rewarded with a great performance.”

During his indoor season, Boone placed 12th in the 3,000 in 9:48.56 at the University of Idaho Invite in Moscow after taking 13th in 10:15.98 at the Montana State University Open in Bozeman.

He concluded his third meet in January by finishing 27th in the mile in 4:47.13 at the Washington State University Invite in Pullman.

Jill Pinder had surgery after her 2014 season was cut short and is back in the circle for Division III Lewis and Clark.

Pinder has started seven of her eight games this spring, going 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA in 23.2 innings. Pinder has recorded 13 strikeouts against 12 walks.

Rileigh Ricken, fresh off a state title with the Greenwave, is in her first season at Southwestern Oklahoma State as the team’s ace.

Ricken has started 12 of 19 games and has a 5.88 ERA in 75 innings. She is 3-9 with 27 strikeouts to lead the Bulldogs, who are competing in the NCAA Division II.

J.J. Boyle is playing baseball in one of the country’s primed locations, Monterey, Calif., in his sophomore season for Monterey Peninsula College.

Playing a utility role, Boyle leads the team in batting average at .354 in 22 games. He’s also belted two home runs and driven in a team-high 15 runs.

If readers know of any ex-Greenwave athletes competing in a spring college sport, email lvnsports@yahoo.com.