Lady Hoops Land Another Verbal

[BGSU96]

Zuercher headed to BGSU

APPLE CREEK - The Zuerchers have put thousands of miles on the family vehicle, fished through hundreds of pounds of mail and spent countless hours on the telephone.

Handling the recruiting of Kelly Zuercher has been a year-and-a-half worth of work for the household headed by Darrel and Mary Lou.

It all came to an end Wednesday morning, though, as Zuercher, a standout girls basketball player at Waynedale, signed a national letter of intent to play for Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green State University.

“One of the things Kelly brings to the table for us is a lot of upside. Clearly, her best basketball days are ahead of her,” Bowling Green coach Curt Miller said. “Her size and competitiveness are obviously things we really like, but she’s the whole package. She’s a tremendous person off the court and we’re really pleased to have her as part of the family.”

The 6-foot-1 Zuercher became the first Waynedale girl to sign a Div. I scholarship, but the second member of her family to do so. Older brother Matt, a 1998 Waynedale grad who is the current Golden Bears football coach, attended and played football for the University of Akron.

“When I knew I wanted to play at the college level, dad kind of took over and figured out where we thought I best fit in,” Kelly Zuercher said. “We started in the MAC. About the second time I visited Bowling Green, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.

“They have such a good coaching staff and the players are awesome. I also really like the small-town feel of the campus and community.”

Zuercher will soon join a BGSU program on top of the MAC. The Falcons have won back-to-back regular season and tournament titles and with nine letterman returning - including its starting five - are predicted to three-peat this winter. BGSU, which has lost to Kansas St. and UCLA in the last two NCAA tournaments, is ranked No. 30 in the USA Today/ESPN preseason coaches poll.

“They’re doing some amazing things for a mid-major program,” Darrel Zuercher said of Bowling Green. “From the way it looks, they’re going to have a top-20 or top-25 recruiting class. For Kelly to be a part of that is very exciting. Her mother and I are so very proud of her.”

But the Falcons have just four sophomores and juniors who have lettered and three incoming freshman surrounded by question marks. By the time Zuercher arrives on campus, with eight other freshmen whom the Falcons have signed, roster spots will not be cemented as they currently are.

“There are positions available,” Zuercher said. “I’ll definitely be working hard this season and the whole spring to see if I can prove myself and be up there with the best. ... I’m not naive to think I’m going to be able to walk on the court and play. I’ve got a hard road ahead of me, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Zuercher must first finish off a strong career for the Golden Bears. She is set to try and lead Waynedale to a third consecutive Wayne County Athletic League championship in 2006-07.

The soon-to-be four-year letterwinner, who was third-team All-Ohio last season, is five points shy of 1,000. She’s averaged 15.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 66 career games, shooting better than 53 percent from the floor (382-of-718) and over 73 percent from the free throw line (221-of-302).

Zuercher holds five individual school records. The three-time All-WCAL performer helped Waynedale to a 12-game winning streak and a district runner-up finish last season, but will eventually move on.

“It’s going to be a whole new world for her - a new challenge, a lot of hard work,” Matt Zuercher said. “But seeing all the work I put in and all the time I put in, I think she might have a little better idea than some of the other freshmen. During the summers I lived at home but was driving back-and-forth to all the summer workouts, seven-on-seven sessions, different things like that. I think she realizes that she’ll be getting herself into a four-year, five-year commitment.”

Zuercher says she’s up to the challenge.

“I’m looking forward to learning the game better and I know the tempo will be a big change,” she said. “It will be tougher than what I’m used to, but it will be all right.”

As a former Wayne Countian, I am so excited to see Kelly coming to BG. Her older brother, Matt, was a standout football player at Akron. I can't wait to see her in brown in orange next year.

[Falconfreak90]

96,

More great news! As a native of Tuscarawas County, Waynedale wasn't far at all. This class is unbelievable.

Tip off less than 24 hours away! GO FALCONS!