INDIANAPOLIS – Samm Reese is an NCAA Division I All-American.

Reese is a Purdue Boilermaker with Martins Ferry roots. The talented junior from Granger, Ind., earned All-America honors for the Purdue University women’s swimming & diving team at the NCAA Championships last week.

Reese placed 11th among a field of 50 divers in the 1-meter diving event, posting a score of 279.7. That clinched her first career All-America honor.

Prior to that, she also enjoyed a banner Big Ten Diving Championship meet. The Purdue junior finished seventh in the 3-meter dive. She posted a personal best score.

“I felt more confident once I made the NCAA meet, but I was very nervous at zones. I didn’t do well the year before at zones and just missed qualifying for NCAAs. I tried to put that out of my mind and just focus on the current meet,” Reese said. “After making it to NCAAs I felt extremely relieved. Once at the NCAA competition, I felt a lot more calm and relaxed and was ready to just have fun.”

Her success this season hasn’t been confined to the water.

Reese also also been named Academic All-Big Ten. In order to earn that academic status, student-athletes must be letter-winners and in at least their second academic year at their respective institution and must have a cumulative grade-point average or 3.0 higher.

Being a Division I athlete is a tough enough task. Balancing it with the books is taxing to say the least, especially at such a highly-regarded academic institution as Purdue.

To her credit, Reese, who is the captain of the Boilermarkers’ women’s team, has been able to do so in sparkling fashion.

“It is very tough to balance athletics and academics. I found that I have to schedule every single part of my day, from things like studying to even eating or when I will take a 20-minute nap (if I have the time that day),” Reese said. “It’s gotten easier over the years just because I know what kind of schedule works best for me, but it is always a challenge.”

The talented diver is majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. Her GPA tops 3.0.

While the academic year is winding down in West Lafayette, Reese is still in training for a major competition.

“Now that my NCAA meet is over, I’ll be training for the USA Diving World Trials competition coming up this May,” she said.

Reese is the daughter of Don and Janie (Patrone) Reese, both Martins Ferry High grads, now residing in Granger, Ind. Don’s parents still live in Martins Ferry. Janie is the daughter of legendary Bellaire High and WVU hoopster Lee Patrone.

Reese enjoyed a banner sophomore season for the Boilermakers. She totaled 26 team points at the Big Ten Championships, finishing seventh in championship final of 1-meter and 22nd overall in the prelims of 3-meter. Reese garnered the Boilermakers’ most improved award as a freshman.

Reese scripted a stellar prep career at St. Joseph High School in South Bend, Ind. She was a two-time sectional and regional diving champion while taking eighth at the state meet as a junior and ninth as a senior.

SATELLITE CAMP

THE OHIO Dominican Football’s Ohio Valley Friday Night Lights Camp is set for June 30 at 6 p.m. at the Dave Bruney Football Complex in Martins Ferry beginning at 6 p.m., rain or shine.

The camp includes combine teaching/testing, individual position teaching/work and 1-on-1 competitions. The camp will be directed by ODU head coach Kelly Cummings and his staff, which includes former Purple Rider and Mount Union star quarterback Zac Bruney. He is ODU’s offensive coordinator.

Local D-II and D-III coaches will be invited to attend and evaluate. Cost is $35 for pre-registration and $45 for walk-up. For more information, go to http://ohiodominicanpanthers.com/information/camps.

BUBBA’S BITS

THE DENISON University baseball team is enjoying another banner season under the guidance of head coach Mike Deegan, compiling an impressive 12-3 record. Deegan is in his fifth year at the Big Red helm, ringing up a 102-74 mark. He has led Denison to three NCAC West Division titles. Deegan’s dad is a 1964 Wheeling Central grad, playing hoops and baseball for the Maroon Knights. Deegan’s grandparents owned Carpenters Jewelers on Market Street in the Friendly City. Deegan is a Washington (Pa.) Trinity High graduate.

MAJOR LEAGUE Baseball is again upon us. The Pirates debut in one of MLB’s iconic settings — Fenway Park. I foresee the Buccos in the playoffs. My pick to win it all, however, is Cleveland. The Tribe’s signing of slugger Edwin Encarnación was a grand slam.

THE MASTERS unfolds this week at Augusta. Dustin Johnson enters the race for the green jacket red-hot. My pick, however, is Rory McIlroy. Jordan Spieth will be lurking near the top after last year’s watery meltdown.

PREP BASKETBALL junkies can get one final taste of hardwood action this afternoon at Ohio University Eastern. The OVAC Sam Mumley All-Star games will play out with the girls taking the court at 3 p.m. and the boys following at 5:30 p.m.

IF BASKETBALL is not your cup of tea, St. Clairsville visits Martins Ferry for a make-up baseball game today at 3 p.m.

KUDOS TO Linsly baseball coach Jay Cartwright on recording his 200th win in the Cadets’ Thursday night win over Meadowbrook.

FORMER WHEELING Park baseball standout Andrew Kowalo had a productive week for Liberty University. The hard-hitting second baseman had two hits, including a home run, against Charleston Southern. He followed that with an RBI double against East Carolina. Kowalo ended his week with a hit against Bethune-Cookman. He is currently hitting. 321 with two home runs and 15 RBI for the 14-10 Flames. He boasts a .434 on-base percentage.

FRONTIER HIGH is in the market for a new head girls’ basketball coach. Scott Murphy has stepped down after leading the Lady Cougars to three OVAC titles in the past four seasons. He also serves as defensive coordinator for the Marietta High football team.

MANY PEOPLE view Geno Auriemma as brash and arrogant. But UConn’s ultra-successful women’s basketball coach personified total class after watching his Huskies lose to Mississippi State in the Final Four, ending their amazing 111-game winning streak.

MIKE EADES of Princeton, W.Va. will be one of the officials working the NCAA men’s basketball championship game Monday. He is also coordinator of officials for the Mountain East Conference. Meanwhile, Ohio Valley native Ted Valentine worked the Oregon-North Carolina semifinal Saturday night.