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Ex-Spartan displays big leg, consistency

By NANCY MORGAN
Published December 31, 2006

Jesse Harms Lakewood/Naval Academy Prep credits consistency, physical training and coaching for his success on the football field.

The punter completed his third season at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with impressive results, just like his first two years.

Harms' 41.6-yard average led the New England Football Conference and was No. 4 nationally in Division III. He was named third team All-American for the second consecutive year, and was selected to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England Club.

"Since my freshman year, I have just tried to continue improving," said Harms, 22.

Harms cites the efforts of punting coach Don Pinhey, whose experience has helped Harms develop his talent. Fitness coach Commander Richard Shumway directs Harms through a regime of high intensity in short workout periods to strengthen his legs.

Last year, Harms tied a school record dating to 1939 with an 81-yard punt.

"It's been really fun on the team and we've improved each year," Harms said. "The first year, we won one game and last year two. This season, we had an 8-3 record and finished our conference 7-0.

"With 1,000 of us at school -and we all live in the same area - you know you have friends looking out for you. There's always an opportunity to get help if you need it."

As for his senior season, Harms hopes to break a three-game losing streak against the archrival Merchant Marines.

"I had a lot more big punts last year because they used to creep up on me," said Harms. "Now, they stand back about 50 yards. Sometimes, I overkick my coverage, and need to realize a 35-yarder may be more effective, because we have a tough defense. Next season, I'll be working on kicking inside the 20."

MORE FOOTBALL: Brett Kitenplon (Admiral Farragut) was among five Ithaca College players named to the Eastern College Athletic Conference first team Northwest All-Stars. The senior kicker set school records in points (281), field goals (40) and extra points (161). His 11 field goals this season set a school season record.

- Indiana State's Carl Berman (Boca Ciega) was named to the Gateway Conference second team Academic All-Conference team and earned honorable mention on the all-league football team.

The exercise science major earned a 3.05 grade point average. And the wide receiver led the team with 59 catches for 783 yards, including four touchdowns, and averaged 18.6 yards per kick return.

- Massachusetts redshirt junior J.J. Moore (Gibbs) was named Atlantic 10 third team all-conference. Moore finished second on the team in catches (42) and receiving yards (533) and led the team in punt returns with 29 for 242 yards.

In the NCAA Division I-AA championship game against top seed Appalachian State, Moore caught four passes for 61 yards, the longest for 31. UMass lost 28-17.

SOCCER: Meggie Ford (St. Petersburg) was named to SoccerBuzz's All-Northeast Region freshman team. Columbia's left back started 17 of 18 games and was selected Ivy League Rookie of the Week during the Lions' 10-5-3 season.

- Ford's older brother Drew Ford, and Demetri Arnaoutakis of Dunedin are junior midfielders for Columbia.

SWIMMING: Heather Jennings (Lakewood) is a senior at Randolph Macon Woman's College. In a recent 52-39 win over Mary Baldwin, Jennings was second in the 1,000 and 500 freestyle events.

BASKETBALL: Kelsey Roegiers-Jensen (Boca Ciega) had a career-best 12 assists in a 66-63 win over Florida A&M in the UCF Holiday Classic. The senior guard also had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Roegiers-Jensen was named to the classic's all-tournament squad.

- Junior guard Mike O'Donnell (Largo) averaged 11.7 points for UCF in three contests in the San Juan Shootout and was named to the all-tournament team.

- Trevor Bing (Largo/Cape Fear CC) is a reserve junior at UCS Santa Barbara. The guard is averaging 2.8 points through the last 11 games.

- N.C. State's Trevor Ferguson (Oldsmar/Pittsburgh) played his first college game and posted three points, four assists and two rebounds against Alabama. Against Cincinnati, the redshirt freshman guard came off the bench and hit two 3-pointers in an 80-71 loss.

VOLLEYBALL: The American Volleyball Coaches Association named Florida Southern's Ashley Martin (Seminole/Winthrop) as a Division II second team All-American. The redshirt sophomore was second on the team in kills (395), hitting percentage (.292) and blocks (587).

News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119; e-mailed to namorgan@tampabay.rr.com or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. Please include phone number.

[Last modified December 30, 2006, 22:01:33]