Colonels’ Bender selected in 6th round by New York Jets

From NSU Sports Information

Former Colonel standout left tackle Jacob Bender was taken by the New York Jets in the sixth round (177th overall pick) of the 2007 NFL Draft on Sunday.† Bender, who did not participate in the NFL Combine, is the first offensive lineman to be drafted in the NFL in school history.

In 1984, Ronald Motton was drafted to the Houston Gamblers and Jay Pennison was drafted by the Jacksonville Bulls, but those two teams are formerly of the USFL.† Pennison went on to play for the Houston Oilers.†

Bender is also the first Colonel taken in the NFL draft since Chris Thompson was drafted in the fifth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2004.† Thompson, who was the 110th overall pick in 2004, was named to the 2002 Sports Network/FCS I-AA All-America Third Team and the National Weekly Football Gazette All-America Second Team in 2003.

“This is such a great honor for Jacob because he has worked really hard to have this opportunity,” said head coach Jay Thomas.† “I know his teammates are very happy for him and the coaches are very proud that he will get to play at the next level.† This is great for our program and it shows that guys can still play in the triple-option offense and have a chance to play on Sundays.”

Bender was the first Southland Conference player to get drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft, and is only the Jets third pick in the draft.† The Mayo, Maryland native was a two-time All-Southland Conference First Team selection for Nicholls where he helped lead the Colonels to their first ever SLC Championship in 2005.

In his senior campaign in 2006, Bender was named to the 2006 Sports Network/FCS I-AA All-America Third Team and selected to the College Sporting News Fabulous 50 FSN All-Star team.† He also participated in the Magnolia Gridiron All-Star Classic that was held in Jackson, Miss.

During his four-year career at Nicholls, Bender started 31 career games at Nicholls while playing in a total of 42 contests in a Colonel uniform.†

Bender will participate in the New York Jets’ Rookie Mini-Camp May 12-14.† The camp will be held on the campus of Hofstra University in Long Island, New York. Selected veterans of the Jets will take part in the camp as well.

Lady Colonels get back on winning track; sweep Islander

Nicholls completed its’ series sweep of the Islanders on Sunday with a 5-2 victory as seniors Jennifer Campbell, Jacqueline Pacheco and Leah Peterson played their final home game of their careers.

“It was a really good win for us and guarantees us a winning record in conference this season,” said head coach Jenny Parsons.† “We are going to have to keep playing hard if we want to be in the conference tournament.”

The Colonels (26-24, 15-11) fell behind early to the Islanders (12-35, 5-22) after Texas A&M-Coprus Christi scored two runs on three hits in the top of the first inning.† The Islanders’ Erica Armenta led off the game with a triple to left center and Andrea Simancas drove her in on a double to center field.† Simancas then crossed home plate when Brenda Guerrero was caught stealing second to make the score 2-0 after only a half inning of play.

Nicholls responded in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own when sophomore Kodi Butler scatted across the plate after a wild pitch.† Two batters later, Pacheco hit an RBI single up the middle that scored junior Kat Harrell from third to tie the score at two.

The Colonels put another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of third on another RBI single by Pacheco that scored Peterson from third to make the score 3-2.† Nicholls added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when junior Rachel Pugh hit a RBI single which scored freshman Ashley Martin from second to make the score 4-2 in favor of the Colonels.† Later on in the inning, Butler singled up the middle to score sophomore Danielle Clayton from third and Pugh tried to bring home another but was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.

The game ended with Nicholls prevailing 5-2 over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.† Junior Jessica Barksdale came on in relief for Butler in middle of the second inning, and did not allow a hit the rest of the way as she shut down the Islanders the rest of the way.

Nicholls will be back in action when they travel to Louisiana-Lafayette this Wednesday for a mid-week clash with the Cajuns.† The doubleheader game times are set for 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Bourgeois, Dockrey place first at Ty Terrell Relays

Sophomore Leslie Bourgeois and freshman Chelsea Dockrey took first place honors in each of their respective events to lead the Colonels at Lamar’s 46th Annual Ty Terrell Relays, Thursday evening.

Bourgeois’ toss of 43.56 meters placed her first in the javelin, while Dockrey had a high jump of 1.63 meters.

The Nicholls hurdlers had record setting days as Rahjanaye Bailey, Dominique Harris and Jarina Guilbeau each set personal bests for their times in the 100-meter hurdles. Bailey’s time of 14.91 moved her into the top spot on the Colonels’ all-time list, while Harris moved into second place overall with a time of 15.15. Guilbeau sits in fourth place all-time with a run of 15.32. Harris also set a personal best with a high jump of 1.53 meters.

Eunice Jepkogei was another Colonel who placed her name in the Nicholls record books, as her time of 11:10.27 in the 3000-meter run placed her second in the event and fifth on the all-time list.

Other results included: Lauren Bazunu (100-meter dash, 13.00, eighth; 200-meter dash, 26.74, fourth); Latasha Bishop (200-meter dash, 26.87, fifth; 400-meter dash, 1:05.99, fifth); Harris (200-meter dash, 27.26, seventh); Nicoya Hutcherson (200-meter dash, 28.64, eighth); Michaela Guidry (3000-meter run, 11:19.85, third); Charlotte Everhardt (3000-meter run, 11:45.18, fourth); Bailey (400-meter hurdles, 1:08.33, third) and Guilbeau (400-meter hurdles, 1:10.37, fourth).

The Colonels return to action on May 4-6 when they participate in the Southland Conference Championships in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Football vs South Dakota State Jackrabbits at John L. Guidry Stadium. NSU lost 24-17.Photo by Doug Keese/Nicholls State9/23/06

Doug Keese