Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

9/13/2007
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC athletes earn conference player of the week honors

Kyle Clayton

Megan Brown

Sydney Pemberton

Jackie Swab

Alex Troncosco

Christa Heideman

Rachelle Luster

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- In the first few weeks of the 2007 fall sports season, several Johnson County Community College athlete have been honored as Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Players of the Week.  

JCCC sophomore Christa Heideman of the women’s cross country team, earned honors in back-to-back weeks, posting individual victories at the Maple Leaf Invitational and the Cavalier Cup.  Heideman  a nine-time All-American as a freshman.

JCCC sophomore Alex Troncoso of the men’s cross country team earned his honor in week after he led JCCC to a runner-up finish at the Baker University Maple Leaf Invitational, placing fifth overall in the 5k race. His time of 16:21.44 ranks as the 14th-best performance in JCCC history.

Sophomore All-American Rachelle Luster of the women’s soccer team was honored in the first week after she scored seven goals and had four assists in JCCC wins over Coffeyville (8/29), College of DuPage (8/31) and Oakton (9/2). During that span, she also took over the top spot all-time at JCCC in career points (128), goals (44) and assists (40).

The next week, sophomore goalkeeper Megan Brown earned the honor after helping JCCC post a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Iowa Western, and 1-1 double overtime tie against No. 10 Illinois Central. Against Iowa Western Brown recorded 10 saves, and against Illinois Central she stopped a career-best 16 shots. Both goals she allowed were on penalty kicks. She ranks among the top goalkeepers in the NJCAA this season

On the men’s side, JCCC freshman goalkeeper Kyle Clayton was a player of the week recipient following his solid play in the net last weekend.  He stopped 11 of 13 shots he faced in a pair of 1-0 losses to Iowa Western and Illinois Central last weekend. His play in the net kept the Cavaliers in the match.

Two volleyball players have been honored in back-to-back weeks. Sophomore hitter Jackie Swab had 61 kills and a .598 average during the FCC-Jacksonville Tournament.  She was voted to the All-Tournament Team.   This week, freshman Sydney Pemberton was honored after she had 58 kills in five matches, leading the Cavaliers to a 3-2 mark last week.