By Dylan Butler
It’s been the site of the two biggest losses of his college career, but former St. John’s men’s soccer star Chris Wingert will call Columbus Crew Stadium home after the Crew selected the defender 12th overall in the MLS SuperDraft Friday.
“I am really happy to be heading to Columbus,” Wingert said. “I know some of the guys on the team already in Kyle Martino and Edson Buddle, and I am just looking to come in to preseason camp and compete for playing time.”
It was a bit surprising that Wingert was picked so low — he was the second pick of the second round — one week after winning the Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s version of the Heisman.
But six of the 10 first-round picks were Project-40 players, part of the MLS’ developmental program, and two others were youth internationals. Neither those players nor their salaries count against a team’s active roster, making them more attractive choices for MLS general managers.
“We are thrilled to have him available with the 12th pick,” said Columbus coach Greg Andrulis. “He’s incredibly talented and we love his versatility. He can play all four positions in the back, and he is a proven winner. His credentials speak for themselves.”
Wingert, the second defender picked by the Crew — Columbus selected Stanford’s Chad Marshall second overall behind 14-year-old phenom Freddy Adu — wasn’t in Charlotte, N.C. for the announcement.
He is in California with the United States Under-23 national team preparing for the Confederation of North, Central American Caribbean Association Football Olympic qualifying tournament, which will be held from Feb. 2 through Feb. 12 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Men’s basketball
C.W. Post 75, Queens College 59. Johnny Sikiric had 15 points and Rob Villanueva added 10 points for Queens Saturday night at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Neville Storer scored a game-high 18 points, Gerry McNair had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Reuben Statam and Justin Cole scored 14 points apiece for C.W. Post, which shot 62.5 percent (15-for-24) in the second half and outrebounded Queens 43-24.
New York Tech 92, Queens College 85. Sikiric had 19 points, freshman Bradd Wierzbicki had 16 points and Gary DeBerry added 12 to move past Stephen Hale and Steve Sikiric into ninth place on the Knights all-time scoring list with 1,130 points Jan. 14.
Michael Smith had 21 points and Patrick Tunstead added 16 for New York Tech, which had six players score in double figures.
Women’s basketball
Rutgers 72, St. John's 47. Kim MacMillan was the lone player to score in double figures for St. John's (7-8, 1-3 Big East), netting 17 points and grabbing six rebounds for the Red Storm Saturday at the Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway, N.J. Dawn McCullough had 17 points and Michelle Campbell had 16 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Scarlet Knights (9-6, 2-2).
After playing at Georgetown in a game scheduled for Wednesday night, the Red Storm host Pittsburgh at Alumni Hall Saturday at 1 p.m.
C.W. Post 59, Queens College 56. Noelle Mitchell hit the game-winning three-pointer for C.W. Post with 2.8 seconds left in the game to cap an 11-0 run. Sheila Jackson had 12 points, Keona Dessau and Danielle Heffel added 11 points apiece, and Thalia Jackson had 10 points for the Pioneers Saturday at Fitzgerald Gymnasium.
Shonda Holder had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, Erin Dollard added 13 points and Erin White had 10 points for Queens, which had its four-game winning streak snapped.
Queens College 73, New York Tech 51. Dollard had a game-high 20 points, Holder had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Katie Brown added 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting for the Lady Knights Jan. 14 at New York Tech. Georgia Gordon had 12 points and Nevena Bellamy added 10 points for New York Tech.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
