College notebook: Thompson leading Washington University in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Last season was a dream season for former Elida standout Aaron Thompson.

Thompson was a starting guard for the Washington University (St. Louis) men's basketball team that won the NCAA Division III title in 2007-08.

So far this season, the Bears (2-0) are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and Thompson is a big reason why they are labeled the best in the nation.

Thompson, a 6-foot-4 junior, is leading the team in scoring, averaging 20.5 points per game. He is shooting 52 percent from the field, including 44 percent behind the 3-point line.

Thompson was recently awarded the University Athletic Association Athlete of the Week. He was picked the most valuable player of the Colorado College Tip-Off Classic (Nov. 15-16) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Thompson said this year's team is up for the challenge of making a return trip to the national finals.

"With having four players back and having our All-American guard (Sean Wallis) back, I feel like we have a good chance of getting back there," Thompson said.

Last season, in week three, Wallis went down with a season-ending injuring.

Washington University in St. Louis is in the same position they were at the start of last season. Thompson said his team has fed off the pressure of being ranked No. 1.

"I think with us being ranked No. 1 in preseason last year ... that helps us knowing that we were able to win it last year with having a target on our back," he said.

BELLMAN OFF TO STRONG START: University of Cincinnati junior Shelly Bellman (Ottawa-Glandorf) made her return to the basketball court for the women's basketball team by tying her career-high six 3-pointers in UC's 66-59 opening-season win over the University of Detroit.

Bellman led the Bearcats with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists in her first regular-season game since March 3, 2007. She missed last season with a knee injury.

JOE HORN SECOND IN GLIAC: Joe Horn (Waynesfield), a sophomore wide receiver on the Ashland University football team was recently named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Second Team.

Horn is currently second in receiving yards in the GLIAC. Horn has 65 receptions for 1047 yards in 10 games. His 65 receptions ranks fourth in the GLIAC. Horn is ninth in the conference in all-purpose yards with 1,305.

Ashland is 9-3 overall and 8-2 in the conference.

MORSE AT LE MOYNE: Le Moyne College senior Brandon Morse (Shawnee) was recently named to the 2008 Daktronics men's soccer East Region Second Team.

Morse was also a Northeast-10 Conference First Team selection.

In 20 games this season, Morse recorded a career-high 16 points on six goals and four assists from his central midfielder position. This past season, Morse recorded three game-winning goals.

Morse is the all-time leading goal scorer at Shawnee High School.

Le Moyne College is an NCAA Division II school located in Syracuse, N.Y.