By Skye Tulio
Sports Editor
Most of the Bonaventure community knows about the success of the legendary No. 44, Andrew Nicholson. Most recently, Nicholson appeared in last Friday’s NBA All-Star Rookie Challenge about halfway through his first season with the Orlando Magic.
But what about other Bonnies excelling in the world of professional sports? Seems like it’s time for an update on some of the rest of Bonaventure’s greats.
First up is former women’s basketball standout Jessica Jenkins. In September 2012, Jenkins began her professional career with Iceland’s Keflavik Club. The club is a part of Premier Dominos, the top Icelandic league.
Currently, Jenkins is averaging 17.2 points per game, according to eurobasketball.com. Her team holds the number one spot in the league with a record of 19-2. On Feb. 17, the Club defeated league competitor Val, 68-60, and were named the 2013 Powerade Cup Champions. Jenkins scored nine points in the final round of the tournament, and posted a picture on Twitter after the big win clutching two huge gold trophies. The Marion, Ohio native seems to be having a fantastic rookie season thus far.
On the baseball diamond, Jesse Bosnik and Ryan Skellie represent Bona’s. Bosnik is a third baseman on the Great Lake Loons of Midland, Mich.
The Loons are the Class A minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Midwest League. The club drafted Bosnik in the 13th round of the 2010 Major League Amateur Draft on June 8. He began his career with the Ogden Raptors in the South Division of the Pioneer League. Bosnik is the 14th St. Bonaventure player to reach the professional ranks since 1991.
Bosnik batted .239 in a total of 106 games. He had 372 at bats and recorded 89 hits with 44 RBIs. The Loons lost the final game of the season 9-0 to the South Bend Silver Hawks, finishing with an overall record of 67-73.
Skellie signed as an outfielder with the Florence Freedom, an independent professional baseball team in the Frontier League.
Representing Bona’s soccer is Rochester Rhinos defender Tyler Bellamy. The former heart of the Bonnies’ backline signed with the Rhinos in March 2010. He started 23 regular games on the defense and was named Rookie of the Year. In 2011, Bellamy received the community service award for the first time in his career. He played in 26 matches and made 25 starts in 2011 competitions. The Rhinos won the USL PRO National Division Regular Season title in his second year with the club. Unfortunately, the team’s website did not offer anything in terms of a 2012 update.
Former Bona’s point guard Ogo Adegboye and forward Da’Quan Cook both represent the Bonnies on the court. Adegboye signed with APOEL B.C. of the Cypriot 1st Division and Cypriot Cup in Nicosia, Cyprus in September 2011. Cook began his career after signing with BC Yambol in Bulgaria’s National Basketball League in July 2012 following his senior season.
Adegboye’s team, Etha, is currently in second place in the Division A standings with a record of 16-5. Cook, formerly on Bulgaria’s Tundja Yambol team, is now currently a member of France’s Hyeres-Toulon.
Kudos to Andrew, Jess, Jesse, Ryan, Tyler, Ogo and Da’Quan for moving on to the big leagues and making us proud every step of the way.
