Mansfield High sophomore swimming sensation Erica DeMunbrun, representing the Tsunami Swim Club of the Attleboro YMCA, returned from the YMCA Nationals at the International Hall of Fame in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. with some impressive showings and times.

Amidst 1,600 entries (13 years in age through high school seniors) competing in outdoor pools, DeMunbrun finished 10th in the 200 butterfly (2:03.28) and 11th in the 100 butterfly (56.38 seconds). Under the guidance of North Attleboro High swim coach and Tsunami director Tim Kelly, DeMunbrun also clocked a 58.39 in the 100 backstroke (37th), a 2:10.08 in the 200 IM (59th) and a 2:07.88 in the 200 backstroke (47th). The MIAA State Meet champion in the 100 butterfly as a freshman, DeMunbrun has qualified for the Senior Nationals in December, while also to be taking part in the New England Long Course Championships in the late spring, early summer at Harvard and MIT.

- At the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Track and Field Meet in Florida, former Mansfield High distance runner Ryan Collins, a sophomore at the University of Virginia, captured second place in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. The Cavalier followed that up by clocking the third-fastest time (13:55) in Virginia history in a 5-kilometer race at Stanford University.

- Former Bishop Feehan High soccer great Jen Leaverton scored a team-best four goals as the St. John's women's soccer team had a successful spring 2009 campaign, posting five shutout victories in seven matches. "A lot of individual players made big improvements," said Red Storm coach Ian Stone, citing the freshman striker, one of nine Red Storm players to score goals, 17 in the seven matches.

- Two former area softball stars were selected to the All-MASCAC Team. Framingham State freshman shortstop Kristy Ulak, via Dighton-Rehoboth High, batted a team-best .370 with 47 hits, a .495 slugging percentage and 21 RBI and Bridgewater State sophomore DH Heather McPherson, via Mansfield High, batted at a .370 rate with 18 runs scored, 11 RBI and six stolen bases. - "Not only does she have all the shots, she knows shot selection," boasted King Philip High girls' tennis coach Bob Goldberg of the Warriors' No. 2 singles player Sarah Shipley. "She's just one tough player, she's unbelievable."

- And one of Goldberg's proteges, Becky Bullock, a senior graduate from UMass-Dartmouth in January, is the No. 2 singles player for the NCAA Tournament-bound and Little East Conference champion Corsairs.

- Former Bishop Feehan Shamrock and Holy Cross College outfielder Bill Cupelo was named second team All-Patriot League team. In 41 games, Cupelo was the Crusaders' No. 3 hitter (.305) with 18 runs scored and 16 RBI. He has 39 hits and has committed just three errors for a .956 fielding percentage.

- One of the real pleasant surprises for Kelsey Klenk's up-and-coming Norton High girls' spring track team has been sprinter-jumper Allison Lynch. Another is John Sicard, a sprinter-jumper as well for the Lancers and son of former Norton High great Dave Sicard.

- After spending her freshman year at Bishop Feehan High, Victoria Barry transferred to her hometown Seekonk High and has been fast-footing it in both the 100 and 200 sprints and jumps.

- "He's got to be the biggest triple jumper we've ever had," related North Attleboro High boys' spring track coach Derek Herber of heavyweight wrestler Ray Sturdy, a four-year veteran at the event, ready to crack the 40-foot mark. "Give him credit, he works at it with assistant coach Scott Holster."

- "He has played extremely well for us defensively," related Norton High baseball Ted Currle of junior second baseman Scott Fraatz, who had just one error through the first dozen games of the season, while also waving an active bat in the No. 6 spot of the order.

- The South Attleboro American Legion Post 312 had some 50 candidates show up for its first tryout session last weekend for its "senior" and "junior" teams. Another session is set for Sunday afternoon at Bishop Feehan.

- Ned Scaduto of Southeastern Regional High was not rehired as the head football coach despite winning back-to-back Super Bowls in 2004 and 2005, Superintendent Luis Lopes said the school would be "going in a different direction." ...

- Former Norton High Lancer Sarah Spaziano was named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference all-star softball team in representing Endicott College (34-7). Spaziano, a second baseman, combined with the Gulls' shortstop Jenna Lazar to hit .425 and score 55 runs and drive in 38 runs, with a .593 slugging percentage. - At the Bryant University spring football game, former Bishop Feehan High Shamrock quarterback Mike McGowan took most of the reps with the first-team offense, while the standout offensive lineman was another Shamrock, Peter Krafka. Up at Dartmouth College, ex-Shamrock running back Nick Schwieger may be the Big Green's No. 1 running back in the fall according to coach Buddy Teevens. The 205-pound Schwieger won the Big Green's "weight room" award with a bench press of 350 pounds, a squat of 525 and a clean of 325.

- Former Bishop Feehan High distance runner Emily Thomas of Foxboro helped the UMass-Lowell women's spring track team win the Northeast-10 Conference title by winning the 5,000-meter run (18:40) on her home track.

PETER GOBIS may be contacted at 508-236-0375 or via e-mail at pgobis@thesunchronicle.com