The following is one segment of a 10-part series put together by Channel 2 Sports, documenting the top local sports stories of 2012. We'll unveil one story in the countdown each day, concluding with our selection for number one on December 27th.
#9 Sports Story Of 2012: Taylor Rohde Named Division II Player of the Year
With 16 appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, including 5 in the last 7 years, the UAA men's basketball program has long been considered one of the best in the country. Yet for all their success, the Seawolves had never produced a national player of the year. That is, until 2012, when 6'9" senior center Taylor Rohde earned the highest distinction in Division II college basketball. As a senior, Rohde put up season averages of 19 points and 8 rebounds for the 23-7 Seawolves, and scored 30 or more points four times. The tipping point for Rohde might have been his performance in a Division II All-Star game that took place shortly before the voting. Rohde impressed with a double-double. He also set a UAA career record with a field goal percentage of just over 62%.
