Wright State’s Welch named Horizon League Player of the Year

Fairmont grad led the league in scoring this season

Wright State senior Chelsea Welch has been named the Horizon League Player of the Year, while junior guard Emily Vogelpohl is on the all-defensive team.

In voting done by conference coaches, Welch becomes the fourth Wright State player since 2014 to win the league’s top award, joining Kim Demmings (2014, 2016) and Tayler Mingo (2015).

›› RELATED: WSU baseball wins weekend series against nationally ranked team

A Fairmont High School graduate, Welch led the league in scoring, averaging 21.6 points in conference games. She also ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (2.3), second in minutes (35.6), third in assists (4.5), third in free throw percentage (.816), sixth in steals (2.2) and eighth in field goal percentage (.425).

“Chelsea has been a consistent force for us on both ends of the floor this year,” Wright State coach Katrina Merriweather said. “She is an amazing competitor who takes pride in delivering for her team. We are happy that her hard work has been acknowledged by voters.”

Follow Jay Morrison on Twitter

Welch, who voted first team all-league last year, scored in double figures in all 30 games this season with her career-high 36 points coming at No. 23 Missouri early in the season. It was one of 18 games in which she topped 20 points.

For Vogelpohl, this is her first appearance on the all-defensive team. She recorded 76 steals to rank second in the league with a 2.5 average. She also was 11th in rebounding (6.6).

“Emily plays with an extreme amount of heart and hustle,” Merriweather said. “We are elated that others have recognized the impact she has for our own team on the defensive end. This honor is very well deserved.

I am confident that I speak for both of them when I say neither of them would have received this recognition without the support of their teammates,” she added. “We are all very proud of their accomplishment.”

Wright State opens Horizon League tournament play Sunday at noon as the No. 3 seed. The Raiders will take on No. 6 Cleveland State at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.

Like Jay Morrison on Facebook

About the Author