Maple Leaf Women’s Basketball Welcomes Three For 2018-19
Brandeberry, Chapman, Cockerham join 11 returners for GC’s 54th women’s basketball season
GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen College women’s basketball coach Stephanie Miller and the Maple Leafs announced a trio of incoming players on Tuesday, some 74 days before the season opener.
The group comprises players from three states, with Hoosier forward-center Taniece Chapman joining guard-forward Emily Brandeberry of Ohio and Graysen Cockerham of Michigan.
Profiles of all three players are below in alphabetical order.
Emily Brandeberry
5’8″ Guard/Forward
Maumee, Ohio / Anthony Wayne HS
Brandeberry graduated magna cum laude from Anthony Wayne High School and claimed her team’s Anthony Wayne Award for hard work and leadership while leading the Generals to a regional championship. She earned all-district academic recognition and was a National Honor Society member while winning three scholastic awards and a trifecta of perfect-attendance citations.
The daughter of Bruce and Nancy Brandeberry and sister of Josh, Emily was also part of Anthony Wayne’s marching band and plans to study biology at Goshen.
“I chose Goshen because of its welcoming family environment, reasonable distance from home and strong biology department,” Brandeberry said. “I am excited about playing for a great program and coaching staff with friendly teammates that are fun to be around.”
Brandeberry sports a black belt in karate, but would elect to sing in a talent show.
Taniece Chapman
5’10” Forward/Center
Fort Wayne, Ind. / South Side HS
Chapman comes to Goshen after scoring more than 1,000 points in a high-school career that saw her claim all-Summit Athletic Conference honors four times, including three appearances on the first team. She was named MVP three times and Player of the Week four times.
Chapman, who graduated with an Academic Honors Diploma and was on the honor roll, becomes the third Archer to sign with Goshen in the last six seasons, joining forward Jo’Mani Thomas (2012-16) and guard Lynnia Noel (2013-17). She is the daughter of Caran Chapman and Roniece Woodson and the sister of Alaya, Carmelo, Carina, Caran Jr. and Kia. Taniece intends to study nursing at GC.
“I chose Goshen College because of how diverse it was and because the nursing program is so good!,” Chapman said.
Chapman would rap in a talent show.
Graysen Cockerham
5’9″ Guard/Forward
Brighton, Michigan / Hartland HS
A first-team all-KLAA selection in all four seasons of high school, Cockerham was chosen second-team all-Livingston County after her freshman season and first-team all-county after the following three years. She was honorable-mention all-state twice, claimed county player of the week honors twice and was the State Bank Athlete of the Week on three occasions.
Cockerham, the daughter of Nathan and Gio Cockerham and sister of Cameron Ritchey, plans to major in sport management and minor in marketing.
“Becoming a student-athlete at Goshen was an easy decision for me because it truly feels like my home away from home already,” Cockerham said. “From the first time I stepped foot on campus, everyone at GC has been so welcoming and I love how family-oriented and diverse it is. I’m most excited about playing for the GC program because it gives me the chance to be a part of something bigger than myself. Our program has had huge success in the past; however, we are in a rebuilding period right now and I can’t wait to contribute to the reestablishment.”
Cockerham says she would select singing as her talent in a talent show, although she is prepared for her friends and family to disagree with this assertion.
The Maple Leafs will begin their 54th season of varsity intercollegiate women’s basketball in October, continuing a tradition of athletic opportunities for women that pre-dates federal Title IX legislation by most of a decade. The team’s schedule, which begins with a visit to Holy Cross on Oct. 27, will be announced later this month.
Goshen College is an affordable, nationally-ranked Christian liberal arts college in Northern Indiana known for leadership in intercultural and international education, sustainability and social justice.
