Author: Graham Lucas

Women’s basketball team chases NCAC tourney bid

The women’s basketball team defeated Kenyon 71-54 in their game on Feb. 8. The win marks their fourth straight to make their record 14-8 overall, 9-4 in conference.

The team hasn’t done this well since the 2009-2010 season before the hiring of head coach Stacey Ungashick Lobdell, when they went 20-7 overall.

Sophomore Emily Julius said their depth on the bench has been the key to their successful season.

“The key to winning and becoming second in the NCAC is the depth of our team,” she said. “Every single member of our team has the ability, focus, and determination to really make something happen when they step on the court.”

The Lady Bishops are currently sitting in second place in the NCAC behind undefeated DePauw who is also ranked No. 1 in D-III women’s basketball.

The team has also managed to rank second in the NCAC in both field goal percentage and three-point percentage, 43 percent and 39 percent respectively.

Junior Sarah McQuade is averaging 3.7 assist per game, good enough for second in the NCAC. McQuade said getting her teammates involved is her main goal.

“I enjoy getting my teammates involved and they’ve been finishing a ton of shots too. My goal is to try and get them in the best possible situation to score.”

According to junior Caroline Welker, one of the reasons for the team’s success is each player’s intense devotion to her teammates regardless of circumstance.

Earlier this season, Welker was hit by a Delaware Police Department squad car in the early morning hours of Nov. 28. Even with the accident-taking place five days before the opening conference game, Welker said her teammates were always there for her.

“During my accident my teammates were extremely supportive” she said. “They came to visit me, and checked in with me often to see how I was doing. They all wrote my number on their shoes and they left a spot for me on the bench with my jersey every game I missed. All of their support was extremely helpful to my recovery.”

Welker also said the road to success has been long, but her and her teammates have become stronger through it all.

Sizing up the Super Bowl: Ohio Wesleyan coach and QB weigh in

Keith Rucker, special teams coordinator for Ohio Wesleyan’s football team, played seven seasons in the NFL.

Rucker said the Super Bowl is a once in a career type of opportunity, one he never had, but analyzed the results of this year’s match.

More than 111 million viewers watched the Seattle Seahawks demolish the Denver Broncos 43-8 on Feb. 2 in the 48th Super Bowl at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

“Mental preparation for the Super Bowl is intensified and magnified by an unthinkable amount, in comparison to a regular season game,” Rucker said.

“First, there may not be another chance for most of those guys, especially if they are older players or free agents at the end of this year. Secondly, the entire world is watching as you have the opportunity to become the world champs.”

According to bleacherreport.com, the event set the record as the most-watched television show in United States history, while also producing the largest margin of victory in a Super Bowl in 21 years.

Bishops’ former quarterback, senior Mason Espinosa, said the Seahawks’ defense slowed Bronco’s quarterback Peyton Manning’s passing attack.

“The pass rush of the Seahawks didn’t necessarily sack Manning a lot but they were extremely disruptive,” Espinosa said.

“Manning’s timing was thrown off which allowed the Seahawks’ secondary to 0be really aggressive because they were never worried about getting beat deep. That, in combination with the length and height of the Seahawks’ secondary, the Broncos could not complete a pass thrown over 10 or 12 yards.”

Coincidentally, this Super Bowl match-up featured teams in two states, Colorado and Washington, where recreational marijuana use is legal.

The game also featured a clash between the Broncos’ No. 1 offense and the Seahawks’ 0No. 1 of the regular season.

Rucker said the Broncos will be back for more next season.

“I would think that a lot of the Broncos are feeling like they have something to prove next season and will try to get back there next year,” Rucker said.

“I’m sure the entire team was thoroughly embarrassed.”

Bishops lacrosse captain to go pro with Ohio Machine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_RZpXM6aIc

Ohio Wesleyan senior midfielder Spencer Schnell’s dream of playing professional lacrosse was realized when he was drafted by Major League Lacrosse’s Ohio Machine on Jan. 10.

Schnell said being drafted as the first pick of the eighth round and 57th overall was a humbling experience.

“I was very excited to hear I had gotten drafted, as was my family,” he said. “It had always been a goal of mine throughout my playing career, and it’s very humbling to be mentioned alongside some of the best players in the country.”

Schnell was a 2013 first team All-American and second team All-NCAC selection who totaled 28 goals and 14 assists.

Ohio Machine Coach Bear Davis said Schnell is a strong athlete who has the ability to add depth at multiple positions.

The Machine’s 2-12 record in 2013 got them the first overall pick, used on Princeton senior Tom Schreiber. Syracuse University senior Scott Loy, who was taken 27th overall, is also an Ohio native. Davis said Ohio is producing quality lacrosse players.

“We take great pride in researching all available players from the great state of Ohio,” he said. “Spencer and Scott both came highly recommended, and the fact that they hail from the buckeye state is a major bonus.”

Last April, Schnell’s older sister Sloan died in a fire at Dublin apartment. The death came at hectic time for the Schnells, as Spencer prepared for the lacrosse team’s last four NCAC games that would decide tournament qualifications. Schnell said last season was in tribute to Sloan.

“(It) was very tough on me, but I was able to use lacrosse as kind of an escape,” he said. “For a few hours a day, lacrosse is the only thing on my mind. She was always incredibly supportive of my career, so it’s added some extra motivation for me to work hard.”

Currently, Schnell’s main priority is the Bishops’ upcoming season. The lacrosse program lost six seniors last year, four of whom were All-NCAC selections. One of the three current seniors, Stephen Coyne, said Coach Mike Plantholt has been developing a winning formula for the team and the players individually since his hiring.

“Coach Plantholt has been great over the past few years,” Coyne said. “He helped me accelerate my game as a freshman when I needed to step up, and he has continued to develop me as a player and as a person.”

The Bishops went 13-6 overall last season, earning a 6-1 record in the NCAC and winning the championship. The team lost in the first round of the NCAA D-III lacrosse tournament. Junior Tommy Minkler said the team has been preparing to repeat as NCAC champions.

“We have the potential to be a very dangerous team with a lot of threats on both ends of the field,” he said. “Our offense is forming great chemistry and some younger guys are really stepping up. “

Schnell will look to cap off a successful career by avenging their first round loss in the NCAA tournament. The team begins their season at Mount St. Joseph Feb. 19.