Sports – Page 15 – The Transcript

A Q&A with Gary Brodek

Sophomore defensive end Gary Brodek. Photo: battlingbishops.com

After losing to Hiram College this weekend, Ohio Wesleyan’s football team is sitting 4-3. Although the defense has allowed 3 opponents to score thirty or more points, there have still been some defensive standouts.

Sophmore Gary Brodek is third in the NCAC in sacks (5.5) and fourth in tackles for a loss (10). Brodek is on track to bring home All-NCAC honors in his first season as a full starter.

The Transcript: How has Definsive-line coach Keith Rucker helped you be successful this season?

Gary Brodek: Coach Rucker has helped me understand the overall concept of our defense better. By spending multiple days a week watching practice and game film and being able to visually see mistakes and how to correct them.

T: What’s the first step to stopping Wittenberg’s offense?

GB: I think the first step to beating Wittenberg’s offensive is just coming out and being a more physical team and playing relentless owu defense like we have played in the past. We can use our athleticism to our advantage and get pressure on the QB, and force him to make mistakes.

T: What would it mean to be named all NCAC at the end of the season?

GB: Being named all NCAC at the end of the season would be a huge on honor. It would show all the hard work I have put into this off season at 6am lifting and spring ball has really paid off.

Words from the wise: Q&A with coach Jay Martin

OWU men's soccer coach Jay Martin. Photo: battlingbishops.com — Men’s soccer head coach Jay Martin. Photo: battlingbishops.com

As the winningest coach in collegiate soccer history (654), Jay Martin has certainly been able piece together a talented roster in each of his 37 years at OWU. After earning a seventh straight NCAC title against Hiram on Nov. 1, the team will host the NCAC tournament beginning Nov. 12 against DePauw University.

The Transcript: How have you been able to get the most out of your players for so long?

Jay Martin: Motivation is an all season long task. We work on the idea of intrinsic motivation and the guys must be accountable for their play. So, I haven’t really done anything. The players have done it all.

T: What is that is making the team so successful right now?

JM: The players. We have good players. It took a litlle time for the team too come together, but once the kinks were worked out we started playing well. We have good players, but their role changed from a role player on the team to a main player on the team. It took a little while too get there.

T: What do you guys have to do correctly to make a NCAA tournament run?

JM: The first thing we need to do is get into the tournament. That is why these NCAC games are important. The teams that can focus on today and not on the trophy are the teams that move on.

Swimmers prepare for NCAC meet

The men’s and women’s Ohio Wesleyan University swim teams have started their season with grueling early morning workouts and demanding weeks that include 15 hours of practice time.

Both the teams have started off their season 1-1 and are looking to get their first NCAC win this Saturday when they travel to Wittenberg.

Coach Dick Hawes said the team is gearing up for the season by focusing on the more minor, but still crucial, elements of swimming, like stroke technique, flip turns, starts and muscle conditioning.

“The start of our season focuses on kicking to get the larger muscle groups in shape and cut down on shoulder problems.” Hawes said.

“We have performed well with how tired they are at this point of the season.”

“We have been focusing on our turns and coming off our walls.”

Junior Andy Cumston said he is not phased by the early workouts or long practice hours as they are beneficial preparation.

“Morning practices help with building up our yardage for the drop at the end of the season.” Cumston said.

“It’s vital to stay energized by eating healthy, but also by making sure you are getting enough of your key nutrients and protein to help your body stay healthy so it can be ready for the next practice.”

Last year the women finished 8th in the conference and the men finished 6th. The NCAC has been known to be perhaps the strongest conference in Division III swimming.

Kenyon College, one of OWU’s biggest NCAC rivals, has won the NCAA National Championship 33 times out of the last 35 years.

Despite the tough competition, the teams believe in themselves to get better and improve on last season’s mark.

“The team feels confident in our abilities that we can focus on what we need to improve and become a stronger team.” Cumston said.

“It’s important to not swim against the other teams but to improve on your own personal times at each meet and to support your teammates.”

Racking up miles, merits

headshot_2_Sotos — Freshman John Sotos. Photo: battlingbishops.com

Freshman garners Division III newcomer honors

Ohio Wesleyan cross country team, led by sophomore John Sotos, finished 13^th out of 43 teams at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship on October 3^rd.

Sotos finished 27^th overall and received Division III Newcomer of the Year for his efforts on the course.

The Transcript: What does it mean to you receiving the award for D3 newcomer of the year?

Sotos: Receiving the Division III Newcomer award was a pretty special award to receive. To me, it’s just a reminder of all the miles I have put in and how it’s starting to pay off.

The Transcript: How was the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship for you individually and as a team?

Sotos: Individually the All-Ohio race went pretty well. I ran a personal record and ran my own race and didn’t let the fast pace from the gun get to my head. More importantly, as a team, this race shows how dangerous of a team we can be if all of the runners click on the same day, especially our number 3, 4, and 5 runners (Nathan Madonich, Kevin Ford, Landon Erb), who are without a doubt the three most dedicated guys on the team, are ready to drop some pretty fast times.

The Transcript: How did everyone feel after finishing 13th out of 43 teams?

Sotos: Everyone was pretty thrilled to finish 13th in the state of ohio, especially because the race contained some outstanding competition from the Division I and II schools in addition to the Division III schools. We were right in the mix with the other Division III schools in our region, and look forward to beating those teams later in the season.

The Transcript: How do you as an individual continue to improve after so much success already?

Sotos: The success only hungers me for more. My favorite kind of success isn’t from the individual standpoint, but rather the success of a team and taking this team to new heights, and this OWU cross country team has a lot coming in the near future.

Coach aims for another NCAC title

headshot_2_Watts,_Tom-2012_72 — Head football coach Tom Watts. Photo: battlingbishops.com

Ohio Wesleyan’s football team has a great shot at regaining the NCAC crown with four games remaining and a record of 3-2 in the conference. We were able to go inside the huddle during a Q&A session with Coach Tom Watts.

The Transcript: How will you guys bounce back after the defeat against Wabash?

Watts: We will find out Saturday verse DePauw. We have had a great week of preparation and are excited to go back out and compete.

The Transcript: Which aspect of the team’s game do you look to improve in the last four games of the season?

Watts: We need to get better in all three phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. We have great kids who are working hard. We need to pay attention to the fine details that help you win a four quarter game.

The Transcript: What does the team have to do to compete for the NCAC title?

Watts: We need to control what we can control and not worry or pay attention to anything else. Our motto is “Win The Day,” and that is our focus everyday.

Packed like sardines: Athletes makes gym relocation work despite small space

The weight room located in Edwards Gym had been moved to a basement level garage in Hamilton Williams Campus Center due to construction, but coaches say they’ve made the most of the switch.

When construction for the Simpson-Querrey Fitness Center began this summer many of the rooms and offices in Edwards were closed off, including the weight room.

“We made the best situation out of a bad situation,” said Tom Watts, the head football coach.

The weight room needed to be moved because some demolition had to occur to install new plumbing, according to Peter Schantz, the director of physical plant for Buildings and Grounds.

The garage in HWCC seemed to be the only workable location that had enough space for the majority of the equipment to be transferred over. The space was originally used for snow equipment and salt storage Schantz said.

The Mailroom and dining services still have access to the area as well. Most of the equipment is in the center of the space and along one wall. The other side of the room is separated by fencing and is a storage area for the Mailroom and Chartwell’s.

“The important thing to remember is that this is a temporary renovation until we get back into the full swing of things,” said Seth McGuffin, track and field assistant coach. “One of the things I love about Ohio Wesleyan is that we were all able to come together as a group and make sure we could move forward with this and not put anybody out.”

Both coaches said there has been no problem coordinating with different teams on when the space is available, even though it is half the size of original room in Edwards.

Because of the smaller size not all of the equipment was moved over, such as the cardio machines, said McGuffin. Instead, they often use the machines already in the Belt Fitness Center located in Welch Hall.

Watts said everything will be moved back into Edwards after the renovations are complete. The weight room had just been redone in August 2012 due to a donation by Bob and Barbara Morrill.

Cross country seeks NCAC championship

Members of the men's cross country team running at the Denison Invitational. — Members of the men’s cross country team running at the Denison Invitational. Photo by Jason Miller for battlingbishops.com

The North Coast Athletic Conference championship held on Nov. 1 in Granville, Ohio will be a great opportunity for the Ohio Wesleyan cross country team to prove their excellence.

The conference championship is the focal point of the season, It’s what everyone has been training for.

Head coach Matter Wackerly thinks the runners are prepared to showcase their talent this Saturday. “Their training really started in June, and has progressed gradually from there. Now, we are reducing the volume and intensity a bit as we prepare for the championship portion of the season.” Wackerly said.

In order to qualify for the All-NCAC team, runners must finish in the top seven at the event. “I think that John Sotos and Zak Geiger can both be first team all NCAC,” Wackerly said. “For the women, I think that Sarah Fowler, Abbey Warth and Kaillie Winston could compete to earn that honor.”

Freshman John Sotos was named DIII Newcomer of the Year at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championship on Oct. 10. The award has motivated him and his teammates to keep pushing for more recognition. “A good result at the conference meet would be a big confidence booster for us heading into the regional meet,” Sotos said.

The team is confident of their abilities and are motivated to get a good result this Saturday. “Everyone is excited and ready to show the other teams in our conference what we are made of,” Sotos said.

Ohio Wesleyan has yet to win at the NCAC championship and only has had one individual winner since 1989, Cara DeAngelis in 2011. The women finished second last year while the men finished third in 2012.

“It is the opportunity to represent your team and your school in the best possible manner,” Wackerly said.

Field hockey shuts out Bethany 2-0

The Ohio Wesleyan Field Hockey team recorded a 2-0 shutout victory this Sunday over the Bethany College Bison. Junior forward Karson Stevenson netted her first collegiate goal to give the Bishops the lead, and sophomore midfielder Cheyenne Gibbons gave final numbers to the game.

It was a hard fought game from the beginning. The first 15 minutes were played in the middle of the field, with defenders getting the best of forwards and ball carriers.

The first scoring chance for either team came halfway through the first half, in the 17^th minute. Gibbons received the ball in the goalie box and had two shots, both saved Bison junior goalkeeper Courtney Snyder.

Snyder’s efforts would be short lived, however. In the ensuing corner, Gibbons received a pass from sophomore forward Montana Knapp and passed it across the goal, where Stevenson tapped it in to put the Bishops in the lead.

Five minutes later, Bethany had their first clear scoring chance to score after a corner, as freshman goalie Jackie Feliciano had two big saves to keep the Bishop’s lead.

Ohio Wesleyan managed to keep the lead into halftime, despite playing with one less player for the last 3 minutes of the half, and sophomore midfielder Haley Savoie sitting out for a yellow card.

In the second half, the Bishops came out hard. Five minutes in, a shot by junior midfielder Venessa Menery was saved once again by the Bison goalie.

At the 20^th minute mark, the Bishops began a flurry of attacks, which resulted in five corners in a row. Freshman defender Paige Haenig, Knapp, and Savoie all had shots saved by Snyder or cleared off the line by Bison defenders.

The Bishops kept pressuring Bethany College and on another corner on the 16^th minute, Knapp hit a shot into the net, only to see it get called back by the referee. The score remained 1-0 for the Bishops.

With 10 minutes to go in the game, OWU finally got their second goal. Menerey beat two defenders down the right side and crossed it for Gibbons, who simply had to put it in the goal. The lead was now at a comfortable 2-0.

The Bishops had a couple more chances with Haenig, and kept possession to keep the Bethany College forwards under control. With 25 seconds left on the clock, freshman defender Addy Boyles had a clearance off the line to keep the Bishop shutout.

With the victory, the Ohio Wesleyan Field Hockey team is now 5-7. They face Wooster for a conference matchup at Selby Stadium on Thursday, October 9^th.

Garwood makes invitational final

After winning five straight matches, including two monumental comebacks, freshman Elliot Garwood made it to the finals of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s invitational on Sept. 28, an unheard of result for an Ohio Wesleyan tennis player.

Garwood won his first two matches in straight sets, beating his opponents 6-3 6-2 and 6-0 6-1. The rounds that followed, however, did not go exactly as planned.

“I knew that I would have to face adversity heading into the tournament as every tournament almost always has something unexpected to offer,” Garwood said.

He found himself behind after dropping the first set in his third round matchup.

Garwood rallied and came back to win the second set 6-2 and third set tiebreak 10-6 to win the match.

Later in the day he was again trailing, but this time with an even bigger mountain to climb.

Down 6-1 5-0 and with a match point against, his odds of coming back were slim, to say the least. “(My opponent) had a match point but I managed to rally and come back to win that game along with the next game which made the scoreline 5-2,” Garwood said.

“Then my opponent started to cramp in the legs which changed the entire complexity of the match and ultimately enabled me to win the second set 7-5 and the third set tiebreak 10-4.”

Garwood regained his energy the next day to get a 6-1 6-4 result in the semis to send him straight through to the finals. “Elliot made it all the way to the finals of his draw. It was an unprecedented performance by a men’s tennis player at OWU,” Head Coach Tom Drabczyk said. “Elliot is one of many freshman that look to contribute a lot this year. We are projecting starting one sophomore and potentially five freshman in singles.”

Although losing in the finals, Garwood is excited with the way he played and overall glad to be a part of the OWU tennis program: “We look to build the tennis program through continuous work ethic and a willingness to get better each and every day. This is a great team that doesn’t care who gets the recognition, but just wants to win,” he said.

A Q&A with Brianna LaCroix

OWU women’s volleyball is curently sitting 2-2 in NCAC play 12-5 overall. First-year head coach Kirsta Cobb has the team playing on a different level. Freshman Brianna LaCroix is part of the reason, with her team-leading 166 kills.

The Transcript: How has your experience at OWU and with the team as a freshman been so far?

Brianna La Croix: My experience at OWU has been amazing so far. The transition from a California girl to Mid West girl has been easier then I thought. My volleyball family has made everything a lot easier with how supportive they have been through the process of being a student athlete.

T: What is that is making you guys so successful right now?

BL: I believe that everyday in practice we strive to attain our team goal which is to inspire each other on and off the court, be a close knit family, and trying to achieve our overall goal of being a new and improved volleyball program. Coming from my position I believe that we all share a connection with one another, which pushes us to work hard for one another to be one unit.

T: What has Coach Cobb done to help the team to this point?

BL: Coach Cobb has turned the OWU Volleyball program around and her work ethnic has rubbed off on us to continue to prove that we are becoming a force to be reckoned with.