Category: Sports

After a 18-19 season last year, the Battling Bishops look to get back to their winning ways.  Expectations are high with the return of key talent to compliment exciting new faces.

“The team has been working hard this offseason, and the guys are hungry for improvement,” said head coach Tyler Mott. “We feel that we can pick up right where we left off and get even better this year.”

Mott said strength and depth will be key for the Bishops, with the team’s focus on improving each day, trusting in the process and producing results.

They expect to improve upon last season’s 8-11 NCAC conference record, and have a shot at winning the conference and a run at the region come seasons end.

The Bishop goal for this year is to defeat Wooster, who headlines the strong conference. With 16 seniors and receiving votes in the preseason top 25 polls, the Fighting Scots are favored to win the NCAC.

Mott believes his OWU athletes can match up well with anyone in the conference.

Leading the charge will be senior Sean Vollenweider. One out of the three all conference players returning, Vollenweider transitioned to the outfield last year and had a .337 batting average while slugging .507.

This year, the four-year starter looks to improve on those numbers, while also providing leadership to the team.

Within the pitching rotation, Charles Cooper sets the tone. After leading the team in run average and wins last year to go with a 1-1 strikeout to inning ratio, Cooper will be an important player this season.

According to Mott, several key players showed offseason progress, including J.J. Buckey and Pete Munger.

Buckey will be moving into the starting rotation and the experience throwing big innings from all three will be counted on if the Bishops are to make a deep run this postseason.

Despite losing several starters and key seniors from last year’s roster, Mott said he feels the 11 new faces on this year’s roster can fill in for those spaces nicely.

“We recruit to play, not to sit,” he said, “Our recruits are a solid class who will have the opportunity to come in and contribute early.”

The team kicks off the season March 1 with a doubleheader against Ohio Christian at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. followed by a home stand against regional foe Otterbein.

A Labor Relations Board hearing commenced last Wednesday, in response to a group of Northwestern football players who signed a petition to seek union protection; the outcome of which could have historic implications for college athletics.

The petition is the first step in the union certification process. With this action, players are hoping to gain union access, essentially making them employees of the university.

Players told local press that they feel they have no say in their lives in relation to their sport.

According to an article in the Columbus Dispatch, “those players want the College Athletes Players Association to act on their behalf by collectively bargaining with the NCAA, the governing body of college sports.”

Union representation would afford athletes a say in matters that truly affect them as athletes, as a union’s main goal is to collectively bargain for benefits in fair terms with management.

The article explains the goal of these athletes is not to receive payment, but “for players representation in discussions on medial issues, due-process rights, scholarship increase and guarantees, and the creation of an education fund.”

Northwestern is a Division 1 school, and part of the Big Ten athletic conference. However, like Ohio Wesleyan, Northwestern is a private university, because of this they have pull a state school wouldn’t have.

The NCAA however, is claiming that these individuals are students and not employees, and there are other ways to address their concerns.

Athletic director Roger Ingles said, “The lawyers for the unions believe the athletic scholarships are payment for the players performances.”

“Under this logic, all academic scholarships winners would also be able to unionize as their scholarships could be deemed in payment of their academic performances,” he said.

Ingles said he believes this action could potentially disrupt the balance of academics and athletics on a college campus.

“While I am not in favor of this approach, I do think it should make everyone sit down and reflect where our priorities are when it comes to collegiate athletics, especially at the major Division I level,” he said.

“The purpose of this group is to give the athletes a place at the table in discussions about things directly affecting them.”

According to Ingles any decision will lead to negative implications on all college athletes.

Ingles said it is unrealistic for Division III schools to pay athletes since the programs are not self-sustaining in their own right.

“In fact, very few Division I or II programs make a profit,” he said. “Division III has no athletic scholarships and generates very little revenue. Our major impact will a result of filter down legislation should the NCAA lose this case.”

 

Weighing the 

Positives and 

Negatives

 

There are some positives that could come from union representation.

Junior lacrosse player Matthew Sommi said he thought their petition seemed impractical at first, but he sees the merit in their case.

“Northwestern academics are extremely demanding,” he said.

“By gaining union power Northwestern athletes could see benefits such as a class schedule that revolves around a select sport, special tutoring, increased scholarships to athletes, and special networking opportunities.”

Sommi said the negatives that arise could outweigh the benefits for certain athletes. A union is predicated on equal opportunities for its members, which could, in turn, negatively impact certain individuals.

“In the case of Northwestern athletics you could possibly see the amount of full scholarships awarded to athletes decrease to increase the amount of scholarship money geared towards all sports and team members,” he said.

Ingles agreed stating, “the NCAA believes this movement by the union to unionize student athletes undermines the purpose of college and that is to get an education. Student athletic involvement is voluntary and the NCAA represents all student-athletes and not just those who want to professionalize.”

According to president Rock Jones, OWU doesn’t have to worry about a decision on this action affecting OWU athletes.

“There really is no comparison between athletics at a Big 10 School and athletics at Ohio Wesleyan,” he said.

“Our commitment is to the integrated experience of a student athlete, where student athletes receive no scholarships related to their academic talent, and where we remain fiercely loyal to concept of amateurism as a defining characteristic of the college student athlete.”

Sommi shared Jones’ attitude that the ruling of this case would not have any affect on OWU, stating that OWU athletes have no reason to start a union, “on the sole fact that our sports don’t generate any revenue stream for the university.”

Jones said, “Our student athletes are well served by their academic advisers and their coaches, and I cannot imagine a reason why a place like Ohio Wesleyan would benefit from union representation for student athletes.”

University of Missouri Defensive Lineman Michael Sam announced he is openly gay on ESPN’s Outside the Lines on Feb. 9. Sam, the co-South Eastern Conference defensive player of the year became the first openly gay college football player in history.

According to ESPN’s analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Sam will still be drafted in the first four rounds of the NFL draft despite his announcement. Sam originally came out to teammates and coaches in Aug.

Junior Ben Danielson came out in high school,  but as an incoming freshman on the soccer team, he had new obstacles to conquer. Danielson said making the announcement to teammates is trying.

“I’m lucky enough to say that I came into college out,” said Danielson. “I didn’t feel compelled to tell my team, nor did I make it my job to hide myself. I was just me. I had thought about coming out to them during certain meetings, but in the end I was too scared that I might make some of my teammates uncomfortable or somehow offend them.”

OWU President Rock Jones said collegiate athletic programs should accept all athletes regardless of sexual orientation.

“All of the members institutions of the NCAC have non-discrimination statements that include sexual orientation as a form of discrimination that will not be accepted or tolerated on their campuses” said Jones.

“This commitment extends to all aspects of the campus, including athletics programs. Our athletics programs welcome all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or identity, and we at Ohio Wesleyan will not accept or tolerate any form of discrimination or mistreatment directed toward openly gay athletes. This is consistent with the values of OWU, and these values are shared by all of the member institutions of the NCAC.”

In 2013, NBA Forward Jason Collins announced he was gay and became the first openly gay professional athlete.

As expected, Collins received a slew of encouragement with a fair share of backlash from the NBA community.

OWU Athletic Director Roger Ingles said gay athletes are breaking discrimination barriers that will improve sports as a whole.

“I think the challenge for all of us in collegiate athletics is to make our programs a welcoming and loving environment that supports, respects and accepts individual rights and differences in all team members,” said Ingles.

“Gay athletes are beginning to feel more comfortable in most team sports sharing their sexual orientation. I would like to think it is because as a society we are becoming more accepting of our differences in all areas like race, religion and sexual orientation. And that is a great thing.”

The NCAC Swimming and Diving Championship took place last week at Denison University’s Trumbull Aquatic Center.

Ohio Wesleyan finished sixth overall with a score of 625.5 and record-breaking performances from student athletes. Denison won the meet with a score of 1898.5.

Freshman Anne Edwards managed to break her own school record on the third day of the competition by swimming the 1650 yard freestyle in 17:45.98; 30 seconds faster than her previous record.

The finish was Edwards’ second top-10 finish of the championships, following a ninth place finish in the 500 yard freestyle where she set another school record with a time of 5:11.10 in the preliminaries.

“I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far but I hope to swim faster at conference,” Edwards said.

“I don’t expect to place in any event but I expect to beat my season best times and break the records I’ve already set.”

Senior Sean Anthony and Junior Marcus Ramirez had the men’s Battling Bishops’ best finishes of the championships on the final day of competition.

Anthony came in 11th in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:07.02. Ramirez improved on an 18th place finish in the preliminaries to come in 11th in the 200 yard butterfly with a time of 1:58.44.

Ohio Wesleyan’s Women’s Indoor Track and Field sprints toward new goals this season, setting their sights on the NCAC championship this March.

“We are working to win our eighth straight NCAC indoor title this March,” said head coach Kris Boey.

“Each year we have to be more focused and determined because the target on our backs gets bigger each year.”

This year, the women’s team has already set a new 4×400 meter record with a time of 4:01.76. Sophomore Sara Johnson said it is not all about breaking records, but making improvements.

“From winning the NCAC Championship last year, this has pushed my harder to strive for my goals and hopefully win another title,” she said.

“Last year was the first time any team has won all Conference for four years; I hope to keep that perfect season going.”

Junior Katie Reid said her goals for this season are to “win All-Ohio and NCAC championships as a team, qualify for nationals individually and as a relay, and to achieve All-American status.”

Despite the team’s strong goals, several team members have suffered weakening injuries.

Reid said that she currently has an injury in the thigh area and hopes to get that figured out soon.

Boey, who was the NCAC Coach of the Year last year, said he expects his team to “represent Ohio Wesleyan in the best possible manner” this year.

“I am pleased with our progress so far,” Boey said.

“It’s early, but the potential to be truly great is real. We are where we need to be if we hope to accomplish big things down the road, but we cannot afford to be content or complacent. We need to continue to improve so we are ready when the championship meets come.”

The Indoor Track and Field season runs through March, when they transition into the outdoor season.

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.

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.”

Freshman Anne Edwards set a school record at last weekend’s swimming and diving competitions, but the men’s and women’s teams still lost to Denison University and Kenyon College.

The two dual meets were their last preconference meets of the season, and they had a few first place individual finishes, showing they remain competitive against the Division III’s top two teams.

At the Saturday morning meet against Denison, Edwards set the school record in the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 10:55.82, placing third in the competition.

The previous record was 10:59.00 and was set by Whitney Snow in 2006.

Edwards, who previously broke school records in both the 500 and 1650 yard freestyles, said she feels like she has accomplished her immediate goals, but still strives to swim faster.

Overall, Edwards said she has been pleased with her season.

“As a freshman, on the swim team, it’s hard to adapt to new people and the training that you’ve never experienced,” she said. “However, now I feel like a member of the team and have contributed my share of work for the team.”

In terms of diving, senior Anthony Peddle scored 249.75 points in the 1-meter competition.

The men’s team also had some impressive swims at Denison. Senior Sean Anthony placed first in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:13.16, and freshman Greyson Goodwin earned the first place spot in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 4:53.48.

Junior Matthew Mahoney placed second after Goodwin with a time of 4:57.82.

Mahoney said he was pleased with his time, and said he thinks the season has been successful for the team as a whole, “given all of the season and personal bests everyone has been getting in their races.”

“All the extra yards and practice we have put in this year are really starting to show and pay off at this point in the season,” he said.

“Everyone has been going out faster in the beginning of their races while being able to close and finish their races at a fast pace. Overall, everyone seems pretty excited to compete at conference and show the rest of the league how much we have improved since last year.”

The Bishops are part of a notoriously fast conference of Division III swimming, and hope to improve their rank from previous years.

“My strategy going into conference is to rely on the techniques that have been practiced and drilled all season long,” Mahoney said.

“This, in combination with the increased endurance from our more challenging practices this season, will help me avoid any feelings of nervousness and focus on swimming my races to the best of my abilities.”

Edwards said she is nervous about her competitors, but plans to focus on personally improving her times.

“My strategy is to swim my own race,” she said.  “To me, it’s more rewarding to see a best time than placing in an event. It’s also my first experience at conference, so I want to have fun and take in the full experience.”

At the meet Friday night against Kenyon, senior Katie Helfrich finished first in the 200 yard breaststroke with a time of 2:29.76, out touching Kenyon’s Meaghan McLaughlin by almost four seconds.

Other standouts for the Bishops included sophomore Emmalee Nerantzis, who took second in both the 1000 yard freestyle and the 200 yard butterfly, and senior Olivia Gillison, placed second in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles.

On the men’s side, senior Taylor Smith finished second in the 200 yard IM with a time of 1:59.99, falling short of first place by just over a tenth of a second.

This year the conference meet will be held on Feb. 12-15 at Denison University’s Trumbull Aquatic Center.