Five Minutes With ... Michael La Londe

Hiram junior baseball player Michael La Londe

Name: Michael La Londe

Hometown/High School: Willowick, OH/ Willoughby South

Institution: Hiram College

Major: Management   

Minor: Entrepreneurship

Sport: Baseball


•    I am originally from ... Willowick, Ohio

•    Why did you choose to attend an NCAA Division III institution? Better Education

•    How would you describe the philosophy of NCAA Div. III? I get the best of both worlds. I get a great education and I get to keep playing the sport that I love

•    How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at Hiram? Its been easy for the most part. My coach understand that school comes first so if there is ever a conflict with both, my coach would rather have me go to class

•    How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level? I.e. What do you do all day? Very busy ... Wake up early, go to class, lunch, go to class again, hit the gym, practice, gym again, eat, then go to a meeting for something, homework, then bed

•    Favorite thing about Hiram? The community, it’s a very small school but everyone is friendly and I know everyone

•    Favorite thing about the NCAC? The competitiveness

•    What do you want to be when you grow up? I would love to go pro, if that doesn’t work I would still like to do something in baseball, so either try to get a job with the Indians, or hopefully open up my own baseball institution.

•    What has been your most memorable moment in athletics during your collegiate career? Getting the Ace spot in the pitching staff as a sophmore

•    What’s currently playing on your I-Pod? The Thrill - Wiz Khalifa

•    In your opinion, what is the most important life lesson you learned while competing at the NCAA Div. III level? Don’t ever give up

•    Are there any major obstacles that you’ve had to overcome when as a Div. III student-athlete? Yes, I have taken on many clubs here, so I have to manage all of those, plus baseball, plus my school work. It’s very overwhelming but it pays off in the end

•    What are the toughest issues facing Div. III athletes today?  Having to face different players every year because you don’t know anything about that player so you don’t know the best tactic against them

•    Who do you look up to? My parents, they have always been a big inspiration to me and have taught me to never give up

•    What is the meaning of life? Baseball

•    if you could excel at any competitive sport (other than your own) which would you choose? Probably football

•    Which historical sporting event would you have liked to witness? Derek Jeter getting his 3,000th hit.

•    What’s your favorite sports team/Who’s your favorite athlete? Cleveland Indians and probably Omar Vizquel

•    My favorite sports memory is…? Winning a baseball tournament out in West Virgina with my old summer ball team

•    Any Pet Peeves? People who try to sing lyrics to the song, but only know two words to the song

•    Favorite hobbies outside work/school? Sleeping

•    First job? I worked at a pizza shop

•    Best/worst summer job? Working at that pizza shop

Sundt's Scribes: Ben Puterbaugh

Oberlin junior Hal Sundt sat down with 2010 First-Team All-NCAC Selection and Third-Team All-Regional selection Ben Puterbaugh to get an indepth look at what really makes Oberlin's all-time hits leader tick.

It is a Wednesday in late March, only two days until most of the students from Oberlin College will depart from this small pocket of solace tucked away in northeast Ohio. Along the sidewalk connecting Wilder Hall and Mudd Library some students lean against the cold metal bike racks taking long drags from Pall Malls and Marlboros, while others walk briskly to their next class, the former sucking down thick smoke deep into their lungs, the latter taking in the crisp March air as it rushes through their noses and clings to the back of their tongue. Along the paths the students are moving, gesturing, smoking, breathing, laughing, walking; but they are inside a bubble which remains still while the rest of the world violently spins.

Somewhere a man in this bubble is sifting through the smoke and the drizzle of rain. His 5-foot-11 frame does not draw attention to himself, but rather moves unassumingly, like everyone else. As he walks, missiles soar above Libya and weeping mothers, brothers, and children in Japan attempt to put the pieces of their lives back together. On this day thousands of pairs of bright, excited eyes will enter the world and thousands of others will leave it behind.

And on this day, and every other day just the same, the world does not revolve around the game of baseball. And Ben Puterbaugh knows it.

***

Click to read full story

Five Minutes With ...

Throughout the 2010-11 academic year, the North Coast Athletic Conference will give you an in-depth look into the lives of the student-athletes, administrators and faculty members of the conference who epitomize what it means to compete, study and educate at the NCAA Div. III level. We hope that this feature will help people gain a better understanding of why individuals have decided to make NCAA Div. III a cornerstone of their life.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Zack Nichols

Hometown/High School: Burton, OH/Berkshire

Institution: Allegheny College

Major: History

Minor: Communication Arts

Sport: Baseball




• Why did you choose to attend a NCAA Division III institution?

ZN: Division III athletics allowed me to participate in the sport I love while getting the individualized attention in the classroom that I desired.


• If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would it be and why?

ZN: I would trade places with JFK because he was a great leader and a ladies’ man.


• How would you most accurately describe or define the ideals on which the NCAA Div. III was founded?

ZN: A more hands on educational experience in which an athlete can compete on the field while actively engaging in the classroom.


• People may be surprised to know that ……

ZN: I love shows on the History Channel about giant prehistoric animals.


• How has your experience been in balancing athletics and academics at Allegheny College?

ZN: The experience has been admittedly tough; however, the time management skills I acquired have been well worth the hard work. Sometimes as a student-athlete you have to sacrifice social/family relationships for the greater cause of participating and competing in Div. III athletics.


• If you are stranded on an island, you would like to be with ……

ZN: Brian Wilson – Pitcher for the San Francisco Giants

• What is the life of a student-athlete studying history like at Allegheny College?

ZN: As a history major I am constantly reading and writing. Therefore, while on the bus on the way to games I delve into a steady diet of reading as a means to pass the time.

• Do you have any hidden talents that very few people know about?

ZN: I make the best pierogies you’ll ever have in your life. No question about it.

• What aspect of being a student-athlete at the Div. III level, do you hope to take with you into your professional life?

ZN: Hands down my time-management skills. I’ve learned how to allocate my time in order to achieve success in college. In the real world I know that I will be challenged with deadlines, reports, meetings, etc., and my time-management skills will help me exponentially.


• What has been your most memorable moment in athletics during your collegiate career?

ZN: I hit a walk-off homerun vs. the #3 team in the nation, Wooster, my junior year. The homerun was also off an All-American pitcher.


• What would you like to accomplish, both in academics and athletics, before you graduate?

ZN: Get an "A" on my senior thesis and make the All-Conference team.

• What’s currently playing on your I-Pod?

ZN: Nirvana, Bob Seger, Kid Cudi, Brad Paisley, Led Zepplin.


• Do you have one coach and or professor in mind that has impacted your career the most at Allegheny College?

ZN: Professor Lyons of the history department has taught me to critically think better than any professor I have ever had. He actively engages and challenges students while allowing them to express their opinions and ideas in their own way.

• What is your most prized possession?

ZN: My college memories.


• In your opinion, what is the most important life lesson you learned while competing at the NCAA Div. III level?

AN: That every member of a team plays a role. Whether that shows up in the stat column, on the field or in advice an upper classmen can give to and underclassmen. Leadership and setting an example doesn’t always show up in the stat column.


• How many hours a week do you spend on Facebook?

ZN: Maybe 1 hour.


• What would be your advice for someone that is considering enrolling as a student-athlete at a NCAA Div. III institution?

ZN: It’s one of the most rewarding, memorable experiences an athlete can ever have if you’re willing to work hard, give it you’re all and be patient. It teaches you maturity that is unlike a “regular” college experience.


• How would you best describe your normal day as a student-athlete at the NCAA Div. III level?

ZN: Wake up, go to class, eat lunch, study in the afternoon until practice, go to practice, come back home, eat dinner, study for a few more hours (if necessary) and chill with the homies.

Former Hiram baseball player collects equipment for kids in Nicaragua

Hiram graduate and former Terriers baseball player Joe Trela is continuing a drive to collect new and used baseball equipment to be delivered to and used by youngsters in Nicaragua.

Anyone with equipment to donate can contact Trela at trelajd@my.hiram.edu

Read more by Dale Meggas of the News Sun here.

Around the NCAC

** Allegheny's volleyball and women's soccer teams leave today for a european tour. A few student-athletes from each team will blog about their experiences, which will be featured at alleghenysports.com throughout the trip.

** On July 16, Allegheny's Alex Herrnberger was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks and assigned to the Missoula (Mont.) Osprey, a short-season league designated as rookie advanced. Through July 31, Herrnberger appeared in three games for the Osprey, the first-place team in the Pioneer North at 20-15. He is 0-for-1 with a pair of walks and has scored two runs with one RBI.

** Hiram Head Swimming and Diving Coach Jack Groselle continued his assault on the Masters' Swimming record books at the USA Swimming Sectionals held in Oxford, Ohio. He clocked a 2:05.39 in the men’s 200-yard free to lower his FINA Masters age division record in the 55-59 age group. He previously set the record with a 2:07.21 at the last sectional meet in the area held in March. He then posted a U.S. Masters Swimming national record in the 100-yard breaststroke with a mark of 1:12.84. Groselle competes this week at the U.S. Masters Swimming Nationals in Indianapolis, Ind. beginning on Thursday.

** Follow progress on the Ohio Wesleyan Meeks Aquatic & Recreation Center here.

** Wittenberg's Katherine Hueter reflects on her basketball trip to the Adriatic Coast earlier this summer with USA Athletes International.

** Wittenberg will host its seventh annual Rosy's Golf Outing to honor the legacy of former Tiger student-athlete, coach and athletics department administrator Bob Rosencrans '58. Proceeds from the event, scheduled for 11 a.m. at Windy Knoll Golf Club in Springfield, will be split between the Central and Southern Ohio Chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, Driving 4 Life and Wittenberg, which will use the money to continue to make improvements in and around the Bob Rosencrans Fitness Center. Proceeds raised for the Central and Southern Ohio Chapter of the ALS Association are used for research for a cure for the deadly disease, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. Rosencrans died of ALS in 2003, just two months after the inaugural Rosy's Golf Outing.

Wooster in SI

Update: The Wooster Daily Record talks to both Matt and Mark about the photo. And there's also a story behind Mark's flat-brimmed ball cap from the Dayton Daily News.

A photo by Wooster photographer Matt Dilyard is included in today's issue of Sports Illustrated - the Leading Off section includes a two-page spread of Fighting Scot pitcher Matt Miller walking off the diamond at the conclusion of the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship game in Appleton, WI.

The photo used is the first in this photo gallery on Wooster site. The SI text is on their site.

Around the NCAC

* The Denison SAAC will host a free Sports and Games Clinic in celebration of National Student Athlete Day on Sunday. Kindergartners through sixth graders are invited to join Big Red student-athletes for a day of games, relay races, sportsmanship and teamwork. Children will also receive a snack and certificate of participation at the end of the day. Registration will take place on the day of the event from 1:15-1:50 pm. The clinic will begin at 2:00. Parents do not need to stay for the clinic unless they want to. Pick up is at 4:30 pm. For more information, please contact Lynn Schweizer.

** The Hiram SAAC and Baseball team are joining together to sponsor a collection drive for new and used baseball or softball equipment during all home games during this spring. SAAC reps will have a table to collect equipment and uniforms for all ages, such as helmets, bats, pants, belts, gloves, baseballs and more. All donations will be distributed directly to schools, neighborhoods and Nicaraguan Rotary clubs by Hiram College students. Please contact Joe Trela at with any questions, comments or willingness to help.

** Former Oberlin football star Chris Schubert caught a touchdown pass in his professional debut for the Mahoning Valley Thunder of af2. His fourth quarter score helped the Thunder come-from-behind to upend the Albany Firebirds 44-34 on Friday night on March 27. (boxscore)

** Sisters Rita and Sarah Cook are both members of the Ohio Wesleyan softball team. The two, both chemistry majors, also paired up to attended the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s national conference in Salt Lake City last week to present projects they have been working on since last summer. According to the ACS’s Web site, more than 10,700 scientists and exhibitors attended the event.

Rita says the conference includes an undergraduate program, but she and Sarah missed the undergraduate presentation because of a softball game. They presented their projects among what Rita calls the “big kids” of chemistry. They began their work at a 10-week research group program in Minnesota called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). REU is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Rita’s project was in environmental chemistry. She studied a groundwater pollutant and its effects on water supplies. Sarah worked on synthesizing a luminescent potassium sensor, which she said can be used to measure levels of potassium in the blood to better prevent seizures and strokes.

** Former Kenyon basketball player Shaka Smart was named head coach of the men's basketball program at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a three-year captain during his days in purple and white, he set the Kenyon single-season (184) and career (542) records for assists. During his senior season he was named the team's MVP, was selected to the All-NCAC team, and was an NCAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He also earned a position on the 1999 USA Today All-USA Academic team and received a NCAA postgraduate scholarship. Last season, he worked for the University of Florida and helped head coach Billy Donovan guide the Gators to a 25-11 record. Before that, Smart worked at Clemson University for a couple of seasons that included a combined 49 wins and back-to-back postseason appearances. Smart also had stops at the University of Akron, Dayton University, and at California University of Pennsylvania, where he worked under former Kenyon head coach Bill Brown.

** Wittenberg has cheerleading tryouts for the 2009-2010 season on April 23 & 24. For more information, click here.

Follow Obies on Spring Break

Oberlin is on spring break and the athletic teams are sharing all of their adventures. You can follow along on their blogs:

Baseball
Location: Phoenix, Arizona

Men's Lacrosse
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina

Women's Lacrosse
Location: Pomona, California

Softball
Location: Fort Myers, Florida

Women's Tennis
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina

Track & Field
Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Around the NCAC - with quotes!

It's a busy time around the NCAC ...

** Allegheny AD Betsy Mitchell was featured by Athletic Management Magazine. The Q&A focuses on her plans at Allegheny and on her career in athletics.

What is the big picture for Allegheny athletics?
The athletic department should be a piece of our overall institution, not just an auxiliary unit that does its own thing. In athletics, we are completely hooked into the mission of Allegheny, which is to prepare our students for their lives after college.

Also in the big picture is publicizing what we do to prospective students, our community, donors, and friends. The strategic vision is all about getting our words to people both inside and outside the institution.

Read the whole feature here.

** The Hiram SAAC collected 221 pairs of shoes for Soles3Souls.

** The Oberlin baseball team has spent the past month volunteering at a local elementary school. Team members volunteer at the elementary school four days a week, visiting three fifth-grade classrooms. The squad's efforts were featured in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The idea to volunteer came from Brian Verne, a senior and co-captain.

I had so many great experiences growing up," said Verne, a sociology major.
"I know what it feels like to succeed at something. I want kids to succeed.
"One of the greatest deeds anyone can do is to put a smile on a kid's face."

** A chat with Ohio Wesleyan women's basketball coach Nan Carney-DeBord was posted in the OWU electronic magazine, Connect2OWU. The winningest coach in Battling Bishop women's basketball history has a much wider focus than simple wins and losses.

“I view coaching as a mutual exchange of positive energy,” she explains. “It’s an honor for me to be able to work with so many incredibly talented student-athletes..."

Read the full story here

** The annual Monon Bell football game between Wabash and DePauw will be broadcast to a national audience by HDNet for the fourth time.

For those who may not realize it, that’s a very big deal.

The network sent an advance crew to Wabash a short while ago. Read a little about it here, in a blog post by Jim Amidon.

** Wittenberg awarded the first Dave Maurer Honorary Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a sophomore, junior or senior male student with financial need who has demonstrated such qualities as self-discipline, teamwork, cooperation, hard work, self-confidence, pride in accomplishment, competitive spirit, and the ability to deal with adversity. Click here for more.

Wabash Men to the Rescue

* Incoming Wabash freshman Brandan Alford joined his Lafayette American Legion baseball teammates in rescuing a women trapped under a minivan Saturday, June 21. Alford, Emilio Domondon, Andrew West, and Kory Banes lifted the vehicle off 72-year-old Helen Williams, who was trapped under a tire.

Alford, a third baseman for the Lafayette American Legion Post 11 baseball team, plans to play for the Wabash squad this coming year.

A complete story regarding the rescue can be found in the Lafayette Journal & Courier.

* Wabash quarterback Matt Hudson was among a group of Little Giants that traveled to Martinsville, IN to help clean up after the recent flooding.

The students were moved to help out after watching news coverage of the devastation, so they contacted the Morgan County office of the Emergency Management Agency to find out which areas of the county needed the most help.

The Reporter-Times has a recap and photos here (registration required).

The Sporting Life Continues

For most Division III athletes, graduation is a bittersweet time. Not only are they potentially leaving the comfy confines of college life, but they are also most likely saying goodbye to organized sports.

Sure people play in rec league and in certain sports there's always pick-up games, but for most organized training, practice and competition are now just a recent memory.

However, some athletes love participating so much that they seek out the rare opportunities that exist to extend their sporting life. Former Oberlin student-athletes Jessie Oram and Seth Binder are two of those athletes.

The two have paired up to share their experiences on their blog After D3 Sports. Seth is currently playing baseball in Munich, Germany, after a season in Israel, and Jesse playing basketball in Melbourne, Australia.

D3baseball.com All-America Teams

The 2008 D3baseball.com All-America Teams were announced.

Third Team
P Mark Miller, Wooster, sophomore

Baseball All-Region Awards

Division III ABCA/Rawlings Baseball All-Mideast Region

First Team
3B Dan Skulina, Wooster, senior

Second Team
1B Sean Karpen, Wooster, junior
1B Will Smith, Kenyon, junior
SS Matt Young, Allegheny, senior
OF Jeremy Fruhwirth, Wittenberg, junior
UT Joey McDaniel, Ohio Wesleyan, senior
P Adam Samson, Wooster, senior

Third Team
UT Park Smith, Denison, sophomore
P Sean Speed, Ohio Wesleyan, senior

Division III ABCA/Rawlings Mideast Region Gold Glove Awards
3B Kevin Teague, Denison, freshman
OF Danny Pritz, Denison, freshman

2008 Academic All-America Baseball Team

The 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams were announced by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Second Team
P James Clear, Denison, senior

2008 Academic All-District Baseball Team

The 2008 Academic All-District Teams were announced by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America.

District 4 winners included:

First Team
P James Clear, Denison, senior
IF Justin Held, Denison junior

Second Team
C Matt Steinke, Wittenberg, senior
OF Chris Yorano, Kenyon, senior
OF Jake Sankal, Wooster, senior

District 5 winners included:

Second Team
OF Jake Thomas, Wabash, junior

Denison Baseball Hits the Show

Every baseball player dreams of playing in the show. Denison baseball got a little taste of that dream last Thursday. The Big Red played Heidelberg at Great American Ballpark - the home of the Cincinnati Reds. Denison ended up losing 8-4, but even a loss couldn't erase the excitement and specialness of the day.

The Newark Advocate followed the Big Red to Cincinnati and back and has posted a photo gallery on its site.

* Newark Advocate game story
* Denison photo gallery

Follow Along on Oberlin Spring Break Trips

Fans can get a taste of what a spring break trip is really like for student-athletes thanks to Oberlin's Brian Verne, Kimiko Glynn, Michelle Zanni and Ruth Allanbrook. They have all volunteered to share stories from this year's spring trips via blogs:

Verne’s Words: Inside the 2008 spring break trip to Phoenix for the Oberlin College baseball team

Sanders Speaks: An inside look at the 2008 spring break trip for Oberlin lacrosse

Serving It Up with Kimiko Glynn: Spring break trip to Hilton Head for the Yeowomen

Outside the Box w/Michelle Zanni & Ruth Allanbrook: Oberlin College softball spring break

Around the NCAC

** Denison women's basketball established a new school record by hitting 15 three-pointers in a 79-60 win at Earlham last night. The Big Red connected on 15-of-36 tries - amazingly half of the team's 30 field goals in the game came from long range. The previous mark was 11, which was accomplished three different times. They also set a new record for attempts - the old number was 32, set in the 2003-04 season against Hanover.

** Championship football coach Steve Specht freely admits he has stolen some of his best ideas from Earlham and put them into practice winning two Division I Ohio high school football championships in the last three years at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. The 1990 Earlham graduate played football and baseball for the Quakers, and he took several concepts from his head coaches, especially head football coach Frank Carr, currently Earlham's Athletics Director.

** Hiram will host a free Girls’ Sports Clinic for girls in grades 3-6 on Saturday in conjunction with National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The clinic will be held in the Coleman Sports Center from 11:30 am -12:30 pm, with registration beginning at 11:00 am, and is open to the first 100 registrants. The day will feature coaches and players from women’s soccer, volleyball, basketball and softball, giving the opportunity for participants to experience all four sports. For more information or to register for this event, please click here.

** Oberlin baseball added Brett Higgins as a volunteer assistant coach for 2008. He will serve as the Yeomen’s hitting instructor and will also work with Oberlin’s catchers and outfielders. Higgins brings a wealth of experience from NCAA Division II and the Seattle Mariners’ Class A affiliate Everett AquaSox in Everett, Washington. For more information click here.

** New Wabash football coach Erik Raeburn is settling into his new job in Crawfordsville.

** Wittenberg men's basketball coach Bill Brown earned his 400th career victory when the Tigers defeated the host Hiram Terriers last Saturday (Feb. 2), 91-85. Now in his 21st season as a head coach and his 15th directing his alma mater's men's basketball program, Brown's career record stands at 400-180 in 21 seasons, including 15 at Wittenberg, five at Kenyon and one at Wooster. His record at Wittenberg is a sparkling 340-81, including this season's 13-6 mark.

**

Around the NCAC

** Allegheny will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day with the theme “All In,” on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The program will be divided into two: one for girls, the other for adult women. All ages are welcome and all events are free - preregistration by Jan. 16 is required. For more information, call Paula Habel, head coach of women’s lacrosse at 332-2828.

Girls will take part in clinics hosted by Allegheny’s women athletics teams in basketball, volleyball, lacrosse and soccer as well as enjoy the opportunity to spend time in the Mellon Pool. The day begins with registration from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. and ends with the Allegheny women’s basketball game against Denison University at 2 p.m.

The women’s program begins with registration from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and ends at 2 p.m. with the women's basketball game. The program includes introductions to golf, weight training and Pilates, all led by Allegheny coaches or instructors, with participants choosing two of the three sessions.

** Oberlin will be hosting a pair of clinics in the near future. Women's Basketball will host a Youth Day Clinic before the Yeowomen take on Heidelberg on Monday, Jan. 21 - Martin Luther King Day. The day tips off at 11:45 a.m. and is open to all children. Participants will go through a fun set of drills and activities with head coach Christa Champion and assistant coach Janell Crayton. The kids will also have the opportunity to meet all of the Yeowomen and get autographs on an official team picture. The clinic will last until 1 p.m. and children in attendance are encouraged to stay for free pizza and to cheer on the Yeowomen. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2 p.m. Click here for more info, a clinic brochure and a registration form.

The Yeowomen softball team will also host a skills clinic on Feb. 16 for all girls in grades K-6. Head coach Adrienne Davis and assistant coach Kelsey Knapp will serve as camp directors.
The girls will learn fundamentals such as hitting, fielding, throwing, catching, and more advanced skills such as specific positions and strategies. Click here for more info, a clinic brochure and a registration form.

** Wittenberg has announced ticket policies for the highly-anticipated Wooster-Wittenberg men's basketball matchup on Saturday. The Scots and Tigers are currently tied for first place in the NCAC, heading into the game. The two teams split last season's series, with each team stealing a win on the other's home court. One of the two teams has won the NCAC regular season title every year since 1989.

** Congratulations are in order for Wittenberg's Rick Gold and Oberlin's Curt Karpinski, who are being inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. They are two of this year's four inductees.

Wooster Ranked #1 in Preseason Baseball Poll

Collegiate Baseball ranked Wooster as the top team in Division III in their annual preseason coaches' poll. This is the second time in three years, and the third overall, that the Fighting Scots have been tabbed as the Division's favorite entering the season.

Last spring Wooster put together a 42-7 record and finished the season ranked 10th nationally. The Scots also were picked No. 1 entering the 1998 and 2006 seasons, when they ended up going 40-6 and 38-9, respectively, while reaching an NCAA Div. III Regional Tournament each year.

Wooster story
Complete poll

Ohio Wesleyan did not crack the top 30 poll, but was named one of the Division's top teams.