OWU Men's Lacrosse - Good Sports

When Ohio Wesleyan men’s lacrosse coach Sean Ryan received an unexpected package from US Lacrosse, the men’s college lacrosse governing body, he was surprised.

Ryan’s surprise turned to delight when inside the package was a letter and a plaque announcing that the Ohio Wesleyan team had received the James “Ace” Adams Sportsmanship Award at the US Lacrosse National Convention in January.

Ryan, who did not attend the national convention, says he was ecstatic when he received the package and had no idea that the team had won.

The award is bestowed by US Lacrosse and the US Lacrosse Men’s Division Officials Council. The award is given to programs from Division I, Division II and Division III that show sportsmanship from players, coaches, administrators, and fans. The Ohio Wesleyan team also will be featured in Lacrossemagazine.

“To receive this award is a complete honor because it comes directly from (game) officials,” Ryan says. “For the University and our program to be recognized by the officials is a huge honor. The award itself shows the amount of positive support we have received from the student body and game-day administration that ensures an excellent game-day experience for everyone.”

Ryan says his coaching staff, the team members, and their parents were very excited because many of them did not know such an award existed.

Director of Athletics Roger Ingles says the award is a big honor for the team and the University because it shows the team’s commitment to sportsmanship.

“It is very important to me personally that we do things first-class and that when our teams compete against others they do so with respect and honor for their opponents,” he says. “I would much rather we lost a contest with class than to win without it.

“Lacrosse is a physical and very rough game,” Ingles continues. “It takes a strong-willed personality to play it and to play it successfully. This award says a lot about our kids’ ability to compete at the highest level and to do so with honor, integrity and class.”

– Michelle Rotuno-Johnson ’12

Article courtesy of Connect2 OWU, Feb. 25, 2010

Gaines Gains International Experience

Wittenberg junior Dan Gaines got to play some high-level lacrosse and experience a new culture over the summer. Gaines played for the USA Athletes International team in the Berlin Open, Europe's biggest annual lacrosse tournament. Held in Berlin, Germany, the three-day event consisted of 20 male teams participating in around-the-clock lacrosse competition. His team fared well but dropped the tournament championship game to the talented and NCAA Division I-loaded Team Gatorade.

Gaines was not worried about the wins and losses, however. He was grateful to have the opportunity to play his sport in a foreign country.

"I feel like I fully embraced the tournament and all it had to offer," he said. I was not just trying to play lacrosse in Germany, but I was trying to get a feel for another culture as well."

Read more 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

USILA Awards

The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association has announced its year-end awards:

2008 Division III All-Americans
First Team
Alex Baruch, Denison, goalie

Honorable Mention
Chris Eccles, Ohio Wesleyan, midfield
Rich Mackessy, Denison, midfield
Dan Maude, Denison, midfield

2008 Kelly Award - Outstanding Goalie in Division III
Alex Baruch, Denison

2008 North-South Game
Div. III South Team
Nate Pritchard, Kenyon, midfield
Chris Eccles, Ohio Wesleyan, midfield
Alex Baruch, Denison, goalie

Around the NCAC

** Denison is prepping to host its first outdoor track meet in nine years. Deeds Field-Piper Stadium was recently renovated and the new turf field has seen plenty of use. The new track will see its first competitive action since 1999 tomorrow when teams compete in the Big Red Invitational.

Kenyon, Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster will also compete in the four-team meet. Field Events start at 3:45, followed by running events at 5:30.

** If you can't make it to Saturday's Denison at Ohio Wesleyan women's lacrosse game, you can watch online. The winner will host the NCAC tournament on May 2-3 as the number one seed. Saturday's opening draw is at 1 p.m.

** Ohio Wesleyan softball celebrated its new field on campus with a dedication ceremony on April 19. The new Margaret Sagan Field softball team back to campus for the first time since 2000. The ceremony included a visit by primary benefactor, and namesake, Margaret Pickett Sagan ’48 (seated).

** Wabash sophomore Brock Graham will be featured in the third issue of Champion, a magazine produced by the NCAA to share student-athlete stories. Brock has packed a lot into his two years as a Little Giants - he's traveled to Botswana with 20 of his fellow students to serve as missionaries during spring break. He's helped the Little Giants win back-to-back NCAC football titles and a berth in the 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. He's worked so hard in the classroom as a religion major that he will be able to graduate in December, a full 17 months ahead of the remaining members of his freshmen class.

And now Brock will be featured on the cover of the summer issue of Champion, which will be sent to NCAA members in late July. You can check out the current spring issue online at www.ncaachampionmagazine.com. The Wabash Football blog has a post sharing the cover shoot experience.

** Wooster men's lacrosse topped Tri-State last night, 14-6, to improve to 10-2 overall. The 10 wins are the most for the Fighting Scots in a single season since 1996.

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

** Former Allegheny quarterback Jeff Filkovski, who led the Gators to the 1990 NCAA Division III championship, has been named head football coach at Marietta.

** Kenyon junior attack Devin Catlin was named Inside Lacrosse Division III Nike Player of the Week after helping the Lords to one of the biggest wins in their history.

The Lords were behind five goals to 12th-ranked Roanoke College when Catlin sparked a seven-goal run. Kenyon went on to win the game, 14-11. He had three goals during the run and finished the game with four goals and two assists.

Kenyon is off to a 2-1 start this spring.

** UPDATE: Photos from Rob Johnson's Retirement Banquet

The 2007 outdoor track & field season is something of a farewell tour for Wabash head coach Rob Johnson. This season will be the last for Rob, a coach, mentor, and friend of the Little Giants for the past 37 years. He will be honored at a retirement banquet on Saturday, April 19. For more information or to make reservations, contact Michele Tatar in the Wabash Alumni and Parent Relations Office by email or phone (765-361-6369).

Rob took over the Wabash track and field and cross country programs in 1972 and coaches both sports up until this past fall, when he handed over the reins of the cross country program to one of his many former All-Americans, Roger Busch ’96.

In addition to his storied career with the Little Giants, Rob was the first NCAA Division III coach to serve as an assistant coach with the United States Olympic team when he served the team at the 2000 Sydney Games. He has long been involved with the Olympic Development Committee and helped coach two US Junior National Teams. For more click here.

** Former Wabash basketball player Joshua Kendrick has led the Brownsburg (IN) boys basketball team to their first IHSAA state championship game.

** Wabash football player Mitch Brown will present "The History of the Brown County Art Colony" at Rockville (IN) Public Library at 7 p.m. March 25. His presentation will focus on prominent artists who took up residence in Brown County and helped establish a century-old outlet for artists to showcase their work.

** For the 10th consecutive year, the Wittenberg football program will host a golf outing to raise funds for the program. This year's event is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, at Reid Memorial Golf Course in Springfield. The event will be a four-person scramble with a shotgun start, and it will include prizes, raffles, dinner and awards. The cost of participation is $75 for those who pre-register, $85 on the day of the outing, and $50 for those only attending the dinner. All proceeds from this year's event will go toward the purchase of audio-visual equipment, computer software and field equipment for the football program. The registration deadline is Friday, June 1. For more information or to request an entry form, contact Head Coach Joe Fincham at (937) 327-6498.

Wittenberg LAX Standout Heads to England

Wittenberg freshman Matt Lord will make his collegiate debut in two weeks when the Tigers host Tri-State. In three months, he'll make an even bigger entrance onto the world's stage.

Lord, whose father was born in England, was selected to play for England's U-19 National Team after a tryout in Philadelphia last month. He heads to the United Kingdom in May to train with the team. The 2008 U-19 World Games are scheduled for July in Canada.

Click here for the full story

Around the NCAC

** Fans can support Earlham men's and women's basketball at tonight's pep rally. A silent auction, to support the women's soccer team, will also be a part of the weekend's festivities. For more info, click here.

** Denison men's lacrosse is hosting its second annual clinic for coaches and players on Jan. 12. Instructors will include coaches from Div. I and III. For more info, click here.

** Denison softball will also offer two half-day skill clinics, on Jan. 20. For more info, click here.

** The Kenyon Athletic Center received one of 10 Athletic Business 2007 Facility of Merit awards. The KAC also has a shot at being named the 2007 facility of the year. For more info, click here.

** Wittenberg senior Emily Bell was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division second team. She is only the second Tiger volleyball player to earn Academic All-America honors, following in the footsteps of Dawn Reinhardt, a third-team selection in 1998.