Spring sports are in the process of springing into action. Let’s take a look at last year’s statistics and see what the Tigers have been up to in the off season.
Men’s Lacrosse
Last season, the red and white went 4-11 on the season. They managed 169 goals in 15 games and averaged 41 shots per game. Out of those shots, they averaged 11.27 goals per game and walked away with 88 assists on the season. At the conclusion of the 2019 season head coach Jay Owen and assistant coach Danny Shields said goodbye to five seniors: Michael Carluccio, Cooper Swenson, Jerry Coyle, Jack Vierra and Beau Brewer.
The men’s lacrosse team has already kicked off their season at home with their first official game in The Steemer against the Colonels of Centre College. The Tigers captured their victory, 9-8 with Andrew Ellis (’21) making three of the nine goals.
Six new players have joined the team this year: James Fuller, Sam Francis, Mitchell Steinker, Thomas Jewett, James Pederson and William Martin. When the 2020 season comes to an end, the Tigers will say goodbye to seven seniors: Quinn McConkey, Tay Morton, Tony LeBarge, Matthew Welch, Patrick Wiley, Noah Moderwell and Jack Wolfe.
The Tigers are hitting the road to face Otterbein on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse
The 2020 season was an even split for the Tigers as they went 8-8 on the season, and they ended the season on a two-game win streak. The red and white walked away with 217 goals under their belts and 83 assists. The Tigers averaged 13.56 goals per game off of their 35.19 shots per game. At the conclusion of the season, head coach Margaret Wolford and assistant coach Casey Ryan had to say goodbye to the seniors: Gretchen Burkey, Madeline Stock and Emily Wadds.
This year the women’s lacrosse team has welcomed seven freshmen to the team: Mya Wolfe, Cecelia Critchfield, Libby Wadds, Katie Wadds, Hannah Feder, Sophie Weintraub and Jillian Connelly. There are four seniors on the team this season: Sami Skelly, Rachel Bernard, Gabby Zysik and Faith Meads.
The Tigers will kick off their season at home on Wednesday, Feb. 19 in The Steemer at 7 p.m. against the Pioneers of Transylvania University.
Baseball
Last year the baseball team knocked a winning season out of the park, going 19-16 overall. The Tigers went 9-9 in conference competition and scored 251 runs throughout the season, with 24 homeruns. The season ended with the team graduating four seniors: Greg Vanerstrom, Jace Barga, Matt Baker and Brandon Beegle.
This season head coach Brian McGee and the coaching staff have welcomed eleven freshmen: Maxwell Monachino, Joe Horoszko, Chase Whisner, Dylan Jackson, Jacob Boyd, Jake Hutchins, Carson Rengel, Nick Cunningham, Justin Maynard, Connor Goss and Matt Moore. There are currently 1o seniors on the team: Ryan Probst, Patrick Kenny, Justin Bargar, Michael Flynn, Adam Mays, Andrew Shanor, Chase Carpenter, Aaron Fasano, Andrew Hammond and Jacob Muhleman.
The Tigers are kicking off their season on Saturday, Feb. 29 in Westfield, IN against Albion College, the first pitch is set for 11 a.m.
Softball
Last season, the Tigers went 10-27-1 overall and were 5-10-1 in conference play. The red and white scored 160 runs during the season with 10 homeruns. The Tigers sent four seniors into the real world at the conclusion of last season: Lauren Buelow, Missy Lee, Elyssa LaBine and Abby Curnutte.
This season head coach Shannon Schaub and coaching staff welcomed seven players to the Tiger field in August: Cecelia Phillips, Sydney Wade, Samantha Lindsey, Fayth Hill, Audra Ledbetter, Samantha Casteel and Hannah Weymouth. While it is always exciting to welcome new blood to the team, at the conclusion of the season they will have to send off: Briana Gibson and Victoria Toetz.
The Tigers are starting off the season by hitting the road and heading to Marietta College on Saturday, Feb. 29 with the first pitch slated for 11:30 a.m.
Track and Field
Last season, the track and field team competed at 27 meets. The team currently has three coaches and two graduate assistants. Paris Hilliard was named head coach in the Fall of 2019, stepping into the role after Craig Penney’s final year on staff. Hilliard is assisted by Brandon Litz as head distance coach and Joel Drake as an assistant coach.
Last season, the Tigers said goodbye to 10 men’s track and field athletes and three women’s athletes: Leah Hilley, Kyla McGee, Samantha Mitchell, Brad Arledge, D’Anthony Dorsey, Matt Entsminger, Kyle Farnbacuch, Ryan Hale, Curtis Quimby, Charles Rodeheffer, Charles Samuel, Evan Schreiber and Tyler Swanson.
This season there were seven men and 11 female athletes welcomed to the track and field teams: Zeke Bennett, Evan Cordle, Austin Fickeisen, Ian McCandlish, Deven Ramsey, Evan Sugrue, Caden Zellner, Caroline Arndt, Macy Berner, Amya Brown, Hannah Hayes, Alyssa Jones, Tiffany Moss, Claire Muia, Kara Owens, Alina Palombi, Chloe Turner and Leah Vogt.
At the conclusion of this season there will be four women and six male athletes graduating: Alexis Gray, Ashley Highfield, Katie Hodson, Madison Nadler, Garrin Bachinski, Tyler Branton, Brandon Johnson, Jaycee Perry, Aaron Rutherford and Jonathan Seay.
The Tigers will next compete at home in The Steemer for The Steemer Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Women’s Water Polo
In their first season as a varsity sport on campus, the red and white went 8-13 overall and were 4-7 in conference. The nine-woman team graduated one senior at the conclusion of the 2019 season: Emily Sarver.
This season, head coach Sivan Pardon has welcomed three freshmen to the team: Savannah Morgenroth-Cross, Meghan Lythgoe and Kailey Cordova. The team will graduate one senior at the end of this season: Savannah Phillips.
The Tigers have already started their season and will compete next against Gannon University in Washington, PA on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 11:10 a.m.
