Home Game Hits: December Sports Highlights

Student athletes have worked overtime this past month to excel in their sports while simultaneously gearing up for the stress of finals week. The season’s academic rigor was no match for the Polar Bears as they claimed several exciting wins as the semester wrapped up.

Take a closer look at December’s most memorable sports moments on campus.

Men’s Basketball

The men’s basketball team faced two defeats in the beginning of the month against Hope College (Mich.) and Wilmington College. Things took a turn in the team’s final December home game against Capital University. The student section was full of Polar Bears decked out in Christmas gear and taking a study break for the finals awaiting them. Capital proved to be a worthy opponent, but they were no match for Ohio Northern. The matchup concluded with an 87-83 victory for the Polar Bears.

Perhaps the most notable moment of the game was when senior Will Miller surpassed 1,000 career points. Cheers erupted from the stands as the announcer declared the milestone mid-game. Miller earned his membership in the 1,000-Point Club at Ohio Northern in his 85th career game and scored 1,010 points by the end of the night. He is the 41st member of the club in the varsity basketball program’s 115 seasons.

Women’s Basketball

The women’s basketball team took over the court shortly after the men’s victory against Capital. Tension swept through the sports center, for Capital was determined to go home with at least one victory that night while the Polar Bears were eager to continue Ohio Northern’s winning streak. Capital proved to be a formidable opponent in the close game, but the Polar Bears emerged victorious with a 68-60 win.

Sophomore Emerson Gray played a key role in the team’s success. Gray’s precision and focus helped her tie her career high of 22 points and secure nine rebounds, the most on the team.

Wrestling

Ohio Northern invited 12 teams to the King-Horn Sports Center for the 44th Annual ONU Invitational. Each team ultimately faced defeat as the Polar Bears claimed first place. Highlighting Ohio Northern’s dominant performance were Myles Johnson, Kurt Mokros, Londen Murphy and Ben Hegler, who each secured first-place finishes in their respective weight classes.

Takeaways

December was an exciting month for the Polar Bears. The victories marked a solid start for winter athletics and concluded the fall semester with strong performances. Athletes and fans are reminded of the Polar Bear community who shaped this past year as the holidays steadily approach.