Home Game Hits: January Sports Recap

Ohio Northern bustled with excitement as the spring semester kicked off. Fresh sets of classes, unpredictable winter weather and dominating sporting events are a few things students could anticipate as they returned to campus. Winter sports gained traction quickly with exciting wins over longtime rivals.

Let’s take a look at January’s most significant sports moments on campus.

Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving

The Polar Bears concluded the regular season at home against Mount Union. For the first time in program history, the men’s team secured an undefeated season record of 8-0. Senior Selby Wilt led his teammates to a 186-108 victory against Mount Union by winning four events, including two individual races and two relays. The women’s team fell short at the meet and ultimately ended the season with a 5-3 losing record.  

The swim meet not only marked an end to the regular season, but was a celebration of the graduating Polar Bears. Senior Day festivities honored 12 swimmers and divers who made an impact on the team. The season is not over yet, though, for the athletes will return to the water in mid-February to participate in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Championships at Akron’s Ocasek Natatorium. 

Men’s and Women’s Basketball

One of the most notable sporting events of the month was a basketball doubleheader against Mount Union. The men’s and women’s teams were scheduled to play the first Saturday of the semester: the same weekend as the winter storm warnings. The impending weather did not deter the Polar Bear community from supporting their athletes. 

Both teams defeated Mount Union, with the men winning 64-50 and women winning 56-50. Ultimately, the basketball games held that weekend were about more than OAC rivalries. Supporters of breast cancer research gathered for the Bake a Difference fundraiser, local families cheered for Ada Elementary students being recognized for their reading skills at halftime, and retired athletes returned to celebrate Alumni Day with their alma mater.  

January was a busy month for the basketball program. Additional challengers include Heidelberg where, once again, the Polar Bears emerged victorious. The men’s team won 71-43 thanks to senior Will Miller, who earned 15 points during the game. Sophomore Emerson Gray led the women’s team to a 80-66 win by scoring a career-high of 32 points. Baldwin Wallace was another foe the Polar Bears faced with the men coming out on top 66-50 and the women falling 55-46.

Men’s and Women’s Track and Field

Ohio Northern hosted the annual Joe Banks Invitational in the Sports Center at the end of January. The event honors the legacy of Joseph Banks, who held a variety of positions on campus including head track and field coach and assistant football coach (1960-1967), Associate Director of Admissions (1971-1984), an ONU Alumni Association board member, and more. Before he came to the university, Banks served under General George Patton during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II with the Third Army’s 965th Ordinance Heavy Automotive Maintenance Company.

The invitational’s history adds significance for participating student-athletes, pushing both the men’s and women’s teams to earn first place. Notable athletes include freshmen Cale Wilson, who broke ONU’s 26-year-old triple jump record during his first attempt as a collegiate athlete. Senior Claire Schweller won the pole vault with a career-high of 3.97 meters. 

Wrestling

The wrestling team extended its undefeated conference streak with a win against fellow OAC competitor Otterbein University. Students and families gathered in the stands to watch the matches as the event marked the first home event of the spring semester. The evening ended with a shutout for the second time this season with the Polar Bears scoring 48-0. 

Takeaways

The intense sports calendar for January marks the beginning of a busy semester for the Polar Bears. The victories were a sweet reward for the countless hours of hard work and dedication invested in their skills. May the past month’s momentum carry student-athletes towards winning seasons as they enter a new month of worthy competitors.