The Ohio Northern softball team welcomes back a lion's share of its team in 2020. Seven of the eight players who logged at least 100 at-bats in 2019 come back along with two of the four pitchers who saw action last season.
"We do have a solid group returning," ONU head coach Jackie Price said. "We started a good amount of freshmen last year, and for them to get that experience, it was really good. So having those kids come back and teaching our younger kids the expectations and what we want from them, I think that will definitely help us this year."
When the Ohio Northern baseball team takes the diamond this spring, head coach Gene Stechschulte is confident in one thing above all others.
"The bulk of our season will be dependent on how our senior-dominant pitching staff does," Stechschulte said. "It's a pretty good situation, pitching wise, to have those guys. If we stay healthy on the pitching side, that will take some of the pressure off the hitting side."
And while Stechschulte is confident in his pitching staff's ability to be effective and carry the team, he wants even more out of them.
The Ohio Athletic Conference announced its 2019-20 All-OAC honorees Wednesday. A couple Polar Bears made the list.
Brynn Serbin (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) was named Freshman of the Year after averaging 5.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, a team-high 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She scored double figures in five games, which included a career-high 15 points in the OAC Tournament semifinals.
Senior Emily Mescher (Maria Stein/Marion Local) earned first-team All-OAC recognition. She poured in a team-best 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.
Eli Esguerra, Langston McClain and Marley Bulerin are all state-bound for OAC Grade School Wrestling Tourney and are members of the Ada Youth Wrestling Club.
Eli wrestled at the OAC Grade School District Championship in Thomas Worthington and took second place in the Division 4 110-pound bracket.
Langston wrestled at the OAC Grade School District Championship in Troy and finished in fourth place in the Division 3 65-pound bracket.
Marley wrestled at the OAC Grade School District Championship in Troy and she placed fourth in the Division 4 110-pound bracket.
The Ohio Northern men's tennis team fell to Cedarville 4-3 Wednesday in a match played at the USTA National Campus. The loss dropped the Polar Bears to 4-4 on the season.
Sophomore Noah Elliott (Hilliard/Davidson) and junior Hoang Do (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) teamed up to win at No. 2 doubles. They toppled Cole Moss and Philip Brumbaugh 7-6 (7-4).
Sophomores Zach Beaschler (Ada) and Andrew Cochran (Wooster) claimed a victory at No. 3 doubles. They downed Dawson Poling and Ryan Cvammen 6-4.
Ada High School graduate Mackenzie Wills experienced a record-setting spring break as a member of the ONU women’s tennis team.
With two singles victories on March 4, Wills moved within one of tying the ONU career record with 82 singles wins. She is 82-18 in her career, just trailing the 83 wins by Meghan Letizia from 2012-16.
The Ohio Northern women's tennis team ran its winning streak to seven matches with an 8-1 victory over Alvernia (Pa.) and a 9-0 win over St. Vincent (Pa.) March 4 at the USTA National Campus.
ONU (12-3 overall) finished its spring break trip with a 7-1 record, winning its final seven matches on the trip.
