In just his second year as head coach of the Ohio Northern men's basketball program, Rich Bensman had the Polar Bears vying for an Ohio Athletic Conference in 2017-18.
Despite being picked to finish sixth in the Ohio Athletic Conference coaches preseason poll prior to the season, Northern posted its best season in 11 years on its way to a trip to the OAC Tournament Championship game.
The Polar Bears finished the season with a 19-9 record, its most wins since the 2006-07 ONU men's basketball team compiled 19 wins. Northern gave a solid effort in the OAC regular season race, finishing third in the conference standings with a 12-6 mark in the OAC.
WOOSTER — The Ohio Northern softball team swept Wooster 5-0, 5-0 and moved its winning streak to five straight games on Wednesday afternoon at Galpin Park.
The Polar Bears improve to 15-3 overall, while the Scots drop to 7-11.
Senior Kirsten Lightel (Tallmadge) and junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) each pitched complete game victories for ONU in the pitchers circle.
Lightel moves to 8-1 on the season, while Surdej is now 7-2.
Junior Austin Frey of Peoria, Ariz., and a solid effort from the Northern defense led the Ohio Northern baseball team to a 4-2 victory over area-rival Defiance on Wednesday afternoon during an overcast and damp day at Wander Field. With their second straight victory, the Polar Bears move to 12-6 overall, while the Yellow Jackets drop to 6-7.
Ohio Northern sophomore attacker Cameron Marous (Brecksville) was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division III Team of the Week for the week of March 19-25.
Marous set a school record with 10 points (four goals, six assists) and tied a school record with six assists in ONU's 17-6 win against Beloit (Wis.) on Saturday.
He had two goals and five assists in the first half as the Polar Bears opened an 11-2 lead.
This season, Marous leads the Ohio Athletic Conference in scoring with 24 goals and 41 points and is third with 17 assists.
DOLA - The Ada baseball team erupted for six runs in the fifth inning and Phillip Coulson was strong in relief as the Bulldogs won their season opener at county rival Hardin Northern Monday evening, 6-2.
HN scored two quick runs in the bottom of the first frame to go up 2-0 off Ada starter Alex Sweigart. The hosts held that lead until the top of the fifth, when Ada struck for all six of its runs.
The Ohio Northern softball team opened the home portion of its schedule with a 4-0, 2-1 sweep of Hanover College on Mondayafternoon at the ONU Softball Field.
The Polar Bears improve to 13-3 overall, while the Panthers fall to 10-8.
Junior Kaitlin Surdej (Lancaster/Central) threw a 4-hit shutout for ONU in Game 1 and sophomore Brady Guest (Convoy/Crestview) drilled a 2-run home run to lead Ohio Northern in Game 2.
