NAPERVILLE, Ill.— Junior Matt Molinaro(Sterling Heights, Mich./DeLasalle) was named an All-American and National Runner Up in the 800-meter run as he competed on Day 2 of the NCAA Div. III National Championships at North Central (Ill.) College on Saturday afternoon.
Molinaro qualified for Saturday's finals with the fastest time heading into the second day.
The junior finished second and earned All-America honors in a personal best time of 1:51.53.
Softball wins 2
ADA -- The Ohio Northern softball team wrapped up its Spring Break trip with a pair of pitching duel victories on Saturday.
"I'm really proud of my team and how we fought tonight," said head coach Michele Durand. "We fought to the end and didn't give up. We had a great season and these girls have nothing to be ashamed of."
The No. 5-ranked Ohio Northern women's basketball team saw its historical season come to an end on Saturday evening at the ONU Sports Center in the Elite 8 round the of the 2017 Women's NCAA Div. III Basketball Tournament.
The Polar Bears end the season 30-1 overall, while the Captains continue on the the Final Four and improve to 29-2.
Four players scored in double figures for ONU led by junior Amy Bullimore's (Morrow/Little Miami) 19 points.
Bullimore also added game-high's in rebounds (7) and blocks (2).
Senior Britt Lauck (Lima/Shawnee) eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her career as she tallied 14 points and added three assists and two steals.
By Monty Siekerman
Here's an update on the Ohio Northern vs Christopher Newport women's basketball game underway tonight.
Ohio Northern cut the lead to 4 points with under three minutes to play and the crowd went wild, but the tide turned and Christopher Newport advances to the Division III final four.
• Final score - Christopher Newport University (Virginia) 76
Ohio Northern University 66
• End of third quarter Christopher Newport 51 - ONU 42.
• End of first quarter 18-18.
During second quarter ONU shots wouldn’t go in, while Christopher Newport hit 3-pointers after 3-pointers.
COLUMBUS - Gutsy Ada junior wrestler Chase Sumner had his fine season ended by a severe high left ankle sprain in the 138 lb. bracket Friday at the Div. III state meet in Columbus at the Schottenstein Center.
Despite the injury, Sumner fought his way to the seventh-place match and finished his campaign with a sparkling 40-5 record. He became the first two-time state meet placer (top-eight finisher) in Bulldog wrestling history.
The injured Sumner was pinned by Brian Persinger of Wooster Tri-way (42-8) in the consolation quarters Friday evening to end his dreams of a top-four finish.
Monty Siekerman shares his photos from Friday night's ONU women's victory below:
• Celebration huddle after the game in mid court. The ONU women owned the court Saturday night, decisively beating a team which had only 1 loss all season.
• Standing next to the trophy in King Horn, are Joe Campoli, coach of the 1993 ONU men's basketball team which won the NCAA Division III national tournament, and ONU coach head women's coach Michelle Durand, who just might take home a similar trophy next weekend. When the women win (hopefully) Saturday at King Horn, it's off to the Final Four in Grand Rapids, Mich.
