Is it really March already? Time seems to have flown by and with it comes the news of the post season for various winter sports as well as the start of spring sports.
Winter sports round-up
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams clinched the UAA title and automatic bids to the NCAA tournament which starts in just four days. The men host the first and second rounds taking on the Blue Jays of Westminster College. No. 25 Central College and Illinois Wesleyan University will both travel to Wash. U.
The No. 6 women’s team heads off to Kentucky to face Maryville (Tenn.). The Lady Bears might consider roadtripping with neighboring Fontbonne University who is also competing in the same pod. Thomas More takes on the Griffins in first round action.
Track and field heads off to the UAA conference championship in Brandeis, Mass. this weekend for their last chance to qualify for nationals. One week later, several Bears will be competing at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. Sophomore Dan Davis has already automatically qualified in the 55 meter high hurdles. Davis, senior Chris Malaya, junior Ben Harmon and senior Pierre Hoppenot have provisionally qualified in the 4 x 400 relay. Sophomore Dave Spandorfer has provisionally qualified for the 5,000 meter run as well. On the women’s side, the distance medley squad of juniors Sangeeta Hardy, Kelli Blake, sophomore Erica Jackey and senior Molly Schlamb have automatically qualified.
The swimming and diving team will send several athletes to the NCAA national championships. Senior Alex Beyer is guaranteed a spot in the 400 Individual Medley, 200 Freestyle, and 500 Freestyle. Many of his teammates have submitted provisional times including two in individual events by both sophomore Chris Valach and senior Dima Galkin. On the women’s side, senior Jessie Lodewyk will be at nationals for the 1,650 Freestyle. Sophomore Karina Stridh has posted several provisional times.
Spring Sports
The No. 3 men’s tennis team added another chapter to their rivalry with Emory University by defeating the Eagles 5-4 in the ITA Division III National Indoor Championship semifinals. The Bears were unable to sustain the momentum and fell 6-2 to top ranked University of California- Santa Cruz in the championship match. The women’s tennis team played hard but fell 5-4 against No. 11 DePauw University and 8-1 against No. 4 University of Chicago earlier in February. Both squads travel down South for several matches.
Softball opened up the season with 7-4 win over Rhodes College and a 12-9 win over Hendrix College this weekend. Baseball had a 2-1 record during their opening weekend at Kelly Field. The Bears split a doubleheader with Coe College, winning the first game 3-1 before being shut out in an 8-0 loss. The Red and Green then overcame a five run deficit in a 6-5 victory over Fontbonne University. Both baseball and softball head to Florida for the UAA championships.