A note from athletics director Phill Talavinia, talaviniap@bluffton.edu
Let me say thank you to all who attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Jan. 29. It was a festive evening despite the snow that fell most of the day. I would encourage each of you in the future to attend this very significant athletics department event. I also want to thank the men’s basketball alumni, family, and friends for attending the alumni game on Feb. 19. It was great to see everyone and talk about old times. I might add that the stories get better every year.
We are nearing the halfway mark of our stated goal for TEAM Bluffton. The coaches are very appreciative of your support and generosity. However, we still need the other half to complete this year’s project. Please consider a donation today so that all of our teams can benefit from your generosity.
On a sad note, condolences are extended to the family of Kathryn (Kate) Little. Kate passed away on Feb. 14 at the age of 91. Kate was a 1959 graduate of Bluffton and was an instructor in the HPER Department from 1958 through the mid 1970’s. She was the first female employee and coach in the Bluffton athletics department and was instrumental in establishing the women’s athletics program. The senior female athlete of the year award is named in her honor. Please keep the Little family in your thoughts and prayers.
Please come and watch our teams play and thanks again for your support of Bluffton athletics - past, present and future.
Baseball: Head Coach James Grandey, grandeyj@bluffton.edu
Over the past few weeks, the baseball team has been working very hard in preparation for opening day vs. Otterbein on March 2. We are all ready to get out of the gyms and start practicing outside. We are hoping the weather will cooperate with us!
I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on our recruiting progress. To date, we have had 84 recruits visit campus. We are looking to bring in another class of 20 recruits this fall. This class, along with the current freshmen we have, will serve as the foundation of the program in the years to come. We hope to maintain a roster size of between 40 and 45 players. This allows us to play junior varsity games, as well as giving us better depth at key positions, most importantly on the mound.
Once again, we encourage you to come see us play this spring. Our schedule is on line at www.blufftonbeavers.com/baseball
Men’s Basketball: Head Coach Guy Neal, nealg@bluffton.edu
Every basketball coach and team hopes to be in a position to accomplish some great things as they head down the home stretch of the season in February. It is this point in the season when you see if all of the hard work you have put in, related to the various parts of the program, is paying benefits. The weight lifting, the running, the individual skill work, the team work both offensively and defensively, the scouting reports and the tape sessions that we have been involved with since Oct. 15 are showing positive returns on our investment of time and effort.
I am proud to report that our basketball team, especially after our huge win over
Be sure to check in at our web page throughout the next few weeks to see how we do!
Our alumni game was Feb. 19 and several alumni came back to campus and participated in the game. It was a great time and it was good to see many former Bluffton basketball players.
Women’s Basketball: Head Coach Amanda Curtis, curtisa@bluffton.edu
With the end of the season rapidly approaching the Bluffton women’s basketball team is preparing for the last games of the season and the HCAC tournament. We were able to get a quality win over Manchester College at the start of the conference season and have been in many close games this including a one point loss to Hanover College and an overtime loss to the number one team in the conference, Transylvania University.
There has been a lot of improvement already and we believe we can continue to improve through the end of the season. Our last home game was Feb. 12, versus
Cross Country/Track and Field: Head Coach Janey Meeks, meeksj@bluffton.edu
The Bluffton track and field teams have just one more indoor meet left. Both the men’s and women’s teams have seen much success this indoor season. The women have seen four new school records set this season. Senior Jana Hammer came out strong breaking the 55m dash record in the first meet of the season. The 4x200m relay team consisting of Jana Hammer, Amanda Habegger, Rita Muether and Cindy Allan finished fourth at the All-Ohio Championships while also setting a new school record.
Our throwers have had strong showings throughout the season and new records have been set in both the shot put and weight throw. Senior Michelle Bailey set the weight throw record and freshman Mariel Nash set a new standard in the shot put. The men’s team has also set four new school records. Both the 800m and long jump records had stood for the past 19 years. Junior Dan Rosebrock’s new record was good for a fifth place finish in the 800m at the All-Ohio Championships. The long jump record was set by freshman Kevin Davis. This performance was good enough to make him the All-Ohio long jump champion. We can expect great things from Kevin Davis over the next few years. The men’s distance medley relay team consisting of Jordan Bruner, Shandon North, Tyler Fairchild and Dan Rosebrock smashed the previous school record by 20 seconds and have been running strong all season.
The final record that was broken was in the shot put. This was done by sophomore Steve Myers. He is becoming a force to contend with in the throwing events. Both the men’s and women’s teams are looking to keep the momentum going for our next two meets and are optimistic that we will see even more success during the outdoor season. Please check out the Bluffton athletics website for all the latest news in Bluffton Track and Field.
Football: Head Coach Greg Brooks, brooksg@bluffton.edu
The 2005 spring semester may be as busy as the fall term for the Bluffton football team and coaches. Weight training and “movement” drills are the focus of our football players along with last minute fundraising, necessary for the 38 traveling to
Plans have been set for ten practices in April to culminate the off-season program. Approximately 60 players will participate in helmet and shoulder pad practices to set the stage for the fall campaign. Those team members as well as several of the graduating seniors will be involved in the
Goals for the spring term include mental and physical conditioning along with working through offensive and defensive structural changes for next fall. The team welcomes back a healthy Jared Owens (QB), injured for nine of the ten games last fall. Key seniors to be replaced include starting tackles Alan Estep and Ben Mahas, along with All-Conference tight end, Mark Gable. Defensively, a challenge exists to replace standout linebacker Scott Steiner, as well as defensive end Andy Tabler and defensive back Matt Chiles. The experience gained by those practicing this spring will be critical to the team’s success this fall.
Excitement among the team is obvious as the off-season program gears up during the “developmental” winter months. Our players know that our program will improve based on what is accomplished during this time. Hopes are very high for a title run this fall.
Men’s and Women’s Soccer: Head Coach Steve Smucker, smuckers@bluffton.edu
As the men’s and women’s soccer teams prepare for the fall, there are always going to be transitions. This fall Ben Simcox, a familiar face in the Bluffton soccer program, will be leaving. Having completed his Masters of Health Education degree, Ben and his wife will be moving on. “Ben has been instrumental in keeping the soccer program going in a positive direction throughout a great deal of change. Ben’s passion for the game and his dedication will be missed, and as a head coach – I’m extremely grateful for the way in which Ben acquainted me with Bluffton and Division III soccer.”
Taking Ben’s place this fall will be Rick Nussbaum. Rick has always been involved with soccer throughout his life. From his playing career at
Upcoming Bluffton Soccer Events:
March 5 – 4 v 4 Indoor women’s High School Tournament, hosted by our University women’s soccer team
March 19 – Bluffton University Soccer Clinic in conjunction with
April 9 -
April 23 –
Softball: Head Coach Holly Spann, spannh@bluffton.edu
The
Men’s Tennis: Head Coach Blake Kindle, kindleb@bluffton.edu
The 2004-05 Men’s tennis team is currently in the middle of their pre-season conditioning. It consists of lifting weights 3 days per week, sprint-training two days per week, and playing indoors at Orchard Hills tennis club in
Women’s Tennis: Head Coach Jessica Grandey, grandeyjg@bluffton.edu
The women’s tennis team is currently working hard to prepare themselves for the matches in March. With an off-season workout they are in the weight room, in the gym or outside hitting. The tennis team will play against
Volleyball: Head Coach Sara Wakefield, wakefields@bluffton.edu
The volleyball team continues to hold open gyms and lifting sessions as they prepare for next fall. Under the leadership of team captains Keri Kuhlman (Junior, middle hitter, Shelby, Ohio) and Jamie Shores (Sophomore, outside hitter, Waukegon, Ill.), the team is committed to improvement and a strong off-season. They have invited all interested recruits to attend an open gym in Founders on March 2, and hope that this experience will help each player solidify her decision to come and be a part of Beaver volleyball next fall.
As they head into March, the team will begin true off-season practices and will be allowed to practice with a coach for a total of 16 days before their spring tournament. NCAA rules for the off-season (or non-traditional season) change from year to year, and currently the team is only allowed to participate in one day of competition in the spring. Former players will remember the fun of playing in an all-day tournament with no referees and certainly the excitement of discovering the potential of the future team. Last year the team won the spring tournament at The College of Wooster and will look to come home with another spring tournament championship Apr. 23, as they travel to
