WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Otterbein University athletic calendar recently came to an unfortunate and abrupt end, with leagues around the country and the NCAA as a whole shutting down competition due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Not only did the Coronavirus situation cancel winter and spring events, but it has also forced institutions to operate the remainder of semesters online. With campus population scarce, we take this opportunity to help reflect on the spring season that was and continue recognizing the outstanding seniors who helped represent our flock of Cardinals!

BASEBALL:
Having won pieces of four-straight OAC titles, this program was striving to rack up another trophy and get back to a fourth NCAA Tournament in as many years. Spearheaded by a list of standout players, including seniors Collin Hoffmann (pitcher) and Dmitri Collaros (second base), the group stood 8-5 on the season with quality opponents on the resume. They ended with a five-game winning streak and will soon hope to achieve an Academic All-America selection for the seventh year in a row.

Seniors Include: Collin Hoffmann, Dmitri Collaros, Tommy Murphy, Cody Goletz, Conor Crotty, Chris Sparks, Will Laidlaw, Alex Sharpe, Mason McGee, James Pearce and student assistant Colton Hann.

SOFTBALL:
The defending OAC Tournament champions, this squad took the diamond under second-year head coach Brooke Donovan ready to build on recent success and search for another NCAA bid. The Cards went 5-2 over a shortened spring trip, and stood 6-3 overall behind strong defense and reigning OAC Pitcher of the Week Jess Gunter. They only allowed more than four runs in one game, an 11-6 victory down in North Myrtle Beach.

Seniors Include: Miranda Fearigo, Kayla Queer, Alex McComb, Chase Brumfield, Courtney Hackney and Alyson McAdams.

MEN'S GOLF:
A true dynasty, these Cardinals were aiming to register a sixth-straight league crown (finished 1-2-3-4-5 individually at OAC Championships last spring) and return to nationals once again. Paced by a strong blend of upperclassmen leadership and young talent, they won the OAC Fall Preview by 19 shots and opened the spring with a nice showing at Moon Valley in Phoenix. Senior Kurt Fortman and sophomore Coury Rogers carded a pair of 73's that day.

Seniors Include: Kurt Fortman, Sam Marty, Spencer Jordan and Tyler Dunfee.

WOMEN'S GOLF:
The Cards were eager to build on a third-place finish from last year's OAC Championships, taking second at the most recent OAC Fall Preview and then culminating the season with another runner-up effort at Wooster. Sophomore Lyndsay Blum paced the lineup with a team-best 85.5 stroke average in the fall. Otterbein then launched the spring by topping Arizona Christian in a dual event at Moon Valley behind OAC Player of the Week Meg Thomas, and her round of 82.

Seniors Include: Maddie Durbin
 
MEN'S LACROSSE:
This very motivated group (led by a program-record 14 seniors) stood 4-2 in the early going, launching the schedule with a pair of nice home wins and OAC Player of the Week recognition for Xander Seal and Zach Groene. The Cards then beat Division II Adams State on their spring trip through Colorado, and secured the program's 100th victory in a thrilling 9-8 triumph at Oberlin. Logan Fenech netted the equalizer and game-winner down the stretch en route to another weekly honor from the league office.

Seniors Include: Robby Fields, Justin McKee, Tommy Kolibash, Rob McMahon, Carter Wheat, Mike Brendle, Collin Troxell, Jake Malik, Drake Fryman, Judson Huston, Jason McDonald, Tyler Fredette, Benny Tobias and Charlie LaShell.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE:
A first-year head coach had the Cards standing 4-2 overall, combining experience with youth across the field. The group began with an exciting 9-8 overtime win at Centre, then traded W-L results until two-straight wins recently encompassed a program single-game record 25 goals. Senior captain Julie Platz led the way from a leadership standpoint, while classmates Ema Pusecker and Tasha Williams had returned after taking a year off. Cam Finnegan led the team in scoring and recently surpassed 100 career points.

Seniors Include: Julie Platz, Ema Pusecker and Tasha Williams.

MEN'S TENNIS:
An OAC runner-up finish last spring had the Cardinals feeling optimistic, as evident by the recent 8-3 record against solid competition. The group stood a perfect 6-0 after an undefeated fall stretch, and improved during spring break out west in Oregon and Washington. That trip saw a pair of tough 5-4 losses, but the battle-tested lineup (led by a two-headed monster of juniors Brandon Wall and Connor Radune) returned to Ohio feeling confident. Lone senior Riley Yost held a combined 13-5 overall record.

Seniors Included: Riley Yost

WOMEN'S TENNIS:
Led by a trio of accomplished seniors at the top, these Cards were 10-1 on the season with their only loss coming against nationally-ranked Case Western Reserve. The team grinded to many competitive W's in the early going, including a wild and memorable 5-4 come-from-behind victory at Oberlin. A perfect 5-0 trip through Oregon and Washington then had the team 48-23 in singles play collectively and, more notably, eager to chase an OAC title.
Seniors Include: Sydney Bergman, Makayla Sutter and Marriella Briones.

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD:
A deep senior class of 14 paved the way for this diverse squad, which claimed runner-up status at both the All-Ohio and OAC Indoor Championships. Led by returning individual All-Americans Cwinn Febus and Chase Hampton, the program saw a long-jump record from Tyler Boales at the conference meet and eventually qualified for the NCAA's in three events. The possibilities for that big stage in North Carolina, along with all of outdoor season, were definitely looking up.

Seniors Include: Jesse Chirdon, Alex Clevinger, Mack Conlon, Joey Coogan, Jamey Ehret, Cwinn Febus, Nathan Forney, Chase Hampton, Max Hoffman, Tanner Sipes, Spencer Strohm, Jacob Thompson, Seth Vipperman and Gage Wells.

WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD:
Eight seniors, across a variety of events, were at the top of a strong roster looking to build momentum into spring. The Cards fought admirably but settled for runner-up finishes at the All-Ohio and OAC Indoor Championships, where senior Hailey Acosta routinely graced the podium by winning four league titles. The program was set to compete in two events at the NCAA's in Winston Salem, as freshman Destinee Rencher qualified in the long jump while the DMR of Davis, Acosta, Kowalewicz and Smith also snuck in.

Seniors Include: Hailey Acosta, Kennedy Black, Amanda Blais, Allison Currey, Sydney Phillips, Allison Rogiers, Erin Simko and Raquel Warner.
 
We will continue thinking of and celebrating our many student-athletes moving forward. Although the NCAA has decided to restore eligibility for any spring athlete affected by the pandemic, and not count this semester toward the limit of 10, it is still undecided as to who might exercise a redshirt option. Regardless, the future certainly looks bright and exciting across many sports at Otterbein.