Here’s a recap of Bluffton University fall sports teams from last week.
Cross country
The Bluffton Beavers traveled to Oberlin College on Saturday, Oct. 19 and ran fantastic races at the annual Inter-Regional Rumble!
The ladies took off from the line first in the open 6k race. Once again, senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) came in first for the Beavers with a 3rd place finish in an impressive season-best time of 23:25. Junior Bailie Barrington (Waynesfield, OH/Waynesfield-Goshen) had an amazing comeback race, coming in 2nd for the team at a time of 23:56, which is a season best for her. Senior Arie Cox (Ontario, OH/Ontario) ran to an impressive 20-second personal record of 24:13.
Junior Kimmie Hetrick (Fremont, OH/Ross) crossed the line 4th with a time of 25:29. Senior Tami Groff (Versailles, OH/Versailles) rounded out the top 5 with a season best showing of 26:33. Sophomore Hope Nixon (Johnstown, OH/Johnstown-Monroe), with a season best, and freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua, OH/Crestwood), with a personal record, were 6th and 7th for the Beavers.
The women put together an impressive team finish of 7th out of 25 teams.
"This was the best group race this year that we have had. There is definitely another level of racing the ladies have in themselves and I know they can accomplish it. The race today was a huge step in the right direction and it brought a lot of confidence for them since conference is in two weeks," stated Head Coach Logan Wells.
The guys took off next in the open 8k race and they were looking to step up on Saturday. Dakota Frost (Edgerton, OH/Hicksville) came in with an impressive 19th finish thanks to a season-best of 26:54. Right on Frost's heels was fellow senior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville, OH/Utica) who had a stout finish and a personal record of 27:00. Freshman Max Chandler (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) came in 3rd for the team with a season best of 27:53.
Sophomore Austin Hernandez (Marion, OH/Ridgedale) took 4th for the team with a time of 28:42, which destroyed his previous personal record. Rounding out the top 5 was freshman Morgan Adams (Dublin, OH/Coffman) with an amazing 2-minute personal record with a time of 30:05.
The guys finished with a solid 13th place finish out of 28 teams.
"Not having Britton at the race was not a great situation for the men in the team standings, but we had a lot of guys step up and run either personal records or season bests. Hernandez knocked another minute off of his personal record, Adams took two minutes off his personal record and Gulick shaved 10 seconds off his personal record. This was great to see the entire team step up when one of our best runners could not run," said Coach Wells.
"Overall, there were five personal records, and six season bests between both teams out of a total of 12 runners. The exciting thing for me as a coach is when the team can do that, it was a good day, and I know they can run even better," Coach Wells said when looking towards conference in two weeks.
The Beavers will head to Terre Houte, Ind., for the HCAC Championships on Sunday, Nov. 3. The women will take off at noon and with the men slated for a 1 p.m. start.
Men’s golf
The Bluffton University men's golf team shaved 21 strokes off its Saturday score when the Beavers wrapped up their 2019 slate with a 323 at the Virtues Fall Shootout on Sunday, Oct. 20. Bluffton took 8th, just 16 strokes behind HCAC-rival Mount St. Joseph.
Freshman Evan Kujawa (Toledo/Whitmer) shot a team-low 76 on Sunday giving him a Bluffton-best 159 for the tournament. Sophomore Nick Offenburger (Lexington) went 81-83 for the tournament (164). Dominic Castelvetere (Ontario) and Clay Quellhorst (St. Marys/Memorial) also found Sunday to their liking as they shot 80 and 84, respectively, after rounds of 89 and 91 on Saturday.
Bluffton will return to the links in March when the team travels to Pinehurst, North Carolina, for spring break in the new year.
Women’s soccer
The Bluffton University women's soccer team continued to show improvement despite dropping a 2-0 decision to Hanover College, a school that holds a perfect 25-0 mark in the all-time series with the Beavers. Bluffton slipped to 5-9 overall and 2-3 in the Heartland Conference, while Hanover improved to 7-5-1 and 4-1 in the HCAC.
The Panthers netted a goal in each half while finishing with a 28-7 edge in total shots (13-4 on frame). Hanover was whistled for two more fouls (10-8) and the visitors forced 10 of the 12 corner kicks for the match.
Junior keeper Jules Frazier (Nova/Mapleton) notched 11 saves for the Beavers.
Bluffton will head south down Interstate 75 on Wednesday, Oct. 23, for a 7:30 p.m. meeting with Heartland Conference rival Mount St. Joseph.
Men’s soccer
The Bluffton University men's soccer team hosted Hanover College for a Heartland Conference matchup against the Panthers on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. The Beavers suffered a 7-1 defeat at the hands of the Panthers. Bluffton fell to 5-10 (0-5 HCAC) on the season, while Hanover improved to 7-5-1 (4-1 HCAC).
The Beaver offense struggled, totaling only two shots for the day. The Panthers fired 34 shots, including a blistering 18 on goal in their victory.
Tanner Newport (Hamilton, VA/Loudoun Valley) picked up 11 saves in the loss. Both teams were whistled for eight fouls, but Hanover forced six more corner kicks than the Beavers (8-2).
Bluffton will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 23, when the Beavers welcome Mount St. Joseph for another HCAC clash at 3 p.m.
Volleyball
The Bluffton University volleyball team battled Hanover College for five sets before falling to the Panthers (11-25, 25-22, 25-20, 23-25, 15-8) on Saturday, Oct. 19. Following a two-hour break in which Otterbein took down Hanover in four sets, the Cardinals capped their trip to Bluffton with a convincing sweep of the Beavers (25-16, 25-15, 25-12). Bluffton fell to 5-20 on the season with a 1-4 mark in the Heartland Conference.
Powering the Bluffton offense with a career-high tying 24 kills was junior Remi Bower (Deshler/Patrick Henry) who also added seven digs and two blocks. Sarah Heydinger (Tiro/Buckeye Valley) hammered home 17 winners and three blocks against the Panthers. Sophomore Maddie White (Ashland) was one assist from her career high with 52 helpers in the five-setter. Freshman Kaylie Campbell (Camden Preble Shawnee) stuffed the Panthers with four blocks.
Four Beavers cracked double figures in digs, led by sophomore Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) with 26 pickups. Chelsey Taylor (Hicksville) got it done with a career-high 21 digs, while White and freshman Courtney Weekley (Butler/Clear Fork) added 10 apiece. Taylor also added a pair of aces.
Bower came back with nine kills against the Cardinals. White handed out 14 assists and Elle Price (Findlay) dished out eight helpers. Kleman topped the Beavers with 13 digs in the nightcap against an Otterbein club that is now 20-4 on the season.
Bluffton will head to North Manchester, Ind., for a 7 p.m. meeting with Heartland Conference rival Manchester University on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
