Commanding Lead in the OAC All-Sports Trophy Race
BEREA, OHIO — The Baldwin-Wallace College women's winter sport teams swept the three available Ohio Athletic Conference titles and should now have a commanding lead as it seeks to win an OAC-record seventh straight Women's All-Sports trophy in 2004-2005.
The Yellow Jacket women's swimming and diving team began the sweep when it won the OAC title on February 12 in University Heights and at John Carroll University. The B-W women's basketball team followed suite a week later when it beat Otterbein College in Berea to clinch its second straight OAC regular season co-title and then won the OAC Tournament crown a week later at Wilmington College. Then, this past weekend, the women's indoor track and field team regained the OAC crown by winning the meet title at Marietta College.
The women's swimming and diving title was B-W's second in the last four years and ended an unblemished OAC season. The Yellow Jacket women had a perfect 4-0 regular season dual meet record -- its second straight undefeated OAC regular season. In addition to winning the OAC title, sophomore diver Julie Stancliff (Erie, Pa./ McDowell) won her second straight OAC Women's Diver of the Year award and fifth-year Head Coach Mike Gallagher was tabbed as the OAC Women's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year.
The Yellow Jacket women's basketball team continued a streak of excellence in the OAC that is unmatched as it had a 23-6 record -- its ninth straight 20-win season and the second longest streak of its kind in OAC women's basketball history. It won the OAC regular season title for the fifth title in the last seven years and won its fourth OAC tourney title in the last seven years. And, the B-W women played in the NCAA Division III National Tournament for the eighth time in the last 10 years. It also was accomplished without a senior on the roster.
In track and field, junior sprinter Mary Griglak (Berea/ Lutheran West) won the 300 and 400 meter dash titles and ran on the winning 4 x 200 meter relay team as B-W regained the OAC title for the first time in three years. The crown was B-W's 16th in the last 18 years. In addition, veteran Head Coach Bill Taraschke earned OAC Coach of the Year honors for the 22nd time in his career.
The B-W women's athletic program has won an OAC-record six straight OAC All-Sports trophies and 11 of the past 13. In addition to winning the three winter titles, the Yellow Jacket volleyball team also tied for the OAC regular season crown. The 2005 Spring Sport Season began today (March 6). Spring sports include softball, tennis, track and golf.
FOR MORE B-W Sports Information, please call Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, FAX him at 440-826-2329 or e-mail him at kruple@bw.edu.
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