Brand is leading the way for Polar Bears

The Ohio Northern University women's basketball team came up with a big win, beating John Carroll over the weekend 76-75 in overtime, raising the Polar Bears' record to 5-3 in the Ohio Athletic Conference and 10-5 overall.

One of the keys for the Polar Bears' success is junior center Erin Brand.

Brand, whose solid play helped the Flyers in their state championship run in 2003, leads the Polar Bears in scoring and rebounding, averaging 11.8 points per game and 6.2 rebounds per game.

The 5-10 center also provides clutch shooting at the foul line, hitting 80.4 percent (41-of-51) from the charity stripe.
Hemmelgarn, Schmiesing pacing Chargers

Edison State has started its season at 9-7 overall and 0-2 in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference.

Edison State has been a place where local players have played for two years before moving on with former area stars like Rachel Thobe (Marion Local) and Jenny Homan (New Bremen) seeing time in Piqua.

The local pipeline continues with St. Henry grad Brenda Hemmelgarn and New Bremen alum Sarah Schmiesing playing for the Chargers.

Hemmelgarn is averaging 11.7 points per game for the Chargers and ranks third in the OCCAC in assists with 4.7 per game.

Schmiesing is averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Imwalle among leaders in OCCAC

Another OCCAC school, Columbus State, has started out strong in going 12-4 and 3-0 in the conference.

Former St. Marys center Kerri Imwalle has had a strong season for the Cougars, averaging 11.1 points per game. The 6-2 Imwalle is fourth in the conference with 7.4 rebounds per game and second in the conference in shooting percentage at 61.7 percent.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Braun having breakout year for Edison

The local pipeline to Edison State also has some solid men's players.

Celina grad Aaron Braun has been solid for the Chargers, who are 13-2 and 1-1 in the OCCAC. Braun averages 16.9 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 63.4 percent from the field.

Versailles grad Adam Barga is averaging four rebounds per game and shooting at a 59.2 percent clip from the field.
Snyder seeing limited time at Wittenberg

Perennial Division III powerhouse Wittenberg is starting strong again, jumping out to a 13-2 start.

Parkway graduate Mark Snyder has seen limited time in his freshman year for the Tigers, playing in five games.

Snyder is averaging 1.6 points and one rebound per game.
TRACK
Clausing wins two races

Indiana University held its second open indoor competition on Saturday at Gladstein Fieldhouse.

Hoosier senior Stacey Clausing (St. Marys) had a solid meet, winning the 60 and 200-meter dashes on her home track. Clausing ran the 60 in 7.7 seconds and completed the 200 in 24.16 seconds.
Pax second at home meet

At Lambert Fieldhouse in West Lafayette, Purdue held its season indoors opener dominating the Purdue Invitational.

In the pole vault, Boilermaker sophomore Ben Pax (Coldwater) tied for second in the event on Saturday, recording a top effort of 15 feet, seven inches.
ONU holds Friday Night Series

Ohio Northern held its first Friday Night Series competition, bringing in Findlay, Tri-State and Coe for the first of five meets through the season.

ONU sprinter Abby Schulte (Marion Local) placed second in the 55-meter dash and took fourth in the 300-meter dash for the Polar Bears.

Fellow former Flyer Jeff Otte placed fourth in the 400 dash and was third as part of the 4x400 relay.

Findlay freshman Shawn Caruso (Celina) placed fourth in the 800 run.
Kremer, Schmitmeyer compete at Ball State

Ball State held its Open meet on Friday, bringing Dayton in for competition.

Flyer sophomore Amy Kremer (Minster), who already earned Atlantic 10 Co-Performer of the Week honors in the indoor season, kept going strong by winning the high jump with a leap of 5-6 1/2.

Ball State freshman Jenna Schmitmeyer (Celina) also competed, finishing ninth in the shout put (29-4 3/4) and eighth in the 60-meter hurdles.