Sutter wins title, earns NAIA berth

By Gary R. Rasberry and Colin Foster

The indoor track and field season in starting to wind down with conference championships taking place.

Several local athletes had strong showings at the Crossroads League championships held at Taylor University (Indiana) this past weekend.

Indiana Wesleyan sophomore Paige Sutter not only won the league shot put championship, but her top effort of 13.52 meters (41 feet, 1 inch) bettered the NAIA "A" standard of 13.45 meters and automatically qualified her for the NAIA national championship to be held later this month. Sutter also finished sixth in the weight throw with a top distance of 14.70 meters (48-2). Coldwater graduate and St. Francis sophomore Tina Bruggeman placed 14th.

Another St. Francis standout, Clista Hellwarth (Parkway), finished third in the indoor pentathlon with a final score of 2,777 points to earnAll-CL honors for the effort. Hellwarth also finished sixth in the triple jump with an effort of (33-11 1/2).
Wenning in action
for Buffaloes

University of Colorado senior Michaela Wenning (Celina) competed earlier this month at the Colorado Invitational in Bolder.

Wenning finished 14th in the indoor pentathlon with a score of 2,961 points. Wenning's best event was the 60-meter hurdles, finishing second and earning 959 points.
Heckman wins at Marshall

Wright State senior Maria Heckman (Minster) picked up a win in the pole vault at the QDOBA Marshall Invitational in Huntington, West Viriginia over the weekend.

Heckman tied Marshall's Macie Majoy with a top effort of 12-1 1/2 with Heckman winning the tiebreaker based on fewer misses at a lower height.
Carr second at Kent

Eastern Michigan senior Bekah Carr (Celina) finished second in the unseeded division of the women's pole vault at the Doug Raymond Invitational at Kent State.

Carr tied for the runner-up spot after clearing 11-7.

SWIMMING
Weitzel earns A-10 honors

Duquesne diver Sawyer Weitzel (Celina) was named the Atlantic-10 Conference Co-Rookie of the Week after setting a school record in the 3-meter competition at the Rich Sentner Dive Invitational at Westminster College (Pennsylvania). Weitzel set a school record with a score of 265.30 points to finish second. Weitzel also finished fourth in the 1-meter with a personal best 244.60 points.

The Dukes head to Geneva, Ohio for the A-10 Championships beginning Feb. 20.
Borgerding gets ready
for MAC meet

Bowling Green held its final regular season meet on Saturday with the women's team defeating Toledo 223-129.

Senior Nikki Borgerding (Minster) picked up two wins on the day for the Falcons. Borgerding swam a leg of the winning 200-meter medley relay and followed up with a win in the 200 breaststroke.

The Mid-American Conference meet begins Feb. 27 in Akron.

BASKETBALL
Thobe shining for Oilers

Allie Thobe (Marion Local) had 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in Findlay's 88-67 loss to Hillsdale on Saturday.

Thobe's scoring performance was two shy of her season high, when she put up 18 against Tiffin in a Nov. 29 win. She is averaging 7.8 points, 4 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season.

Findlay (15-6, 11-5 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) visits Lake Erie tonight.

The Findlay men (19-3, 13-2 G-MAC), future team of Marion Local product Nate Bruns, are ranked eighth in NCAA Division II and lead the conference. The Oilers, coached by Minster alum Charlie Ernst, travel to Lake Erie tonight.
Ryan Hoyng has big
game for Panthers

Ryan Hoyng (Celina) had a 17-point performance and made two key free throws late for Ohio Dominican in last week's 76-73 win over Lake Erie. Hoyng connected on 5 of 7 from 3-point land.

The senior guard is averaging 10.6 points for the Panthers (13-9, 9-6 G-MAC), who visit Anderson Broaddus tonight.
Manger picking up steam

Carson Manger (New Bremen) has been on a tear for Lake Superior State, averaging 11 points per game during a recent three-game winning streak. He poured in a season-high 15 points in an 87-72 win at Saginaw State on Feb. 2.

Manger, who was sidelined five games in January, has raised his averages to 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in his senior season.

The Lakers (13-8, 9-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) were named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Team of the Week for games played Feb. 4-10. They are second in the GILAC North Division and trail first-place Parkside by one game.
Caleb Hoyng, Marietta
continue push

Caleb Hoyng (Celina) and Tim Kreeger (Delphos St. John's) powered Marietta to victory last night.

Hoyng scored 18 points and Kreeger netted 21 as Marietta cruised to a 98-73 rout of Muskingum.

Hoyng is averaging 8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. Kreeger is averaging 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds for the 11th-ranked Pioneers (19-5, 13-4 Ohio Athletic Conference), who host Heidelberg on Saturday.
Polar Bears collect wins

Ryan Bruns (Marion Local) had 16 points and eight rebounds as Ohio Northern defeated Heidelberg 82-73 last night in Tiffin.

It was the 22nd time this season Bruns has scored in double figures. The Polar Bears (6-18, 2-15 OAC) have now won two of three and host Muskingum for Senior Day on Saturday.

Emily Mescher (Marion Local) had four points and seven rebounds as the Polar Bear women knocked off Heidelberg 53-45 on Senior Day in Ada.

Mescher is now averaging 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds Ohio Northern (12-12, 6-11 OAC), which visits Muskingum on Saturday.