Chargers bounce back from loss to Ashland, defeat Ursuline on the road Chargers grab two victories in weekend matches

fense than I’m used to.”

Hackman had a rough first singles match, losing 4-6, but he quickly recovered by winning his next set, 6-3 and winning a super-tiebreak, 12-10, earning the match point for the Chargers.

Sophomore Daniel Gilbert and senior Tyler Conrad, the No. 3 team, followed suit with a 6-1 victory, helping to clinch the doubles point.

“It was a very good weekend,” Conrad said. “I was especially happy with how doubles went. I've never really played very much with Dan Gilbert before in dual matches, and I was glad to see that we were able to quick and take out a couple pretty strong teams without very much trouble.”

Junior Brennan Cimpeanu said injuries last year kept the depth of the roster shallow. But player additions during the offseason have improved the team’s chances, he said.

“We would go into every match knowing we would be losing,” Cimpeanu said. “This year, not only are we back like mentally and physically just healthy now, but we have three new players that just add so much to our team.”

Cimpeanu won two straight sets in singles, 6-1, 6-1, while freshman Aidan Pack won his set tiebreak,

6-1, 2-6, 10-3. Both Conrad and Sean Barstow, the teams Nos. 4 and 5 singles players, claimed points from their matches. Conrad with a 6-4, 6-4 victory and Barstow with a 6-1, 6-3 victory. “We came out and we showed that we're going to be competing at a high level this year,” Barstow said. “We lost pretty badly to Davenport last year, and then we came out and beat them pretty handily.”

Sunday was an equally strong day for the team. The No. 2 doubles partners, Hackman and Wastcoat earned a 6-4 victory while the No. 3 doubles team, Gilbert and Conrad, pulled the Chargers ahead with a 6-2 victory.

“We really showed off our depth, because our lineup,” Gilbert said. “We have five guys that could beat one another any day of the week.”

Singles were again dominated by Cimpeanu, who won the 7-3 second-set tiebreak.

“I'm a singles player through and through,” Cimpeanu said. “It's just my strong suit because I can just do whatever I want in the court. Not really having to worry about anything else.”

Hackman, No. 3 singles on Sunday, also clinched a 6-4, 6-0 victory that secured his 4-0 win streak for the weekend.

Conrad and Barstow had matching wins, 6-1, 6-1 while Gilbert achieved another point for the Chargers with his 7-5, 6-2 victory.

“Our team is really deep this year,” Barstow said. “I didn't play great doubles, but the other two teams picked it up and covered for us. And then singles wise we all played solid, yeah the freshmen they went out and showed that they were ready to play.”

Among the many injured last season was Hackman, who was out with a labral tear.

“My serve is a lot slower than pre-injury, so I don't really get very many free points,” Hackman said. “So I really have to hussle around and earn every point, and I was prepared to do that.”

Gilbert said the main struggle the team faced was early-season jitters.

“I think for opening weekend, a lot of people have kinda a lot of nerves that they need to work through,” Gilbert said. “We haven't played a match since September, so I think once we get a little more into match play people are feeling comfortable at the beginning of matches, then we'll do a little better.”

Shotgun from A1 Softball

During the 2022 National Championships at the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Center in Hillsdale, Michigan, Corbin placed sixth, making the national team for USA Shooting.

“For this World Cup, they were going to take the top five shooters, and two of the top five decided not to go, so that opened up a position for me to be able to go,” Corbin said.

According to Corbin, participating in the 2024 Olympics depends on the U.S. fulfilling quotas for international competition in trap, skeet, and individual ranking points. The U.S. is currently qualified in men's and women’s skeet and men’s trap. The U.S. will need to place in women’s trap to participate in the Olympics.

Once the U.S. is qualified to participate in the Olympics, Corbin must qualify for the Olympic team by scoring ranking points.

“I have to travel to at least one more shoot, such as a World Cup or World Cham- pionship, and then I have to place first or second within the country. It’s a whole process,” Corbin said.

In addition to competing internationally, Corbin continues to shoot with Hillsdale’s shotgun team.

“Everybody has been great teammates for the two years I’ve been on the team,” Corbin said. “We all get along well, have good team chemistry, and push ourselves to shoot better.”

Corbin is not the only shotgun team member with his eyes set on the Olympics. Senior Ida Brown, freshman Jordan Sapp, and assistant shotgun coach Caitlin Connor-Royer were awarded medals at World Cups in 2022.

“Hillsdale pushes people to become the best version of themselves. This is true in our athletics as well,” Hintz said. “Our international athletes are given opportunities to hone their craft in practice and receive coaching from some of the best. We are not afraid to compete at all levels.”

Hillsdale softball gears up for spring season

By Olivia Pero Assistant Editor

The Hillsdale softball team has been preparing for its spring season by batting indoors, swimming, cycling, and reading.

“I think we look good to return at or near the top of our conference,” head coach Kyle Gross said. “We have a lot of new faces and so we're going to need to get them experience, but we have a really solid returning team and good things are expected this year.”

According to sophomore pitcher Joni Russell, the team will face tough competition such as the Ohio Dominican Panthers, the Trevecca Nazarene Trojans, and the Findlay Oilers in the G-MAC.

“We're ranked fourth this year, which was kind of hard for us since we won the

G-MAC last season,” Russell said.

The team has been doing a lot of indoor batting practice at the new softball hitting facility behind the baseball team’s barn, Gross said. They have also been doing a lot of pitching reps with a new pitching machine.

In addition to basic softball training and lifting, the team has been swimming and cycling, assistant coach Ericka Hess said.

“Day in and day out, we’re practicing all the time,” Russell said. “We’re focusing a lot on our mental game this year and are reading a book, ‘The Champion’s Mind.’ We’re talking more about ourselves as players and not defining ourselves based on our performance.”

After losing eight senior starters, Gross said one of the team’s challenges will be getting the freshmen and players who have not played as much into consistent roles.

“When you lose that much experience, even though we have a lot of talent coming up, that experience is tough to replace,” Gross said. “The only thing that can replace that is time itself and playing.”

According to Gross, the entire pitching staff is returning from last year as well as freshman Mackenzi Maxson.

“I would say as a whole, we have a very strong pitching staff and some upperclassmen that are going to greatly contribute offensively,” Gross said.

Russell said the team dynamics have been great so far this year.

“Everyone's a team player, and everyone's trying to help each other out,” Russell said.

Hess, in her first year as assistant coach, said she is eager to know the players better and what motivates them.

“I'm excited to get to know the girls as competitive softball players: why they play the game and who they are on the field,” Hess said.

Russell said her goal this season is to be excited about the game and have fun playing the sport she loves.

“I did really well my freshman year, so there is some pressure to perform well again, but I'm trying to not have that pressure,” Russell said.

The team will begin non-conference play in the Tusculum Round Robin Friday and Saturday in Tennessee.