Sports Scene

TUTF/XC CARRY THE TORCH AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Tiffin University honored its Track & Field and Cross Country (TUTF/XC) alumni at its annual Carry the Torch Alumni Awards.

The awards were presented at the annual dinner to a TUTF/XC alumnus/na with a high level of success in college or post-collegiate athletics and/or a distinctive and distinguished career outside of the athletic realm.

This year we recognized the 2020 and the 2021 recipients:

Michael Barhorst ‘07 - Graduated from TU in 2007 with a bachelor's of business administration, while also completing his master's degree in business administration in 2013. He was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national qualifier in 2005 (1600 relay indoor) and in 2006 (800 meters indoor). He placed fifth in the American Mideast Conference in the 800 meters outdoor in 2006.

Chad Johnson ‘08 - Graduated from TU in 2008 with a bachelor's of business administration. He was a NAIA National Qualifier in 2005 (1600 relay indoor) as well as 2006 (distance medley relay indoor) and 2007 (1600 relay indoor). He also placed fourth in the American Mideast Conference in the 400 meters outdoor in 2007.

Carly (Reese) Worrell ‘13 - Graduated from TU in 2013 with a bachelor's of business administration. She placed in the top eight four times in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship competition (fourth place distance medley relay indoor 2010, sixth place distance medley relay indoor 2011, sixth place distance medley relay indoor 2012, eigth place 10K outdoor 2012).

Jeremy Lee ‘11 – Graduated from TU in 2011 with a bachelor's of criminal justice majoring in homeland security and terrorism. In 2008, he was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) All-American in the 1500 meter outdoor with third place finish, the GLIAC champion in the indoor mile in 2009, the GLIAC champion in the outdoor 1500 meter in both 2009 and 2011 and in 2010 he qualified for the NCAA II National Cross Country Championships. Maria (Shaw) Lee ‘10 – Graduated from TU in 2010 with a bachelor's of criminal justice majoring in forensic science. In 2007, she was a NAIA indoor 1600 meter relay qualifier.

Nancy (Lamuth) Soehnlen ‘05 / ‘07 – Graduated from TU in 2005 with a bachelor's of business administration majoring in management, as well again in 2007 with a master’s of business administration. She was a 2005 NAIA indoor distance medley relay national qualifier, a 2005 NAIA outdoor 1500 meter qualifier and a 2005 NAIA outdoor 3200-meter relay qualifier. Nancy currently has the 10th best finish in school history at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships.

FOOTBALL ENJOYS GRIDIRON BASH

Tiffin University's 2022 Green & Gold Gridiron Bash was held on April 16 at Tiffin University. The Tiffin Football Spring Game took place earlier that day.

At the Gridiron Bash, Tiffin football honored former alumni, coaches and friends of the program. In addition, current parents and friends of TU football interacted with those that paved the way for our current student-athletes. Guests also met the 2022 senior class and team captains.

Former football standouts honored were Brian Chapman, Lewie Montgomery and Antonio Pipkin.

Brian Chapman (1985-87) helped put Dragon football on the map. He played both tight end and defensive end but made his biggest impact on the defensive side of the ball. He led a strong defensive front line that placed near the top of the region in rush defense. Brian was a two-time All-District standout who was also TU's first ever All-American in 1987. After graduating from TU he worked for the Seneca County Sheriff’s Department and as a detective before retiring. He died on November 23, 2021.

Lewie Montgomery (1996-99) holds four school defensive records including most sacks in a season (15) and career (30) and most tackles for loss in a season (30) and career (51). He is a three-time All Mideast League selection.

Antonio Pipkin (2014-17) is one of the greatest quarterbacks in Tiffin history, owning career records in pass attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, plays, 300-yard passing games and total offense at the time of his graduation. Over the course of his time at Tiffin

University, Antonio compiled 10,940 passing yards, 980 completions, 88 touchdowns, a 64.7% completion percentage and threw for 300 plus yards in a game 15 times. Antonio, a four-time All-GLIAC selection, was named GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year in 2015 and improved upon that by being named GLIAC Player of the Year in 2016. Since his graduation he has played professionally in the Canadian Football League.

DRAGONS’ STUDENT-ATHLETES POST 3.14 SPRING GPA

Tiffin University's student-athletes had a strong spring, not only on the field but in the classroom, as the Dragons posted a spring GPA of 3.14.

Tiffin University has enjoyed arguably the greatest spring season in school history. Amongst the highlights are:

• Tiffin's first women's wrestling national champion Olivia Shore. The women’s wrestling team won the Northeast Region for the second consecutive year as Head Coach Nick Goebel was named Coach of the Year. The team also sent 10 wrestlers to the National Championships. Olivia, Solana Mottola and Taylor Hites all earned All American honors as the Dragons reached a ranking of seventh in the nation.

• Men's wrestling sent five wrestlers to the national championships including third place finisher and National Falls Champion Nicholas Mason.

• Men's and women's indoor track and field posted five First Team All Americans, including national 60-meters runner-up Malachi Adams. The outdoor squad continued the same trajectory, sending numerous athletes to nationals. A total of 14 men’s and women’s outdoor athletes were ranked high in the nation in their respective events. Marisa Gwinner was named Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Indoor Field Athlete of the Year while Rajiah Andrews was named GMAC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet.

• Women's golf reached the NCAA Division II National Championships for the first time. They earned their fourth consecutive NCAA regional bid and finished runner-up in the GMAC Championships after falling in the third tiebreaker.

• Men's and women's tennis won the GMAC Championship and both qualified for NCAA regionals. This was a first-time qualification for the men’s team, while marking the women’s fifth regional selection. Both teams finished first in the conference in the regular season as well as in tournament play. Both teams also made appearances in the Division II national rankings.

• Men's golf won the GMAC Championship and competed in the Midwest/Central regional for the first time in four years. It also marks the eighth NCAA regional bid by the Dragons in their history.

• Baseball is the GMAC regular season champion and the top seed heading into the GMAC Tournament. They are also regionally ranked and on pace to qualify for the NCAA regionals for the second time in school history.

MASON NAMED HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH

Josh Mason has been named Head Women's Basketball Coach at Tiffin University.

Josh returns to Tiffin University after serving as Head Coach at North Canton's Hoover High School last season, where he led the Vikings to a 15-10 record.

Josh previously served as an assistant coach at TU during the historic 2020-21 women's basketball season. He helped lead the Dragons to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament championship and an NCAA Division II Tournament berth for the first time, as the Dragons ultimately reached the Sweet 16.

Josh graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in middle childhood education.

A Findlay native, Josh also has high school head coaching experience at Cedarville High School. He compiled a 73-30 record in four seasons as the Cedarville girl's coach, where his teams were district runners-up three times.

KLEIN NAMED SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Sarah Klein has been named Tiffin University Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Sarah is a four-year varsity softball pitcher while earning a 4.0 GPA. Sarah graduated in December with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice in criminalistics with a minor in digital forensics and was on the Dean's List every semester she was enrolled as an undergraduate. Sarah graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Sarah is currently enrolled at TU as a graduate student in the MBA leadership change program, again demonstrating academic excellence at the graduate level.

Athletically, Sarah has made 65 appearances with a 23-24 career record, tallying 205 strikeouts, three saves, with a 4.12 ERA. In 2019 Sarah earned Second Team All GMAC. Sarah currently is fourth in the TU Division II record book for wins and strikeouts.

Sarah is from Ashville, Ohio, and is the daughter of Tony and Amy Klein.

YBARRA NAMED HEAD COACH OF ESPORTS PROGRAM

Brett Ybarra has been named Director and Head Coach of the Tiffin University Esports team. Brett has served as Assistant Coach for six years under departing Head Coach Chalin Cahlik.

Among his coaching highlights are the GLEC Championship won by the Counter-Strike:GO team in fall of 2020, Semi-Finalists in Overwatch fall 2021 and Finalist in Valorant spring 2022 in the Great Lakes Esports Conference.

Starting with Counter-Strike in 2007 Brett achieved ranking amidst the top 3% in the world and hopes to use that knowledge to push the limits of the teams this year. His ranking and attention to detail in the professional scene in Overwatch, Valorant, League of Legends and Rocket League will aid in the success of all of these titles in the future.

Brett is a graduate of Tiffin University where he majored in criminal justice with a concentration in forensic psychology, earning his bachelor's degree in 2014. Prior to this position he gained teaching experience as a Prevention Educator for Hancock County.

WOMEN’S WRESTLING RANKED EIGHTH IN THE NATION IN GPA

Tiffin University's women's wrestling team not only made an impact on the mat but in the classroom as well.

The Dragons placed eighth in the nation in team GPA with a 3.647 mark while also totaling 10 individual Scholar AllAmericans. That total tied for the third-highest in the nation.

The NWCA announced the full slate of 2021-2022 Scholar All-America Team and individual honorees for the NCAA Women's division with awards going to 135 individuals representing 22 institutions.

Earning Scholar All American honors for the Dragons were: Sugey Ceja, RSJr, 116, Psychology: Human Services Grace Jones, Fr, 123, Psychology: Human Services Stephanie Mondragon, Sr, 123, Psychology: Human Services Michal Buska, Fr, 136, Psychology: Human Services Paige Lenhardt, So, 143, Criminal Justice Nia Miranda, So, 143, Nursing Aliya Martin, So, 155, Management: International Business Taylor Hites, Sr, 155, Exercise Science Taryn Martin, Fr, 170, Psychology: Human Services Hollie Espinoza, Fr, 191, Criminal Justice