SPORTS SCENE

TIFFIN FINISHES THIRD IN PRESIDENTS’ CUP RACE

Tiffin University has finished third in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Presidents' Cup standings.

Tiffin totaled 147.5 points, their second-highest total since joing the conference in the 2018-19 season and the most since its 173 points in its debut season. Ashland just edged Findlay for the title 170-169, with Walsh coming in fourth with 146 points and Hillsdale fifth with 130.

Throughout the 2022-23 season, 13 full member institutions and six associate member institutions competed through conference championship competition to earn points through their performances in the Great Midwest postseason for the Presidents' Cup standings. The Great Midwest Presidents' Cup is annually awarded to the college that has the highest percentage score for sports sponsored within the conference.

Tiffin had another memorable year with many highlights. Men's soccer, men's outdoor track and field and men's and women's tennis all won G-MAC Championships. Tom Church (men's basketball), Antonio Guerra (men's wrestling) and Phil Conley (men's and women's tennis) all earned Coach of the Year honors.

Ruben Fonga was named Men's Tennis Player of the Year, while Kristen Dickison was named Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Year. John Oshakpemhe landed Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year honors, while Zack Donathan was named Men's Wrestler of the Year. Other top honors went to Charlie Cleveland as football Defensive Lineman of the Year and Anthony Lowe as football Special Teams Player of the Year.

Winter Highlights

Men’s Basketball

Head Coach Tom Church, Wesley Jordan and Joshua Rivers were all honored with the announcement of the 2022-23 G-MAC men's basketball All-Conference selections.

Church was named G-MAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Dragons to a 15-14 overall record, their first winning season since 2011-12. The team also posted a 12-8 conference record, the most conference wins in school history and reached the conference playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons.

Also honored were Wesley Jordan as a First Team honoree and Joshua Rivers as a Second Team standout. Rivers was named G-MAC Wrestler of the Year, following his 141-pound NCAA National Championship, making him the third TU men's wrestler to earn a national title. He joins Garrett Gray (285) and Nick Mason (197) as national champs for Tiffin. Gray won his title in 2017 and Mason in 2019.

Head Coach Antonio Guerra was also named G-MAC Coach of the Year, while Brandon Mendoza was the Elite 26 award winner for having the highest GPA amongst G-MAC wrestlers. Mendoza joined Donathan in earning First Team All-American honors with an eighth place finish at nationals.

Under Guerra's guidance, The Dragons were ranked 12th in the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) national poll and were the highest-ranked G-MAC school. Also landing First Team honors for TU were Casey Barnett (157 pounds) and Clayton Ours (285). Barnett was tabbed fourth in the nation and also earned a trip to the NCAA Championships. Barnett won the 157-pound title at the Super Region 3 Championships.

Second Team honors went to Mendoza (125), Donathan (141), and Matthew Zuckerman (149), while Third Team accolades went to Connor Twigg (174).

Women’s Wrestling

Jenavi Alejandro finished as National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships (NCWWC) national runner-up at 101 pounds, finishing just two points short of a national title.

Overall Alejandro finished 34-8 on the season, setting a new single-season wins record for the Dragons' program. It also marked the second consecutive season that Tiffin had a finalist in the 101-pound weight class at the National Championships.

Also earning trips to Nationals were Erin Martin, Tatiana Bermudez and Alexia Swisher. Martin was runner-up at the region tournament at 170 pounds, while Tatiana Bermudez (136) and Alexia Swisher (191) were fourth.

Indoor Track and Field

The men’s indoor track and field squad had three national qualifiers leading to three All-American performances. Jacob McPherson competed in the weight throw and earned Second Team All-American honors with a ninth place finish. McPherson is now a three-time All-American, twice indoor and once outdoor last season. Malachi Adams earned two All-American honors. He finished fourth in the 60-meter finals, earning First Team All-American honors. Adams now has two All-American honors in indoor competition, finishing second overall in the 60 meters in 2022. He finished 10th overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.48, good for Second Team All-American honors. Overall the men’s track squad was ranked as high as eighth in the country.

In women’s indoor track, there were also three All-American performances. Rajiah Andrews, who was also named G-MAC Track Athlete of the Year, earned Second Team AllAmerican honors, placing eighth in the 60-meter dash. Ines Macadam competed in the 800 meters and finished eighth. Her top eight finish earned her First Team All-American honors. Macadam has now earned All-American honors in the 800 meters twice in indoor competition and once in the outdoor season. Brook Boes also competed in the shot put and came in 12th. This landed her a Second Team AllAmerican citation. Boes is now a three-time All-American with this being her first indoor shot put honor. Her other two honors came in outdoor competition last spring in both weight throw and in shot put.

Spring Highlights

Women’s Golf

Tiffin finished 17th at the NCAA National Championships. This marks the second time in its history the Dragons have reached this milestone, doing so with a fifth-place finish at the East Regional held in Springfield, Illinois. It also marks the fifth consecutive season the Dragons have been selected for the NCAA postseason. Tiffin was also runner-up at the G-MAC Championships. Lisa Marie Schumacher was named Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) East All-Region. This marks Schumacher's first All-Region honor. She is a two-time All G-MAC selection. Schumacher led the team in scoring average and finished second overall at the G-MAC Championships. Also landing All-Conference selection was Amanda Johansson and Michaela Lindahl.

Men’s Golf

The men’s golf team finished runner-up at the G-MAC Championships, with Johan Widal landing selection to the NCAA postseason as an individual. Widal placed eighth overall at the G-MAC Championships with a score of 221. He is the first TU individual to qualify for an NCAA regional. Overall Widal finished 15th at the Central/Midwest Regional and earned PING All-Midwest Region honors. Mitchell Brassard was also an All G-MAC selection, finishing second overall at the tourney.

Men’s Tennis

Tiffin University qualified for its second consecutive NCAA Midwest Regional berth, following championships in both the G-MAC Tournament and regular season standings. The title marks the third G-MAC Championship for the Dragons, who also won in 2022 and 2019. It also marks the third time in four seasons that TU has won the title.

Ruben Fonga was named G-MAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year. Fonga has been ranked as high as second in the nation in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) singles rankings. Teammate Michael Gurtner was also a First-Team selection, while Matthew Weaver and Matthew Telford were Second-Team picks. Head Coach Phil Conley was also named Coach of the Year. This marks Conley's ninth Coach of the Year honor in conference - six times with the women's program, three times with the men.

Women’s Tennis

Tiffin University returned to the NCAA Midwest Regional for the second consecutive season, coming off its G-MAC regular season championship. The title marks three consecutive G-MAC regular season championships for the Lady Dragons. Phil Conley was named Coach of the Year after leading the Dragons to another G-MAC regular season championship. Anaelle Lepinay and Carina Avram were named First-Team selections, while Emily Barrett was named Second Team.

Track and Field

In men’s outdoor track and field, Tiffin University won the 2023 G-MAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship for the second time in three years.

Tiffin University sent nine outdoor track and field competitors to the Division II National Championships hosted by Colorado State University - Pueblo on May 25 through 27.

Widchard Guervil qualified in three events. He will competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters and as part of the 4x100 relay team. Malachi Adams competed in the 100 and 4x100 relay, while Jacob McPherson landed a spot in multiple events as he qualified in the shot put and hammer throw. Shimar Bain raced in the 400 hurdles, Joshua Bishop landed a spot in the steeplechase and Collin Jasin competed in the pole vault. Other competitors were Vincent Volpe in the hammer throw while Dylan Randall and Michael McNeil were also part of the 4x100 relay squad.

A total of 11 Tiffin University men's track and field standouts were honored with All-Region recognition by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA).

Malachi Adams earned four All-Region citations competing in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay teams. Widchard Guervil was right behind, also earning selection in the 100, 200 and 4x100 squads. Shimar Bain landed two honors - 4x400 relay and 400 hurdles. Michael McNeil (4x100, 4x400) also earned two honors, while Dylan Randall (4x100) and Drevon Trapp (4x400) were All-Region in their respective relay teams. Other All-Region honorees were Josh Bishop (steeplechase), Steele Butzin (javelin), Garrett Hoepf (high jump), Collin Jasin (pole vault) and Yassin Khalfaoui (javelin).

In women’s outdoor track and field, TU finished third at the G-MAC Championships and sent three competitors to the NCAA National Championships.

Rajiah Andrews, Brook Boes and C'airra Carter got the nod, with Boes landing selection in two events. Boes competed in both the shot put and discus. Andrews competed in the 100 hurdles, while Carter took the field in the high jump.

Five Tiffin University women's track and field athletes earned All-Region honors. Rajiah Andrews was a three-time honoree, landing selection in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 100-meter hurdles. Also landing selection was Brook Boes (discus), Amirah Strauther (100 hurdles), C'airra Carter (high jump) and Emily Curtice (heptathlon).

Softball

Tiffin University’s softball team qualified for the G-MAC Tournament and made a good run before falling in the semifinals.

Six Tiffin University softball players landed All G-MAC honors. Leading the way were three Second-Team picks. Outfielder Taylor Whalen, pitcher Claire Feldkamp and designated hitter Molly Koesters were all SecondTeam picks, while third baseman Maci Head, outfielder Aubrie Harper and utility player Michelle Rodkey landed Third-Team selection.

Baseball

Tim Orr and Griffin Stevens were named All-Midwest Region by vote of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Orr is a now a four-time All-Region performer who has also earned three all-conference honors. He leads the G-MAC in batting, on-base percentage and on-base percentage (OPS) while also finishing sixth in runs batted in (RBI). Stevens is third in the G-MAC in batting, tied for second in the conference in hits, sixth in RBI and fifth in on-base percentage. He is now a six-time All-Region and three-time All G-MAC selection.

Women’s Lacrosse

Six Tiffin University women's lacrosse players have been honored with All G-MAC selections.

Gabrielle Beals and Jenay Rennie landed Second-Team honors by vote of the conference coaches. Katelyn Jarvis, Gabby Wilson, Sydney Dean and Sophia Fasone were Third-Team picks.

Stunt

Two Tiffin University stunt student-athletes were named All G-MAC.

Rajah Little and Kaiah Hicks were both named First-Team

All G-MAC standouts. Hicks led the Dragons in points and total rounds, while Little was second in points. The 2022-23 season marked the debut of stunt as a G-MAC sponsored sport.