Ohio University Today, Spring 1998 - Winter sports roundup: Hockey team is dethroned

Four Ohio University athletic teams challenged for either conference or national championships this winter, but each came up short.

The Bobcat club hockey team lost its bid for a fourth consecutive nation al title when it was defeated in the championship game of the American Club Hockey Association's national tournament, 5-1, by Penn State in Ames, Iowa, March 7.

The Bobcats were ranked No. 2 nationally heading into the tourney. Led by goalie Brody Danner, they shut out Delaware, 5-0, and Illinois, 1-0, and defeated Michigan-Dearborn, 5-2, before losing to the Nittany Lions.

After a slow start in October and November, the 'Cats strung together a 20 game unbeaten streak (19-0-1), and finished the season 29-7-2.

The Bobcat wrestling team dominated the Mid-American Conference during the regular season but faltered at the conference tourney March 7-8 at Kent State, finishing second to Central Michigan, 116-65. Ohio was the defending MAC champion.

Bobcat senior Dwight Gardner won at 158 pounds and was named the tourney's outstanding wrestler. Shawn Enright, at 134 pounds, was the Bobcats' other MAC meet individual champion.

In other Bobcat winter sports news:
Marlene Stollings, the Bobcats' standout guard, searches for an open teammate and looks to avoid Miami's Shawn Manns in an 84-69 victory over the RedHawks on Jan. 24. Stollings finished as the Mid-American Conference's leading scorer at 22.9 points a game. The 'Cats set a women's school record with nine consecutive victories en route to a 17-11 finish this year. They were eliminated by Kent, 80-65, in the semifina ls of the MAC Tournament March 1.
Photo: Bruce Bennett

Picked to finish fifth in the preseason MAC media poll, the Ohio women's basketball team won 14 of 18 games and nine in a row to finish 17-11 overall. The 'Cats finished third in the MAC East Division (13-5) and lost in the semifinal round of the MAC Tournament to regular-season and eventual tournament champion Kent, 80-65, March 1.
Ohio senior guard Marlene Stollings finished in the top 10 in the nation in scoring at 22.9 points a game, topped the league in scoring, and earned first-team All-MAC honors. She hit a school-record 10 three-pointers and 41 points against Robert Morris Dec. 30.
The Bobcat men's basketball team experienced a frustrating season, finishing 5-21 overall and 3-15 in the conference. The 21 losses set a new school record. Ohio finished last in the MAC East and failed to qualify for the league tournament for the first time in Coach Larry Hunter's nine year s in Athens.
Because of injuries and two key transfers sitting out the season, the Bobcats played most of the season with only eight players. But better days may be ahead, with Ohio State transfer Shaun Stonerook and Wyoming transfer LaDrell Whitehead expected to join the team next season.
The Ohio women's swimming and diving team lost the closest MAC championship meet ever to Miami, 767.5 - 763, on Feb. 28. Bobcat Joanne Park was named MAC Swimmer of the Year after she won three individual ev ents. The Lady Bobcats finished the regular season undefeated in MAC dual meets at 5-0.
The men's swimming and diving team finished fourth in the MAC Championship held at the Aquatic Center in Athens March 5-7. Kacy Culver broke the pool record with 522 points in the 3-meter diving event to win the Bobcats' lone individual title. Culver also finished second in the 1-meter event and was named MAC Diver of the Year. Eastern Michigan won the MAC title.