Sports

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) have announced its regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2020 NAIA Cross Country season. Among the list were Huntington University sophomore Emma Wilson and Head Coach Lauren Davenport Johnson.

For the second straight year, both the men’s and women’s Huntington University cross country teams will compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cross Country Championships. The Foresters will run on Friday, April 9, at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids, IA.

The Huntington men hold the top spot nationally having picked off Taylor, ranked No. 1 at the time, in the Crossroads League Championships last fall.

Huntington North High School student Addison Wiley continued her excellence on the track over the weekend of March 27, competing in the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation (NSAF)’s Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, SC, against other high school runners from across the country.

The Huntington University golf program kicked off the spring portion of its season at Spring Arbor’s Garn Championship at the Champions of Keene Trace Golf Club on Monday, March 29, and Tuesday, March 30.

Highlighting the tourney was Mitchell Wilson’s hole-in-one on day two, which came on the 16th hole.

The Columbia City native was 183 yards out and used his five iron. He finished the tournament with a 166 (80-86) for 30th place.

The Huntington North High School varsity baseball team had their home opener on Thursday, April 1, facing Northrop High School.

It was a cold one for all involved, with the temperature sitting around 36 degrees for the duration of the game.

Huntington scored in the first inning, leaving Northrop 1-0. Neither team managed to make it home during the second, third or fourth innings.

It was during the fifth and sixth inning that Huntington was finally able to score again. Adding one run during each inning, Huntington started the top of the seventh with a 3-0 score.

The Huntington University women’s bowling team received one of three at-large bids to the inaugural NAIA Bowling Championships where they out-bowled their seeding. Ranked ninth heading into the championship tournament, Coach Mike Shockey’s squad finished in the top six out of the 10-team field.  

The Huntington North High School varsity softball team hosted Angola High School on Tuesday, March 30, for their first official outing of the season.

HN managed to take an early win over their guests, earning 14 points in 3.5 innings. Angola managed four points in that time.

Overall, HN managed 13 hits in three innings, three of which resulted in homeruns.
Mara Hendryx was honored with the win for the evening.

Huntington’s next home softball game is slated for Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m., against Mishawaka High School.

The Huntington University softball team suffered a pair of road losses, 5-2, 8-0, to conference leader Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday, March 30. In addition to claiming a portion of the top spot in the Crossroads League standings with Marian, the Wildcats are also currently ranked 11th nationally.

The Foresters’ bats were quiet most of game one, with the fourth inning being the exception. After Darby Minor found a gap in right-center for a single, a batter being hit and a base earned on balls set the stage for Kennedy Krull’s blast to left that drove in two runs.

The Huntington University men’s bowling team performed well at the Western Shootout, claiming second overall.  

The format included just five team games. HU scored a total of 5,274 pins for a 1054.8 per game average.  The 13-team field featured No. 1 ranked Calumet College of St. Joe and perennial powerhouse programs like Norte Dame College and Lincoln Memorial.

On Tuesday, March 30, the Huntington North High School (HNHS) boys track team hosted Muncie Central (MC), coming out just above their guests for a 69-62 win.

First place scoring information for each event, as well as additional Huntington North placements, include:

100-meter dash
First: Ashton Chambers (MC), 11.4.

200-meter dash
First: Chambers (MC), 23.9.
Second: Noah Wagner (HNHS), 25.0.
Third: Connor Miller (HNHS), 25.1.

Huntington University sophomore Emma Wilson ran races over the weekend of March 27 to be tabbed the Crossroads League Women’s Track Athlete of the Week.

The University of Illinois transfer was a double winner for the Foresters at the Yellow Jacket Collegiate Open. In addition to winning the 1,500-meter race and 5,000-meter race, she also punched her ticket to the 2021 NAIA Outdoor T&F National Championships by hitting the “A” standard in both events.

On Tuesday, March 30, the Huntington North High School (HNHS) girls track team hosted Muncie Central High School, coming out on top with a 96-33 win.

During the meet, sophomore Janna Teusch tied the HNHS school record in pole vault with a successful 10’ 0” vault.

Other Huntington North results included:

100-meter dash
First: Alyse Geiger, 13.31.
Third: Grace Gross, 13.50.
Fourth: Lily Clanin, 13.97.

The Huntington North High School girls track team competed in the Bulldog Relays at New Haven High School on Saturday, March 27, taking fourth place overall.

Carroll High School took the top spot with 102 points, followed by Warsaw Community at 98 points and Leo High School at 92. HNHS earned 54 points.

Complete results for the boys and girls team may be found at directathletics.com/results/track/67642.html.

Huntington’s individual results included the following:

The Huntington University softball team mounted a come-from-behind 5-3 win in its second game against Bethel on Saturday, March 27, at Therese & John Gardner Field. The win avenged a 7-1 loss in the opener.

Huntington University senior Sam Vaughn saved her best for last and has the hardware to prove it with the recent announcement of her inclusion on the NAIA Honorable Mention All-America Team.

The designation caps off an incredible final campaign for Vaughn who led the Foresters in scoring (15.5), rebounding (8.2), assists (4.0) and steals (3.1). Just as impressive is that among her league peers, she finished in the top five in all four categories which includes topping the Crossroads League in steals and offensive rebounds (3.9).