The end of 2011 marked the close of a successful year for the Bobcats and area high school teams. And while the collegiate sports calendar begins in August and ends in June, the start of a new year is a good time to look back and see what defined 2011.
The Post will count down the top 20 stories from high school and college sports in the Athens area, five events at a time. Here are numbers 15 through 11.
15. Wethington sets career home run and pitching marks
Senior star Emily Wethington did it all for the Bobcats last spring. In addition to putting together a solid year from the pitching circle, she provided some offensive firepower for Ohio.
Wethington set the program's career record March 26 against Canisius with her 23rd career homer. She ended her career with 27 home runs, 51 wins and 544 strikeouts — all record-breaking figures.
14. Ohio men’s basketball loses a scholarship
This May, the Bobcats found out they would be playing the 2011-2012 season without as many scholarships as most other Mid-American Conference schools.
Ohio was penalized with a one-year scholarship reduction after the team’s multiyear Academic Progress Rate score fell below NCAA standards. Athletic department administrators attributed the low score, based on eligibility and retention, to several players leaving the team for “non-academic reasons.”
If the score improves significantly, Ohio might regain the scholarship for the 2012-2013 season.
13. Beecham completes memorable senior season
Annie Beecham knew her time as a collegiate distance runner was coming to the end. She crossed the finish line in top form.
Beecham set school and Mid-American Conference records in the 10k and also set a new program record in the 5k. After winning the 5k at the MAC Championships, she finished third in the 10k at the NCAA Regionals in Bloomington, Ind., breaking the MAC record for the event in the process.
At the NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, Beecham finished 11th overall in the 10k and was named a Second Team All-American.
Beecham finished in the top three in eight of the 10 meets she ran last spring. She won four events during the season.
12. Morris wins 300th game as Ohio’s hockey coach
In his 12th season behind the Bobcats’ bench, Dan Morris picked up a milestone win Nov. 12. The Bobcats defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 2-1 the night after dropping a game by the same score.
Morris coached the Bobcats to the 2003-2004 American Collegiate Hockey Association national championship. The Bobcats have been a perennial power in the ACHA and a mainstay in the top 10 in the rankings.
11. “Shaq of the MAC” to be honored 15 years after leaving Athens
With a college degree in hand, one of Ohio’s most recognizable former athletes will be honored later this month for his achievements as a Bobcat.
Gary Trent, the only three-time Player of the Year in Mid-American Conference history, will have his jersey honored during Ohio’s game against Miami at the Convo Jan. 21. That Saturday has been named “Gary Trent Day.”
Trent has the third-most points in Ohio basketball history but was not previously eligible to have his jersey honored because he had not completed a college degree. Trent finished his degree with the University of Phoenix in 2010 and currently lives and works in Columbus.
The announcement from Ohio Athletics came two weeks after The Post published an article about Trent’s eligibility for the honor.
ms229908@ohiou.edu
