ONU Men's, Women's teams looking for unprecedented third sweep of OAC All-Sports Trophies

By Rachel Smith

Ohio Northern University is about to make history again.

For the past two years, ONU has swept the OAC Men's and Women's All-Sports Trophies, a feat that has not happened in OAC history.

Yet, it does not stop there.

Both the ONU Men and Women's teams are on their way to sweeping the titles or the third consecutive year. 

The only other team in history to have won both trophies win the same year was Mount Union during the 1990-91 school year.

Northern’s success in this long-standing tradition is unprecedented.

The tradition of the trophies began in 1961 for the men and 1985 for the women. Throughout the history of the trophies, both the ONU men’s and women’s teams have won six times.

The Polar Bear men won titles in 1982, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The women won the trophy in 1985, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2007, and 2008. This year, both sides are looking to add to that total.

Currently, after seven scored sports, the men are winning with 53 points followed by Mount Union with 39.5 points. The men have won the trophy the last three years.

On the women’s side, Ohio Northern is in first place with 46.5 points. Second place is currently held by Baldwin-Wallace with 35 points. The Polar Bears have won the trophy the previous two years.

Athletic Director Tom Simmons credits Northern’s success to the athletes. “We have phenomenal students who are able to handle a difficult academic load and still prepare for a tough conference.”

The All-Sports Trophy is given to the school whose athletic teams earn the most points during that school year. 

Teams earn points based on their performances during the resular season and at the OAC Championships. With ten schools in the OAC, winning your respective championship earns you ten points, second place earns nine, and down it goes.

In the sports where not all OAC schools participate, the scoring is modified so not to create an unfair advantage.

Simmons stressed that the success of the sports program has been a campus wide effort.

“We have great university support through top-notch facilities, the physical plant help, and a workable budget,” Simmons said. “We also have a dedicated coaching staff that must wear different hats as teachers, coaches, and recruiters. I have great respect for their hard work.”

With Northern’s current winning streak, there is now a target on this university.

“Everyone is fighting to get what we have,” said Simmons. “We just have to keep doing the best we can.”

With promising spring seasons already underway, Ohio Northern is posed to make history yet again.