Falcon Insider with Derek van der Merwe: April 16
4/16/2024
Important news happening in and around Bowling Green Athletics compiled by Director of Athletics Derek van der Merwe. This Falcon Insider shares upcoming dates to remember and news to be aware of in regards to Bowling Green State University Athletics.
Momentum is defining the direction, purpose, and resolve of Bowling Green Athletics today. This last weekend, our baseball team extended its Mid-American Conference win streak to 15 games. Never in the history of our baseball program have we started the year 15-0 in the MAC. If you were at these games or followed the series, you would know that this team fought for each hit, out, and inning. Winning is never guaranteed. However, when a team comes together, believes in itself and its mission, it battles even when the odds are against it, and finds ways to win together.
Winning together has become what differentiates BGSU and defines its future. Baseball head coach Kyle Hallock has built “a village” around this baseball program that has become part of the critical momentum building its future. After each win, the alumni, fans, and campus community are reaching out to the coaches, staff, and players with words of encouragement and support. This energy is fueling the resolve and direction of this program. An important event to keep on your calendar is BGSU games vs. Toledo at Fifth Third Field on May 17. This I-75 matchup could be a title run series in Toledo. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a game at the ballpark. Buy your tickets today.
The “village” that supports BGSU is growing and playing a pivotal role in our overall success, as well. On April 3-4, during our One Day, our village made a statement about our momentum. Over 1545 donors contributed around $900,000 dollars to BGSU Athletics, Falcon Club, and its sport programs. This was another record broken for the Falcons! We continue to see unprecedented interest and investment in our programs. This total surpassed the $658,000 raised in 2023 and $381,000 raised in 2022. A couple important points of pride from our One Day event this year included the success of our volleyball and hockey programs. Around 233 donors provided $119,315 in support to volleyball and 172 donors provided $163,375 to hockey.
In the last month, I made two changes to our coaching staff. In our hockey program, we hired Dennis Williams, a gold medal-winning head coach for Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championships, and current head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips. Dennis will join our team after the Silvertips concludes its run in the WHL playoffs. In our swim program, we hired John Carroll University head coach Tanner Barton. In four years at John Carroll, Tanner has won four Ohio Athletics Conference (OAC) men’s conference championships and four women’s conference championships. Tanner was also a Bob James Memorial Award recipient in 2017 at Ball State. This award is given to the top overall student-athletes, in any sport, in the Mid-American Conference. It is important to note in the history of this award, BGSU has had 18 student-athletes earn it. This is six more than any other university in the conference. When you meet Tanner and Dennis, you will be immediately struck by their infectious personalities, strong visions, relentless determination, and unwavering commitment to success in everything they do in life. Everyone must do their part in building the momentum of BGSU. We have added two more individuals who will be critical in moving us forward.
One thing I did not want to miss was acknowledging the success of a few of our winter sport programs. Our men’s basketball program finished the season with 20 wins. It was one of 10 teams in the country to go from 20 losses in 2022-2023 to 20 wins in 2023-2024. The program finished the year fifth in the conference and earned a win in the tournament over the Chippewas of Central Michigan. They appeared in the CIT for the program’s first postseason appearance since the 2021 CBI. Our women’s basketball finished the year with a winning record in the MAC, also finishing fifth in the conference. Playing with a short bench all year because of injuries, Head Coach Fred Chmiel and his team battled and was competitive all year, earning another trip to the WNIT. Our women’s track and field program finished the indoor track and field season with the fourth-place finish. This program continues to improve and reach for success.
Our swimming and diving team continues to do great in the classroom. They were recognized recently by the CSCAA as a Scholar All-America Team, which is given to programs with a team GPA of 3.00 or greater. Our team came in with a 3.695 team GPA last fall.
Big congratulations to our women’s golf team on its Battle of I-75 victory this past weekend over Toledo in a match-play event. It was an exciting day of golf that came down to the last golfer. A perfect warmup for the MAC Championship coming up in Grove City, Ohio.
Looking forward to this summer and next fall, there are a few things I want to bring to your attention. We are currently planning our annual football Gridiron Golf Classic on June 17 at the Toledo Country Club. This event is our largest single football fundraiser each year. Last year over 90 golfers participated in the golf outing and post celebratory banquet. The marquee event continues to grow and gain significant support. There is limited availability each year. Make your plans today to participate. Click here to register.
A few days later, June 20, the BGSU football program will host its second annual Women’s Football Clinic at Doyt Perry Stadium. The clinic gives participants the opportunity to spend time with BGSU football coaches and players for a night of football fun. Activities include touring the facility, running drills designed by the coaches, learning plays and the opportunity to mingle and take pictures with head coach Scot Loeffler, BGSU football players and assistant coaches. The interest in this clinic keeps growing and growing. Call your friends and family and plan this as a fun group outing this summer. You can click here to register.
Finally, I would like to wish the best to our Senior Associate AD for Student-Athlete Experience Dr. Chet Hesson as he is making a transition to his new job as the Director of Athletics and Monroe High School. Chet has been with Falcons for 10 years and has made a substantial investment in the success of our student-athletes over the years. His leadership on developing educational programming, sport administration, management of our Hall of Fame, and mentorship will be missed. Thank you for your service to the Falcons.
Ay Ziggy,
Derek van der Merwe
Director of Athletics
60 Seconds with the Falcons
— BGSU Athletics (@BGSU_Athletics) April 12, 2024
????? Tianna Milligan of @BGSUXCTF
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We had a tremendous networking event for our team last Friday night. Thank you to all the companies and BGSU Football alums that came back to meet with our men. Roll Along ????@CoachLoefflerBG x @vandermerwe63 #ToTheMoon ???? pic.twitter.com/spSbqQe6ct
— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) April 10, 2024
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— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) March 21, 2024
Women head up two major components of the BGSU football program ??
VIDEO from @13abc ?? x #WomensHistoryMonth https://t.co/leiDNYKlC4
Hitting the phones with BGSU students-athletes and coaches tonight and thanking all of our donors to BGSU OneDay! Falcon faithful around the country “created good with us” by breaking every one day fundraising record! #900k #1500Donors @bgsu @BGSU_Athletics #waitforyourcall!… pic.twitter.com/C2Nxuo3GbL
— Derek van der Merwe (@vandermerwe63) April 10, 2024
Falcons Win!
— BGSU Softball (@BGSUSoftball) April 7, 2024
FINAL | BGSU 7, UA 6#AyZiggy | ?????? pic.twitter.com/7BQsq8hat1
We woke up this morning and couldn’t believe what we saw yesterday. In most places on Earth, a total solar eclipse happens only once every hundred years or so ?? #Eclipse2024 #Eclipse pic.twitter.com/gMNpeabgsF
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) April 9, 2024
Reliving yesterday ??
— Bowling Green State University (@bgsu) April 9, 2024
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Dates to Remember
- NOW – Football and volleyball season tickets are on sale. Visit BGSUFalcons.com or call 419-372-0000 for more information. You can also purchase season tickets by clicking here.
- April 20 – BGSU baseball alumni weekend for all alums. The 1999 and 2009 teams will be honored for their 25th and 15th reunions.
- April 21-23 – MAC Women’s Golf Championship in Grove City, Ohio.
- April 26-28 – MAC Men’s Golf Championship in Westfield, Ind.
- April 27 – BGSU softball alumnae day.
- May 17 – BGSU baseball vs. Toledo at Fifth Third Field. Buy tickets by clicking here.
- May 31 – Deadline to renew football season tickets for current ticket holders to retain same seats.
- June 3 – Single-game tickets for football go on sale.
- June 17 - Gridiron Golf Classic at the Toledo Country Club.
- June 20 – The second annual women’s football clinic at Doyt Perry Stadium. You can register by clicking here. The cost of the event is $75, which includes a T-shirt, hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. By attending this event or making an additional donation, you are supporting the nutritional needs of our student-athletes throughout the year.
- June 28 – Deadline to renew volleyball season tickets for current ticket holders to retain same seats.
- July 1 – Single-game tickets for volleyball go on sale.
Even if BGSU is delayed until tomorrow, that doesn't mean we can't still give you a Falcon Four on this Falcon Friday!
— Falcon Media Sports Network (@BG_FMSN) April 12, 2024
Jack Krause shares his Falcon Four favorite Coach Hallock quotes???? pic.twitter.com/GWM7ZKpgWV
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— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) April 10, 2024
Falcons put three on @NFFNetwork's Hampshire Honor Society ??
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??????? 4 falcons made an appearance on the Academic All-MAC Team! Congrats Liv, Emily, Sophie, & Amy!#AyZiggy x #OneMore pic.twitter.com/QFOcSpxFlX
— BGSU Women’s Basketball (@BGSUWBB) April 11, 2024
The end of a chapter but not their story...two falcons share why they can't wait for life after graduation…????@BGSUWGolf @BGSU_Baseball
— jenna diblasi (@DiblasiJenna) April 11, 2024
Here's part 1: pic.twitter.com/IdIHDrMF3t
Yesterday was an exciting day!!!
— BGSU Swim/Dive (@BGSU_SwimDive) April 6, 2024
Roll Along with the ????? pic.twitter.com/HdGH3hbYsb
Time for a Thursday night Falcon Four!
— Falcon Media Sports Network (@BG_FMSN) April 5, 2024
BGSU baseball's Garrett Wright shares his Falcon Four favorite villains?? pic.twitter.com/qbTj4boqZF
Roll Along with the Dennis Williams ?????? ????#AyZiggy ?????? pic.twitter.com/WvpDTDJ7Xo
— BGSU Hockey (@BGSUHKY) March 29, 2024
WOMEN’S GOLF
• The Falcons faced Toledo (April 13) in the Battle of I-75 Match Play and won, 5-4.
• Ava O’Sullivan’s bogey on hole No. 17 clinched the victory for the Falcons.
• Falcons head to Grove City, Ohio for the MAC Championship on April 21-23.
BASEBALL
• Off to a 15-0 start in MAC play, best in program history.
• The 7-0 record at home is the best start since 2006.
• Already surpassed most MAC wins since 2021 and only at the halfway point of conference schedule.
• Top 15 in the nation for runs per game.
• Entered weekend one of seven teams in the nation inside the Top 40 for home runs per game and triples per game (Virginia Tech, Florida State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, Wright State, Saint Mary's (CA)).
• Sam Seidel has 27-game on-base streak this season (every game he's played) and 38 games going back to last season.
TRACK & FIELD
• Mateya Haintz has finished in the top-3 in all of BGSU’s outdoor meets this spring.
• Ashley Kisor has set three PRs this spring, including twice in the 200m.
• Kailee Perry set a PR in the 5000m at the Raleigh Relays.
• Kristin Groppe won the 3000m steeplechase with a PR of 11:28.90 at Cincinnati’s Oliver Nikoloff
• Kylee Cubbison won the 5,000m at Azusa Pacific’s Bryan Clay Invitational with the program’s fourth-best time of 16:29.29.
SOFTBALL
• Senior Reagan Williamson had the 100th hit of her BGSU career on Sunday (April 14) at Ball State. Williamson has a career batting average of .265.
• The previous Sunday, the Falcons eclipsed the Zips, beating Akron in walk-off fashion. Freshman Aaralyn Nogay’s two-out single scored sophomore Ashley Chevalier in the bottom of the seventh, capping a two-run rally that gave BG a 7-6 win at Meserve Field.
GYMNASTICS
• Kathryn Weilbacher won the MAC Championship on floor with a 9.900. She shared the honor with five others. Weilbacher is the 19th-different Falcon to tally an individual MAC Championship.
• The championship on floor gave the Falcons their 36th individual MAC Championship.
• Weilbacher's floor MAC Championship is just the sixth won by a Falcon.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
• Four Falcons were named to the Academic All-MAC Team. That quartet includes Sophie Dziekan, Olivia Hill, Emily Siesel, and Amy Velasco.
• Dziekan, Hill, Velasco and Erika Porter all were named to the Academic All-District Team, selected by College Sports Communicators.
• Porter ended the season ranked second in the nation in field-goal percentage. She broke the school record – and the Mid-American Conference record – by shooting 66.3 percent from the floor.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
• BGSU had a record of 3-0-2, allowing just one goal in those five matches, during the spring season. Head coach Chris Fox and the Falcons defeated Xavier, Bethel (Ind.) and Cleveland State while battling to scoreless draws against Michigan and Kentucky. The Falcons outscored the opposition, 9-1, in those five matches.
MEN’S SOCCER
• Head coach Eric Nichols recently announced the addition of Stu Riddle to his staff as an assistant coach. Riddle has been a head coach at three NCAA Division-I institutions, including Western Michigan, Buffalo, and Northern Kentucky.
• The Falcons went 1-1-2 in North Division action in the College Spring League, with a win over Michigan, draws against Akron and Dayton and a narrow loss to Michigan State.
FOOTBALL
• Bowling Green placed three players on the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society. Darren Anders, Demetrius Hardamon, and Austin Osborne all received the honor by maintaining a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or higher and be a starter or significant contributor as a college graduate or in their final year of eligibility. BGSU now has 30 Falcons that have received the honor.
