BGSU Decades Celebration: Falcons in 1995
Celebrating the Spirit of 1995 as Part of the 2025 BGSU Decades Celebration
7/23/2025
As part of Bowling Green State University’s Decades Celebration, we proudly invite all Falcons to relive the unforgettable moments that defined the different eras. We started with the 2015 era and followed with 2005. We now continue our walk through BGSU history with the 1995 era. Whether you were a student, professor, staff member, Townie, or a devoted fan cheering on BGSU Athletics, this celebration honors your place in Falcon history. In the lead-up to Homecoming 2025, BGSUFalcons.com will spotlight the stories and accomplishments that shaped each anniversary year—continuing with 1995, a time marked by remarkable athletic achievements and the unwavering spirit of the Orange and Brown.
As Falcons flock back to Bowling Green for Homecoming 2025, we proudly spotlight one of the most electric and memorable years in BGSU Athletics history—1995. It was a year that embodied excellence, heart, and the rallying cry that continues to echo across campus and beyond: “Who’s Got it Better Than Us!” – Jackie and Jack Harbaugh
Holzinger Hoists The Hobey
An illustrious season for BGSU Athletics reached its pinnacle in March of 1995 when, for the second time in program history, Falcon Hockey served as the home to collegiate hockey’s best player. On the back of a 69-point season over 38 games, Brian Holzinger was named the 15th recipient of the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given annually to collegiate hockey’s most outstanding player. His team-leading 35 goals ranked sixth in program history at the time and second in the nation while his point total stood third best in the country. In addition to his performance on the ice, Holzinger was named a First-Team Academic All-American, the fourth in program history.
Running Right Into History
While Falcons usually fly, the 1995 cross country teams proved that Falcons could run just as well. Led by two MAC Coach of the Year winners, with Sid Sink on the men’s side and Steve Price on the women’s, the Falcons captured not one, but two MAC titles. For the first time in program history, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams took home the MAC title in the same season. Individually, the women took home both first and second place in the MAC Championship with Suzanne Isco finishing first followed by Tracy Losi. As for the men, Brad Schaser finished as the runner-up. BGSU sent six runners to All-Region finishes (Top 25) as well as having seven All-MAC honorees.
Bowling Green Baseball Back On Top
In 1995, for the first time in 23 years, BGSU Baseball reached the top of the MAC. Finishing with a 34-20 record and going 22-8 in the MAC, the Falcons finishing first in the conference. The 22 wins stood as the most in program history until just last year when the 2024 team broke the record with 24. At the conclusion of the season, Danny Schmitz earned his second of back-to-back MAC Coach of the Year honors. For BGSU, Mike Combs paced the team, being named First Team All-MAC while setting the program’s hitting streak record with a base knock in 25 straight games. Combs was one of three Falcons named First Team All-MAC and five total All-MAC recipients. One of those included Eric Stachler who was also named ABCA District IV All-Mideast First Team before being drafted by Houston in the 12th round of the MLB Draft. Additionally, on May 10, Andy Tracy led the way for BGSU Baseball, setting the MAC record for home runs in a game with four against Wright State while also setting the program record for RBI in a game with eight.
Men’s Soccer Stands Strong
On the pitch, the 1995 season started a strong stretch for the men’s soccer squad, marking the first of three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The 1995 Falcons finished the season with a 16-3-2 record during the first season under head coach Mel Mahler. In the NCAA Play-In Game, the Falcons hosted Davidson, capturing a 3-1 win. However, BGSU fell on the road against Wisconsin in a 2-0 final with the Badgers going on to win the national championship. At the conclusion of the season, BGSU ranked 19th in the nation in the final NSCAA rankings and 20th in the final Soccer America poll. The Orange and Brown were led through the season by goalkeeper Scott Vallow, posting a school-record low 0.52 goals-against average.
Softball Sets Record After Record
The 1995 campaign saw success for Lisa Mountjoy in the way of multiple broken records for BGSU softball. Mountjoy obliterated the school single-season record for innings pitched, finishing with a total of 299.2 innings in the circle. To this day, no other BGSU pitcher has thrown more than 253.1 innings in a season. Additionally, Mountjoy set the school record for complete games with 33, another record that still stands today. Joining Mountjoy in the record book quest was Kathy Holland. Holland was named to the Academic All-America First Team, becoming the first BGSU softball player ever to earn first-team honors.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - Brian Holzinger
A lot of the credit for what I was able to achieve in college and in the pros certainly goes to the great coaches I had, and to a lot of good players I had around me.Brian Holzinger
Falcons Fly Across Every Sport
- Former BGSU coach Mickey Cochrane was inducted into the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Hall of Fame.
- Head Coach Buddy Powers led the Falcon Hockey team to a 25-11-2 record while posting a CCHA standing of 18-7-2, finishing second in the conference. The season resulted in Powers being named the CCHA Coach of the Year, his lone time receiving the award and the fifth time for a BGSU coach in program history.
- In addition to the accolades for Holzinger and Powers, Kelly Perrault was named the CCHA’s Best Offensive Defenseman as well as being named to the Titan West All-America First Team alongside Powers.
- As a team, Falcon Hockey tallied the program’s 600th victory, becoming the second-fastest to the mark in NCAA history (26 years) behind only Wisconsin.
- Mike Hall broke Nelson Emerson’s school record for consecutive games with a goal when he scored in 11 straight contests, a record that still stands today. Hall also set the program record for points in a game with eight, registering three goals and five assists in an 8-6 win over Alaska Fairbanks.
- Coming off a Second Team All-MAC performance in the 1994 season, DB Charlie Williams was drafted in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Williams stands as the last Falcon to be drafted in the third round or higher and is one of eight in program history to go in the first three rounds of the draft. Williams went on to play six seasons in Dallas, appearing in 81 games for the Cowboys.
- For volleyball, Carlyn Esslinger was named the MAC Player of the Year, the third in program history. Esslinger set the program records for attack attempts and kills in a four-set match during the season, landing 33 kills on 76 attacks against Toledo on Oct. 6. Later that month, she set the program record for total blocks in a four-set match, rejecting 14 against Kent State on Oct. 27.
- BGVB tallied two 3-0 sweeps over well-known opponents, topping Baylor on Sept. 3 and West Virginia on Oct. 7. At the season’s conclusion, BGSU saw Shayne Crumley, Marin Ferlic and Erin Siebenhar all receive the MAC Commissioner’s Award.
- Jerome Kynard earned the Moses “Fleetwood” Walker Award, presented to the Top Black Amateur Baseball Player in Ohio.
- On the court, Shane Kline-Ruminski set the men’s basketball program record for field goal percentage in a season, shooting 68.3-percent from the field (181-of-265) on his way to being named NABC All-District Second Team.
- Kline-Ruminski finished second in program history for career field goal percentage, coming in behind only teammate Floyd Miller who set the record in 1994-95, finishing his BGSU career with a mark of 62.1-percent (337-of-543).
- For women’s basketball, Sara Puthoff was named the MAC Freshman of the Year, the third in program history. Puthoff went on to score 1,678 points for the Orange and Brown, the second-most in school history at the time of her graduation.
- In gymnastics, Heather Ferguson won the MAC Championship on beam (9.775) while also being named the MAC Freshman of the Year. Additionally, Jenny Wenrich went on to compete in the All-Around at the NCAA Regionals.
- On the tennis court, freshman Jenny Cheung tallied 24 doubles wins over the course of the season, tying for 13th in program history.
- As a team, the men’s golf program posted a second place finish at the MAC Championship.
From the baseball diamond to the cross country courses; from the soccer pitch to the hockey rink and every playing surface in-between, 1995 illustrated success at nearly every level for the Falcons. This Homecoming, as we gather for the Decades Party on Sept. 12 and walk Decades Drive on Sept. 13, we honor those who wore the Orange and Brown with pride and 1995 one of unprecedented history.
So, we ask again, as Jackie and Jack Harbaugh did—Who’s Got it Better Than Us?
Nobody.
