basketball
UF vs LEC Mens Highlights
Where is the next UF men’s basketball game?
By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu
Despite the success of the University of Findlay’s men’s basketball team this year, fans may be upset about one thing – their lack of home games.
Out of 28 regular season games, less than half will be held in Croy Gymnasium. Although a challenge, Head Coach of the UF men’s basketball team Charlie Ernst says that his team is rising to the challenge of schedule.
“I would say on the court, we’ve handled it pretty darn well,” said Ernst. “I do think it’s been a challenge, a big challenge, off the floor. As a coach you put a lot of time and thought into how you’re going to make all that work. We talk about it months ahead of time to help prepare our guys.”
Though the men’s schedule is unfavorable, UF Head Athletic Director Brandi Laurita explains conference schedules are not up to the University.
“Conference schedules are mandated by the conference office,” said Laurita. Just like the athletic teams themselves, “Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose,” she said.
As there is a lot that goes into traveling for away competitions, Laurita says that each athletic team gets a budget in which they control.
“All expenses from travel comes from budget. Specific budgets are based on overall need,” said Laurita. “Each head coach is responsible for the allocation of budgeted funds. It does vary, but is pretty consistent based on need, conference schedule, and competitions.”
When asked about his team’s budget, Ernst explains that the program has had to cut back in other areas as a result of the traveling this season.
“We have a lot of equipment upgrades that happen every so often, and when you travel like we have this year, you end up spending most of that money on travel and you have to make sacrifices in a lot of other of other areas in your program,” said Ernst.
The Head Coach says that some of these sacrifices have included deciding not to stay in a hotel before a game they would have in years past, and taking a UF mini bus instead of a charter bus to Lake Eerie College earlier in the season. “You can decide how much you want to spend based on how many people travel, how many people per room you put, where you eat, and what type of hotels are you willing to stay in,” he said.
Senior Guard Martyce Kimbrough says that there is a noticeable difference when playing games on the road.
“The atmosphere and energy is different from Croy, having your home fans, and support,” said Kimbrough, “You have to get adjusted to the gym and the atmosphere and the other rims.”
Ernst agrees with Kimbrough as the energy in the different venues does not always match that of Croy.
“They’re normally just a little more worn down, not as excited,” said Ernst about his team. “You can see it in their eyes, and of course when we play at home we have big crowds, lots of energy, and we play in venues when that’s not necessarily the case.”
Despite the challenge of travel this year, Kimbrough says the group is rallying around each other to get the job done.
“I think we’re a very close-knit group on and off the floor,” said Kimbrough. “Going into road games, we tell each other in the locker room and in the huddle ‘we’re our biggest fans, from the first guy to the last guy on the bench, we have to keep the energy.’”
Don’t miss the men’s basketball team at home next when they take on Lake Eerie College again on Tuesday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m.
Highlights during UF women’s basketball win streak
By: Dylan DeWitt
Email: dewittd@findlay.edu
Twitter: @dd_witt
The season began for the University of Findlay’s women’s basketball team on Nov. 11 in Painesville, Oh. against the Wayne State Warriors; a game that would have to go into extra minutes and be decided in overtime.
The Oilers were defeated in the contest, 92-88, to begin the season. However, what came next is something worth mentioning. Over almost a two months span, the next twelve games would go a different route for the women’s squad. Twelve wins to be exact.
The win streak began with a victory against Tiffin University at the GMAC/ GLIAC Challenge with a triumph of 32 points, 95-63. The streak would move on with another twelve victories in a row. The twelfth win came against Ohio Dominican, another overtime thriller. Ironically enough, the Oilers won 92-88 – the same score they lost to Wayne State just flipped as that defeat fueled their streak.
Along the streak, the women’s team had multiple highlights along the way. Multiple players were awarded GMAC player of the week. Anna Hintz was named player of the week during Dec. 10 -16. In that week, Hintz helped the Oilers to two wins on the road against Ohio Dominican and a double-overtime victory versus Cedarville. In the two games, Hintz averaged 25.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks a game.
Another highlight during the win streak, other than compiling wins and excitement, came from Senior Lynsey Englebrecht. In the women’s victory over Davis & Elkins, Englebrecht broke a school record of most 3-pointers made in program history. She was able to knock down a total of 8 3-point field goals. Currently she has 58 3-pointers this season, which puts her only 20 behind the record for most in a season. This record has stood for two decade set in 1997-1998 by Trish Lauck with 78. With Englebrecht’s efforts, she too earned GMAC player of the week.
The winning streak concluded with a loss to the Ursuline on the road, but the team holds a 13-3 record overall with a 10-2 record in conference play. The Oilers will be back in action at home on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. against Kentucky Wesleyan.
As the season has passed its halfway point and postseason play inches closer and closer, the Oilers, who are still ranked first in the GMAC, will look to keep the victory morale going, and start another streak of their own.
UF vs Trevecca Nazarene Full Mens Game
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Coach Ernst traditions
By: Dylan DeWitt
Twitter: @dd_witt
Email: dewittd@findlay.edu
There are more than enough traditions in college athletics. Whether it be a tradition done prior to the contest, during, or perhaps afterwards, college sports continue to showcase traditions from all different directions.
In Croy Gimnasium, a tradition after all home men’s basketball games was started in 2011 at the University of Findlay. When Coach Charlie Ernst became head coach of the program, he was looking for a chance to give back to the fans who continued to show full support. With that being said, “Ernst’s Esteem” was created.
Prior to gaining the position of head coach, Ernst was the assistant basketball coach at Findlay for 19 years. Throughout all of those years, Ernst watched fans give all their emotion and support to the team at games.
“I had been an Assistant Coach at UF for 19 years and had always felt like we never could thank our fans for their support if the season ended on the road in the post season,” said Ernst. “After some thought, I decided to thank the fans for their support after every game so that they truly knew the impact and appreciation that our program has for them.”
After every home game, the coaching staff and players walk through a line of fans exchanging hugs and handshakes sharing their gratitude of support. Coach Ernst touched on what it meant to him and the rest of the team.
“First and foremost, our players enjoy the interaction with fans and personally getting to know them,” he said. “I think it’s what makes small college basketball special – the access that fans can have with the athletes. When you feel like you know someone personally, you support them with passion and with loyalty through good times and bad.”
The tradition is one that seems to grow more and more too. In many sports, more often than not, fans will leave before the final buzzer goes off when the outcome becomes clear. However, not the fans of UF men’s basketball.
This is apparent to Ernst as well. “Many fans will stay till the buzzer sounds so that they can visit with the players after the game even if it is brief they will stay regardless of the score,” stated Ernst.
From families or season ticket holders, the student body, to first-time Findlay basketball viewers, the tradition is growing as Ernst career moves forward.