Talk Time With Ellen

HIRAM, OHIO - Hiram College Athletic Director, Ellen Dempsey, took time out of her busy schedule to give students of the sports journalism class an end of the year press conference. Dempsey had a lot of information for them, which included some never heard before announcements.

Right from the start, Dempsey focused on some new additions to Hiram's Program including the NCAA Women and Minorities Grant, an exercise science major, and men's volleyball as a varsity sport. The grant's goal is to create more opportunities for women and minorities during a 10 month paid internship. This intern will assist Hiram's current Director of Sports Information, Andrew Korba. Being that there are only nine of these grants given out to division III schools per year, it is an honor for Hiram to receive it two times within the last five years.

Hiram will look to open up its marketability and ability to recruit more student-athletes with its new integrative exercise science major. "It's huge," stated Dempsey. "Hiram staff are really excited about it."

Students majoring in integrative exercise science will complete a strong core of exercise science coursework incorporated with biology and bio-medical humanities courses. These tracks will include sports health, human performance, or sport and fitness management, accomplished through elective coursework and their chosen minor. They will prepare students with an interest in sports for future opportunities in the medical field or management as well. 

Three and a half years ago, Ellen submitted a proposal that included added men's volleyball as a varsity sport at Hiram College. Thanks to a special donor, this vision is finally being met. Not only is the anonymous donor funding the new sport, but he has also volunteered to sponsor the new coach and pay his or her salary for the first year.

Demspsey ended her press conference with highlighting all of Hiram's accomplishments throughout the year. One of the most humbling awards that Hiram received was the Musial Award for sportsmanship. Hiram was honored with this award because of their involvement in the Lauren Hill game. "It was a very special moment," Ellen recalled. "Lauren's parents made the trip to Hiram so that they could present it to the college themselves."

On another positive note, Hiram hired nine new athletic staff members this year. In turn, both fall and spring sports have accomplished many achievements within their own sport.

"Hiram is improving every year and I believe we are a meaningfully competitive institution," Dempsey concluded.

Terriers Face The Tigers

HIRAM, OHIO - Despite the brisk weather, the Terriers look to take down the DePauw Tigers. The starters for the Terriers were Sierra Ray (Tallmadge, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls), Katelyn Slomovitz (Kent, Ohio / Roosevelt), Erica Dulka (Bristolville, Ohio / Bristol), Melissa Schilling (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg), Christina Belleza (Peninsula, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit), Autumn Osgood (Hyde Park, Vt. / Lamoille Union), Kayla Jenkins (Solon, Ohio / Solon), Erin Smith (Youngstown, Ohio / Cardinal Mooney), Kayla Cornett (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Michaela Edmond (Sherman, Conn. / New Milford), Alyse Gillentine (Hartville, Ohio / Lake), Paige McLain (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk), and Rachel Metcalf (Stow, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls).

The Terriers struggled offensively during the first half, but they showed some fight as they scored with eight seconds left in the first half leaving them down 11-4.

For the Tigers, Emma Flynn led the team with 5 goals. Autumn Osgood and Sierra Ray both had two goals each for the Terriers.

The Tigers move to 2-7 overall and 1-1 in the conference while the Terriers drop to 3-6 overall while going 0-2 in the conference.

The Terriers' next game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 6 at Franciscan College. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.

Taking Down The Tigers

HIRAM, OHIO - The Hiram College Women's Lacrosse team looks to overcome their two-game losing streak tomorrow against the DePauw Tigers.

The Tigers are currently 1-7 overall while 0-1 in the conference. After Last week's game, Hiram dropped to 3-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference. If the Terriers walk away with a victory, it will be their first conference win of the season.

There are no reported injuries going into the game. The Terriers are set to take on the Tigers at 11:00 a.m. on Henry Field.

Women's Lacrosse Looks To Bounce Back

HIRAM, OHIO - The Hiram College Women's Lacrosse team looks to bounce back from their tough loss on Saturday against Wooster College as they face Notre Dame College tonight.

The Falcons are currently 3-2 overall while the Terriers are 3-4. Winning tonight will advance the Lady Terriers to 4-4 overall while boosting their record at home to 3-1.

There are no reported injurires going into tonight's game. The Terriers are scheduled to take on the Falcons at 7:00 p.m. on Henry Field.

ACL IQ

           Being an athlete is hard work sometimes and your body suffers from it. Sure, soreness or even minor injuries like a rolled ankle come with the job description, but tearing a main ligament such as your Anterior Cruciate Ligament is something that might not be as expected. The rate of ACL tears, regardless of mechanism of injury, has increased within both male and female collegiate athletes. “The number of ACL tears we see varies from year to year, but is still prevalent every year,” said Hiram College Athletic Trainer, Renee Myers. “One year we may see three and then 10 the next year.” Whether it is Division I, Division II, or Division III, these athletes are still highly impacted with ACL injuries.

            At Hiram College, ACL injuries seem to be a pretty common injury among athletes. “This year alone five people that I know have torn their ACL,” stated junior Kayla Yost. “I feel like that is a lot for our small campus.” Yost plays basketball at Hiram College and has torn her ACL twice. Her first injury happened when she was a sophomore in high school and she just recently reinjured the same knee as a junior in college. Both tears occurred while she was playing basketball. Although there has been about five years between her injuries, Yost feels that it is harder now that she is in college. “When I tore it in high school, I wasn’t thinking about college yet. Now, I realize that I have limited years in college until I am done playing at this level.” It is this mental problem that Yost, along with many other athletes struggle with while recovering.

 

            The pressure to get healthy and return to your sport as fast as you are able to can impact an athlete’s recovery process and make them more susceptible to reinjuring themselves. "I rushed my rehab to get back on the court," said senior men's basketball player, RaiTwann Gaston. "I had just decided to come to Hiram to play after I graduated from high school. I didn't want to have to miss any of my college career." Gaston was ready to start when he arrived at Hiram's campus, but retore his ACL during his freshman basketball season.

             These are just a couple of examples, on Hiram's campus, of how ACL injuries are affecting college athletes. Once you tear your ACL, you run the risk of reinjuring it in the future. Doing all of the rehabilitation therappy and continuing to do certain exercises even after you are healthy can help decrease this common theme among college athletes.

All Offense

Hiram, OHIO - The starters in today's women's lacrosse game were Sierra Ray (Tallmadge, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls), Katelyn Slomovitz (Kent, Ohio / Roosevelt), Erica Dulka (Bristolville, Ohio / Bristol), Melissa Schilling (Twinsburg, Ohio / Twinsburg), Christina Belleza (Peninsula, Ohio / Walsh Jesuit), Autumn Osgood (Hyde Park, Vt. / Lamoille Union), Kayla Jenkins (Solon, Ohio / Solon), Erin Smith (Youngstown, Ohio / Cardinal Mooney), Kayla Cornett (Strongsville, Ohio / Strongsville), Michaela Edmond (Sherman, Conn. / New Milford), Alyse Gillentine (Hartville, Ohio / Lake), Paige McLain (Beaver Falls, Pa. / Blackhawk), and Rachel Metcalf (Stow, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls).

The Terriers had a strong offensive first half to put them ahead 13-3. The Terriers leading scorers were Autumn Osgood (Hyde Park, Vt. / Lamoille Union), Kayla Jenkins (Solon, Ohio / Solon), and Sierra Ray (Tallmadge, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls) with three goals a piece. Terriers' goal-keeper, Rachel Metcalf, finished the half with four saves.

The Terriers continued their unstoppable offense in the second half to oull off the victory 19-5. Autumn Osgood  (Hyde Park, Vt. / Lamoille Union) and Sierra Ray (Tallmadge, Ohio / Stow-Munroe Falls) both finished with five goals each, leading the Terriers.

This was the Terriers first win of the season for their new head coach Brianne Dishong.

Women's lacrosse is scheduled to play Willmington College this Sunday at Henry Field.

Revenge TIme

Hiram, OHIO - The Hiram College Women's Lacrosse team looks to stop their losing streak tonight as they take on the Olivet Comets. The Terriers are currently 0-3 overall and they have not started conference play yet.

The Olivet Comets are 0-0 on the season so far as they look to play their first game of the season tonight. Last season, the Comets went 9-7 overall while going 5-3 in the conference. During the 2015 season, the Terriers faced the Comets and lost 14-5. The Terriers will look to gain some revenge as they go into tonight's game.

There are no injuries for the Terriers and the game is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Henry Field.