Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets

Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets
University Baldwin Wallace University
Conference Ohio Athletic Conference
NCAA Division III
Athletic director Kris Diaz
Location Berea, OH
Varsity teams 21
Football stadium George Finnie Stadium
Basketball arena Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium
Baseball stadium Heritage Field
Mascot Stinger
Nickname Yellow Jackets
Colors Brown and Gold
         
Website www.bw.edu/athletics/

The Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets are the athletic teams for Baldwin Wallace University. The Yellow Jackets participate in Division III of the NCAA in the Ohio Athletic Conference. B-W's rivalries include John Carroll University and University of Mount Union. BW's most successful athletic programs include cross country and swimming and diving. One of BW's most famous alumni related to athletics include Harrison Dillard and Lee Tressel.

History

The university has long rivalries with John Carroll University and University of Mount Union. Perhaps the most notable BW athlete from the 20th century was Harrison Dillard, the only male so far to win Olympic titles in both sprinting and hurdling events, in the 1948 Summer Olympics. The teams of the Sidney High School Yellow Jackets were named after Baldwin Wallace graduate Granville Robinson became Head Coach at Sidney High School. The teams colors are officially brown and gold. During the 1990s and early 2000s, the school used burgundy and teal as well as maroon and gold for its marketing literature. Since the mid-2000s, BW went back to its roots with using brown and gold. In 2009 after almost 20 years of use, BW adopted a new logo and modified the university's mascot for the athletic teams.[1]

Mascot

BW's mascot "Stinger"

The official mascot of Baldwin Wallace University is Stinger. Stinger is depicted as a Yellow Jacket, specifically after the Eastern yellowjacket found throughout North America. Stinger is seen at many athletic events and university functions. In 2009 after almost 20 years of use BW adopted a new logo and modified the mascot for the university's athletic teams.[1]

Varsity sports

The Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets varsity sports participate in Division III of the NCAA in the Ohio Athletic Conference. BW has 12 men's varsity teams and 11 women's varsity teams. BW's newest varsity teams were men's and women's Lacrosse, which were added for the 2012–13 season.[2]

Men's Sports

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Swimming/Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Wrestling

Women's Sports

  • Basketball
  • Cross Country
  • Golf
  • Lacrosse
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming/Diving
  • Tennis
  • Track & Field
  • Volleyball

Football

Finnie Stadium west entrance

BW holds the title for Most Wins in the OAC.[3] In the 106-year history of football at the university, the Yellow Jackets have compiled an all-time record of 546–319–30. The 546 wins are the most of any current OAC member school. Baldwin Wallace's football team was coached by Lee Tressel, who led the team to an undefeated record in 1978, and subsequently the NCAA Division III Championship.[3]

Basketball

The men's Basketball team hold the record of Five OAC Regular Season Championships, Five OAC Tournament Titles, Seven trips to the NCAA Tournament and Seven All-Americans.[4]

The women's Basketball team hold the records of 11 berths to the NCAA Division III National Tournament, Four "Elite Eight" finishes (1999–2000, 2000–2001 and 2005–2006, 2011-2012), Seven OAC regular season titles and Five OAC Tournament crowns.[5]

Cross country

The Women's Cross Country record has 16 OAC cross country titles for the years of 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2007 and 2009. The Men's Cross Country record has 5 OAC cross country titles for the years of 1973, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983.[6]

Track and field

Lou Higgins Center is where BW Indoor Track and Field practice

BW's Women's team won the 2016 Indoor Track and Field National Championship and were Runner's Up at the Outdoor National Championship. BW also holds the record for 2008 OAC Indoor Champions. The women's indoor and outdoor track & field teams have won 17 Ohio Athletic Conference indoor titles, including 15 straight from 1988 through 2002, and 16 OAC outdoor crowns, including a pair of OAC-record streaks of seven straight years. Add that success to 16 OAC cross country titles.[7]

Wrestling

BW Wrestling has the record of Two NCAA National Champions, Two NCAA Runners-Up, 10 Division III All-Americans and 18 OAC champions.[8]

Club sports

BW club sports include Men's Club Volleyball, Racquetball, Rowing, Water polo, Paintball and Archery. In 2012 BW moved its club Lacrosse to an official sport.

Racquetball

Baldwin Wallace has a great tradition of racquetball,[9] including two USAR men's team intercollegiate titles in 2001 & 2002 and an overall Division II team title in 2006. Shane Vanderson won the USAR Intercollegiate racquetball men's championship in 2001,[10] and three Baldwin Wallace players have won the women's title. Sheryl Lotts won it in 2009,[11] Kristen Walsh in 2001 and Krystal Csuk won in 2002.[10] Baldwin-Wallace players won the doubles title four times. Vanderson and Andy Hawthorne won the men's doubles title in 2002 and 2003,[10] and Elle Summers won the women's title with Walsh in 2001 and with Csuk in 2002.[10]

Of those champions, Vanderson and Hawthorne have gone on to be top 10 players on the International Racquetball Tour while Walsh and Csuk have been top 10 players on the Women's Professional Racquetball Organization tour. All four of these players have also represented the USA internationally.

Facilities

Baldwin Wallace University participates in NCAA Division III athletics. Facilities include The Lou Higgins Center, The George Finnie Stadium, Heritage Field and the "Pop" Collins Tennis Complex.

Panorama view of The George Finnie Stadium & Tressel Field

Fight song

BW Fight Song Fight, Baldwin Wallace
Fight, Baldwin Wallace
Fight and win this game;

We're cheering for you,
There's glory for you,
We're on the road to fame;

And in the battle,
We'll prove our mettle,
We're loyal, square, and brave.

Vict'ry will crown our might,
And in the breeze tonight
Our Brown and Gold shall wave!

Awww… JACKETS!

Written by Katherin Olderman in 1928[12]

People

Notable athletes

Baldwin Wallace University has over 41,000 alumni living throughout the United States.[13] BW has many alumni that still reside throughout Ohio. Some notable Alumni in sports include former OSU Football coach Jim Tressel and his father Lee Tressel, former NFL player and first Atlanta Falcons head coach Norb Hecker, CBS announcer Bud Collins, and Olympian Harrison Dillard. BW has had many alumni become representatives for the state of Ohio. As well, BW has a large network of alumni who have gone into Broadway due to its strong performing arts program.

References

  1. 1 2 B-W: Stinger Has a new Look
  2. ↑ "BW adds lacross 2012-13". BW adds lacross 2012-13. BW University. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 "BW football History". Archived from the original on 2011-11-22.
  4. ↑ "BW Basketball History". Archived from the original on 2012-01-30.
  5. ↑ "Womens Basketball History". Archived from the original on 2011-11-26.
  6. ↑ "Cross Country Records". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28.
  7. ↑ "BW track and Field History". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28.
  8. ↑ "BW Wrestling History". Archived from the original on 2012-03-28.
  9. ↑ http://www.bw.edu/athletics/racquetball/
  10. 1 2 3 4 http://usaracquetball.com/AboutUSAR/RecordBooks/IntercollegiateChampions.aspx
  11. ↑ http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college/index.ssf/2009/04/baldwinwallace_club_racquetbal.html
  12. ↑ http://www.bw.edu/stulife/handbook/2009-2010_Handbook.pdf
  13. ↑ "BW Alumni".

External links

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