Fitzpatrick Metzger is from Lakewood, Ohio, and is a graduate student at BGSU completing a masters in Sport Administration. He has a passion for soccer, rugby and sport analytics. In his free time, he is on the BG Rugby team as a player, club secretary, and SID.
December 3, 2024
Falcons set to face Virginia Tech in NCR Nationals Semifinals
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green Men’s Rugby Team (11-1, 6-0 MAC, 1-0 Nationals) beat Clemson (4-3, 2-0 SCRC East) in a 29-18 victory in the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) National Semifinal. BG now faces Virginia Tech (8-0-1, 4-0-1 MARC) in Reading, Pennsylvania in the semifinals for the NCR Nationals Tournament on December 7th, at 3 pm, at Penn State’s Berks Stadium.
“A hard fought game. WE did a really good job of dominating the first ten-fifteen minutes and put them under pressure. We let them off the hook a little bit by some missed kicks, putting ourselves back under pressure and really just had to ride that out,” said Head Coach Tony Mazzarella. “Eventually we got ahead of them and held on to it. It just ended up being our day.”
Going into the match Clemson was unknown. BG knew the Tigers could hold their own against tough competition, as shown in their 8-7 SCRC final loss to the reigning D1-AA NCR Champions Kentucky. Bowling Green came out strong and got a grip on the game. The change in field locations due to the week’s weather proved to be an important decision in eliminating some of the environmental conditions. Ultimately, the Falcons held their own and downed the Tigers with the help of vice-captain and 8-Man Phil Tracey who had three tries for a hat-trick.
“I think the boys have been playing very well this whole season, especially through this postseason. I’ve really just tried to play my part and give the boys big carries to play off,” said vice-captain Phil Tracey. “As for the scoring aspect I’ve just been blessed by my team and the Lord to have the opportunities to put the ball in the try zone and I’ve done my best to capitalize on those opportunities.”
The Falcons kicked off to start the MAC Final. Once again, a beautiful kick from Captain Joey Apel allowed the Falcons to reclaim the ball instantly. The Falcons went on the attack, working all the way into Clemson 22 (i.e., the equivalent of the ‘red zone’). Although the Falcons didn’t score on the opening drive, they dominated the open 15 minutes of the game putting pressure on the Tigers. Vice-captain and 8-Man Phil Tracey broke the stalemate and gave the Falcons their first lead. Clemson soon drove down the field to score and convert for their first lead of the game. Phil would again give the Falcons the lead with his second try and Joey Apel converted. Clemson punched one back before halftime. In the second half, Clemson took the lead with a penalty kick. Phil scores again, completing his hat-trick and sparking a 17-point unanswered run by the Falcons. Prop Evan Holderer scored off a powerful run and Joey Apel converted his second of the game. Nico LaBianca scored his first of the match making it 29-13 going into the final minutes of the game. Clemson ended the Falcon’s 17 point scoring run with a try; however, it wasn’t enough to win the match. Overall, the Falcons played a solid match, doing well to manage Clemson’s kicking game. BG was able to advance through the NCR National Tournament Semifinal with a 29-18 win.
NOTABLES
Phil Tracey scores his seventh try in postseason: 3x Clemson (NCR Quarterfinal), 2x Cincinnati (MAC Semifinal) and Louisville (MAC Final)
Falcons return to the National semifinal
Bowling Green (11-1, 6-0 MAC) will continue into the post-season following the 29-18 win over Clemson with the semifinal of the NCR 15s National Tournament. The Falcons will face the 2021 and 2022 NCR National Champions and 2024 Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference Champions Virginia Tech (8-0-1 Overall, 4-0-1 MARC) on Saturday, December 7th at 3 pm at Penn State’s Berks Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st XV
Bowling Green 29, Clemson18
Kickoff
8-Man Phil Tracey opens the scoring (5-0)
Clemson scores and converts (5-7)
Tracey regains the Falcon’s lead with his second try (10-5)
Captain Joey Apel converts (12-5)
Clemson scores (12-10)
Halftime: (12-10)
Clemson scores a penalty kick (12-13)
Clemson misses a penalty kick (12-13)
Vice-captain Tracey scores his third of the game (17-13)
Caption: Katie Ledecky as she finishes her 1500 race in Paris
By Candice McNeill
Candice McNeill is a freshman marketing major and a member of the Marching band at BGSU. Her main interests are in college and professional football, baseball, and Olympic sports.
November 19, 2024
As the sun rises over Paris in 2024, all eyes are on Katie Ledecky, remembering her legacy as the greatest distance swimmer in Olympic history. Arriving in Paris, Katie Ledecky gets ready to dominate in her races. As time gets closer and closer to the last race, everyone notices that Katie Ledecky won gold in the 1500 and 800-meter races, she becomes the first-ever woman to win four consecutive gold medals in the 800-meter race. Starting with her 800-meter gold medal race in 2012 as only a 15-year-old, she became the youngest US Olympian to win a gold medal. As the Paris Olympics end, Katie still holds the world record in the 800 race at 8 minutes, 4.79 seconds and in the 1500 race at 15 minutes, 20.48 seconds. Her training and dedication have made her a formidable athlete with a track record of breaking and setting new benchmarks. Ledecky’s focus on both physical and mental preparation will be key as she approaches the competition, showcasing her unparalleled stamina and speed in the pool. Moreover, Ledecky’s impact extends beyond her impressive performances; she serves as a role model for aspiring athletes worldwide. Her sportsmanship, humility, and commitment to excellence resonate with fans and fellow competitors alike. As she competes in Paris, Ledecky embodies the spirit of the Olympics—pushing boundaries and inspiring others to pursue their dreams relentlessly. With her eyes set on new gold medals, she not only aims to dominate but also to leave a lasting legacy in the sport.
Setting records doesn’t come easy, but Katie Ledecky’s training regimen is meticulously crafted to prepare her for big races, blending endurance, strength, and mental resilience. Her daily workouts often exceed 20,000 yards (around 11 miles), combining long-distance swims with high-intensity training. This intense focus on endurance and speed allows her to build the stamina needed for her signature events, ensuring she can maintain peak performance throughout each race. In addition to her swimming workouts, Ledecky incorporates a comprehensive strength and conditioning program. This includes targeted weight training and core exercises designed to enhance her power and explosiveness in the water. By strengthening her muscles, she improves her swimming technique and minimizes the risk of injury, allowing her to train consistently at a high level. One of the biggest tips she said was she is not afraid to fail because sometimes that happens.
With her eyes set on future gold medals, she not only aims to dominate but also to leave a lasting legacy in the sport that transcends her achievements. Each stroke she takes in the water is a testament to years of dedication, countless hours of training, and the sacrifices she has made to reach the pinnacle of her sport. Ledecky’s journey is marked by both triumph and adversity, yet she approaches each competition with a fierce determination that encourages young athletes to believe in their potential.
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own rap music.
Since its creation in 2018, tens of thousands of student-athletes have used the portal. According to NPR, the NIL rule in 2022 has increased the applicant pool even more in the past two years.
Football is one of the sports for which the portal has gained the most attention. BGSU football has used it to turn their program around.
Falcon Football and Blane Cleaver
After spending three years at Army West Point, Blane Cleaver, senior tight end for the Falcons, became one of the many BGSU football transfers this past offseason.
Blane Cleaver, BGSU Falcons senior tight end
“I decided to step away (because) the balance between trying to play division one football with academics and the military was pretty challenging; and I just wanted a fresh start,” said Cleaver.
He got that fresh start with the Falcons after entering a chaotic April transfer portal process.
“I talked to between 20-30 schools,” he said. “I had calls, texts, (and) voicemails from the moment I woke up to dinner time.”
He eventually narrowed it down to three schools. He made his final decision after coming to Bowling Green for a visit.
“When I got to campus, I really liked everything I saw,” said Cleaver.
He believes the transfer portal is a huge positive for mid-sized schools like BGSU.
“If someone’s at Ohio State and they’re not playing, it’s very easy for them to take a step back to a bit of a smaller school, or guys at an FCS can take that step up and make an impact as well,” he said.
BGSU football has seen both cases recently impact their team. Former Indiana quarterback, Connor Bazelak, is now BGSU’s starting quarterback. Former Samford cornerback, Jordan Oladokun, is one of BGSU’s top defenders.
Falcon Hockey and Owen Ozar
Owen Ozar, senior forward for BGSU Hockey
BGSU hockey has also been impacted by the transfer portal recently, getting Owen Ozar, a senior forward from Denver, in the last offseason.
“I chose to come to Bowling Green because they showed that they had a lot of interest in me,” said Ozar.
He had a similar reason for transferring as Cleaver but went through a much quicker transfer portal process.
“I decided to tell the (Denver) coaches that I was going to try to go to a different school because I wanted to play more,” he said. “After that exit meeting, within a day or two, I was in the transfer portal. Then, two or three days after that, I committed to Bowling Green.”
Ozar also believes the transfer portal has been a positive for BGSU hockey in recent years.
“Last year, we picked up two fifth-years that ended up being some of our top goal scorers. This year, we picked up a lot of good players as well, like Jackson Niedermayer from Arizona State,” he said.
Unlike football, small schools like Denver compete for national championships in hockey. Ozar believes that these are the teams mid-sized schools like BGSU can target.
“There are a lot of good hockey players on those teams that just don’t get the opportunity. I think schools like Bowling Green can take those players and use them to their advantage,” said Ozar.
A BGSU Student Perspective
While student-athletes largely see the transfer portal in a positive light, the public opinion is more of a mixed bag.
Josh Lalik, BGSU freshman SM student
Josh Lalik, a BGSU freshman sport management student, believes there are both pros and cons of the transfer portal.
“I think it’s overall been a positive, but there have definitely been negative impacts,” said Lalik. “A Group of Five guy like Grayson McCall could have a great season and move on to bigger and better things.”
The McCall example Lalik gives put Coastal Carolina football at a major disadvantage. Their star player left, and they could do nothing about it.
Another major negative of the transfer portal is that it is extremely risky. Some athletes get stuck in a situation where they do not end up landing at a new school at all.
Conclusion
Like most other trends in sports, the NCAA transfer portal will continuously evolve. There are some negatives, but the overall sentiment from the athletes themselves is that it is a positive for collegiate athletics.
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own rap music.
November 9, 2024
The culture of the 2020’s NCAA has been dominated by the creation and use of the transfer portal, million-dollar N.I.L deals, and conference realignment, and it is hurting the M.A.C’s ability to compete…..or is it?
NCAA Transfer Portal
The first element of the 2020’s NCAA is the transfer portal, which allows college athletes to choose wherever they want to go in the NCAA if they don’t like or want to be at the first school they picked. This has affected every team and every conference in the NCAA, as THOUSANDS of athletes a year enter the portal, including an all-time high of 20,911 athletes in 2022, and that’s just in Division 1!
The transfer portal has created “super-teams” within the Power 4 conferences but has left smaller conferences, like the M.A.C, constantly searching for players. Although MAC schools occasionally get Power 4 players in the portal, such as Bowling Green landing former Arizona State shooting guard Braelon Green, it is ultimately a much rarer feat than if the school was in a Power-4 conference to start.
Braelon Green (left) blocking a Utah player’s shot while on Arizona State
What often happens instead is M.A.C schools pick up other mid-tier conference players or Division 2/JUCO players in the portal who are looking for a better opportunity, which makes the program weaker overall while increasing the talent level of top-tier programs. This creates a constantly growing talent gap between the mid-tier conferences like the M.A.C and the Power 4 conferences.
On top of the N.I.L and transfer portal creating talent gaps in college athletics, there is a physical gap occurring with conference realignment. This is perhaps the biggest current threat to the M.A.C as they could easily see their conference get torn apart like Conference USA, the American, or even the Power 4 ACC. What would be even worse is if the M.A.C eventually disbands with all of their schools going elsewhere. If it happened to the once powerful PAC-12, why couldn’t it happen to the M.A.C, one of the smallest and weakest financial conferences in America.
Map of conference realignment
M.A.C Football Fighting Back
With all of this being said, the M.A.C is refusing to give up. In fact, they are thriving in many ways. They are currently the ONLY Division 1 conference to not significantly alter the teams in their conference. So far, they have not lost a single team to another conference and have in fact added former FBS-Independent UMASS to their conference starting in the 2025-2026 season. This silver lining should give the M.A.C hope that they can in fact compete with other conferences going forward.
Northern Illinois coach, Thomas Hammock, crying tears of joy after beating #10 ranked Notre Dame
As for the talent gap that continues to grow, this may just be a phenomenon that makes sense on paper but isn’t true in real life. Despite the transfer portal and N.I.L deals making M.A.C teams theoretically weaker, it sure hasn’t seemed like this is the case in the 2024-2025 football season. Northern Illinois, that was picked to finish tied for 3rd in the M.A.C, beat #10 Notre Dame in South Bend in week 2 of the season. This made national headlines and eventually ended up with Northern Illinois ranked in the top 25 for a few weeks. Bowling Green State University (currently tied with Ohio, Miami (OH), and Western Michigan for first place in the M.A.C.), took #8 Penn State and #24 Texas A&M down to the wire, losing both games by only one score, and leading most of both contests as well.
Pros from the M.A.C
Maybe the most important evidence that the M.A.C is not close to being finished is that with all of the disadvantages that they seem to face, they are still producing high-quality professional players and graduates in a multitude of sports.
Yankees INF/OF, Jon Berti, making a throw from third base
In the MLB, Bowling Green alumni, Jon Berti, a versatile utilityman, went to the 2024 World Series with the New York Yankees. He also held the stolen base crown with the Miami Marlins in 2022 by stealing 41 bags. He did so in 102 games, the fewest games a stolen base leader has had in MLB History!
Pacers forward/center, Enrique Freeman (far right), celebrating after a play
In the NBA, Ryan Rollins (Toledo) is a third-string guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, Richaun Holmes (Bowling Green) is a 10-year NBA veteran and third-string center for the Washington Wizards, and Enrique Freeman (Akron) is a backup rookie forward/center for the Indiana Pacers.
Overall, I believe the M.A.C will continue to fight against the transfer portal and N.I.L phenomenon’s if they stick together and don’t abandon the conference in realignment. The widespread success of M.A.C football this year and of M.A.C players in pro sports is also a good sign that the M.A.C will continue to fight against the odds and hopefully stay strong together.
Elise Williams is a sophomore Sport Management major from Dublin, Ohio. She loves anything hockey and is incredibly passionate about the Canadian Hockey League. In her free time, she can be foundsearching for trinkets, eating sand, or staring at a life-sized pillow of her dog.
November 12, 2024
Continuing on from my previous post about the Ontario Hockey League, the Western league is up next. Plenty of talent has been sweeping through both leagues. The WHL is known for having some of the most elite hockey games in junior leagues. That being said, it has produced some amazing NHL talent, like Leon Draisaitl, Chandler Stephenson, and plenty of other talent.
(Quick note, Connor Bedard, the WHL phenom, will not be included in this list. He is such an icon in the hockey sphere that a single Google search would do him more justice than I could. He is also currently in the NHL, so I wouldn’t call him a ‘prospect’ anymore.)
Caedan Bankier keeps the puck away from the opposing team.
Caedan Bankier (#86 in 2021, Minnesota Wild)
Bankier was a key part of the Kamloops Blazers lineup for the past few years, rotating from second-line center to first-line winger regularly. However, his talent and potential were often overshadowed by one of his friends, Logan Stankoven. Bankier’s backcheck and tough, defensive forward play was exactly what helped Canada win a gold medal at the World Juniors (the big hockey tournament around Christmas, where 10* nations face off with players under 20). Having a point total of 85 points in 57 games with the Blazers, Bankier proved to be a force with whom to be reckoned. His skills are now with the Iowa Wild, Minnesota’s AHL team. Bankier was hurt for a good chunk of last season, and because of that, he has not had ample time to adjust to the quicker game of the American Hockey League. With his skillset, I think that Bankier has the ability to adjust pretty quickly. Wild fans can expect Bankier to make the jump within a few years.
Zach Benson hustling for his current team, the Buffalo Sabres.
Zach Benson (#13 in 2023, Buffalo Sabres)
Benson, going later in the draft than originally planned, has shown his amazing work ethic, especially in the National league. The Sabres opted to play Benson in the NHL now, instead of letting him develop within the Rochester Americans’ team to hone his skills. Because of this, someone (me) could say that Benson has not had the opportunity to really develop like some of the other guys in his draft. His skills are still incredible, his playmaking, hockey IQ, and skating are unmatched in his age group, but if he had the time to perfect those skills before being thrown to the wolves, I think he would be even better than he already is. Anyway, getting off my soapbox, Benson was a powerhouse with the Winnipeg Ice, tallying a shocking 98 points in 60 games in the 2022-23 season. That scoring has yet to transfer to the NHL level, but Sabres fans should sleep well at night knowing that Benson has the potential to be a top forward in the league.
Berkly Catton rushing up ice for the Spokane Chiefs.
Berkly Catton (#8 in 2024, Seattle Kraken)
Catton, the star forward for the Spokane Chiefs this year, is off to a staggering start. After being designated as the captain of the Chiefs, Catton has put up 26 points in 16 games, and is on pace to have 83 points this season (as of November 6th, 2024). However, his numbers last year were astronomical. Catton charted a shocking 116 points in 68 games. That was almost 2 points per game. His speed and ability to score points is impressive, especially for someone of his age (on the younger side of the draft class, but barely). His ability to make passes at the right time and place is fantastic as well, leading to more assists than goals. Overall, Catton was an amazing selection at #8. Kraken fans should see Catton within the next couple years, once he has aged out of the WHL. However, I think he’ll go earlier than that because of his point scoring, but also because he developed so quickly with the Spokane Chiefs and has proven to be at the NHL level.
Cristall suiting up for his current team, the Kelowna Rockets.
Andrew Cristall (#40 in 2023, Washington Capitals)
Cristall is a player that many had going in the early first round. However, many were then shocked to watch him fall as far down as he did. His creativity with the puck is great, along with his playmaking ability. I can still see why he fell so far down in the draft, as his defensive skills still need polishing, but that will eventually come with time and good development in the Caps system. With the Rockets last year, Cristall scored a shocking 111 points in 62 games, putting him 5th in the scoring race in the WHL, putting him just behind Berkly Catton (#4 in the scoring race, #3 in this article). These great point scores have one key difference: defense. Catton has developed his defensive skills, while Cristall is still working on perfecting his already-pretty-good defense. Also, Cristall is on the smaller side of prospects, setting him at a disadvantage from the jump. Still, if developed correctly, Cristall has the opportunity to take the NHL by storm and create his own league of talent.
Colton Dach keeping the puck away from a Portland Winterhawks forward.
Colton Dach (#62 in 2021, Chicago Blackhawks)
Colton Dach, not to be confused with older brother Kirby Dach, has had some unfortunate years after his draft in 2021. Riddled with injury, it is hard to see a great deal of development. However, he has come a long way in his recovery. He had gotten hurt in the World Juniors, where he played 4 games before going down with a shoulder injury. It took him quite a bit of time to recover, and once he came back to the game, he got injured again. This time, it was an ankle injury. He cannot really catch a break. However, he still has a place within the Blackhawks system, with the Rockford IceHogs. There, he is playing a game of ‘catch up’ to be with his prospect pool. Still, his scoring and physicality are something the Blackhawks need if they are to be real contenders this season. In 2023-24 with Rockford, Dach put up 27 points in 48 games. While not astounding numbers, he plays his role as a 3rd or 4th line guy. Most of the time they act as an insurance policy for some of the top-line guys (e.g., Connor Bedard). Let’s hope Dach can stay off the IR this year and develop.
Kevin Korchinski all smiles at Blackhawks camp.
Kevin Korchinski (#7 in 2022, Chicago Blackhawks)
Hailing from Saskatoon, Korchinski has a very bright future ahead of him with the Blackhawks. However, many seemed to pass on Korchinski initially, because there were still plenty of other defenseman who have been in the public eye. Still, his skill as a defensive defenseman landed him in the top 10 of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks knew Korchinski would be amazing for their blue line, coming to their organization with great puck handling, and skating. I believe that many were skeptical of Korchinski at first because he didn’t seem to measure up to the other defenseman in his draft class, as mentioned earlier. However, the Seattle Thunderbirds did an excellent job of developing Korchinski into being an NHL-caliber defenseman what seemed like overnight after he was drafted. His point totals for 2022-23 (The year after his draft) were great, totaling 73 points in 54 games. Currently, he is with the Rockford IceHogs after spending almost all of last year with the Blackhawks. I can only assume it is to develop his defensive zone skills even more. He will be back soon.
Thomas Milic saluting the crowd in Seattle.
Thomas Milic (#151 in 2023, Winnipeg Jets)
Thomas Milic is the blueprint for a lot of young goaltenders. Putting up rockstar numbers when (what feels like) the fate of the world is on your shoulders, staying relaxed in the face of defeat, anything. It takes so much mental toughness to be a goaltender, I do not think many fans realize that. Sorry, I need to get off my soapbox once again when writing about Thomas Milic. He originally went undrafted in 2021, and came back with probably one of the biggest “You Guys Missed Out” seasons I have ever seen. In the World Juniors he put up a .932 save percentage, and went undefeated in the tournament. In the WHL, he was consistently shutting teams down, and eventually won the WHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’ in 2022-23. He also won Championship MVP in the same year. The decorated goaltender proved himself in more ways than one, which lead to him being drafted by the Winnipeg Jets, alongside OHL goaltender, Dom Divincentiis, whom I discussed in my previous article. This goaltending tandem is going to be unstoppable in a few years with the Jets.
Fraser Minten suits up for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Fraser Minten (#38 in 2023, Toronto Maple Leafs)
Minten has always been an interesting player to me. Especially when he was given the captaincy of the Kamloops Blazers… only to be traded away within the month. Still, I think Minten’s development between the Blazers (then the Saskatoon Blades) is notable. While not projected in the first round, many teams were clamoring to get Minten into their system. His amazing two-way game sense is unmatched, along with his skill to know when and where to be on the ice. The Maple Leafs needed that consistent piece to hopefully get them out of the first round, and they got that in both Minten and Cowan, as well as their other draft picks. Minten’s point totals across teams were also great, while trying to stand out on a team full of greats in Kamloops. He tallied 67 points in 57 games with Kamloops in 2022-23, and then 10 points in 7 games before being traded to the Blades. While Minten has already played a few games with the Leafs, I think that Minten needs a few more years of development before he can break out as a great forward for the team.
Tanner Molendyk makes a pass for the Saskatoon Blades.
Tanner Molendyk (#24 in 2023, Nashville Predators)
I feel like the whole hockey world forgot about Tanner Molendyk. Probably because they did. Molendyk was supposed to play in the World Juniors in 2024, but unfortunately got injured during the pre-tournament games against Switzerland, only a few days before the tournament. This sidelined him for the entire tournament, and even some of his junior season. After that, he slotted right back into his role as a top pair defenseman with the Blades. His puck control and absolute speed/skating is amazing, which is what allowed him to go in the first round in 2023. Still, I think many forgot about Molendyk simply because he was hurt. On top of that, not many articles were posted about Molendyk, but he was still putting in great work behind the scenes. His development is going very well within the Blades organization, and Predators fans can be excited to have Molendyk on their team shortly.
Olen Zellweger on the blue line for the Ducks.
Olen Zellweger (#34 in 2021, Anaheim Ducks)
Zellweger, coached by BGSU’s own head coach Dennis Williams for many years with the Silvertips, is doing Olen Zellweger things. Zellweger was doing great things for years with the Silvertips, but many were waiting for his draft year to see where he would land. Many had originally predicted that he would go later in the draft, since he wasn’t really putting up NHL-caliber numbers. He was also 16-17 trying to get his bearings in the WHL. After being drafted pretty high, Zellweger really started to ramp up in all facets. He developed keen offensive awareness, as well as sheer speed and played all 200 feet. The only issue? He’s on the shorter side. Many NHL teams are looking for the whole package and tend to pass up on great talent for size instead because they want that physicality, and to not have a player blow away with the wind or a slight check to the shoulder. Zellweger has come to play around his size, and has developed into a top four defenseman for the Ducks, in one of the best prospect pools I’ve ever seen for any team.
With all that being said, all junior leagues are getting more and more talented as years pass. The game of hockey is growing steadily, whether that be because of fans or simply because of how the NHL is set up with farm teams. I think that the future of the NHL rests in the hands of these 16, 17, and 18-year-olds who want to experience the rush of being on an NHL team. Once again, watch junior leagues. They’re the future of hockey.
Elise Williams is a sophomore Sport Management major from Dublin, Ohio. She loves anything hockey and is incredibly passionate about the Canadian Hockey League. In her free time, she can be found curled up with a goodbook, asleep, or eating shredded cheese right out of the bag.
October 23rd, 2024
It’s been a few months since the 2024 NHL Entry Draft took place in The Sphere. An interesting experience for all. And since many NHL rosters are filling with rarely heard names for the beginning of the season, I figured now would be the best time to give a prospect update. More specifically, with the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) guys, and how they have developed since their draft years.
Denver Barkey celebrating after a goal.
Denver Barkey (#95 in 2023, Philadelphia Flyers)
During his time with the Knights in London, Barkey has shown incredible tenacity and growth. Throughout his tenure, he has continued to provide scoring for the entire Knights roster and while not necessarily putting up superstar, godly numbers, his scoring is consistent and increasing. He signed with the Flyers back in March of 2024, a three-year deal that begins in the 2024-25 season. Flyers fans can expect him to be a great 3rd or 4th line guy, as his size is generally not ideal (5’8). However, Barkey continues to put in the work to become a top line player for both the Knights and the Flyers. Recently, he attended Flyers NHL camp with Knights teammate Oliver Bonk, but Barkey didn’t skate, as he is recovering from illness. Also, if any of you happen to care, I’ve talked to him a bit, and he is a really nice guy. He signed a drawing I gave him two years ago, and we occasionally talk through Instagram DMs.
Hunter Brzustewicz circling around the net.
Hunter Brzustewicz (#75 in 2023, Vancouver Canucks/Calgary Flames)
Hunter Brzustewicz (pronounced, broo-STEV-itch, crazy I know), not to be confused with younger brother Henry Brzustewicz, is a new acquisition for the Calgary Flames. Hunter was involved in the Elias Lindholm trade with Andrei Kuzmenko and a few first-rounders. As an offensive defenseman, Brzustewicz‘s speed and skill are two massive factors in his play. He signed with the Flames back in mid-March, securing his spot within the Flames’ system. Brzustewicz, being US-born, went through the AAA system in Michigan. His point totals from 2023-24 were insane (especially for a defenseman), putting up a total of 92 points in 67 games. Currently, he is playing with the Calgary Wranglers, and within two games has put up an assist. Still, Flames fans can look forward to having a skilled defenseman in the near future in Brzustewicz (which is really hard to spell 7 times).
Easton Cowan suiting up for the Knights.
Easton Cowan (#28 in 2023, Toronto Maple Leafs)
“Cowboy”, as many call him, is the future of the Leafs organization. Going later in the first round after being projected late fourth round, his come-up is well-documented by many different sources. Throughout his tenure with the Knights, Cowan has put up great numbers, tallying 96 points in just 54 games last year. In the playoffs, he put up 34 points in 18 games. These numbers got him signed with the Leafs as well, a 3-year deal that ends in 2026-27. Leafs’ fans can expect a sharp-shooting winger with great speed to join their lineup within the next year or so. Even though many are still skeptical about Cowan jumping so high in the draft, Brad Treliving (generally) does know what he’s doing when it comes to prospects. There are plenty of other great prospects coming through the Leafs farm system that will be touched on in the WHL portion of the NHL prospect update.
Dom DiVincentiis preparing to stop a puck.
Dom DiVincentiis (#207 in 2022, Winnipeg Jets)
As the only goaltender on this list, DiVincentiis stands out. He also stands out on the stat sheet, putting a save percentage of .919 in 48 games. That is almost unheard of in junior leagues. On top of that, he was the OHL ‘Goaltender of the Year’ in 2022-23. His skills made the Jets decision to draft him all the more worth it. Generally speaking, goalies never crack NHL rosters right out of junior hockey. It’s very rare to see an 18 or 19-year-old goalie in the National league because of the development and skill it takes to perfect being a goalie. You don’t just come out of Junior with the skills to stop a puck flying at you at 120 mph. So, giving a goaltender the time to adjust to the elite skill and speed of the National league, most hang out in the ECHL (which no longer stands for anything), or the American Hockey League (AHL). So Jets fans can expect DiVincentiis in the next 5 or so years, just so he can develop into the best goaltender he can be.
Sam Dickinson warming up for the London Knights.
Sam Dickinson (#11 in 2024, San Jose Sharks)
Full of personality and skill, Dickinson has a long NHL career ahead of him. He joined the Knights early in his career, a clear sign that he was the real deal. A genuine two-way defenseman, Dickinson has amazing puck control and hockey IQ, knowing what plays will create the best opportunity for a goal. His skills got him on the OHL First All-Rookie team in the 2022-23 season. On top of that, he was on Team Canada for the Hlinka Gretzky Cup (which is like the hockey Olympics for under 18’s, in which 8 nations face off). His point production is increasing exponentially as well, putting up 70 points in 68 games as a defenseman (2023-24), as opposed to his 23 points in 62 games (2022-23). Sharks fans have plenty to look forward to in Dickinson, and can expect him as soon as the 2025-26 NHL season. He signed with the Sharks in July of 2024, so maybe that will expedite the process of him going to The Show.
Dalibor Dvorsky waiting to make a play for the Sudbury Wolves.
Dalibor Dvorsky (#10 in 2023, St. Louis Blues)
Coming to the OHL from the Swiss league Hockey Allsvenskan, Dvorsky brought his intense gameplay with him. His speed combined with his skill made him an amazing prospect for the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. His puck-handling, passing, and offensive read are all lethal for the opposing team. He played for Team Slovakia at the World Juniors (the big hockey tournament around Christmas, where 8 nations face off with players under 20. This tournament is more popular than Hlinka Gretzky because the players promise to be in the NHL sooner – that is my guess), as well as Hlinka Gretzky, notching 13 points in 7 games in the younger tournament, and 3 points in 5 games at the World Juniors. Still, his intense game and ability to make difficult passes got him drafted by the St. Louis Blues. He signed with them in July of 2023, and many had mixed feelings. Those feelings should subside though, as Dvorsky is barreling through the AHL system in hopes of cracking an NHL roster either this year or the next.
Jett Luchanko turning to make a play at Flyers Development Camp.
Jett Luchanko (#13 in 2024, Philadelphia Flyers)
Luchanko (which, c’mon, what a name) shot up the NHL Draft rankings before the draft actually started. His work ethic is a massive part of that. Not only does he want to learn, but he also wants to be competitive. While his shot may not be the best on the team, his puck control and ability to make passes is on another level (Similar to Dvorsky above). He puts in the work to constantly be better than the competition, and feels the need to prove to many why the Flyers selected him. He flew under the radar at first, but his performance at the NHL Combine showed his strength to many that may have doubted him. His point totals throughout the years have steadily increased, starting at 14 points in 46 games, then shooting up to 74 points in 68 games. He signed with the Flyers in July of 2024, and began training to be an all-star. The amazing skills he has and the others he continues to polish will be an amazing asset for the Flyers in the near future.
Zayne Parekh looks towards fans in Saginaw.
Zayne Parekh (#9 in 2024, Calgary Flames)
Starting his junior career earlier than others, Parekh hadn’t always been on everyone’s radar. Whispers of his name had only just started at the beginning of his draft year, and then his talent exploded. His ability to make plays quickly and with such a strong hockey IQ was what drew in plenty of NHL teams. Winning the 2024 Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit only further drew in talent-hungry teams. Parekh was a massive asset to Saginaw during the entire tournament (I would know, I was there). His point totals weren’t astronomical, but that’s common for defensemen. At the Memorial Cup, he scored 5 points in 5 games, but anyone could notice his presence on the ice. In the regular season of his draft year, he scored an insane 96 points in 66 games. He signed with the Flames barely a week after the draft, and has been training to crack an NHL roster ever since. The Flames can expect a playmaking defenseman with great skating ability within a few years, possibly even sooner.
Beckett Sennecke with his current team, the Oshawa Generals.
Beckett Sennecke (#3 in 2024, Anaheim Ducks)
Going semi-viral for his dazed reaction to being drafted third overall, Sennecke has the skills to back up his draft spot. While he may not be putting up monstrous points like the other guys on this list, he still is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. The skills Sennecke brings to the Generals forward core are incredible. His puck handling, size, and skating led him to be a high draft pick. While many saw the pick as a throwaway (especially since it was a top 3 pick), others saw it as high-risk high-reward. If developed well within the Ducks’ system, Sennecke has the potential to be a first line winger for the Ducks, alongside an amazing prospect pool for Anaheim (truly one of the best prospect pools I’ve ever seen). Like many of the other guys on this list, Sennecke signed with the Ducks right out of the draft. Ducks fans (if there are any out there) can expect a highly-skilled winger with great size to add to the arsenal of incredible talent in the coming years.
Florian Xhekaj suiting up for the Brantford Bulldogs.
Florian Xhekaj (#101 in 2023, Montreal Canadians)
Florian Xhekaj (pronounced JACK-eye, I think? I’ve heard 12 different ways to say it, but this one is most agreed on), takes after his brother, Arber. That being said, the penalty minutes are high with these two brothers. Opting to protect his teammates rather than put up impressive numbers, Xhekaj isn’t always at the top of the score sheet. In the 2023-24 season, Xhekaj put up 25 points in 68 games, and had 18 penalty minutes (which makes me wonder how the OHL calculates penalty minutes, since I can count on my fingers and toes the number of fights Xhekaj got into, and I would still need more fingers). Still, sometimes a team needs a good enforcer. His aggression on the ice is what got him recognized by the Canadians, but also because his brother also plays in Montreal. The Canadians can expect a Bash-Bro’s type deal once Florian develops through the Canadiens farm system.
The NHL has such a bright future. Plenty of incredible prospects are making their way through the farm systems. As the NHL becomes more and more talented, it becomes more entertaining to watch. There is still plenty of talent left to be drafted as well, which is even better for the NHL as a whole. In conclusion, watch junior leagues. They’re the future of hockey.
Sam Darnold sitting on the bench as a former backup quarterback for the Carolina Panthers
By: Sam Morris
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sports Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.
October 11, 2024
The “Franchise Quarterback” Dilemma
The NFL quarterback is one of the most important and high-pressure positions in all of sports. Football games revolve around quarterbacks and their ability to make plays. From something as simple as a running back handoff to something as difficult as an 80-yard ‘Hail Mary,’ quarterbacks are involved in every single play.
Because of this level of importance, NFL GMs are hard-pressed by ownership to constantly be on the lookout for their next “franchise QB” who will lead them to the Super Bowl. This quarterback carousel can sometimes lead to teams getting QB’s that will last for decades and lead their team to success. Some of these would include Tom Brady with the Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger with the Steelers, Eli Manning with the Giants, and Pat Mahomes with the Chiefs. However, more often than not, a dilemma arises when the “franchise QB” that they thought they had is nowhere to be found. When this realization sets in after a few seasons, the team often moves on from their original candidate in one of two ways.
One proven way that teams move on is by adding other promising QB’s via trade or free agency, but a more recent trend that has been occurring is drafting QB’s out of college in the NFL Draft. This is mostly a hit-or-miss strategy that can lead to success stories like Jayden Daniels and C.J Stroud, but it can also result in complete busts like Trey Lance and Josh Rosen.
Former Arizona Cardinals first-round pick, QB, Josh Rosen, throwing on the 49’ers practice squad.
While it is important for NFL GMs to be constantly improving their rosters, I argue that teams give up on these young quarterbacks too early. Some of them are given just two or three years to develop and then are discarded when they are just hitting their stride in their low to mid-20’s.
I believe this theory is becoming more and more evident as three recent QB’s who their original franchises gave up on have taken the NFL by storm over the past few years. As you will soon read, the lesson GMs should be taking away from these three success stories is DON’T quit on your young drafted quarterbacks too soon.
Geno Smith
After a great 26-13 4-year career at West Virginia, Smith declared for the 2013 NFL Draft where he was the second QB off the board, picked in the second round by the New York Jets. Despite falling out of the first round, Smith was one of the most highly anticipated rookies coming out of the class.
Geno Smith playing with his former team, the New York Jets
He played 4 years with the Jets and had some success with the team. His rookie season he had a poor TD/INT ratio but led the Jets to an 8-8 record, which was an improvement from the Jets’ previous season. Despite this beginning success, Smith was benched on-and-off during the following year after some turnover struggles and replaced by Michael Vick.
Smith’s next two seasons in New York were riddled with multiple injuries and he barely played because of them. However, when he did play, he had success in New York during these two seasons and was only 26 by the end of the season when the Jets eventually let him go.
Smith spent a year with the Giants and a year with the Chargers, both as a backup, learning from Eli Manning and Phillip Rivers. This experience of gaining veteran knowledge allowed him to fully hit his prime when he entered the Seahawks organization in 2019.
Geno Smith with his current team, the Seattle Seahawks
Originally picked up as a backup for Seattle, he earned the starting job in 2021 when Russell Wilson got injured and he completely shocked the NFL with a yearly performance better than that of his rookie season 8 years prior with New York. The following year, after Wilson was traded to Denver, Smith improved so much that he became a pro bowler, won the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year award, and even took Seattle to a playoff game.
In 2023, Smith showed no signs of slowing down. He was selected to his second Pro Bowl in a row with Seattle and was in the MVP race for much of the season. So far in 2024, Smith has continued his success by leading Seattle to a current first-place tie with San Francisco in the NFC West.
Although the Jets didn’t give up on Smith as early as some of the other QB’s on this list, he was, in my opinion, not given a fair chance with New York. New York hasn’t had a consistent quarterback since Mark Sanchez and getting rid of Smith didn’t help them at all. I believe that had they kept him for a few more years, he would have been able to give them production and success similar to the years he has spent as a starter with Seattle.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield, the Cleveland Browns overall draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2018, is another QB who has proven his original team gave up on him too early. Unlike Smith, Mayfield was the clear #1 QB in his draft class coming out of college, leading Oklahoma to an outstanding 33-6 record during his time with the Sooners. He was also the 2017 Heisman winner.
Mayfield won the starting quarterback job during week 2 of his 2018 rookie campaign. While he only led the Browns to a 7-8-1 start, it was at least better than their previous season when they went 0-16! Many Browns fans felt like they had finally found their quarterback of the future and that Mayfield would eventually lead Cleveland to a resurgence in the AFC North. Mayfield also came in second place in the Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2018 to former Giants RB Saquon Barkley.
Despite a regression in Cleveland’s 6-10 2019 season, Mayfield finally led the Dawg Pound back to the postseason with an 11-5 regular season record in 2020. In the postseason, he led the Browns to a Wild Card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, their biggest rival, and barely lost to the eventual AFC champions, the Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs.
Baker Mayfield scrambles with the ball with his original team, the Cleveland Browns
The playoff excitement unfortunately didn’t last long for Cleveland, as they once again fell short of the postseason with an 8-9 record the following 2021 season. Because of injuries and the 3-win regression in 2021, Mayfield was let go to make room for their eventual trade pick-up from Houston, Deshaun Watson, after the conclusion of the 2021 season.
This decision seemed legitimate at the time, but looking back on it, it was an enormous mistake by the Browns. Mayfield gave the Browns a playoff berth and win in just his third year with the team, something that the Browns hadn’t done as a franchise since 2002! I believe they could have given him at least another year to develop. Also, when you look at the fact that Mayfield went through 4 different coaches and 4 different offensive coordinators in his age 23-26 seasons, it’s no wonder he struggled a little each year.
Once Mayfield got to Tampa Bay in 2023, he proved to Cleveland and to the NFL that the Browns quit on him too early. He made a Pro Bowl in his first year with the team, won the NFC South, won a playoff game against the Eagles, and almost won a second playoff game against Detroit which would have sent them to the NFC Championship.
Mayfield was supposed to be a transitional quarterback for Tampa Bay but he has now become part of their future plans as he signed a three-year contract extension in the 2024 offseason, and he currently has Tampa Bay in a tie with Atlanta for first place in the NFC South.
Baker Mayfield throwing the ball with his current team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On the other hand, Cleveland is a mediocre 19-20 since Mayfield’s departure.
Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold throwing the ball for his current team, the Minnesota Vikings
Like Mayfield, Darnold was supposed to be a guy for Minnesota that they could play as a bridge-type quarterback while they wait for rookie J.J McCarthy to come back from injury next season. However, Darnold has risen to the occasion and has completely taken the NFL by storm.
Despite being in his 7th season and in the same draft class as Mayfield, Darnold is actually only in his age-27 season, making him 6 months younger than Joe Burrow. Darnold, from USC, was the third overall pick by the Jets in the 2018 draft. His college statistics for the most part were some of the best in the country, but his interceptions were a cause for concern with some scouts.
Darnold’s turnover problems continued into the NFL and essentially plagued him throughout his 3 seasons as a Jet. Darnold then bounced around the league, playing with Carolina and San Francisco before eventually landing with the Vikings this past offseason.
Darnold’s rise as one of the league’s best gunslingers has been nothing short of extraordinary and he is yet another reason why teams that draft young QB’s should let them develop instead of quitting on their talent too early.
Bryce Young and the Future of QB’s
Now that I’ve examined the three quarterbacks above whose teams have given up on them prematurely, I want to talk about someone whose team, I believe, is giving up on him too early, and that player is Bryce Young.
Bryce Young holding up his draft day jersey at the 2023 NFL Draft
Carolina was a pit stop for both Darnold and Mayfield above, and even though it wasn’t the place that originally gave up on both of the quarterbacks, the Panthers didn’t even consider bringing them on as future pieces and simply shipped them off as soon as the next year’s draft came along.
The Panthers could have had two of the NFL’s best players at the moment, but instead are stuck with an aging Andy Dalton as the QB and a rightfully upset Bryce Young as the backup. I think they would be making a colossal mistake by trading Young at the end of the season if they don’t let him play out the rest of the year to prove himself. Carolina is likely to miss the playoffs, so they have nothing to lose by playing Young the rest of the year to see if he improves. If they do trade him in his young age-23 season, they could just be the next victim of this “quitting on quarterbacks” trend a few years down the road with Young starring for another team like Mayfield and Darnold are doing right now.
As for the future of the quarterback position, I think we will continue to see teams draft franchise QB prospects in the NFL Draft and then move on from them in a few years if they don’t produce Mahomes-level results by age 25, 26, or 27. This is an easy trap to fall into in a league that is always in a win-now type of mindset. And while some of these players will truly become busts (Josh Rosen, Trey Lance, Mac Jones etc.), others (Darnold, Mayfield, Smith) may hit their primes just a few years later and prove to their former teams that they quit on them prematurely.
Mr. Maxwell (R), Contributors Lily Smith (C) and Sam Morris (L) pose for a picture.
By: Lily Smith and Sam Morris
Lily Smith is a second-year undergraduate at BGSU from Oregon, Ohio. She is majoring in Sport Management with a Marketing minor. She is passionate about all things women’s sports, and all things women in sports.
Sam Morris is from Madison Heights, Michigan, and is an undergraduate student at BGSU majoring in Sport Management. He has a passion for sports writing and journalism. In his free time, he also performs, writes, and produces his own raps for the music industry club at BGSU.
October 11, 2024
Kicking off Bowling Green State University’s 2024 Homecoming was the Academy of Distinguished Alumni event. This event highlighted past BGSU alumni and their accomplishments.
The event was held on September 26th at 6pm in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union Ballroom, and it recognized Larry Benz, Seshadri Tangutur, and Jeff Witjas as the most recent alumni to be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
Although the three distinguished alumni inductees were the main stars of the event, others, like their families, their friends, deans, professors, other BG alums, students, and a few former Distinguished Alumni recipients also attended the induction.
One of the former Distinguished Alumni who was at the ceremony was the founder of the Maxwell Media Watch, 2018 inductee, Dick Maxwell (above). Maxwell graciously invited both of us to go to the event which turned out to be a night full of networking, great food, great speeches, and an overall great night.
Sam’s Perspective
Before guests took their seats, Mr. Maxwell introduced us to many people, which was a fantastic way to network with BG alums who are now professionals in the sports field. One professional to whom I spoke was ESPN and ABC Sports former producer, Peter Englehart (below) who explained how making connections with people throughout your academic professional journey will get you to where you want to go. This was the case with him, as he became a producer for 2 of the largest sports production stations. Englehart is not only a great professional figure but also, like Maxwell, in 2015, he was inducted into the BGSU Academy of Distinguished Alumni.
After taking our seats, we began to network with people at our table. I talked a lot with Dawn Shinew, the dean of the EDHD college, who helped me contact with Curtis Danburg, the Cleveland Guardians VP of Communications and Community Impact. This connection was great for me to have as I now have a future Zoom call with him scheduled after the MLB playoffs end.
I also talked with Erik Hildebrand, BGSU’s Associate AD for compliance. He was another interesting BG professional because he had extensive knowledge on how NIL works in college athletics which I thought was really cool to be able to get input on.
Lily’s Perspective
Before the event even began, Sam and I sat down and spoke with Mr. Maxwell about updates in our lives and our journeys in sport. Mr. Maxwell was very interested to hear about our current internships and future opportunities. I found this very endearing and welcoming when it came to my first in-person interaction with Mr. Maxwell. He was super engaged and interested to hear about our different experiences.
Once the event began, I sat next to Jordan Cravens (below). She is a BGSU alumnae herself (’09, ’13), but is now HHS Senior Director of Development. We chatted about her experiences in the masters of Sport Administration program, as well as her time working with the BGSU Volleyball Team. It was very encouraging to hear insights about the sport industry from another woman in this space. We talked about the transition from the sports world into the fundraiser world, where a lot of the same skills can be applied. This was appealing to me because I am interested in the marketing/public relations side of sports, which is similar to her current position.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, we thought the event was a great networking opportunity for alums, and luckily enough, for us, to participate in. We personally got a lot of value out of it because we made multiple professional connections and got to see so many different sports careers and perspectives.
As for the actual Distinguished Alumni themselves, we thought all 3 did a fantastic job with their speeches and they all seemed to have wonderful careers in their respective fields.
Fitzpatrick Metzger is from Lakewood, Ohio, and is a graduate student at BGSU completing a masters in Sport Administration. He has a passion for soccer, rugby and sport analytics. In his free time, he is on the BG Rugby team as a player, club secretary, and SID.
October 9, 2024
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green (4-1, 2-0 MAC) had their second non-conference win this season. The Falcons put on their best performance of the season in a 79-3 victory over the NCR D-1AA Top 20 Coaches Poll No. 16th Maryland. The Falcons closed out their non-conference play with a promising record of 2-1.
“A much better performance. Obviously the scoreline was probably a little lopsided, a little more than we kind of expected for sure,” said Head Coach Tony Mazzarella. “I think we played some really clinical rugby, certainly in the middle 40 minutes. Just a good win to get us back on track.”
The Falcons went into Homecoming weekend as the No. 5 ranked D-1AA team in the NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll with a match against the No. 16 team Maryland. After the weekend and a 79-3 home blowout, the Falcons have advanced to the No. 3 rank in this week’s NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll and dropped Maryland out of the top 20. These two teams have not played since 2013, which resulted in a BGSU victory. The match started with a Maryland penalty kick to take the lead 0-3. From there on, the Falcons would play their best match of the season.
“Overall, I think as a team we played closer to our potential than we have in the past, which can attest to 2 things, attitude and effort,” said Captain Joey Apel. All 15 players on the field at any time played unselfishly and motivated, and they did it all at full pace for 80 minutes.”
After going down 0-3, the Falcons would score 79 unanswered points, more than double the 35 unanswered points scored against Michigan (Big Ten) in the week 1, 47-12 win. In what was a much needed complete 80-minute performance, the win will provide a massive boost going into the second half of the season.
The 2nd XV was also able to secure a win for Homecoming weekend. This gave the club their fourth weekend sweep this season. In what was a hard fought 29-15 win for the 2nd XV, 8-man Nathan Medved led the way by scoring his first hat-trick of the season (3 tries for 15 points). Additionally, Paolo Sferrella and Robbie Bricker contributed one try each and Isaac Radke provided 4 points (2 for 5 on conversions, 40%).
NOTABLES
The Falcons scored 79 unanswered points to defeat the No. 16 Terps.
Three Falcons scored 10+ points: Joey Apel 14 pts (1 try and 7 from 13 on conversions, 53.85%, Griffin Wilson and Phil Tracey 10 points (2 tries each).
In his First XV debut, Evan Holderer scored his first try for the First XV.
The Falcons had their highest points total, 79, and largest points differential, +76, of any game this season.
Nathan Medved scored his first hat trick (3 tries, 15 points) for the Second XV.
Robbie Bricker scored his first try of the season for the Second XV.
Bowling Green (4-1, 2-0 MAC) will be off the weekend of October 5th due to Fall Break. The Falcons will start up again with their next MAC Conference game against Ohio University (1-3 MAC) at 1 pm on Saturday, October 12th at the Roger Mazzarella Rugby Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED 1st XV Bowling Green 79, Maryland 3
No. 5 Bowling Green to Face No. 16 Maryland in Second Matchup Since 2013 over 2024 Homecoming Weekend.
Falcons (3-1, 2-0 MAC) make it 10 MAC Conference wins in a row after a 39-21 win away against Pittsburgh.
By Fitzpatrick Metzger
Fitzpatrick Metzger is from Lakewood, Ohio, and is a graduate student at BGSU completing a masters in Sport Administration. He has a passion for soccer, rugby and sport analytics. In his free time, he is on the BG Rugby team as a player, club secretary, and SID.
September 27th, 2024
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Bowling Green (3-1, 2-0 MAC) have now won 10 MAC Conference games in a row following an away win in Pittsburgh on Graham Field. Although the Falcons were not at their best this weekend, they were still able to emerge victorious. Additionally, the Falcons are ranked No. 5 after this week’s NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll.
Homecoming Weekend:
This year, September 26th-29th is Bowling Green’s Homecoming Weekend. This weekend Saturday, September 28th the Falcon’s will take on Maryland (2-2, 0-1 MARC), No. 16 in the NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll, at the Roger Mazzarella Rugby Field at 1 pm. The Tarps were previously ranked 9th in the NCR Preseason Power 10. This will be the teams’ second ever match. The Falcons won their only match against Maryland when they played in 2013. In order for this match to be possible, the current BG Rugby players will be hosting the Maryland players.
Alumni can meet at Brewing Green at 6 p.m. on Saturday following the match with Maryland.
History:
The BGSU Rugby team played their first season in Fall 1968. In the club’s first season, there was only one match, a 5-3 victory over Ohio State University. The first ever Bowling Green Club Rugby try was scored by AL Bohl (3 pts), and the first ever conversion was scored by Jim Gerding (2pts). Since 1968, Bowling Green has emerged as a highly successful program. Since the MAC Championship started in 1973, there have been 50 MAC Championships. Bowling Green has won 41 of 50 MAC Championships, a 82% win rate. The Falcons had an unmatched win streak from 1981-2021, which saw the Falcons win 40 consecutive MAC Championships. Their most recent MAC Championship win was a 48-15 win over Western Michigan. Since 2021, the Falcons have finished second at the MAC Championship in 2022 and 2023.
About Maryland:
Last season Maryland finished 3rd in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC) following a 35-17 victory over Princeton.
This season, Maryland started 2-1 following their preseason. The Terps won 30-0 against Christendom and 22-19 against UVA, while only losing to the Naval Academy’s B side 14-62. Over their preseason, the Terps scored 66 points, conceded 81, and had a -15 points differential. The Terps also began their MARC season with a 36-38 loss to West Chester University on Saturday, September 21st to start the year 0-1. The Terps are now ranked No. 16 following this week’s NCR Top 20 Coaches Poll.
Season Recap:
This season, the Falcons have started the season 3-1, 2-0 MAC. They have victories over Michigan (Big 10, 47-12), Cincinnati (MAC, 38-5) and Pittsburgh (MAC, 39-21) and have only lost to Notre Dame (Big 10, 15-33).
This year in the MAC, the Falcons have extended their conference win streak to 10 in a row. The season’s first MAC win was the 38-5 home opener victory over Cincinnati at the Roger Mazzarella Rugby Field. Next, the Falcons had a 39-21 away win over Pitt at Graham Field. This away win extended the win streak to 10. The streak started following a 91-0 win over Pitt in Fall 2022. This streak includes the Falcon’s undefeated 2023 season when they went 7-0 in conference play. Currently, the Falcons sit joint 1st in the MAC with 10 pts, only behind Louisville (+145) and Western Michigan (+84) on Points Differential. The Falcons have scored 72 points from 12 tries and 6 (of 12, 50%) conversions. They have conceded 26 points and have a points differential of +46. The Falcon’s have nine different try scorers, only behind Louisville with 10. Freshman Logan Van Hoose currently has 15 points (three tries) and tied 4th for total points. Junior, and Captain, Joey Apel is 6 from 12, 50%, for conversions and is tied 8th with 12 points and Senior Owen Slimmer is tied 12 with 10 points (from two tries) in the MAC.
Overall, the now NCR D-1AA Ranked No. 9 Falcons are 3-1 this season. They have only played two non-conference games going into this weekend’s match with Maryland. The Falcons are 1-1 against Big 10 teams this season. They managed a 47-12 victory at home over Michigan on the opening weekend of the season and a 15-33 loss to Notre Dame. Throughout the entirety of the season, the Falcons have scored 138 points, have 71 points against, and a +67 point differential.
Bowling Green vs. Maryland
Bowling Green, Ohio | Roger Mazarella Rugby Field
Saturday, October 12th | @ 1 p.m.
Up Next
Bowling Green will play their next MAC game against Dayton Saturday, October 12th on the Roger Mazzarella Rugby Field at 1 pm. The Falcons will look to make massive improvements from their match against Pitt and to extend their conference win streak to 11 games.
Follow the Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons Rugby team on social media for schedule updates and any information:
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