June/July 2009 > Home

Spring Sports Recap

Excitement continues for Thunder sports teams.

2009 marked one of the most successful athletic campaigns in school history. For the second straight year, Trine softball earned an NCAA tournament berth, defeating three top-25 opponents, York, Ursinus and Adrian. Seven players were all-conference selections. Recent grads Sallie Richardson (Jackson, Mich./Napoleon) and Kara Graham (Climax, Mich./Climax-Scotts) were awarded all-region honors. The program continues to gain momentum as one of the strongest softball programs in Division III’s Central Division.

• Softball finished 29–12 after suffering a pair of heart–breaking one–run losses to Defiance and fourth–ranked Ohio Northern in the first round. The Thunder also hosted their first MIAA conference tournament.

• The men′s and women′s lacrosse programs progressed in 2009, showing their competitiveness in their second season. The men finished 6–9 after early season struggles against established programs, including nationally–ranked Dennison. Corey Childs (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) was ninth in the nation, averaging 4.76 points (goals and assists) per game. The women finished 6–7 against NCAA opponents, and notched impressive wins over Butler and Carthage.

• Men′s tennis finished fifth overall in the MIAA and fifth in the conference tournament, finishing 8–11 overall. Junior Brett Becker (Cincinnati, Ohio/Turpin) was a first–time all–MIAA selection. The Thunder also won the Thunder doubles tournament in March. In women′s tennis, Amber Crosby (Holly, Mich./Holly) was awarded the Karen Canine Scholar Athletic Award.

• Two baseball players made the All–MIAA team. Pitcher Chad Nichter (New Haven, Ind./New Haven) and outfielder Chris Osborne (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) were second–team All–MIAA players.

• In track, Louis Posa (Tecumseh, Mich./Clinton) set a new school record in javelin at 59.20 meters, good enough for provisional entry into the NCAA Division III track and field championships.

• Kent Biller (Nappanee, Ind./Northwood) established himself as one of the fastest men in the MIAA. The freshman won the 200–meter dash at 22:13 seconds at the annual conference field day, earning All–MIAA track and field team honors.