The History of Ohio Wesleyan Athletics

1870-1919 | 1920-1939 | 1940-59 | 1960-69 | 1970-79 | 1980-89 | 1990-99 | 2000-08

1960

Tennis player Bill Poist '60 wins the NCAA regional singles championship, defeating Richard Gordon '62 in the finals. The duo combined to win the regional doubles title.

Marv Frye is named head coach of the cross country and track and field teams.

1961

The medley relay team of Jim Brown '62, Al Waterfield '62, Robin Farran '62 and Wink Franklin '62 represents Ohio Wesleyan at the NCAA swimming championship meet.

The baseball team wins the OAC championship and makes its first NCAA College Division playoff appearance. First baseman George Morris '62 becomes Ohio Wesleyan's first All-American in baseball.

Max Urick '61 earns All-America honors in men's lacrosse, becoming not only Ohio Wesleyan's first All-America lacrosse player but its first 2-sport All-American. He was an All-America selection by the Associated Press as a football center-linebacker in 1959.

Ohio Wesleyan honors 7 men as the inaugural class of its Athletics Hall of Fame. The 7 are Eddie Blickle '27, Gerald Ensign '19, George Gauthier, James Reiser '40, Branch Rickey '04, Floyd Siegenthaler '30 and Leslie Stauffer '10.

1962

The men's basketball team wins the OAC championship, its first league title since 1949. The Bishops' 21-3 season sets a school record for winning percentage that still stands. Frank Shannon is voted Ohio College Coach of the Year.

Ohio Wesleyan acquires Community Field, site of football games and track meets for Willis High School. The facility also included an adjacent baseball field and tennis courts. E. Roy Rike '42 donated $25,000 to remove the track and upgrade the fields for intercollegiate soccer and lacrosse and intramurals.

1963

Bert Reuss '64 becomes Ohio Wesleyan's first All-American in men's track with a second-place finish in the discus. He would win the NCAA discus championship the next year.

With wins over Wheaton and Akron, the men's soccer team wins the NCAA College Division Mideast Regional tournament, as far as play then progressed.

1964

Roy Rike Field becomes home to the soccer and lacrosse teams. Prior to 1964, home games in those sports were played at South Field, which was located on Henry Street south of Selby Field, approximately where the Bishops' practice field is today.

Jack Fouts '48 takes over as head football coach.

1965

Barry Clemens '65 becomes the only Bishop player to win the Dick Gregory Award as Ohio Athletic Conference MVP in basketball. He was a second-team AP Little All-America selection and finished his career as the leading scorer in Ohio Wesleyan and OAC history. Clemens went on to play 11 years in the National Basketball Association.

1966

The women's lacrosse team, under head coach Mary Parker, plays its first intercollegiate game.

1967

Doug Andrew '69 becomes Ohio Wesleyan's first All-American in swimming with a ninth-place finish in the 100 butterfly. Andrew also helped the 400 freestyle relay team take All-America honors, combining with John Down '68, Edgar Barnes '70 and Bob Wilkin '69 to finish sixth in the event.

The volleyball team, under head coach Mary Parker, plays its first intercollegiate match.

The football team's second undefeated season of the 20th century results in Fouts' first OAC title. Ohio Wesleyan finishes 8-0-1. The only blemish on the season was a 14-14 tie at Albion in the opener, a game that saw the Bishops erase a 14-0 deficit but miss potential game-winning field goal attempts on their last 2 possessions.

1968

The OWU Tennis Centre is built and becomes the home of the Bishop tennis teams beginning with the 1969 season. Previously, home tennis matches were held at courts located just south of Selby Field, which were converted into a parking lot.

1969

Littick Field becomes the home of the Battling Bishop baseball team. Outfielder Dan Biello '69 bats .526 for the season, ranking second in the nation, in leading the Bishops to the OAC championship.

The golf team wins the OAC championship for the first time since 1955, starting a string of 4 straight conference championships. Ohio Wesleyan advances to the NCAA College Division tournament for the first time.

Halfback Rich Henley '71 leads the OAC in rushing with 1036 yards, becoming only the second Bishop to crack the 1000-yard plateau.

Back to the top History page

1870-1919 | 1920-1939 | 1940-59 | 1960-69 
1970-79 | 1980-89 | 1990-99 | 2000-08