ON THIS DATE (4/7) in DC Athletics
DEFIANCE, Ohio – On this date, April 7, in Defiance College athletics history, the men’s track and field team had a big day at the 2012 Adrian College All-American Invite, capturing championships in 10 events.
DEFIANCE, Ohio – On this date, April 7, in Defiance College athletics history, the men's track and field team had a big day at the 2012 Adrian College All-American Invite, capturing championships in 10 events.
Leading the way for Defiance that Saturday in Michigan was Tom Postema, who earned titles in the shot put (15.16 meters), discus throw (40.00m) and hammer throw (56:00m), bettering 20 or more competitors in each event. Reggie Neal came up first-place finishes in the long jump (6.67m) and triple jump (13.93m). Postema went on to become the 2013 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year while Neal was named the Outdoor Track and Field Freshman Athlete of the Year later that spring.
At Adrian, also coming out on top for the Yellow Jackets were Joe Davis in the 1500-meter run (4 minutes, 3.85 seconds), Dan Hardin-Wallace in the pole vault (4.40m), Troy Parrett in the 800-meter run (1:55.54), Justin Perkins in the 3000-meter steeplechase (9:42.95) and Jordan Weber in the 110-meter hurdles (15.91).
DC also had a discus champion in 2018 when participating in Ohio Wesleyan University's Marv Frye Invitational as Javier Castillo's toss of 42.71m was better than 25 other throwers. At the same meet in the women's competition, Defiance's Hannah Williams posted an individual title in the hammer throw (45.62m).
Also two years ago in men's tennis, the Yellow Jackets edged Mount St. Joseph University, 5-4, in a home HCAC match inside the George M. Smart Athletic Center. Adam Swisher, Jared Schnee and Eline Widman all picked up wins in both singles and doubles.
Finally, the DC softball squad defeated conference foe Franklin College, 5-4, on the road in 2012 after losing the first game of a doubleheader. In the victory, Defiance was led offensively by Katie Miller, who was 2 for 3 with a home run, double, walk and two runs batted in while Sara Ankeney also doubled and drove in three runs. Lauren Dicke pitched all seven innings for the victory.
Do you remember these Defiance athletic accomplishments? The "On this Date" series is scheduled to run through the end of April.