This article was originally published on March 10, 2020.
Winter sports are wrapping up for 2019-20, while spring seasons are off to a great start for the University of Michigan-Dearborn Department of Athletics & Recreation. Here is a rundown of all the action surrounding Wolverine athletics.
Baseball
The baseball team recently completed its Spring Break trip to Florida. The highlight of the season so far was a no-hitter thrown by sophomore Tyler Koons against Robert Morris University on Feb. 22. Koons faced the minimum 21 batters in the seven-inning game, throwing an immaculate final inning, with three strikeouts on nine pitches. The Wolverines returned home with a record of 7-15 overall and travel to Huntington, W.V., to take on Aquinas College in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.
Softball
The Wolverine softball team is currently competing at THE Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., until March 11. UM-Dearborn is 9-12 overall to start the season and will return home on Wednesday to prepare for the start of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference play. Sophomore Erin McCune was named the WHAC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in her career on March 2, while sophomore Madelin Skene has led the offense this season with a .450 batting average, 27 hits, seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Skene currently ranks second in the nation in home runs.
Men’s Lacrosse
The Wolverines traveled to Savannah, Ga., for Spring Break to play three games, returning home with two wins, 26-5 over Point University and 17-10 against St. Andrews University. UM-Dearborn closed the trip with a loss to No. 9 SCAD Savannah. Senior attackman Ben Phillips set a new program record for points in a game with 13 in the win over Point, including eight goals and five assists. He was named the NAIA National Player of the Week for his efforts, only the second Wolverine in program history to win the award. UM-Dearborn is in action next at home against Columbia College at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Detroit Country Day Fieldhouse in Beverly Hills, Mich.
Men's Ice Hockey
The UM-Dearborn men’s ice hockey team recently collected some new hardware for the trophy case, winning the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season and postseason tournament championships. The team is the first in UM-Dearborn history to win the regular season and tournament titles in the same season. The Wolverines enter their 21st ACHA National Tournament as the No. 6 seed and with an overall record of 27-6-2. UM-Dearborn will face off against No. 11 Davenport University on March 21 in Frisco, Texas in the Round of 16. The Wolverines defeated the Panthers 4-3 in Dearborn in the only matchup between the teams this season.
Women’s Ice Hockey
The UM-Dearborn women’s ice hockey team recently completed its first season of competition with a two-game sweep on the road at No. 2 Liberty University. Unfortunately, UM-Dearborn was No. 5 in the final ACHA Division II rankings, missing the National Tournament by one spot. The Wolverines closed the season with a record of 19-2-0 (21-2-0 including two forfeits by Miami-Ohio) and have been accepted into ACHA Division I for the 2020-21 season.
Women’s Basketball
The 2019-20 season came to a close for the women’s basketball team in the first round of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament in a loss to Lawrence Tech. The team finished the season with a record of 17-14, the second most wins in program history. Junior Ro’Zhane Wells was named to the All-WHAC First Team and Defensive Team, while junior Mariah Taylor was named to the All-WHAC Second Team.
Men’s Basketball
UM-Dearborn men’s basketball closed the 2019-20 season with a record of 17-14 after falling in the first round of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament to Rochester University. Senior Cody Kegley closed his career with 1,293 career points, placing him seventh all-time in program history. Kegley was named to the All-WHAC Second Team for the second time in his career. Junior Jason Gigliotti was also named to the All-WHAC Second Team, while Damian Forrest earned All-WHAC Freshman Team honors.
Bowling
The second-year UM-Dearborn Men’s and Women’s Bowling programs recently competed at the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championships on Feb. 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind., with both teams finishing eighth. The Wolverines now prepare to travel to the USBC Sectionals as the second season for UM-Dearborn bowling continues.
Difference Makers
The UM-Dearborn Department of Athletics & Recreation is proud to announce five Wolverine student-athletes have been named to the UM-Dearborn Difference Makers Class of 2020. The group includes Marina Goocher (Club Wrestling and Women’s Cross Country), Victoria Hebda (Women’s Cross Country), Daniel Kerr (Baseball), Jenna Rogers (Women’s Basketball and Women’s Soccer) and Brooke Spiegel (Women’s Ice Hockey and Women’s Golf).
Follow the Wolverines all season at the all-new athletics.umdearborn.edu. Admission to all home games is always FREE for UM-Dearborn students, faculty and staff. The UM-Dearborn Nike Store is open until March 15.
