Athletic Highlights

Published

Here are some photo highlights from the Spartans from the past year.

Mark Evans­—Southwestern Assistant Track & Field Coach Mark Evans was named the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Midwest Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA during the national championships in Hobbs, NM. Evans coached four national qualifiers, and was coach of the No. 4 ranked women’s javelin event squad in the country. The Spartan women had never qualified more than one event in any previous season to the national championships.
Molly Venteicher—Molly Venteicher punctuated her record-breaking Southwestern career by earning All-American honors at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the women’s weight throw. Venteicher finished sixth in the event with her best throw of 15.80 meters (51 feet, 10 inches). Venteicher finished her Spartan career with four school records and was a five-time national qualifier. She was named the 2023 Ron “Fox” Clinton Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year.
Molly Venteicher—Molly Venteicher punctuated her record-breaking Southwestern career by earning All-American honors at the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the women’s weight throw. Venteicher finished sixth in the event with her best throw of 15.80 meters (51 feet, 10 inches). Venteicher finished her Spartan career with four school records and was a five-time national qualifier. She was named the 2023 Ron “Fox” Clinton Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year.
Golf—Sophomore Sebastian Camacho of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, represented the Southwestern golf team at the NJCAA Division II Championships at Swan Lake Resort Black Course in Plymouth, Indiana, in May. Camacho finished tied for 106th place with his four-round score of 330, including a low round of 77 on the final day of competition. He was the first Spartan to earn ICCAC First Team All-Region since Oliver Pearson and Reinhardt Saunderson did so in 2018. Camacho finished fourth at the North Central District Championship.
Golf—Sophomore Sebastian Camacho of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, represented the Southwestern golf team at the NJCAA Division II Championships at Swan Lake Resort Black Course in Plymouth, Indiana, in May. Camacho finished tied for 106th place with his four-round score of 330, including a low round of 77 on the final day of competition. He was the first Spartan to earn ICCAC First Team All-Region since Oliver Pearson and Reinhardt Saunderson did so in 2018. Camacho finished fourth at the North Central District Championship.
“Pip”—Head Baseball Coach Chris Piperno won the ICCAC Coach of the Year award for the 2023 season. The first-year coach guided the Spartans to 19 wins, including 10 conference wins, marking a 13-game overall improvement from the 2022 season, and a seven-game improvement in conference play. The Spartans finished 19-34 overall and 10-23 in conference play in Piperno’s first year at the helm.
“Pip”—Head Baseball Coach Chris Piperno won the ICCAC Coach of the Year award for the 2023 season. The first-year coach guided the Spartans to 19 wins, including 10 conference wins, marking a 13-game overall improvement from the 2022 season, and a seven-game improvement in conference play. The Spartans finished 19-34 overall and 10-23 in conference play in Piperno’s first year at the helm.
Dance—The Southwestern Spartan Dazzlers dance team made history by competing in the national championships for the first time in program history in April. The Spartans competed in the open pom, jazz, and hip hop categories against community colleges and universities from across the United States. The Spartans, under the direction of Head Coach Paige Russo, brought home trophies for fourth-place pom, fifth-place jazz, and fifth-place hip hop.
Dance—The Southwestern Spartan Dazzlers dance team made history by competing in the national championships for the first time in program history in April. The Spartans competed in the open pom, jazz, and hip hop categories against community colleges and universities from across the United States. The Spartans, under the direction of Head Coach Paige Russo, brought home trophies for fourth-place pom, fifth-place jazz, and fifth-place hip hop.
Bass Fishing—Joey Oathoudt, left, and Wiley Ray show off their catches at a tournament last year. The 2022-23 academic year marked the first year for the Southwestern bass fishing program. Coached by Cory Dorsey, the team travels to tournaments throughout the Midwest. The inaugural roster also included Logan Eilts, Cooper Jipsen, and Cole Sorensen.
Bass Fishing—Joey Oathoudt, left, and Wiley Ray show off their catches at a tournament last year. The 2022-23 academic year marked the first year for the Southwestern bass fishing program. Coached by Cory Dorsey, the team travels to tournaments throughout the Midwest. The inaugural roster also included Logan Eilts, Cooper Jipsen, and Cole Sorensen.
Sports Shooting—Southwestern’s sports shooting team won a national championship in sporting clays at the ACUI National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, in March. Sophomore Cole Sorensen (front row, on far right) also took first place Classic All-American in the individual men’s class.
Sports Shooting—Southwestern’s sports shooting team won a national championship in sporting clays at the ACUI National Championships in San Antonio, Texas, in March. Sophomore Cole Sorensen (front row, on far right) also took first place Classic All-American in the individual men’s class.

2024 SWCC Mag

This article was part of the 2024 SWCC Mag. Take a look at the other web content from the issue below.