OAC (Ohio Athletic Conference) - Ohio People, any thoughts?

Ford is a sophomorea nd the other guys on Mount also are a year older than they show on those results, except for the actual freshmen.

That's funny, I don't see one word about a coach in my post at all. Honestly, I question the heart of the Otterbein's athletes at this meet, I know how much talent they have on that team and I don't think they are living up to that potential. I feel bad for the coaches because I don't think their athletes are giving it their all.

Don't put words in my mouth, I said nothing bad about the coaches at Otterbein, they have always had a solid program, I just think that their team this year lacked any kind of drive.

What a great conference meet up front! Mount, ONU, and heidelberg all great programs.

Tough region with Depauw, Anderson, Calvin (anybody else I'm forgetting?) to contend with for what will likely be three or four national slots.

Any regional predictions?

my thoughts: Velliquette looked to be in chill mode yesterday... if he gets up in the top handful of individuals in the region and their fifth runs a bit better, Mount should make it to the big dance. Bernard and Ford should be top 25 as well, making for a sweet front three.

ONU has a sick pack. 6 in the top 13, 7 in front of mount's fifth at OAC's. In a big meet like regionals, there will be a lot of bodies in between ONU's fifth and Mount's fifth. (Depauw is a similar team to mount in that they have some great front runners and their fifth is back a bit...)If the Polar Bears can pack it up as well as they did at OAC's and Lewis can somehow sneak up into the top 10-15 individuals at the region, the Polar Bears could be in Wilmington for nationals in a few weeks.

Heidelberg has a great front three in simpson, lasch, and wysocki... four and five may shoot them in the foot at regionals.

bump

It's funny how the Otterbein Program has had 26 straight years being a top three OAC finisher as a team, and the team finishes one year at fourth place behind three amazing teams and people here question their heart? According to the results Otterbein had one senior in their top seven, the rest were soph, fresh, and one junior. The other three top teams this year have at least two if not more upper classmen in their front pack. It seems to me that Otterbein is rebuilding a solid program and found the wrong time to do it with three potentially national qualifying teams in their own conference. The OAC has always been a very tough conference and losing the number 1 and 2 from last years conference meet, both seniors is a huge hit for any team. In 1998, '99, and '00 Mount Union finished 4th place each year, and in 2001 came back to win the conference 2 years in a row. I think Otterbein is clearly rebuilding and finding new leadership where Mike Sawicki and Mike Cauley left obvious holes. But before you dog their program, realize that they are losing one senior, and their top six pack time was 23 seconds. Before questioning their heart, respect the OAC Conference, respect the other programs accomplishments, and respect a team that is obviously rebuilding. Otterbein has always proven to be a quality program and I dont see that changing.

GSE's got it right. It's not so much that Otterbein is down or rebuilding, its just that Mount, ONU, and Berg are that good this year. In my opinion, any one of those three teams could go to nationals depending on how the regional meet pans out.

Regional Prediction

1)Calvin

2)Anderson

3)Ohio Northern

4)Mount Union

5)Depauw

6)Heidelberg

Calvin is the given... no questions asked. Anderson is the next best team and I see no reason to question that either. As for the 3rd pick, Ohio Northern. My reasoning behind this is Paul Lewis from looking at the OAC results has decided to become a front runner. Then the nasty pack behind him will be the perfect fit. This team does not have the 5th man like other schools that will score 60 points. I think their 5th man will be around 35th. Mount is fourth only becuase of their fifth man. If your fifth scores 70 points it is hard to beat teams. Depauw has the same problem and I do not think they are as strong as mount from 1-4 man. I also must say that there is always a team that chokes at regionals... and I say Depauw will be that team this year. Heidelberg is 6th only because their 4 and 5 are way to far back and will kill them in the end.

Calvin, Anderson, Ohio Northern, and Mount Union go to nationals.

Anyone else have an opinion?

I respect rebuilding and their tradition, I just thought they could do a little better with the talent they have. They obviously did not have a shot at the team title this year after losing such key runners, so their motivation seemed to be lacking. It is much easier to run hard when you are running for a reason and a championship. I see them back competing for a team title soon, I was just shocked they could not put one guy in the top 20.

I did not mean to offend anyone with my comments, even though I still think this will be a year they soon want to forget.

I would say Otterbein is probably a year away from being competitive and maybe two away from being an elite team again. Keep in mind 5/7 of those guys are frosh and sophs. A whole bunch of those young guys on OC's squad are middle distance guys and I would expect them to put together a solid year in track. Keep in mind they have last year's DII state champion in the 800 running for them now. 1:54 ain't too bad.

I agree with you, runpvault.

As for the regional/national talk, I think there are 4 teams racing for 3 spots(since Calvin is a given).

Anderson might have distanced themselves from the other 3 with their strong performance at their connference, with two front runners and a close 3-5.

DePauw did not have a great showing at conference with Chad Bennett placing third for them. They are lacking a solid 5th man and are only 5 deep, which can be very dangerous.

Mount did not have the best of races at conference, one of their top four was sick and their frontrunner did not make as large of an impact as he will at Regionals. Their 5th man also did not have a great race. This team has much room for improvement over the next 2 weeks, but since they are only 5 deep, they also run the risk of catching one guy on an off day.

Northern has their pack, and everything relies on that pack. If they are around all-region, high 20s-30s, things will be looking up, but if it gets into the 40-50s, they will have to wait another year.

Calvin

Anderson

Mount/Northern/DePauw

It will be a tight race for 3rd and 4th. Mount seems to step it up at the end of the year, DePauw did not last year, and Northern ran well last year at regionals. It should be an exciting race to watch!

OAC,

Yes I do remember telling you that...I already mentioned I was wrong about 20 posts ago.

I pick ONU to upset MT. at Regionals.

I am a believer.

Becraft,

I saw your post after I had already replied and couldn't figure out how to delete it after putting my foot in my mouth...

Here's to all the OAC teams raising some hell at the regional meet.

I'm on the ONU bandwagon, but if they're going to miss out on nationals, lets have it be to an Ohio team.

That being said:

1. Calvin- didn't they perfect the regional meet a few years back? what a program...

2. Anderson cohen and hudson are the real deal and they have a legitmate support group behind them. Should be well up on 3rd.

3. Mount- Homan will have them fired up.

4. ONU- Tight pack... if lewis runs a litte more up front like he did at OAC's (lets say top 15-20) and the pack can be in that 25-45 range, they'll be right there to punch their tickets to nationals and threaten mount for third.

5. Depauw- Bennett was their third at conference. They don't have the depth for their All-American front runner to struggle.

6. Heidelberg- great through three... hurting after that.

Milage21, whats your name? do you run for Northern? because your pretty "up their asses" It takes a lot of balls to come on here and say "it's amazing how a team can fall apart in a year" fall apart? they were 4th place. i don't call that falling apart. I'm in no way saying they ran great because they didn't. When was the last time ONU won a conference title? This is the First year Otterbein has finished out of the top 3 in something like 28 years? but yea, 4th is falling apart. whats ONU's record? and next time, have some falls and use your real name!

I re-read my posts, and I realize now that I sounded like a pretty big idiot. I used some words that seem pretty harsh for a program that has a great tradition. I definitely wish I could take back the post about the heart of the team, that was way out of line. If I were on Otterbein, I'd be ripping on myself right now. Otterbein had a down year, yea. It will not last, they have good coaches and young talent. I just meant to say that they ran poorly at OACs and that with the kind of runners they have, they could have done better. I am sorry that I have made many former alumni of Otterbein upset, and they have every right to be mad.

I don't know how I am up ONU's ass, but I am pretty sure I am done criticizing teams, I am not good with words. I am sure that Otterbein gave it their all this year, but it was just a down year. I apologize again and hopefully this topic can turn into something positive instead of bashing other teams. Runners should be above this sort of thing, I am sorry I started it.

Sawicki,

Northern has never won an individual team championship, but has gone 6,5,4,3,2 in the last 5 years.

Just to answer your question.

Don't fight fire with fire.

any other thoughts on the regional meet?

Maybe "fall apart" was harsh, but I think alot of people were just very suprised that this year's OC squad wasn't more competitive with the top 3. Before the season began, I thought Otterbein would be competitive depending on freshman contributions. In that regard, they did very well. James Castrillo had a good season, and was #3 true frosh in the OAC. It looked like Ryan Davis also had a good conference race.

I think the suprise of many was how their top returners fell off. I am fully aware that there could be personal/injury circumstances that outsiders are not aware of. But without that knowledge, it was surprising to see Green, Walters and French as far back as they were, and Weaver not race at all (injury??). Green had a great freshman year, and with the heavy losses the conference suffered up front an All-OAC finish seemed to be pretty foreseeable. Walters had twice been top 20, steeple runner up, and was having a GREAT season last year up till OAC/Regionals. French came through big last year at conference, and had been running well on the track. Weaver had been running as Otterbein's #1 early in the season.

Obviously people have bad races. I know I had quite a few throughout my career. But as a team that has a history of "showing up" I think alot of people were just surprised when they didn't.

That being said, the season is not over yet, there is talent there and the team is very young.

Almost sixty responses on this thread.

The OAC is a great conference that is often overshadowed by the WIAC, UAA etc... its great to be a part of this conversation...

keep it rolling everybody... more thoughts on regionals, the OAC meet, track etc...

I really feel like the regional meet could go in a lot of different directions, depending on who gets up. After Calvin, there is a lot of parity between the teams...

Today, I feel good about Mount. I'm thinking they'll bring their A-game at regionals. I think ONU's pack, if it can run towards the front of the race, will do some major damage. Both teams make it out.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say one of the heidelberg guys (I feel lucky with Lasch) makes it as an individual.

The OAC really is a great conference. At the regional meet, Calvin and Anderson are pretty much given. I believe Mount and ONU will be 3rd and 4th and both will get to nationals. Dont ask me which will be 3rd and which will be 4th. It could go either way. If all 5 mount guys run well they will probably be 3rd. If one of them has an off day, ONU will probably be 3rd. The great thing about ONU is that they can have 2 guys crash and burn and still be in the hunt. Like others have said, heidelberg's 4th and 5th hurt them, and it doesnt look like Depauw is running well right now. Thats my take anyways. Im really looking forward to the meet. Its gonna be a great race.