Lima South Middle School Community Service Project

Over break we conducted a basketball practice for the middle school team at Lima South Middle school. This is the 2nd year we have done this project to help reach out and provide service to our local community. Our women's basketball team was responsible for creating the practice plan, dividing up responsibilities, and teaching these young ladies some important fundamentals for the game...not to mention, fielding questions from these girls after our practice about basketball - the commitment, the frustrations, and lessons that can be learned from playing the game.....not only was I impressed with our team's answers to their questions, but also with their genuine concern in trying to offer help and advice for these ladies that need positive female role models....It was truly a "win-win" situation for everyone and an experience I hope we continue! ~ Coach Terrell

"Tis the Season for Giving....

Every year we adopt a family from Ada for Christmas... Our girls split into teams, pool their resources, and take a night to go shopping for their family member. This is a great opportunity to step back and think about our blessings as well as take time to think of someone else in need....Last year, our senior, Erin Brand was wearing a women's basketball sweatshirt while working at the local drive through in town....the customer in the car saw her sweatshirt and disclosed that it was his family that we had helped. He literally had tears in his eyes when he described how much it meant that we had adopted his family for the Holidays....that moment really resonated with Erin and I know when she shared that with her team last year, and this year's team, it really hit home about what we can each do for others to make their day just a little bit brighter....

This Sunday, we made our team dinner night a chance to wrap and organize the gifts before we send them out this week, which you can see the gift wrapping going on in some of the shots....not everyone has gift wrapping skills, though! We also had Coach Durand's chicken and biscuits and other fine foods (Lauren Cassell makes a mean brocoli salad and Lish Rinehart added her cheesy potatoes to the table, but I think the award may go to Kara Dysert's mom Bridgette with her dessert....I am not sure the name of it, but it was hit!). After the dinner and wrapping gifts we were also lucky enough to have a guest speaker come in and talk to several of our ONU athletic teams about the mental side of sport....he did a great job of motivating our girls to stay positive and really believe that you can achieve anything....a very fitting message for us and the goals we have for this year! GO BEARS! ~ Coach Terrell

Season update as of December 10, 2008

We are five games into this basketball season so I wanted to give some thoughts on how things are going thus far.....


We were hit right away with 2 key injuries with captains Brittany Bogart and Heather Armbruster. Britt we expected to take over the center position and that plan did not quite shake out, but the really good news is that she will be back hopefully by the end of this month. The other player who has been injured is Heather Armbruster. Heather is one of our smartest players and our best outside shooter. Unfortunately for Heather and us it looks like she may not be able to play this season. These injuries have left us with a lot of inexperienced players having to step into roles we were not anticipating right away....that is a double edged sword. The new players are getting a lot of exposure, but they also have a lot to learn about playing at this level....


Although we are currently 2-3, I am very happy to say we have been in and led at some point, in every game we have played. I am also really happy with our game to game improvement. Each and every game thus far we have improved in one or more areas. We won our first OAC game vs. Marietta last Saturday in convincing fashion. It is great to start off our conference season on a positive note! This gives us momentum for another tough OAC stretch this week.



Our team is continuing to work hard each and every day and if we continue to work we will keep improving. I've enjoyed this team thus far because they want to learn and are willing to do what the coaches ask to get better. Overall, I believe we are moving in the right direction and I have confidence we will continue to get better. I predict by the end of the season we will be the team no one wants to play! Go Bears!



Head Coach Michele Durand

Thankful is so many ways.... by Brittany Bogart

Since Thanksgiving is approaching I would like to share what I'm thankful for. I'm very thankful to have the opportunity to attend Ohio Northern University. I'm getting a great education and my professors are amazing. I'm very thankful for the friends that I have made here. There is no doubt that we will remains friends forever. I'm also very thankful for getting the opportunity to play college basketball especially here at Northern. The girls are coaches are like a family to me. The coaches do an amazing job and I'm so thankful that they have given me this opportunity. I'm also very thankful for my health. Being healthy for as long as I've been playing is something that I'm really thankful for. Basketball has always been a big part of my life and I don't know what I would do without it!

The opportunity to attend college and play college basketball would not be possible without my family and friends. They have no idea how thankful I am for the great opportunity. They support me in everything that I do and that means the world to me!

Brittany Bogart
Junior
Nursing

Countless Blessings...by Heather Armbruster

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have begun to reflect on everything God has blessed me with throughout my life, especially over the past year and a half. Out of all the different choices I had to decide between in selecting a college, I am extremely thankful that I ended up here at Ohio Northern University. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to pursue the profession of my dreams, pharmacy, in an outstanding academic institution. Although at times my studies can be difficult, I am grateful for all of my professors and the staff at ONU who are always there for support and to lend a helping hand. Furthermore, I am thankful for all of the people I have met around campus. I have been truly blessed with amazing friends, who I do not know what I would do without!
If those blessing were not enough, I am also very grateful for being able to be a part of Ohio Northern University’s Women’s Basketball family. I call it a family because that is truly what we are. Between my coaches and teammates I can honestly say that I have a home away from home. They are all extremely compassionate, encouraging, and so much fun to hang out with! Our memories are endless. (I love you guys!) Nevertheless, I am thankful for more than just the people in our basketball family. Having the opportunity to be a part of the basketball program itself is another entity for which I am grateful. I am happy to be a part of a team that works hard, truly loves the game of basketball, and competes against some of the best competition in Division III, which makes stepping onto the court each night that much more exciting!
So far, my all-around experience at Ohio Northern University has been amazing, and I consider it a true blessing from God. The team to which I belong and the friends I have made have become parts of my life that I cannot fathom living without. However, none of this would be possible without my family. The sacrifices my parents have made in addition to the love and support I receive from both them and my sister are blessings so immense that I do not know if they can be repaid. Therefore, I want to also thank them for everything they do! They mean the world to me!


Heather Armbruster

Sophomore

Pharmacy

Coach Durand - thankful in many ways

Since we are getting so close to Thanksgiving I thought I would let everyone know what I am thankful for... you can see the pictures of the beautiful new floor in King Horn Center. We had a very generous donor give us the money for a brand new floor. It will be dedicated on Dec. 20th and named after our former men's basketball coach Joe Campoli and his wife Margaret. The floor is state of the art and a great addition to our facility. In addition to our new floor we also renovated our locker room in the summer of 2007 (pictures above). Our alumnae together gave $50,000 so we could get the locker room done. Our current players love the new space. It has a state of the art stereo system, a big flat screen tv, and beautiful cherry wood lockers. I am thankful our alumnae cared so much to give back so that future players could have a premier space.

I am thankful for Sara Terrell, my assistant coach. Coach Terrell puts her heart and soul into the program. She does everything from helping to plan practice, scout opponents, and recruiting to name just a few things. Our program would not be where it is today without her dedication.

Finally, the last seven years have been the best of my coaching career. I am thankful for the players, past and present, who have been a part of this program. Each and everyone of them has touched my life in one way or another. Many of them have gone on to be successful in their careers and have started families of their own. This year's team is young but is working hard and there is no doubt they will leave their mark. I am very lucky to be a part of the Ohio Northern Women's Basketball family.

Coach Durand

Black and Orange Day - a chance for our families to meet each other

The infamous food line - this is always the best part for our players! Below, Tricia Fuller gets us started on family introductions....as they get older they have absolutely no fear to speak in front of a group as Tricia demonstrates here! Below, Susan Fuller and Tricia enjoy some good food...

Above, the Armbruster family (Rob, Shannon, Heather and Mary are all smiles) along with Britt Bogart with mom Tina and dad Dave....

Some newcomers to our program are Ericka Holcomb and mom Kimra, and grandma (Nanna) along with the Dysert family (Kara, Bridgette and Ken) and the Lauren Conley Crew of Kelli, Katie, Ray and Lauren

.
Black and Orange day is a day that we invite our families and supporters to an inter-squad scrimmage followed by a team potluck. We started this 6 years ago as a means for our families to truly connect and get a sense of what student-athlete belongs to what family, etc. Also, it gives Coach Durand and I a chance to go over our program philosophies, mission statement, and expectations. We have really found this event to be helpful, especially for new families to the program.

The scrimmage is absolutely awful (spoken as a true coach), but the bigger concept is the fact that our families need to get to know each other. In fact, one of the neat things is watching each class of families grow closer throughout the years, much like what our student athletes experience.

We appreciate our parents and all they do for our program. The top-notch student athletes we have here at ONU are a direct result of their parent/guardian support they receive at home....thanks for all the great food, the laughs, and the support as we embark on another terrific year of polar bear women's basketball! Coach Terrell

First 2 weeks of practice....

We have made it through the first 2 weeks of practice....and, both Coach Durand and I are happy with how hard our team is working....we really do feel this is probably the best group as far as really putting it out there every day to get better and absolutely work hard at their game.

Our current sign in the locker-room reads:
Today, ask yourself if you are ready to:
1. Give 100% effort
2. Be focused
3. Provide encouragement
4. Improve your game
5. Do work

In spite of the nagging injuries and some shuffling of personnel, we are hanging in there...trust me, there is A LOT to do and we really feel that the countdown is on... This weekend we will get to scrimmage Bluffton then Kenyon the following weekend, then it is tip off time....so, much to be done and the time is ticking...but, if we can do those 5 listed items, we believe good things will happen. It's a great time to be a Polar Bear!
Assistant Coach Sara Terrell

Tri-Pod

Along with everything the girls have said...

Deciding to come to ONU was a decision based on academics and the overall atmosphere, but what made sold me the most was the people I met as a recruit, mainly the basketball team. Just like Lish and Tricia said, the team we have here is like a family away from home. We are there for each other no matter what, and do whatever we can to make everyone feel welcome. I have friends on many of the opposing teams we play and they all have made a point to let me know that they wish they had as much team chemistry, on and off the court, as ONU’s basketball team does. That is what makes the game so fun here.

Most people look at ONU and Ada as small, boring and in the middle of nowhere town. It is far from being a boring town! We always find things to do, whether it is going to other sporting events, eating at some of the restaurants (both old and new) or just hanging out being goofy with the team.

As for basketball, I am proud to be a part of the turn around of ONU women’s basketball. Over the past 3 years here the program has improved and we plan to keep that tradition going. I know a lot of recruits ask us what we think about the coaches… Coach Durand and Coach Terrell are apart of our family as well. They are serious about basketball but they join us in some fun as well – karaoke, team dinners/cookouts... Our team would not be as close as we are now if they were not apart of the program. We also would not be as successful as we have been. I know the other girls would agree with me on that too.

****************************

Emily Culbertson
Senior

Sport Management Major

Hi my name Tricia Fuller (far right in the picture) and I am a senior Criminal Justice major, as well as a member of the "Tripod". As seniors the three of us have seen alot in terms of team growth, both on and off the court. Like Alisha mentioned, we are a big family, that most other teams are jealous of. Certainly we have our differences, but that is what makes our team so much fun. Different personalities make our team fun and somewhat unpredictable, but definately unique. We are a support system that will be behind any teammate from freshmen to senior, which is important especially for the freshman making a big adjustment. When I was a freshman the upperclassman made the college transition easier, as I hope I am doing for the freshman now. As for on the court, our team has made huge steps since I started roughly 3 year ago. Each year I have been here we have gotten better, and shown the Ohio Athletic Conference that we are one of the teams to be respected in our league. Being a part of the teams that have brought back the winning tradition to ONU has made me really proud, and I hope my last year here will bring back something ONU women's basketball hasn't seen since right around my birth; an OAC chamionship.

Tripod Blog

Seniors Alisha Rinehart, Emily Culbertson & Tricia Fuller

Hello all!!! My name is Alisha Rinehart and I am currently in my Senior year as a Polar Bear. I am from Lima, Ohio and I major in Psychology. Coach wanted the three seniors on the team to write a little about ourselves, but for me its all about my team. I play with an amazing group of girls, even including the freshman that are just joining us this year :) Since the moment I set foot on ONU's campus I knew this was the place and team for me. Ada is a cozy "village", with growing food choices, a place where you make your own fun, great faculty with one-on-one attention, and a group of 20 women I call my best friends... THE Ohio Northern Women's Basketball team.

The past four years have only confirmed that feeling. The girls I play with are my family, it is my home away from home. They are the people I turn to for anything, and whom turn to me for the same. When making my decision on college I had a wide variety to choose from, but ONU caught my eye. The reason for this was the girls and coaches. Most schools have the same basic majors, a team you can play on, and a piece of paper you get when your done. Only ONU has these girls though. I can only tell you this so much before you have to come experience it for yourself, so to any recruits reading this the Polar Bear family would love to have you visit and possibly one day be apart of something so much bigger than yourself. The program is only going up and someday you could be a part of the change at ONU. Myself and the other members of the "tripod" look forward to meeting all of you!

2008 Team retreat in Mt. Vernon, Ohio

2008 TEAM RETREAT

Dave & Emily Culbertson - the two that make this all happen! Ethan, the new addition to the Culbertson crew, sports the OSU gear with Junior Britt Bogart

Bowling is always a good time....We assembled 3 teams - Black, Orange or White and each team designed their "bowling shirts." The black team was stuck with Coach Durand and Coach Terrell (below) but we were the secret weapon in the end when the scores were tallied!

T-shirt judging....Orange came out victorious!

White (with Alisha Rinehart trying to sell their design) and the Black team describe why they should win the bowling t-shirt competition.

After bowling it was time to get to work on our assigned summer reading " The Ultimate Gift," by Jim Stovall. This lead to some good break out sessions and sharing about each other and goals for our upcoming season.

After the talks and dinner, it's time for karoke (coaches and newcomers were certainly in the mix). Dancing is also always involved....

Upperclassman serenading the youngsters....

When it's all over, it's bonfire time....

As we sat around the fire, we determined our team motto for the year:

DO WORK!

It's time to get to work for 2008-09 as we are looking forward to another great year of Polar Bear Basketball!

Our top bears for Spring quarter GPA

OUR TOP BEARS!

Heather Arbruster (Akron Hoban HS) and Erica Shoenberger (Riverdale HS) set the mark for top GPA after our Spring 2008 academic quarter. Heather came in at a 3.9 GPA and Erica a perfect 4.0. Way to go!

Our academics are a big priority here at ONU. We have 2 program goals: 1. Achieve a 3.0 or higher team GPA every quarter 2. Achieve national ranking for our team GPA. To help us get there, we have in place a program we call "AMP" or the academic mentoring program. Here's what we do:

FRESHMAN:

• Every 2 weeks meet with Coach Durand or Coach Terrell to do grade checks
  
• Every 4 weeks, obtain actual documentation from professors regarding course work - this is then submitted to the coaching staff
  
• During the fall quarter, they are paired with an older teammate in a like major who becomes her peer mentor. The mentor is responsible for arranging a study time that the 2 or 3 get together to work on coursework. Study sessions occur bi-weekly for 2 hours. This does 2 things - it puts a freshman with a peer teammate who understands what she is experiencing and secondly- it puts our mentor in a leadership role. We are all responsible for helping each other achieve our academic goals!
  
  

A little piece of heaven

Lower falls in the "grand canyon" of Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)

Jackson Lake, Wyoming (Part of the Grand Teton National Park)

If you have not heard of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, you should add it to your list of places to visit in a lifetime....I ventured out there last week for my last hoorah and simply found there was not enough time to soak in all of the outdoor wonder....my adventure started in Salt Lake City, Utah - yes, the lake is huge, then went north to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a quintessential old western town at the southern edge of Yellowstone National park. From there, I ventured through the Grand Teton National park before ending up in yellowstone, across the border into Montana, and back to Jackson...Almost 1000 miles in 5 days, but very well spent. I am posting a few pictures of the Grand Teton National Park as well as a pic of the lower falls from the "grand canyon" of Yellowstone...the only way to really see this particular wonder was to traverse 330 steps to the bottom of the canyon. Which of course meant, 330 steps back to the top. Not to fear, I was fine, inspired by the visions of our team running those steps for a workout! I kept thinking that stadium steps could be a lot worse as this experience added a new twist to a stair workout! It was beautiful though- these falls are famous for rainbows reflecting off the yellow stone of the canyon and are worth the huff and puff of getting to and from the landmark. This was one of a few hikes I was able to do, along with taking in some up close looks at tons of wildlife, such as buffalo, bald eagles, moose, deer, and elk. In fact, I came very close to hitting wildlife in my rental car - not good! My last leg took me to Denver, CO to see a college teammate which allowed us a chance to reminisce about the good old days - that would be the 90's :)

~ Coach Terrell