Category: 2022-23

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Men’s Basketball: Wed. Nov. 16, Thurs. Nov. 17, and Sat. Nov. 19

11/16: Alma College 84 (1-1), Defiance 69 (1-2)

The Defiance College men’s basketball team welcomed the Alma Scots to the Karl H. Weaner Center Wednesday evening for a non-conference showdown. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (sophomore) Clayton McCorkle, (sophomore) Landen Swanner, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. Senior Kiewaun Graham got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets with a three-pointer from the right wing, and shortly after, sophomore Clayton McCorkle splashed home a three-pointer of his own to give Defiance a 6-0 early lead. A few minutes later, sophomore Landen Swanner added his name to the Yellow Jackets’ three-point “party” as he capitalized on an open three from the left wing to give Defiance a 9-3 lead. At the midway point of the first half, Defiance’s lead was shrunk to seven (18-11), thanks to an Alma Scot 5-0 scoring run. Into the halftime break, Defiance maintained a seven-point lead (36-29). The Yellow Jackets shot a perfect (11-11) from the free throw line in the first half. Senior Te Jones was the leading scorer for Defiance after 20 minutes of play, with nine.

The Scots started the second half on a 12-5 scoring run, to tie the game at 41 (15:54 left). Alma then went on another scoring run, this time a 9-0 scoring run to take their first lead of the game 50-45 (13:01 left). Midway through the second half, the Scots led 54-51. The Scots went on another 9-0 scoring run thanks to a trio of three-pointers from sophomore Peyton Bush, senior Nate Deyman, and junior Tyshaun Walker; to take a 10-point lead (65-55) with 5 minutes remaining. Alma ended the game on a 19-14 scoring run to take the victory 84-69. The Scots finished with a trio of players in double-digits, including junior Tyshaun Walker (26), junior Connor Riley (22), and junior Landen Moore-Pierce (10). The Yellow Jackets finished with four players in double-digits, including senior Kiewaun Graham (16), sophomore Landen Swanner (12), senior Te Jones (10), and senior Dejsani Beamon (10). The Scots shot 44.4% (32-72) from the field, while Defiance shot 35.7% (20-56). Defiance shot an impressive 84.6% (22-26) from the free throw line, compared to the Scots’ 76.5% (13-17). Alma out-rebounded the Yellow Jackets 39-37. The difference in this contest came from the turnover differential, as Defiance had 22 turnovers in the game, compared to the Scots’ 12. Alma recorded a 48-24 points in the paint advantage over Defiance.

11/17: Wright State University 99 (2-1), Defiance 56 (1-2)

(Exhibition)

The Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team traveled to Dayton, Ohio, Thursday evening to take on the Wright State Raiders (NCAA Division I opponent) in exhibition action. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (senior) Grant Johnson, (junior) Easton Lewis, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. Two minutes into the first half, junior Easton Lewis scored the Yellow Jackets’ first points of the contest, with a basket from three-point range. Midway through the first half, Wright State found themselves up five (21-16). 11:21 into the first half, freshman Cam Martin scored back-to-back three-pointers in a matter of 29 seconds, as he cut the Raiders’ lead back to five (27-22). The next minute (7:00 left in the 1st), however, the Raiders went on a quick 5-0 scoring run to stretch the lead to 10 (32-22). At the half, Wright State led by a score of 49-33, thanks to a 5-0 scoring run in the final minute. Near the midway point of the second half, the Raiders went on a huge 18-0 scoring run (10:10 left), which extended the Wright State lead to 40 (83-43). In the end, the Raiders captured the victory 99-56. Seven of the eight players who saw action for Wright State in this contest scored in double-figures, including senior Amari Davis (17), junior Andrew Welage (16), sophomore AJ Braun (14), redshirt senior Tim Finke (13), redshirt freshman Brandon Noel (12), redshirt sophomore Alex Huibregtse (11), and sophomore Blake Sisley (10). Junior Andrew Welage (two) and sophomore Alex Huibregtse (one), combined to record all three of Wright State’s triples in this contest. The Yellow Jackets hit a total of 14 three-pointers in this game (on 37 attempts) led by senior Te Jones who shot 75% (3-4) from behind the arc, while freshman Cam Martin and junior Easton Lewis each shot 40% (2-5). Half of the remaining threes (seven) came from seven different Yellow Jackets, including senior Grant Johnson, junior Sherod Brooks, sophomore Will Gehlhausen, sophomore Landen Swanner, sophomore Jake Segulin, freshman Jakob Trevino, and freshman Evan Park. Defiance only shot two free throws in the entire game, both coming from senior Marell Jordan (in the first half), who shot 100% on the pair. Wright State recorded 33 points off of 21 Defiance turnovers, with 19 of those 33 points coming from fast break points. The Raiders shot an incredible 74.1% (40-54) from the field, while Defiance shot 34.5% (20-58).

11/19: Defiance 88 (2-2), Adrian College 79 (1-2)

The Defiance College men’s basketball team hosted the Adrian Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center for a non-conference showdown. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (sophomore) Clayton McCorkle, (sophomore) Landen Swanner, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. Seventeen seconds into the contest, sophomore Landen Swanner got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets, as he splashed home a three-pointer. Shortly after (44 seconds in), junior Victor Sheffey capitalized off a Defiance foul (by freshman Evan Conrad) to tie the game at 3, with an old-fashioned three-point play. At the midway point of the first half, the Yellow Jackets held a slight lead, 22-20. The Bulldogs then went on a quick 4-0 scoring run to take the lead 24-22, off baskets from junior Victor Sheffey and sophomore Nick Seifert. The Yellow Jackets followed suit with a 6-0 scoring run of their own to take the lead back 28-24, off a pair of three-pointers from seniors Te Jones and Jerome Johnson. At the half, Defiance had a three-point lead over the Bulldogs, 42-39. Just like the first half, sophomore Landen Swanner got the Defiance second-half scoring started with a quick three-pointer (eight seconds in). With 14:34 left to play, sophomore De’Ovion Price knocked in one of his two free throws following a Yellow Jackets foul by sophomore Landen Swanner, to give Adrian the lead back 46-45. The Bulldogs’ lead did not last long, however, as senior Marell Jordan splashed one home from downtown, to give Defiance the lead 48-46. Jordan clawed a steal on the next defensive possession and found senior Te Jones for another triple to increase the edge to five. Senior Desjani Beamon and junior Easton Lewis knocked down a pair of shots from downtown around the under-12 media timeout, but Adrian found a couple of answers and trimmed the lead down to 60-58 by the under-8 break. The Yellow Jackets kept punching back and answered with a 9-0 scoring run to build up a 13-point lead. Freshman Evan Conrad laid in his first points of the game with 6:05 left, to lift Defiance to an advantage of 66-60. Shortly after (5:49 left), sophomore Landon Swanner added a pair of free throws, then senior Marell Jordan (5:17 left) turned an Adrian missed 3-pointer into a made trey of his own. With 4:48 remaining, senior Jabryis Heidelburg swiped a steal and scored to force an Adrian timeout (73-60). Six Yellow Jackets combined for 10 3-pointers in the first half, including (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Jerome Johnson, (senior) Te Jones, and (sophomore) Clayton McCorkle; who each hit multiple shots from outside the ark. Senior Marell Jordan led the way for Defiance with a double-double, accounting for a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Te Jones followed with a season-best 17 points and sophomore Tanner Swanner added 13 more to join them in double figures, both doing so for the second game in a row. Adrian was led by junior Victor Sheffey’s 20 points, while sophomore De’Ovion Price added 18. Sophomore Nick Seifert had a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 11 boards. Adrian shot 43.3% (26-60), while Defiance shot 42.9% (27-63). The Yellow Jackets shot an incredible 47.2% (17-36), while the Bulldogs shot 33.3% (5-15) from downtown. Defiance out-rebounded Adrian 42-33. The Yellow Jackets bench outscored the Bulldogs bench 34-19.

When senior Grant Johnson was asked by The Defender about his thoughts as they near the start of conference play, he expressed, “It was great to get a win against Adrian. It will definitely help build some momentum as we near conference play! As a team, we are starting to figure ourselves out both offensively and defensively. We haven’t even met our potential yet, which is something that we will continue to aspire towards. I believe that we are capable of big things, we just gotta focus on the present task at hand each day.”

Women’s Basketball: Tues. Nov. 15 and Sun. Nov. 20

11/15: Ohio Wesleyan University 67 (2-1), Defiance 43 (0-2)

The Yellow Jackets women’s basketball team traveled to Delaware, Ohio, Tuesday evening to take on the Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops. The starters in this contest included (graduate) Taylor Day, (senior) Taylor Steinbrunner, (senior) Nicole Sims, (senior) Lexie Sparks, and (senior) Lauren Criblez. Senior Taylor Steinbrunner was the first player (from either team) to put points up on the scoreboard as she capitalized on her first of two free throws, following an Ohio Wesleyan foul. Following the opening quarter, the Battling Bishops found themselves ahead by four (14-10), thanks to 8 points from junior Kasey Schipfer. At halftime, Ohio Wesleyan managed to stretch their lead to 10 (33-23). Graduate Taylor Day and senior Taylor Steinbrunner led the Yellow Jackets with six points apiece, while (junior) Kasey Schipfer had 16 for the Battling Bishops. Defiance shot 33.3% (3-9) from three-point range in the first half and 75% (6-8) from the charity stripe (free throw line). The third quarter was dominated by Ohio Wesleyan. The Battling Bishops built upon their second-quarter success to take a 57-33 lead into the fourth quarter, thanks to a 14-0 scoring run (midway through the third). In the fourth quarter, Defiance narrowly outscored the Battling Bishops 11-10. Graduate Taylor Day was the lone double-digit scorer for the Yellow Jackets with 10, while senior Taylor Steinbrunner (9), junior Kylie Brinkman (6), senior Lauren Criblez (4), senior Lexie Sparks (4), junior McKenzie Cooper (3), freshman Kalista Friday (3), junior Cait Good (2), and sophomore Kaitlin Paul (2); each recorded points for Defiance. A trio of players finished in double figures for Ohio Wesleyan including junior Kasey Schipfer (22), junior Lauren Denison (14), and sophomore Alyssa Griner (10). The Battling Bishops shot 66.7% (4-6) from the free throw line, while Defiance shot 50% (8-16) from the charity stripe. Ohio Wesleyan led the way in the rebounds category 41-37, including a 15-10 offensive rebound advantage. The Battling Bishops had 22 assists in the contest compared to the Yellow Jackets’ nine.

When senior Nicole Sims was asked by The Defender about her thoughts following the matchup at Ohio Wesleyan, she expressed, “It was a tough loss, but we have to move on and focus on the next game. Making corrections at practice will be the place to start in regards to improvement. It’s vitally important that we stick together through tough losses that occur throughout the season.”

11/20: Defiance 70 (1-2), St. Mary’s College 60 (3-2)

The Defiance College women’s basketball team traveled to Notre Dame, Indiana, Sunday afternoon for a non-conference showdown against the St. Mary’s Belles. The starters in this contest included (graduate) Taylor Day, (senior) Taylor Steinbrunner, (senior) Nicole Sims, (junior) Kylie Brinkman, and (junior) Cait Good. Twenty-one seconds into the contest, graduate Taylor Day got the scoring started for the Yellow Jackets, as she splashed home a three-pointer. Junior Cait Good was the next Defiance player to make her way onto the scoring sheet (8:27 left in first) as she capitalized on a layup, to give the Yellow Jackets an early 5-0 lead. Just before the midway point of the first quarter, sophomore Julia Schutz for the Belles, knocked one down from “downtown”, to tie the game at nine. St. Mary’s ended the first quarter on a 4-0 scoring run, to give the Belles a 17-13 advantage. With 2:39 left until halftime, senior Maddie Rzepka scored a huge three-pointer for the Belles, to give St. Mary’s their largest lead of the first half (seven) 28-21. In the final minute and 12 seconds, Defiance ended with 5-0 scoring run of their own, thanks to jumper (1:12 left in the 2nd) and three-pointer (39 seconds left) by senior Lexie Sparks, which cut the Belles lead to two (30-28) at the halftime break. Eleven seconds into the third quarter, graduate Taylor Day tied things up at 30, as she drove to the basket for a layup. Forty-two seconds later (9:07 left in the 3rd), junior Elle Deardorff splashed home a three-pointer, to give the Belles the lead back 33-30. Near the midway point of the third quarter, St. Mary’s went on a 6-0 scoring run (5:24 left in the 3rd), thanks to a trio of layups from junior Athena Samson, which provided the Belles with a six point lead (42-36). Two minutes later, the Yellow Jackets tied the game once again (this time at 42), thanks to a pair of three-point “bombs” by senior Taylor Steinbrunner. Senior Nicole Sims and graduate Taylor Day would add to the now 10-0 Defiance scoring run, to give the Yellow Jackets a 46-42 advantage (37 seconds left in the 3rd). With 7:19 left in the 4th quarter, (graduate) Taylor Day capitalized on a (senior) Lauren Criblez defensive rebound, to score a fastbreak layup. Taylor’s basket provided Defiance with their largest lead of the game so far (nine) 54-45. Seniors Maddie Rzepka (St. Mary’s) and Taylor Steinbrunner (DC) traded a pair of three-pointers at the 7:06 (Maddie) and 6:41 (Taylor) marks. With 2:29 left in the contest, the Belles cut the Defiance lead from nine to five (59-54), following a pair of free throws from freshman Nicole Connolly and junior Anne Goralczyk. In the final 2:07, the Yellow Jackets scored 11 points (to take the victory 70-60), thanks to two points from (senior) Taylor Steinbrunner, two points from (junior) McKenzie Cooper, four points from (senior) Lauren Criblez, and three points from (senior) Nicole Sims. The Yellow Jackets finished with two players in double-digit scoring including graduate Taylor Day and senior Taylor Steinbrunner, who each put up 15 points. The Belles finished with a trio of players in double-digits including sophomore Julia Schutz (18), junior Athena Samson (14), and senior Maddie Rzepka (10). Defiance shot 36.8% (25-68) from the field, while the Belles shot 30.4% (21-69). The Yellow Jackets shot an incredible 93.8% (15-16) from the free-throw line, while St. Mary’s shot 72.2% (13-18). The Belles outrebounded Defiance 50-44, while the Yellow Jackets bench outscored St. Mary’s bench 23-8.

Wrestling: Sat. Nov. 19

The Defiance College wrestling team traveled to Berea, Ohio, Saturday morning for the Baldwin Wallace Invitational at Baldwin Wallace University. Nine teams participated in the invite, including Baldwin Wallace University, Delaware Valley University, Trine University, Lourdes University, Case Western Reserve University, Thiel College, Manchester University, and Mount St. Joseph University. Baldwin Wallace University took the team victory with a score of 150.5, while Deleware Valley University finished in the runner-up spot with a score of 148.5, and Trine University rounded out the podium with a score of 119.5. The Yellow Jackets finished 7th overall with a team score of 30.0. In the 133 weight class, freshman Evan Gray (0-2, 9) received two byes before he wrestled Trine’s, Thomas Miller in Round 1 of the Consolations. Evan fell in the match by a technical fall (2:37). Also in the 133 weight class, senior Seth Majewski placed sixth overall with a victory over Baldwin Wallace’s Jackson Allen by a technical fall (3:00). Seth advanced to face off against Deleware Valley’s Ryan Kelly in the semifinals, where Seth lost by fall (5:43). In the 141 weight class, freshman Eli Jones (0-4, 9) wrestled Case Western Reserve’s Art Martinez. Eli lost by fall (2:06). In the 149 weight class, sophomore Kliever Joseph (0-2, 10) competed against Deleware Valley’s Kamrin O’Neill, where Kliever lost by fall (2:55). Freshman Jacob Scoville (0-4, 9) also in the 149 weight class, received an open round bye before he competed against Deleware Valley’s Kamrin O’Neill. Jacob lost by fall (2:28). Freshman Brandon Ruiz (0-4, 9) in the 149 weight class, competed against Deleware Valley’s Declan Smith, where Brandon lost by fall (1:06). Junior Shamique Bryant (0-4, 11) the fourth and final Defiance wrestler in the 149 weight class, competed against Deleware Valley’s Daniel Conroy, where Shamique lost by decision (12-5). In the 157 weight class, junior Brent Eicher (1-4, 11) received an open round bye before he faced off against Trine’s Wade Shafer, where Brent was victorious by fall (2:04). Brent then competed against Thiel’s Peyton Hearn, where Brent lost by a major decision (11-1). Senior Alejandro Castro (3-2, 12) also in the 157 weight class, received a bye in the opening round, before he competed against Deleware Valley’s Greg Corce, where Alejandro lost by sudden victory. Later, Castro competed against Trine’s Lakin Webb, where Castro took the victory by decision (7-1). Alejandro would then face off against Case Western Reserve’s Mitchell Arch, where Alejandro lost by fall (4:32). Castro finished seventh overall in the 157 weight class. In the 165 weight class, senior Keringten Martin (3-3, 12) received an open-round bye before he faced off against Deleware Valley’s Maximus Gordon, where Keringten was victorious by decision (6-2). Martin would go on to compete against Baldwin Wallace’s Hunter Kupniewski, where Martin was victorious once again, this time by a major decision (15-5). Keringten lost his last match against Lourdes Derrick Coleman, to place him 4th overall in the 165 weight class. In the 174 weight class, sophomore Matthew Beard (0-2, 10) received an open round bye before he faced off against Baldwin Wallace’s Brandon Burkhart, where Matthew lost by fall (1:04). In the 184 weight class, senior Jack Minner (0-5, 12) received an open round bye before he competed against Baldwin Wallace’s Jack Cain, where Jack lost by fall (4:28). Minner would go on to face off against Case Western Reserve’s Alex Torres, where Minner lost by fall (1:13). Jack placed 7th overall in the 184 weight class. In the 197 weight class, freshman Lesly Fleurissaint (0-4, 9) received an open-round bye before competing against Trine’s Mason Custer, where Lesly lost by fall (2:41). Sophomore Joey Perez (2-4, 10) also in the 197 weight class, received an open round bye before he was victorious over Case Western Reserve’s Connor Heineman by decision (13-9). Perez would go on to face off against Trine’s Mason Custer, where Perez lost by fall (3:30). Joey placed 7th overall in the 197 weight class. Finally, in the 285 weight class, freshman Kelvin Ruffin (1-4, 9) received an open-round bye before competing against Thiel’s Jacob Traupman, where Kelvin lost by fall (6:57).

Home

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Wrestling vs Adrian College (Adrian College Dual)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(7:00 pm)

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Women’s Basketball (1-2) vs Manchester University (2-2)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(7:30 pm)

Friday, Dec. 2

Men’s Track & Field (Early Bird Open)

Location: George M. Smart Center

(3:00 pm)

Women’s Track & Field (Early Bird Open)

Location: George M. Smart Center

(3:00 pm)

Saturday, Dec. 3

Women’s Basketball (1-2) vs Franklin College (1-1)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(1:00 pm)

Men’s Basketball (2-2) vs Franklin College (2-2)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(3:00 pm)

Away

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Men’s Basketball (2-2) at Manchester University (0-3)

(7:30 pm)

Friday, Dec. 2

Wrestling at Cornerstone University (Blithe Duals)

(11:00 am)

Saturday, Dec. 3

Wrestling at Cornerstone University (Blithe Duals)

(9:00 am)

A correction was made on 11/22/22/ The wrestling team will be at cornerstone university, not Albion College, for the Blithe Duals.

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Football: Sat. Nov. 12

Defiance 17 (3-7), Bluffton University 14 (2-8)

The Defiance College football team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon to take on the Bluffton Beavers (HCAC conference opponent) in the battle for “The Hammer”. Dwight Salzman Stadium was covered in snow, but this did not stop Yellow Jackets fans from attending this historic rivalry. Three and a half minutes into the game (11:30 left in the first) senior wide receiver Machari Bighams rushed into the endzone from 8 yards out, to give Defiance a quick 7-0 lead. Defense was the name of the game for the remainder of the first half, as neither team was able to find any opportunity to put points on the board. Nearly three minutes into the third quarter (12:13 left) senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose rushed into the endzone from 2 yards out, to extend the Yellow Jackets’ lead to 14. With 7:53 left in the third quarter, Bluffton senior quarterback Bobby Bourke connected with freshman wide receiver CJ Thompson for a 7-yard touchdown strike, to cut the Defiance lead in half (14-7). Near the midway point of the fourth quarter (7:59 left), Beavers junior wide receiver Treavon Cummings fought his way into the endzone from one yard out, to tie the game at 14. Following a Bluffton 14-0 scoring run, the Yellow Jackets needed to respond, and they did just that. With 2:42 left in the game, sophomore kicker Zeke Sanchez showed his level of “clutchness” as he “punched one through the goalposts” to give Defiance the lead once again 17-14. On the ensuing possession, Bluffton freshman CJ Thompson returned the kickoff to the Defiance 46-yard line. Bluffton had the ball down to the Defiance 22-yard line, but back-to-back penalties placed the Beavers in a 2nd and 32 from the Defiance 44-yard line. The Defiance defense held their ground as they forced back-to-back incomplete passes, before forcing a Bluffton turnover on downs. Senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose threw for 66 yards and rushed for 57, including one rushing touchdown. Senior wide receiver Machari Bighams rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown. Senior tight end Cole Recker took over punting duties and tallied 281 yards on eight kicks, including a pin inside the 20-yard line. Senior free safety Jaylen Redd led Defiance in tackles with 10, including one tackle for loss. Senior slotback Justin Caballero and junior defensive lineman Richard Pope IV each recorded eight tackles, while senior defensive tackle Rigo Villa and senior inside linebacker Thomas Coltrain had seven. Freshman defensive back Kobe Dade picked off Bluffton senior quarterback Bobby Bourke once, while senior Justin Caballero and junior Richard Pope IV each recovered one fumble apiece.

When senior TE Cole Recker was asked by The Defender about his overall thoughts on the season, he expressed, “We grew a lot as a team this year. We showed maturity and started to become the team we know we could be. This season was definitely what I expected and the new coaching staff is helping us grow to the next level. I am so proud of the guys and how we finished the year. I can’t wait to see what the team can accomplish in the years to come.”

Men’s Basketball: Mon. Nov. 7, Fri. Nov. 11, and Sat. Nov. 12

11/7: Oakland University 92, Defiance 27 (Exhibition)

The Defiance College men’s basketball team traveled to Rochester, Michigan, Monday evening to take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in exhibition action. The opportunity to play in an NCAA Division I environment provided the Yellow Jackets with a great learning experience. The goal of this contest was to recognize things that work well and differentiate those skills from the things that need improvement. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (senior) Dejsani Beamon, (sophomore) Landen Swanner, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. A third of Defiance’s points came from the three-point line as senior Jerome Johnson, sophomore Landen Swanner, and freshman Jakob Trevino; each put one through the net from “downtown”. Senior Marell Jordan led the way in scoring for the Yellow Jackets with 8, while sophomore Jake Segulin captured a team-high 4 rebounds. The Golden Grizzlies shot an impressive 57.9% from the field, including 38.5% from three-point range. Defiance shot 61.5% from the free-throw line. Scoring for the Yellow Jackets came from eight different players including senior Marell Jordan (8), senior Jerome Johnson (3), sophomore Landen Swanner (3), senior Jabryis Heidelburg (3), freshman Jakob Trevino (3), junior Sherod Brooks (3), junior Easton Lewis (2), and freshman Jordyn Jury (2).

11/11: Defiance 88 (1-0), Miami University-Middletown 79 (0-3)

The Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team welcomed the Miami-Middletown ThunderHawks to the Karl H. Weaner Center Friday evening to kick off the Defiance Purple & Gold Tournament. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (senior) Dejsani Beamon, (sophomore) Landen Swanner, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. For the majority of the first half, Defiance was only able to hold a slight lead. In the final few minutes of the first half, however, the Yellow Jackets ended with a 12-6 run, which extended the lead to 12 into the halftime break (41-29). Defiance was able to build upon their first-half momentum in the second half, by shooting an outstanding 61% from the floor. Even with the incredible second-half shooting percentage, the ThunderHawks were still able to outscore Defiance 50-47. Defiance’s largest lead (18) came with 13:08 left in the contest, following a pair of baskets from (senior) Marell Jordan and a lay-in from (senior) Jabryis Heidelburg. The Yellow Jackets were led by a trio of double-digit scorers including (all seniors) Marell Jordan with 24, Kiewaun Graham with 12, and Dejsani Beamon with 11. Miami-Middletown’s (junior) Lorenzo Sparks led all scorers with 28 points. Two other ThunderHawks finished in double-digits including (senior) Isaiah Brooks with 16 and (freshman) Nicholas Pierett with 15. Defiance splashed home nine threes in the game compared to the ThunderHawks’ six. The Yellow Jackets committed 13 turnovers but forced 18 by Miami-Middletown. Defiance narrowly outrebounded the ThunderHawks, 34-31.

11/12: Wilmington College 81 (2-0), Defiance 72 (1-1)

The Defiance College men’s basketball team hosted the Wilmington Fightin’ Quakers Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center to wrap up the Defiance Purple & Gold Tournament. After taking down Spalding on Friday night, the Fightin’ Quakers swept the weekend with a victory over Defiance. The starters in this contest included (senior) Marell Jordan, (senior) Kiewaun Graham, (senior) Dejsani Beamon, (sophomore) Landen Swanner, and (freshman) Evan Conrad. The Yellow Jackets found themselves down 28-21 late in the first half, but thanks to a quick scoring run they were able to tie the game at 34, with a minute left until halftime. Senior Abdul Kanu responded quickly for the Quakers as he scored two baskets in the final 30 seconds, to regain the Wilmington lead 38-34, into the break. Kanu’s second hoop in that sequence was a breakaway dunk, which led to a double technical foul as time expired; one by Kanu for slapping the backboard and the other by Defiance head coach Josh Gibson for advocating for the call. The infractions forced the second half to start with a pair of free throws for Wilmington and one for Defiance. Coming into the second half, both teams had impressive shooting percentages, with Wilmington shooting 53.6% (15 for 28) and Defiance 50% (13 for 26) from the field. Following the technical free throws to start the second half, Wilmington went on a 12-3 run into the first media timeout. The Fightin’ Quakers’ lead grew to as much as 22 (64-42) with 11:06 remaining, before the Yellow Jackets started to build momentum. A pair of three-pointers by senior Marell Jordan and sophomore Landen Swanner got the Defiance offense back in rhythm midway through the second half. The Yellow Jackets’ success from the free throw line played a major role in this charge, as Defiance managed to score on 16 of their 22 second-half attempts from the charity stripe. Defiance was able to claw their way back to within 10 at the final media timeout, but the Quakers’ quick second-half start proved to be too much for the Yellow Jackets. Senior Marell Jordan led all scorers in this contest with 30 points, while sophomore Clayton McCorkle (8), freshman Evan Conrad (7), senior Kiewaun Graham (6), senior Jabryis Heidelburg (6), junior Easton Lewis (6), sophomore Landen Swanner (5), senior Te Jones (2), and junior Sherod Brooks (2); also attributed to the Defiance scoring total. Wilmington finished with a trio of players in double-figures including sophomore Obed Achirem (20), senior Abdul Kanu (19), and sophomore Bryce Bird (14). The Fightin’ Quakers shot 52.5% from the field (32-61), while Defiance shot 42.6% (23-54). Wilmington led the way in second-chance points 12-7, while the Yellow Jackets had more points off turnovers (20-18). Senior Kiewaun Graham led the way in rebounds for Defiance with 7, while senior Jabryis Heidelburg had a team-high 3 assists.

When senior Grant Johnson was asked by The Defender about his thoughts following the Purple & Gold Tournament weekend, he expressed, “We learned a lot about ourselves this weekend. We showed good fight, but we need to execute and rebound at a higher level. It’s very early in the season, so we will look at the tape and come back on Monday ready to work.”

Women’s Basketball: Tues. Nov. 8

Kenyon College 55 (1-0), Defiance 54 (0-1)

The Yellow Jackets women’s basketball team traveled to Gambier, Ohio, Tuesday evening to take on the Kenyon Owls. The starters in this contest included (graduate) Taylor Day, (senior) Taylor Steinbrunner, (junior) Cait Good, (sophomore) Kaitlin Paul, and (freshman) Kalista Friday. 1-minute and 55 seconds into the game, senior Taylor Steinbrunner scored the first points of the season for Defiance, with a layup to tie the game at 2. The Yellow Jackets were able to stretch out to a 12-10 lead at the conclusion of the opening quarter. The Owls fought back in the second quarter to retake the lead 29-28 into the halftime break, thanks to a pair of three-pointers from senior Katie Orefice and freshman Mikayla Rudolph. Senior Taylor Steinbrunner once again got the scoring started for Defiance in the third quarter as she was able to maneuver herself to the basket for a layup to give the Yellow Jackets the lead back, 30-29. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Owls 17-10 in the third quarter, thanks to a pair of three-pointers from sophomore Teagan Hunt and junior Kylie Brinkman. Going into the final 10 minutes of play, Defiance led by a score of 45-39. The fourth quarter was a thriller, as both teams swapped the lead numerous times. With 1:12 left in the game, graduate Taylor Day scored a much-needed layup (off an assist from junior McKenzie Cooper) for Defiance, to push the Yellow Jackets ahead 54-53. With just five seconds left in the game, Kenyon senior Katie Orefice scored the game-winner for the Owls, as she was able to find an open lane to the basket for the driving layup. Each team had a trio of double-digit scorers. Defiance’s trio included graduate Taylor Day (14), senior Taylor Steinbrunner (13), and senior Lexie Sparks (10). The trio for Kenyon included senior Katie Orefice (22), junior Claudia Cooke (18), and freshman Mikayla Rudolph (10). Yellow Jackets graduate Taylor Day led the way in the rebounds category with 11, while senior Taylor Steinbrunner was not far behind with 7. Six different players for Defiance recorded an assist in the contest including (graduate) Taylor Day, (senior) Taylor Steinbrunner, (junior) McKenzie Cooper, (junior) Kylie Brinkman, (freshman) Addy Allen, and (freshman) Kalista Friday. Defiance shot 33.9% from the field, while Kenyon shot 30.2%. Both teams shot an identical 13-20 from the free-throw line (65%). Defiance dominated bench points 20-4, while Kenyon was able to hold key advantages in offensive rebounds (17-11) and second-chance points (10-0).

When junior McKenzie Cooper was asked by The Defender about her thoughts following the season opener, she expressed, “I thought we did pretty well considering it was our first game of the year. We made some mistakes in this game, so we definitely have a few things to clean up before our next matchup. We had a few players step up last night and I think that’s going to set the tone for how we want to play the rest of the season.”

Men’s Cross Country: Sat. Nov. 12

The Defiance College men’s cross-country team traveled to Holland, Michigan, Saturday morning for the NCAA Division III Regionals at Hope College. Defiance competed against over 26 other Division III institutes during the competition. John Carroll University junior Alex Phillip took home the victory (23:56.7), while Wilmington College junior Simon Heys finished in the runner-up spot (24:23.0), and Case Western Reserve University junior Jack Begley rounded out the podium (24:26.8). Freshman Alex Burney led the trio of Yellow Jacket runners with a 194th place finish (out of 272) with a time of 27:41.4. Freshman Marlon Brown finished in 268th place with a time of 33:26.2, while sophomore Gavin Maratea finished in 272nd with a time of 40:01.1.

Women’s Cross Country: Sat. Nov. 12

The Yellow Jackets women’s cross-country team traveled to Holland, Michigan, Saturday morning for the NCAA Division III Regionals at Hope College. Defiance competed against over 26 other Division III institutes during the competition. Hope College senior Anastasia Tucker took home the victory (20:46.0), while Franciscan University junior Claire Walters finished in the runner-up spot (21:06.0), and Calvin University sophomore Jenna Allman rounded out the podium (21:11.7). Freshman Shyla Pemberton, the lone runner for the Yellow Jackets, finished in 244th (out of 247) with a time of 29:14.3.

Home

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Men’s Basketball (1-1) vs Alma College (0-1)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(7:30 pm)

Saturday, Nov. 19

Men’s Basketball (1-1) vs Adrian College (1-1)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(3:00 pm)

Away

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Women’s Basketball (0-1) at Ohio Wesleyan University (1-1)

(7:00 pm)

Thursday, Nov. 17

Men’s Basketball (1-1) at Wright State University (1-1)

(Exhibition)

(7:00 pm)

Saturday, Nov. 19

Wrestling at Baldwin Wallace University (Baldwin Wallace Invitational)

(10:00 am)

Sunday, Nov. 20

Women’s Basketball (0-1) at St. Mary’s College (2-0)

(1:00 pm)

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Football: Sat. Nov. 5

Defiance 24 (2-7) vs Manchester University 21 (1-8)

The Defiance College football team hosted the Manchester Spartans (HCAC conference opponent) Saturday afternoon at Justin F. Coressel Stadium for senior day. Defiance seniors (DT) Rigo Villa, (ILB) Thomas Coltrain, (CB) Ja’qway Janvier, (CB) V’Sean Palmer, (DB) Brian Murat, (QB) Jordan Ambrose, (SB) Justin Caballero, (TE) Cole Recker, (ILB) D’Angelo Espinal, (QB) Seth Pearson, (FS) Jaylen Redd, (ILB) Hunter Stettner, (C) Te’Von Carson-Payton, (LS) Noah Pistory, and (DT) Miguel Gomez were recognized during the festivities. The Manchester Spartans were able to strike the end zone first in this matchup as they scored near the midway point (8:41) of the first quarter, thanks to a 4-yard touchdown run from sophomore running back David Smith. The Yellow Jackets were quick to respond as freshman wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to the end zone, to tie things up at 7. Nearly four minutes into the second quarter (11:19), senior Machari Bighams punched one into the end zone from three yards out, to give Defiance a 14-7 lead. Five minutes later (6:21 left in the second), Yellow Jackets’ senior Brian Murat intercepted a pass from Manchester junior quarterback Eric James and returned it 98 yards to the end zone, to stretch the Defiance lead to 21-7. Defiance sophomore kicker Zeke Sanchez was able to capitalize on a last-second field goal from 12 yards out, to give Defiance a 24-7 lead into the locker room. Manchester tailback David Smith found the end zone twice in the third quarter on runs of 13 yards and two yards to shave Defiance’s lead to three (24-21) with 2:41 left in the third quarter. Both sides of the football (offense and defense) for Defiance did their part to close out the win, despite no second-half points from the Yellow Jackets. A Defiance fumble deep in their own territory provided Manchester with the football at the Jackets’ 20-yard line with 14:07 left in the contest, but the Defiance defense was able to hold the Spartans to a four-and-out to regain possession. After both teams traded punts, the Yellow Jacket offense took over with 8:25 left in the fourth quarter and bled out the remainder of the clock, to secure the senior day celebration victory. Defiance held the edge in takeaways, 3-2, while each team converted one of those turnovers into a touchdown. Defiance’s special teams accounted for 12 points in the contest (kickoff return touchdown, field goal, three points after touchdown). Out of Manchester’s 222 rushing yards, 202 were by sophomore David Smith. Smith scored all three Manchester touchdowns to put him on the brink of a 1,000-yard rushing season (982). Senior Thomas Coltrain led the Yellow Jackets with 13 tackles, including a game-high three for loss.

When senior TE Cole Recker was asked by The Defender about his thoughts following the Manchester victory, he expressed, “It was great to get another win for Yellow Jacket nation! It may not have been the prettiest win, but in the end we were able to get it done. I am so proud of how our defense and special teams played today. They made the plays that needed to be made. With the biggest game of the year coming up next week, we have to have a sharp week of practice this week ahead. We are very confident that we can bring “The Hammer” back to Defiance! I hope everyone can make it out to Bluffton next Saturday, to watch us beat the Beavers.”

Wrestling: Sat. Nov. 5

The Yellow Jackets wrestling team traveled to Adrian, Michigan, Saturday morning for the Adrian College Invitational at Adrian College. 15 teams participated in the invitational including Adrian College, Alfred State College, Averett University, Campbellsville University, Case Western Reserve University, Cornerstone University, Heidelberg University, Henry Ford College, Jamestown Community College, Siena Heights University, St. Clair County Community College, Toledo University, Pittsburg- Bradford University, and Wabash College. Defiance placed 15th overall on the day with a team score of 0.5. In the 141 weight class, freshman Elisha Jones went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points (fall losses to Alfred State’s Shawn Hall and Adrian’s Blaise Kokkales). Junior Shamique Bryant (149 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Hai Siu (Henry Ford College) and Zachary Palette (Adrian). Freshman Jake Scoville (149 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Domonic Delgato (Henry Ford) and Lody Cheatham (Campbellsville). Freshman Brandon Ruiz (149 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Nico Smith (Henry Ford) and Justin Sweeney (Case Western). Junior Brent Eicher (157 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, including a loss to Jesse Alvarado (Averett) by tech fall. Senior Keringten Martin (165 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Gage Parker (Siena Heights) and Carson Pottenger (Heidelburg). Senior Jack Minner (197 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Jackson Beck-Calvert (Adrian) and Wesley Peters (Siena Heights). Sophomore Joey Perez (197 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Andrew Oster (Toledo) and Andrew Denney (St. Clair). Freshman Lesly Fleurissaint (285 weight class) went 0-2 and scored 0.0 team points, losing to Evan Albrecht (Alfred State) and Andre Penney (St Clair). Freshman Kelvin Ruffin (285 weight class) went 1-2 and scored 0.5 team points for the Yellow Jackets. Ruffin was victorious 2-1 over Mario Harkonen (Cornerstone University) in Consolation Round 1.  

Home

Friday, Nov. 11

Men’s Basketball (0-0) vs Miami University-Middletown (0-1)

(Defiance Purple & Gold Tournament)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(6:00 pm)

Saturday, Nov. 12

Men’s Basketball (0-0) vs Wilmington College (0-0)

(Defiance Purple & Gold Tournament)

Location: Karl H. Weaner Center

(3:00 pm)

Away

Monday, Nov. 7

Men’s Basketball (0-0) at Oakland University (0-0)

(Exhibition)

(5:30 pm)

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Women’s Basketball (0-0) at Kenyon College (0-0)

(7:00 pm)

Saturday, Nov. 12

Men’s Cross Country at Hope College (NCAA Division III Regionals)

(TBD) 

Women’s Cross Country at Hope College (NCAA Division III Regionals) 

(TBD)

Football (2-7) at Bluffton University (2-7)

(1:30 pm)

By: Brandon Unverferth

Photography: Hanna Young

Volleyball: Wed. Oct. 26 and Sat. Oct. 29

10/26: Bluffton University 3 (16-9), Defiance 0 (3-19)

The Defiance College volleyball team welcomed the Bluffton Beavers to the Karl H. Weaner Center Wednesday evening for an HCAC conference matchup. The Beavers were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they were victorious in the opening three sets 25-22, 25-22, and 25-22. All three sets came down to the wire, but thanks to Bluffton’s consistency, they were able to take the victory in each. Junior Madison Schoenauer and freshman Jaelyn Tomoletz led the Yellow Jackets with six kills a piece, while sophomore Jamia Murray recorded five. Sophomore Kaylynn Wellman (3), junior Kayla Boettger (2), senior Mackenzie Umbaugh (1), and junior Olivia Rayk (1); also ended the match with kills. Sophomore Kendra Kline and freshman Courtney Maxwell each led Defiance with nine assists, while junior Hope Yost secured three.

10/29: Defiance 3 (4-19), Franklin College 0 (8-16)

The Yellow Jackets volleyball team hosted the Franklin Grizzlies (HCAC conference opponent) Saturday afternoon at the Karl H. Weaner Center as a part of senior day festivities. Mackenzie Umbaugh, the lone senior for the Yellow Jackets, was recognized during the festivities. The Yellow Jackets were able to pull off the “clean sweep” in this matchup, as they were victorious in the opening three sets 25-22, 25-21, and 25-22. Mackenzie Umbaugh (playing in her final collegiate match) led the Defiance “charge” with a team-high 10 kills, while sophomore Kaylynn Wellman recorded nine kills. Kaylynn finished her sophomore season as Defiance’s leading attacher with 157 kills overall. Sophomore Jamia Murray landed eight kills in this contest, to end the year with 124 kills. Jamia led Defiance with two kills per set this season. Freshman Courtney Maxwell served up 32 assists to run her season total to 249. The Yellow Jackets’ defense played a key part in this victory, as they blocked six Franklin attacks compared to the Grizzlies’ two. With the victory, Defiance snapped a 10-game losing streak and earned their first win in HCAC conference action.

When junior Hope Yost was asked by The Defender about her overall thoughts on the season, she expressed, “This season was definitely a learning experience. We learned a lot about who we are as a team and who we are as individuals. With a new head coach this year, we had to adapt to the new coaching style and expectations. Overall, we are excited to have the opportunity to continue to build upon the foundations we built this year and we are definitely excited for the future of this program!”

Men’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 26

Mount St. Joseph University 2 (4-14-1), Defiance 1 (2-12-5)

The Defiance College men’s soccer team traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, Wednesday afternoon to take on the Mount St. Joseph Lions in the final Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) match of the season. This contest remained scoreless for 60-minutes until junior Michael Abel punched one through the net for Mount St. Joseph, to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. This lead did not last long, as 11 minutes later (71-minute mark), senior Chase Stiner scored off a penalty kick for Defiance to tie the game at one. With less than three minutes left in the match (87-minute mark), junior Michael Abel came up “clutch” as he scored his second goal of the contest to secure the Mount St. Joseph victory 2-1. Senior Chase Stiner’s score in this matchup provided him with three goals in his final two games for the Yellow Jackets (combining his two-goal Senior Day versus Franklin from last Saturday, with Wednesday’s match at Mount. St. Joseph). Stiner led the 2022 Yellow Jackets with six goals and he officially reached 10 career goals at Defiance. Defiance outshot Mount St. Joseph 23-14, with 13 on goal for the Yellow Jackets compared to 7 for the Lions.  

When Student Manager Noah Svanberg was asked by The Defender about his overall thoughts on the season, he expressed, “While this season did not finish according to plan, I noticed a strong bond beginning to “brew” among the players towards the end of the year. I hope this feeling associated with not reaching the playoffs this year will resonate with the guys heading into next season.”

Women’s Soccer: Wed. Oct. 26

Mount St. Joseph University 7 (10-7-2), Defiance 0 (3-14)

The Yellow Jackets women’s soccer team hosted the Mount St. Joseph Lions Wednesday afternoon at Winsper-Knobel Memorial Field for the final HCAC conference matchup of the season. At the 9-minute mark, sophomore Kerigan Pollard knocked one through the net for Mount St. Joseph, to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later (11-minute mark), another sophomore, McKenzie Schneeman added her name to the Lions’ stat sheet, as she extended the Mount St. Joseph advantage to two. At the 12-minute mark, sophomore Kerigan Pollard scored what would be her second goal of the contest for Mount St. Joseph, as she dribbled through the Defiance defense to score from the left hash. In the 18th minute, sophomore Paige Adams added her name to the first-half Lions’ scoring “party”, as she stretched the Mount St. Joseph lead to 4-0. Nine minutes later (27-minute mark), graduate Catherine Hatfield scored with ease from the right hash, to give the Lions a 5-0 advantage. Senior Julia Herzog “capped off” the Lions’ first-half scoring “barrage” with a goal from the left hash in the 37th minute. Herzog’s goal provided Mount St. Joseph with a 6-0 lead into halftime. At the 85th-minute mark, senior Madison Hart scored the seventh and final goal of the contest for the Lions, to secure the Mount St. Joseph victory 7-0. The Lions dominated the shots category 36-0. Junior goalkeeper Sarah O’Shea stopped 14 Mount St. Joseph shots for the Yellow Jackets. Mount St. Joseph recorded eight corner kicks in the contest, while Defiance obtained zero.

When senior Brianna Snider was asked by The Defender about her overall thoughts on the season, she expressed, “I feel this season was an improvement compared to our last two seasons. Our record does not reflect the true improvements, but we played very well as a team this year, which was something we lacked in previous years. We showed offensive strives, and our defense held a variety of teams that are usually at the top of the HCAC conference from scoring. Overall, I am proud of these girls, and I hope they continue to strive for more next season.”

Football: Sat. Oct. 29

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 76 (5-3), Defiance 35 (1-7)

The Defiance College football team traveled to Terre Haute, Indiana Saturday afternoon to take on the Rose-Hulman Fightin’ Engineers in HCAC conference play. Rose-Hulman junior quarterback Miguel Robertson threw seven touchdown passes in the game, with all seven occurring in the first half. Quakers senior running back Lance Shelton rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Defiance senior quarterback Jordan Ambrose threw for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while also recording a rushing touchdown in the third quarter. Freshman quarterback Jehlani Warren capitalized on his “moments to shine” for the Yellow Jackets, as he threw for 112 yards and one touchdown. Warren also ran for 48 yards on five carries. Freshman running back Cooper Sloan rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown. Wide receivers (senior) Machari Bighams, (junior) Michael Martin, and (freshman) Da’Realyst Clark; each caught a touchdown pass in the game. Da’Realyst also returned six kickoffs for a total of 160 yards. Senior V’Sean Palmer led the Yellow Jackets’ defense with 11 tackles and four pass breakups, while (senior) Rigo Villa and (junior) Richard Pope IV each recorded one sack.

Women’s Cross Country: Sat. Oct. 29

The Defiance College women’s cross-country team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon for the HCAC Championship at Bluffton University. Manchester University took home the team championship with a time of 2:01:35. The Spartans were led by senior Hannah Brubaker, who captured the individual runners’ crown with a time of 22:56:2. Freshman Shyla Pemberton, the lone runner for the Yellow Jackets, finished 60th among 69 runners with a time of 29:38.7.

Men’s Cross Country: Sat. Oct. 29

The Yellow Jackets men’s cross-country team traveled to Bluffton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon for the HCAC Championship at Bluffton University. The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology took home the team championship with a time of 2:09:59. Defiance did not compete in the team event. Manchester University junior Connor Havens, captured the individual runners’ crown with a time of 24:56:6. Freshman Alex Burney led a trio of Defiance runners’, as he finished 34th among 115 runners, with a time of 27:28:2. Freshman Marlon Brown finished in the 100th position with a time of 32:08:2. Sophomore Gavin Maratea rounded out the Yellow Jackets trio with a 115th place finish, at a time of 43:06:2.

Home

Saturday, Nov. 5

Football (1-7) vs Manchester University (1-7)

(Senior Day)

Location: Justin F. Coressel Stadium

(1:30 pm)

Away

Saturday, Nov. 5

Wrestling at Adrian College (Adrian College Invitational)

(10:00 am)