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Case Western Reserve Spartans

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Case Western Reserve Spartans
Logo
UniversityCase Western Reserve University
ConferenceUniversity Athletic Association
Presidents' Athletic Conference (Football only)
NCAANCAA Division IDivision I
Athletic directorTJ Shelton
LocationCleveland, Ohio
Varsity teams19
Football stadiumDiSanto Field
Basketball arenaHorsburgh Gymnasium
Baseball stadiumNobby's Ballpark (Baseball)

Mather Park (Softball)
Other venuesAdelbert Gymnasium
MascotSpartie
NicknameSpartans
Fight songFight On
ColorsCWRU Blue, white, and gray[1]
     
Websiteathletics.case.edu
Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross country Soccer
Football Softball
Soccer Swimming & diving
Swimming & diving Tennis
Tennis Track & field†
Track & field† Volleyball
Wrestling
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.

The Case Western Reserve Spartans are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams of Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Case Western Reserve University competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartans compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA), except in football where the team competes as an associate member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The university offers 19 sports—10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.

All 19 varsity teams wear a commemorative patch on their uniforms honoring Case alumnus, M. Frank Rudy, inventor of the Nike air-sole.[2]

The Spartans' primary athletic rival is Carnegie Mellon University.

History

[edit]

The Case Western Reserve Spartans' heritage stems from the combination of two long and storied sports histories of Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology.

Mascots

[edit]

Case, originally known as Case School of Applied Science, carried the name Scientists from 1918 to 1939. In 1940, the mascot was changed to the Rough Riders, in honor of their head coach Ray A. Ride. Case formally updated its school name in 1947 to Case Institute of Technology.[3] Western Reserve originally used the mascot Pioneers from 1921 to 1927, until being forced to change by Marietta College, who claimed earlier usage of the namesake.[4] The famous Red Cats mascot was then used beginning in 1928. Upon the merger of the two schools, the Spartans name was adopted in 1970, as the team is now known.

Conferences

[edit]

In 1902, Case Tech and Western Reserve University were both founding members of the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). Western Reserve left the OAC in 1931 to compete as an independent, while Case Tech stayed in until 1948. Breaking away from independence looking to compete with larger schools, Western Reserve became a charter member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in 1946. After less than a decade, Western Reserve withdrew from the MAC in 1954, citing the need for the school to focus more energy on academics and less money and resources on athletics spearheaded by President John S. Millis.[5]

Returning to their roots of competing in the same conference, Case Tech and Western Reserve became founding members of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) in 1955. When the athletic departments of the two universities merged in 1971 they dominated the PAC for several years. The university remained a member of the PAC until 1983. In the fall of 1984 the university joined the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC), a pioneer in gender equality in sports, as a charter member. In conjunction with other top research universities in the country, Case Western Reserve became a charter member of University Athletic Association (UAA) in 1986, while maintaining joint conference membership affiliation with the NCAC until the 1998-1999 school year. In 2014 the football team, while maintaining membership in the UAA, began competing as an associate member of the PAC.

Founding charter members of five conferences:

NCAA National champions

[edit]

Team

[edit]
Year Winner Sport
2023 Case Western Reserve Men's Tennis

Individual

[edit]
Year Winner Name Sport Event
1968 Case C.B. Crouse Outdoor Track & Field Discus Throw
1970 Case Western Reserve John Nadas Fencing Épée
1982 Case Western Reserve Lisa Bernard Swimming & Diving 1,650-yard freestyle
1987 Case Western Reserve Vincent Van Burik Outdoor Track & Field 800-meter run
1988 Case Western Reserve John Bradshaw Swimming & Diving 100-yard butterfly
1989 Case Western Reserve John Bradshaw Swimming & Diving 100-yard butterfly
1990 Case Western Reserve Sheila Ballado Outdoor Track & Field 100-meter hurdles
1990 Case Western Reserve Kevin Luthy Outdoor Track & Field Decathlon
1991 Case Western Reserve Kevin Luthy Outdoor Track & Field Decathlon
1992 Case Western Reserve Jay Gindin Swimming & Diving 200-yard butterfly
1994 Case Western Reserve Chris Ricklic Wrestling 167 pounds
1995 Case Western Reserve Leslie Kindling Indoor Track & Field High Jump
1995 Case Western Reserve Chris Ricklic Wrestling 167 pounds
1995 Case Western Reserve Leslie Kindling Outdoor Track & Field Heptathlon
1996 Case Western Reserve Derek Messmer Wrestling Heavyweight
2003 Case Western Reserve Alicia Kendig Swimming & Diving 500-yard freestyle
2008 Case Western Reserve Esther Erb Outdoor Track & Field 10,000-meter run
2010 Case Western Reserve Isaac Dukes Wrestling 149 pounds
2010 Case Western Reserve Obinna Nwanna Outdoor Track & Field Decathlon
2014 Case Western Reserve Eric Klawitter Men's Tennis Doubles
2014 Case Western Reserve Christopher Krimbill Men's Tennis Doubles
2019 Case Western Reserve Cassandra Laios Outdoor Track & Field Hammer Throw
2022 Case Western Reserve James Hopper Men's Tennis Doubles
2022 Case Western Reserve Jonathan Powell Men's Tennis Doubles
2023 Case Western Reserve James Hopper Men's Tennis Doubles
2023 Case Western Reserve Vishwa Aduru Men's Tennis Doubles

[6]

Sports

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Football

[edit]
Main article: Case Western Reserve Spartans football

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1902 Case Joseph Wentworth OAC
1903 Case Joseph Wentworth OAC
1904 Case Joseph Wentworth OAC
1905 Case Joseph Wentworth OAC
1907 Western Reserve William B. Seaman OAC
1908 Western Reserve William B. Seaman OAC
1915 Western Reserve Walter D. Powell OAC
1932 Case Ray Ride OAC
1933 Case Ray Ride Big Four Conference
1934 Western Reserve Sam Willaman Big Four Conference
1935 Western Reserve Bill Edwards Big Four Conference
1936 Western Reserve Bill Edwards Big Four Conference
1937 Western Reserve Bill Edwards Big Four Conference
1938 Western Reserve Bill Edwards Big Four Conference
1940 Western Reserve Bill Edwards Big Four Conference Won Sun Bowl
1941 Case Ray Ride OAC
1941 Western Reserve Tom Davies Big Four Conference
1942 Western Reserve Tom Davies Big Four Conference
1955 Western Reserve Eddie Finnigan PAC
1958 Western Reserve Eddie Finnigan PAC
1960 Western Reserve Eddie Finnigan PAC
1984 Case Western Reserve Jim Chapman NCAC
1988 Case Western Reserve Ronald Stuckey UAA
1996 Case Western Reserve Regis Scafe UAA
2007 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak UAA Won vs Widener, Loss vs Wabash
2008 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak UAA Loss vs Wabash
2009 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak UAA Loss vs Trine
2011 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak UAA
2016 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak UAA
2017 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak PAC & UAA Won vs Illinois Wesleyan, Loss vs Mount Union
2019 Case Western Reserve Greg Debeljak PAC Loss vs Union

Men's tennis

[edit]

The 2023 men's tennis team won the school's first ever team national championship, defeating the Tufts University Jumbos 5-2 in the NCAA Division III national finals match. The team finished 33-4 overall, including a perfect 28-0 record against Division III competition. The Spartans also won the University Athletic Association (UAA) title.

The 2022 team finished the season again as the National Runner-Up, this time losing to another UAA foe, University of Chicago.[7] In tournament play, the team defeated Ohio Northern, Wisconsin–Whitewater, Williams, and Middlebury.[8] James Hopper and Jonathan Powell won the NCAA men's doubles national title. At the beginning of the season, the team won the 2022 ITA Division III Men’s National Team Indoor Championship.[9]

In 2021, the team went undefeated in Division III regular season play, finishing as the National Runner-Up losing to Emory. In the tournament, the team defeated Illinois Tech, Gustavus Adolphus, Trinity (TX), and Washington (MO).[10]

In 2019, Matthew Chen and James Hopper won the Division III doubles title in the 2019 ITA Cup.[11]

In 2014, the Spartan men's tennis team was ranked in the Division III Top 10 for most of the season, and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight before falling to Middlebury College. That same year, two CWRU tennis players, Eric Klawitter and Christopher Krimbill, won the NCAA men's doubles national title.

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1965 Western Reserve Arthur I. Rosenberg PAC
1970 Western Reserve Arthur I. Rosenberg PAC
1971 Western Reserve Arthur I. Rosenberg PAC
1972 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1973 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1974 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1975 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1976 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1977 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1978 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
1979 Case Western Reserve Douglas E. Mooney PAC
2013 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none Sweet 16
2014 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none Elite 8
2016 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none Sweet 16
2021 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none National Runner-Up
2022 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none National Runner-Up
2023 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski UAA National Champion
2024 Case Western Reserve Todd Wojtkowski none Elite 8

Men's cross country

[edit]

Since 1972 the Spartans have had fourteen All-Americans. In 1972 Greg Bowser finished 14th. In 1973 Jeff Tanchon & Greg Bowser finished 15th & 16th respectively. In 1974 Greg Bowser & Doug Leary finished 6th & 19th. In 1975 Peter Kummant finished 2nd, the best finish for any Spartan XC runner to date. In 1976 & 1977 Peter Kummant finished 6th & 10th. It took 16 years for the Spartans to put another runner on the podium. In 1993 Steve Cullen finished 16th. In 1994 teammates Steve Cullen and Brian Casselberry finished 19th & 27th. After another 10 year draught Aaron Johnston-Peck finished 7th in 2004. Most recently Sam Merriman finished 21st & 11th in 2016 & 2017.

Additionally since 1946, 119 male athletes and 16 teams have represented the university, with the best finish occurring in 1986 with a 7th-place finish. Four of those athletes sent either pre-date the All-American designation and/or would be considered All-Americans under new guidelines.

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference All-Ohio Postseason
1947 Case Claude B. Sharer OAC 12th Nationals
1958 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1967 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1968 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1969 Case Bill Sudeck PAC 27th Nationals
1970 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1971 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 13th (All Divisions) 40th Nationals
1972 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 26th Nationals
1973 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 5th (All-Divisions) 12th Nationals
1974 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 12th (All-Divisions) 15th Nationals
1975 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 2nd (All-Divisions) 13th Nationals
1976 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 3rd 20th Nationals
1977 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC 12th (All-Divisions) 21st Nationals
1985 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC 5th (All-Divisions) 2nd Regional, 18th Nationals
1986 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC 9th (All-Divisions) 1st Regional, 7th Nationals
1988 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC 15th (All-Divisions) 6th Regional
1992 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck All-Ohio
1993 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC 1st All-Ohio
1993 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck UAA
1994 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC 3rd 4th Regional
2008 Case Western Reserve Kathy Lanese All-Ohio 5th Regional, 29th National

Individual Champions:

Year Athlete School Conference
1959 Guido Wernicke Case Institute of Tech. PAC
1966 John Papp Case Institute of Tech. PAC
1967 Paul Ehrlich Western Reserve PAC
1970 Jim Detweiler Case Institute of Tech. PAC
1971 Greg Williams Case Western Reserve PAC
1971 Jeff Tanchon Case Western Reserve PAC
1972 Greg Bowser Case Western Reserve PAC
1973 Greg Bowser Case Western Reserve PAC
1974 Greg Bowser Case Western Reserve PAC
1975 Peter Kummant Case Western Reserve PAC
1976 Peter Kummant Case Western Reserve PAC
1977 Peter Kummant Case Western Reserve PAC
1978 Peter Kummant Case Western Reserve PAC
1985 Mark Roshon Case Western Reserve NCAC
1989 Karl Knoll Case Western Reserve NCAC
1993 Steve Cullen Case Western Reserve NCAC
1994 Brian Casselberry Case Western Reserve NCAC
2003 Steve Hrinda Case Western Reserve All-Ohio
2004 Aaron Johnson-Peck Case Western Reserve UAA
2008 Dominic Smith Case Western Reserve All-Ohio
2016 Sam Merriman Case Western Reserve All-Ohio

Women's cross country

[edit]

The women's cross country team earned five consecutive team qualifying years to the NCAA Championship Meet from 2006-2010. In 2006 the team was undefeated up until Nationals, this included beating several DI schools during the season. During this stretch, the Spartan women finished in the top 10 twice, including 2007, when the team finished sixth in the nation.[12] individually during these five years, team members earned 8 All-American Titles, including multiple by future professional marathoner Esther Erb.

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
2006 Case Western Reserve Kathy Lanese UAA 1st Regionals, 10th Nationals
2008 Case Western Reserve Kathy Lanese UAA 2nd Regionals, 16th Nationals

Men's basketball

[edit]

The 2024 team claimed its second UAA title, returning to the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament.

The 2023 team claimed the UAA title for the first time in school history, and returned to the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament, winning their first game against Arcadia before falling to Wisconsin-Whitewater.[13]

The 2022 team was the first team in school history to make the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament, defeating Dubuque and Wisconsin-Oshkosh, before falling to Mary Hardin-Baylor in overtime in the Sweet 16.[14]

Western Reserve's first varsity team was in 1897, only six years after the game was invented by Dr. James Naismith. Case Tech played its first varsity season in 1912.[15]

The first college sporting event televised in Cleveland aired on December 18, 1947, where Western Reserve's basketball team defeated Fenn College, now the Cleveland State Vikings, at Adelbert Gym, 63-26.[16]

Conference Titles and playoffs:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1960-1961 Case Philip K. "Nip" Heim PAC
1969-1970 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
2021-2022 Case Western Reserve Todd McGuinness none Sweet 16
2022-2023 Case Western Reserve Todd McGuinness UAA Round of 32
2023-2024 Case Western Reserve Todd McGuinness UAA Sweet 16

Baseball

[edit]

Varsity baseball teams for Western Reserve College date back to the 1870s.[17] During this era, Clarence Emir Allen is famously credited as the first college baseball player to throw and perfect the curve ball, and notably never lost a game once mastering the "curve."[18] Other notable players in school history include Bob Kelly, Paul O'Dea, and Ed Andrews.

Western Reserve won the PAC in 1967 and 1968.

In recent years, the Case Western Reserve baseball team has competed in the NCAA playoffs, earning spots in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2019, and 2023.

In 2011, Spartan third baseman Chad Mullins was named the D3Baseball.com Player of the Year after hitting .437 with eight home runs and 71 RBIs. Mullins also ranked in the Division III national top ten in hits, runs scored, and total bases. The 2013 team won two NCAA playoff games and the UAA title. The 2014 team set a school record for victories with 34, won the UAA title, and won four playoff games advancing to the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship.[19]

From 2013 to 2017, Bianca Smith served as director of baseball operations; she would later become the first black woman professional baseball coach, hired by the Boston Red Sox in 2021.[20][21]

Conference Titles and Playoffs:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1967 Western Reserve Flory Mauriocourt PAC
1968 Western Reserve Flory Mauriocourt PAC
2013 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander UAA Won vs St. Scholastica, St. Thomas, Loss vs Wisc-Whitewater, Wisc-Stevens Point
2014 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander UAA Won vs Thomas More, La Roche, and Widener, Loss vs Salisbury
2018 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander UAA
2019 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander - Won vs Otterbein, Rochester, Loss vs Wooster
2022 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander UAA
2023 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander - Won vs Mary Washington, Loss vs Marietta, Loss vs Adrian
2024 Case Western Reserve Matt Englander UAA Won vs Alvernia (2x), Loss vs Lynchburg (2x)

Softball

[edit]

Finishing with a school best record of 40-9, the 2024 team won its third consecutive UAA championship and made it to nationals played at Marshall, Texas for the NCAA Division III tournament for a second time in school history.[22]

The 2023 team won the UAA and made it to the NCAA Division III tournament, finishing with a record of 38-5.

The 2022 team won the UAA and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament, finishing the season 30-12.[23]

During the 2018 season, Case Western Reserve softball team earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Division III tournament, making a deep run in the playoffs to nationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, finishing the season ranked 6th nationally.[24] The team won the first regional in school history, defeating Mt. Aloysius, St. Mary's, and Ohio Northern twice.[25] The Spartans won the super regional against Hope, and achieved a win at nationals against Rowan, before being defeated by University of Texas at Tyler and Luther. The 2018 team finished the season 38-12.

The softball team previously had made the NCAA Division III tournament in 2001.

Karen (Chambers) Farrell founded the university Softball team in 1996 and coached the first four seasons, winning three UAA titles in 1997, 1998, and 1999.[26]

Conference Titles and Playoffs

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1997 Case Western Reserve Karen (Chambers) Farrell UAA
1998 Case Western Reserve Karen (Chambers) Farrell UAA
1999 Case Western Reserve Karen (Chambers) Farrell UAA
2001 Case Western Reserve ? no title ?
2014 Case Western Reserve Josie Henry UAA
2018 Case Western Reserve Josie Henry no title Loss vs Ohio Northern, Won vs Mt. Aloysius, Won vs St. Mary's, Won vs Ohio Northern (2x), Loss vs Hope, Won vs Hope (2x), Loss vs Texas-Tyler, Won vs Rowan, Loss vs Luther
2022 Case Western Reserve Josie Henry UAA Won vs The College of New Jersey (2x), Loss vs Concordia (Wisconsin), Won vs Concordia (Wisconsin) (2x), Loss vs Trine (2x)
2023 Case Western Reserve Josie Henry UAA Won vs Penn State Altoona, Loss vs Mount Union, Loss vs Hiram
2024 Case Western Reserve Josie Henry UAA Won vs Penn St. Behrend, Loss vs Calvin, Won vs Dominican, Won vs Calvin (2x), Won vs Coe (2x), Loss vs Belhaven, Loss vs Rowan

Men's soccer

[edit]

The 2006 Men's Soccer team finished the season with a 17–2–2 record, a UAA title, and first-ever playoff appearance. The team reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Division III tournament appearance and concluded the season ranked 12th in the nation. In 2011, the team returned gain to the NCAA Division III tournament after winning the UAA and finishing 15–5. In 2018, the team reemerged to national prominence finishing 16–4–2 and making its deepest run in the NCAA DIII tournament making it to the "elite eight."

Conference Titles and Playoffs:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1958 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1960 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1961 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1962 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1965 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1966 Case Claude B. Sharer PAC
1967 Case Philip K. Heim "Nip" and Joe Siklosi PAC
1968 Western Reserve Ronald P. "Buzz" Ellis PAC
1969 Case Eric Dobson PAC
2006 Case Western Reserve Dan Palmer UAA Won vs Denison, Tie vs Ohio Wesleyan[27]
2011 Case Western Reserve Dan Palmer UAA Won vs DePauw, Loss vs Ohio Northern[28]
2018 Case Western Reserve Brandon Bianco no title Won vs Keystone, Won vs Capital, Won vs Kenyon, Loss vs Calvin[29]

Men's outdoor track and field

[edit]

Since 1968 the university has had 29 Outdoor All-Americans, including 5 National Champions, and an additional 26 NCAA qualifiers. The first and only relay team to qualify did so in the 4x400 in 2017, consisting of Jon Haling, Andrew Ibibo, Joe Cabral, and Nate Wahner. From 1985-1999 the Spartans had 45 NCAC individual champions.

Notably, the 1946 Western Reserve team was coached by Cleveland Browns halfback Don Greenwood, while he was still a player.

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1926 Case NE Ohio
1927 Case NE Ohio
1936 Western Reserve Big Four
1937 Western Reserve Big Four
1941 Case Big Four
1958 Western Reserve Herbert Bee PAC
1959 Western Reserve Herbert Bee PAC
1960 Western Reserve Herbert Bee PAC
1967 Case Bill Sudeck PAC 10th All-Ohio
1968 Case Bill Sudeck PAC 10th Regional, 17th Nationals
1970 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1971 Case Bill Sudeck PAC
1972 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC
1973 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC
1974 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC T-32nd Nationals
1975 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC
1978 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck PAC T-48th Nationals
1994 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC T-36th Nationals
1994 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck UAA

Men's indoor track and field

[edit]

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1994 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC
1995 Case Western Reserve Bill Sudeck NCAC

Women's soccer

[edit]

The women's soccer team played their first season in 1984. The team made it to the NCAA tournament in 2011, 2019, 2021-2023.[30]

In 2021, the Spartans went 16-2-2 and finished the regular season ranked 10th nationally. The 16 wins were the most victories in a single season in program history, also advancing three games into the tournament.[31]

The 2022 season set a new record for wins in a single season at 20-1-1, under first year head coach Abby Richter, finishing as the National Runner Up losing to Johns Hopkins.[32]

The 2023 team made it for a third straight year to the NCAA Tournament, winning one playoff game.

Conference Titles and Playoffs:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
2011 Case Western Reserve Tiffany Crooks no title Won vs Lebanon Valley, Loss vs Cortland State
2019 Case Western Reserve Jen Simonetti no title Tie vs Wooster
2021 Case Western Reserve Jen Simonetti no title Won vs Chatham, Won vs Ohio Northern, Loss vs Chicago
2022 Case Western Reserve Abby Richter UAA Won vs Pitt-Greensburg, Won vs Ithaca, Won vs Loras, Won vs William Smith, Won vs Virginia Wesleyan, Loss vs Johns Hopkins
2023 Case Western Reserve Abby Richter no title Won vs Grove City, Loss vs John Carroll

Women's tennis

[edit]

In 2022, the team made it to the third round of the NCAA Women's Division III Doubles Championships, before losing to the eventual Division III NCAA Champion, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.[33]

In 2018, doubles pair Nithya Kanagasegar and Madeleine Paolucci were named the first All-Americans in program history. Nationally ranked, they advanced to the quarterfinals of NCAA Women's Division III Doubles Championships in Claremont, California.[34]

Women's volleyball

[edit]

In 1971, volleyball became the first documented Case Western Reserve women’s varsity sport, established shortly before Title IX was passed in 1972.[35]

During the 2010 and 2015 seasons, the team made the NCAA Division III Tournament, earning their first tournament win in 2015 led by coach Karen Farrell.[36]

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
2010 Case Western Reserve Karen Farrell none First Round
2015 Case Western Reserve Karen Farrell none Second Round

Wrestling

[edit]

Case Western Reserve wrestling has won four individual NCAA Division III national titles and produced Olympic wrestler, William Kerslake.

Conference Titles:

Year Winner Coach Conference Postseason
1961 Western Reserve Edward W. Lewis PAC
1988 Case Western Reserve Bob Del Rosa UAA
1991 Case Western Reserve Bob Del Rosa UAA
1993 Case Western Reserve Bob Del Rosa UAA
1994 Case Western Reserve Bob Del Rosa UAA
1996 Case Western Reserve Bob Del Rosa UAA

University Athletic Association championships

[edit]
  • Football: 1988, 1996, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2017
  • Wrestling: 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996
  • Softball: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2014, 2022, 2023
  • Baseball: 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022
  • Men's Soccer: 2006, 2011
  • Women's Cross Country: 2006, 2008
  • Men's Basketball: 2023
  • Men's Track & Field (Outdoor): 1994
  • Men's Cross Country: 1993
  • Men's Tennis: 2023

Olympians

[edit]
Year Winner Name Sport Event Medal
1932 Western Reserve M. "Flip" Rowland Wolfe Gymnastics Tumbling Gold
1952 Case William Kerslake Wrestling Heavyweight
1956 Western Reserve Caldwell Esselstyn Rowing Gold
1956 Case William Kerslake Wrestling Heavyweight
1956 Western Reserve David Jenkins Figure Skating Bronze
1960 Case William Kerslake Wrestling Heavyweight
1960 Western Reserve David Jenkins Figure Skating Gold
1964 Western Reserve Sandra Knott Outdoor Track & Field 800-meter run
1980 Case Western Reserve Walter "Ty" Danco Luge
1996 Case Western Reserve Matt Ghaffari Wrestling Greco-Roman Silver

[37]

Fight song

[edit]

John F. Anderson, a Case Tech alum of 1933, composed the music and lyrics of the Case Western Reserve fight song.[38]

Fight On
Fight on, you men of Case Reserve
Make foemen fear your strength and verve
Display the old unflinching nerve—
Go, Case Reserve, fight on!
In days of yore in annual bout
Across the fence, we fought it out
The fence is down, today we shout:
Go, Case Reserve, fight on!
The blue and white team we'll uphold
Old Case Reserve will never fold
So, on to vict'ries yet untold
Go, Case Reserve, fight on!

Facilities

[edit]

DiSanto Field

[edit]

DiSanto Field is a 2,400-seat multi-purpose stadium home to the football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and track and field teams.

The press box includes the Coach Bill Edwards president's suite, named after the College Football Hall of Fame inductee coach.[39] In 2008, the eight-lane track surrounding the field was named Coach Bill Sudeck Track. In 2014, the Wyant Field House opened, which included the 4500-square foot Steve Belichick Varsity Weight Room, gifted by Bill Belichick in honor of his father.[40]

Nobby's Ballpark

[edit]

Home to the Case Western Reserve Spartans baseball team, Nobby's Ballpark, seats 500 fans and sit between the streets of East 115th and East 118 along Wade Park Ave and Finnegan's Way. The ballpark opened in 2006 thanks to the contribution of alumnus Nobby Lewandowski. In 2009, the new public address system and naming of the press box was provided by Tom and Cynthia Friedberg. In 2013, Nobby Lewandowski gifted a state-of-the-art scoreboard. An Astroturf infield was installed prior to the 2018 season, increasing playability in poor weather, while the outfield consists of natural grass.[41]

Mather Park

[edit]

Mather Park is home to the Spartan softball team and seats 250 fans. The park sits along Mistletoe Drive near its intersection with Wade Park Ave. In April 2008, the facility was officially renamed after the Flora Stone Mather Alumnae Association, after its endowment was transferred to Case Western Reserve University. In 2009, Vice President for Student Affairs, Glenn Nicholls, made a donation in honor of his late wife, Peggy, for a new press box. The field was dedicated on April 15, 2009. A state-of-the-art scoreboard was added during the 2012 season by the Mather Alumnae Association.[42]

Horsburgh Gymnasium

[edit]

Home to the Spartan basketball, wrestling and volleyball, Horsburgh Gymnasium, holds a capacity of 1,600 fans. Named after alumnus Robert G. Horsburgh (1914), the gymnasium opened May 24, 1957, being refurbished and physically incorporated into the Veale Center complex rededicated on April 22, 1998.[43]

Adelbert Gymnasium

[edit]

The original Adelbert Gymnasium was constructed in 1888, followed by the much larger armory expansion being erected between 1918 and 1919, dedicated on June 1, 1919. Originally built for use in World War I, the war ended before construction was finished, so it was used only for athletics. Basketball played there for over 50 years, ending during the 1969-1970 season. In 2013, the facility was upgraded with a refurbished playing court. Adelbert Gym is most commonly used for varsity athletic practice as well as intramural, club sport, and campus recreational functions. For variety athletics official contests, it is still used for heritage-type basketball games and wrestling matches.[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Brand Guidelines - Color; CWRU - University Marketing & Communications - Case Western Reserve University". Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "Case Western to Wear Patch Honoring Air-Sole Inventor". 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Team colors, mascots, names". case.edu.
  4. ^ "Case Western Reserve University to debut new 'Spartie' mascot". cleveland. September 12, 2011.
  5. ^ John Sayle Watterson (2002). "College Football: History, Spectacle, Controversy". JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-7114-6.
  6. ^ "NCAA Champions". Case Western Reserve.
  7. ^ "University of Chicago Maroons men's tennis team wins first ever NCAA Division III title". CBS News. 25 May 2022.
  8. ^ "2021-22 CWRU Men's Tennis Fall Schedule (All Times Listed Eastern)".
  9. ^ "2022 ITA Division III Men's National Team Indoor Championship". 7 March 2024.
  10. ^ "2020-21 CWRU Men's Tennis Schedule (All Times Listed Eastern)".
  11. ^ "NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Chen & Hopper Win ITA Cup D3 Doubles Draw". Case Western Reserve. October 19, 2019.
  12. ^ "Case Western Reserve". Case Western Reserve.
  13. ^ "2022-23 CWRU Men's Basketball Season Recap". athletics.case.edu/. 30 June 2023.
  14. ^ "2021-22 CWRU Men's Basketball Schedule (All Times Eastern)".
  15. ^ Cramer, C. H. (1976). Case Western Reserve: A History of the University 1826-1976. The World Publishing Company. p. 367.
  16. ^ "180 Events: 1940s". case.edu.
  17. ^ Cramer, C. H. (1976). Case Western Reserve: A History of the University 1826-1976. The World Publishing Company. p. 163.
  18. ^ James m. Egan, Jr (2008-05-07). Base Ball on the Western Reserve: The Early Game in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, Year by Year and Town by Town, 1865-1900. McFarland. ISBN 9780786430673.
  19. ^ "2014 Spartan Baseball Schedule & Results". Case Western Reserve.
  20. ^ Bonesteel, Matt (31 December 2020). "Red Sox to hire Bianca Smith as minor league coach, the first Black woman to hold such a job". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  21. ^ Browne, Ian (January 4, 2021). "Red Sox hire Smith, first Black female coach". MLB.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  22. ^ "#7 CWRU Softball Season Ends with 4-2 Loss to #13 Rowan". June 2024.
  23. ^ "2022 CWRU Softball Schedule (All Times Listed Eastern)".
  24. ^ "CWRU Softball Finishes the Season Ranked Sixth in NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll". Case Western Reserve. June 1, 2018.
  25. ^ "CWRU Softball Captures Notre Dame Regional; Heading to NCAA Super Regional". Case Western Reserve. May 13, 2018.
  26. ^ "Karen Farrell".
  27. ^ "- Case Western Reserve". fs.ncaa.org.
  28. ^ "- Case". fs.ncaa.org.
  29. ^ "2018 Division III Men's Soccer Official Bracket | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com.
  30. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-28. Retrieved 2018-03-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  31. ^ "Jen Simonetti".
  32. ^ "Johns Hopkins wins the 2022 DIII women's soccer championship". NCAA.com.
  33. ^ "2021-22 CWRU Women's Tennis Schedule (All Times Listed Eastern)".
  34. ^ "Kanagasegar & Paolucci Fall to Top-Seeded Team in NCAA Quarterfinals". Case Western Reserve. May 26, 2018.
  35. ^ "In CWRU History: Women's Sports at CWRU". 28 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Archive".
  37. ^ "Past meets present: Spartans who became Olympians". August 5, 2016.
  38. ^ "CWRU Fight Song & Alma Mater". Case Western Reserve.
  39. ^ "2015 Case Western Reserve Football Media Guide". Issuu. 28 August 2015.
  40. ^ McIntyre, Michael K.; Dealer, The Plain (December 3, 2012). "Bill Belichick makes donation to Case Western Reserve University field house project to honor his father, Steve: Michael K. McIntyre's Tipoff". cleveland.
  41. ^ "Nobby's Ballpark". Case Western Reserve.
  42. ^ "Mather Park". Case Western Reserve.
  43. ^ "Horsburgh Gymnasium". Case Western Reserve.
  44. ^ "Adelbert Gymnasium". Case Western Reserve.
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