Staff Profile
Baseball takes series from Penn State
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
April 10, 2013
Filed under Sports
It turns out all the Raiders needed to lift their spirits was a trip to Happy Valley. Wright State (12-16) won two of three games at Penn State last weekend and claimed their first series victory of the season. WSU tamed the Nittany Lions with timely hitting and solid pitching in the first two... Read more »
Raiders determined to build on success, climb new heights next season
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
April 2, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Expectations were rewritten after the Raiders scaled new heights this season. Picked to finish last in the Horizon League preseason polls, Wright State (23-13) instead went to the precipice of the conference championship. But Valparaiso clinched the title in the last minutes of the game and earned... Read more »
Late surge against Richmond propels Raiders into CBI semis
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
March 26, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Preseason polls put the Raiders in the conference cellar, but as the calendars near April the only Horizon League team standing is Wright State. With a 56-51 win over Richmond Monday, the Raiders (23-12) advanced to the semifinals of the CBI where they’ll face Santa Clara (23-11) Wednesday. When... Read more »
Raiders earn first DI postseason victory in team history with 72-52 win over Tulsa
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
March 21, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The long wait is over. It took 25 years, but the men’s basketball team scored their first postseason victory since joining Division I with a 72-52 win over Tulsa Wednesday. “I’m really happy for our players,” Wright State head coach Billy Donlon said after the game. “Coaching is about... Read more »
Kieston Greene’s big week not enough as Raiders drop series to Milwaukee
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
March 19, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
There’s no place quite like home for the Wright State baseball team. After clobbering Wilmington 25-0 at Nischwitz Stadium Tuesday, the Raiders (6-11, 1-2) dropped a weekend home series to Horizon League foe Milwaukee. Losing two of three games to the Panthers isn’t a promising start to conference... Read more »
Raiders accept bid to CBI, host Tulsa Wednesday
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
March 19, 2013
Filed under Sports
It’s not over yet. A magical run to the NCAA Tournament ended for the Raiders last Tuesday when they fell in the Horizon League final to Valparaiso. As Wright State left the court, the season appeared over. But the Raiders have new life after all. WSU accepted a bid to the College Basketball... Read more »
Baseball suffering through slump
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
March 13, 2013
Filed under Sports
While clocks sprung forward over the weekend, the Wright State baseball team took another step backwards. After winning their first three games of the season, the Raiders dropped their ninth in ten games on Sunday against Bryant. That game served as the low point of the skid, as WSU fell 12-0 and... Read more »
Baseball ready to make amends for 2012, projected near top of Horizon League
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
February 13, 2013
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
A late season collapse swept the Raiders off the diamond in 2012 and sent them home with unfinished business. Projected to win the Horizon League last year, everything went according to plan for Wright State (37-21, 20-10) until the end of May. The Raiders were swept by Milwaukee in their final... Read more »
Men’s tennis off to hot start
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
February 7, 2013
Filed under Sports
A 1-2 start to the season didn’t discourage the men’s tennis team. Picked to finish third in the Horizon League on the heels of an 18-5 (7-0) campaign in 2012, the Raiders dropped their season-opener at Michigan State on Jan. 12 before making amends with a win over Duquesne on Jan. 19. But... Read more »
Men’s basketball plans blackout for Saturday
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
January 23, 2013
Filed under Sports
When Wright State hits the Nutter Center court against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday, fans will experience more than an ordinary game. The Raiders (14-5) have been lights out at home this season (8-0) and look to continue that theme with their annual blackout game. WSU’s marketing department will... Read more »
Men’s basketball takes the Horizon League by storm
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
January 12, 2013
Filed under Sports
Every game is an opportunity to silence the critics. As the wins mount for the 2012-13 Raiders, those critics are becoming believers. Picked to finish near the bottom or last in the Horizon League preseason polls, Wright State (13-4, 4-0) instead sits first in the conference as March Madness looms.... Read more »
Raiders tame Panthers for first 2-0 start since 2007-08
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
November 14, 2012
Filed under Sports
When the final buzzer sounded, Wright State Head Coach Billy Donlon left the court disappointed. Even a commanding win did little to satisfy the 35-year-old coach. WSU defeated Eastern Illinois 56-44 in front of a crowd of 806 at EIU’s Lantz Arena Tuesday. The Raiders overcame a slow start to earn... Read more »
Jerran Young’s acrobatics help WSU soar past Central State in exhibition
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
November 6, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The men’s basketball team used a second-half scoring surge to pull past Central State in a 78-56 exhibition win at the Nutter Center on Friday. Junior forward AJ Pacher led the team with 16 points and eight rebounds, and looked every bit the go-to post player Head Coach Billy Donlon wants.... Read more »
A Day in the Life of an Equipment Manager
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
October 23, 2012
Filed under Sports
He wanted to stay connected to sports anyway he could, even if that goal required him to take an unglamorous position within the athletic department. But something happened in the process: Nolan O’Meara came to love his job. O’Meara, a freshman Athletic Training major, works as an equipment room... Read more »
Raider Insider with Athletic Director Bob Grant
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
September 6, 2012
Filed under Sports
As the fall sports season takes shape, a familiar name within the Horizon League is absent: the Butler Bulldogs. In May, the school announced it would join the Atlantic 10 conference for the fall of 2013. But later that month, Athletic Director Barry Collier announced the school's immediate departure... Read more »
Men’s soccer looks to improve on 2011 success
Joe Kennard, Sports Editor
August 30, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The men’s soccer team defied the odds to make last year’s Horizon League championship game. But Head Coach Bryan Davis isn’t satisfied with second place. Wright State (11-7-2) dropped the final to Loyola 1-0 in overtime on Nov. 13. It was the Raiders’ first appearance in a conference championship... Read more »
Raiders season comes to an end after early HL tournament losses
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 31, 2012
Filed under Sports
Joe Kennard Sports Writer kennard.8@wright.edu Chicago is called the Windy City, but the only thing that blew away this past weekend was the Raiders’ season. Wright State (37-21) expected to be playing long into June, but those plans were erased after an early exit from the Horizon League tournament. The... Read more »
Youth a common characteristic for soccer teams upcoming seasons
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 31, 2012
Filed under Sports
Joe Kennard Sports Writer kennard.8@wright.edu Men’s Soccer Their Cinderella run ended in heartbreak, but the Raiders stopped grieving long ago. When Wright State took the field for the Horizon League championship on Nov. 13, their season ended with a 1-0 overtime loss to Loyola. For a team... Read more »
Raiders regain marginal lead after series win over Youngstown State
Joe Kennard, sports writer
May 16, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
With three games left in the season, Wright State finds itself in familiar territory: first place in the Horizon League. A weekend sweep of Youngstown State pushed the Raiders (36-16 overall, 20-7 in league play) one game ahead of Valparaiso in the conference. In game one against the Penguins, the... Read more »
Raiders looking forward to next season after dissapointing year
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 16, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Wright State’s season ended with a doubleheader split against Illinois-Chicago on Saturday, but Head Coach Lynn Curylo is already thinking ahead. “The biggest focus right now is we’re looking for ways to come back and stay healthy,” said Curylo. “We just had way too many injuries this season.... Read more »
Star basketball player leaving after two years at Wright State
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 16, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
Sometimes the grass isn’t greener on the other side—it’s blue. Julius Mays announced on Sunday that he’ll leave Wright State for the bluegrass of Kentucky. Mays transferred to WSU in 2010 after spending two seasons buried in North Carolina State’s rotation. After sitting out the 2010-11 campaign,... Read more »
Raiders remain on top of Horizon League after series win over Butler
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 7, 2012
Filed under Sports
Joe Kennard Sports Writer kennard.8@wright.edu When Michael Schum takes the mound, good things happen. But the Raiders’ All-American closer blew a rare save in the series opener against Butler on Friday. “We didn’t close it out,” said Head Coach Rob Cooper. “Michael Schum has been unbelievable... Read more »
Tennis teams end seasons with early losses in Horizon League Tournament
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
May 7, 2012
Filed under Sports
Joe Kennard Sports Writer kennard.8@wright.edu Their seasons took different paths but ended up with the same finish: a loss in the Horizon League tournament. For the Raider men, their 4-0 loss to Cleveland State in the semi-finals capstoned an 18-5 season. They had high expectations after securing... Read more »
Raiders clinch Horizon League Title with victories over weekend
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 30, 2012
Filed under Sports
Joe Kennard Sports Writer kennard.8@wright.edu An atmosphere of celebration filled the court Sunday. With their sweep of Youngstown State and Cleveland State, the Raiders (18-4, 7-0) captured the first regular season title and number one seed in program history after an unbeaten run through the... Read more »
Golf places eighth in tune up for Horizon League Tournament
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 30, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
When the Raiders hit the tee at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational over the weekend, they didn’t know what to expect. They left with more questions than answers heading into next week’s Horizon League tournament. “It was a little disappointing,” said senior Jordan Higgins. “We didn’t play... Read more »
Despite slow start to season, Lady Raiders make way into postseason
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 30, 2012
Filed under Sports
At times, the Raiders looked lost, but they found direction late in the season and clinched one of the last spots in the Horizon League tournament. While Wright State’s record (10-12, 4-4) doesn’t qualify as a success, Head Coach Sean McCaffrey cares only about the end result. For a team that started... Read more »
Win on Senior Day propels men to top spot in Horizon League
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 22, 2012
Filed under Sports
Martin Arguello waited a year for a rematch with Green Bay’s Paul Swanson. That opportunity arrived Saturday as Arguello beat his rival 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 on Senior Day and propelled Wright State to the top of the Horizon League. “It’s pretty significant on many different layers,” said Head Coach... Read more »
Raider Insider with Sean McCaffrey
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 22, 2012
Filed under Sports
Sean McCaffrey has been the Head Coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams since Sept. 24, 2008. Last year, he was named Wright State’s Co-Coach of the Year. Before coming to WSU, he coached at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire for five years. He’s also spent time coaching high school... Read more »
Baseball continues strong play with series win over Milwaukee
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 22, 2012
Filed under Sports, Top Stories
The 14 game win streak came to an end on Sunday. But the loss didn’t prevent Wright State from winning the series against Milwaukee. The Raiders opened game one on Friday the 13th and the start resembled a horror movie. Starter Lee Valencheck gave up 10 hits and seven runs in 4.2 innings and left... Read more »
Blowout victories over Youngstown State put Raiders in good position
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 22, 2012
Filed under Sports
When the scoreboard flashed 32 at the end of the night, head coach Rob Cooper couldn’t believe what he saw. “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of something where we scored 32 runs,” said Cooper. “It was just one of those things where we had really good at bats and the score ended up... Read more »
Men’s tennis responds with win after suffering loss to Louisville
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 22, 2012
Filed under Sports
Most teams respond to a decisive loss with denial, anger or doubt. But Wright State isn’t like most teams. After losing every singles and doubles match in straight sets to Louisville (15-8) on Thursday, the Raiders (15-4) stayed confident. “It’s a big school and it was their senior day, so there... Read more »
Women’s tennis beats Oakland but struggles in loss to rival Butler
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
April 20, 2012
Filed under Sports
A split last week continued an inconsistent season for the Raiders. The team played strong in a 6-1 win over Oakland on Friday. Alex Bastock, Masha Peresetsky, Amy Nini and Chelsea Girgash all won their matches in straight-sets. Liz Steingass did the same over Oakland’s Abbey Bates, but won 6-0, 6-0—a... Read more »
WSU baseball picked to win the Horizon League in preseason poll
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
February 15, 2012
Filed under Sports
Wright State achieved overwhelming success in 2011, but the team moved on long ago. "Last year's over," manager Rob Cooper said. "You can take experience from it, you can take learning experiences and different things like that, but we're not in last year right now." Cooper, the Horizon League... Read more »
Annual trip gives students a chance to travel in style
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
January 25, 2012
Filed under Sports
It's called "Indiana's Basketball Cathedral" and buses loaded with Wright State students will journey there next Wednesday. The seventh annual Bus to Butler trip allows students to visit the historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Participants ride in style with the help of charter buses and receive... Read more »
Alumni to host pre-game rally
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
January 2, 2012
Filed under Sports
It's time to get rowdy because Butler's coming to town. Before the men's basketball team takes the court against Butler at 7 p.m. Friday, the Student Alumni Association will hold the Beat Butler Bash. "It's a free event for all students, faculty, staff and alumni," Student Alumni President Dan... Read more »
The bounty of Raider country
Joe Kennard, Sports Writer
September 3, 2011
Filed under Sports
The reformed Raider Rowdies offers free membership and prizes to students that attend Wright State athletic events. In the past, the Raider Rowdies promoted school spirit, while another organization--the Raider Pack--rewarded members for going to games. This summer, the two programs combined. "We... Read more »