Mav sports year in review: A year of excitement

As the school year ends, staff writer Aaron Young looks into the biggest highlights of the season

Aaron Young
Staff Writer

With the school year winding down and student’s hitting the books for finals, it’s time to look back at what transpired this year in Maverick sports.

Football was one of the biggest highlights this season, as they had an undefeated regular season heading into the NCAA playoffs.

The team had a deep run into the playoffs, which included victories against CSU Pueblo and Tarleton State at home, before facing Ferris State in the semi-finals. Unfortunately, their season ended at the hands of the Bulldogs as they lost at home 42-25.

From football to swimming, the swim team had some success in the spring as they placed first in the UW-Stevens Point Invite. They would then go on to defeat the MSU Moorhead Dragons 163-125 in their last meet of the year. 

During the NSIC championships the swim team would finish second behind St. Cloud State, where history was made as sophomore Lily Borgenheimer set a school and NSIC record in the 200 breast-stroke with a time of 2.12.78.

The men basketball team also continued their success in the spring, while the women would struggle throughout.

The women’s basketball team began the year off rough with a five-game losing streak but ended their season with a three-game winning No. 2 St. Cloud State in the NSIC tournament. 

As for the men’s basketball team, they started out their year with a three-game winning streak. Highlights include a massive victory against Southwest Minnesota State 102-71 and a thriller with the Dragons of MSU Moorhead, 88-87.

However, the Mavs basketball team’s season came to an unfortunate end when they faced the Beavers of Bemidji State, losing 66-56 in the first round of the NSIC playoffs before losing to the eventual D-II champions, the Northwest Missouri State Cougars. 

As for the women’s tennis team, after an abrupt end to their fall semester, they would win three out of four in the start of February before ending on a rough note losing to UMD in a close one, 3-2. 

The men’s baseball team has had a successful spring year starting out with two wins against Arkansas-Monticello. Throughout the year, they are 8-3 at home and 15-2 on the road. 

Junior outfielder Jordan Hart made history early on in the season after eclipsing most home runs by a Maverick in a career, which was originally 29 home runs by previous holder Josh Smith. The team is currently on a five-game winning streak and hopes to continue their success moving forward. 

Even more impressive is the women’s softball team, who are currently on a 13 game-winning streak. 

Senior catcher Cori Kennedy has been the MVP of the team so far leading with five home runs and 27 RBI’s on the season. 

Pitcher Lexi Schoper is also having a fantastic year, with a record of 10-3 having struck out 54 batters. 

Perhaps the team with the biggest success so far this season has been the Maverick men’s hockey. 

Having only lost one game at home, they were dominant throughout. They took on Bowling Green in the WCHA championship, defeating them and advancing to the Frozen Four. Making it to their fifth straight Frozen Four appearance, the Mavs season ended with a loss at the hands of Providence. As for the women, they had their fair share of success but the season ended with consecutive losses to Ohio State.

As for the golf teams, the women went back-to-back, winning the NSIC championship, whereas the men would finish fourth. Then there was the Track and Field team, where both the men and women’s teams dominated throughout the year, placing first in every invite, which is a milestone for sure. 

It sure has been a whirlwind of a year for all the Maverick sports teams, and good luck to all of them for the remainder of the year.