COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican University Athletic Department celebrated another successful season with their annual Banquet of Champions on Monday night at the Confluence Park and Recreation Dining Center in Columbus, Ohio .

The evening began with a welcome from Vice President for Student Development, Jamie Caridi, and an invocation from senior women's soccer player Cory Righter (Hilliard, OH). Dinner followed with the entire athletic department celebrating their successful seasons together.  more

Following the dinner and letter winner acknowledgements from the 14 varsity sports, the night concluded with the presentation of the Ohio Dominican Male and Female Senior Athlete of the Year awards.

On the women's side, representing the softball and basketball teams was Katalin Beck. A senior from Granville High School in Granville, Ohio, Beck is a four-year letter winner for the Panthers on the court and the diamond. Beck was an integral part of the basketball team, finishing her career third on the ODU all-time list of three-point shots made. On February 19^th of this year, she became just the 18^th player in ODU women's basketball history to surpass 1,000 career points. Beck's efforts on the court helped lead the Panthers to their fifth appearance in the NAIA National Championship Tournament this past season. She was named to the All-AMC South Second Team her senior season after receiving an honorable mention for the team the year before. On the softball field, Beck has been equally impressive. A career .323 hitter, Beck has been a consistent presence in the lineup for the Panthers during her career. She received an honorable mention for the All-AMC South team in 2007 and 2008 while being named to the NFCA NAIA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team in 2007. Beck also was named as her team's most valuable player that season.

As a four-time Academic Excellence Award winner, Beck has certainly drawn the respect and admiration of her respective coaches. "Katalin has shown her peers that being responsible is very important, whether in the classroom of the basketball floor," said women's basketball coach Nathan Bellman. Softball coach Marcella Vanlandingham continued the praise for Beck. "Katalin is the complete package when it comes to representing Ohio Dominican on the field, in the classroom and throughout the campus community," noted Coach Vanlandingham. "She is the epitome of what it means to represent Ohio Dominican and is one of the finest young women to ever wear the Black and Gold."

Representing the men's side, ODU recognized Nathan Hillerich. A senior linebacker from Groveport Madison High School in Groveport, Ohio, Hillerich has led the Panther football team in tackles each of his four seasons in the Black and Gold. He served as a team captain in the final three years of his ODU career. A four-year letter winner on the gridiron, Hillerich was named to the All-MSFA First Team in 2006 and 2007 and garnered an honorable mention for the team in 2005. In addition to his excellence on the field, Hillerich tackled his studies with similar commitment. Carrying a 3.216 grade point average, he was named to the MSFA All-Academic Team in 2006 and 2007 while earning the status of ODU Academic Excellence Award winner.

In addition to his on-field commitments, Hillerich has represented ODU's call to service exceedingly well. He helped to organize and lead his fellow football players in participating in the campus tree lighting ceremony in 2005 and 2006, and has participated in the football program's outreach to Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2007-08. Hillerich also assisted in the organization of the annual ODU Football Spring Food Drive .

"Nathan is a true servant leader. No task was too small for him to undertake," said Panther Head Coach Dale Carlson. "Nathan was not only the leader of the defensive unit, but led the whole team from 0-10 [in 2004] to 12-1, a MSFA championship, a berth in the NAIA Playoff Series, and a top six final national ranking."

COLUMBUS , Ohio – Defense dominated in the 4^th Annual ODU Black and Gold Spring Football Game that took place at Panther Field on Saturday.   The Ohio Dominican Black squad evened the series as they defeated the Gold Team, 28-24.   Each team in the spring exhibition game have won a total of two games in the annual football game that concludes the team's five-weeks of spring work-outs.

"I thought the defense would make some plays in the spring game," said head coach Dale Carlson.   "We divided the teams fairly equally and I believe that favors the defense.   "However, I was pleased that some of our younger players made some nice plays.   That is what spring practice is about, seeing the younger guys step up," adds Carlson."  more

The Panther offense that showed signs of greatness a year ago in the team's record setting season was overshadowed by a stingy defense on Saturday morning.   Out of the seven touchdowns scored in the game two came off of defensive turnovers.   Defensive back Dave Jenkins ( Akron, OH ) open the scoring for the Black Team as he bolted in from his safety position to intercept a pass from Nathan Sattler (Toledo, OH) and scampered 43 yards to pay dirt.   Another interception would lead to a score for the Black Squad as Paul Smith ( Liberty Center , OH ) snatched a Dan Grimsley ( Canton , OH ) pass and ran it in for a second score.

The offense finally got rolling in the second quarter as the Black Team's Tyler Purcell ( Franklin , OH ) broke through the defense for the games only rushing touchdown.   Billy Griffin ( Columbus , OH ) would also hook up with Josh Smart ( Englewood , OH ) for the Black Team's other TD.

The Gold would stage a comeback behind the right arm of freshman quarterback Dan Grimsley, who tossed two touchdowns.   Grimsley would hit wide receiver Stevie Williams ( Landover, MD ) for a score and then found tight end Kyle Reichelderfer ( Circleville, OH ).   Sattler of the Gold Squad also tossed a scoring strike to Heath Killiea ( Gahanna , OH ) for their final touchdown.   Mitch Croy ( Ottawa , OH ) connected on a 33-yard field goal.

"It was great to see the Gold Team come back and have a chance to win on the last possession.   The game was competitive and will serve as the catalyst to summer conditioning program," says Carlson.

Ohio Dominican will now set their sites on their season opener as they take on Marian College on August 30^th in Indianapolis , Indiana .   Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Dominican football team is coming off their best season in school history, a championship season, but that is all behind them now.   The excitement that has been building in anticipation of the 2008 season will reach a new crescendo with the annual spring game, set for this Saturday.   ODU will hold their 4^th Annual Black and Gold game on the ODU campus at Panther Field.   Kick-off is scheduled for 10 a.m.

The scrimmage will conclude the Panthers' last five weeks of spring football that the NAIA allows its member schools to participate in.   The Panthers have been practicing this spring three days a week for the last five weeks.     more

"I am excited about the challenges of the 2008 season and our 2008 schedule," said head coach Dale Carlson.   "The team has put the successful 2007 season behind them and they are focusing on the challenges that lay ahead this fall."

The ODU Gold Team is 2-1 in the spring exhibition game including last year's surprisingly low scoring 14-10 victory.

Admission to the spring game will be free with a small donation of a non-perishable or canned food items in conjunction with the ODU Football team's "Champions of Character" food drive initiative.     

The Panthers will open the 2008 season on the road as they travel to Marian, Indiana on Saturday, August 30^th to take on Marian College beginning at 2 p.m.  

COLUMBUS , Ohio – The Ohio Dominican Athletic Department has released the 2008 Football Schedule.  Please find the updated schedule on the Panthers athletic site Click Here.  The Panthers return to the gridiron this Saturday, April 26^th in the 4^th Annual Black and Gold game.   The spring exhibition game will conclude ODU's five weeks of spring work-outs.

Ohio Dominican's schedule features 10 regular season games leading up to the NAIA Football Championship Series which begins on November 22^nd.   The Panthers will be looking for their second straight conference crown and their first back-to-back playoff appearance in school history.  more

"We will need to come out of the gate quickly as we open the season in Indianapolis against conference foe Marian College," said head coach Dale Carlson.   "Not only is it the first game of the year, but a conference game as well.   What a way to start the 2008 season."   

ODU will open the season on August 30^th as they travel to Marian College in their conference and season opener.   Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.   After two non-conference games and a MSFA cross-over game against McKendree College, a team that is receiving votes in the spring polls, the Panthers travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana to take on the No. 4 ranked St. Francis Cougars.