By Erin Moran

morane@findlay.edu

The University of Findlay (UF) Oilers athletic teams are getting national recognition this fall with several teams ranked within the top 25 in NCAA Division II. The football, volleyball, and women’s golf teams started their seasons strong with quick national poll spots, and are holding steady halfway through the season. UF’s football team made strides in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll with its impressive win against Walsh on Saturday, Oct. 4. This win secured them the No. 19 spot, moving up from No. 21. UF is one of 12 undefeated teams in the top 25.

The football team has demonstrated a strong showing this season with an undefeated record of 5-0. Findlay currently holds the top spot in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) football rankings.

“The team acknowledges that [the ranking] is there, but knows that we have work to do, and then we move on to the next game,” said Head Coach Kory Allen. “The belief in each other and not getting too high with the highs and too low with the lows is a big factor in success.”

“The team needs to continue to grow and be appreciative of the wins that we have stockpiled so far this year, but knows that we never want to stop growing, and we still want to continue to find the best version of ourselves as a team, and that is still out there,” Allen said.

After only the second loss of the season to Cedarville Oct. 4, the volleyball team dropped from No. 21 to No. 25 in the nation. The team was nationally ranked in the preseason poll and haven’t dropped from the top 25 all season. The women are currently the only G-MAC team in the NCAA Division II rankings.

“The ranking is something we are proud of, but not something the team is fixated on,” said Stephanie Smith, a sophomore on the volleyball team.

“The momentum of winning the G-MAC championship last season has helped the team want to continue our success and hold ourselves to a higher standard on and off the court,” said Smith.

The next poll will be released on Oct. 13, following two matches for the Oilers against Hillsdale, Oct. 10 and Northwood Oct. 11, which will affect where the women land next.

On the green, UF’s women’s golf team is currently ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II. This top ranking is a first in program history and came after the top finishes at both the Folds of Honor Challenge and Wayne State’s Warrior Invitational.

They were also ranked in the preseason at No. 4 and advanced from the Sept. 5 poll, moving up three places in just two weeks. The Oilers’ second-place finish at the Annual Gilda’s Club Laker Fall Invite might hurt their current ranking spot, but the dominating win at their home tournament this past week may balance it out.

The team’s consistency keeps its place among the elite teams secure. The next national golf ranking comes out Oct. 24, when the Oilers will see if any movement has been made.

As the new rankings are released in the coming weeks, the Oilers will be under observation to see if they can continue to climb and how long they can hold their top positions within the top programs in the country.