Muskingum to honor three OAC Championship teams at M-Club Breakfast

The Muskingum University Athletic Department will honor three Ohio Athletic Conference Championship teams at the M-Club Breakfast on Saturday, October 19, during Homecoming weekend. The event will recognize the 1979 Wrestling team, the 1989 Women's Basketball team, and the 1999 Volleyball team. The teams will also be recognized during halftime of the Muskingum vs. Baldwin Wallace football game. 

 

The 1979 Wrestling team went 11-1 overall and 9-0 in the OAC en route to winning the OAC Regular Season and OAC Tournament championships. The Muskies had seven wrestlers finish in the top three of their weight classes at the OAC Tournament, including Don Mason (158-pound) and Dean Turner (150-pound), who both won OAC championships in their respective weight classes. Mason, who was named the Phil Shipe award winner in the OAC for having the most pins, went on to finish seventh at the NCAA National Tournament to become Muskingum's first-ever wrestling All-American. Following the season, Head Coach Reverend Clifford Cain was named OAC Coach of the Year.

 

The 1989 Women's Basketball team was the OAC Regular Season and OAC Tournament champions and won the championship at the Atlantic Region in the NCAA Tournament. The Muskies ended the year with a 29-2 overall record and 16-0 mark in the OAC. The Muskies were the first basketball squad in OAC history, men or women, to go undefeated in 16 regular-season games and win the OAC Tournament in the same year. Following the season, Head Coach Donna Newberry was named OAC Coach of the Year. Muskingum's 29 wins still rank as the most wins in program history, and Kathy Lee (1,560 points) and Dee Ann Mell (1,321 points) concluded their Muskie careers as 1,000-point scorers. 

 

In 1999, the Volleyball team ended the season 40-4 overall and 8-0 in the OAC. The Muskies won the OAC Regular Season and OAC Tournament championships and won the NCAA Regional championship en route to finishing third in the NCAA Tournament. The 40 wins by the squad rank second all-time in program history. Following the season, Head Coach Elizabeth Zicha was named OAC Coach of the Year and Tachikara/AVCA Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. Annie Rome was named OAC Player of the Year and received Second Team All-American accolades.