D3 College Programs - Ohio - UPDATE How about D2?

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Updating - After some conversations with DD and others, she is also interested in D2 schools.

I know their workouts are more demanding than D3, would you say they are much much greater? Athletic money is always desirable, although some kind of academic money is a near cert for this kid.

What D2 schools / programs do you like? Academics aren't really a problem as she plans on a standard business major, nothing special like pharmacy or PT etc.
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What are the top D3 softball programs in Ohio - or even neighboring states?

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Maybe I've answered my own question - I found these rankings - with 3 Ohio schools listed

1 DePauw 24-7-1 27-8-1
2 Alma 26-4 33-6
3 Baldwin-Wallace 22-9 27-9
4 Ohio Northern 23-9 26-12
5 Trine 22-11 27-11
6 John Carroll 20-10 26-12
7 Hope 18-11-1 25-15-1
8 Adrian 23-7 35-7

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

I think Mount Union is up there. normally Ohio Northern is above BW. Trine is really good and Depauw is also.Trine and Depauw are not Ohio schools. John Carroll is up and coming just in recent years.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

DD has a friend at John Carroll - I think I will recommend she check that out as well BW. What about programs not listed above? Anyone have any first- or second-hand knowledge or opinions? We visited Wooster and that place is seriously pretty. I think Mt. Union is not quite far enough away for her taste!

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Muskingum is perennially a very strong program.
2001 National Champions.
Had won conference like 8 time in a row.

 

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Bluffton University. Should have a really strong year and been typically strong. Conference Champions in 2010.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Sue ... daughter playing her 4th year at BW, where she is a captain. Either I or she would be glad to give you or your daughter more info about the program there, and also have some opinions on most of the other schools in Ohio after 4 years as well. Message me here or e-mail me at jeffrey.baker@averydennison.com.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Ohio has some a tremendous academic small colleges at the D3 level that will provide your dd with a superior education.

D3 Softball is about much more than mere W/L records. At this level they are playing because they want to do so. Take a look at the number of seniors that are still playing in comparison to how many started. If only a few of the original players remain, they are telling you that they have found something better to do and that softball at this institution is a waste of their time. If the majority are still playing then they are telling you that they are finding effort rewarding. This single stat is much more telling than a win/loss record in D3.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Muskingum is perennially a very strong program.
2001 National Champions.
Had won conference like 8 time in a row.

You are correct, but keep in mind that they have a new coach now. Coach Newberry did wonders for that program because she was there for a loooooong time. Her assistant coach Kari Hoying, took over the program and could very well continue the tradition. But that is still to be determined...

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Look at Dennison University. Great softball program and one of the top academic schools in the area.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Thanks for reach-out and the good advice! Any other input very much welcomed!

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Fairman ... agree that its about much more than win/loss records. Fit of the school particularly for the academic area of interest is always most important. Coaching staff is another. While the # of seniors still playing is one thing to look at I guess, there can be many reasons for that. A big one is how have they done in bringing in new talent recently vs. several years ago.

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

DD thought of academics first softball second, Capital University in Columbus, Ohio was the perfect fit. GO CAP!!!

 

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Re: D3 College Programs - Ohio

Transylvania University in Lexington, KY is a great D3 school with a great softball tradition as well as a new great young coach.

http://www.transysports.com/news/2011/7/26/SB_0726110146.aspx

 

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There are 29 names on the University of Findlay softball roster. 15 are freshman.

 

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It really depends what your dd wants in a school and softball program more than the team's win/loss record. Mine looked for a small school close to home with a couple of majors that she is considering. It also helped that the softball roster is small, pitchers get an opportunity to hit if they earn it and freshmen get an opportunity to play if they earn it. She also knows several of the other recruits and current players.

 

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Her school choices should easily mesh with a good softball program - it's not like Ohio has a dearth of Universities. We are very fortunate in that.

I was looking for a mid-size school and I thought D2 would cover it, but there are some D2 that are the same size as Wittenberg, where her sister goes. That's D1. If anyone can easily tell me the difference that would be nice.

While win / loss is important, you are so right, it's not everything. Playing time and the ability to compete closely matters to her.

She will want to like the dorms, the coaches and the feel of the school too. So, it's not all softball, definitely! It just gives us a start in the college search. She also decides a lot based on the website. I've seen some very wonky school websites that tell me the school is behind the times. If anyone has an example that belies that, please let me know! I've seen broken links, no easy to find FAQ pages, and old graphics, bugs the heck out of both of us!

 

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Penn. has quite a few. A consideration for mom & pop is if she's a long distance away, it's tough to get to see her play. That went into the mix when DD was deciding.

Here's a list of National DII schools. You'll have to check which ones have softball programs, as not all do.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_Division_II_institutions#Ohio

This might also help?

http://web1.ncaa.org/memberLinks/links.jsp

 

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Thank you!!! If we do look at PA - you are right, we don't want to have to drive all the way across that big state!

 

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Sue ... I don't understand all the "rules" but technically the size of the school doesn't matter ... it doesn't determine what division a school is. It's all about the number of scholarships they are willing to offer for their athletes. Generally speaking, D1 schools are the largest schools, but you will see some smaller D1 schools. D1 schools can offer the most athletic scholarships.

Also, know that all of the schools in a conference are always the same division. D2 and D3 schools you really can't tell at all by the size. You mentioned Wittenberg which is actually D3. Findlay isn't any larger than most of the schools in the OAC but it is D2 while the OAC is D3. D2 schools can offer some athletic scholarships but not as many as D1.

D3 schools can not offer any athletic scholarships. Many people will tell you that so and so got a "full ride" athletic scholarship at a D3 school, but the fact is a student gets no athletic money at a D3 school. Tuitions are generally higher at D2 and D3 schools, but so are academic scholarships.

It's confusing ... I know!