Everything came up roses for the Bluffton University football team on Senior Day as the Beavers walloped Manchester 31-7 on a beautiful Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. Bluffton improved to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the Heartland Conference, while the Spartans dipped to 2-7 and 2-4 in the HCAC.
The Spartans were 29 seconds away from going scoreless when they avoided the shutout with a two-yard touchdown pass that made the final score 31-7.
The Bluffton boys cross country team finished a solid 12th in the Div. III state meet at Memorial Park and Fortress Obetz Saturday morning, November 6.
Pirate junior Landon Armstrong came in 15th out of 182 runners with a personal-best time of 16:16.1 to pace the Bluffton harriers and be presented on the podium.
Armstrong consistently made up ground amid the big field as the race wore on. He was 25th after 1.1 miles (5:02 split) and 18th at the 2.1-mile mark (10:22.3). He then passed three runners in the final mile to come home 15th.
The Bluffton University women's swimming team was back in action on Friday, Nov. 5. at Franklin.
Senior Brooke Kleman (Glandorf/Ottawa-Glandorf) etched her name at the top of the swimming record book for three events. She collected two fourth place finishes and a fifth place in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.91). Her fourth-place showings came in record-breaking times for the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.85) and the 100-yard backstroke (1:11.59).
The Bluffton University women's basketball team was rewarded for all of its work during the crazy season that was 2020-21 when the Heartland Conference blind draw saw the Beavers pull out the golden ticket, a #1 seed for the HCAC tournament. Bluffton won 12 of its first 13, sandwiching six wins on each side of a December 12 loss at Transylvania. The Beavers made their 8th straight trip to the Heartland Conference tournament with all but three of those resulting in semifinal appearances.
The Bluffton High School boys soccer team had its season ended by a 4-0 semifinal game with Ottawa Hills in the Div. III regionals at Tiffin's Frost-Kalnow Stadium on a chilly Wednesday night, November 3.
The Pirates finished the season 15-4-2. They were ranked ninth in the last Div. III state poll.
Ottawa Hills improved to 13-2-4 with the victory, and the Green Bears advanced to the regional finals Saturday vs. Ottoville. The Big Green beat Kidron Central Christian 1-0 Wednesday night.
