CSCC Sports

Former Cougars move on without a Columbus State uniform

It has been nearly one year since the last time Columbus State has fielded a team in baseball, softball, and track. Athletes were stunned with the decision by college administrators. Their future playing for a team at Columbus State ruined.

For the baseball program, what was just several years ago considered one of the top non-scholarship teams in the country – gone, for good. No more swinging for the fences at Columbus State’s former baseball home of McCoy Park. It is the same for the women’s softball team. The track team had to hang up their running shoes at the same time.

In the summer of 2007, the college announced that it eliminating five varsity sports, however bumped two of those sports from division three to division two allowing them to offer scholarships to volleyball and golf team members.

Still however the decision the college made still stings to former members of these teams.

Andy Karpowicz was a member of the 2007 squad and is now playing at Northern Kentucky. Karpowicz was a first team all conference recipient last year, and went to high school at Bishop Ready.

“Baseball was the only reason I really choose to go to CSCC, well that and the Fire Science and EMS program. I really hope they bring back the program, because when they ended it the program was fastly moving up to what it used to be,” he said.

Karpowicz added that even though last year’s roster only had 12 members, the team had up to 35 members ready to join this year’s squad; a squad which does not exist.

Fellow first teamer and Columbus State Cougar Jared Cagnon are now playing for the Clark State Eagles in the OCCAC. He said he would have returned this season to participate with the team. However, Cagnon is more satisfied with playing baseball in Springfield.

“To be honest I prefer the coaching staff this year,” Cagnon said. “The coaches care about winning and the work ethic is much better. The coaches last year did absolutely nothing for us when we had asked them to help us find another place to play.”

Chelsey Boyd was a member of Columbus State’s softball squad. She was not upset with her coaching staff after the news was announced about the team. The primary reason she was given was the cost of team expenditures.

“Once I found out at the end of last season that softball was being removed as an athletic option, I immediately started looking for something to satisfy my drive,” Boyd said. “I found The Columbus Comets, a women's football team, and have stuck with it ever since.”

Columbus State’s golf team is still surviving at their new level. The team has had a tough go of things finishing last in a tournament at Lorain Community College, and in fourth at the tournament at Lakeland. The Cougar golf team is currently fourth out of five teams in the OCCAC with a tournament to play at Cincinnati State, followed by regional tournaments.