Saints honor Fall sports success and look towards Homecoming

LIBERAL, Kan.- During halftime of the Seward County Community College, men's basketball against Northwest Kansas Technical College the Saints athletic department honored the fall sports success. The banners that will be in the Greenhouse were presented to the 2019 Lady Saints Volleyball, Men's Tennis players Gabe Ortiz, Sander Jans, and Karl Wurth also recognized.

Last fall the Lady Saints had a historical year that resulted in an NJCAA National Runner-Up finish. During the season the Lady Saints received the No. 1 ranking for the first time in program history they finished the year with a 31-3 overall record and a 16-0 regular-season conference record. They won the Jayhawk West for the fourth year in a row and claimed the 2019 Plains District Regional champion for the second year in a row. The best finish in school history for the program will now be on display in the Greenhouse for all to see.

Gabriel Ortiz finished the fall of 2019 with an ITA singles championship and for back to back years the Seward men's tennis program has claimed this honor. The previous year it was Nicholas Russett that claimed the 2018 ITA Singles title. Ortiz received an at large bid into the ITA National tournament and faced off against teammate Sander Jans in the championship match. With the victory, Ortiz earned a birth into the ITA Division 1 National Tournament in New Port Beach, California. Ortiz had a first-round victory over Clevland State's Nick Mostardi, and for the first time in program history to win at the tournament.

Karl Wurth and Sander Jans were also recognized for their ITA cup doubles runner-up finish. The two claimed the central regional championship in Iowa to receive an automatic bid into the ITA Cup in the fall. Sander Jans received his ITA Nationa runner-up banners for both the doubles and singles titles that he claimed in the fall. Jans will also have his doubles championship banner hanging in the Greenhouse from the 2018 season.