A look back at the summer

Baseball:

Kent State sports rarely receive national headlines, but the Golden Flashes baseball team was recognized by every major sports outlet in the country during its deep run in the College World Series in June.

The Flashes defeated the University of Florida on their way to being one of the final eight teams in the tournament. A perennial powerhouse, the Gators have appeared in eight CWS tournaments in the team’s history. 2012 marked the first CWS appearance for the Flashes.

Golf:

The Kent State men’s golf team also enjoyed a successful summer by finishing tied for eighth at the NCAA National Championships.

Junior Corey Conners led the team with -1 for the tournament — good enough to tie for fourth place in the tournament that featured more than 150 golfers.

Basketball:

Summer is usually a quiet period for college basketball, but two former Golden Flashes made local headlines by signing professional contracts overseas.

2011 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Michael Porrini signed with Gelisim Koleji Spor Kulubu of the Turkish Basketball Second League in Izmir, Turkey

Ten days later, Justin Greene agreed to terms with Nova Hut Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Greene has the second-most rebounds and blocks in the history of Kent State basketball.

A look ahead at the fall

Football:

The 2011 Kent State football team saw major late-season improvement under the guidance of first-year head coach Darrell Hazell. After nearly of year of preparation, this season’s Flashes feel they are more than ready to take the Mid-American Conference by storm.

When asked about what fans can expect from the Flashes this year, players and coaches offered a variety of different opinions and viewpoints. However, among those responses, one common theme was present: the team’s quest for a MAC Championship.

Spencer Keith, senior quarterback: “I want to lead this team to a MAC championship, and I feel like we have the team and the players to do it.”

Roosevelt Nix, senior defensive lineman: “MAC Title and bowl game. That’s what I expect.”

Field Hockey:

The Golden Flashes Field Hockey team is looking to gel as early as possible with a roster that features nine new freshmen to the squad.

Andrea Camut, the only senior on the team, said this season will be a constant process of learning and growth.

“I’m looking forward to growing as a team overall,” Camut said. “We have a lot of talent even though we are really young when we all come together we are really good.”

Soccer:

The 2011-12 soccer team finished with 12 wins — the second most in the team’s history.

The team was also named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Top 25.

The Golden Flashes have started the 2012 season 2-0-1.

Contact Grant Engle at [email protected], Tim Dorst at [email protected], Aja Phillips at [email protected] and Erika Brun at [email protected].