And away we go

Mastodon tracks

IPFW senior Theresa McHugh and freshman Rachel Dincoff have earned spots at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Championships, which begins May 23 in Greensboro, N.C.Thursday

Softball players honored

IPFW junior Ashleigh Bousquet and sophomore Larissa Franklin were named to the Summit League Softball Academic All-League team, as voted on by the schools’ faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors.Wednesday

IPFW lands in Louisville regional

The IPFW softball team will head to Louisville, Ky., for the opening round regional in the NCAA tournament.Sunday

If the freezing air doesn't do it, then the fact that IPFW is opening its basketball practice Friday should make you realize that winter is almost here.

The Mastodons begin practice Friday for the 2009-10 season, and if there is a year in which IPFW could make a name for itself, maybe this is it.

The consensus around the Summit League is that Oakland will be loaded, and should win the regular season title. But IPFW could make some noise, particularly if 6-foot-6 forward Deilvez Yearby can do this season what he did last.

He was the Summit League's 6th Man of the Year with his 9.1 points and 6 .3 rebounds per game. But it was Yearby, remember, who was dominating in IPFW's win over Oral Roberts last year with a 20-point, 10-rebound, 7-block performance.

The only starter IPFW lost from last year's 13-17 team was David Carson. Those returning are guards Ben Botts, Nick Daniels and Zach Plackemeier, and center Trey McCorkle.

Could be a good year ... or at least better.