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 | Facilities Capital University lays claim to having some of the finest NCAA Division III athletic facilities not only in Ohio, but also across the region and around the nation with The Capital Center. Since its completion in 2001, the 126,000-square-foot recreation and athletic facility supports successful existing programs and has allowed the university to pursue a variety of initiatives. The state-of-the-art facility counts among its amenities a 2,100-seat performance arena for basketball and volleyball, a multipurpose forum complete with an NCAA-regulation indoor track, a fitness center, classrooms, offices and the 2,500-seat Bernlohr Stadium. The football team and men's and women's soccer teams compete in Bernlohr Stadium, which features AstroPlay, a state-of-the-art playing surface. |
The men's and women's tennis squads occupy the Beck Tennis Courts on the south end of campus, while Clowson Field located a few blocks west of campus is home turf for baseball and softball contests. In the fall and spring, the men's and women's golf teams head out to take advantage of the opportunity to play on some of the finest courses in Central Ohio. |
Recreation and Intramurals Whether you are the type of person looking for an occasional workout or you and your friends are serious about playing that weekly basketball game, recreation and intramural sports have become a part of college life. Every student is encouraged to take advantage of the superb recreation and intramural sports programming that Capital provides. The Capital Center's 5,000 square feet of fitness center space includes the nation's leader in weight training equipment – Hammer Strength – along with a host of exercise bikes, Stairmasters and treadmills. The multipurpose forum within The Capital Center has four courts that can be set up for basketball, tennis and volleyball surrounded by a 200-meter track. Competitive intramural team sports like flag football, basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball and individual sports like tennis and aerobics are just a few examples of the numerous activities for students. |
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Football Volleyball Women's Soccer Men's Soccer Cross Country | Women's Basketball Men's Basketball Baseball Men's Golf Women's Golf | Softball Men's Tennis Women's Tennis Track and Field |
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This season, Capital University's volleyball team looks forward to defending its second Ohio Athletic Conference championship and maintaining its place as one of the region's top teams.
In recent history, the program has featured a two-time conference player of the year and last season's Academic All-American of the Year, all while winning a school-record 30 matches.
No one has won more games or coached volleyball longer at Capital than Pam Briggs. Entering her 12th season as head coach, her teams have advanced to the conference tournament in nine straight seasons and 10 of the last 11.
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Highlighted by a pair of Ohio Athletic Conference Championships in 1997 and 1999, OAC Tournament titles in 1998 and 1999 along with an NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999, few Capital teams have enjoyed more success over the last five seasons than the women's soccer program. The Crusaders have finished in the top four in the conference in six of the last seven seasons.
Dwight Burgess coaches the women's team, as well as the men's team and is the radio play-by-play voice of the Columbus Crew.
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The men's soccer team continues building its way into contention in the Ohio Athletic Conference after matching its highest win total in a decade last season.
Entering his fifth season, head coach Dwight Burgess has injected much-needed enthusiasm and instilled a sense of confidence. Burgess also is the head coach of the Capital women's soccer team and is the radio play-by-play voice of the Columbus Crew.
By far, the Crusaders will play their most competitive schedule ever in 2003. Twelve of the 20 teams on the schedule were regionally ranked at least once last season and three of those opponents ended last season ranked among the top 25 in the nation.
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Each year with the advent of fall, members of Capital's cross country team take to the beautiful tree-lined streets of Bexley to prepare for another season. Also benefiting from The Capital Center's indoor track and fitness center, Crusader runners have more opportunities than ever to get into the best condition possible.
Coach Damon Goodwin heads up both the men's and women's teams. From the area surrounding the campus to parks and courses throughout Ohio the Crusaders attend some of the state's top invitationals and meets.
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The winningest team in NCAA Division III in the 1990s, Capital was the first women's basketball team to win back-to-back Division III National Championships in 1994 and 1995. The Crusaders have won 10 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships and seven OAC Tournament titles, more than any other program. Capital has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 12 times and advanced to the national semifinals five times.
Head coach Dixie Jeffers is renowned as one of the game's great coaches. Her 20-year career ranks among the top-10 all-time in wins and winning percentage, and she shows no signs of slowing down.
Off the court the program has equally impressive numbers. For 14 consecutive seasons a Capital player has been on the Academic All-OAC First Team, five players have been selected as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and four players have been awarded NCAA post-graduate scholarships.
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Capital's men's basketball program continues to be one of the top teams in the region with a physical style of play and competitive schedule that is unmatched.
Head coach Damon Goodwin enters his 11th season with another talent-rich roster ready to get back an Ohio Athletic Conference title that he won two years ago and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
As exciting as the Crusaders are on the court, off the court the team maintains a cumulative grade point average above a 3.0.
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In just one season on the bench, head coach Greg Weyrich added 10 wins to the Capital baseball program's win total and instilled a new attitude for the Crusaders.
Aside from more wins, the program also got a needed boost with new outfield fencing, new dugout and clubhouse as part of more than $50,000 dollars in improvements made to Clowson Field, a few blocks west of campus.
Each season the team gets in shape – and escapes the cold weather – playing games in Florida and Georgia challenging teams from around the nation. After its southern swing, the team returns to campus to play one of the region's more competitive schedules.
Indoor practice facilities at The Capital Center allow the baseball program limitless opportunity for practice and conditioning.
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Capital's men's golf team plays on some of the finest golf courses in the region in its quest for an Ohio Athletic Conference Championship.
Head coach Jim Collins last season took his team to Palm Beach, Fla., over spring break last season for an opportunity to hone their games on the PGA National Golf Course.
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One of the fastest-growing collegiate sports in the nation is women's golf. Capital jumped on the bandwagon five years ago and the sport is on the fast track to success.
Capital also lays claim to having the only golfer to claim Ohio Athletic Conference Medalist honors two years in row as the conference's No. 1 player at the season-ending championship.
Playing on some of the region's top courses, head coach Pam Briggs has nurtured the Crusader program since its inception. Capital hosts a tournament that has grown to be a regular stop for most of the top Division III college teams in the region.
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Over the course of the last decade, the Capital University softball team has claimed three Ohio Athletic Conference titles and made three trips to the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Nan Payne has kept the Crusaders near the top of the OAC, winning 20 or more games in each of her six seasons as head coach.
Capital begins each season with a trip to Florida to take on some of the nation's top programs. Clowson Field, a few blocks west of Capital's campus, is the site of the team's home games.
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Winner of 2001's Ohio Athletic Conference title, Capital has had an athlete qualify for the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championships twice. The Crusaders have been ranked for two of the last three seasons in the regional rankings by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and have competed in the Rolex Small College Tennis Championships.
Home matches are played at the Beck Tennis Courts on the south end of campus. The Capital Center's multipurpose forum complements the Beck courts by housing four indoor tennis courts that provide space for off-season conditioning.
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Capital's women's tennis program continually features some of the Ohio Athletic Conference's best players on the court and best students in the classroom with a pair of All-OAC and Academic All-Americans on the squad.
Home matches are played at the Beck Tennis Courts on the south end of campus. The Capital Center's multipurpose forum complements the Beck courts by housing four indoor tennis courts that provide space for off-season conditioning.
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Capital's newest sport is one of its most exciting as the men's and women's track and field teams have turned heads all over Ohio.
In only its third year of existence, the Capital women's team finished second at the Ohio Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships after a fourth-place finish at the OAC Indoor Championships.
Not to be outdone, the men's program featured the OAC's top all-around field athlete at the OAC Outdoor Championships this past spring.
Both teams have the luxury of calling The Capital Center's fieldhouse home. The 56,000-square-foot facility contains an NCAA regulation indoor track that hosts college and high school track meets.