OAKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATHLETIC HISTORY

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   Oakland Community College began an athletic program in 1966 when the President's Council approved the recommendation.  The Auburn Hills campus fielded teams in Men's Cross Country, Men's Basketball, Men's Swimming, Men's Golf and Men's Tennis.  The Highland Lakes Campus fielded teams in Men's Cross Country, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf and Men's Tennis.   The first Intercollegiate athletic contest was in September of 1966 and was a cross country meet between the Auburn Hills and Highland Lakes Campus.  In the beginning both campuses had separate teams. The Highland Lakes team wont the Region XII cross country title in 1966.  Both OCC campuses were accepted into the Michigan Community and Junior College Athletic Conference (MCJCAC) in the July of 1967. In 1967, both campuses dropped Men Tennis.    In 1968, the Orchard Ridge Campus also joined in with athletic teams.  The Campus sponsored teams in Men's Cross Country, Men's Basketball and Men's Golf. The Orchard Ridge Campus first athletic event was March 8, 1968 and was a cross country meet with the other two campuses.  In June of 1969, baseball was added to all three campuses bringing Highland Lakes to four sports, Auburn Hills to five and Orchard Ridge to four sports.

    In 1969, Orchard Ridge officially became a member of the MCJCAC and was placed in the Central Division, while Highland Lakes and Auburn Hills were placed in the Eastern Division.  On February 6th, the Athletic-Intramural Council approved wrestling as a fifth sport at the Highland Lakes Campus.

    In October of 1970 the Highland Lakes Cross Country Team won the MCJCAC Championship for the first time. The Cross Country team won 11 consecutive Eastern Conference Championships.  In February of 1971 the Highland Lakes Basketball team also won the MCJCAC Championship, along with the Eastern Conference title.   Ice Hockey was approved as a fifth sport at fifth sport at the Orchard Ridge Campus.  On May 22, 1972 the Orchard Ridge Golf team won the NJCAA Region XII Golf meet for the first time and finished 10th at the NJCAA National Meet.   Also in June of 1972, the MCJCAC changes it's name to the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA).

    In March of 1973, the Orchard Ridge Ice Hockey team won the Midwest College Hockey Association Championship in it's first year of competition.  In May, the Orchard Ridge Golf team won it's second straight Region title and extended it's dual meet winning streak to 54 matches.   In June of 1973, budget restraints force each campus to cut one sport.  Auburn Hills dropped golf, Highland Lakes dropped wrestling and Orchard Ridge dropped hockey.   OCC also petitioned the MCCAA for probationary status for one year because all three campuses were below the five sport minimum. 

    In March of 1974, Sherry Spencer became the first OCC women to score points at the NJCAA National swimming meet.  In May of 1974, OCC was represented by the first co-ed varsity sport.   When the Highland Lakes Tennis team competed in the Eastern Conference.  The six women, five man team finished 4-5.  In June of 1974, the Orchard Ridge golf team won it's third cosecutive Region title.

    In July of 1974, the Board of Trustees of Oakland Community College approved a reorganization of the athletic program.  Due to budget restrictions the College adopted a college-wide program, that is still in effect today.  The nine sports under the new plan were: Men's Cross Country, Women's Volleyball, Men's Basketball, Ice Hockey, Swimming, Men's Bowling, Baseball, Golf and Tennis.  In March of 1975, the men's bowling team won the MCCAA title in their first season of competition.  In May of 1975, the Men's Baseball team won the title for the first time in school history.

    In July of 1975, OCC added Women's Bowling and Women's Tennis to the list of sports at OCC.  In January of 1976, OCC President, Dr. Joseph E. Hill, announced that Auburn Hills and Highland Lakes Campus would each build gymnasiums and that Orchard Ridge will build a gymnasium and a pool.  In March of 1976, the women's bowling team won the state title in their first season.  In May of 1976, the OCC golf team won the Region title with a record low total of 600 for 26 holes.  In June of 1976, Oakland Community College won the MCCAA All-Sports Trophy for the first and only time.  Hockey was dropped as a sport by the college.  Women's softball was also added for the 1976-77 school year.

    In March of 1977, OCC won it's first state championship in Men's Basketball.  In June of 1977, men's and women's bowling were dropped as sports and women's basketball was added, leaving OCC with 11 sports.  In May of 1978, Judi Stiff won the Region XII women's tennis individual title for OCC.  In June of 1978, the Oakland Community College Cross Country team was honored as being the number one academic team in the nation. 

    In May of 1979, OCC added Men's soccer (club), Women's Cross Country, and reintroduced men's and women's bowling.  In November of 1979, the women's cross country team, in it's first year of competition, finished ninth at the NJCAA National Meet. 

    In May of 1980, OCC dropped Women's Volleyball and elevated men's soccer to varsity status.  The OCC soccer team tied for the MCCAA title in it's first and only varsity season.  Lisa Cockerill became the second women's tennis player to win the Region XII individual title.   Due to budget cuts, OCC dropped the following sports: Men's and women's bowling, men's and women's swimming, men's soccer and men's tennis. 

   In May of 1982, OCC women's softball team won the Eastern Conference for the first time in school history and the Golf team won the Region title as well.

    In May of 1983, baseball was dropped as a sport and men's tennis was added in it's place.  In March of 1986, the Oakland CC Basketball team finished third at the first ever NJCAA Division II National tournament. 

    In March of 1987, the Oakland Community College men's basketball team won the NJCAA Division II Basketball title, the only national title won by the school. The team also won the Region and conference titles that season.  Carson Butler was named MVP of the National Tournament.  In the fall of 1988, women's volleyball is added to the list of sports offered by OCC.  During the 1988-89 season, OCC finished fourth in the All-Sports trophy race. 

    During the 1991-92 school year OCC did not field a men's or women's tennis team.  Both sports returned the following season.  In July of 1994, Pin Ryan, the first and only athletic Director announces his retirement.  Steve Ogg is named athletic director.  In the summer of 1995, Don Roehl replaces Steve Ogg as Athletic Director.  In November of 1995, Tod Hess is named sports information director.  While OCC, has had SID's in the past, Hess travels with all teams and does stats and releases for teams. 

    In May of 1996, OCC drops men's tennis and adds men's soccer as a club sport.  In September of 1996, Don Roehl steps down and Bernie Little is named Athletic Director.  Also in 1996, OCC has two All-Americans in the spring of 1996 Kelly Rose is named second team All-American for her record setting year in softball, while in the fall Corey Meehan earns first team All-American Honors in cross-country.

    In 1997, Oakland CC has another All-American when Pete Clinton finishes in the top five at the Division II Golf Nationals to earn first team All-American Honors.  During the 1998-99 season women's basketball season Paula Wesa becomes just the second OCC women's basketball player to be named All-American.  Wesa earned 2nd team All-American status averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game.

    In 2000, Shelly Vickery, becomes the first person to earn All-American Honors in track and field in nine years and the first women to earn track All-American honors in school history.  

    In 2002, the OCC softball team won it's 13th MCCAA Eastern Conference title and the won its' first District title to qualify for the National Tournament.  This is the first time in school history that softball has qualified for Nationals.  The Lady Raiders go 2-2 and tie for 5th place in the Nation.  Toni Salo earns 2nd Team All-American Honors, becoming the forth softball player ever to earn such honors.  Also in 2002, former OCC volleyball coach Mike Lindstrom passed away.  Lindstrom had the most wins and coached the most years of any volleyball coach in OCC history.   Finally, former NBA, Michigan and Pontiac Central standout Campy Russell was named coach of the Men's Basketball team.  Russell was an All-Star with the Cavaliers.