Manchester Alum Josh Hardman Hired as Wrestling Coach
April 21, 2022 at 12:20 a.m.
Manchester Alum Josh Hardman Hired as Wrestling Coach
By Dillon Bender-
A Manchester alum, Hardman returns to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons at perennial NCAA Division III power Wabash College located in Crawfordsville, Ind. Hardman spent two years as an assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach in 2019.
During his time with the Little Giants' program, Hardman helped develop one NCAA Division III National Champion, two National Runner-Ups, 15 All-Americans, 16 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, and the Elite 90 Champion in 2022. The Wabash program has garnered four Top 10 national placements in the past five seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2022. Additionally, Wabash earned three Top 15 NWCA Scholar Team rankings while Hardman was with the program.
Prior to his stint at Wabash, Hardman also served as an assistant coach at NAIA Morningside College in Iowa. Hardman coach six national qualifiers and two All-Americans while with the Mustangs.
Other coaching stops for Hardman include coaching two seasons at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University after serving for four seasons as the head wrestling coach at NAIA Dakota Wesleyan University. He also served as director of the sports management program at Dakota Wesleyan where he taught several different courses in addition to serving on the faculty development committee. Both stops saw Hardman's programs produce a combined 34 national qualifiers, eight All-Americans, and 14 NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
A 2000 graduate of Manchester, Hardman was a three-sport athlete during his time as a Spartan, competing in football, wrestling, and track & field. He was a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time All-American in wrestling and earned all-conference honors in football. He graduated with a bachelor's degree of science as a K-12 physical education major and earned a master's degree in sports pedagogy from South Dakota State in 2004. Josh and his wife Sheri, have two daughters.
Bats Breakthrough to Earn Split at Defiance
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Manchester University baseball team broke through for 12 runs in the second game of Tuesday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader, helping the Spartans to a doubleheader split at Defiance College.
The Yellow Jackets edged Manchester in a low scoring 4-2 affair in Tuesday's opener. The Black & Gold rebounded with 12 runs and12 hits in the second game of the day to earn a 12-11 victory in 11 innings to earn the split.
Manchester's win to end the day also snapped a nine-game skid for the Spartans.
Spartan Stats
The Spartan bats were limited to seven hits in the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Both Brady Perez (Rochester) and Mitchell Baker (Plainfield) had two hits apiece. Perez launched his seventh home run of the season in the 2nd inning.
Manchester's only other score came in the 8th inning when Zach White (Logansport) was able to score following an error in the field.
On the mound, Austin Kresl (Fort Wayne) worked 3 1/3 innings of relief and allowed just one hit while striking out six.
In the second game of the day, Manchester was able to stake itself out to a 4-0 lead. Cole Filson (Plymouth) got the Spartans on the scoreboard in the top of the 1st inning with an RBI double to right. The Black & Gold would then add three more runs in the 2nd inning. Zach Thomas, Mitchell Baker, and Zach White all drove in runs to put Manchester in front 4-0.
Defiance would take a brief lead after scoring five runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
Jared Holley (Wabash) would tie the game at 5 in the top of the 4th after hitting his first career collegiate home run.
The host Yellow Jackets would respond with another five-run inning to move back in front 10-8. DC would take a three-run lead after adding a single run in the home half of the 7th inning.
Manchester was able to rally to tie the game at 11 follow a three-run 8th inning. Rocco Hanes (Ossian) connected on a two-run double, and Cole Filson chipped in an RBI groundout.
The Black & Gold were able to go back in front in extra innings as an error in the field by Defiance plated the go ahead run in the 11th inning.
Carter Hooks (Rochester) pitched three innings of relief and shut the door in the 11th to earn his third win on the mound. Hooks struck out eight batters.
Cody Jackson (Indianapolis) also had a strong day on the mound in relief. Jackson threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out three.
In the second game of the day, four Spartans collected two or more hits with Jared Holley leading the way with three hits. Both Rocco Hanes and Cole Filson drove in three runs while Zach White added two RBI.
Up Next
Manchester will return to action tomorrow night, Wednesday April 20, with a single, nine-inning contest at NAIA member Indiana Tech.
First pitch from Fort Wayne is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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A Manchester alum, Hardman returns to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons at perennial NCAA Division III power Wabash College located in Crawfordsville, Ind. Hardman spent two years as an assistant coach before being elevated to associate head coach in 2019.
During his time with the Little Giants' program, Hardman helped develop one NCAA Division III National Champion, two National Runner-Ups, 15 All-Americans, 16 NWCA Scholar All-Americans, and the Elite 90 Champion in 2022. The Wabash program has garnered four Top 10 national placements in the past five seasons, including a runner-up finish in 2022. Additionally, Wabash earned three Top 15 NWCA Scholar Team rankings while Hardman was with the program.
Prior to his stint at Wabash, Hardman also served as an assistant coach at NAIA Morningside College in Iowa. Hardman coach six national qualifiers and two All-Americans while with the Mustangs.
Other coaching stops for Hardman include coaching two seasons at NCAA Division I South Dakota State University after serving for four seasons as the head wrestling coach at NAIA Dakota Wesleyan University. He also served as director of the sports management program at Dakota Wesleyan where he taught several different courses in addition to serving on the faculty development committee. Both stops saw Hardman's programs produce a combined 34 national qualifiers, eight All-Americans, and 14 NWCA Scholar All-Americans.
A 2000 graduate of Manchester, Hardman was a three-sport athlete during his time as a Spartan, competing in football, wrestling, and track & field. He was a three-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time All-American in wrestling and earned all-conference honors in football. He graduated with a bachelor's degree of science as a K-12 physical education major and earned a master's degree in sports pedagogy from South Dakota State in 2004. Josh and his wife Sheri, have two daughters.
Bats Breakthrough to Earn Split at Defiance
DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Manchester University baseball team broke through for 12 runs in the second game of Tuesday's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader, helping the Spartans to a doubleheader split at Defiance College.
The Yellow Jackets edged Manchester in a low scoring 4-2 affair in Tuesday's opener. The Black & Gold rebounded with 12 runs and12 hits in the second game of the day to earn a 12-11 victory in 11 innings to earn the split.
Manchester's win to end the day also snapped a nine-game skid for the Spartans.
Spartan Stats
The Spartan bats were limited to seven hits in the opening game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Both Brady Perez (Rochester) and Mitchell Baker (Plainfield) had two hits apiece. Perez launched his seventh home run of the season in the 2nd inning.
Manchester's only other score came in the 8th inning when Zach White (Logansport) was able to score following an error in the field.
On the mound, Austin Kresl (Fort Wayne) worked 3 1/3 innings of relief and allowed just one hit while striking out six.
In the second game of the day, Manchester was able to stake itself out to a 4-0 lead. Cole Filson (Plymouth) got the Spartans on the scoreboard in the top of the 1st inning with an RBI double to right. The Black & Gold would then add three more runs in the 2nd inning. Zach Thomas, Mitchell Baker, and Zach White all drove in runs to put Manchester in front 4-0.
Defiance would take a brief lead after scoring five runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning.
Jared Holley (Wabash) would tie the game at 5 in the top of the 4th after hitting his first career collegiate home run.
The host Yellow Jackets would respond with another five-run inning to move back in front 10-8. DC would take a three-run lead after adding a single run in the home half of the 7th inning.
Manchester was able to rally to tie the game at 11 follow a three-run 8th inning. Rocco Hanes (Ossian) connected on a two-run double, and Cole Filson chipped in an RBI groundout.
The Black & Gold were able to go back in front in extra innings as an error in the field by Defiance plated the go ahead run in the 11th inning.
Carter Hooks (Rochester) pitched three innings of relief and shut the door in the 11th to earn his third win on the mound. Hooks struck out eight batters.
Cody Jackson (Indianapolis) also had a strong day on the mound in relief. Jackson threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out three.
In the second game of the day, four Spartans collected two or more hits with Jared Holley leading the way with three hits. Both Rocco Hanes and Cole Filson drove in three runs while Zach White added two RBI.
Up Next
Manchester will return to action tomorrow night, Wednesday April 20, with a single, nine-inning contest at NAIA member Indiana Tech.
First pitch from Fort Wayne is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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