History of baseball at ONW

Here at ONW we a rich history of success for many different programs academically and with athletics. Our academic achievements include First Robotics, our science and math scholars, and we’ve a history of millions of dollars in scholarships throughout our twelve years of greatness.

But, our athletics however were not always equal to our academic achievements. The athletic department has had the ups and downs that every school goes through while they are fighting for position and prestige. It does take a few years to gather momentum and to compete with the best of the best the sunflower league has to offer. One sport that supports this phenomenon’s is the ONW Baseball team.

The History of  ONW baseball doesn’t just start here, it really begins at the origin of the game itself. Baseball, before it was refined and made a primarily American sport, originated in France as a sport primarily played by clerics in the year 1344. Although it was baseball-like, it was only similar in small ways. The next time a sport like it came up was in England a few hundred years later as a different sport that many believe cricket and baseball came from.

In 1744 the first reference of the word “Base-ball” in the book A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, by John Newbery, the game was setup much like it is today. In the mid-1800’s, at New York City the first professional game of Baseball was played. Ever since then the game has grown and spread, it gained popularity after WW2 and became known as “Americas sport” and what it is today.

Fast forward to 2003 when Olathe Northwest first opened her doors to its students. Now Athletic director Jay Novacek was hired as the first head baseball coach. With coach Setter coming in as his assistant.

The first season went about as well as everyone expected, they went 5-17. The team was full of freshman, sophomores, and juniors with only 2 seniors. But all did have some experience with the game.

"We went into ever game expecting to win,"Novacek said.

This rang true and despite their inexperienced roster they beat the number 1 tea, Mill Valley, in the 2003 season in a series of last minute plays.

The next few seasons are a great example of good coaching, strategy, and the beginning of a legacy that will last as long as the school will.

Mr. Novacek recalls the next few seasons with the view of a proud father watching his program grow, " The next few seasons we improved by 3 wins, and in 2 years we doubled that first year." The team was the Regional Runner-Ups for their first 2 seasons.

The first seven years that ONW competed in baseball the program combined for an overall record of 70-79, Regional Runner-Ups 3 times, and winning the Regional Championship once, qualifying for the state tournament the same year all under Novacek.

Then, after Novacek's final season going 9-11 in 2010, Novacek accepted the Athletic Director position, and consequently giving up the head coaching to trusted friend and long time assistant coach, Coach Setter.

"Coach Setter has been with me since the beginning, he has a great temperament about him, and he can think very clearly during games," Novacek said.

"I felt like I was ready, I've coached baseball for a long time and I also coached basketball." Setter stated recalling the transition to the Head role.

Under Setter the team has gone 50-36, without a losing season, although the went 10-10 in 2014. The team has finished Runner-Up at regionals, and has won one Regional championship.

The program has had 47 state baseball awards and honors players, almost all of which won multiple times. 44 players were given scholarships to play baseball for college.

The team has had one player enter into the MLB. In 2008, third baseman, Nate Tenbrink was selected to the Seattle Mariners in the 6th round of the MLB draft. Nate Played baseball for Kansas State University. He won 5 awards and honors including, KC scholar athlete of the year and 1st team All Sunflower Team.

The team this season is 8-6, bringing the school total record to 126-119.