As the spring semester begins, winter sports are getting near the end of their season, and spring sports are just around the corner. 

This past week in Millikin athletics started mid-week on Wednesday, Jan. 29. The men’s basketball lost 63-75 at home to North Park University. The women’s basketball team also lost, 61-74, but instead on the road against Wheaton College.

This past weekend, both the wrestling team and men’s volleyball team traveled, competing in a two-day competition. 

The wrestling team traveled to Wheaton College to compete in the Pete Wilson Invite.

Junior Bradan Birt won his 165 weight class, defeating opposing wrestlers in five rounds; round one, round two, quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship match. Overall, the men finished in 18th place as a team. The wrestling team will next compete in the CCIW Championships on Thursday, Feb. 13 at home. Matches start at 2 p.m.

The men’s volleyball team traveled to Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin. The men started off invite Friday night, losing 0-3 against Concordia University. On Saturday, the men lost 1-3 to Olivet College and then later lost 2-3 to Maranatha Baptist University. Freshman Willie Valentine was named All-Tournament Team, along with six other student-athletes. The men are currently 0-6 overall and 0-0 in conference play, having not yet faced a CCIW team. The men’s volleyball team will next play against Rockford University at home on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Game time starts at 7 p.m.

The men’s and women’s swim teams celebrated senior night on Saturday, Feb. 1 against Lincoln College. The men beat Lincoln College 97-44 and the women beat Lincoln College 157-24. Both the men’s and women’s team finished this season 4-2. Both teams will next compete in the CCIW Championships from Thursday, Feb. 20 through Saturday, Feb. 22.

The women’s basketball team beat Augustana College at home on Saturday, winning 66-60 in overtime. The women are currently 13-7 overall and 6-5 in conference play. The women’s basketball team will next play against Carthage College at home on Saturday, Feb. 8. Game time starts at 5 p.m.

The men’s basketball team lost 27-47 to Augustana College at home on Saturday. The men are 4-16 overall and 1-10 in conference play. The men’s basketball team will next play against Illinois Wesleyan University at home on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Game time starts at 7 p.m.

Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Olivet Nazarene University to compete in Olivet’s Invite. No team scores were kept. The men’s and women’s teams will travel to Illinois Wesleyan University to compete in the Keck Invite on Friday, Feb. 7 and Saturday, Feb. 8.