Listen Here
By Brady Gazarek
gazarekb@findlay.edu
As the University of Findlay men’s basketball team prepares to tip off its 2025-26 season ranked No. 1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), one word continues to define the program’s internal identity: togetherness.
After capturing the G-MAC regular season title last year, the Oilers enter this season with heightened expectations, not only from fans and the athletic department, but from themselves. Aside from the excitement, the message from players and coaches remains steady: stay grounded, stay connected, and play for each other.
For fifth-year senior forward Josh Thorbahn, that sense of unity is what set last year’s team apart and what he believes will carry them to even greater heights.
“Our biggest strength last year was how hard we played and how together we were,” Thorbahn said. “We had games where we were down 10 or 15 and still came back. That fight, that belief in each other, that’s what defines us.”
Thorbahn, who started all 29 games last year, emphasized that togetherness is more than chemistry on the court – it’s built through time spent together off the court and the memories that are made.
“This offseason we really grew even more,” he said. “We all know each other’s strengths and weaknesses now, we hang out a lot, and that closeness is what’s going to push us to the next level. When it’s a tough game or we’re tired that’s when it matters most. When you’re playing for the guy next to you it just means more.”
Thorbahn, who is entering his final year in an Oilers uniform, said the team’s expectations are clear: win the G-MAC Championship, something Findlay hasn’t done since 2014. But for him, the goals go beyond trophies.
“This year it’s all business,” he said. “We used to be the hunters, and now we’re the hunted. We have to stay level-headed and keep getting better everyday. The best team we play should be ourselves in practice when no one’s watching.
That same mentality is echoed by Head Coach Charlie Ernst, now entering his 15th season as the head coach. Ernst, who led the Oilers to a 17-3 conference record last season, said maintaining humility and focus will be crucial as Findlay steps into the season as one of the G-MAC favorites.
“Last year, expectations weren’t very high from the outsiders, and I think our players took that personally,” Ernst said. “They focused on whatever it took to win the game, even if it meant different guys getting the glory. That selflessness was the number one key to our success.”
This season, the challenge is to sustain that same mindset, despite the attention and the target on their backs.
“We rarely talk about goals,” Ernst said. “We focus on practice, on getting better every day. If you do that, the goals take care of themselves. The moment players start worrying about individual recognition or rankings, you lose sight of what wins games – trusting one another, and playing with a servant mindset.”
Ernst pointed to the return of guards Jayson Levis and Luke Denbow, both of whom missed last season due to injury. As a boost to the team’s depth and tempo. But, he noted, depth only matters when the team stays committed to its culture.
“When you press the whole game like we do, you can never have enough guards,” he said. “But what makes it work isn’t just talent, it’s that willingness to sacrifice and play for the guys next to you.”
Ernst believes that the lessons from last season’s abrupt end, a first-round conference tournament loss that cost the Oilers an NCAA berth, will serve as fuel for this year’s group.
“Maybe last year, being young, some guys assumed we were in the tournament even if we lost,” Ernst said. “Experienced teams know that’s not the case. Now they understand that every game matters, every possession matters. That perspective will help us this year.”
From an administrative standpoint, the excitement surrounding the program is tangible. Kyle Niermann, assistant athletic director for external affairs, said the team’s visibility and consistent success have made it one of the schools more well-known teams.
“They’re one of our most visible programs,” Niermann said. “Because of that, we expect them not just to perform on the court, but to represent Findlay in a positive light on campus and in the community. They’ve done an outstanding job of that.”
Niermann added that last year’s success – winning a conference title and finishing with more than 20 wins – has already boosted fan engagement and excitement.
“When you’re selling recruits on Findlay basketball, you’re not just selling a team – you’re selling a tradition,” he said. “This is one of the top Division II programs in Ohio and in the region. The goal every year is to compete for championships, and last year reminded everyone what this program is all about.”
For Thorbahn and his teammates, those expectations are motivation.
“I don’t really feel the pressure,” Thorbahn said. “Everyone on this team has the same drive and passion. We’re all like-minded, and that makes my role as a leader easier. I’m just focused on making sure we leave this program better than it was when we get here as freshmen.”
As the Oilers prepare for another run at the G-MAC title, their formula for success remains the same: play hard, stay humble, and do it together.
“Championships can come and go,” Thorbahn said. “But the relationships – that’s what lasts, That’s what makes this team special.”
