ATHLETICS The University of Central Arkansas’ Division of Athletics and student-athletes maintained high performance throughout the year. The university’s football team, for instance, had 13 All-Southland Conference selections, including Tyler Hudson being named Freshman of the Year. The team was also selected to participate in the Football Championship Subdivision Kickoff event in the first game of the season on ESPN. Women’s cross-country team members Gracie Hyde and Erin Woodward were named to the Southland All-Academic Team. Freshman softball pitcher Kayla Beaver tossed two no-hitters — making her collegiate debut with a no-hitter against Jackson State in February. Beaver followed that up with a perfect game against Alcorn State in March. Softball coach David Kuhn reached the 700-win milestone in February with the Bears’ 3-0 win over South Dakota. Academically, student-athletes maintained a 3.20 overall GPA, an increase from last year’s 3.17 GPA. The percentage of A’s and B’s among student-athletes was also higher in spring 2020 than in spring 2019. The men’s and women’s cross-country teams won the Academic Honor Award for highest team GPA. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the division had to respond quickly to the rapidly changing ways the virus was affecting athletics across the country in the spring. In midMarch, the Southland Conference canceled spring sports events, including championship games. Sports affected by the cancellation included basketball, tennis, beach volleyball, baseball, golf and softball. UCA Athletics remained in communication with conference leadership to act on the best course of action and ensure the safety of student-athletes. Games that were completed this season count toward students’ records, and the seasons are marked as incomplete. The only other time UCA sports were delayed or canceled occurred during World War II. |
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2019- 20 AN NUAL R EP ORT
ROBERT ROCHELL
