Volume 25 Issue 16

At the nexus of the educational universe

Where education and technology find a balance

A year-end review of Greek Organizations

photo courtesy of FLORIDA CENTER FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY

PAGE 2

A matrix model of the possible benefits for utilizing technology in traditional teaching methods

by TREY SEAL entertainment reporter

N

obody could’ve ever guessed just how much of an impact the World Wide Web would have on the future of education after its debut in 1991. Knowledge that was once restricted to books and educational institutions was now available to the world at large. The initial texts were online versions of dictionaries and encyclopedias among other educational tomes. Today, websites like “Khaninstitute. com” and “edx.org” allow anybody with access to an internet connection to watch college level lectures.

It’s a tool that this generation consistently

uses in lieu of library books and historical archives. It’s a wonderful tool that many take for granted, but recent research by Dr. Bryant Griffith, a regents professor of educational leadership, curriculum, and instruction, poses the question is the standard method of teaching still effective in a world with so much information available on the web.

Griffith’s research criticizes not only the internet, but what he claims to be an over implementation of digital devices in the classroom.

In a press release, he stated, “These ‘kids’ want engagement in the process, not toys. That all calls for face-to-face and technology in ways where the learner thinks first for themselves.”

learning aren’t enough for the next-generation of students who have access to endless repositories of the same info through online resources. His research blames this on modern teaching that he says is a linear method.

“For Next-Gener’s, learning is an on-going process of coming to know about themselves and the world,” Griffith stated, “It’s a transitory, fragmented and complex. You could think of it as an on-going conversation. We need to engage with them and together reframe our thinking about what it means to learn and to teach. Right now at least, each one of us has at our fingertips the ability to access more information than at any other time in history.”

I

magine standing center stage at a massive venue. The excited crowd screams with delight as you walk to the microphone to greet them. This is an experience that few will ever live out, but many will forever dream about.

Jim Morgan from the “International Songwriting Competition” hopes to turn those dreams into a reality for various talented acts throughout various musical genres. Three years ago he

and his partners launched the Unsigned Only music competition in order to help talented, independent artists from around the world gain exposure to industry professionals.

The competition is in its third year now and the list of eligible genres has only expanded.

From Adult Contemporary to Christian to Folk music, Unsigned Only encourages bands and solo artists, veterans and newcomers alike, to submit any number of songs to be reviewed by an expert panel of judges. The judging panel

PAGE 5

see Nexus on page 3

The written and book based methods of

Take the Stage A competiton for new talent

by TREY SEAL

Summer blockbusters: Godzilla

includes artists from many major bands and labels including John Oates (of the legendary Hall and Oates) and other members of legendary bands such as The Pixies and Three Doors Down.

In addition to record label exposure, this year’s competition has brought in executives from the film, television, advertising and video game industries as well through a special promotion called Screen Shot. see Take the Stage on page 5

A recap of this year in sports PAGE 7

HAPPY HOUR

•food•free wifi• HALF OFF FROZEN FRAPS | 3-5 PM EVERY DAY •3 local shops•

INDEX EDITORIAL 2 | NEWS 3 | FEATURES 4 | ENTERTAINMENT 5 | SPORTS 6 | VISUALS 8

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 16

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editorial

05.22.2014

ISLAND WAVES

Letter from the editor

a student publication of

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

island waves staff

Dear Readers,

CONNER TICHOTA editor-in-chief

MARIAM AMAYA

advertising manager

AUBREY DANCER layout editor

JUSTIN VU NGUYEN

advertising assistant

TREY SEAL

staff reporter

NICK THOMPSON

distribution manager

RUTH AIPPERSPACH faculty adviser

T

hank you for picking up the latest issue of Island Waves. As we kick off the summer issue, I would like to take this time to formally introduce myself to the student body. My name is Conner Tichota, a name many of you will recognize attached to various news articles floating about in previous issues. Now that Alexis has graduated and off to create new adventures in Alaska, I will be the new Editor-in-Chief of Island Waves.

I have been working with this paper for a year and quite an exciting year it has been. Let me be candid, when I first started at the paper I was not a journalist in any sense of the word. However, here at Island Waves, we have a unique, dedicated staff that makes our production all the worthwhile and it was this fervor that inspired me. Since I joined the paper in October, my love of journalism has vastly grown and I have taken every possible opportunity to become more educated in the field.

Switching gears a bit, at the bottom of this page you will notice a letter to the editor. I come from a background of Speech and Debate and, therefore, I enjoy this type of open, academic discussion. I would like to take this time to encourage all of our readers

to weigh in on topics of discussion that they find particularly interesting.

We love to hear feedback from our readers. This allows us gage what the readers want to read about weekly.

I am looking forward to the exciting year ahead of us. In this issue, we will be taking a look at the new summer blockbuster, Godzilla. We will also explore education and its place in a world of technology. Finally, we also have a few year-end reviews for you to catch up on sports and greek life on campus. I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue of Island Waves.

Sincerely, Conner Tichota Editor-in-Chief

AMY KOTULSKI staff adviser

contact us 6300 Ocean Drive Unit 5783 Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-5862

Letters to the Editor

Students write in to Island Waves T

write us a letter The Island Waves accepts letters no longer than 250 words.

Letters are subject to editing. Send letters to the editor via email at editor@tamucc.edu.

about island waves The Island Waves is a student-produced publication at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The newspaper is printed weekly, except during summer sessions.

Since A&M-Corpus Christi has no journalism department, Island Waves is supported by student fees and advertising sales.

Any student or University employee may submit material for publication consideration. To become a contributor, email or call the Island Waves editor.

his letter was written, anonymously, in response to the sports article, “So Which is Better?”, published in Issue 13: Before Christopher Colubmus even landed in North Aerica, the Native Amercians created and played a war game they called the “Creator’s Game”. It was a war game as much as it was a spiritual experience. At thier birth, the Native Americans are given a lacrosse stick. They use that stick as a child, carry it throughout their life, and are buired with that same stick.

That tradition has continued despite the many different cultures that play the game known today as Lacrosse.

Lacrosse share the common thread of tradtion and rivalry with all other sports. Lacrosse was originally created from the need to prove tribal dominance. Conflicts were resolved by the Native Americans through lacrosse. Just like than, rivalries grow between schools toady. The great thing about athletics is the ability to physically show your pride in your school or group as well as prove your dominance in your league or conference. Very rarley do you ever see teams from the same school turn on each other, however. That kind of internal rivalry and animosity erodes the schools community.

Something unique to only lacrosse, hockey, and football is their operating cost. It is arguable that is lacrosse and hockey were able to create the same type of internal support system that football has (i.e. pop warner), Lacrosse and Hockey’s popularity would grow and in turn more collages would have programs. They do not however, and

for that reason, only certain teams have programs and in very concentrated areas. The northern states support the majority of college hockey because it is cheaper to operate in the northern states, not because of some kind of social group that exists only in the North.

Lacrosse was introduced to the original settlers and has continued to be played by the Iroquois Nation in western New York. For that reason, the notheastern communities adopted the sport, sustained it, and helped it grow into what it is today. Historically the northeastern colleges have had more money and have been more successful than the rest of country in lacrosse.

There are a few reasons for this dominance. the northeast has simply had more money from the creation of this country for many reasons having nothing to do with lacrosse. The New York Yankees are a perfect example of this.

The fact that the northeast is the only are to sustain lacrosse for as long as it has is another reason for the northeasts dominance. Most college students playing sports want their parents to watch them play, and stay relativly nearby home to help that happen. Also, the dominance enjoyed by the northeast was never limited to the private, expensive or elite schools.

In fact, Maryland and Syracuse are two of the many powerful state schools playing lacrosse today. Both teams share approximately half of the national championships for college lacrosse. However the dynamic is starting to change.

In only the past few years

(debatable whether you can attach historically to that) the University of Denver has become a pwerhouse of Dvision 1 lacrosse. The University of Denver is not a frat heavy community, they are not an upper class school, and they are not school filled with “priviledged” students.

The Naval Academy and the Military Academy are also powerful programs in Divison 1 lacrosse. Both of these teams have been just as powerful for just as long as the so-called elitist school’s programs.

For the record, neither academy has a single fraternity, or allows the related type of behavior in their school. In fact, it is quite easy to say that all sports have different types of cultures within their sport. It is also important to note the massive growth of lacrosse as a sport in the past decade compared to the stagnation of many other sports.

Please excuse the history lesson. It is simply important to understand why lacrosse is growing as the price to play declines with advancing technology. In turn, a growth in professional lacrosse should be seen soon. In fact, Olympic Lacrosse may be seen before Olympic Baseball. Not a fault of baseball, just proof that it is not about which is better. There is always more to it than that. Most of the time, more than can be gathered from a tabloid article.

All sports are incredible parts of our lives. Some are more physically demanding than others, where some are more mentally demanding than others. Some are even more physically and mentally demanding than others.

The most important part is that we continue to play for our health, our competitive drive, and to prove that

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is a formidable advasary in all of our endeavors. The lacrosse team here at A&M-Corpus Christi has the same hopes for every team on campus as it has for itself. They want to see each team get a championship just as much as it wants one itself. They support the baseball team, they support the school, and they, most importantly, respect and support well researched, accurate and thoughtful journalism.

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news

05.22.2014

Introducing Trio

ISLAND WAVES

A Student Support Services program

by MICHAEL FITCH contributing writer

T

Glasscock Student Sucess Center Nexus When looking back on the history of school curriculums, there is a noticeable lack of change in the way information is presented in a lecture-based classroom. The only factor that has really changed is the way in which the information is presented such as power points with digital imagery as opposed to blackboards.

Is it really possible to advance the way certain subjects such as science and history are

photo by ISLAND WAVES

taught beyond smaller classrooms? The only speedy solution is making smaller classrooms standard which would be a costly venture for both universities and students.

The old method still has its benefits, however, The entire process isn’t just based on reading and listening to information. Term papers and exams perform the function of making sure that the students actively study the material in order to further retain the knowledge of

he Student Services Support at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi is a federally funded program. Its goal is to provide an environment for students to get guidance on reaching their individual career and academic goals.

The following services are offered at the Trio including; self- improvement workshops, financial aid advice assistance, exciting field trips, and further assistance in tutoring.

These are the following eligibility criteria: one must be enrolled as a current student at A&M-Corpus Christi, a U.S. citizen or legal resident ,either low income, first generation or disabled diagnosed or if your just in need of academic support. If you are eligible for the program, the application can be either filled out on the university website or picked up in the Glassock Student Success Center. If you have a disability, bring a copy of the documentation substantiating the disability.

The Student Support Services Center provides many free services including:

the discipline in their long-term memory.

“The university system is outdated, by having a high price barrier of entry, you could be preventing the next Einsteins of our generation from being discovered just because of their families social status,” said Pierce Trimyer, a psychology major at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi, “For more intensive subjects, it could be helpful to have a more hands on

academic tutoring program, academic advising and registration, financial aid assistance, scholarship information, and financial literacy. They also provide career counseling and exploration, graduate school admissions information, advocacy mentoring and many more services.

There are some very helpful workshops that are provided. These workshops are beneficial to all students. Some of these workshops include resume and cover letter preparation; interviewing techniques; and sound financial planning.

The Trio team consists of the director, April Jasso, program manager, Adriana Jimenez, intervention specialist, Christopher Carter and tutors Maria Cabrera and Avalon Zapata. They are located in the Glassock Student Success Center.

continued from page 1 approach, but for many fact based subjects, a teacher’s primary role is judging the accuracy of your work.”

The vast information of the internet serves as a great utility allowing those with enough ambition to become experts in a field long before entering the university system. This can help young people to find and develop a passion early on in life.

features 4

05.22.2014

ISLAND WAVES

GREEK LIFE IN REVIEW

Delta Delta Delta members from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

photo courtesy of SUZANNE BRITTAIN

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entertainment

05.22.2014

ISLAND WAVES

image courtesy of CINEFANTASTIQUEONLINE.COM

Hail to the King:

by AUBREY DANCER layout editor

B

efore Pacific Rim, there was only one true Kaiju. Only one name that thrilled and chilled fans of the monster movie genre. A name that sounds as equally cool as his roar, Godzilla.

Godzilla first roared onto the big screen back in 1954 in Godzilla, produced by Toho Company Limited and became the first of what would be known in the Japanese film industry as the kaiju film or “giant monster” movie.

Godzilla would go on to star in over 28 films, fighting iconic monsters like Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah and MechaGodzilla and become the most famous and iconic movie monster of all time, spawning a line of toys, apparel, comic books, television shows and video games. And now, for his 60th anniversary, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros Studios have created a new summer blockbuster that sets out to not only breathe new life into the franchise, but also to pay respects to the classic Toho films and give the King of the Monsters his much needed dues.

Take the stage In order to gain additional insight about the competition, I interviewed Morgan, a longtime musician himself about the history of the event and what motivated him to undertake such an ambitious event.

“We started the ‘International Songwriting Competition’ back in 2002,” Morgan said, “and that’s where we got the idea from. The difference between the two is that the ISC is focused on songwriting. You don’t necessarily have to be a performing artist to enter.”

The Unsigned Only category was such a hit that Morgan and his partners decided to springboard it into its own competition.

The defining difference between Unsigned Only and ISC is that entrants are required to be performers without a record deal. Artists are therefore allowed to submit both original songs and cover songs.

“One of the great perks of this competition is that the grand prize winner gets to be mentored by heads of major music labels,” Morgan said, “No other competition out there is doing anything like that. Screen Shot is very new to the competition and it gives artists the opportunity to screen their music to companies tasked with helping media companies find original songs for TV shows, movies, video games, and commercials.”

Any entries into Screen Shot will automatically be entered into Unsigned Only at no additional charge with the only requirement being that the songs are completely original.

The record labels involved include Subpop Records, Atlantic Records, and Warner Bros.

Records among many other labels both big and small. Over the years, a variety of artists in different genres have won.

“For our first competition the grand prize

The film follows nuclear physicist Joe Brody, played by Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), who witnesses the destruction of the Janjira nuclear power plant in Japan after a mysterious earthquake hits the coastal city. Years later the reactor site is quarantined and Joe knows something sinister is being covered up. Together with his son Ford, played by Aaron TaylorJohnson (Kick-Ass), they return to the sight of the reactor to discover the truth. Bt a team of scientists led by Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, played by Ken Watanabe (Inception), have awakened a creature born of radiation called MUTO, massive unknown terrestrial organism, and have accidentally set it loose upon the world. But the humans are not the only ones after MUTO, for an ancient creature is hunting it. A creature awoken from nuclear tests in 1954, a creature called Godzilla.

The last Godzilla movie made in the U.S. was the 1998 Roland Emmerich travesty that pitted Ferris Beuller against a CGI Iguana and spent most of its time completely ripping off entire sequences from Jurassic Park. It was so bad that Toho would retaliate with Godzilla 2000 and Godzilla: Final Wars released in continued from page 1 winner was a pop artist,” commented Morgan, “and for our second year the grand prize winner was a country artist. You never really know. Our grand prize winner this year could be a Folk singer/songwriter or an R&B Hip-Hop artist, an Americana artist, a Christian artist.”

There are 11 different genres that artists can submit under and Morgan believes that the next winner could come from any one of those categories.

“I think each genre has very strong submissions coming in and the industry seems to respond to all of those categories,” he claimed.

Artists have until May 23,2014 to enter the competition which has a $25 entry fee for mail and online submissions. Additional info can be found at www.UnsignedOnly.com.

RETURNS

2004 which pitted Godzilla against Emmerich’s “Zilla”. Spoiler alert: Godzilla rips Zilla a new one. Fortunately, this time around it seems that Warner Bros and Legendary have done everything they could to sweep that abysmal wretch of a film under the rug and have gone back to the roots of Toho. Director Gareth Edward, who made his debut in Hollywood with his 2010 feature Monsters, a story in which Earth is invaded by giant alien creatures, completely disregards the formula of epic disaster movies that we as contemporary filmgoers have come to expect from summer blockbusters where the action and devastation is full front and center and the monsters fight for two full hours.

But Edward chooses to give us the monsters and destruction in small portions, keeping the destruction contained until the all out brawl where our monsters clash for the big finale.

This is where the film shines. It takes its cues from the classic Toho films and helps the audience focus more on the characters and their struggles rather then the mindless destruction.

If their is one thing that may be a hinderance to this film it is the acting. Aaron TaylorJohnson, who plays an bomb disposal office in

the Navy, can sometimes seem flat in his portrayal of a son struggling to connect to his father and trying to get back home to protect his family. Bryan Cranston however does manage to give a truly awesome dramatic performance in a film many might have simply phoned in.

His scenes are powerful and you definitely feel the weight of his struggle. But obviously, the true star of the film is Godzilla himself and their is a reason why he is known as King of the Monsters. Every time he shows up on screen the audience hushes in reverent silence. Every time he lets out his might roar, those little hairs on your neck stand on end. And even though he has traded his rubber suit for a CGI one, their is no denying that what Edwards and his creative team have done is give the fans a dose of a pure Godzilla; from his iconic roar to his devastating atomic fire breathe, oh Lord, the atomic fire breathe.

Very few films have ever made me scream and giggle like a five year old kid like this one has and whether you are a fan or just an average filmgoer, do not pass up the chance to see this amazing movie in the theaters this summer. Go now and pay your respects to the King.

sports 6

05.22.2014

ISLAND WAVES

photo courtesy of UNC BEARS ATHLETICS

Year in review: Islanders Basketball celebrates division turnaround Junior John Jordan was a First Team All-Southland Conference selection in 2013-14. contributed by Texas A&M Corpus Christi

I

photo courtesy of KYLE MAZABOB

t’s an exciting time to be an Islander. The 2013-14 season marked the beginning of a new era for the Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi men’s and women’s basketball teams, as they posted the biggest turnaround in Division I for any basketball program. The Islanders men won 12 more games than the season before, while the Islanders women finished with 14 victories more than in 2012-13.

“The turnaround our basketball programs had this year was remarkable,” Islanders Director of Athletics Scott Lazenby said. “Our teams had outstanding years and they did it the right way – through hard work and counting on each other as a team. It was fun to watch, and I think our students are going to really enjoy coming out to see the team next year.”

The Islanders men finished 14-4 in the Southland Conference, second behind only undefeated Stephen F. Austin, a team that knocked off VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Among those wins were two victories against perennial power Oral Roberts, including an overtime victory in front of a spirited crowd at the American Bank Center, and a 20-point win against Houston Baptist on Homecoming.

The Islanders’ outstanding performance led to John Jordan being named First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District.

Head coach Willis Wilson was named Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year, which is given to the top minority coach in all of college basketball.

“We finished the season 15-6 in our last 21 games, so to have that kind of turnaround was impressive,” Wilson said. “We had a group of guys that just grinded it out every day. When January rolled around, our guys had a renewed sense of purpose and a new beginning. Sure enough, we were able to get things turned around.”

The team earned a berth to the College Insider Tournament, a postseason event like the NIT, but designed for mid-major teams.

The Islanders posted a strong win at Northern Colorado in the first round, marking the

Women’s basketball coach Royce Chadwick earned Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors, as his program had the biggest turnaround in the nation.

program’s first win in a postseason tournament.

More importantly, the tournament gave the team a chance to understand what it is like to play in the postseason.

On the women’s side, the turnaround was just as impressive, as A&M-Corpus Christi finished with 14 more wins than it had the season before. That plus-14 win margin was more than any other program in college basketball had during the regular season.

What was more impressive was how the Islanders did it. After starting conference play 3-7, they won their last eight games to finish in fourth place in a very close Southland Conference race. Among those wins was a remarkable comeback, as the team overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to beat Nicholls on the final day of the regular season.

“I thought it was imperative with this young team that we get them to the Southland Conference Tournament so that they’ve had that experience,” head coach Royce Chadwick said. “I think it’s very difficult to go win the tournament if you haven’t been in the tournament. Hopefully next year we’ll go in there with a higher seed and the experience that we’ve been there and we’ll be able to move forward.”

Chadwick picked up honors as well, earning Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors – the first Islanders women’s basketball coach to do that. The veteran coach, who is just 17 victories away from 600 in his career, has had the top recruiting class in the Southland in back-to-back seasons, and the team returns a strong group from last year to make the future just as bright as the past.

It is a great time to be an Islander student, with two exciting basketball teams to watch next year.

“I know all our players love it when it gets loud with our students in the American Bank Center,” Lazenby said. “With two good teams to watch and the fact that parking and tickets are free with a student ID, we think TAMUCC students will come out to support their team better than ever before. It should be a fun season for both our players and our fans.”

7

sports

05.22.2014

ISLAND WAVES

A catcher’s tale A senior spotlight of the Islanders’ Russell Vaughan Vaughan’s mental acuity has been just as strong in the classroom as it has been in the field, though. The Mesa, Ariz., native holds a perfect cumulative 4.0 GPA in health sciences from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. He posted a 4.0 when he was in junior college at South Mountain Junior College, earning him the National Junior College Athletic Association Pinnacle Award.

In addition to all that, he was named the Islanders 2014 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the Islanders’ End of Year Banquet and the lone catcher on the Capital One Academic AllDistrict 7 team. It is quite a long list of accolades for a player who was expected to come in and be just a role player.

photo courtesy of ISLAND ATHLETICS

But in 2013, Vaughan showed his leadership on the field, starting the majority of the team’s games despite hitting under .200. And that trait has carried over into 2014, where he has morphed into the team’s unquestioned leader.

Russell Vaughan talks strategy with head coach Scott Malone in a game at Rice in March 2014.

contributed by Texas A&M -Corpus Christi

S

ince the early days of baseball, the equipment that a catcher wears has been nicknamed the “tools of ignorance.” Just don’t tell that to senior Russell Vaughan.

“The catching position is a leading position,”

“The last couple months of the season, Russell really took ownership of this club,” head coach Scott Malone said. “And he did it not only with actions, but vocally. He is the vocal leader of this team and they follow him.

Taking charge as a player when you’re winning, that’s easy to do. When you’re losing, that’s when Russ is at his best, and that’s been a huge difference for us this year.”

For Vaughan, the motivation behind his leadership is simple. He has one year of collegiate baseball left, and he is not going to let his team finish short of its potential.

Vaughan said. “I have to keep the pitching staff calm, cool and collected. I need to do whatever it takes to make them feel comfortable out there. And then with the guys in the field, I just make sure they are in the right place at the right time. I’ve always enjoyed catching because it deals with the mental side of the game more than anything, and I’ve always enjoyed that part of baseball.”

“It’s my last year,” Vaughan said. “I’m just trying to give it all. I’m trying to lead guys, point them in the right direction. It’s been hard following in the footsteps of guys like Eric Weiss, Jonathan Gonzales and Brad Porras. But I’m just trying to keep the guys motivated and

have the right mindset every game.”

His leadership with the team has also helped him gain the trust of the coaching staff, and Vaughan has developed into an extension of the staff on the field.

“This season, Russell has gotten very involved with me on our bullpen and giving me ideas of how our starters are doing – when they’ve got one more inning left,” Malone said.

“We haven’t had a lot of kids that have been that involved in the decision-making process.

He’s almost become an extension of our coaching staff. You can’t say enough about him, the way he’s doing it is huge.”

In addition to the improved leadership, Vaughan has also seen a huge improvement in his numbers. After hitting just .181 a season ago, the senior has raised his game to the point where he is one of the top hitting catchers in the Southland Conference – hitting well over .300 overall and nearly .400 in league play.

“Last year I had an injury that I was kind of battling throughout the season,” Vaughan said.

“This year I’ve just been locked in, working with the coaches on a different approach. I’m trying to go more up the middle, more opposite field, and it’s really helped me.”

But as much as the offensive uptick has had a big impact, it is the leadership when things are looking grim that Malone and his staff point to as the biggest impact Vaughan has made.

“When you hit a tough spot, Russ is there to right the ship and keep guys focused,” Malone said. “It’s his way or the highway – I used to think it was my way or the highway – but now it’s Russell’s way, which is great. The guys follow him – good times and bad, they follow him.”

A year in review: Islanders’ Tennis T

he Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi men’s and women’s tennis programs each had historic 2014 seasons, as they were one of only 39 universities in Division I to have two teams in the NCAA Tournament. The women’s team earned its first berth into the Tournament while the men’s team returned to the Tournament for the second straight year and the fifth time in the last seven years.

Propelling the success of both programs is eight-time Southland Conference Men’s Coach of the Year Steve Moore. Under Moore’s leadership the men’s team only allowed five points in Southland play this season, outscoring its opposition 35-5. Moore became the first coach in the history of the Southland Conference in any sport to win Coach of the Year honors in eight consecutive seasons.

The women’s team tallied a program-best 22 wins and registered many firsts for the program. The Islanders earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament after winning their first Southland Conference Tournament title with a 4-2 victory over defending champions Northwestern State. The Islanders earned a share of the regular-season crown with the Lady Demons, their first conference regular-season title in program history.

Freshman Judit Vives became the first Islanders freshman to garner First Team AllSouthland honors in singles play, while Celia Rodriguez was named Second Team AllSouthland for the second consecutive year.

In addition, Maider Martin (No. 3), Sandra Burges (No. 5) and Rodriguez (No. 4) each earned conference championships in singles play.

The women’s team was ranked fourth nationally in total attendance for April and rallied behind the great Corpus Christi

community. The Islanders finished 11-1 at home, with their only loss coming against then-No. 27 ranked Houston at the Thomas J. Henry Tennis Center.

“The women’s team was the highestcharacter group I could ever ask for,” Moore said. “We were not the flashiest team. We did not have a lot of big five-star recruits and we went 22-6 because they showed up to play hard every match.”

“We traveled a lot this year, so there was a lot of bonding between the team,” Burges said. “I think it was really good for us. We are all really good friends. I think that’s one of the points of our successful team. We are a real team and good friends.”

The Islanders grinded out close 4-3 victories this season over SMU and New Mexico State in non-conference play, while notching an 11-1 record in conference play. In the Southland Tournament the Islanders rallied past Central Arkansas, McNeese State and Northwestern State to advance to the NCAAs. “This was a season that was made into an absolute historic amazing season by the character of these girls,” Moore said. “This was a group I’ll never forget.”

The men’s team (19-10), which has built a reputation of success, didn’t disappoint this season. The Islanders earned their seventhstraight Southland regular-season title, and their sixth Southland Tournament title in program history to earn an automatic berth into the NCAAs. The Islanders went undefeated in conference play and topped Lamar 4-1 in the conference finals on their home court in front of hundreds of fans.

“The doubles point was really close, but the crowd raised us up,” two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year Peter Nagy said.

“Lamar was leading 7-5, we almost lost, but

photo courtesy of Island Athletics

contributed by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Sophomore Celia Rodriguez celebrates the clinching point as the Islanders women’s tennis team earned its first Southland Conference Tournament Championship the crowd helped raise us up so that’s why we were able to turn it around to win the doubles point. During singles, they were amazing, cheering so loud, it was a very special feeling for us as a team.”

Along with Moore’s and Nagy’s honors, the Islanders placed a total of four players on the all-conference teams for singles play with Ricardo Mayagoitia and Javier Pujol joining Nagy on the all-conference first team, and Paul Cook earning a spot on the second team. In addition, the tandem of Nagy and Guillaume Rauseo earned first team honors in doubles play and the doubles duo of Mayagoitia and Pujol was named to the second team.

Moore credits four key components to the success of his programs.

“We hammer these four things,” Moore said. “The first is an absolute commitment to show up and play hard. The second is that they are really going to be a true team and do more for each other than any other team. The third is the encouragement and spirit. The fourth is the toughest, this is the thing that doesn’t get talked about enough in sports, and it’s the athletic disciplined lifestyle that leaves you with superior fitness.”

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