119th academic year set to begin with Opening Assembly
BY LESLIE CARRIGAN MANAGING EDITOR
The school year will begin on Monday with the Opening Assembly.
The Opening Assembly will consist of a reading of Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill, singing, music performed by the Big Purple Marching band, Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, announcing the start of the school year and an address by Justice
Jeff Boyd, a member of the Texas Supreme Court who graduated from ACU in 1983.
The Opening Assembly allows the ACU community to unite together as school starts to celebrate the upcoming year and bless the students, said Craig Fisher, the director of alumni relations.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for us to celebrate the beginning of a year and to do so with praise and
worship and with honoring and blessing our students,” said Fisher. “It’s a great opportunity for our alumni to come back and to watch and be a part of that. We livestream it, so that many folks that are all over the world that are part of ACU can still experience it.”
Opening Assembly is coordinated by the Office of Alumni Engagement and the Office of the President as a way to signify the importance of the assem-
bly, said Dr. Ryan Richardson, vice president for student life.
“The very first Opening Ceremony Chapel has largely been planned through our Office of Alumni Engagement and the President’s Office,” said Richardson. “Because Opening Assembly is kind of a time for our entire community to be together, to acknowledge before God that we’re starting this new semester and so it
transcends student life, it’s a bigger deal than that.”
The Opening Assembly will begin with the traditional parade of flags, during which each student participant will carry a flag representing the state or country they are from. This year’s parade will make up of 46 state flags, 51 flags representing countries and, for the first time, a flag will represent the Navajo and Cherokee Nations.
Fisher hopes the students
Study Abroad trips to depart as Montevideo nears closure
BY LESLIE CARRIGAN MANAGING EDITOR
As 44 students prepare to leave for their semester study abroad in Leipzig, Oxford and Montevideo, the Office of International Programs and Study Abroad has adjusted the length of the semester trip and is exploring locations in Spain to replace the South America program.
The trip to Oxford will led by Dr. Shelly Sanders, professor of English, and will take 23 students.
Fifteen students will join Dr. John Boyles, an associate professor of Bible, missions and ministry, to Leipzig, and the Montevideo trip, which will include five students, will be
led by Dr. Omar Palafox, assistant professor of intercultural studies.
This semester’s trips will be 12 weeks instead of 14 weeks like trips in the past, said Mark Barneche, executive director of international education and study abroad.
“So our students in our current immigration status need to limit their stay in country to under 90 days and so our stay in country now is 89 days,” Barneche said.
“What has been our policy in the past with countries has not been strictly in keeping with local immigration law and so we’re trying to bring that more in alignment with local law.”
The hub site in Montevideo will close after this semester because it was not growing and too few students participated, Barneche said.
“We made the decision to close the Montevideo
program based around the ability for that program to grow meaningfully,” said Barneche. “So the facility in Montevideo was quite small, and as a small facility, the total occupancy of students
that it could take never really made financial or operational sense and so we’ve decided to go to another location where we think there’s a high capacity of students who could join that program in a place that students really want to go and sort of understand.”
The location in Spain was chosen as a replacement for Montevideo because of its location, popularity and the quality of Spanish spoken, Barneche said.
In the spring, Study Abroad also introduced language lunches on the first Wednesday of every month to bring together students who speak a common
See DEPART, P. 6
New campus ministers to highlight Chapel on ‘Renewal’
BY ASHLEY HENDERSON EDITOR IN CHIEF
The Office of Spiritual Life will begin the school year with a leadership structure and a new theme.
After pausing the search for a new university chaplain, Dr. Ryan Richardson, vice president for student life, began to look at two people already involved in ACU spiritual formation.
“I started to notice that between Nathan Kranz and Avory Rosenhuff,” Richardson said, “we have two phenomenal campus ministers who are full time on our campus, who are both finishing up or pursuing their master’s degree in religion.”
Kranz will finish his master’s of divinity in December, and Rosenhuff is pursuing a master’s in
spiritual disciplines. Together, the two will fulfill the typical responsibilities of a chaplain but will now be called campus ministers. To assist in the organization and worship of Chapel, the office hired ACU alum Mace Ratliff as the coordinator of Chapel production.
“Nathan and I are kind of the ministers that work with speakers on how to be a part of our renewed vision when they come to speak,” Rosenhuff said. “It is Mace’s job to be handling the production and worship teams for that weekly schedule. Not only that, but he’s going to build out a discipleship program for the people that help volunteer with our office.”
Along with the restruc-
turing, spiritual formation will be following a new theme: Renewal. The word came to Kranz and Rosenhuff after a time of reflection and prayer.
“The spiritual definition of renew is rejuvenation of the spirit,” Rosenhuff said. “We just feel like with everything post-COVID, we’re really wanting to get students excited about being in fellowship with one another. This word felt exciting and fresh, and it gave ode to the fact that we are renewing our spiritual formation experience on campus with our office.”
Referencing Romans 12:2, which says “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” the theme
will be heavily emphasized throughout the year, including analyzing what it means to ask God to renew the ACU campus, city and relationships.
“Every single thing we do at Chapel is going to be directed toward how might we be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may discern the will of God.”
The organization of Moody Chapel will often follow the schedule of guest speakers on Monday and Wednesday along with the tradition of Praise Day Friday. Richardson encourages students to regularly attend these Chapels that feature the ACU community at large.
“Even though students can go to their small
groups and get [chapel credit] other ways,” Richardson said. “I want to see Monday specifically as an emphasis, as something people prioritize.”
Outside of Chapel, the office provides other resources for students, such as connecting students with a local church or a nonprofit to serve with.
The office is working on a scheduling system that will help provide students with opportunities for one-on-one conversations with campus ministers.
“I think often, we kind of get caught up in the Chapel credits,” Rosenhuff said, “and I don’t want that to let us lose sight of the amazing connection we can have with one another. We want to do life with students.”
will feel encouraged by the knowledge that people worldwide support them on their journey as ACU students.
“I hope they take away the realization and the excitement of what an amazing community I believe Abilene Christian is,” said Fisher. “We are from all over the world, and we’re here together to learn and to grow together and to experience what ACU has to offer.”
student publication of Abilene Christian University since 1912
BY STEVEN INFANTE | PHOTOGRAPHER
Incoming students compete in a game of tug-of-war during annual mentor group olympics
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDY ABROAD
Kenzie Winters visits the Cotswolds on her study abroad trip.
Recently renovated Mabee welcomes freshmen
BY BRYLIE MAHAR NEWS REPORTER
Mabee Hall is the most recently renovated addition to the Freshman Village. Construction of the former Sikes Hall concluded this summer, and rooms opened up for the 2024-25 incoming class this fall.
Zach Snyder, director of residence life, said he has high hopes for this dorm.
“Mabee Hall represents our ongoing commitment to enhancing the student experience at ACU,” Snyder said. “I hope this newly renovated space fosters growth, community and a sense of belonging for all who live there. I’m excited to see how it will serve our students for years to come.”
The most noticeable change to the building is the addition of the three-story lobby that provides community space for residents and an elevator for accessibility. The center of the original facility was removed to create more distinct wings that allow for better management of the spaces for men and women. An additional entrance was added on the east side to encourage students to park in the Williams Performing Arts Center for less parking congestion.
Kevin Campbell, senior vice president of operations, said most of the changes made to the existing building were cosmetic.
“We painted everything, we put all new LED light fixtures in, we added floorings, we replaced all the ceiling tiles in the bathrooms, all of the mirrors in the bathrooms and all the vents from the bathrooms,” Campbell said. “Those are the things that the students will notice.”
One thing commonly noted about the old Sikes Hall was the lack of lawn space. A goal during the creation of Freshman Village was to provide beautiful outdoor space that residents can enjoy. Sikes originally had the least amount of community space, which further encouraged the decision to remodel the residence hall.
“One of the No. 1 goals of the Freshman Village project is to continue to draw students out of their room and into the common space and community space with each other,” Campbell said. Triple occupancy rooms
cost $2,800 a semester and double occupancy rooms cost $3,400 a semester. Including a private bathroom, common kitchen area, common patio/grill area, lobby with TV and a free laundry room, this dorm is fully functional for the incoming class of ‘28.
“The rooms that are on the west side of Mabee are three-person rooms, and the rooms on the east side are two-person rooms,” Campbell said. “The rooms on the west side are about, if I remember correctly, about 80 to 100 square feet larger than the rooms on the east side.”
For 75 years, the Mabee Foundation has been a
major supporter of Christian higher education.
For years it has been involved in the ACU community. In fact, one of the first projects the foundation highly contributed to was the original Mabee Hall.
“We communicated the long-term plans for Mabee Hall, the original Mabee Hall, that it didn’t have much life left in it,” Campbell said. “[The foundation] had a strong desire to keep the Mabee Hall name on our campus. The Mabee Foundation was a tremendous partner in helping in the renovation of Sikes. Part of that was the renaming
BY DANIEL CURD
of Sikes to Mabee hall.”
The old Mabee dorm remains unoccupied. A campus master plan is being formulated that calls for demolishing the building and constructing an academic building in its place. There is no immediate timeline for this project.
“We hope [the new building] would be something that was a part of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences because of the proximity,” Campbell said. “That is the hope, but we’ll see what the future holds.”
For the time being, construction on Freshman Village is coming to an end as the next focus gears
toward the cosmetics of buildings throughout campus and the completion of projects still active. The baseball field aims to be completed before the season begins, and in the near future, Kojie Park and new intramural fields are in the process of being designed and planned. Maintenance pertaining to lighting and HVAC are set to be completed across campus. said. “With the pace by which we have been building over the last recent years, I do anticipate a new season where it won’t feel like there’s a major construction project happening at all times.”
language outside of English, said Lindsay Snyder, study abroad coordinator.
“If you speak another language, we want to get together, because language can unite people in a really unique way and can create bonds between people,” Snyder said. “It also gives students the opportunity to connect with other people that they may not know otherwise, and be able to connect through language, whether that’s a language that they’re just learning, or maybe a language that they grew up speaking.”
The applications for the summer and fall of 2025 and the spring of 2026 are currently open on the Study Abroad website. The priori-
ty deadline is Oct. 1 and the final deadline is Nov. 1.
“Study Abroad is a really unique opportunity for students to be able to explore the world with their peers and with the support and guidance of an educational institution,” said Snyder. “This is an opportunity where students experience a lot of personal growth, where they generally experience a lot of spiritual growth.
“You’re outside of your comfort zone, you’re outside of your typical community, and so you get to learn a lot more about yourself,” she said. “You get to learn a lot more about God and about the world that God has created.”
| CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Cars line up outside of the new Mabee Hall during Move In Day.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STUDY ABROAD
Victoria Alvarado a junior interior design major at the schröbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria.
SGA plans election interest meetings, events for fall
BY MAKAYLA CLAYTON
This year’s Student Government Association elections are quickly approaching, with the first interest meeting taking place this Thursday from 3-4 p.m. in the Campus Center basement, Room 54.
More SGA interest meetings will be on Aug. 30, Sept. 3 and Sept. 4 from 11 a.m.-noon. The Sept. 4 meeting will take place in the Onstead-Packer Biblical Studies Building in Room 120.
Once students have attended an interest meeting, they can start petitioning by getting signatures from their peers and then turning those in to Athena Triantopoulos, SGA vice president.
After that, students can begin campaigning and preparing for elections.
Voting will take place from Sept. 6-9.
SGA’s budget is received from a percentage of student activity fees, anonymous donations, and the university’s general operating budget. Every year, SGA conducts a budget meeting in which organizations can seek and receive funding. The date for this meeting has yet to be determined.
SGA is also in charge of hosting the Tree-lighting and Christmas celebration, Lit-mas. Springer said officers are working to set a date for Lit-mas as well as potentially finding an artist to perform.
Each class will elect ten senators, one multicultural representative, one vice president and one president to represent the student body.
SGA president Josh Springer, senior financial management major from Helotes, emphasized his excitement for elections and encouraged students to run for office. Springer said he is
looking forward to seeing students get excited for SGA. This year, SGA members are planning a Senate retreat, which is still being planned.
“My encouragement is that if people have even the slightest interest in joining, they
should definitely do it,” said Triantopoulos, senior advertising/public relations major from Las Vegas. “At least attend an interest meeting because it’s the easiest, quickest way to get involved at ACU and to see how we function.”
SGA is an organization in which students are elected to represent the student body. SGA is responsible for planning events and distributing its budget, which is provided by student fees, to the student organizations on campus.
“I’m working with some artist who could come perform, but since none of that has been agreed upon by anybody,” said Springer. “I can’t reveal who’s in the running for those.” Springer and Triantopoulos are optimistic about this year and are excited about the upcoming elections.
“If you have a heart for service, it’s such a cool way to serve,” Triantopoulos said.
On-campus job opportunities available for students
Students have the opportunity to pursue on-campus jobs that allow them to experience the environment and benefits that off-campus jobs may not offer.
Jenaveve Anderson, junior child and family services major from El Paso, is the student team lead for Wildcat Central and said she loves her job and being able to help students and parents is her favorite part.
“I think it’s really special to be able to be helpful, to be a light when somebody comes into the office,” Anderson said.
Shonetta Black, junior criminal justice major from Odessa, also works in Wildcat Central and said she would recommend the job to anyone
who thinks they could handle both the workload and classes.
“I like it because it’s a good environment, we’re a chill, good working team, and it puts money in my pockets,” Black said.
Benefits of jobs at ACU include flexible scheduling, opportunities to build connections with staff and peers and resume-building. Applications and more information, such as hours, location and requirements, can be found in the on-campus job opportunities section on acu.edu.
Below are examples of current available positions:
• Excel tutor – University Access Programs is looking for Excel Tutors.
• Photography Student Intern – University marketing is looking for
talented photographers.
• Student Administrative Coordinator – Facilities Management seeks a professional and organized student employee.
• Videography Student Intern – The Marketing Departent is seeking a talented and creative student videographer.
• Office worker – The Agricultural and Environmental Science Department and the Mathematics Department are looking for organized students for their office.
• Purple White Event Staff – The Athletics Department is looking for a Game Operations Assistant.
• COBA Dean’s Office Front Desk – The COBA Dean’s office is looking for student employees with a customer
service focus.
• ACUTV – ACUTV is looking for students to help with live broadcasts.
Optimist seeks to serve students through multiple media outlets
BY BRYLIE LEACH NEWSLETTER EDITOR
First published in 1912, The Optimist has been a longstanding medium for students, faculty and alumni to get news about ACU and the Abilene community. The Optimist presents a unique opportunity for students with a love for journalism to get involved in their campus through the art of sharing news.
Ashley Henderson, junior journalism major from Argyle, is the current editor in chief on staff.
“We have a lot of different media outlets,” Henderson said. “We are reporting news and doing features on anything that’s happening on campus whether that’s student life or sports or really just anything that involves the community.”
The staff consists of reporters, editors, videographers and photographers. Reporters go out
to the community, conduct interviews and write stories to be published. Newsletter editors design and send out the semi-weekly newsletters, and copy editors proofread all content before publication. Videographers gather footage of events that are edited into the weekly newscast. The chief photographer manages the staff who acquires photo content.
Daniel Curd, junior advertising/public relations major from Denver, is this year’s chief photographer.
“As a photographer, the responsibilities are going out and taking pictures at an event, coming back and editing them and doing some slight adjustments, creating a gallery on our
website and then publishing them on Instagram and other means of social media,” Curd said.
Four physical print edition newspapers are released each year. The staff creates these newspapers on an online software before they are printed and distributed around campus. These
important issues are released during the first day of school, Homecoming, Sing Song and graduation. A fun paper called The Pessimist is released on April Fools’ Day containing satirical content.
Henderson said in addition to these physical copies, Optimist content
can be accessed through many social media platforms.
“ The Optimist has an Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and we have a YouTube channel,” Henderson said. “We also have our website, acuoptimist.com and newsletter.”
This year, ACUTV and The Optimist will join together in producing content.
In the past, the weekly newscast was recorded with two reporters sharing current events and news. Emily Rose, assistant ACUTV director and Optimist video adviser, said she hopes these changes will increase student engagement with the content as it becomes more catered for Instagram reels and students.
“Instead of doing a
newscast where we just have people sitting behind a desk …, we’re going to do weekly recaps,” Rose said. “We are going to do one to two long newscasts this semester.” Henderson said this opportunity is a great way to get involved in journalism whether you’re in the department and looking for experience and ways to get connected or an individual who simply loves writing and aims to improve communication skills and serve the community. Those interested are encouraged to email Ashley Henderson and explain what role they are interested in and how they can help The Optimist
“If you’re interested, I would say just go for it, reach out, see what you can do and how you can get involved,” Henderson said. “It really is a great opportunity, and it is such a blessing, and it will give you so many incredible experiences.”
• KACU – KACU is looking for students interested in being radio hosts. The Optimist – The
Optimist is looking for students to write news stories with communication skills.
NEWS REPORTER
PHOTO COURTESY OF SGA Students line up outside of SGA’s soda bar.
BY DANIEL CURD | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Jayla Johnson, sophomore criminal justice major from Allen, and Emi Aguilar junior advertising/public relations major from Poway, California, wave at new students.
BY MAKAYLA CLAYTON NEWS REPORTER
BY DANIEL CURD | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Makayla Clayton, sophomore journalism major from Rhome, writes a news story
Letting a New Light Shine
BY DANIEL CURD CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
New students line up at Beauchamp Amphitheatre at the beginning of Wildcat Week for a Candlelight Devotional.
BY SARAH EUNYOUNG THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Dr. Andrew Little, associate dean of the College of Business Administration delivers a speech to the new students.
BY DANIEL CURD CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
A new student gets checked in to her room at Bullock Hall.
BY SARAH EUNYOUNG THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHER Family members lay their hands over their student as President Phil Schubert prays over the new students.
BY SARAH EUNYOUNG THOMPSON | PHOTOGRAPHER
Sean Froehlich, percussionist for The 502s, bangs on the drums during the song “Just a Little While”.
BY SARAH EUNYOUNG THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHER
Ed Isola, lead vocalist of The 502s, sings the opening song “If Good Times Were Dollars.”
BY DANIEL CURD CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
A new student pets a dog during Wednesday’s free time event, Puppies and Pals.
BY DANIEL CURD CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Willie the Wildcat plays the bass guitar during the last song of the night.
SAVANNAH MORA COMMUNICATION DISORDERS FROM FRISCO
Savannah Mora hopes to utilize her skills and pursue a career as a speech-language pathologist.
“My interesting talents are dance, the ability to play the cello and a little bit of the bass guitar, and I used to teach kids how to dance,” she said.
In her field, Mora can incorporate these talents into therapy sessions to improve the quality of the session in a way that is effective for both the client and the clinician.
“Dance is such a great way to express everything that you can’t say out loud,” she said.
Mora is excited to help people and teach in a way that makes a difference. She said the sense of community is what brought her to start this next chapter as a wildcat.
“I’ve always wanted to have more Christian friends and be in a place where talking about God is a norm.”
EVA ARRIOLA MULTIMEDIA FROM BULVERDE
Originally drawn to ACU by the beauty of campus, kindness of the community and endless opportunities, Eva Arriola has discovered a pathway on campus that will lead to her dream coming true.
“I really like this college,” she said. “There are a lot of internships and pathways that I can use to get out there in the world.”
As a lover of movies, Arriola has an appreciation not only for what happens on the big screen but the magic that happens behind the scenes.
“Most people just see the movie and they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, that was good,’” But some don’t realize the amount of work and dedication that can go behind that.”
Camera work, editing and film are very interesting for her, and her ultimate dream is to be involved in film creation. To accomplish her dream, Arriola has decided to pursue a degree in multimedia.
“I really enjoy movies and shows, and I appreciate the people that make them,” she said. “I want to be a part of the people who make stuff like that happen because movies and entertainment are pretty important if people don’t really realize it.”
FISH STORIES
Incoming freshmen reflect on their journeys to campus
GRACIE RHODES KINESIOLOGY AND NUTRITION FROM HENDERSON, NEVADA
Football was once widely considered a game for boys, but Gracie Rhodes thought otherwise.
The freshman pre-occupational therapy major from Henderson, Nevada, this past season competed at the varsity level as the starting kicker for Lake Mead Academy.
Following a season in which head football coach Nate Oishi lost his starting kicker, he reached out to his twin varsity players, Gavin and Christian Rhodes, in hopes of recruiting their sister.
Gracie, who grew up playing soccer, was elated with the opportunity to play
JAMYSON STARRETT
MULTIMEDIA FROM FORNEY
Jamyson is coming to ACU for a multimedia degree, but is looking forward to his involvement as ACUTV as well.
“I’m most excited to get to meet new people and getting to experience new things with ACUTV.”
Jamyson felt called to ACU after his visit because of how the university felt, as well as the opportunities presented.
“I picked ACU because being able to get involved as a freshman and the student life was exactly what I wanted. The staff and faculty were super welcoming and made it an inviting community.”
alongside her brothers, she said.
“It was amazing to play at Allegiant Stadium (home of Las Vegas Raiders) and be immersed in such a unique, indoor and windless environment with my brothers,” said Gracie.
Not only did Gracie play football for her high school team, she excelled in it. That year winning the state championship for LMA, she finished that game with a perfect five-for-five PAT statline.
Additionally, Gracie led Nevada in extra points, gaining the accreditation of the 2A All-Southern League firstteam kicker.
As the lone kicker, however, Gracie said post game was a little lonely. After leaving the field following a win, she had to celebrate without her teammates, alone in the women’s coaching locker room.
“Next thing I knew, I was face to face with a black bear.”
Andrew Wisniewski was just 12 years old when he was heading to the woods to go camping in the Georgian Appalachian Mountains with his family. His dad, his stepmother and his dog Max, were with him.
While the family was setting up camp, Wisniewski said a black bear decided to approach the campsite.
“It was standing, mouth open, with teeth sharply overhead towering over me,” said Wisniewski,
However, his dog came rushing in, chasing the bear, and Wisniewski decided he “had to do something.”
This was when he decided to grab an axe to save Max, himself and his camp.
“I was very scared at first,” but then his bravery prevailed, paying off in the long run.
“As I grabbed the axe and moved away, the bear for some reason just turned around and left.”
Now Wisniewski never has gone camping again without his trusty axe.
KALE TORRE FINANCE FROM ALLEN
When Kale was looking at colleges, he knew that he wanted to attend a college that made him feel welcome and at home. On his first day on campus, he knew he was in the right place.
“I’ve run into a lot of nice people while we were moving in, we got tons of people offering to help and do whatever,” he said.
He wanted somewhere he could grow in his faith and worship God freely with his friends. One of his priorities was a school that allowed him to be plugged into the community and be able to do mission work through the ACU mission team and LYNAY. Previously, he gained mission experience locally in his city and on a trip to Ecuador last summer.
“I know there’s plenty of opportunities to do stuff around the globe or local and that’s one of the things that I was very interested in and wanted to make sure I was able to do,” he said.
ANDREW WISNIEWSKI BIBLE AND MINISTRY FROM AZLE
In season two, Salas has high hopes for soccer
BY HAYDEN
The women’s soccer season has started, and the Wildcats are hoping for a successful season with second year Head Coach Stephen Salas. Salas coached the Wildcats to a 7-9-2 record last season, which was one spot short of a place in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Since ACU will host the WAC tournament this season, Salas hopes to make it and have the support of Wildcat fans at Elmer Gray Stadium.
“There’s a lot of motivation around it, and we’ve just been telling the girls to trust the process and to keep our eyes on the goal,” Salas said. “We’re aiming for a top four finish in the regular season, the top six teams make it. Yes, we could aim for first, but we just want to be re-
alistic of where we’re at.”
Salas brought in his first recruiting class this offseason which includes forwards Raegan Hollis from Wylie and Raelin Miller from Winter Park, Florida, midfielder Amelia Miller from Winter Park, Florida and defender Gracie Kelly from Carona, California. Salas believes all four freshmen will make big impacts this season.
“In the past couple of games, three of the four have started, and all four have gotten playing time,” Salas said. “Our most prolific one has been Gracie Kelly, who stepped in at the center back position and played at a high level.”
The team is returning key players Peyton Hill, redshirt sophomore forward from Laguna Niguel, California, and Amelia Leggett, junior forward from Wylie. Hill
and Leggett were two of the top scorers on the team last year, scoring a combined 14 points.
Another key contributor who will be a leader for this team is Chayse Thorn, senior forward from Rowlett. Thorn was named to the preseason All-WAC team, recognizing the leadership and skill that she brings to the team.
“For Chayse, it’s being a leader by demonstration,” Salas said. “We just have her go out and play to the best of her ability and trust the process.”
The Wildcats tied against University of Texas at El Paso 0-0 on Aug. 17, and they were scheduled to play Lamar University last Thursday.
The Wildcats will face three opponents that made the NCAA tournament last year, including Mississippi State, University of Texas at San
Antonio and University of North Texas. A key matchup for the Wildcats will be Mississippi State, which is one of the top programs in the country going into the season.
“We’re going into it
BY
with the mindset and mentality that we’re going to win,” Salas said. “The girls are excited about it, but at the same time we’re focusing on game by game. My biggest vision is to create a top 15
program at the mid-major level, and this is going to be a gauge of where we’re at.”
The Wildcats will play their next home game on Sept. 15 against UNT at 1 p.m.
Volleyball team takes confident approach to season
BY LINDSEY BLASINGAME SPORTS REPORTER
Everything in moderation, except when it comes to talent. Volleyball head coach Ijeoma Moronu Alstrup said her main challenge this season will be picking the starting six.
“Right now we have a lot of really good competition on the court,” Moronu Alstrup said. “I think [the starting six] might change throughout the season, which is exciting, but obviously also a challenge for the coaching staff.”
Moronu Alstrup and Bryley Steinhilber, senior outside hitter from Kennedale, have both
been pleased throughout the summer with how well the team is working together, especially with the large number of newcomers.
“Everyone’s talked about how this team is the closest that we’ve ever been all four years that I’ve been here,” Steinhilber said, “and I think that’s definitely true.”
The two transfers who joined the team in the offseason, Sasha Stolter, redshirt sophomore from Quincy, Ohio, and Nieko Thomas, senior from West Hills, California, each play the middle position and have intensified the competitive nature of the team
BY HANNAH PARK | PHOTOGRAPHER
in practice, their coach said. Six freshmen also joined the team during the summer and have
exceeded expectations in how quickly they have adapted to the quicker pace of college athletics, Steinhilber said.
In the month before conference play starts, the Wildcats will play in four tournaments, which will provide a better opportunity to test out different lineups and find the right rhythm before facing WAC opponents.
To make the endof-season tournament, the Wildcats will have to finish as one of the top eight teams in conference play. Moronu Alstrup thinks that in order to achieve this, the team needs to continue playing with the same effort and energy that they have shown throughout the summer, especially from the middle blocker position.
“We definitely want to run our offense through the middles, so it’s super important to us that our middles are always up in transition and ready to swing,” Moronu Alstrup said. “It’s also super important for the middles to have a good defensive game.”
The Wildcats ended last season with an 1118 record, and hope to improve on their eighth place conference finish. Consistency will be key for the team this season, Moronu Alstrup said.
“It really doesn’t matter who’s on the other side of the court as long as we’re focusing on what we’re doing,” she said.
DANIEL CURD | CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER ACU and Utah Tech gather for a moment of community.
Sara Carrizales, junior libero and defensive specialist from Arlington, and Andie Sheppard, outside hitter from Midland, attempt to receive the ball.
‘It’s a philosophy’: Wildcats launch new air raid offense
Football will have a new look in 2024 after transitioning its offensive style to an “air raid” offense. This change comes after the Wildcats averaged 26 points per game in 2023 and went 5-6 and 3-3 in conference in their 2023 season.
The air raid offense originated with Mike Leach and Hal Mumme during their time as coaches at Iowa Wesleyan College and Valdosta State University. The offense is based on playing simple, fast and spread out. Similar to a spread-style offense, an air raid often puts an emphasis on finding gaps in the defense while pushing the ball vertically and working at a fast pace.
The switch to this new style could bode well for starting quarterback Maverick McIvor, who is coming off of a career year in 2023, during which he averaged 179 yards per game, threw 17 touchdowns to only five interceptions and carried a 127.81 passer rating into the end of the season.
During the United Athletic Conference media day in Arlington in July, McIvor said he was optimistic about the new style.
“It’s a system that I’ve run since I was in seventh grade, we’re really excited about it,” he said.
McIvor also said the team has been able to build
chemistry over the summer and throughout training camp.
“Confidence comes from player adaptability and reliability within each other,” he said. “This summer has been huge for us. I think we’ve done a really good job of coming together and playing together. Getting to know people’s stories is huge for us at ACU.”
Head coach Keith Patterson, now entering his third year in the role, brought in Rick Bowie as the team’s new offensive coordinator in January 2024. Bowie was mostly recently the offensive coordinator at Valdosta
State University, going 12-2 last season and appearing in the NCAA Div. II quarterfinals. Bowie called plays and led the team to win the Gulf South Conference, averaging 36.9 points per game.
Bowie has been placed by the team’s response to the change throughout the transition and preseason.
“There’s been a ton of buy-in – I love the excitement the players have,” he said. “I have a ton of appreciation for the guys for that.”
The buy-in from the players has helped the offense get rolling through camp. Installing a new
offensive system can be a long and difficult process, but Bowie is optimistic about the team’s approach and situation.
Bowie had nothing but praise for his new signal caller, McIvor.
“Mav is a guy who is a great example of familiarity with the air raid,” he said.
Bowie also said McIvor had been a leader in the new offense from the beginning and was a huge reason for the offensive buy-in.
“I’ve been really pleased with what Mav has been able to do, and I’m looking forward to the year,” he said.
Bowie also praised the UAC, noting the number of good teams while respecting that every game will be a good one.
“In the UAC, there’s no weeks off, so bringing it week in and week out is going to be the opportunity to continue to work on ourselves and see where we’re at,” he said.
The air raid offense is often misunderstood because of the name. Rather than being an all-passing offense or a pass-heavy offense, it is a style that focuses on creating space and using numbers to gain
the advantage.
“It’s not really a series of plays as much as it’s a philosophy.”
Bowie is confident the Wildcats will be able to run the ball well in his offense, especially when the weather cools later in the season.
The Wildcats offense also added J.J. Henry, a wide receiver from Ole Miss. Henry did not see the field much in his time as a Rebel, despite being a receiver with a lot of talent and athletic ability.
“The ball naturally gravitates towards him because he’s open,” Bowie said. “Good receivers, the ball finds you. The ball just finds him.”
While Bowie did not say what he was specifically planning to do with Henry, his arrival came at a great time as ACU lost receivers Cooper McCasland and Waydale Jones to graduation after the 2023 season.
In the preseason coaches’ poll, ACU ranked sixth out of the nine teams in the United Athletic Conference, with 43 points. Central Arkansas University and Tarleton State University headed the list with 77 and 74 points, 20 points ahead of third-place Southern Utah University. This 20-point gap suggests a lopsided year in the UAC after last season’s poll had the top five teams all within 20 points.
Benefits of FBS matchups go beyond financial gain
BY LINDSEY BLASINGAME SPORTS REPORTER
From the moment the Wildcats step into Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, they will be $375,000 richer, even before time runs off the clock.
In an agreement made in 2017, Texas Tech University agreed to host the Wildcats for two games, one on Saturday, and the other in September 2026.
Alumni and student athletes appreciate seeing big matchups like this, even though the smaller schools are often outmatched.
“I think our alums enjoy going and seeing these places and watching ACU play in stadiums or arenas that they never thought ACU would have,” said Zack Lassiter, vice president of athletics.
While larger schools use games like this as an opportunity to
add a likely win to their record early in the season, smaller schools like ACU use it to grow their athletic programs and to reach new recruits. Games like this one bring attention to the smaller schools, especially if they are able to pull off the upset, just as the Wildcats hope to do Saturday.
“I think playing these games and winning games like that makes us a more attractive place for student-athletes to come because they feel like they can get a great education in a great environment,” Lassiter said.
Even if the final score likely will not favor the Wildcats, the money earned will make the outing worth it. Lassiter said most of the money earned from these games will go toward the football program, while some will go to a
general athletic fund.
“It’s something that helps every one of our teams, but probably most helps football,” he said.
It is unusual for big matchups like this to
be scheduled in pairs, but not unheard of.
Just as ACU faced Texas A&M last season, and brought in $550,000 for the program, the Wildcats have another game in
College Station in a couple of years.
Lassiter said he is thankful for big games like these and the attention it brings to the Department of Athletics.
“A lot of the big state
schools are – if they play these games – trying to help other programs in the state like us,” he said. “I think our fans enjoy being able to go to these games.”
Patterson, McIvor prep for return to Lubbock and Tech reunion
For head football coach Keith Patterson and quarterback Maverick McIvor, this weekend’s trip to Lubbock will seem a bit like deja vu.
Both joined the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2019, Patterson as defensive coordinator and McIvor as a potential quarterback. And when Patterson took the head coaching position at ACU, McIvor followed.
The quarterback is entering his last year of eligibility and beginning the year with a bit of a full circle moment, going back to where it started for him.
McIvor, a talent that was highly recruited after a stellar high school career at Central High, had 17 Div. I offers to choose from, ultimately choosing to attend Tech. However, injuries, more specifically an ACL and meniscus tear, significantly held him back. This injury stripped away his availability, causing him to never truly become solidified as a No. 1 guy for
the Red Raiders. Patterson conversely had a bit more of a traditional career in Lubbock. As defensive coordinator, in his final year he was able to win the Liberty Bowl against Mississippi
State. In that game, his defense surrendered only seven points while facing the great record-setting “air raid” offense mastermind, Mike Leach. While he’s looking forward to his return to
Lubbock, Patterson said he’s not looking to settle scores.
“I am so happy about the time spent in Lubbock,” he said. “I believe that we truly left it better than we found it. It
was three incredible years there, with an entire community of support. Those people are truly the salt of the earth.”
However, these games are more than about past relationships, now
three years removed it is time to compete and win for his new program in ACU, he said.
Patterson realizes he’s now the underdog. Nonetheless, he emphasized ACU is there to win. He said the team’s mentality this season is: “Respect everyone and fear no one.” He said one of the biggest challenges his players will face is a star Tech running back he had a hand in recruiting, Tahj Brooks. Brooks is 1,167 yards away from the Tech rushing yard record, and it is almost certain he will surpass that because he ran for 1,538 yards last year.
“Tahj deserves all the recognition received,” Patterson said. “If you can’t stop him you will be in for a long evening.” Patterson said he is not staying committed to any specific coverage.
“We are prepared to do a great job of mixing things up,” he said. If Patterson and McIvor can be successful, they have an opportunity to make this homecoming especially sweet.
PHOTO BY DANIEL CURD
Tristan Golightly, 2023 wide reciever from Mesquite, celebrates with Maverick McIvor, graduate quarterback from San Angelo, during the 2023 Homecoming game against Northern Alabama.
PHOTO BY RILEY FISHER
Cirby Coheley, senior linebacker from Iowa Park, chases down his opponent.
PHOTO BY ASHLEY HENDERSON
Maverick McIvor, graduate quarterback from San Angelo, celebrates a touchdown with Jed Castles, junior tight end from Wichita Falls.