2014 APSU
ATHLETICS ANNUAL REPORT
Dear Austin Peay supporters: One year ago I accepted the athletics director position at Austin Peay State University. When I accepted this opportunity, I did not fully comprehend or appreciate how fortunate I was to be offered this position. It became very evident within a few short months. The people of this great University and its supporting community have a special passion for what it means to be a Governor. Our student-athletes clearly understand the balance between athletic and academic excellence. They are striving for success in competition, but understand graduation, academic integrity and informed decisions about degree selection are paramount to the Austin Peay Mission and this Athletics program. I have been blessed with coaches and staff who are passionate about doing things right. Former Athletics Director Dave Loos created the Culture of Excellence we are celebrating today. Each day I arrive at work, I am met by a staff eager, willing and determined to move Austin Peay forward to meet the challenges of tomorrow. I work with a campus community of faculty and staff who clearly understand the appropriate balance of academic mission and athletics experience. They work in concert with us every day to position the Athletics program for success and to leverage athletics to enhance the students, alumni and fans’ experiences. They want athletics success, but they want to achieve it with integrity and sportsmanship. Finally, Austin Peay is wrapped by a community of fans, alumni, corporate partners, military and supporters who go the extra mile to ensure continued program success. They freely give their time and money to help position Governors athletics for success. Every time I sit in a Governors Club meeting and see the generations of people who have dedicated their lives to this great University, I am humbled and honored to be sitting in this chair leading. One of the core values we discussed quite a bit this year is the word Tradition. We do not discuss this much in this report; however, you are going to see work in this area take life in this next year. I am committed to making sure we build on the people, the history and legendary stories of this great institution. You can’t achieve greatness until you have celebrated and recognized your past. We have started a few initiatives you will see in the fall, but more will follow this upcoming year. I hope you have a chance to return to campus to see the work that will be done in this area. This report presents the achievements and goals of our Athletics Department. Please read and provide any feedback on how we can continue to serve your needs as fans and supporters of this program. We will continue to pursue of Culture of Excellence in the classroom, competition and in our community each and every day! Thank you for your support and commitment to Austin Peay State University.
LET’S GO PEAY!
Derek van der Merwe Athletics Director
THANK
YOU! APSU
The Athletics Department would like to thank all of our fans, donors and sponsors!
OUR PURPOSE A Culture of Excellence in the Classroom, in Competition and in our Community.
CORE VALUES
EXCELLENCE TRADITION INTEGRITY OPPORTUNITY COMMUNITY OUR MISSION A u s t i n P e ay S t a t e U n i ve r s i t y ’ s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics strives to maintain a Division I athletics program that serves and supports the Academic Mission of the University. The student-athlete experience is the core mission and focus of the athletics program as it maintains a culture of excellence in the classroom, in competition and in our community. Our traditions and the people they represent celebrate our past and define our future.
WITH GREAT CHANGE COMES
GREAT OPPORTUNITY
BRANDING INITIATIVES MOVES APSU INTO NEW ERA A glance at Austin Peay State University shows a campus on the rise – Tennessee’s fastest growing university. A closer look at the Athletics Department reveals a similar situation bolstered by a multi-million dollar renovation in progress at Governors Stadium along with new video boards in the Dunn Center all presenting a great opportunity. In order to capitalize on growth and increase brand recognition, the need to develop an innovative and cohesive athletics brand identity became paramount. As Austin Peay Athletics has evolved, so has the need for consistency across all sports to include logo marks and typography. The strength in consistency lies in the ability to better distinguish the history and traditions unique to Austin Peay, while also representing its strategic vision moving forward. The Governor icon, which pays homage to former Tennessee governor and university namesake Austin Peay, has evolved over the years from a jovial, round-headed gentleman in the 1940s and 50s to a mustachioed, dignified character in the 1980s. The ‘new Gov’ is a modernized, forward-facing gentleman with a stern look, meant to represent a stronger, sleeker upgrade while keeping the base trappings of Austin Peay’s iconic figure. “The updated brand components – of which the new Governor mascot emblem is the most significant piece – has been carefully developed with the fan experience in mind,” said Jeff Bibb, of BLF Marketing. “Austin Peay alumni and fans can look forward to purchasing visually
striking and boldly branded apparel to show their passion and support the University’s athletics program.” The red coat, top hat, monocle and classic necktie take on symbolic meaning long found within the Governors Club infrastructure. Those four symbols represent the organization’s donation levels, giving the department’s valued donors a personal connection with the Govs’ new appearance. The ‘AP’ mark – which has been a university-wide symbol since 1977 – also is getting a sleeker look. Slight adjustments will greatly increase the University’s marketability through merchandising. “The AP logo is one of the most recognizable brand marks in the OVC,” said Mike O’Malley, an APSU Governors Club board member, equipped with branding experience. O’Malley served eight years on the Wendy’s National Advertising Board, including one year as President. He most recently worked on the update and enhancements of the Wendy’s logo and brand marks. “Any changes or adjustments made had to be well thought out. These changes may be subtle, but they create a cleaner, more readable mark that will work better in all uses.” The new marks are designed to appeal to a younger generation while maintaining the logo’s sophisticated look, and will be adopted by the university as well. “Austin Peay has sustained a culture of excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in our community because of outstanding people and leadership,” said Athletics
Director Derek van der Merwe. “We are going to build on this solid foundation with a set of initiatives that will help to invite and engage our community to experience the great things happening at this University. I invite you come to campus to see how this University is growing and flourishing.” The arrival of van der Merwe as Austin Peay atheletics director of athletics has sparked a renewed focus on the athletic department’s brand. It’s an all-encompassing endeavor incorporating the department’s core values of excellence, tradition, integrity, opportunity and community, along with new branding marks and typography to make the Austin Peay brand more identifiable. Althought the marks were designed by nationally-recognized design firm Joe Bosack and Co., which has created sports logos for Mississippi State, Boise State, UNLV, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Southeastern Conference, the concepts were home grown. For approximately seven months, a committee of Austin Peay staff, students, student-athletes and alumni, along with local business and community leaders worked to develop an image that represents the mission and core values on which the department stands. The concepts were brought before a number of diverse focus groups that included Austin Peay’s Staff and Faculty Senates, the President’s Cabinet, Student Government Association, Governors Club and individual athletics teams. “Developing an innovative and consistent brand identity for APSU Athletics through its logos and marks was no easy task to take,” said Kevin Carter (’77), a member of the Governors football 1977 OVC Championship team. “The process had to build on the history and traditions of Austin Peay athletics, while representing its mission and core values. van der Merwe and his staff did an outstanding job of including all stakeholders in the process. The end result is a number of marks that meets the needs and expectations of those stakeholders.” “This new identity represents a lot of positive change that will quickly transform the way our students, alumni and community engage this campus,” said SGA President Mike Rainier. “This is something we can all be proud of.” A customized typography for use across the athletics department also will be included in the new redesign. The combinations will be used with the updated Governors and ‘AP’ logo, in addition to specific identities for various team sports, the Governors Club and the Peay!Nuts student fan club. LetsGoPeay.com changed servers in June, with an updated website layout and new video integration among the new features fore visitors. Merchandise featuring the new identity will begin showing up at area retailers during the summer. All university athletic squads will be outfitted with the new marks beginning in Fall 2014.
“
The updated brand components – of which the new Governor mascot emblem is the most significant piece – has been carefully developed with the fan experience in mind.” -Jeff Bibb, BLF MARKETING
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Marketing, Promotion and Communication Excellence GOAL 10 Develop a strategy to improve overall brand and mark position for the Athletics Department. Create a highly disciplined system of managing brand development.
NEW THREADS APSU ENTERS HISTORIC DEAL WITH RUSSELL ATHLETIC
For the first time in its athletics history, Austin Peay State University has an official uniform and apparel outfitter of its athletic teams. APSU announced in May it had reached a five-year agreement with Russell Brands, LLC, parent company of the Russell Athletic® brand. APSU athletes and teams will use Russell Athletic® apparel, accessories and other items through 2019. “Russell Athletic couldn’t be happier to partner with such a tremendous university like Austin Peay,” Russell Athletic Senior Vice President General Manager Robby Davis said. “We look forward to being able to showcase Austin Peay athletes in the best that Russell Athletic has to offer.” The five-year contract is worth more than $500,000 in product, sponsorship and additional benefits. APSU’s new Russell apparel will be distributed on campus through the Ann Ross Bookstore and Govs Game Day locations in new Governors Stadium, the Dunn Center and Raymond C. Hand Park, with par-
ent company Nebraska Book Company (Neebo), handling all online sales via GovsGear.com. “Neebo is thrilled to be able to provide collegiate products and services to a campus so focused on developing their athletics,” said Bill Zeuch, Neebo senior vice president of merchandising, marketing and eCommerce. “With the new partnership between the campus and Russell Athletic, our store is eager to be the top provider of fan gear, not only at the bookstore, but also at the new store at Governors Stadium, on GovsGear.com, and at the Dunn Center and Hand Park. “Students, parents, fans, alumni and faculty can pick up the latest Russell Athletic gear at any of these locations and be ready to cheer their favorite Govs team onto a victory.” In addition, new Austin Peay Athletics/Russell apparel will be available for sale at Walmart store locations and at Academy Sports + Outdoors. Both Walmart and Academy Sports recently entered into multiyear partnership agreements with Austin Peay athletics and will be carrying branded apparel line.
“We are excited about this relationship with Russell Athletic,” said Derek van der Merwe, APSU’s athletics director. “Russell’s rich history in sports and its long-standing culture of excellence makes the brand a perfect partner for APSU athletics. The quality of their products will provide our athletes confidence that such a strong and trusted brand is behind their every step. “Not only will our student-athletes benefit from an outstanding product that will brand the entire Athletics Department as one team, but our local partners will be able to extend this brand into our entire community of alumni, fans and supporters.” “I think having a new everything adds to the excitement of the new brand and new logo,” said APSU volleyball player Jada Stotts, who also will be President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. “Having a new logo on a new brand I personally think it is just a great new start for our athletic program. Everyone will be wearing Russell and it is important for all of us to look as one.”
“
I had never had Russell gear before so I didn’t know what to expect before we tried on the clothes, but I was really happy with the range of uniforms they had for volleyball; the material was really nice as well as the travel clothes. We liked the (clothing) designs and how they fit—everything was just really good quality—certainly up to our expectations.” -Jada Stotts,
“ “
APSU VOLLEYBALL
ABOUT RUSSELL ATHLETIC ® Russell Brands, LLC is a Fruit of the Loom company headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky. For more than 100 years, Russell Athletic® has supplied America’s athletes and teams with the latest innovations in sports apparel. Russell Athletic® is also a leading supplier of team uniforms at the high school, college and professional level. Russell Athletic® activewear and college licensed products are distributed and marketed through department stores, sports specialty stores, retail chains and college bookstores around the country. For more information, please visit www.RussellAthletic.com.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Marketing, Promotion & Communications Excellence GOAL 10 Improve point of sale position for Athletics program branded apparel. Develop system to evolve distribution and visibility.
It’s very exciting to have our department partnering with Russell Athletic. Russell has a great history of being a provider of quality equipment, and being a great service provider after sales.” -Kirby Cannon, APSU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
I like the product. With the new (logo), it is going to be recognized by everyone and I like the idea that the whole athletic department is going to be wearing the same (Russell) brand.” -Jared Carkuff, APSU BASEBALL
170 10 16 APSU of
teams posted a
3.0 GPA for the fall semester.
student-athletes were named to the Spring ‘14 ATHLETICS DIRECTOR’S HONOR ROLL including
54.3% of the department ’s student-athletes
student-athletes on the
PRESIDENT’S LIST led by the
GOVERNORS
men’s tennis team which posted a
3.63 GPA,
recording a perfect
4.0 GPA
85
during the fall semester
student-athletes. named to
with FOUR of the team’s SIX members named to the
DEAN’S LIST, including THREE that received
PRESIDENT’S LIST HONORS.
APSU’S
DEAN’S LIST STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Academic Excellence GOAL 2 Maintain GSR Rates that exceed institutional graduates rates for overall program.
313 student-athletes posted a 2.914 grade-point average during the completed Spring 2014 semester.
GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE
34% 76% OVERALL INSTITUTION RATE
“
OVERALL STUDENTATHLETE RATE
Our academic success is a measure of who we are and what we stand for and is the most important thing we work on.” -Derek van der Merwe, APSU ATHLETICS DIRECTOR
Seven senior Austin Peay football players were part of The 2014 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society, comprised of college football players from all divisions who maintain a 3.2 GPA or better. Defensive Lineman Reese Bulmash Linebacker/Fullback Josh Carroll Offensive Lineman Kyle Harrison Linebacker Jared Sexton Defensive End Iosua Siliva Offensive Tackle Ben Stansfield Offensive Tackle Gavin Willisson
EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
BEN STANSFIELD
IOSUA SILIVA
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS A pair of senior Austin Peay football players, offensive tackle Ben Stansfield and defensive lineman Iosua Siliva, were named Capital One Second-Team Division I Academic All-Americans, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
BEN STANSFIELD
Through his first six APSU semesters, Stanfield made nothing less than an A as a pre-law/psychology major. He was awarded the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award, the highest individual honor bestowed on league student-athletes. Stansfield was a member of the President’s List (4.0 GPA) his first six semesters and earned the Ohio Valley Conference Medal of Honor—owning the highest GPA for the year in a conference-sponsored sport-in each of his first three college years. Stansfield was a three-time OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll (3.25 GPA/year) selection and was a member of the Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (3.0 GPA) each semester. Graduating in December in 3 ½ years, he was named the APSU Football Scholar-Athlete the last three years. Stansfield was a member of APSU Honors College as well as Gamma Beta Honor Society. He also was involved in both the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Stansfield also served as the football team representative on the committee to hire Kirby Cannon as APSU’s football coach. On the field, the Franklin native moved into the starting lineup as a junior after being a part-time starter/reserve his first two seasons. He was named preseason All-OVC by the league sports information directors and coaches.
IOSUA SILIVA
Siliva held a 3.94 GPA in Agricultural-Sustainable Development through his first six semesters. He was a four-time member of the President’s List along with two other semesters on the Dean’s List (3.5 GPA). He also was a three-time member of the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll and a six-time Athletics Director’s Honor Roll member. He received the OVC Medal of Honor in 2012-13 for owning the highest GPA (4.0) for his respective conference sport. Despite his academic success in high school, he nearly was not admitted to Austin Peay, needing committee action to do so. A Vailoa, America Samoa native, Siliva was chosen as the Fox College Sports Student-Athlete of the Game when the Govs played host to Tennessee Tech in the 2012 season finale. Siliva moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore at defensive end. After playing much of 2012 inside, he was shifted back to defensive end late in the season. He remained at defensive end for season’s remainder. This season Siliva was named to the Senior Bowl Preseason Watch team as well as to Phil Steele’s Preseason All-OVC team. However, he missed nearly the entire month of October with a leg fracture. He returned to play the season’s final two games
EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
ACADEMIC
ALL-AMERICAN
OVC TEAM ACADEMIC AWARDS Austin Peay’s volleyball and men’s tennis teams were recognized for their achievement in the classroom last season, each earning their respective Ohio Valley Conference Team Academic Achievement Award.
MOLLY BASCH Senior Austin Peay pole vaulter Molly Basch earned third-team Capital One Women’s Track and Field Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The honor is the first of Basch’s career and the first by an Austin Peay track athlete since Carrie Burggraf (first team) and Shamai Larsen (second team) were honored in 2010. It also was APSU third Academic All-America selection in the 201314 academic year.
The Team Academic Achievement Awards, which were first awarded in 2004-05, are presented annually in each conference-sponsored sport to the team with the greatest percentage of its eligible student-athletes who achieved at least a 3.25 grade-point average during the academic year. The Govs tennis team saw six players post at least a 3.25 GPA last season: Sean Bailey, Andrew Kerr, Dimitar Ristovski, Iago Seffrin, John Storie and Aleksas Tverijonas. Austin Peay shared this season’s award with Jacksonville State – the fourth time in the last five years APSU has claimed at least a share of the men’s tennis team academic achievement honor.
Basch graduated in May with a degree in psychology after earning a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during her collegiate career. Basch’s academic exploits earned her a share of Austin Peay’s Female
“I’m very proud of the men on our team,” said Govs head tennis coach Ross Brown. “Not only are they good tennis players but they’re doing what they should be doing in the classroom. It’s satisfying from a coach’s perspective that we’re doing well academically and athletically. And it’s very nice to honored by the OVC as well.”
Scholar-Athlete Award, her second straight, and the Governors Club Academic Achievement Award at April’s Athletic Awards Banquet. She also was awarded the track and field Scholar-Athlete honor, her second in as many years. Basch earned the Governors Club Academic Achievement Scholarship following her junior year.
Austin Peay’s volleyball team won its third team academic honor from the league – the 2012-13 honor joining its back-to-back awards in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Nine Lady Govs student-athletes posted a 3.25 GPA last season: April Adams, Cami Fields, Calyn Hull, Liz Landon, Aubrey Marsellis, Hillary Plybon, Alex Sain, Jada Stotts and Samantha Strother.
In her final season in an Austin Peay uniform, Basch set personal-bests in both indoor (3.22m) and outdoor (3.53m) pole vault. She won the Battle of the Cumberland, April 22, and earned points at both the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor (eighth) and Outdoor (fifth) Championships. “This is obviously a great award for Molly,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “It speaks to the kind of student-athlete she was for us. She brought the same commitment every day to her work in practice and in the classroom. We’re very proud of her and what she was able to accomplish.”
“I am proud of this team,” said Lady Govs head volleyball coach Taylor Mott. “Not only did we excel in the classroom; we did so while making huge strides on the volleyball court. It is always gratifying to see a team receive recognition for its accomplishments – especially for what they do behind the scenes.” It is the fifth consecutive year at least two Austin Peay teams have earned the OVC Team Academic Achievement Award in their respective sport. Nine APSU teams have earned a total of 20 awards in the nine years the honors have been awarded.
LADY GOVS EARN NCAA RECOGNITION
“
It always has been our team philosophy to put academics first. I am proud of the hard work our girls do to ensure success in the classroom. I also appreciate the support our student-athletes receive from our administration, including the effort Sonya Bain and her staff in academic services put forth to help our student-athletes.” -Sara Robson, LADY GOVS HEAD GOLF COACH
For the second consecutive season, Austin Peay women’s golf team earned a Public Recognition Award from the NCAA based on the most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR). The awards are given to teams scoring in the top 10 percent of the multi-year Academic Progress Rates (APR), which is part of the NCAA’s academic reform program. Each year, the NCAA tracks the classroom performance of student-athletes on every Division I team through the annual scorecard of academic achievement, known as APR. The rate measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic performance in each sport. The most recent APRs are multi-year rates based on scores from the 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Academic Excellence GOAL 5 Develop a comprehensive structure for annually reviewing academic services for the Athletics Committee. Review should include but not limited to: Admission Profiles, Graduation Rates & APR Rates.
EXCELLENCE IN COMPETITION
OVC HONORS
DI SALVO EARNS
ALL-OVC
Junior Ornella Di Salvo, of the Austin Peay women’s tennis team, was named to the Ohio Valley Conference all-conference second team, at the annual awards banquet prior to the start of the league Tournament. The Argentinian-bred Di Salvo was 9-10 during the spring campaign, posting a 4-6 conference mark and splitting her time between No. 2 (5-5) and No. 1 (4-5) singles. After starting the year 0-4, Di Salvo posted a 9-6 mark the rest of the way. A trio of Austin Peay baseball freshmen received postseason honors at the Ohio Valley Conference baseball banquet prior to the start of May’s OVC Baseball Championship. Alex Robles was named the OVC’s Rookie of the Year and was tapped as a second-team All-OVC pick as a starting pitcher and selected to the league’s All-Freshman team. Ridge Smith got the nod as a first-team All-OVC pick as a utility player and was selected to the All-Freshman squad. Cayce Bredlau joined his freshmen teammates on the league’s All-Freshman team.
5 LOUISVILLE SLUGGER
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN TEAM Seven Ohio Valley Conference baseball players have been named to the 2014 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American Team as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. This year’s selections include five players from Austin Peay. Dre Gleason Logan Gray
Ridge Smith
Cayce Bredlau Alex Robles
ADEMOVIC FIRST-TEAM
A L L- OVC
Senior Jasmin Ademovic was named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference for the fourth time, becoming the first player in program history to earn first-team honors in each of his four Austin Peay seasons. In addition, juniors Aleksas Tverijonas and Dimitar Ristovski each found their way onto one of the two all-conference teams for a third consecutive season, giving Austin Peay at least three players with All-OVC honors in each of the last four seasons. “These guys are all extreme competitors,” said head coach Ross Brown. “I think they really show the younger players what it takes. They’ve got loads of ability, but they also work hard and represent our university well.”
A R I Z AS
REACH NEW HEIGHTS
The most decorated soccer players in Austin Peay history will take their talents to the next level. Tatiana and Natalia Ariza have signed contracts with the Houston Aces of the Women’s Premier Soccer League, the 2013 runners-up in the 11-conference league. The duo commuted to Houston to train on weekends while they finished their degrees and joined the team full-time upon graduating in May. For the twins, the contracts represent the fulfillment of a lifelong goal: playing professional soccer on the same team. “We’ve been working toward this opportunity ever since we got here,” said Natalia. “We’re very happy and excited – we get to continue to do what we love at a high level.” The duo left their mark on Austin Peay in a big way. Tatiana was a four-time All-OVC first-team selection who earned 2012 OVC Offensive Player of the Year honors, a first for Austin Peay’s program. Natalia also was a four-time AllOVC choice, and the pair represented Austin Peay at the
international level with their native Colombia in the 2012 London Olympics and at the 2010 U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. Together, they led Austin Peay to a 48-27-5 record and the program’s first two OVC Tournament Championship match appearances during their four years in Clarksville. Tatiana finished her career as the leading scorer in Austin Peay history and the second-leading scorer all-time among OVC players. Now, they turn their sights to the next challenge. “With every team, you have to work your way into a starting role,” said Tatiana. “We have to work hard for everything at such a high level.” “It’s helpful to have my sister with me,” said Natalia. “We support each other on and off the field and have for years.” The twins remained in Clarksville until May, when both graduated from Austin Peay – both majored in business, with Tatiana concentrating on international management and Natalia in business marketing.
EXCELLENCE IN COMPETITION
HENDERSON GOES BIG Next time you get nervous, just remember how Lauren Henderson handles her nerves. The 6-0 middle-blocker recently had what, for many, would be among the most nerve-wracking experiences of her life: trying out for the United States Women’s National Volleyball Team. And if nerves were ever a factor, she never let on. “When I left, I told Ariel (Apolinario) and Coach (Taylor) Mott that there was no need for me to be nervous,” Henderson said. “There’s 247 other girls going that can be nervous for me. When you’re nervous, you play timid and play scared and act like you don’t know what you’re doing. Getting to play with the best, there was no time to be nervous.” Henderson, who completed her Austin Peay career last fall, would’ve been excused if she’d come down with a bit of anxiety. After all, this is the U.S. National Team – coached by the legendary Karch Kiraly, silver-medal winners at the 2012 London Olympics and one of the favorites for gold at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games. Henderson’s credentials are impressive – Ohio Valley Conference all-conference and all-tournament in 2013 and a three-year starter for the Lady Govs. During OVC play, Henderson led all league blockers with 75 stops, averaging 1.27 per set. She also ranked fourth in both service aces (21, 0.36 per set) and points scored (3.79 per set) while finishing fifth in attack percentage (.326).
“
My main goal was to represent where I come from. Yeah, I come from a small conference but it’s gritty. I’m gritty. We play nasty and everyone is aggressive. I wanted to show what the OVC is all about and educate people with my play.” -Lauren Henderson, APSU VOLLEYBALL
But with athletes representing the big schools from the SEC, ACC and Pac-12, among others, an undersized middle from an OVC school would surely go overlooked. Or not. Of course, the big question on everyone’s mind is: So, how did you do? “I thought I was doing really well,” Henderson said. “I was going out to both pins, blocking a girl who was 6-5. I felt really good, because I had been worried about blocking girls who were three or four inches taller than me – I was one of the shortest middles there. After the first day, I felt like I was top-five in my group and I thought I was there throughout most of the second day as well. “Everyone wants the same thing in that situation; you’re all competing for the same spots. During a regular Austin Peay practice it’s competitive, but if you didn’t bring your A-game (in Colorado Springs) at every session, they’d just check you off and overlook you.” “It was really fun,” Henderson said of her time in Colorado Springs. “It was exciting to play with the best in the nation. I did the best I could with the opportunities I was given that weekend.”
1,000 POINTS! WILL TRIGGS
TRAVIS BETRAN
WILL TRIGGS Betran also became Austin Peay’s single-season (87.7 percent/107-of-122) and career (86.1 percent/ 199of-231) free-throw record holder. His career mark barely broke the record held by Tim Thomas (86.67 percent/1978-79) while his career mark easily eclipsed Howard Gorrell’s 79.8 percent from 1956-60.
It is also her second-straight season earning the first-team slot in the utility/designated player position, after her first AllOVC selection in 2012 as an infielder. Offensively, de Castro led the Lady Govs this season in batting average (.355), runs (27), hits (50), home runs (6) RBI (27), slugging percentage (.567) and on-base percentage (.411). She also became the first player in school history to record 50 hits season three times in a career, while also becoming only the third payer in school history to record at least 200 career hits. As a pitcher, de Castro led the Lady Govs in ERA (3.18), wins (12), complete games (18), shutouts (5), innings pitched (165.1) and strikeouts (102), while holding opponents to a .258 batting average.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
The Torrance, California native, Lauren de Castro joined APSU Athletics Hall of Fame member Andrea Miller as the only Lady Govs softball players to earn three All-OVC firstteam selections. Overall, de Castro is the 14th player in school history to earn first-team honors since the OVC started sponsoring softball as a conference sport in 1994.
Overall in the final conference regular season statistical standing, de Castro finished third in batting average and onbase percentage, fourth in slugging percentage, fifth in inning pitched, sixth in starts as a pitcher, complete games and shutouts and eighth in wins and total bases. Also this season, de Castro was named to the all-tournament team at the University of South Alabama Mardi Gras Invitational, named adidas® OVC Player of the Week (March 24), named to the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Team and was a nominee for the Ed Temple Female Amateur Athletics Award for the 16th Annual Pepsi Celebration of Champions.
800
TH
WIN
Austin Peay baseball team rallied back from a pair of two-run deficits and claimed a 7-4 victory against Iowa, Feb. 16 at Raymond C. Hand Park. The win was head coach Gary McClure’s 800th career victory – one of 28 active Division I head coaches to reach the milestone.
RICHARDS
REACHES GOAL
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Athletic Excellence GOAL 10 Every student-athlete should have the opportunity to compete for a championship at least once during their competitive careerer.
Senior Xiamar Richards finally got her elusive first-team AllOVC finish, leading Austin Peay women’s cross country team to its best finish in the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Cross Country Championships since 2010. The Lady Govs finished sixth as a squad in the 2013 running at Eagle Trace Golf Course. Her finish was the best by a Lady Gov since Bertha Castillo’s fourth-place showing in the 2008 event, which was also the last time an Austin Peay runner earned first-team all-conference honors. With her second-team honors in 2011 and 2012, Richards becomes Austin Peay’s first-ever three-time all-OVC honoree.
JO N E S SETS THE STANDARD
Breigh Jones has done an awful lot in a very short period of time. Two trips to the NCAA East Preliminaries, where she’s advanced to at least the quarterfinals on both occasions. School records in both the indoor and outdoor 400m dash events, as well as legs of the record-holding outdoor 4x100m and indoor 4x400m relays. Six medals in Ohio Valley Conference Championship action, including gold in the 400m outdoor in 2014. A trip to the US Junior Nationals and subsequently, a spot on the US Junior Pan-American Games team in 2013. I’m betting you weren’t quite as accomplished at the end of your sophomore year of college. In fairness, Jones didn’t expect this type of meteoric rise herself. She had some frustrating moments early in 2014. After hitting a bit of a rough patch during indoor season, she rallied late to snag silver in the 400m dash at the OVC Indoor Championships with a school-record 55.27 run, then reeled off five wins in a row to begin her outdoor campaign. Still, recapturing the high-level form displayed when she broke, nay obliterated, the school record in her first NCAA Regional appearance eluded her; Jones topped out at 54.08 for most of 2014 after hitting 53.75 last season. That is, until the last weekend in May. In the toughest opening-round heat at the NCAA East Preliminaries which saw six of the eight competitors move to the quarterfinals, Jones was second with a 52.82 run and then backed that up the following day with a 52.65 that put the OVC record out of its misery and sent her on to Oregon thanks to a sixth-place overall finish in the semifinals. Jones bowed out in the semifinals at the NCAA Championship, finishing 20th overall. She was the first Austin Peay track athlete to appear in the national championship since 2001.
ALL-NEWCOMER
BANKS EBRIGHT Austin Peay volleyball redshirt freshman Sammie Ebright was named to the OVC All-Newcomer team. Ebright, of Subury, Ohio, becomes the 13th Lady Govs player to receive All-Newcomer honors and the first since current juniors Cami Fields and Hillary Plybon were named during the 2011 season. She was third on the team in kills during conference play, with 129 (2.05 per set) and added 30 blocks to finish fourth on the team in that category. “Sammie stepped right up to the challenge of being our starting right-side this year,” said Mott. “She was one of our top hitters despite this being her first year on the floor for us. Sammie also is one of our emotional leaders on the court and always seems to find a burst of energy when we need it. This award is a good starting point in her career and I believe we’ll see better things from her down the road.”
Freshman Tearra Banks was named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer team for the 2013-14 season. Banks appeared in all 29 games for Austin Peay, averaging 9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds, both marks ranking third among Lady Govs. She shot 52.7 percent (116-for-220) from the floor and pulled down a team-best 63 offensive rebounds (2.2/game). The 6-3 center from Louisville averaged 9.9 points and 6.3 rebounds during OVC play in her role as the Lady Govs sixth man. She also upped her shooting percentage against OVC opponents, knocking down 55.1 percent (65for-118) of her shots. Her two double-doubles in conference play came in back-to-back contests against Tennessee Tech, Jan. 25 (13 points, 13 rebounds) and Jacksonville State, Jan. 27 (11 points, 13 rebounds), earning her final Freshman of the Week honor from the OVC. Banks’ honor makes it back-to-back years the Lady Govs have had an All-Newcomer recipient, joining teammate Tiasha Gray, and she is Austin Peay’s fifth All-Newcomer honoree overall.
EXCELLENCE IN COMPETITION
FOUR OVC STANDOUTS Four Austin Peay women’s soccer players were honored at the 2013 Ohio Valley Conference postseason awards banquet prior to the start of the OVC Tournament. Seniors Tatiana and Natalia Ariza both found homes on the first-team, while fellow senior Andy Quiceno was a second-team honoree. Freshman Gina Fabbro earned a spot on the All-Newcomer team. For Austin Peay, it’s the fourth consecutive season at least three Lady Govs have earned postseason honors from the conference, as voted by head coaches and conference sports information directors. It’s the fourth time that at least two Lady Govs have made their way onto the firstteam ballot, and the third time that the Ariza sisters both wound up on the first team. Tara Tidwell and Monica Dunham in 2006 represented the Lady Govs other season with multiple first-team honorees. Tatiana Ariza became the first four-time first-team all-conference honoree since Samford’s Heather Birdsell (200407). The 2012 OVC Offensive Player of the Year leads the conference with 14 goals and 32 points entering the OVC tournament. Eight of Ariza’s goals came during conference play, including a hat trick at Tennessee Tech, Oct. 4, that earned her OVC Player of the Week honors. Austin Peay’s all-time leader in goals (53), assists (24) and points (130), Tatiana now ranks second all-time in OVC history in points behind Eastern Illinois’ Beth Liesen (149, 2000-03). Her 32-point tally in 2013 ties her 2012 total
for second-most in Austin Peay history, while her 14 goals passed Ashley Beck’s 2007 tally for second. Her sister Natalia joined her as the only two Lady Govs to end their careers with four all-conference honors to their credit. This season, Natalia – who serves as a defender for the Colombian National Team – assumed more of that defensive role for the Lady Govs. Though she garnered two assists on the season, Ariza was an instrumental part of a Lady Govs defensive unit that allowed just 18 goals in 17 regular-season matches, playing 1,488 minutes – second-highest among Lady Govs. After enjoying a sterling career that has her ranked third all-time in goals (15), second in assists (19) and third in points (49), Quiceno’s second-team nod is her career’s first postseason OVC honor. This season, the Houston, Texas native scored five goals and tied for the team lead with four assists, with much of her success coming in conference play; she’s tied for fourth in the OVC in goals (four) and fifth in points (10) in conference games. Fabbro, who joined the Lady Govs in the spring as a midyear enrollee from Coquitlam, British Columbia, is the first Austin Peay player to earn All-Newcomer honors since Emily Perkins in 2011. She scored seven goals and assisted on three others in her first season in Clarksville, where she was Austin Peay’s second-leading scorer. She tied Jessica Hosse (2004) and Ashley Beck (2005) for second-most goals by a freshman in APSU history.
ITEN MAKES HISTORY
It seems like Marco Iten was overshadowed much of the time since he came to campus in 2010. Arriving as part of the same recruiting class as Anthony Bradley, who won the Legends Award at this spring’s Athletics Awards Banquet, the senior from Niederglatt, Switzerland was often the forgotten man next to more-heralded teammates like Bradley and Dustin Korte winning tournaments, OVC medalist honors and marching as individuals into the NCAA Regional or Championship round. Iten was a great second-fiddle – after all, he had been All-Ohio Valley Conference in each of the previous two seasons – but those guys, they were the stars. Not anymore. Carving out one of the greatest weekends in Austin Peay golf history, Iten ran away with the NCAA Auburn Regional, shooting a final-round 5-under 67 to claim a four-shot victory and earn an individual berth in the NCAA Golf Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. Iten outdistanced a field that included three top 10 golfers—Alabama’s Robby Shelton was No. 1—along with Texas’ Beau Hossler, who led the 2012 U.S. Open midway through the second round. By claiming medalist honors with an 8-under par 208, Iten represented the Auburn Regional as the low individual at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Iten capped his unprecedented season with a 4-over par 214 to finish tied for 55th, the best finish by an Austin Peay individual at the NCAA Championships.
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD Austin Peay women’s track and field team earned points in 12 of 14 events on the final day of competition at the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finishing runner-up as a team, the programs best finish since 2001. INDOOR TRACK & FIELD Austin Peay women’s track and field team vaulted into third place in the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a monster day on the track that included five school records.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Athletic Excellence GOAL 2 Programs need to make measurable improvements year-to-year, with an understanding that certain reasonable attrition cycles may be relevant to program development.
TRACK & FIELD
RE-WRITES THE RECORD BOOK
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Doug Molnar, OVC Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year
I’m so proud of this group of young ladies and this coaching staff,” said Molnar, who earned Austin Peay’s first OVC Female Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honor since 1983. “They worked so hard this year and this is really just the payoff for all that hard work they put in.”
EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
SAAC 2013-14 REPRESENTATIVES Rolando Gautier
Lauren Maki
Jared Carkuff
Jacey Scott
SAAC, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The committee offers input on rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes, while participating in community service projects to promote a positive image of the athletic department. The committee participates in projects such as “Read Across America,” Plant the Campus Red and numerous can food, clothing and toy drives to support the community.
Rashaan Coleman Tala Mumford Roderick Owens
Jessica Cathey
Ben Stansfield
Bianca Melito
Rip Rowan
Corey Osborn
Zavion Williams
Andra Cornea
Matt Hasse
Jovana Karac
Marco Iten
Kendra Kirksey
Trey Tarpley
Alex Haycraft
Iago Seffrin
Nathan Sparks
Molly Jordan
Frank Traughber
Breigh Jones
Taylor Saucedo
Calyn Hull
Lauren Franklin
Jada Stotts
Hayley Beard
Nicole Olszewski
Chandler Groves
Tiasha Gray
Niya Sparks
Symantha Norton Mel Pavel
Photographed from left to right Trey Tarpley, Jada Stotts, Sonya Bain, Corey Osborn & Matt Hasse.
PRESIDENT MATT HASSE VICE PRESIDENT JADA STOTTS SECRETARY COREY OSBORN PUBLIC RELATIONS TREY TARPLEY
RED PLANT THE CAMPUS
APSU student athletes, coaches, student organizations and staff members volunteered at the annual event, Plant the Campus Red, to help beautify the Austin Peay campus with plants and flowers.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Strong University Partnership GOAL 6 Prioritize and support general campus student initiatives. Student-athletes are students first!
EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
“
As a student athlete, it is important that I do well in the classroom and also perform well as a golfer. It takes a lot of balancing studying and practice, but it pays off.” -Jessica Cathey, LADY GOVS GOLF
KRISTEN STAINBACK, LADY GOVS BASKETBALL
ENCOURAGING YOUNG STUDENTS Several Austin Peay student-athletes spoke to the students at Moore Magnet Elementary School and encouraged them to stay focused in school. The five Austin Peay student-athletes spoke to the 200-plus elementary school students about the importance of a good education, goal-setting, perseverance and overcoming adversity.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Student Athletic Development GOAL 6 Ensure active participation by all sports programs in community service initiatives. Improve how we celebrate and recognize te a m p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n co m m u n i t y service. Be recognized as a strong community partner.
NII LARTEY GOVS FOOTBALL
TEACHING YOUNG ATHLETES
The Governors football team as well as baseball, softball, soccer and tennis hosted free youth skills clinics for kids. More than 500 area youth learned how to hit, throw, shoot or pass just like their favorite Austin Peay athletes during the 2013-14 season. Among the biggest events was a pregame clinic at Fort Campbell prior to the 2014 Spring Game.
OVC SPORTSMANSHIP Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans. “Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories,” said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. “The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride, for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life.” Four APSU teams were recogonized for their sportsmanship and recieved the OVC Sportsmanship Award. Austin Peay State University women’s basketball team received the Ohio Valley Conference Team Sportsmanship Award for the 2013-14 season. This season’s honor is the first for the Lady Govs basketball program in the ninth season the sportsmanship honors have been awarded. For a third straight year Austin Peay has been named recipient of the Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Golf Team Sportsmanship Award.
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Anytime you win this award it is a testament to the character of the individuals associated with our program, Integrity is the centerpiece of our program and it shows in our students.” -Doug Molnar, APSU HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH
Austin Peay men and women’s cross-country teams were named the recipients of the 2013-14 Ohio Valley Conference Team Sportsmanship Awards. The team made a noteworthy show of sportsmanship when they picked up a stranded Tennessee State team en route to Morehead, Ky., for the championships and transported them to the championships.
EXCELLENCE IN THE COMMUNITY
6,673 FOLLOWERS 4,520 7/1/2013
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GROWTH STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Marketing, Promotion & Communication Excellence GOAL 9 Develop strategies to improve social media engagement among students, prospective students, alums, community and donors.
49% GROWTH
#LETSGOPEAY
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Photographed above from left to right Marco Iten , Lauren de Castro, Anthony Bradley & Tatiana Ariza.
HONORING ECELLENCE
STAND OUT
ATHLETES
Two stand-out international golfers with professional aspirations, a multi-talented softball player and a soccer star who brought herself, her country and Austin Peay soccer national and international acclaim earned individual honors at Austin Peay’s annual Athletic Awards Banquet night in April. Senior Marco Iten, who captured Ohio Valley Conference Golfer of the Year honors and later represented Austin Peay at the NCAA Championships after winning individual medalist honors at the NCAA Auburn Regional, was chosen as the 2013-14 Austin Peay’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete. Teammate Anthony Bradley, who was a four-time All-OVC selection and earned OVC all-tourney honors three times, has been selected the 2013-14 Male Legends Award recipient as the most valuable senior male athlete. Senior Lauren de Castro, who starred both on the mound and at the plate, was named the 2013-14 Most Outstanding Female Athlete. de Castro also was nominated for one of middle Tennessee’s highest amateur honors, the Ed Temple Amateur Female Athletics Award at the Pepsi Celebration of Champions, hosted by the Nashville Sports Council. And Tatiana Ariza, who rewrote the APSU record book while bringing national acclaim to her native Colombia by playing in the 2012 London Olympics and in the World Cup, was named 2013-14 APSU’s Female Legends Award recipient as the most valuable senior female athlete.
LEGENDS
AWARD The Legends Award is the highest individual honor the Austin Peay athletics department awards each spring at its annual awards banquet. The award is presented to male and female student-athlete determined to be the department’s “Most Valuable Senior Athlete,” recognizing a student-athlete’s contributions throughout their career. The presentation of the Legends Award continues APSU’s long-standing tradition of honoring the most valuable male and female senior athletes, respectively. The award, sponsored by Legends Bank, assumes the place of the Joy Award, which was originated in 1947 by the late Wilson Goodrich, then owner of Joy’s Jewelers. From 1947-96, one APSU senior athlete was honored each year. However, beginning in 1997 a male and female senior athlete, respectively, was honored by Joy’s and that continued through 2008. However, Joy’s Jewelers closed and ended sponsorship of the award following the 2007-08 season. Each spring a committee of APSU athletics administrators vote to determine the nominees from a list provided by coaches and other athletics personnel. A permanent plaque display with recipients names is located in the Governors Club Room in the Dunn Center. In 1996 the award was expanded with both a male and female Joy Award recipient. The first Joy Award recipient in 1947 was Dr. George Fisher, who also is a member of both the Austin Peay and Ohio Valley Conference Halls of Fame.
HONORING EXCELLENCE
“
What stands out the most is chemistry. That team had great chemistry. Adrian Henning and Rhet Wierzba met their first day on campus and had an instant bond, and that entire team was like that.” - Dave Loos
GOVS HEAD BASEKETBALL COACH
WINNING TRADITIONS
Marking the 10th anniversary of a crowning achievement, Austin Peay’s Basketball Reunion honored the 2003-04 championship Governors, Feb. 15, 2014 at the Dunn. Austin Peay has enjoyed its share of success and championships in men’s basketball both before and during the Dave Loos era. But few squads possessed such a unique blend of talent, toughness, chemistry and effort as the 2003-04 edition of the Governors, the first and only Ohio Valley Conference team to finish a regular season 16-0 in OVC play. It was a squad that had size, leadership, talent and – coming off a 2002-03 OVC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth – plenty of experience in big games with high stakes. Adrian Henning provided the scoring down low, while Anthony Davis slashed in from the wing. Corey Gipson and Rhet Wierzba were lock-down perimeter defenders, and Josh Lewis remains one of the most prolific shot-blockers the OVC has ever seen. Maurice Hampton, Zac Schlader and Levi Carmichael led a second unit that could have started for a lot of teams in the conference.
Photographed above from left to right Shawn Kelley, Brad Kirtley & Nick Stapleton.
ATH L E T IC S HALL OF FAME
Two of the greatest Governors athletes in their respective sports and the department’s longtime sports information director were selected for induction to Austin Peay State University Athletics Hall of Fame. In addition, a former superb football/basketball player who paid the ultimate price in defense of his country, was selected to the Hall of Fame as part of it Legends category. NICK STAPLETON, the greatest scoring point guard in Austin Peay history who remains one of two Governors to tally more than 2,000 career points. SHAWN KELLEY, arguably the best “big game” pitcher in APSU history whose 2007 NCAA dual with Vanderbilt’s David Price remains as the best single-game pitching performance in APSU history. BRAD KIRTLEY, who has publicized Austin Peay sports for the past 30 years, were elected to APSU Athletics Hall of Fame. REEDY SEARS, a wide’ receiver for the football team and a 5-9 guard on the basketball team in the early 1940s was chosen from the Legends category.
LOOS INDUCTED INTO 5TH
HALL OF FAME Austin Peay State University head basketball coach Dave Loos was inducted into the Christian Brothers Athletics Hall of Fame in April, marking the fifth time the coaching legend has been enshrined into various Halls of Fame – St. Louis Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame (1997), Memphis M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame (2002), Missouri Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame (2007) and APSU Athletics Hall of Fame (2008). Loos began his college coaching career at CBU, as a basketball assistant coach and head baseball coach in overseeing both the basketball and baseball teams for four years each. He coached the CBU baseball team from 1971-1974 while also serving as basketball assistant at the same time. Loos also got his college head-coaching start at Christian Brothers, returning to the school after pursuing a high school head coaching career to serve as the Bucs basketball coach from 1982-1986. He led CBU to four straight winning seasons, including the 1985 VSAC Championship when CBU went 25-10. The 25 wins figure is still tied for the most single-season wins in school history, and the conference championship was the program’s first. Loos became APSU’s basketball coach in 1990-91 and has served in that capacity for the past 24 years, becoming the Ohio Valley Conference’s all-time winningest coach in that sport. He also served as APSU’s Athletics Director from 1997-2013.
RED COAT SOCIETY Outgoing Austin Peay President Tim Hall and local businessman Jack B. Turner were inducted into the Red Coat Society on Feb. 22, 2014. The Red Coat Society, now in its 11th year, serves as a Hall of Fame of service for the Governors Club, APSU’s Athletics booster club. President Tim Hall’s support of APSU athletics has been evident since his first day. His presence at athletic events—fall, winter and spring, and warm and cold—was near-constant. Routinely, he could be found at soccer, softball and baseball games; he and wife Lee are faithful attendees to Governors and Lady Govs basketball games while the University President not only hosted football fans at Governors Stadium but was a regular on Govs road trips as well.
Hall, who left the University following the spring semester for Mercy College, initiated significant change at APSU from the outset. Under his leadership, the University underwent transformation through enrollment growth, performance and facilities, making Austin Peay the fastest growing university in the state—that enrollment growth directly aiding athletic growth through student fees. With enrollment increase came the need for new facilities to handle the expanded needs. During his tenure at Austin Peay, Hall led efforts to open nine new facilities, including multiple dormitory facilities that have become important in the athletics department recruiting. He approved renovations to the Dunn Center, including new video boards that not only aid athletics but improve the graduation day activities as well.
HONORING EXCELLENCE
GOVERNORS CLUB Membership in the Governors Club not only provides you with tangible benefits such as preferred seating and special parking privileges but also community involvement and personal connections. Governors Club members are a dedicated community of Austin Peay alumni, supporters and fans committed to supporting Austin Peay athletics programs and the Austin Peay community. Governors Club membership dues are used to directly enhance athletic programs and support alumni events in the following ways: As visible as Hall’s support has been, Turner has nearly the opposite. The longtime Clarksville resident entered the life insurance business after graduation from Vanderbilt and became a community leader and Austin Peay supporter. His APSU involvement has been more from behind the scenes—Ajax (Turner) Distributing and other Turner-owned properties have been used to stage Governors Club Membership drives. When Austin Peay officially retired the jerseys of former football greats Red Roberts and John Ogles along with former basketball star Howard Wright in 1991, Turner largely was responsible for the jersey retirement display in the front lobby along with the posters that were distributed to the public. For many years Turner has been an active member and former chair of the APSU Foundation Board of Trustees, which has allowed APSU athletics financial flexibility in strategically allowing privately-donated funds to be housed under its purview. Turner has supported APSU students with generous donations to the APSU scholarship fund. His longtime association with the Ft. Campbell, the Wings of Liberty Military Museum and the military also has touched the Austin Peay Center at Ft. Campbell in many ways.
Scholarships Facility Improvements Student-Athlete welfare, including holiday meals and uniforms Enhancement of recruiting and team travel budgets Alumni receptions and tailgate parties prior to APSU athletics events OVC Tournament tickets for APSU students
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE Culture of Fundrasing, Ticketing and Corporate Sponsorship Excellence GOAL 6 Develop a comprehensive structure (data mining, management and development) for annual giving growth. Evolve the function of the Governors Club to be focused on membership, growth and retention.
LETSGOPEAY.COM Austin Peay State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The Director of Affirmative Action has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and can be reached at 601 College Street, Browning Bldg. Room 7A, Clarksville, TN 37044, 931-221-7178, nondiscrimination@apsu.edu.