ATHLETICS YEAR-IN-REVIEW Morehead State University has a long and storied history of athletic national and conference championships. Our proud tradition continues with MSU’s outstanding teams and student-athletes this year. •
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Baseball won the program’s first OVC regularseason championship since 1979. Centerfielder Ryley Preece earned OVC Player of the Year and 2023 OVC Scholar Athlete of the Year. The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted first baseman Jackson Feltner in the eighth round of the MLB Draft. Men’s Basketball advanced to the National Invitation Tournament, where they scored a first-round upset of Clemson. In the 2023 season, Mark Freeman and Drew Thelwell were named Preseason All-OVC, and Freeman was named Preseason Player of the Year. Women’s Basketball headed into the 202324 season with Veronica Charles named First-Team All-OVC and All-Newcomer. Beach Volleyball advanced to the OVC Championship match for the second consecutive season. Sarah Martin was named head coach ahead of the 2024 season.
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In 2023, MSU Cheer’s Co-ed, All-Girl, and Small Co-ed squads all won their divisions. In January 2024 the All-Girl team picked up a title, bringing the total to 54 national titles.
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The MSU Cross-Country programs hosted the OVC Championships and started with the men’s team winning the Queen City Invitational. The teams ended the season by sending 14 runners to the NCAA regionals.
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The MSU Dance team attended the Dance Team Union (DTU) College Classic National Championship and brought home the Champion Award. Football posted a dramatic 24-21 win at Valparaiso when kicker Nathan Hazlett (Class of 2023) made
a game-winning 28-yard field goal with no time left. Quarterback Carter Cravens earned two Pioneer League Offensive Player of the Week awards. •
Men’s Golfer Nolan Piazza was named AllConference Golfer and the team won the Austin Peay Intercollegiate Tournament and the Joe Feaganes Invitational Tournament. The team equaled a 54-hole record.
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Women’s Golf captured its first OVC Championship since 2011 and played in the NCAA Tournament. MacKenzie Neal earned one of six prestigious OVC Scholar-Athlete awards.
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Rifle set the program record for Smallbore Standing (770). Bryce Ward was named as one of only six OVC student-athletes to win the Scholar-Athlete accolade.
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MSU Soccer captured its first OVC Tournament title since 2013. Chris Fox was named the OVC Co-Coach of the Year, and five Eagles were named to all-OVC teams. Kate Larbes earned OVC Tournament MVP. The Eagles made their fourth NCAA Tournament appearance.
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Softball Eagle Emily Williams hit a freshman record 11 home runs and earned First-Team AllOVC. The Eagles made their first appearance in the OVC tournament since 2018.
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Both men’s and women’s track had five athletes named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators.
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Volleyball finished at just over .500 in the first season with head coach Kyrsten BeckerMcBride (Class of 2015). Libero Peighton Isley became the ninth player in program history to post a 500+ dig season. 13
