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Wide receiver for the Maroon team, DJ Myers, tries to gain yards after the catch with a defensive back Marcus Wilkerson on his tail. He topped the wide receivers with five catches for 56 yards on the day.

Safety Eviyon Harris shows patience as he is handed off the ball by Andrew Sober. The Gold team was one touchdown better in a 9-2 win over the Maroon in the 29th Annual Maroon versus Gold Spring Game at Memorial Stadium on April 8.

Gold team wins annual Maroon vs. Gold game

KARA MCINTYRE EDITOR O n Saturday, April 8, the 29th Annual Maroon vs. Gold spring football game gave students, faculty, staff and community members a chance to see what the football team has in store for the fall season.

“The Maroon vs. Gold game gives the team a chance to play in a real game atmosphere and a chance to showcase their skills one last time before summer,” Kevin Fisher, business management junior and offensive lineman, said. “It felt amazing, it’s always a great atmosphere at Memorial Stadium.”

Drew Bolin, linebacker and criminal justice junior, agreed with Fisher.

“[The Maroon vs. Gold game] shows how competitive we are as a team,” Bolin said. “It shows that we can have fun as well as competing and hitting each other at the same time.”

In the past 11 years, the Maroon team led the series by a 7-4 margin — but this year, the Gold team took the 9-2 victory.

“I had tons of fun. It was nice seeing how much all of the guys and I had improved over the spring,” Austan Davis, marketing sophomore and offensive lineman, said. “I’m excited about the upcoming season.”

Bolin said he was also excited for the fall season, and that the Maroon vs. Gold game was no different than any other game.

“It felt amazing to get back on the field. I had the same amount of nerves like I do on Saturday nights in the fall,” Bolin said. “Playing with my brothers brings a lot of energy, and I love that I can better myself and my teammates on and off the field.”

According to a press release from the athletic

RECENT SERIES HISTORY Maroon leads Gold, 7-4 2016 -- Maroon 38, Gold 31 2015 -- Maroon 7, Gold 3 2014 -- Gold 24, Maroon 21 2013 -- Maroon 37, Gold 26 2012 -- Gold 13, Maroon 6 2011 -- Maroon 24, Gold 7 2010 -- Maroon 31, Gold 28 2009 -- Gold 33, Maroon 21 2008 -- Maroon 6, Gold 0 2007 -- Gold (Offense) 52, Maroon (Defense) 36

2006 -- Maroon (Defense) 52, Gold (Offense) 35

department, “senior quarterback Javin Kilgo’s 1-yard keeper turned out to be the difference in Gold’s 9-2 win over Maroon, but it was the stout defense led by sophomore defensive back Marcus Wilkerson which made the difference stand up.” Wilkerson caught sophomore quarterback Layton Rabb’s Hail Mary throw as time expired to seal the victory for the Gold team.

The first home game will be against Quincy, Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN Junior runningback for the Gold team, Chris Smith, cuts right off a great block for a big gain. He ran for 92 yards on the day, including a 42-yard run on the the only Gold touchdown for the game. The Gold team won 9-2 in the 29th Annual Maroon versus Gold Spring Game at Memorial Stadium April 8.

Cycling team wins conference PHOTO BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN Coleman Reidling, history senior, tries to gain position around the corner at the Vuelta Del Viento Crit on April 8.

LEAH BRYCE MANAGING EDITOR T he roads throughout campus were closed April 9, the Vuelta Del Viento race, and cyclists took advantage of the home field. “It’s 100 percent easier racing at home. Most races in our conference are between six and 12 hours away,” Bill Ash, accounting and finance junior, said. “Being stuck in the van for 20 hours every weekend is probably the most difficult thing about bike racing.”

A week later, cyclist Pablo Cruz raced to win the men’s A criterium in New Orleans on April 16. Maxyna Cottam took the win for the women’s A criterium, with Brissia Montalvo and Amy Floyd rounding out the winner’s podium. As a result, the team won the conference title — for the ninth time. Cycling races average between 60 to 100 miles long, each having their own unique challenges.

“The wind is particularly brutal here in Wichita Falls and in Texas in general,” Ash said. “Having to suffer through your competitors attacks and having to deal with the wind if you get caught out at all makes racing here particularly difficult. On top of having to race 60 plus miles.”

PHOTO BY ARIANNA DAVIS | THE WICHITAN Chris Alexis, Jr., geoscience freshman, prepares for the first race of the Vuelta Del Viento Crit on April 8.

According to Ash the team’s goal for this race was to keep, physiology sophomore Pablo Cruz in the conference lead and to try for the win.

“We came up a little short in the end, but we were still able to get Pablo on the podium and defend his season long lead,” Ash said.

Training for cycling requires dieting, decent sleep, body weight exercises and 12 to 20 hours of bike training a week, all on top of the usual student responsibilities.

“Currently I am injured,” accounting and finance sophomore Joshua Buchel said. “I still raced, but only for as long as my body would allow, before having to pull out to make sure I don’t injure myself more.”

Previously Buchel suffered a crash at the Arkansas Classic and has since been in recovery. This is the cyclist first home race this semester.

“My favorite part was getting to share the experience with friends, teammates,” Ash said. “MSU faculty and the people of Wichita Falls who support us getting to watch us race is always fun. Since most of our events are so far away it’s a great feeling to get to put on a show and share the experience with everyone.”