The sports year is winding down but there is much Dr. to do before the last pitch. Brad Our track and field program Teague will host their annual track meet on campus April 21. The women’s golf team just finished fourth in their conference tournament outside of San Marcos Texas. The men’s golf team participates in their conference tournament April 23-25 in McKinney Texas. The Tennis team won the most conference matches and overall matches ever in our DI existence. Our softball program is pushing toward the playoffs with the most victories ever in school history, currently at 31. The baseball program is tied for fourth in the league with several games to go. It is an exciting time for all of our sports. We expect this year to be easily the most successful in total for our 17 sports combined.
UPCOMING EVENTS April 20-21 – UCA Open (Track & Field – all day) 21 – Men’s Soccer vs. UCA Soccer Alumni (2 p.m.) 24 – Softball vs. UT Arlington (DH, begins 4 p.m.) 27 – Baseball vs. UTSA (6 p.m.) 28 – Softball vs. Oklahoma (1 p.m.) Baseball vs. UTSA (4 p.m.) 29 – Baseball vs. UTSA (1 p.m.) May 4 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (6 p.m.)
This summer will see the completion of the Sky Boxes and Administrative Offices at Bear Hall. We are anxious for the debut of this facility on September 15 when we open the 2012 season on the Stripes. We hope you will join us for a game as the spring wraps up. Please also note this is our Purple Circle campaign push. You can help us spread the word of how much impact private funds have on our programs. We have been able to accomplish much due to your support. This information is online at our web site UCASports.com.
5 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (6 p.m.) 6 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (1 p.m.) 9 – Baseball vs. Mississippi Valley St. (DH; 1 p.m.) 17 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (6 p.m.) 18 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (6 p.m.) 19 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (1 p.m.)
Go Bears and Sugar Bears. Brad follow me on Twitter @bradteague
FOLLOW US ONLINE
f acebook.com/ucasports @ucasports
2
junior quarterback Wynrick Smothers
photo by Bill Patterson
SPRING BREAK-OUT
NEW PLAYMAKERS EMERGE AS BEARS FINISH SPRING WITH OFFENSIVE OUTBURST his feet as well, rushing for 107 yards on just five carries – including an 87-yard touchdown run.
Last season as the Bears made a run to their firstever Division I playoffs, quarterback Nathan Dick was re-writing the school record book and running back Jackie Hinton led the charge on the ground – more than doubling any other Bear’s rushing total.
Wesleigh Foster, a freshman running back out of Clarksville, had a breakout performance in the spring game as well, leading the team with 121 rushing yards on just eight carries – an average of 15.1 per rush.
This spring, Dick is training for the next phase of his career as he hopes to hear his name called in the NFL Draft later this month. Hinton is also doing what little training he can do, hoping to get back on the field this fall after injuries kept him out of spring drills.
Nearly every member of the receiving corps flashed big-play ability throughout the spring, with Jesse Grandy, Dominique Croom, Al Lasker, Dezmin Lewis, and Damien Watts among those who stood out in the vertical passing game at various points.
Those losses, among others, left the Bears searching during the spring for what could be key offensive cogs this fall. If results of spring practice are any indicator, they may have found what they were looking for.
New offensive linemen emerged as well, with sophomore Cole Caruthers (6-4, 278) from Sugarland, Texas (Clements HS) and redshirt freshman Kyle Stouffer (67, 321) from Highland Park, Texas earning head coach Clint Conque’s praise following the first scrimmage.
In the battle to replace Dick, fourth-year junior Wynrick Smothers made the most of his opportunity as the frontrunner. In the three scrimmages, he combined In all, the UCA offense totaled 691 yards of offense in to throw for 586 yards and 6 TDs on an incredible 73.1 completion percentage (38 of 52). In the Purplethe Purple-Gray game with 375 coming through the air and 316 on the ground. Gray game, he showed the ability to make plays with
3
CLIMBING THE LADDER THOUGH AT DIFFERENT RUNGS, WOMEN’S PROGRAMS TAKING STEPS UP In March, the Sugar Bears basketball program completed what was easily its most successful season in Division I, and arguably its best season ever, as they claimed their first Southland Conference championship with a 14-2 league record and finished the season 24-7 after a loss at eventual champion Oklahoma State in the WNIT. The 24 wins improved on the 21 of each of the previous two seasons, making them the first Southland team in a decade to record three straight seasons of 21 or more wins. They also had an incredible season inside the Farris Center, going a program-record 16-0 at home. They, much like the two-time league champion Sugar Bear volleyball program, have reached the top in the Southland Conference. They have raised banners, cut down nets and filled trophy cases – success at the highest level. Success, however, comes in many forms, and other programs around campus are experiencing their highest level of success since the Division I move. The UCA softball program has increased its win total in each of its four seasons under head coach David Kuhn, and this season is enjoying the most fruitful of any season in program history regardless of classification as the Bears have reached and eclipsed the 30-win mark for the first time and sit 31-18 with seven games remaining before what is likely to be their first appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament in
two-time southland conference player of the year Megan Herbert
4
CamI Newsome senior pitcher sweeny, texas
Simona Horsikyan no. 1 singles kardzhali, bulgaria
May. Heading into this weekend’s series at Stephen F. Austin, the Bears are holding on to the sixth and final position for the league tournament and have a three-win lead on the nearest competitors with six league games remaining. The Sugar Bear tennis team, in its first year under head coach Jeff Borengasser, also made strides in 2012 – recently wrapping up what was easily its best Division I season to date. Having never won more than four matches in a season since making the D-I move for the 2007 season, the Sugar Bears doubled that number this season by posting eight wins. They also ended their Southland Conference losing streak that dated back to ‘07, and finished the season with their second conference victory of the season – their first time to do so. The future appears stable for the program, as four of the top six were freshmen or sophomores this season.
5
GREAT BEAR CLASSIC L ET TERMEN’S LET T E RM EN ’S CLUB CLU B HOSTS H OSTS GOLF TOU TOURNE RNE Y AT CE CENTENNIAL NT EN N IAL VALLE Y ALLEN PERRY/WILL HUFFMAN SHOOT 62 TO WIN The UCA Lettermen’s Club hosted its annual golf tournament on Friday, April 13 at the Centennial Valley Golf & Athletic Club in Conway with 21 teams participating. The team of Allen Perry and Will Huffman shot a 62 to take home the crown, while Kevin Leach and Brian Henderson finished second at 65. RESULTS: FIRST FLIGHT: Perry/Huffman 62 Leach/Henderson 65 Myers/Teague 65 Ramer/Johnston 66 Weaver/Dunseath 67 Hess/Hess 68 Taylor/Tarkington 68 SECOND FLIGHT: Shelton/Shelton 71 Neighbors/Neighbors 71 Goodloe/Zimmerman 73 Newman/Hull 73 Barnett/Shock 73 Osburn/Taylor 73 THIRD FLIGHT: Strange/McVay 74 Hawk/Hawk 74 Goodpaster/Scherrey 77 Spurlock/Spurlock 77 Dangeau/Grisham 79 Bing/Bone 79 Restum/Farr 80 Jordan/Jordan 82
steve hess
6
F arr i s F i el d , hom e of UC A So ftba ll, as capt ured from t he outfield berm on March 28 by Br adley W idding .
blake marchal junior infielder la porte, texas
MANUFA CTURING A RUN BASEBALL BEARS SPORT LONGEST SOUTHLAND WINNING STREAK; SIT IN TIE FOR THIRD IN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Having won their last five Southland Conference contests, most recently sweeping Nicholls, the Bears find themselves in a four-way tie for 3rd place in the league standings at 10-8 with five series remaining. UCA will be at home – where they are 8-1 in league play – for three of those five, including UTSA (6-12) on Apr. 27-29; Northwestern State (10-8) on May 4-6; and 1st-place Sam Houston State (15-3) on May 17-19. The Bears must still travel to Texas State
7
(8-10) and Stephen F. Austin (7-11). If the Bears can maintain one of the top eight spots in the league standings, they will qualify for the Southland Conference tournament for the first time. This season’s tournament is being held at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas. The Bears need just four wins in their final 15 league games to eclipse their previous high of 13 Southland wins in a season, done both in 2011 and 2008.
HOME SUITE HOME SKYBOX CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AS SEPTEMBER OPENER NEARS BEARS TO PLAY SIX GAMES ON STRIPES IN 2012 2012 UCA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE SEPT. 01
at OLE MISS
SEPT. 08
at MURRAY STATE
SEPT. 15
BACONE COLLEGE
SEPT. 22
SAM HOUSTON STATE
SEPT. 29
at STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
OCT. 06
NICHOLLS
OCT. 13 OCT. 20 OCT. 27 NOV. 03 NOV. 10 NOV. 17
After opening the season with a road trip to Oxford, Miss. for head coach Hugh Freeze’s debut at Ole Miss, followed by a date at Murray State, the Bears will make their 2012 home debut and unveil the new luxury suites on Sept. 15 against Bacone College in the first of six home games. The next week, defending Southland Champion and national runner-up Sam Houston State comes to Conway.
Two weeks later, Coach Clint Conque’s alma mater at MCNEESE STATE of Nicholls State rolls into town. Lamar will make its first-ever football trip to Conway on Oct. 20, and two LAMAR weeks later the Northwestern State Demons come to at SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA First Security Field at Estes Stadium, where they won in their last visit. After an open date, the Bears will finish NORTHWESTERN STATE the regular season with a non-conference game against OPEN Eastern Illinois, a team UCA beat on the road two seaEASTERN ILLINOIS sons ago. Ticket renewals for Purple Circle members are ongoing, while new sales will begin in July.
8
!
UCA Lettermen’s Club Membership Application Please act now to reserve your membership in the UCA Lettermen’s Club! It only takes a minute to be remembered for a lifetime! PRINT this form and return to address listed below. Name __________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________ State ________ Zip __________ Home Phone _______________________________ Business Phone ____________________ *Email Address__________________________________ Years Lettered __________________ Sports _________________________________________________________________ Dues: 1 Year at $30 / Lifetime $300 / Lifetime for 70 & above $200 *Must have current email address to receive monthly newsletter Active Lettermen members receive double credit in the Purple Circle beginning at the $100 level. Lifetime Lettermen members may receive up to four free general admission tickets upon request. Payment Options (check one) Please charge my Visa – Mastercard - Discover or Personal Check Card Number__________________________________________ Expires _________________ Print name as it appears on card ___________________________________________________ For additional information on the UCA Lettermen’s Club contact Carole Good at 501.450.3150 or caroleg@uca.edu Please return this form with check or credit card authorization to the address below.
Go Bears!!
# % $ " " -((, % /*(+- % !
! -()$,-($+)-( % ! -()$0-*$*.+0
If you are not already a member, please consider becoming a member of the Purple Circle Foundation and enjoy the benefits of membership while helping enhance UCA Athletics and supporting the hard-working student-athletes who represent our university.
9