The athletics department has high expectations for the upcoming season after a successful summer. The summer accomplishments included many new recruits, two more national championships, coaches wining awards, new coaches being hired while others were promoted, individual athletes breaking records, high preseason rankings, and more.
Softball and men’s golf ended their season with national championships.
It was softball’s ninth national title. Coach Phil McSpadden also won National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics coach of the year, while the coaching staff as a whole won NAIA coaching staff of the year.
It was men’s golf 10th NAIA men’s golf championship.
McSpadden, as well as golf coach Kyle Blaser will be honored at the 40th annual March of Dimes Sports Headliner Banquet for leading their teams to national championships on Aug. 25.
Several teams welcomed new recruits, including men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s wrestling, and pom and cheer squads.
“We had a very productive summer in terms of recruiting,” Athletic Director Jim Abbott said. “We’ve had some coaching changes.”
Coaching changes include Matt Aguero being named cross country and track and field head coach, David Crynes being named cross country and track and field assistant coach, C.J. Campbell and Matt Stevens being named new head wrestling coaches, and Robbie Harman being named assistant coach for men’s basketball.
New locker rooms or practice spaces are also coming along.
The soccer teams hosted the grand opening for their new locker rooms on Aug. 14.
“It was terrific,” Abbott said. “We had a nice turnout of former soccer players for that event, many of whom contributed financially to make the facility a reality.”
A new practice space is also being renovated for the wrestlers.
“It’s going to more than double the mat space they have to practice on and also provide them with more suitable locker rooms, which is a good things,” Abbott said.
An open house with be hosted later on in the semester.
Rich Tortorelli was named Sooner Athletic Conference sports information director of the year.
“It’s a worthwhile recognition,” Abbott said. “Rich maintains our website and has the responsibility of covering each of our 21 varsity sport teams.”
Other individual successes included Runner Arya Bahreini becoming the first three-time NAIA marathon runner and Wrestler Becka Leathers training with Olympians in Rio.
Many other athletes received All-American or athletic all-SAC nods, as well as other awards.
“It was a very hectic summer,” Abbott said. “It was very busy and a lot of things going on.”
Abbott said he’s looking forward to another successful year.
To find out more information on summer successes, visit OCUSports.com.
Stay with MediaOCU.com throughout the semester for more sports updates.
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