OCU Athletics is nearing the end of an unprecedented season.
After dealing with the effects of COVID-19 for an entire year, several athletic teams have finished out their portions of the 2020-21 season. OCU wrestling, basketball and soccer ended their seasons at their respective Sooner Athletic Conference tournaments. The track and field, cross country, STUNT, pom and competitive cheerleading teams advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships. The competitive cheerleading team went on to become national champions, pushing OCU Athletics to a new milestone of 70 national championships across all sports.
Some teams will continue to compete in the most intense portion of their season as the semester comes to a close. OCU baseball and softball are gearing up for their respective SAC tournaments. The rowing, volleyball and golf teams are awaiting their respective 2020-21 NAIA championships.
Despite season delays and setbacks, the season proved prolific for OCU Athletics in regards to titles, honors and achievements, at both conference and national levels.
Multiple student athletes received SAC and NAIA honors. Standouts include Sophia Salak, junior volleyball setter, who made OCU volleyball history when she received SAC player of the week seven times and was named SAC most valuable player and setter of the year, Zouhair Talbi, sophomore runner, who broke NAIA records in both the track and field and cross country championships, Nkechinyere Nwankwo, political science junior, who became the 2020-21 191-pound national women’s wrestling champion, Lucas de Freitas, junior soccer forward, who won SAC men’s soccer newcomer of the year, Danilo Vilani, junior goalkeeper, who won SAC goalkeeper of the year, and Sofia Carvajal Granados, junior soccer forward, who won SAC women’s soccer newcomer of the year.
Other athletes with notable achievements throughout the season include Ruthie Lacy, freshman rower, who broke two world records on the Concept2 Indoor Rower for Lightweight Women in the 17-18 category, and David Meyers, senior golfer, who broke the OCU men’s golf program record for most consecutive wins and most career victories.
The honors were not limited to athletes. Kristen Coventon, head volleyball coach, represented OCU as SAC volleyball coach of the year for the second year in a row.
Erika Ankney, junior basketball point guard, said COVID-19 was the athletics department’s most ruthless opponent of the season.
“OCU, as a whole, they did what they had to do in the midst of these circumstances,” Ankney said. “It’s completely understandable, and hard to know when you’re making the right decision, so ultimately I would say they did the absolute best they could with what they had.”
Ankney said OCU Athletics always kept the students’ safety and best interests at heart.
“Especially in regard to our mental health as student athletes, that’s the hardest part,” Ankney said. “You know, the virus, when you’re isolated like that, it can really take a toll on your mental health, and we’ve all come to learn about that and learned to care for each other as a society. So, I would say our department did an amazing job at taking care of us.”
Ankney said basketball was the first sport to begin their season after the university’s COVID-19 protocols were set in place.
“Obviously, it was pretty frustrating at times, knowing we weren’t going to play enough games to go to nationals,” Ankney said. “We played four regular season games, then went straight into our conference tournament, and we just didn’t get a good draw there because we had to play one of the best teams in the country during our second round and ended up ending our season.”
Ankney said the team’s ability to push through the obstacles thrown at them says a lot about their strength.
“We faced adversity, but ultimately, we also gained a lot of good memories together,” Ankney said. “This is something we’ll never forget, because who would have thought this would happen?”
Ankney said her team is determined to finish next season as strong as possible.
“Our goal is the national championship, without a doubt,” Ankney said. “We want to win it all. I think this season has been great for us because it’s given us a lot of momentum going into next year, and I’m excited about that, and I think everyone else is, too.”
Sarah Fisher, senior softball outfielder, said the season has presented many personal challenges for her, as a busy nursing major recovering from a hip labral tear.
“In the fall, it was just so painful to play that I had to tell Coach that I had to get surgery, and then having to discuss that with the girls as a senior and a three-hole hitter, which is a power hitter, you carry a lot of weight in the game and produce a lot more in the lineup, it was hard telling them, ‘hey, I can’t be that for you anymore,’” Fisher said. “But the girls really stepped up and took it head on, and that’s teamwork for you. We were able to just work it out.”
Fisher said she fondly remembers the moment she told her teammates she was medically cleared to play again.
“I was in the gym five days a week for four months straight. I was so distraught that I couldn’t be there for them,” Fisher said. “I just remember getting to talk with the girls and tell them I was coming back, and they were just so welcoming, and that was just a really cool moment to know that I could play one more, my senior season with them.”
Fisher said seeing her team succeed this season makes everything worth it.
“With how good we’re doing now, it’s been so rewarding to know that all that hard work is paying off and we’re producing the numbers and just having fun with it,” Fisher said.
Fisher said she is grateful for her coach, who she said always encouraged the team throughout difficult times over the past year.
“Playing for Phil McSpadden is such an honor,” Fisher said. “He is an amazing coach who has such a legacy here, and being able to be someone he wants to put on the field and work, and showing him my skill and my craft and just playing for him has been amazing.”
Fisher said her team hopes to earn a 71st national championship for OCU Athletics.
“Our goal is to keep winning and make it to Georgia where the national championship is,” Fisher said. “That’s our end goal, for sure, and we’re working really hard for it.”
For more sports updates, student can visit the OCUSports website, and the MediaOCU sports page.
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