The cheer and pom squads went to nationals this year without a head coach.
Athletic department awards student-athletes of the year
Submitted Senior Infielder Ryan Wright and Senior Wrestler Emily Webster were awarded the 2014-15 Jim Wade Award as the male and female student-athletes of the year. They were among the honorees in the 10th annual Jim Wade Student-Athlete Awards on April 26 at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music. OCU student-athletes were recognized for their achievements…
Softball coach makes history with most wins
By Emily Wiley, Editor-in-Chief The man who just beat the record for the most wins of any four-year collegiate softball coach didn’t even plan on coaching. Phil McSpadden received the distinction Friday when he won his 1,458 game at OCU. McSpadden was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Associations Hall of Fame in 2014…
Cheer squad wins second consecutive national title
The small co-ed cheer squad won the National Cheer Alliance Collegiate National Championship for the second year in a row. The cheer and pom squads competed at the NCA and National Dance Alliance Collegiate National Championships on April 8-12 in Daytona. Both squads won national titles last year. The teams planned to defend their titles…
McSpadden claims record-breaking wins
Submitted Softball coach Phil McSpadden collects the milestone victory in the Stars’ 13-1, 8-0 sweep of Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) on April 10 at Ann Lacy Stadium. McSpadden reached win No. 1,458. He has the most wins against four-year schools of any college softball coach. The OCU coach owns a 1,458-356 record in his 28th…
Pfau becomes ‘outstanding wrestler’
Submitted Sophomore wrestler Cody Pfau became the outstanding wrestler of the Women’s USA Wrestling University Nationals. Pfau pinned defending champion Erin Golston of the New York Athletic Club in 1:58 to capture the 105-pound championship. Eight Stars placed in the tournament. Those OCU individuals who took second at their respective weights were Kayla Aggio at…
Women’s golf team finishes sixth
Submitted The women’s golf team posted a sixth-place finish in the Houston Baptist Husky Invitational March 31 at Riverbend Country Club. Oklahoma City, ranked fourth in NAIA women’s golf, compiled a 313-319-314–946 to end the tournament ahead of four NCAA Division I teams. Sophomore Kailey Campbell tied for 17th to pace the Stars. Campbell provided the Stars…
Marchesani claims golfer of the week
Submitted Junior golfer Anthony Marchesani reeled in the NAIA men’s golfer of the week for March 23-29. Marchesani became NAIA golfer of the week for the second time and SAC golfer of the week for the fourth time in his OCU career. On March 23-24, Marchesani won co-champion honors in the Battle at the Primm…
Webster featured in Sports Illustrated
Submitted Senior wrestler Emily Webster became the second OCU athlete to be featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd section. Webster made the March 23 issue of the magazine. The Faces in the Crowd recognizes the best up-and-coming amateur athletes from around the country. Webster recently finished her OCU wrestling career as an undefeated…
Softball team keeps No. 1 ranking
Submitted The softball team defeated Oklahoma Baptist 13-3 and 10-0 March 2 at Ann Lacy Stadium. Senior Jocelin Diaz, junior Kyndra Holasek, junior Kayley Humann and junior Jeananne Ruck hit home runs. OCU, ranked No. 1 in NAIA softball, moved to 31-1, 10-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Stars plated at least 10 runs for the 14th time…
Women’s basketball wins NAIA championship
The women’s basketball team prepares for a well-deserved break after winning its second-consecutive NAIA Division 1 women’s basketball championship title. The Stars, ranked second, defeated fourth-ranked Campbellsville, 80-63, at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo Senior Guard Rateska Brown led the team with 29 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. Brown is…
Women’s basketball competes for championship
The women’s basketball team will compete March 24 in the NAIA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament’s championship game. The team will play against Campbellsville at the Independence Events Center in Independence, Mo. The Stars advanced after defeating 16th-ranked Westmont, 77-57, in the semifinals March 23 at the Independence Events Center. “They have a sense of…
Baseball team takes two wins
Submitted The baseball team took two games from Southwestern Christian 13-0 and 5-0 March 21 at Jim Wade Stadium. The Stars, ranked 13th in NAIA baseball, racked up 22 hits on the day and improved to 25-6, 7-1 Sooner Athletic Conference. The Stars used consistent scoring and dominant pitching to collect the win in the first game. The…
Women’s basketball team wins quarterfinals
Submitted The women’s basketball team defeated Great Falls (Mont.) 88-52 March 21 in the NAIA Division I women’s basketball tournament quarterfinals at the Independence Events Center. Senior Guards Rateska Brown and Yvonte Neal carried the Stars with 22 points each. Second-ranked Oklahoma City (28-2) advanced to the NAIA Tournament semifinals for the 13th time and…
Women’s basketball’s ‘trio’ brings in honors
Submitted Senior Guard Rateska Brown was awarded first-team NAIA all-American accolades from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, while senior Center Ouleymatou Coulibaly and senior Guard Yvonte Neal pulled in honorable-mention honors. “These honors are well deserved,” Coach Latricia Trammell said. “They are great young ladies and great leaders on our team. It’s an honor to these…
Golfer, alum donates winnings
Submitted OCU alum Michael Palmer captured his first professional golf tournament victory, but didn’t spend his winnings on himself. Rather, Palmer donated the 8,000 rand he won to the Jeandre Fourie Fund to help a golfer who recently suffered a back injury and faces a lengthy and costly rehabilitation without medical insurance. Palmer sank a…
Men’s basketball’s season comes to an end
Submitted The men’s basketball team completed its season falling to Concordia (Calif.) 74-62 on March 19 in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball tournament at Municipal Auditorium. Senior Ivan Jelencic topped the Stars with 19 points and nine rebounds. No. 23-ranked Oklahoma City finished the season 18-9. Senior Tharone Chilton produced 17 points while nailing 9 of…
Three golfers place in top 10
Submitted Three members of the women’s golf team finished in the top 10 at the Embry-Riddle Eagle Invitational March 17 at LPGA International’s Jones Course. Sophomore Anna Mikish posted a seventh-place individual finish to lead Oklahoma City University to a fourth-place showing. Mikish supplied the Stars with a 73-78–151. Oklahoma City, ranked fifth in…
Baseball team defeats St. Gregory’s
Submitted The baseball team came out ahead 7-6 against St. Gregory’s in 10 innings March 12 at Jim Wade Stadium. OCU tacked on five runs in the first inning and were unable to score again until the sixth. The Stars, ranked 16th in NAIA baseball, improved to 15-5, 3-1 Sooner Athletic Conference baseball. Senior Connor Lynch singled to…
Softball team defeats Ottawa
Submitted The softball team dispatched Ottawa (Kan.) 12-4 and 7-0 on March 12 at Abe Lemons Arena. Senior Jamie Rateliff sparked OCU with a three-run home run in the first game, while senior Kylee Rounsaville knocked in five runs in the Stars’ second game March 12. Oklahoma City, ranked fifth in NAIA softball, improved to…
Men’s basketball prepares for tournament
Submitted The men’s basketball team begins pursuit of a seventh national championship when the Stars meet Concordia (Calif.) in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball tournament 12:30 p.m. March 19 at Municipal Auditorium. Six-time national champion Oklahoma City has won NAIA crowns in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2007 and 2008. The Stars (18-8) garnered the eighth…
Women’s basketball prepares for national championship
Submitted The women’s basketball team is aiming for its eighth national championship and second title in a row starting with a first-round game against Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) at 1:45 p.m. March 18 in the NAIA Division 1 women’s basketball tournament at the Independence Events Center. Seven-time national champion Oklahoma City owns national championships in 1988, 1999, 2000, 2001,…
Women’s golf places third
Submitted The women’s golf team took third in the Southern Nazarene Invitational March 10 at KickingBird Golf Course. OCU, ranked No. 4 in NAIA women’s golf, fell by 12 strokes to tournament winner Central Oklahoma. Freshman Emma Allen led the Stars with a 75-75–150 while converting four birdies and tied for seventh on the par-70, 5,824 yard course….
Men’s golf collects ‘crown’
Submitted The men’s golf team collected the crown in the NAIA Contender March 10 at TPC Four Seasons. The Stars, ranked No. 5 in NAIA men’s golf, rallied from one stroke behind to win over William Woods (Miss.) by eight strokes. Sophomore Garrison Mendoza finished No. 1 overall with a 69-70–139. Mendoza won by five strokes over…
Wrestlers bring in program-high all-Americans
Submitted The Stars had its most all-Americans with five. The Stars notched four all-American finishes each in the 2008 and 2012 national tournaments. OCU’s Zach Skates finished fifth place at 157 pounds to become a three-time all-American, while Derek Sivertsen reeled in fifth at 184. Adrian Gaines of the Stars notched a sixth-place finish at 133….
Women’s basketball wins SAC tournament
The women’s basketball team becomes Sooner Athletic Conference champions by winning against Oklahoma Baptist,76-70, March 7 at Abe Lemons Arena in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. The team worked hard for the championship win, sophomore Guard Albany Anderson said. “We had a game plan and we executed,” Anderson said. “I feel on top of the world. Being undefeated…
