Spring 2014 was a great season for many of our Eagle teams, along with some role changes in coaching and leadership for the basketball teams. We’re happy to celebrate how far our teams have come while also welcoming the new athletes onto campus.
BASEBALL
The Eagles had a record-breaking season, finishing one win shy of making the Avista NAIA World Series
championship game. The team took home the third place trophy and earned top individual honors. Five Eagles were among those selected for the World Series All-Tournament team, which included Cody Riley, Jeff Butler, Garrett Easton, Diego Ibarra and Jose Ruiz, who was also named the NAIA National Player of the Year. The Eagles finished their season with a 58-8 record, which included a 29 game winning streak late in the season.
SOFTBALL
The Lady Eagles wrapped up their season with a third place finish in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference after losing an elimination game to Central Baptist at the beginning of May. Finishing the season with a 26-29 record, the OKWU women’s softball team earned a handful of awards. Three Lady Eagles were named to All-MCAC First Team including Allison Edwards, Miranda Kiser, and Jenna Daniel. Katelyn Cook, Macy Wright and Mariah Shepherd were named to the All-MCAC Second Team, while Christie Bell and Leanne Salas were honorable mentions. Kiser and Daniel each shared a part of the highest conference honors as Kiser was named Co-Player of the Year and Daniel was awarded Co-Pitcher of the Year.
GOLF
Coming off the most successful fall season in recent history, the OKWU Eagles men’s golf team finished their spring 2014 season with a 2nd place finish in the MCAC Conference Tournament. It was the Eagles’ highest conference finish since 2007. For the first time in the school’s history the Eagles had all five players part of the All-Tournament team. The Eagles competed in a handful of other tournaments, including a 6th place finish at the Christian Brothers Invitational in Memphis and an 8th place finish at TPC San Antonio tournament. The men also took 1st and 2nd at the Central Christian College Invitational in McPherson, KS. The women’s golf program continues to advance after it’s debut season in 2013, during which they finished second on two occasions.
CROSS COUNTRY & TRACK
The OKWU Track team competed in the NCCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championship. Junior Dashia Hurst and Senior Austin Blain both set school records during the 2013-14 season. Junior Allie Antrim also broke a pair of school records at the 5th Annual Gorilla Classic at Pittsburg State University and earned the ‘MCAC runner of the Week’ award. The OKWU Men’s Cross Country team also finished third at the MCAC Cross Country Championships.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Lady Eagles were knocked out of the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship after a loss to Indian Wesleyan. Megan Jones and Delaney Jones were named to the All-MCAC Team. Kayla Morgan was an honorable mention. Kayla Wyrick, Shelby Lloyd, Anna Markovich, Nichole Tate, Courtney Backward, Megan Jones, Christa Beasler and Emily Martin were all named as MCAC Scholar-Athletes. After the conclusion of their season the Lady Eagles announced they had hired Jason Jeschke to be their new head coach. Jeschke, who spent five years as a full-time assistant at Southwestern College, has stepped in after Mark Molder moved to the men’s side.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The Eagles made it to the second round of the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship after hard work this season. Devon Harris and Tyler Woods were named to the All-MCAC Team. Harris was also named MCAC Player of the Year with former coach Jason Beschta as MCAC Coach of the Year. Josh Young and Phillip Jahn were MCAC Honorable Mentions. Jahn, Woods, Young, Tanner James and Austin Fogt were also named MCAC Scholar-Athletes. Mark Molder, OKWU athletic director and women’s head basketball coach has accepted the men’s head coaching position for the upcoming season. Click here to read more about our Basketball coaches.