She’s Got Game
Bryanna Moltz Excels On, Off Court
Bryanna Moltz
2016 Spring Issue
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
She’s Got Game: Bryanna Moltz Excels On, Off Court
9
18-19
2016
2-3
WHAT’S INSIDE
Growth In Athletics: From Baseball To Athletic Training: Swimming Added For 2016-2017 Senior Grady Finley Finds Calling
EAGLE Insider is a biannual publication of the Sports Information Office. @uofoAthletics
University of the Ozarks
Editor: Josh Peppas Photography: Otto Mejia, U of O Sports Information Office, U of O Public Relations Office Print Production: U of O Public Relations Office
University of the Ozarks + 415 College Avenue + Clarksville, Ark. 72830
spring issue
CONTENTS
EAGLE Insider
@UofOAthletics
>>>
1
EAGLE Insider
Shooting Star:
Bryanna Moltz excels on, off court
B
+
spring issue
2016
ryanna Moltz’s near triple-double November 20 came as no surprise to Head Coach Carl Ramsey. Her versatile play was on display as she poured in 30 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked eight shots in the second game of the season. It was just a glimpse of what she has accomplished in her career at Ozarks. “She is so versatile,” said Ramsey. “She has the ability to post up a guard, but she can step outside and shoot the three if a forward is guarding her. She creates a situation where the opponents don’t know how to
2
>>>
handle her.” The junior forward’s production didn’t stop after that monster game against Bacone. Moltz posted seven double-doubles during the 2015-2016 season en route to earning All-Conference for the second straight season. She nearly averaged a double-double: 14.3 points and 9.0 rebounds. But it is other parts of her game that make her an elite player in the American Southwest Conference. She averaged 2.7 blocks and hit 1.6 three-pointers per game, making her the only player in the ASC to rank among the conference’s top-10 in scoring, rebounding, blocks and University of the Ozarks
University of the Ozarks
“
She has the ability to take over a game. Carl Ramsey, Head Coach
”
2016
Even with all of her accomplishments, Ramsey believes Moltz can still improve. “I think she can still get better and that is what is exciting,” said Ramsey. “She’s done a great job for us, but there are things in her game that can be improved so she can have a big senior year. When she is on, we are very good. We are as good as she is. She has the ability to take over a game. I hope we will see that a lot her senior year.”
spring issue
three-pointers. Her 2.7 blocks per game ranked her 30th in NCAA Division III. “She can run the floor, block shots and creates scoring opportunities,” said Ramsey. “She is a presence inside. She can jump and has long arms. She gives us a different type player.” At 6-foot-2, it is assumed that she is a post player. But her game is much more than that. She has skills of a guard. She has hit 97 career three-pointers. “We use her a lot where she sets a screen and then pops out to the threepoint line,” said Ramsey. Her excellence at Ozarks doesn’t stop there. The Sheridan, Ark., native has been a member of the ASC All-Academic Team twice and on the Dean’s List multiple times as a health science major. “She has always been really conscious of the academic side of things,” said Ramsey. “She is focused and uses her time wisely. She loves the game and is a great player, but her academics are just as impressive.” Moltz had a breakout season her sophomore year earning All-Conference honors and was voted the school’s Female Athlete of the Year. Her back-to-back impressive seasons will lead to even more attention heading into her senior year. “She will have a bullseye on her back next season,” said Ramsey. “Early in her career, no one expected a 6-foot-2 player to step out there and hit a shot from 23 feet. Now, opponents know what she is capable of.”
EAGLE Insider
>>>
3
EAGLE Insider
New Baseball Coach Expects Competitive Team In 2016
+
spring issue
2016
New baseball coach Aaron Gentry expects his team to be competitive this season. Gentry, who was an assistant coach at LeTourneau University for eight seasons, inherits three position starters, and a number of others who have starting experience. “The expectation is to be competitive this season,” he said. “Our goal is to win, but more so my first year, try to instill those small disciplines to win. And, we are trying to develop a standard of how we go about winning. I want 100 percent hustle all the time. We want 4
>>>
to be a tough ball club, and be relentless. We have the capability of being a very dynamic team.” Gentry has concentrated on four areas within his program that he believes will result in wins. “Those four areas include the classroom, the field, the community and the weight room,” he said. “We want to make a standard and measure our team in all those areas. If those things are good, then I believe the wins will be there.” Outfielder Andrew Beck returns from an All-Region performance last season, hitting .385 with 18 doubles. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
The freshmen trio of Imani Doyle, Paige Myers and Kayla Tucker are driving the expectations. “We have a strong freshmen group,” said Dees. “Our top three in the lineup could be freshman. They are all very athletic.” The returners with match experience include senior Elly Eibes and junior Andrea Munoz. “I want the team to take care of the little things and pay attention to detail,” he said. “We have a challenging road schedule so I think it is imperative to remain focused. I do think we will grow with experience.” >>>
spring issue
The 2016 women’s team is full of potential thanks to a strong incoming freshmen class and veteran leadership from its returning players. Under new Head Coach Cullen Dees, the team is expected to be playoff a contender. “My goal for this team is to see improvement as the season progresses,” he said. “We want to peak at the right time. I’ve told them to not ride the highs to high and the lows to low. If we improve one percent every day, we will be where we need to be by the time conference matches begin. We will have a chance to make the tournament.”
2016
Women’s Tennis Team Full Of Potential
5
EAGLE Insider
spring issue
2016
New Softball Coach Teaches Mental Toughness
6
+
New softball coach Roland Rodriguez has focused on improving the team’s mental toughness and overall approach to the game in his first year with the program. Rodriguez inherits six position players with starting experience, including four All-Conference honorees. “Their mental approach is on the uprise,” he said. “They have developed into fighters little by little from the fall until now. They seem to believe in themselves more. They are unified and support each other.” Krysten Shavers, Brooke Hoffsommer, Beth Massey >>>
and Hannah Oler received All-Conference accolades last season. Shavers hit .337 average with 10 doubles and 21 RBI. Hoffsommer led the team in batting (.354), while Massey started in 37 games and posted a .250 average with two home runs. Oler was a dual threat, bashing four home runs and throwing 80.2 innings in the circle. “I want them to take pride in who we are and what they represent,” he said. “They get one shot at being a college athlete, and I want them to take pride in what they do. I don’t want them to overlook the fact that not everyone has a chance to play college softball.” University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
the years under their belt, but they don’t have the match experience. I want our seniors to go out with a good season. We want to maintain the success of this program.” Alix Tiegs and Bryant Ford are the lone seniors on the team, and junior Dillon Murray and sophomore Jacob Organ are battled tested. Competition for who will be in the top-6 is stiff. “We want to qualify for the playoffs,” he said. “I’ve talked to them about the process of getting better and making that one percent improvement every day.” >>>
spring issue
The ultra-successful men’s tennis program will have a new look this season, but the goals are still the same for new Head Coach Cullen Dees. Dees takes the reigns of a program that has qualified for post-season play the last two seasons, and has been regionally ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Dees’ task at hand will include replacing the entire lineup, but the first-year coach views it as an opportunity rather than a challenge. “Our returners are excited it is now their team and a have chance to display their talents,” he said. “They have
2016
New Look, Same Goals For Men’s Tennis Team
7
EAGLE Insider
Women’s Soccer Program Makes History With Playoff Appearance
+
spring issue
2016
Under first-year Head Coach Natalie Dreyer, the women’s soccer qualified for the post-season for the first time in program history. The Eagles posted their most conference wins since 2009 and had their highest conference finish since 2002. Ozarks posted five shutouts during the regular season, tying a school record. Ozarks finished 5-11-2 overall and 4-5-0 in conference play. Six players were named All-Conference at the conclusion of the season. Freshman defender Katherine Zamora earned a spot on the All-ASC Second Team. 8
>>>
Sophomore forward Brittanie Gragg, junior midfielder Tiffany Robinson and freshman goalkeeper Megan Bradford were named to the All-ASC Third Team. Freshman defender Chance Koy and junior forward Frances Adams made the All-ASC Honorable Mention Team. Zamora scored three goals and posted two gamewinning goals. Gragg had three game-winning goals, while Robinson paced Ozarks with three assists and 32 shots. Bradford ended the season with a 1.86 goals against average and 105 saves. Koy fueled the defense to five shutouts and Adams contributed one goal and two assists. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
DeGeus, who swam at University of Nevada-Las Vegas and Henderson State University, has over 15 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, High School, USA Club Swimming, US Masters and youth summer league levels. He was a standout swimmer at Henderson State, earning a combined seven All-America honors. Ozarks will train and host meets at Clarksville’s multi-million dollar aquatic facility. The program will compete as an affiliate member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. >>>
spring issue
The university has added women’s and men’s swimming to its NCAA Division III intercollegiate programs and has hired David DeGeus to coach the new teams, which will begin competing in 2016-2017. “This is another opportunity for us to grow enrollment through athletics and provide an additional avenue for student-athletes to compete and receive an outstanding education,” said Athletic Director Jimmy Clark. “David has a considerable amount of experience with a wide skillset. There are only a few collegiate swim programs in Arkansas and Oklahoma, so that is a tremendous opportunity for us.”
2016
Women’s and Men’s Swimming Added To Athletic Programs
9
EAGLE Insider Kelby ROBINSON
60-Point Game Lands Josh Berard On All-Conference Team
+
spring issue
2016
Josh Berard and Josh Ferrell received recognition from the American Southwest Conference following the 2015-2016 season. Berard, a 6-foot-3 forward from Fort Smith, Ark., was named to the All-ASC and All-East Division First Teams, while Ferrell, a 6-foot-1 guard from West Fork, Ark., was named the ASC Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year. Berard won the league scoring title with 599 points and a 24.0 points per game average. Berard, who earned ASC Player of the Week four times during the 10 > > >
season, burst onto the national scene with a school and ASC record 60 points February 8. His 60 points were the most by an NCAA player at any level during the 2015-2016 season. Among ASC players, he ranked eighth in rebounding (7.4), fourth in field goal percentage (51.5%) and fifteenth in free throw percentage (73.4%). Ferrell ranked eleventh in the ASC in assists (2.8) and second in steals (2.3). He owned an impressive 3.9 assistto-turnover ratio and hit 32-of-75 (42.7%) from the threepoint line. The Eagles (12-13) finished with the most wins since the 2005-2006 season. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
the Ozarks Invitational, 19th in the College of the Ozarks Invitational and 34th in the ASC Championships. He helped the men’s team finish seventh at the ASC Championships in October. Fueled by Holman’s top 8K time of the season, only one other Ozarks’ team finished higher in the ASC Championships over the last four years. Holman was part of a young team that included just one senior for Head Coach Jeremy Provence. Holman is expected to be a major building piece in the future of the program. >>>
spring issue
Freshman cross country runner Dylan Holman was named the American Southwest Conference men’s cross country Runner of the Week once during the 2015 season. He captured the award following an outstanding performance in the Arkansas D-III Championships October 23. Holman, from Berryville, Ark., finished third at the 4.1mile race, running a 26:06.9 on Ozarks’ home course. During the season, Holman competed in all six races and was the team’s top finisher in three of those. He finished 12th in the Ouachita Baptist Bob Gravett Invitational, 178th in the Rhodes College Invitational, 54th in
2016
Dylan Holman Named Conference Runner of the Week
11
EAGLE Insider
STUNT Team Electrifies Crowd At State’s First-Ever Competition
+
spring issue
2016
The women’s STUNT team put on a show February 19 as it took a pair of victories over Menlo College in the state’s first-ever STUNT competition. Ozarks, ranked No. 8 at the time in STUNT’s Division II poll, pulled out a thrilling 12-9 win over Menlo in game one. Ozarks trailed heading into the fourth quarter, but displayed determination to pull out a win in front of a packed arena. Ozarks would drop game two against Ouachita Baptist University 11-8. In Ozarks third game, Menlo had trouble keeping up with the high-flying Eagles as they put up a convincing 15-3 win to 12 > > >
end the night. Under second-year Head Coach Tori Cox, Ozarks hosted another competition a week later and held its own against higher ranked opponents. On March 2, Ozarks took on Menlo College again, but this time the competition was in California. Ozarks was victorious in both of its games to continue its winning season. Ozarks’ competitive cheerleading and STUNT season runs from February-March, and ends in April at the National Cheerleaders Association finals in Florida. Ozarks’ roster consists of four men and 19 women. Both Cox and Assistant Coach Chris Montoya cheered at the NCAA I level. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
make even greater strides next season. During the 2015-2016 season, Ozarks wrestled against some of the top NCAA III schools in the country and it has competed in back-to-back NCAA III Regionals in Iowa. John Gruenwald posted a team-best 9-4 overall record wrestling in the 184 weight class. Ny’Trell Dean and James Wheeler followed with eight overall wins. Zastrow is expected to continue to lead the team’s improvement with currently only one junior on the team. The rest of the team includes freshmen and sophomores. >>>
spring issue
The men’s wrestling team hosted its first-ever home match January 27 in front of a capacity crowd. Ozarks dropped the dual match, but gave Bacone College all it wanted. “The guys fought hard and gave great effort against Bacone,” said Head Coach Jason Zastrow. “I am proud of them. I know the guys appreciated the crowd support.” Zastrow started the program from scratch in 2014, and has made significant progress as the only NCAA Division III school with wrestling in Arkansas. Fueled by an outstanding 2016-2017 recruiting class, Ozarks is expected to
2016
Wrestling Team Hosts First Match In School History
13
EAGLE Insider
spring issue
2016
Five Men’s Soccer Players Earn All-Conference Honors
+
Seniors Austin Benner and Travis Leach highlighted the men’s soccer team’s post-season awards from the American Southwest Conference. Benner and Leach each earned a spot on the All-ASC First Team, and were joined by junior forward Thomas Mills, who earned All-Conference Second Team honors, junior midfielder Stewart Mena, who made the All-Conference Third Team, and sophomore defender Daniel Valencia, who was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team. Benner ranked fourth in the ASC in shutouts (4),
14 > > >
sixth in saves (71) and seventh in goals against average (.90). Leach spearheaded the team to four shutouts. He led the team with five goals, three game-winning goals and 33 shots. Mills finished second in the conference in assists (5) and assists per game (.31). Mills also scored three goals. Mena had two goals in 15 games. Valencia started in all 17 matches, helping the Eagles limit their opponents to a .90 goals against average. Ozarks qualified for the playoffs for the 13th time in program history and second time under Head Coach Matt Torok. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
Teague, who set the mark in 2010 at the NCAA III Regional in Memphis. Bell also helped Ozarks win the 5K Bob Gravett Invitational in Arkadelphia, Ark., to open the 2015 running season. Ozarks topped three NCAA II schools and one NCAA III school to win the Invitational. Ozarks later finished fifth at the ASC Cross Country Championships October 31. Bell capped an oustanding freshman year by competing in the NCAA III South/Southeast Regional in Kernstown, Va., November 14. Bell ran along with teammates Nena Evans and Stephanie Alderson. >>>
spring issue
Freshman cross country runner Caitlyn Bell was named the American Southwest Conference women’s cross country Runner of the Week during the 2015 season. Bell, from Hensley, Ark., received the honors after winning the 5K Arkansas D-III Championship October 23. She ran a season-best 20:54.5. Bell, who was the team’s top finisher in six of seven races during the season, made her mark on the program as a freshman. She broke the 6K school record September 26 at the Rhodes College Invitational running a 25:25.46. She finished 73rd overall at the race. The previous record was 25:47 held by Ashley
2016
Caitlyn Bell Named ASC Runner of the Week
15
EAGLE Insider
Austin BENNER Travis Leach Named To Capital One Academic All-District Team
+
spring issue
2016
Senior defender Travis Leach was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Men’s Soccer Team by the College of Sports Information Directors of America in October. Leach, a native of Denton, Texas, was additionally named to the All-Conference First Team. The 5-foot11, 165-pound Leach started in all 17 matches leading the backline as a defender. Leach spearheaded the team to four shutouts. He was equally impressive on the offensive attack, leading the team with five goals, three game-winning goals and 33 shots. 16 > > >
Leach also posted one assist and tied for the team-lead in points (11). Leach scored twice against McMurry and produced the game-winning goal in a key conference win over Howard Payne University. For his career, Leach scored 12 goals. He is a three-time All-Conference performer. A mathematics major, he is a three-time member of the ASC All-Academic Team. The Capital One Academic All-District Team recognizes outstanding NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III student-athletes. To be eligible, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average for their career. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks
“We are able to give back to the community and provide a positive identity of our team and Ozarks in our community,” he said. “It is a great way to get involved and it is for a great cause.” Doing volunteer work for the Salvation Army has helped the student-athletes get in touch with the community and give back to a town that supports their college. “I believe it helps develop a social identity for our team and our school as a whole,” freshman baseball player Dalton Spurgeon added. >>>
spring issue
Several student-athletes from their respective sports volunteered with The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle drive during the Christmas season. Every year The Salvation Army raises money through donations to their Red Kettles. This money is used for food, shelter, and social services to those in need throughout the year. From November 30-December 8, U of O studentathletes assisted in the effort by ringing bells for Red Kettle donations at Walmart and Harps in Clarksville. Senior baseball player Grady Finley appreciated the volunteer opportunity.
2016
Student-Athletes Volunteer With Salvation Army
17
EAGLE Insider
Grady Finley Finds Calling In Athletic Training
S
+
spring issue
2016
ince January, Finley has served a nine-day athletic training internship in Panama and has also learned he had been accepted into the master’s degree program in athletic training at the University of Arkansas. The senior health science major from Sheridan, Ark., participated in the internship at the Cescal Sports Performance Foundation in Panama City, Panama, from January 7-16. Cescal is a baseball training facility owned and managed by 1989 alumnus Tom Justice, a former baseball player at Ozarks. 18 > > >
For Finely, a four-year letterman on the Eagles’ baseball team, the internship provided real-world experience in a new environment. “It was a great experience working with an athletic trainer from another country and at a sports academy that takes its athletics seriously,” said Finley. “It was not only good experience for me as I head to graduate school, but it also enhanced my understanding of the athletic training profession and of working with professional caliber athletes.” Finley has worked as a student trainer with U of O head athletic trainer Chad Floyd for the past three semesters and University of the Ozarks
University of the Ozarks
“
I heaved a big Tiger Wood’s fist pump in excitement. Grady Finley
”
2016
I looked forward to being a part of the program. The next thing I did was call my mom back home so she could tell my family the great news.” Finley, whose goal is to become a certified athletic trainer, said the two-month application process for graduate school was rigorous and he credited his Ozarks professors and athletic trainers for helping him along the way. “The application process was tedious, confusing, and stressful,” he said. “It included many trips to the post office, to professors’ offices, the administration building, and a lot of time spent in the athletic training room at Ozarks working with Chad and Tina to make sure that I was submitting all of my documents correctly and on time.” “Chad helped me so much with the application process, the internship, and especially just helping me learn about the practices involved in a career in athletic training. Tina was very helpful and genuine in helping me to understand the profession of athletic training and the graduate school process. Jeremy Provence always pushed me to learn more in his health science classes along with pushing me to go to graduate school. And, Dr. Pete Leroy has been my advisor the last two years and placed me in roles where I had to learn leadership and commitment. He also wrote me a letter of recommendation to Arkansas. A lot of people at Ozarks helped me throughout this process and I can’t thank them enough.” spring issue
it was Floyd who got him in to contact with Justice. “Tom is a former Ozarks baseball player like me, so we hit it off pretty quickly,” Finley said. “After emailing back and forth with him for several months, I became friends with his son, Michael, who was a new student at Ozarks in the fall semester and a new teammate with me on the baseball team. From that point on, most of my contact with Tom was through Michael.” Finley said he first got interested in athletic training after being injured during his freshman year at Ozarks and spending time in the athletic training room. “Chad displayed to me the true meaning of what I believe an athletic trainer should be,” Finley said. “He handled my injury with professionalism and with a warm customer-service attitude. At the time I was undecided on a major and leaning toward physical education and nursing. With athletic training, I felt like I had found a good medium.” Finley was quickly hooked on the discipline and went on to accumulate more than 150 hours of observation with Floyd and assistant trainer Tina Moya. “I needed those observation hours to apply for graduate athletic training programs, but I also realized that I was really enjoying it,” he said. “During these observation hours I learned about the many various forms of treatment, rehab, modalities, and injury prevention that the athletic trainers practice daily.” It was while in Panama that Finley learned he had been accepted into the highly competitive master’s degree program at U of A. “On January 15, my last day in Panama, I received a text from the University of Arkansas program director asking me to give him a call,” Finley said. “Since I was in Panama and my phone did not work internationally, I had to wait until we arrived to Michael’s grandmother’s house to make the call. I called Dr. Jeff Bonacci at Arkansas and he told me he had a spot for me in their athletic training program. I heaved a big Tiger Wood’s fist pump in excitement and stoically told him thank you very much and
EAGLE Insider
By Larry Isch Director of University and Public Relations
>>>
19
EAGLE Insider
spring issue
2016
Mike Qualls Named Full-Time Coach Of Shooting Sports Programs
+
Mike Qualls has been hired as the first full-time head coach of the university’s successful and growing women’s and men’s shooting sports programs. Qualls has been involved as an assistant and volunteer coach since the program’s inception in 2010, and most recently served as the assistant coach. Led by Qualls, Ozarks was the first university in Arkansas to compete in a national collegiate competition and he is now the state’s only full-time collegiate coach dedicated to women’s and men’s shooting sports. The university offers trap, sporting clay, skeet, five
20 > > >
stand, international and bunker shooting and competes in the Association of College Unions International organization. The program has its own shooting facility north of campus that is considered to be the top collegiate facility in Arkansas. Since 2005, Qualls has been a volunteer coach for Clarksville Junior High, Clarksville High School and other Johnson County youth. He is a level II certified USA Shooting Coach, an Amateur Trap Shooting Association Coach and certified coach for the Arkansas Game and Fish Youth Shooting Sports program. University of the Ozarks
2016 Spring Issue
Bryanna Moltz
www.uofoathletics.com
EAGLE Insider