ATHLETIC additions University expands to 17 sports
Wrestling Coach Jason Zastrow and Competitive Cheer/STUNT Coach Tori Cox
2014 summer issue
EAGLE Insider
University of the Ozarks UNIVERSITY OF THE OZARKS has approached education with an unyielding search for truth. That search led our founders to establish the first co-educational college west of the Mississippi. It set the stage for the first Arkansas woman to receive a college degree. And because truth often defies convention, ours was the first historically white college in the state to admit AfricanAmericans. Every day, our history inspires Ozarks students to discover their own individual truths.
Athletic Expansion: University Adds Sports
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History Made: Program Qualifies For Playoffs
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WHAT’S INSIDE
Medical Hit: Prince Connects With Medicine
EAGLE Insider is a publication of the Sports Information Office.
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University of the Ozarks
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CONTENTS
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EAGLE Insider
Jason Zastrow
Athletic Expansion: University adds new sports
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zarks has added five new sports and expanded another for the 2014-2015 academic year. In May, the university announced the addition of men’s wrestling and competitive cheer/STUNT. That announcement was followed days later with more news. The university is also starting a men’s and women’s archery team as well as expanding its current men’s and women’s clay target shooting team. In all, Ozarks offers 17 men’s and women’s sports, with 11 of those competing at the NCAA Division III level. 2
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“The addition of these sports will allow students the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Division III level while earning a degree and developing their personal and professional calling,” said President Richard Dunsworth. “Nearly 40 percent of our student-athletes achieved conference All-Academic status last year. And, a number of others have earned individual academic and athletic honors at the regional and national level. It is a perfect time to create additional opportunities for young people to experience that success.” Jason Zastrow was charged with starting the men’s University of the Ozarks
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This is an exciting time for our wrestling program from scratch. Zastrow wrestled at NCAA Division III powerhouse Wartburg College and later served athletic department and university. there as an assistant from 2010-2013. Jimmy Clark Ozarks is the sixth college in Arkansas to offer men’s wrestling, and the first NCAA Division III state college to do “We will offer the only STUNT program in Arkansas,” so. The wrestling team will compete independently against said Clark. “Competitive cheer/STUNT is another emergprograms in Arkansas and from surrounding states, including market. We feel like this is a good ing NCAA Division I and NCAA Divifit for us, and we look to forward to sion II opponents. offering students another opportunity “Adding wrestling is an importo compete at the collegiate level. tant part of our growth as an NCAA This is an exciting time for our athDivision III institution in regards to letic department and university.” enrollment and identity,” said AthletOzarks established a clay target ics Director Jimmy Clark. “Wrestling shooting team in 2010 and has plans has seen an increase in popularity to hire a full-time head coach. The within the state, and in Missouri and head coach will also oversee the Oklahoma, it is even bigger. In Texas, newly established men’s and womthere is only one collegiate wrestling en’s archery programs as well. program, so we have an opportunity “We are pleased to expand our to bring in student-athletes that shooting sports while still emphawe couldn’t reach otherwise. The sizing a liberal arts education in a research we conducted found that student-centered environment,” said wrestling brings in the second largDunsworth. “Our natural outdoor setest number of students other than ting creates a variety of recreational football.” interests, and we want to continue Clark credits wrestling advocate broadening that with appealing proGreg Hatcher, of Little Rock, with grams.” helping Ozarks establish its wrestling The archery and clay target program. Hatcher, who is President shooting teams will compete of the Arkansas Wrestling AssoJason Zastrow and Tori Cox against other collegiate programs ciation, is funding mats and other around the region. equipment to assist in getting the team started. The university converted the aquatics area into a “We have benefitted from Greg’s expertise, and we are new wrestling and cheer/STUNT facility over the sumappreciative of his desire to assist us in starting the promer and has done a number of improvements to its gram,” said Clark. athletic facilities, including adding a new weight room The university hired Tori Cox as its competitive cheer/ and athletic performance center within Mabee GymaSTUNT Head Coach. Cox cheered at the University of nasium. Each of the team’s lockerooms will receive Northern Iowa and has extensive experience in dance, customized lockers along with new paint. cheer, stunts and tumbling. University of the Ozarks
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EAGLE Insider
ARCHERY Men’s And Women’s Archery Added For 2014-2015
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Ozarks will now provide even more sporting activities for its students to compete at the collegiate level with the addition of men’s and women’s archery. Student-athletes will have the opportunity to travel across the region competing against larger universities and be among a small group of universities that compete in national events. According to the United States Collegiate Archery Association (USCA), there are approximately 60 universities in the country with active archery teams that compete nationally. “Archery is a sport that students have a desire to 4
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compete in at the collegiate level,” said Athletics Director Jimmy Clark. “We can capitalize on the interest from high school students regionally as well as nationally. This is a sport in which few universities offer, so we should be able to recruit from a wide-range of states.” Men’s and women’s archery will begin competition in 2014-2015 as an Olympic sport. The USCA, based in Davis, Calif., is the governing body for the sport and official competition is restricted to USCA-sanctioned events. The U.S. Intercollegiate Archery Championships are held in Long Beach, Calif. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Clay Target SHOOTING >>
University of the Ozarks
at the regional level, but this is a sport in which we can expand our recruiting base even broader and attract students in greater number.” Under the direction of coach Mike Qualls, Ozarks has already guided the men’s and women’s teams to three appearances in the national tournament. Ozarks has one second place finish under its belt at the national championships. Arkansas leads the nation in youth shooting participation with more than 7,000 youth involved, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation. >>>
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Ozarks established a clay target shooting team in 2010, but now the university will put even more emphases on the growing sport. In 2010, Ozarks became the first college in Arkansas to compete in the Association of College Union’s Intercollegiate Clay Target Championships, which is considered the premiere shooting event in the country for colleges. “We already have an established program here that has experienced some success, but we want to grow and develop it even more,” said Athletics Director Jimmy Clark. “Clay target shooting appeals to high school students
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Clay Target Shooting Expected To Grow
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EAGLE Insider Competitive Cheerleading & STUNT
Ozarks Fields State’s First STUNT Program
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Ozarks has added competitive cheerleading and STUNT to its list of athletic program for the 20142015 academic year. The university hired Tori Cox as its head coach. Cox cheered at the University of Northern Iowa and has extensive experience in dance, cheer, stunts and tumbling. As a gymnast and a three-year collegiate cheerleader, she was named America’s Best Kansas City Level 6 Open International National Champion and JamFest National Champion. “I am excited to be able to start a brand new program 6
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at Ozarks,” said Cox. “We will have the first stunt program in the state, so the timing is excellent as I believe this sport will continue to grow. The administration here recognizes the importance of it.” STUNT competition is comprised of four quarters: 1) Partner Stunts, 2) Team Tumbling/Jumps, 3) Pyramids/ Basket Tosses, and 4) Team Performance. Within each quarter, teams perform skill sequences of varying levels of difficulty in head-to-head competition. The university recently converted its aquatics area into a new cheer/STUNT and wrestling facility. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Men’s WRESTLING >>
University of the Ozarks
“I want my wrestlers to have the same good experiences I had as an NCAA Division III student-athlete,” he said. “There is an equal balance between being a student and being an athlete at this level.” Ozarks is the sixth university in Arkansas to offer the sport, and the first NCAA Division III in Arkansas university to do so. The wrestling team will compete independently against programs in Arkansas and from surrounding states. The university recently converted its aquatics area into a new wrestling and cheer/STUNT facility. >>>
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Men’s wrestling will become Ozarks newest NCAA Division III varsity sport. Ozarks chose Jason Zastrow to start the new program for 2014-2015. Zastrow comes from Wartburg College, where he assisted the NCAA Division III powerhouse to the last three national titles. Zastrow wrestled there and also has coaching experience at Central College and Springdale Har-Ber High School. “It’s an amazing opportunity to start something from scratch and to have input in every aspect of the program,” said Zastrow. “I’m ready for the challenge and I want young men who want that challenge.”
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Ozarks Offers Wrestling As An NCAA Division III Sport
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EAGLE Insider
Greg KNAGGS Men’s Tennis Team Qualifies For Post-Season Play
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The men’s tennis team qualified for the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time in program history after finishing in third place among conference competition. Ozarks posted a 7-3 mark in conference play to receive the No. 3 seed. At the six-team tournament, which was hosted by the University of Texas-Tyler, Ozarks defeated Mary Hardin-Baylor to advance to the semi-finals. But the historic run came to an end after a loss against Texas-Dallas. At one point during the season, the Eagles reeled off five straight wins to secure 8
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a spot in the post-season. Under Head Coach Shaun Wiseman, the Eagles finished the regular season with a 11-4 overall record and six players received All-Conference honors. Since Wiseman’s arrival, the program has boasted 14 All-Conference performers, nine Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athletes and 31 ASC All-Academic players. Three of his players have made the Academic All-District Team. The men’s program has also earned the ITA team academic award twice. His 2014 and 2015 teams received the program’s first-ever ranking from the ITA. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Kindra DAVIS >>
University of the Ozarks
30-point, 20-rebound effort against Sul Ross State. She missed just two of her 14 shots in that game. Davis also helped her team to the ASC playoffs where she scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the first round. Davis has been a key component in building the Lady Eagles into a post-season contender. A two-year starter, Davis has helped Ozarks qualify for the playoffs the last three years. She was named ASC Player of the Week once during the season. She collected 239 rebounds during the 2013-2014 season. >>>
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Women’s basketball star Kindra Davis was voted the school’s 2013-2014 Female Athlete of the Year. Davis, a senior from Fort Smith, Ark., had a breakout season ranking among the top inside players in the American Southwest Conference. The 6-foot post player ranked second in the conference in rebounding (9.2), fourth in field goal percentage (56%) and fifth in blocks (1.6). For her success, she was named to the ASC Honorable Mention All-Conference Team. She led the team in rebounding, finished second in blocks and third in scoring (9.5). She posted five double-doubles during season, including a
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Kindra Davis Named Female Athlete of the Year
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EAGLE Insider Austin BENNER
Austin Benner Receives Team Rookie of the Year Award
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Sophomore goalkeeper Austin Benner was voted the 2013 Team Rookie of the Year at the program’s annual banquet in the spring. Benner, a native of Allen, Texas, was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team in 2013. He led the American Southwest Conference in saves (90) and ranked sixth in goals against average (1.50), third in shutouts (4) and sixth in saves percentage (.763). Benner had a season-high 12 saves against Berry College and finished with a 7-6-5 record. The 6-foot-4 Benner posted a shutout against Texas10 > > >
Dallas in the final regular season match to clinch a postseason appearance. In that match, he recorded five saves in 110 minutes of play. He also notched an importance shutuout earlier in the season against Hardin-Simmons University in a 0-0 tie. Benner excelled off the pitch making the ASC All-Academic Team and was involved in a number of campus club and organizations. Other awards given at the team banquet included the team Most Valuable Player (Eloy Salgado), the Offensive Player of the Year (Shaun Keane) and the Defensive Player of the Year (Travis Leach). University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Molly BOWMAN >>
University of the Ozarks
Hardin-Simmons March 14. Bowman had four straight two-hit games during the season. The speedy outfielder was spectacular from her centerfield position posting a .959 fielding percentage. She finished her career ranked first at Ozarks in sacrifice hits (22), second in triples (6), third in games started (153), fourth in games played (153) and eighth in runs (58), hits (108) and stolen bases (20). She was a three-time member of the ASC All-Academic Team. Joining Bowman on the All-Conference Team was sophomore pitcher Haley McKee. >>>
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Senior outfielder Molly Bowman finished her career with an All-Conference award and her name in the record books. Bowman, a native of Springdale, Ark., was named to the All-Conference Honorable Mention Team following an outstanding 2013 season. She led the team in triples (3), runs (16), sacrifice hits (4) and stolen bases (4). She finished second in hits (31). Her three triples placed her fourth among conference players. The left-handed hitting Bowman had ten multiple-hit games, including a three-hit performance against Ecclesia College February 25. She had three RBI against
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Molly Bowman Named All-Conference
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EAGLE Insider
Medical Hits: Freddy Prince connects with nuclear medicine program
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ll it took was one semester in Dr. Frank Knight’s biology experience class last fall to help Freddy Prince decide on a career path. Prince, a 2014 biology graduate from Jonesboro, Ark., was accepted into the nuclear medicine imagining sciences program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) starting this fall. He will take classes at UAMS via distance education and do his clinical work at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Prince said that the biology experience class, in which he spent six hours a week 12 > > >
shadowing professionals at the Johnson Regional Medical Center in Clarksville, was extremely beneficial in helping him finally decide on a career. “I was really struggling with what I wanted to do and that experience definitely helped me narrow it down,” said Prince. “The first part of the semester we rotated between several areas at the hospital, and the second half we were able to focus on those areas that interested us the most. I had always had an interest in radiology, so I spent a lot of time in that area and I discovered that I really enjoyed it. It seemed like a great fit for me.” University of the Ozarks
University of the Ozarks
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I’ve found that I truly enjoy the hospital environment and helping people. Freddy Prince
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to help me make up the classes I missed and provide me with the extra help I needed. The small classes definitely made a difference for me.” As a smooth-swinging, strong-armed outfielder, Prince led the American Southwest Conference in batting in 2013 with a .406 average and leaves Ozarks among the top 10 career leaders in several categories, including hits (176) and batting average (.353). “It’s been a great four years,” Prince said. “It’s an honor to be in the record books at Ozarks because I think of all the great players that have come through here, including several that I had the privilege of playing with. It’s going to be weird not playing baseball anymore because I’ve been playing the sport since I was six or seven. But I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.” By Larry Isch Director of University and Public Relations
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Nuclear medicine involves the use of radioactive tracers in studying a wide variety of normal and abnormal body functions and in treating certain diseases. According to the UAMS website, a nuclear medicine technologist, under the direction of a qualified physician, prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals, operates radiation detection equipment that measures the quantity or distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the patient, and performs any calculations or computer analyses needed to complete the patient’s exam. Certified nuclear medicine technologists work primarily in the hospital setting or outpatient clinics. “I’ve always liked science and knew I wanted to be in a career that involved science,” Prince said. “I’ve found that I truly enjoy the hospital environment and helping people.” The first in his family to earn a college degree, Prince said he learned the importance of education at a young age. “I used to work with my dad some in his heating and air business and it was hard, dirty work,” Prince said. “My dad used to tell me that I needed to get my education so that I could someday work in air conditioning during the summer and heat in the winter. I know my parents were excited when I walked across that stage and received my diploma.” Prince was also a standout baseball player at Ozarks, earning all-conference honors as a four-year starter. He credited the small class sizes and professors for helping him juggle academics with athletics. “I don’t how I would have been able to do it at a larger school,” Prince said. “My professors were always willing
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EAGLE Insider Josh FERRELL
Josh Ferrell Named Conference Freshman of the Year
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Josh Ferrell was voted the 2013-2014 American Southwest Conference Men’s Basketball Freshman of the Year. Ferrell, a 6-foot-1 guard from West Fork, Ark., also earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team. Ferrell was the top scoring freshman in the league with a 11.8 points per game average. He also led all conference freshmen in steals (2.1) and minutes played (36.4). His scoring average ranked twenty-ninth overall in the ASC and he was the league-leader in minutes played. His 2.1 steals per game average was sixth in the ASC. 14 > > >
Ferrell started in all 25 games and hit 48-of-151 (31%) from the three-point line, while dishing out 2.1 assists per game. He opened his college career by hitting a seasonhigh seven three-pointers and scoring 27 points against Baptist Bible College. He would hit a three-pointer in all but three games during the season. He nailed two or more three-pointers 13 times and scored in double figures 13 times. Along with Ferrell’s honor, Ricky Allen, a 5-foot-9 senior guard from Little Rock, Ark., was named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference Team. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Women’s SOCCER >>
University of the Ozarks
3.0 or higher, thereby earning the award. The NSCAA annually recognizes college soccer programs that have excelled in the classroom, in addition to their work on the field. The 2013 women’s soccer team had seven players on the American Southwest Conference All-Academic Team, an honor given to those who own a grade point average of 3.0 or better. The women’s soccer program has had a rich history of academic success, including 104 ASC All-Academic performers and two NSCAA/ adidas Scholar-Athletes. >>>
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The women’s soccer team was honored with the prestigious Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for the fifth time in program history. The NSCAA Team Academic Award is presented to those teams with a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average from the previous academic year. Under Head Coach Bryan Drotar, Ozarks posted a 3.13 team gpa to receive the distinction. Institutions from NCAA Division I, II and III, and NAIA are eligible for the honor. A total of 593 women’s college soccer teams posted a team grade point average of
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Women’s Soccer Team Receives NSCAA Team Academic Award
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EAGLE Insider
Andrew BECK Freshman Andrew Beck Named All-Conference
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Three baseball players received All-Conference honors from the American Southwest Conference following the 2013 season, including freshman short stop/pitcher Andrew Beck. Beck, a 6-foot, 180-pound native of Conway, Ark., was named All-Conference Honorable Mention as a short stop and pitcher. Beck finished second on the team in batting (.308), RBI (31), total bases (58), doubles (9) and runs (24). He posted 12 multiple-hit games and seven multiple-RBI games. He had a triple and four RBI against Hendrix College in early April. On the 16 > > >
mound, the right-hander finished fifth in the conference with three saves. He tossed 23.0 innings and posted a 5.48 ERA. Senior outfielder Freddy Prince (Third Team) and senior third baseman Tony Morales (Honorable Mention) joined Beck on the All-Conference Team. Prince, from Jonesboro, Ark., hit .342 with 53 hits, 38 runs and ten doubles. Morales, from Fayetteville, Ark., posted a .279 batting average with 32 RBI and 54 total bases. Prince owns the ninthhighest career batting average (.353) at Ozarks, while Morales is sixth all-time in hits (172). University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Megan WALLACE >>
University of the Ozarks
performance as a junior after the program lost a pair of All-Conference players from the previous season. She opened the 2014 spring season with five consecutive singles wins to set the tone for an All-Conference year. Wallace also did her part in the classroom as she achieved ASC All-Academic Team honors for the 2013 season and was an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete her freshman season. Wallace helped the women’s program achieve the Intercollegiate Tennis Association academic team award in 2012 and 2013. >>>
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Women’s tennis player Megan Wallace capped a breakout 2014 spring season by earning American Southwest Conference Honorable Mention All-Conference honors in singles. Wallace, a native of Malvern, Ark., received the honor at the No. 6 singles position. Wallace posted a 7-4 singles record, including a 5-3 mark in conference play. She went 5-2 at No. 6 and 2-2 at No. 4. Her five wins were the second-most in the ASC at No. 6. She owned a 2-1 doubles record. Wallace was named ASC Player of the Week once during the year. Wallace delivered her best on-the-court
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Megan Wallace Named All-Conference
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EAGLE Insider Bishop BASS
Bishop Bass Receives Second Consecutive Athlete of the Year Honor
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Junior tennis player Bishop Bass repeated as the school’s Male Athlete of the Year. This time Bass did share the 2013-2014 award with cross country runner Ryan Holt. Bass produced another outstanding season for a record-setting team. He was named AllConference in singles and doubles while leading the team to its first-ever post-season appearance and an ITA ranking. Bass owned a 11-2 singles record playing all but one match at the No. 2 spot. In No. 1 doubles, he went 12-3, and finished with a 13-3 overall doubles mark. Bass and doubles partner Todd Turner 18 > > >
received an ITA regional ranking, the first-ever for Ozarks. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound native of Greenwood, Ark., also helped his team earn a No. 15 ranking in the ITA regional rankings. Bass earned All-Conference Third Team honors at No. 2 singles and Honorable Mention All-Conference at No. 1 doubles. For his career, he owns a 38-7 singles record and a 38-9 doubles record. He is a three-time All-Conference performer and was ASC Freshman of the Year. He is a two-time member of the ASC All-Academic Team and is a three-time member of the ITA Scholar-Athlete Team. University of the Ozarks
EAGLE Insider Kara WILLBANKS >>
University of the Ozarks
competed in the NCAA III South/Southeast Regional in Seguin, Texas. In addition to her athletic and academic accomplishments, she has been involved in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well as other campus organizations. Her senior year, she completed an internship with the Sports Information Office. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in physical education. Willbanks has been among 58 female runners at Ozarks who have achieved conference All-Academic honors during Ozarks’ NCAA III era. >>>
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Senior Kara Willbanks completed a standout cross country career with another academic accolade from the American Southwest Conference. Willbanks, a native of Fort Smith, Ark., achieved All-Academic status for the third time in her career. In order to earn ASC All-Academic Team honors, student-athletes must be a letterman and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. She owns the sixth-fastest 5K time in program history with a 20:49, which she ran at the Arkansas NCAA D-III Championships in 2012. In all, she owns four of the top-20 fastest 5K times in program history. As a sophomore, she
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Kara Willbanks Receives Conference Academic Award
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EAGLE Insider
Ryan HOLT Ryan Holt Named Male co-Athlete of the Year
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Freshman cross country sensation Ryan Holt was voted the school’s Male co-Athlete of the Year for the 2013-2014 season. Holt, a native of Belfast, Ireland, made an immediate impact on the men’s cross country program, earning American Southwest Conference Freshman of the Year and All-Conference First Team honors. At the ASC championships, he finished second, and during the 2013 season, he was named ASC Runner of the Week an unprecedented four times. He won the 8K Ozarks Invitational with a time of 26:31 in September, and later followed that 20 > > >
performance by winning another individual title at the 4.1-mile Arkansas NCAA D-III Championships in October running a 21:27. His impressive freshman year wasn’t just against local competition. Holt set a new school 8K record at the NCAA III South/Southeast Regional in Newport News, Va., running a 25:38.17. His time placed him 13th overall at the regional. For his performance at the NCAA III regional, he was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region Team. An undeclared major, he made the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and was named to the Dean’s List. University of the Ozarks
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2014 Summer Issue
Jason Zastrow Men’s Wrestling Coach
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Tori Cox Competitive Cheer Coach STUNT Coach
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