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A Path Re-Charted
from Chieftain Fall 2009
by McMurry
FrIeNDS & FAMILY
A Path Re-Charted
New Beginnings for a Historic Social Club
2008-09 Members and 2009 Pledges 1976 Members of xO (courtesy of Tim hogsett)
c h I O MI cr ON ( x O) , a men’s social club established in 1957 and phased out around 1980, is experiencing a new beginning at McMurry with a group of men eager to keep the club’s legendary charisma alive. Re-chartered in the spring of 2008, its membership has already doubled. This past spring, the club had the second largest pledge class with nine new members inducted.
XO’s history includes many stories of pledging and pranks that were not only unique but creative and humorous. Several of these stories have become legendary not only with the club members but around campus as well. Many alumni might recall the club’s participation in tipi Village that included an alligator, a pump jack and a Cadillac, as well as numerous non-traditional tipis—an igloo, adobe huts, etc. Many of the men of XO graduated and entered professions ranging from science to business. Several alumni are responsible for scientific discoveries and technological advances with major corporations.
Currently, XO’s new history is being charted in similar ways with members majoring in the sciences, social sciences and business. A large percentage of the members are student-athletes participating primarily in baseball and football. today’s club embraces its history of non-traditional approaches to pledging and other campus activities, but it has also developed its own uniqueness. While celebrating its history, the current club has adopted an identity of its own—the pirate. Known for its swashbuckling energy, the pirate’s code and strong brotherhood, XO has attracted new members to the club in search of a less restrictive membership organization and pledging. Members have also sought to establish the club as a service organization by attending Chapel and organizing workshops on enhancing alumni relations and giving to McMurry through social clubs. XO’s current structure and goals seem to be attracting today’s student, in contrast to the national trend of declining interclub membership.
According to President Blake Ortiz, the club is interested in expanding this new course for XO on the McMurry campus with the help of alumni members. One such strategy is an opportunity to meet together at the XO Reunion as part of Homecoming 2009. Blake says that he “wants to celebrate the new beginning of today’s XO with the storied history of the past.” Former members should look for more information in club emails and mailings in the coming weeks.
http://athletics.mcm.edu.
AthLetICS UPDAtE
SPrING SPOrTS
Track & Field
The McMurry men’s track & field team had another stellar year as they finished runner-up at the national Outdoor Championships and fourth at the Indoor Championships – in addition to winning the program’s 11th-straight ASC title. The outdoor season was highlighted by long jumper Gavan Bass, pole vaulter Thomas Dimitri, high jumper Zach Shew and sprint specialist Hann Ollison, earning all-American accolades for their performances at the Outdoor Championships in late May. In addition, Ollison repeated as national champion in the 400-meter dash.
The McMurry women also continued their dominance in the ASC as they won their fourth-straight conference title and their 10th in the last 11 years. ten McMurry women’s track & field athletes garnered all-conference recognition as the McMurry women cruised to another conference title. In addition, five McMurry women qualified for the national Outdoor Championships in Marietta, Ohio. Head Coach Barbara Crousen was named both the ASC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year, as well as the U.S. track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South/Southeast Region Men’s Coach of the Year.
The 2009 season concluded the illustrious McMurry track & field career of Ollison, a six-time national champion and a 17-time allAmerican.
Tennis
The 2009 McMurry men’s tennis team had its best season in school history as they finished 14-7 and won the program’s first ASC West Division Championship, which allowed McMurry to host the 2009 ASC tennis Championships for the first time and McMurry coach Mark Hathorn to win his second consecutive West Division Men's Coach of the Year Award. The 2009 season marked a rebuilding year for the McMurry women as most contributors were freshmen and sophomores. With a year of collegiate playing experience now gained by most of the team, the young McMurry women’s squad is poised for a successful 2010 campaign.
Baseball
The successful and proud McMurry baseball tradition continued in 2009 under the leadership of first-year head coach John Byington. Coach Byington had big shoes to fill taking over for former coach Lee Driggers, who built the McMurry baseball team into a perennial nCAA Division III contender in his 13 years at the helm. While the softspoken Byington has different methods of coaching than his predecessor, he carried on the winning legacy as McMurry made its 11th ASC postseason tournament appearance in 2009 and finished with a 26-17 record.
Golf
Coach Russ Evans and his McMurry men’s and women’s golf teams marked another great year in 2009 as the men finished third and the women finished fourth, respectively, at the ASC Golf Championships. top women performers for
McMurry included Monica Harris, who earned a spot on the all-ASC first team for the second consecutive
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http://athletics.mcm.edu.
AthLetICS UPDAtE
continued from previous page year by virtue of her third-place finish at the conference tournament, and Libby Scarlett, who made the all-ASC second team by virtue of her eighth-place finish at the conference tournament. On the men’s side, Larry Courtney and nick Mehigan earned spots on the allASC second team based on their performances at the conference tournament. Mehigan tied for sixth place overall and Courtney tied for eighth.
WINTEr SPOrTS
Men’s Basketball
Coach Ron Holmes and company returned McMurry to a dominant force in the ASC in 2009 as they finished 19-8 and won the program’s seventh ASC West Division title before losing a heartbreaker to Mississippi College in the semifinal round of the ASC tournament.
Four McMurry players earned all-conference recognition highlighted by senior standout Jonathan Walker making the all-division all-ASC team. In addition to making the five-member all-division all-ASC team, Walker made the ASC West Division first team and was named the ASC West Division newcomer of the Year as well as a third-team All-Region selection by d3hoops.com. Senior guards Dewayne Hall and Robert Moreno also garnered all-conference recognition as they were both respectively named to the ASC West Division’s second team, while junior guard Ricky Burney rounded out McMurry’s all-conference recognition as he was an honorable mention West Division selection.
Women’s Basketball
The 2008-09 McMurry women’s basketball team continued the program’s proud tradition as they finished 21-6 and won their third ASC West Division title in school history. McMurry lost a heartbreaker in the semifinal round of the ASC tournament.
The McMurry women were rewarded for their stellar season as four players earned all-conference recognition. In addition, nine McMurry women’s basketball players were named to the ASC Academic All-Conference team.
Swimming
Head coach Bev Ball and her McMurry men’s and women’s swimming teams had another solid year during the 2008-09 season. At the Independent Conference Meet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the women’s team placed fourth and the men’s team placed seventh in spite of competition with many scholarship-based programs. The 2008-09 season was the last year for standout swimmer Marlee Hager, who is arguably the greatest female swimmer in school history. The McMurry women, though, are slated to return Erin Johnson and Amber Perkins, who both broke numerous school records last year as freshmen. On the men’s side, team leader Craig Osterman is slated to return for his senior season next year and Coach Ball has recruited many new swimmers who are expected to make an immediate impact.
FALL SPOrTS
Football
On April 15, 2009 McMurry named Hal Mumme the 20th football coach in school history. Despite arriving rather late in the spring, the well-respected coach known for turning around struggling programs has already made his impact felt. Mumme’s change in the McMurry football culture can already be seen as he completely renovated the R.M. Medley Fieldhouse, as well as embarked on cosmetic renovations to Wilford Moore Stadium. Mumme’s other endeavors, such as season-ticket packages and a McMurry coaches’ television show, are also being implemented to
http://athletics.mcm.edu.
AthLetICS UPDAtE
help instill pride back into the McMurry football program.
Change is also anticipated on the field as Mumme brings his record-breaking “Air Raid Attack,” which has shattered passing records everywhere Mumme has coached. In addition, new McMurry defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn brings his highly acclaimed 3-3-5 defense, which might prove problematic for many opponents in 2009 as most of them haven’t been exposed to the unique defensive formation.
Volleyball
McMurry volleyball icon Cammie
Petree returned as coach in 2008 and led McMurry to a 19-8 record and an appearance in the ASC Conference Volleyball
Championship tournament. Five McMurry players earned allconference recognition, with middle blocker terah Brown being named the ASC West Division Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive year. Brown also became the first McMurry volleyball player to receive allAmerican recognition from the American Volleyball Coaches Association. More of the same success is expected in 2009 as three all-conference performers (Brown, libero Sarah Anding, and outside hitter Danielle Kelton) are slated to return as well as many other key contributors from last year’s squad.
Soccer
In 2008, both the McMurry men’s and women’s soccer teams battled many injuries and tough-fought losses in a rebuilding year for both teams. Despite a tough season in 2008, three McMurry men’s soccer players garnered all-conference recognition, including goalkeeper Leeland Karpf earning first-team all-ASC recognition. In addition, seven McMurry soccer players (four women and three men) earned ASC all-academic honors.
Cross Country
With both teams returning many key runners, McMurry cross country coach David Chandler is expecting another great year from his men’s and women’s cross country teams in 2009. The highest-profile returner for Chandler is Ken Wheeler, who last year as a junior became the second McMurry runner to ever qualify for the nCAA Division III Cross Country Championship, and also returns tied for the school record in the 8,000-meter with his time of 25:54.31. The 2008 season proved to be another solid year for Chandler’s squads as the men finished second at the conference meet and the women finished third, respectively, with six runners (four men and two women) garnering all-conference recognition. Success was also achieved in the classroom for the McMurry men’s team as the U.S. track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recognized the men’s team as an All-Academic team award winner for the third consecutive year.
