10 April 19, 2021 Staff Farewell | News | Collegiate Health | Sports | Media | Feature | New Staff | Graduation
(First Row, Left to Right) Kinesiology junior K’Vonte Jackson, sprints past defenders for a huge gain as the Stangs defeat TAMU-Kingsville, March 6 - Photo by Bailey Graham | C Lewis, practices her jumping form ahead of the OBU Invitational, March 25 - Photo by Bailey Graham | Undecided sophomore Erwin Regules, takes a shot on goal in the Stang serve to Metro State University. March 5, 2020. - Photo by Bridget Reilly | Men’s golf pose together on the green, March 16. - Photo courtesy of Garrett Leek. (Second Row, L Forward and psychology junior, Jermane Carter, dunks the ball versus Lubbock Christian, Jan. 30. - Photo by Niko McWilliams. | Pre-law senior Lissette Lefforge spikes the b March 3 - Bailey Graham | Exercise physiology freshman Emilija Visic returns a serve from a Tyler Junior College player, Feb. 7, 2020. - Photo by Bridget Reilly. | Marketing ju
MU S T A N GS SH A RE TH EIR T HOUG THALIA DOE REPORTER s the spring semester comes to an end, some of MSU Texas’ star players reflect on the highs and lows of a unique Mustangs season.
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Football
Caleb Brown (No. 63), offensive lineman and criminal justice senior, was announced the All-Lone Star Conference Male Performance Athlete of the Year. Brown said this past season the team started strong but didn’t finish as strong as they would’ve liked. “I think we just have to get better and focus on that during off-season and this summer, becoming more disciplined and learning how to execute the game... Our first scrimmage against South Eastern Oklahoma was very special to me, just to be able to walk on the field again after a year. We are grateful to be back out on the field after missing a year, but it definitely took some time adjusting back to the flow of a game… that’s no excuse though, because everyone else also had a year off, so
that’s when it goes back to learning how to execute the game better,” Brown said.
Men’s Soccer
Mere Escobar (No. 22), forward and undecided freshman, was announced LSC Freshman of the Year and featured on the All-Freshman team, making him even more ready for the conference tournament. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned this year was to work hard and wait for the moment. I struggled a lot in the beginning and even felt like I wasn’t doing enough for the team. However, I never stopped working and my coaches supported and pushed me to be great and do whatever I could to help the team. These awards are just the beginning of what I want to do for the program,” Escobar said.
Women’s Soccer
Reece Wildt (No. 3), defender and nursing freshman, was one of the few players that had the opportunity to start in several games this season. Wildt said
she did not expect to have such a big role her first year. “I honestly wasn’t expecting to play as much as I did or have a really big role on the team; all the other players understood that and helped me through it all. The season was a little tough for the team because we didn’t get all the outcomes we wanted in the games, but we stuck through it together, and I feel we had great leaders on the team that really pushed us and motivated us through the hard times,” Wildt said.
Men’s Tennis
Alberto Diaz, business management junior, said the season started with a few defeats, but the team has improved and is now physically stronger. “We could’ve played better and won more in the beginning of the season, but at the time, we weren’t as fit as we needed to be. Now that the most important part of the season is coming up, I feel that we are now more than capable of making it far in nationals,” Diaz said.
Women’s Tennis
Tiffany Holleback, sports administration senior, said, despite struggle with the pandemic, the team has been given the opportunity to grow together as a team on and off the court. She says her experience at other universities “I’m one of the new ones on the team because I am a transfer graduate student. There’s a couple of years between me and some of the other girls, but it’s a cool experience because I get to help them through the experience, I’ve gained playing at other programs,” Hollebeck said. Emilija Visic, exercise physiology sophomore, said this season has been special because her freshman year was cut short due to COVID-19. “Being able to complete through a whole season is kind of ‘new’ for me in a way, but it’s been a blast. Being able to play with my team and compete for each other every match has felt special. Individually, I love being on the court so having the whole season to learn and grow as an athlete has been important for me,” Visic said.
Men’s Basketb
Derrick Ogechi (N decided junior, said season playing for th ing able to meet and b es and players was a “We won more ga did last year, so I fee in the right direction college last year whe other coaches were picked Midwestern b the best school for m tion and basketball,”
Women’s Bask
Frances King (No nesiology sophomore one to remember. Ki showed what the tea complishing as a who “Against UT Tyler record for the most and had one of the in this program. My memory by far was
