Volume 131, Issue 6: December 8, 2022

the

S GNAL

Valeria Gomez

Emilee Webb

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Addie Chumley

Ouachita Baptist University

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Email: signal@obu.edu

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The Signal is the student newspaper of Ouachita Baptist University, and is published twice a month on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters when school is in session. The newspaper is distributed free of charge; 1,200 copies are placed in more than 20 locations across campus.

Opinions expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or university. The Signal is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press and is printed by the Nashville Leader.

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Spakes wins big on “Wheel of Fortune”

BY CAMRYN MANNING Staff Writer

On Tuesday, Nov. 22, Sarah Spakes, a senior political science major from Benton, Ark., made national television on the popular game show “Wheel of Fortune” as part of the show’s College Week. Quick to hit the buzzer and solve the puzzle, Spakes left with $21,000 and a trip to Barbados. She commented that the whole experience “felt surreal, like a literal dream come true.”

A family tradition, Spakes grew up watching “Wheel of Fortune.” Her family would routinely watch the game show at the dinner table or while cleaning up after dinner, and Spakes always solved the puzzle the fastest.

Spakes said, “My family was always saying I should try out for ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ and I would tell them, ‘yeah, right.’” She added, “But, last Christmas break I was home, and there was a commercial on the show advertising a video audition, and I went for it. And so I submitted a video to their website.”

The video was a challenge for Spakes. “As many people know, I’m not a naturally bubbly person, but I had to turn it on for this video,” Spakes said. “I told them my major, classification, fun fact of my interning at Arkansas’ governor’s mansion over the summer, what made me a good candidate to spin the wheel and why I wanted to be there.”

Her video caught the attention of the judges, and a Zoom audition was scheduled in June. “It was different being in an audition since I’m more used to interviews,” Spakes said.

She was told that if she hadn’t heard in the next month to try again next year. July passed with no word, so Spakes thought she

didn’t make it. In early August, she received an email with word that she made the show. She was asked to fly out to Los Angeles on Aug. 26 and to make the decision in the next 24 hours. The first week of school was the date of filming, but Spakes’ professors were understanding and supported the exciting opportunity.

At 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, contestants made their way to the set and spent the morning learning the rules of “Wheel of Fortune” and being coached by the show’s team. The contestants also got to know one another during this time and became quick friends.

“We thought it would be a great idea to get each other’s Instagrams, and it just went from there,” Spakes said. “We made a group chat that we still talk on pretty regularly, and I think it’s cool to know people from different schools all over the nation.”

The contestants practiced enunciating letters and spinning the wheel, and they also learned helpful tips from the coordinators. Spakes shared some advice that was given, such as buying vowels, since “with only five, you have a better chance of getting one right.”

Spakes admitted that she didn’t follow the tips as closely at showtime.

“I wanted to spin the wheel a lot,” Spakes said. “It’s not every day you get to do that, you know?”

Contestants were seated in the audience for all filmings, even the shows they weren’t a part of. Spakes got to watch her fellow contestants on other episodes being filmed, and her group was filmed second.

Because of the filming atmosphere and the friendliness of participants on the show, she commented that it felt more like a family game night than a competition. However, the show still possessed the wow factor she had

dreamt of from a young age. When she won, she felt like it wasn’t real.

“I was still in shock that I was even there and that it was happening,” Spakes said. “It was a fog, like in a cloud. I’m being herded to the little wheel and being told what to do with the lights and sounds and everyone clapping, so I was a little overwhelmed but just had to focus on the board.”

The question remains of what Spakes will do with her winnings. First, she said, taxes had to be taken care of, but with the money left remaining, she hopes to invest in a love of hers: an automatic watch.

“My dad likes watches, and he’s

passed that interest down to me,” Spakes said. “I’d like to get an automatic watch that winds itself whenever you move your wrist, so you don’t have to put batteries in it. It’s very cool.”

She is also contemplating a road trip but knows the importance of saving as she nears graduation in May. Even so, Spakes plans to celebrate her diploma by taking her trip to Barbados.

“I’m most looking forward to seeing the clear-blue waters of the Caribbean,” Spakes said. “I’ve never been to that area, and the pictures just don’t look real. I can’t wait to see it in person.”

The once-in-a-lifetime experience of winning “Wheel of Fortune” has been incredibly impactful on Spakes. She’s seen support from family, who threw a watch party on the night of airing, and from her friends, who have been alongside her the whole way.

“If there was one piece of advice I’d give to someone looking to try out, I’d say to go for it. I didn’t know I had any shot at all of getting on the show, but here I am. I mean, I go to a small school in Arkansas, and I was up there representing Ouachita with all the big public universities, so you never know what’s going to happen.”

Sarah Spakes, senior political science major from Benton, Ark., shows off the name tag she wore on “Wheel of Fortune.” Spakes competed on the show’s College Week on Nov. 22, and won $21,000 and a trip to Barbados. (photo by Levi Dade)

Hickingbotham School offers new MBA program to students

BY RACHEL DUNNAM Opinions Editor

There is a new master’s program on the horizon at Ouachita in the Hickingbotham School of Business. Set for the Fall of 2023, Ouachita is preparing to begin a Masters of Business Administration degree program (MBA). An MBA is a postgraduate degree that is focused on business administration and is in high demand inthe United States. This program will give students an opportunity to reach new heights and explore different career paths within the business world. Bryan McKinney, Ouachita general counsel and dean of the Hickingbotham School of Business, is excited for this new program, believing that it is a step in the right direction for the university.

“Hopefully the addition of a graduate program will add prestige to the reputation of our school and that’s a good thing,” McKinney said. “But rather than thinking about what this program will do for the school, we’d like to think

Ouachita begins to build new track for flourishing program

BY MARIAH HALBERT Staff Writer

more about what the program will do for students. We believe we’ve envisioned an MBA that will be tremendously valuable for students who are progressing through their careers and need that next level of business acumen.”

The fully-online MBA requires 30 hours and can be completed in a year. Although there are no internships required, there is a required program-long practicum, which will provide three hours of credit. The program will include courses such as Entrepreneurship/Intrapreneurship Practicum; Economic Tools for Managerial Decisions; Leadership, Faith, and Business; Managing with Accounting Information; Telling Your Story: Digital Marketing and Personal Selling; Management and the Law; Managing Data; Financial Analysis and Valuation; Global Management and Strategic Management. Each of these courses is eight weeks long and can be taken two at a time.

“The Hickingbotham School of Business feels the timing is now right to move forward with its own MBA,” Mckinney said. “We are

the only private AACSB-accredited business school in the state of Arkansas, so we believe that will be a meaningful niche for us and our students.”

Ouachita’s MBA program will offer something different from all the rest. It’s no secret that Ouachita is a special place, and the Christian values and worldview that this program will reflect gives students a unique perspective. Dr. Marshall Horton, Regions Bank Professor of Economics and Finance in the School of Business, tells about what those interested can expect from the program.

“Most MBA programs are academic in nature with standardized, traditional, undergraduate courses squeezed into a smaller time frame,” Horton said. “Our goal is to offer unique content with an emphasis on applicability rather than academic rigor for its own sake.”

For more information about the new MBA program in Ouachita’s Hickingbotham School of Business, students can contact Bryan McKinney at mckinneyb@obu.edu or at (870) 245-5513.

Ouachita has officially broken ground on what used to be the intramural fields and what will soon be a new track for the cross-country and track teams. A major inspiration for the track was the program’s growing numbers. There were only seven athletes on the team in 2019, and in 2022, the team reached 90 members. As the team continues to grow, a facility is needed to train and maintain the outstanding talent of Ouachita’s track and cross-country teams.

The track is a significant development as the team trains almost anywhere they can. “We have used grass fields, dirt roads, the indoor practice football facility, Arkadelphia High School and other facilities to accommodate the team’s practice,” said Steve Guymon, head coach for cross country and track.

The team is more than excited to finally have a dedicated area for their training. Not only will it help current members, but it will also help grow the team in numbers for prospective athletes through the recruitment process.

Dr. Keldon Henley, vice president for institutional Advancement and chief of staff, shares some details about the progress of the track.

“The Board of Trustees will give final approval for the building of a track facility when the necessary funding is secured,” Dr. Henley said. “The work they’re doing right now on the site is to get a good headstart on the project when funds are approved.

Restructuring the intramu-

ral fields has been a major challenge due to the flooding from the Ouachita River. “To protect the proposed facility from Ouachita River flooding, the site is being raised an average of nine feet, using fill dirt from the area south of the site,” says Dr. Henley.

And for those concerned about the restoration of the intramural fields, worry no more. There is a plan in place to build new fields. “We’re relocating the intramural fields toward the river approximately 100 yards east of their former position,” Dr. Henley said. “We expect to have them ready for use by next August.”

The addition of this track has been exciting for the team. “We are very appreciative of the support from the administration on the growth of our program,” Guymon said. With the women’s cross country team winning the Great American Conference championship in November, the track is a delightful reward for the team’s hard work.

Several individuals have been instrumental in making adjustments to allow space for the new track. “We’re especially grateful for the efforts of Shane Seaton and the Rec Life team in handling this year of transition and disruption,” Dr. Henley said.

The Hickingbotham School of Business is home to Ouachita’s business majors. Plans have been made to start a new online Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program to enhance students’ business acumen skills. (photo by Levi Dade)

We are very appreciative of the support from the administration on the growth of our program.

— Steve Guymon

Ouachita panhellenic, social clubs, rushees begin preparations for upcoming spring rush

BY EMILEE WEBB News Editor

As Ouachita students are gearing up to return home for Christmas break, a large portion of campus is already looking toward the beginning of next semester for one specific reason: rush. Rush will be held the first week students return to campus, starting Jan. 16 and ending Jan. 21. It is an exciting process for many and much work is already being invested by those on all sides of rush — Panhellenic, club members, and rushees — to ensure that it is a great experience for all.

Those choosing to participate in the rush process will attend rush parties from each social club on campus. For women, the social clubs are: The Women of Chi Delta, The Women of Chi Mu, The Women of EEE, The Women of Gamma Phi and The Women of Tri Chi. For men, the social clubs are: The Men of Beta Beta, The Men

of Eta Alpha Omega, The Men of Kappa Chi and the Men of Rho Sigma. After hosting these events all week, clubs will put on a bid day for the new members.

Along with this exhilarating process often comes a week that can be stressful for all involved. Ouachita Panhellenic, the team that plans rush, is working hard to make sure that 2023 rush is a smooth process for everyone. Emily Horn, senior communication sciences and disorders major, serves as Panhellenic co-president for this year. Horn shares the changes that have been made to rush this year in order to ease the process.

“The rush schedule is changing this year,” Horn said. “We are starting on Monday instead of Tuesday. We will do two days of rush, Monday and Tuesday, with no voting. Then, on Wednesday, there will be no parties, but there will be voting.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be the same as previous years, with parties on Thursday and Friday and bid day on Saturday. A lot of peo-

ple can get sick during rush week because of the stress and level of activity of the week. So, this extra day in the rush schedule gives everyone a break. It will be great for Panhellenic to talk to all of the girls on this day off, and it will be a much-needed break for the rushees and club members in the middle of the week.”

From the club perspective, the rush process is a way to make connections and share what it means to be a part of their sisterhood or brotherhood. Michal Felan, a senior psychology and sociology double major, serves as The Women of Chi Mu’s president and head induction chair. Felan expresses her social club’s passion and excitement for rush.

“Chi Mu has been preparing for rush for a while now,” Felan said. “Our rush chairs have been working since they gained their position last spring. We have been planning how to make it Chi Mu’s best rush yet and how to show the rushees what Chi Mu is all about.”

Felan also gives some advice for 2023 rushees. “If you are rushing, I want to encourage you to go into rush with an open mind,” Felan said. “Let the clubs show you who they are.”

Mason Campbell, a senior Christian studies major, serves as the president of Eta Alpha Omega. His run for the head position began with a conversation with Luke Black, vice president for Eta Alpha Omega, about how to make the rush process better.

Campbell said, “We really wanted to answer the question, ‘How do we best present ETA and what it’s all about through the rush process?’” He added, “Over the past several weeks, our youngest pledge class has come up to me and told me the things that we did well that made them want to ultimately join ETA, as well as the things we may need to improve on. We’ve looked at the ways we’ve always done the rush process in the past and asked ourselves how we can adapt and change to represent our club better

in the future.”

Campbell also offers advice to those looking forward to going through rush. “I think we can put a lot of pressure on this process by saying that being a part of a club is part of a person’s identity or the biggest part of their Ouachita experience,” Campbell said. “I think we worry so much when we think like that. But, if we go into the process with an open mind and really focus on having great conversations and making friendships, we would take a lot of the pressure off of the week.”

An advocate for the rush process, Campbell encourages students to participate for the overall experience. “The biggest thing is knowing that it’s OK to rush even though you have no idea what you want to do at the end of the week,” Campbell said. “Even if you are unsure if you want to pledge, it’s still a great idea to rush. Rush should not have the pressure that we put on it. It’s worth doing and a fun part of the OBU experience.”

Left: Autumn Walters (left) and Maddie Cox (right) paint Christmas ornaments. The Women of Chi Mu hosted at a pre-rush event for 2023 rushees during which participants made Christmas ornaments and bonded over many conversations. (photo by Sarah Dean) Right: Students have conversations over s’mores during a pre-rush event hosted by The Women of EEE for all of the 2023 rushees. (photo by Coleman Callan)

Ouachita presents 30th Festival of Christmas

BY JACIE SELLARS Staff Writer

Ouachita presented its 30th annual holiday production, Festival of Christmas on Dec. 2-3 at Jones Performing Arts Center (JPAC). According to Dr. Joshua Brown, this year’s director, Festival of Christmas began 30 years ago as a way to spread joy locally.

“Dr. Ben Elrod was the university President and wanted to offer a Christmas production as a gift to the community,” Brown said. “It has evolved into an event that showcases students from all areas of the School of Fine Arts.”

This year, over 100 students participated in the performance.

“All of the Ouachita choirs, dancers, handbells and instrumentalists are in the show. Even the Art Department is offering some of their works in an auction before the show in the lobby.” Brown said.

Before the show began, several Christmas-themed activities took

place in the lobby of JPAC to set the tone for the spirited performances to come. Audience members of all ages enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate as they listened to a handbell ensemble, looked at festive art and met with the Grinch and Santa.

Festival of Christmas traditionally includes a mixture of Christian and secular music. This year’s theme was “Winter Wonderland,” so the songs centered around joyful moments in the snow and the wonder surrounding Christ’s birth.

“Festival of Christmas musically shares the story of the birth of Christ through music while also providing Christmas spirit and joy through fun, secular holiday favorites,” Brown said.

The first half of the show included festive songs such as “Silver Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Run, Rudolph, Run.” The second half of the program included “Breath of Heaven,” “Mary, Did You Know?” and “O Holy Night” to portray the Christmas story.

Performing in Festival of Christmas connects decades of Ouachita students with a meaningful tradition. Freshman Blythe Hutchison was excited to be a part of the performance this year. “Being a part of the Festival of Christmas for the first time has been exciting, busy and very fun. It has truly put me in the Christmas spirit,” Hutchinson said.

Senior Kyleigh Stevens feels grateful for all of the wonderful

memories she has from the show. “Festival of Christmas is such a great way to end the semester, focusing on the fun, secular Santa side of Christmas, but also reflecting on the seriousness of Christ’s coming,” Stevens said. “I think it’s amazing how we’ve kept so many traditions over the years, but we also get to grow and create a unique experience for that year.”

This year’s production ended with a song called “The Bells,”

which encouraged the audience to listen for God and celebrate the coming of Christ,” Stevens said. “The choir all enjoyed ending the show with “The Bells.” It was such an amazing reminder of how God reveals himself in so many ways that we can miss if we aren’t attentive and listening for them.”

Overall, Festival of Christmas gave its audience an uplifting message that was a wonderful start to the Christmas season.

Ouachita theater to host One Act Play Festival

BY MADISON BASCO Staff Writer

One act plays are produced every semester by Ouachita students and are known for being wildly entertaining and captivating. Seniors Erin Bagley, Julia Letcher, Sara Kate Cole and Mikenzie Blase are directing one acts this semester as a part of their directing class. The plays will be presented this Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre.

A one act play is a play in one act. These performances can range from 10 to 50 minutes, but since Ouachita typically has several one acts performed, they range from 10-20 minutes.

Bagley has been performing in one acts since high school and has even acted in a few during her time at Ouachita. This is her first year to direct. Bagley chose “The Universal Language” by David Ives from his collection of one act plays, All In the Timing.

“To choose a one act, you read a lot of plays,” Bagley said. “I still have about five books checked out from the library full of one acts. I chose the one that stuck out the most, and one that the professor of the class, Shelby Allison-Hibbs actually pointed out. I chose my one act because while it’s funny and nonsensical, it’s got a deeper meaning into its moment where we fall in love with the crazy bits.”

Bagley serves an important role

in bringing the play to life and making sure everything runs smoothly.

“The role of the director is to guide the actors and whole creative team to present a cohesive story and theme,” Bagley said. “In terms of this class, since it’s not a big production we don’t have much of a creative team, other than the actors and the stage manager. So, we are in charge of what the set looks like, the costumes and lighting. With actors, we guide and pull the actors to make choices and complete their character arcs to really tell the story.”

Bagley explains how directing has been impactful this semester.

“I love seeing the light in the actors’ eyes light up like a Christmas tree when they get an idea or some-

thing clicks,” Bagley said. “Seeing it come to life is so rewarding.”

With the craziness of finals and all of the stress that brings, Bagley believes that coming out to see the one acts is a great study break that is well worth your time.

“It’s honestly a time to just relax and have fun,” Bagley said. “All of the plays are comedies, and it’ll be something to laugh at during a stressful week.”

One act could not be brought to life without students who take on these interesting and intricate roles. Several students have stepped up to play these characters including junior Shelby Tripcony who is performing in the one act “Sure Thing” directed by Blase. She plays the character, Betty.

“Betty is a bookworm with a bit of an attitude at points,” Tripcony said. “What is most exciting and interesting about playing her is that she changes throughout the show to fit what the other character wants romantically. I love being part of this because it’s such a collaborative art form.”

Tripcony explains that her favorite memory from this experience has been praying before every rehearsal. “I love that we are able to bring God all the glory for this show,” Tripcony said.

Bagley explains the significance of one act plays. “It’s to tell a story to the audience, something that they can connect with, whether that be through tears, laughter or uncomfortableness,” Bagley said.

A group of student performers sing at the 30th annual Festival of Christmas. The festival of Christmas was held Dec. 2-3 to celebrate the holiday season and showcased over 100 students from the School of Fine Arts. (photo by Levi Dade)

Advice for freshmen to conquer finals

BY KATIE BAYER Staff Writer

The Christmas season is finally upon us. But so are finals. Instead of sugar plums dancing in their heads, college students are kept awake by visions of sleepless nights and dreaded exams to come. For freshmen, the impending week can be especially scary. But not to worry! Your faithful friends at the Signal are here to help you through. Here are some tips that hopefully prove useful to you during this hectic season. Happy holidays, and best of luck!

1. How are college finals different from high school finals? In high school, your semester tests normally happen in the time span of one to two days. College finals are different in that the testing schedule is spread out during the final week of the semester. You may only have

one or two finals per day, depending on the day.

2. How should one study for finals? Start studying for your finals early. The sooner you start, the more prepared you’ll be, and the more time you can allot for yourself. As soon as you know what to study for each class, start looking at the study guides and understanding what you will need to know. From here, study in chunks. The Pomodoro Method is a popular way of breaking up your time; if this method isn’t for you, you can always start with your most difficult subject and work back to your easiest. Just make sure to take plenty of breaks.

3. What is the best way for one to manage their time? Keeping a “finals calendar” can come in

handy. Write down all your exam times, when you will carve out time to study, and when you plan on going to bed (do your best to get good sleep). This is a helpful way

give yourself a little pep talk (“I only have two weeks left before break; I can do this!”). Remember, the sooner you do it, the sooner it’s done! Plan to reward yourself with something you like to do after you finish studying to boost your motivation and keep those study gears churning.

when you plan to start your studies!)

to have all your obligations in one place and helps to declutter your brain.

4. How do you not procrastinate? Put the rest of the semester into perspective. Sometimes it helps to

5. Can you have fun and study during finals week? Yes! It’s all about knowing how to balance work and play. Having fun is encouraged as it helps your mind to de-stress and enjoy spending time with friends. Make sure that you get all your studying out of the way in the morning and afternoon, then save fun activities for the evening. (If you are more of a night-studier, work and play times can easily be swapped. Just make sure you know

6. What are some finals week traditions at Ouachita? Midnight cinnamon rolls in the caf is arguably the most popular tradition. The Sunday night before finals, students can enjoy cinnamon rolls as big as your head with friends. These gooey treats are the perfect way to hype you up for the week to come. 7. Should freshmen be freaking out about their finals? Not at all! Take nice deep breaths and remind yourself that you’ve got this. If you prioritize correctly leading up to finals, you will do just fine. Professors and staff are very supportive and help ease the stress of students during this time. Do your absolute best and enjoy the last days on campus — remember, no matter what, a month-long break awaits you to celebrate your hard work!

How does Santa fit into the Christian faith?

BY LEVI DADE Guest Writer

Unfortunately, the general attitude toward Christmas today is focused more on getting than on giving. This is especially true for children. They are told by parents, teachers and even siblings that if they are good, they get presents from Santa. If they are bad, they get put on the naughty list, and they can forget about the presents. The intent in doing this is good. We want children to behave well. However, this teaches them to be good only as a means to get something they want. What about teaching them to be good because it’s the right thing to do, regardless of whether they get something out

of it or not? In other words, this method only gets you self-centered obedience that is shallow and temporary.

I’m not saying we should never reward children. I’m saying, in regard to Christmas, it teaches children that they should always expect things for good behavior. These are two different concepts.

We should acknowledge good behavior because it’s a form of positive reinforcement, and it motivates people to continue that behavior, especially children. However, that doesn’t mean we should reward every individual for every good act. Even adults get rewarded for good behavior and performance. Ever heard of a promotion?

Yet, we don’t expect promotions

after every completed task. Promotions would become no more important than the gold star found on the front of my 7-year-old brother’s folder.

But let’s focus on Christmas. For the Christian parent or caregiver, telling children to be good, so they can get presents from Santa would take away from the Christian faith. The tradition of gift-giving goes back to the wise men who brought gifts for the newborn Jesus.

Theologically, the primary application of Christmas is not to receive. Rather, it is to give up or offer your possessions to the newborn Jesus. Indeed, to celebrate Christmas is to detach from the temporary materials and pleasures of this life, offer them to the one

who made them and live totally and completely in surrender to Him.

The “message of Santa” is the complete opposite of this. That message is about doing things to receive things. Christ’s message is about belonging to someone, namely Christ himself. This is an important distinction: Christianity is not about doing things in order to receive. It’s about doing things because you have already received!

Children can often be confused when they get older and start to understand the Christian message in a more complete way. How is their faith a free gift from God? All their life, they have grown up having to “do works” to receive gifts from Santa, but now they are expected to somehow see salvation as some-

thing they don’t work to receive. Do you see how this can be confusing and damaging to one’s faith?

Santa says, “Be good, and you will get gifts. Be bad, and you won’t get anything!” Jesus says, “You are my beloved child, and nothing you do can change that. Offer yourself to me and live a new life as a result of this.”

Children are conditioned to see gifts as a reward for good behavior. To expect them to not see the Christian faith in the same way is unfair. Let’s start by teaching children, in whatever capacity we can, that they don’t have to perform in order to receive. Let’s put a bigger emphasis on grace — God’s grace — this Christmas season. After all, that’s what Chrstmas is all about.

Tiger Sharks streamline into top 25 spot after Miami Invite

BY ISAAC BOURNE Sports Editor

Ranked #24 in the nation in the latest CSCAA poll for Division II swim teams, the Tiger Sharks have met expectations for the season. Just last week, the team returned from Oxford, Ohio, for a meet with the Miami (OH) Redhawks and stood toe-to-toe with Division I swimmers. At a meet with schools such as Dartmouth, Grand Canyon and Ball State, the team held its own.

“I think with a long drive and a tough environment, we did really well,” said Steven Bostick, head coach for men’s and women’s swimming. “You have to think about how we were in San Antonio just two weeks ago before sending them home for break, and now we’re on the road again just two days after break. It’s been a whirlwind, but we raced hard.”

The resilience of this team showed as sophomore Miles Schulze finished top eight in both the 100 yard and 200 yard breaststroke at the meet, while freshman Anthony Paculba rounded out the top eight in the 1650 freestyle.

“We’re young, and we’re having a lot of people step up, and after this weekend, I feel like there’s a

TJ Cole: Leaving an impact on the gridiron as remarkable career ends

BY CHASE HARTSELL Guest Writer

TJ Cole, a senior running back for the Ouachita football team, has stood out as both a leader and player on the gridiron. His football journey is a notable one, including multiple school records, a unanimous First Team All-GAC selection and a First Team All-America selection.

higher level of trust,” Bostick said. “If you trust in your coaches and your teammates, you can be really good. We really leaned on our teammates this weekend and that was our biggest win. We cheered harder than any team at the meet.”

With this year’s team standing as one of the bigger teams in Ouachita’s history, the camaraderie is evident with the way the team cheers for one another.

Every race holds great value for this young team, no matter how fast or slow the swimmer is. At a meet with many teams bigger than them, the Tiger Sharks showed up behind the blocks for their teammates.

Bostick spoke positively about his team’s camaraderie. “There is no hiding that you have to grind in swimming, so when we’re having a rough time or the meets are not going our way, when we have teammates that can give you positive talk and can help you with your positive self-talk, you can mentally overcome a lot of things,” Bostick said.

Now looking forward, the team has just four meets remaining in the season, all taking place in Cleveland, Mississippi, at conference, where the team is positioned to be a strong contender for the conference title.

According to Cole, his football story started by looking up to another football player.

“It was my older brother,” Cole explained. “We were 10 years apart. He played for Texas High School in Texarkana. He played with Ryan Mallett, so I got to watch Ryan Mallett start off in high school, and I also got to watch my big brother play. He’s been my inspiration throughout the years.”

In addition to his brother’s influence, Cole credits his Texas roots for developing his determination on the field.

“Everything is like football, football, football in Texas,” Cole said. “It’s super competitive, no matter what level you’re in, or what school district, [or] classification. It’s just competitive at all levels. I’m just very thankful that it gave me the passion to compete [the way I do].”

Cole’s passion for the game grew as he competed at Pleasant Grove High School in his hometown of Texarkana, Texas, where he won a state title and championship game offensive MVP award in 2017.

Since joining the Tigers in 2018, Cole has built an impressive resume. In 2021, Cole rushed for a then-GAC record 1,530 yards en route to being named a First Team All-GAC selection and an AFCA First Team All-American. In 2022, he gave fans an unforgettable en-

core. On October 22, Cole ran for a school-record six rushing touchdowns against Southern Arkansas in the Murphy USA Class in Texarkana, Arkansas. Less than a week later, he would score two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game to rally Ouachita to a 28-18 Senior Night win over East Central at Cliff Harris Stadium. With the latter of these two scores, Cole became Ouachita’s all-time career rushing touchdown leader.

Many fans would argue, though, that his most important touchdown occurred two weeks later. After the Tigers rallied with 14 unanswered points in the final five minutes of regulation, Cole scored a game-winning touchdown in overtime to seal a 40-37 victory over the Henderson State Reddies in the 95th Battle of the Ravine. It was his 26th rushing touchdown of his senior year, which gave him sole possession of the Tigers’ single-season rushing touchdown record.

The following week, after being named a unanimous First Team All-GAC selection at the conclusion of the regular season, Cole

played the final game of his collegiate career in a loss to Northwest Missouri State in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. There was, however, a silver lining in Ouachita’s defeat: by the end of the game, Cole had accumulated 1,672 yards for the 2022 season. In doing so, he broke William Miller’s record for the most rushing yards in a single season by a Ouachita player, which had, up to that point, stood since 1978. While Cole acknowledges that these records do hold significant meaning, they are not what he hopes the Ouachita football community will remember him for most.

“I want people to remember me as who I was off the field. How I just made people laugh. I [brought] a lot of energy to different situations. Just how I [was] off the field; just not caught up in all of the other stuff,” the senior said.

As Cole prepares for his next chapter, he can be certain of this: his impact on the Tiger locker room and record book will be felt for years to come.

TJ Cole has left a lasting mark on OBU football. He will leave the program with many records, putting his name in the history books. (photo by Matthew Branch)

Sam Goins swims the butterfly in Grapevine, Texas, against UT Permian Basin and Southwestern. OBU successfully won the meet. (photo by Hannah Hickman)