FOOTBALL
BY ISAAC BOURNE
As the city of Arkadelphia floods with students signaling the start of a new fall semester, drivers on the notorious Highway Seven overlook the stage where the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers will soon unleash a torrent upon their opponent. Those who gaze upon Benson-Williams Field bear witness to turf that has seen 45 wins in just 10 years in a basin that has held over 200,000 roaring fans, and with the headwater of a new season on September 5, Tiger fans once again rush to the source of this excitement, Cliff Harris Stadium. Head coach Todd Knight returns all but six starters from a team that finished 9-2 in a GAC that contained the eventual national champions in the Harding Bisons. With more depth and experience, the Tigers pack with them their No. 17 national ranking (d2football.com) as they chart a course to the NCAA Division II playoffs, a destination that they had made it to just a season prior. Quarterback
The Tigers are more bolstered at the quarterback position than many teams have been in the past. Senior Eli Livingston will get the week one start with perennial starter, graduate student Riley Harms, continuing his ACL recovery. The 6’5 transfer from Nebraska-Kearney set a school record for most touchdown passes in a season in just nine games in 2023 following a successful campaign through the air. “Riley is a great quarterback,” said offensive coordinator Jay Derby. “We’re looking forward to getting him back, [and] we think we’re going to get him back really soon, but right now, Eli is the guy, and he’s getting his opportunity, and I think that once everybody sees him play, they’ll understand what I’m talking about.”
Additionally, true freshman Nate Tenbarge has been possibly the biggest surprise for the Tigers coming out of Fall camp, showing his ability to run the offense in his first collegiate season.
Livingston, who started in the Tigers’ 5514 win over the Oklahoma Baptist Bison last season, displays a tremendous amount of
physical abilities that has the potential to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares with his mobility outside the pocket. The 6’2 205-lb biology major from Batesville, AR, set a program-record power clean during testing week, while also ranking 2nd on the team in vertical (38 in), 3rd in the 5/10/5 shuttle (4.14) and 8th in broad jump (9’8.75). “Pound-for-pound he’s the strongest guy on the team. You know, you don’t have many quarterbacks that hold the power clean record on the entire team,” said Derby. “He’s [got] a 375-pound power clean, [and is] a great athlete as far as his speed and agility [and] he’s got a great arm.”
Outside of his physical capabilities, Livingston brings the intelligence and savvy that is required to run the OBU offense. “His mental focus, [and] his ability to prepare and make good decisions with his athletic ability makes my job as a coach a lot easier,” Derby continued. “He’s going to do some things that we didn’t practice all week because of his athleticism, [and] that’s going to make us look like good coaches [and] make our offensive line look good. He’s going to escape sometimes, and he’s going to be an extra threat running the ball, scrambling and making plays with his legs and with his arm that people are probably not used to seeing us do.”
Running Backs
In a position that the Tigers have held down for many years as the best in the conference, OBU once again returns their unanimous All-GAC selection and all-time program touchdown leader, graduate student Kendel Givens. “Kendel is such a great guy and he’s a guy that you want to do good for,” said junior starting left tackle Dylan Horton. “He’s a guy that whenever he succeeds, he’ll bring you up with him, just because you’re along the way with him.”
Behind the All-American running back stands sophomore Chris Henley Jr., who staked his claim as the clear-cut number two to Givens after a solid year in the purple-and-white in 2023. On a team with a typically runfirst mindset, the Tigers’ are set to have another impactful year on the ground in a program that has not recorded under 2000 rushing yards in a season since 2013. “Our
philosophy is just to take what the defense gives us and not try and force it and be methodical about it,” said Derby. “Drive the football and execute offensively, and not put our defense in a bad situation. I’ve been here 26 years, and that’s what we’ve always done, and it’s created a winning culture around here, and you know, we’re excited about trying to keep that going this season.”
Wide Receivers
In a year where the entire roster is deep across the board, the wide receiver room boasts an particularly substantial abundance of talent. Not only do the Tigers return the entirety of their receiving corps featuring AllGAC senior Connor Flannigan and All-GAC return man sophomore Carter McElhany, they also bring in AJ Jones as a transfer from San Jose City College. “I say the number one word that describes this receiving core is depth,” said Flannigan. “Talking with Coach Spence, it seems like the problem that we’re going to have is having guys on the bus because we could have 15 dudes from that room that we feel like could help us, whether it’s on special teams or on offense, but that group is so good.”
Flannigan is the undisputed leader of this talented regiment, taking on the challenge and setting young players up for the future. “We want to leave this program in a better place than what we found it, and we approach every day like that,” Flannigan continued. “We want to show those young guys what the standard is, what it means to work and what it takes to win, because we’ve seen from older guys when we were freshmen what it takes to win.”
Offensive Line
Behind the leadership of junior Dylan Horton, the Tigers’ offensive line accounts for the losses of two All-GAC players in Zach Henson and Nate Turner with the emergence of a skilled group of players headed up by redshirt sophomore Brett Barbaree. “Brett is another great guy that has really stepped up, even though he’s been injured for the past couple years, and he’s helped out a lot,” said Horton. “We’re both kind of co-leading that offensive line, and I think we’re doing a really good job.”
Isaiah Simpson stands out as one of the few freshmen
Continued on page 3
Photo by Sarah Dean
to get an overwhelming majority of snaps so far in camp, with consideration for a starting job this season. “Isaiah looks like a freshman that’s going to be able to play for us this year as well,” said head coach Todd Knight. “He’s a big, big young man.”
On the end of the line stands another veteran in sophomore tight end Garrison Jackson, who heads up a diverse tight end room. Jackson, while typically a “fingers in the dirt” tight end, caught six passes for 88 yards last season with two touchdowns, earning him All-GAC honorable mention team, while fullback Brayden Hendricks brings other options for this offense with his ability to pull.
Defensive Backs
The batch of players holding down in the secondary for the Tigers is perhaps the most decorated of the position groups for the Tigers, with two GAC player of the week awards Heading up the safety position is All-GAC first team strong safety Josiah Johnson, who led the team in tackles (90) last season (3rd in GAC). The Second Team All-American out of Little Rock has shown the ability to do it all on the field, recording a sack along with two interceptions during the 2023 campaign. In tandem with him on the opposite side is sixth-year graduate student Kenta Jones, who is ready for his opportunity after dealing with injuries in the past. “These are guys that have been here a long time,” said Knight. “They’re really good players. Josiah, you’re looking at a guy right there that was on the short list for the Cliff Harris award, and he’ll be back on that–a great tackler, so we really feel like our safety position ton of depth” At the cornerback positions, three-year starters in juniors Mario Ganter Jr. (2023 All-GAC Honorable Mention) and Steven Weston bring a type of fear to opposing offenses that keeps many quarterbacks from airing out passes, as the duo racked up a combined 18 pass breakups and five interceptions, the aforementioned Ganter tying for second in the GAC in total interceptions with four. “[Steven and I] we’re kind of like opposites, and opposites attract,” said Ganter. “I’m more of what we call a technician. I can really be a technically sound guy, but Steven, Steven is a force. You run the ball his way, he’s going to make a hit.”
The unit of skilled defensive backs has shown a connection with each other behind their strong leadership. “We just can’t let ourselves get down on each other and get to bickering,” said Johnson. “Our communication on the field puts us all on the same page when it comes to different motioning. I’ve played with Mario for three
years, played with Steve for three years and [I”m] going into my fourth year with Kenta, so I feel like we’re all on the same page, and I don’t even have to go on the field and talk with them if I don’t feel like talking, because we’re big on communicating, and as long as I get that look from Steve and Mario, I know if they’re lost or not.”
Linebackers
“The Miller Bros” are back. With graduate student Dawson Miller’s (2023 All-GAC 2nd team) return to the field at outside linebacker for one last ride with his team. Accompanied by senior inside linebacker Jax Miller, the Tigers bring back both leaders from last season’s defense to lead this elite troop of aged veterans into battle.
“On the day we found out that [Dawson] got into grad school and he could officially come back, it was a big relief off our shoulders,” said defensive coordinator Roy Thompson. “He’s one of those guys, and every year you have some guys like that, but it’s like, how are you going to replace that guy? Dawson played on one leg last year, and he had two or three picks and, I mean, he really transformed the defense at the point that he came back. You can’t replace what that kid does from a mental standpoint, that’s something crazy.”
The linebacker corps also includes senior JT Towers, junior Bruin Barnes and junior transfer Jabarii Pharms bolstering what is already an intimidating back line, establishing the middle as a no-fly zone for rival quarterbacks.
Defensive Line
As with nearly every position across the squad, the defensive line boasts a depth that many teams in the GAC would dream of having. Returning All-GAC 2nd team defensive tackle Braylen Butler highlights the talented group, but a dangerous front line featuring graduate student JaRaylon “Chop” Burks and seniors Melvin Kumwenda and Rovell Carter combine with the stardom of Butler to give the Tigers a plethora of weapons against opposing offenses. “They make it way easier for me to be able to actually perform,” said Butler. “For all of us to be successful, it takes everybody doing their job, and when you’ve got people that are on the same level as you, or just as good as you, or even better, it makes it way easier because you know you have that help, or you have that fall back.”
On the ends, senior Mikey Gonzalez and junior Chance Taylor return after a season that saw the pair combine for a total of eight sacks and 13 tackles for loss. “Coach [Kane Bryen] does a good job with that room,” said Thompson. “He won’t let anyone outwork them. They’re going to have a [special]mentality about them.”
Arkadelphia, AR
Alva, OK
Sept. 5th (Thu.) / 7pm Sept. 12th (Thu.) / 6pm
Magnolia, AR
Arkadelphia, AR
Sept. 21st (Sat.) / 6pm Sept. 28th (Sat.) / 6pm
Durant, OK
Oct. 5th (Sat.) / 2pm
Arkadelphia, AR
Arkadelphia, AR
Oct. 12th (Sat.) / 12pm
Russellville, AR
vs. Southwestern Ok. St. vs. Harding @ Arkansas Tech vs. Southern Nazarene @ Oklahoma Baptist vs East Central @ Southeastern Okla. St. vs. Arkansas-Monticello @ Southern Arkansas
Oct. 19th (Sat) / 7pm Oct. 26th (Sat.) / 2pm
Arkadelphia, AR
Oct. 31st (Thu.) / 6pm
Shawnee, OK
Nov. 9th (Sat.) / 2pm Nov. 16th (Sat.) / 1pm
Arkadelphia, AR (HSU)
BY ISAAC BOURNE
Entering his 13th season at the helm of the Ouachita Baptist Lady Tiger soccer team, head coach Kevin Wright maintains a calm and focused approach to a season following the program’s first GAC title since 2021 and only third all-time.
“We expect to be competitive, so I think our ceiling is pretty high,” he said. “Each year is a little bit different. I think this group’s a bit different than last year, just from where our depth is and where we feel we can kind of get at people and where our strengths are.”
With the crucial losses of forwards Jamie Fowler, Fernanda Valencia and Gracen Turner, the Lady Tigers will look to account for players that netted half (14 of 28) of the team’s total goals last season. They replace the talented front line with a group led by returning sophomores Reese Brown and Hattie Gardner, with other sophomores such as Isabella Savattere and Madi Vana taking up the midfield in this loaded group of second-years.
“That freshman class last year
WOMEN’S SOCCER
we thought was a really, really good group for us,” said Wright. “There’s so much experience in our backline, but then there’s so much of an attacking energy and maybe something that we’re missing just a bit that in that group of sophomores right now, some different qualities, and we’re able to turn to the midfield on their own and run at some folks.”
As Wright mentioned, the premier strength for the Lady Tigers stands behind the offense in their experienced and talented corps of defenders. Senior Ashton Inman returns along with senior All-GAC First Teamers Abbey Moore and Abby Cowgill, junior All-GAC Honorable Mention Amerie Thomas and senior GAC All-Tournament Teamer Sophia Valencia rounds out the plethora of talent that sends a single message to opposing attacks: no easy goals.
With every single defender returning to a team that finished with the GAC’s fewest goals allowed (13), making them the league’s best defense by far (the second fewest goals allowed in the conference was 19 by Southern Nazarene), the Lady Tigers look to replace a key piece to their defensive success last season, former goalkeeper Michele Snow. Senior Carina Chavarria, junior Brooke Steinman and redshirt freshman
Taylor Hapgood remain in a deadlock as to who will earn the coveted position in the goal.
“It’s the first time that we’ve had a three player battle for that in a bit,” said Wright. “We [will] settle in on who we think is our one by sometime within that pre conference schedule, but they all have different strengths. Brooke, obviously, she’s long, and [she] does some good things, while Karina is probably the most experienced. Taylor is a red shirt, so she came in from high school off an ACL injury, so she’s just now, from a game experience standpoint getting training experience, really kind of getting herself into that as well, so all of them have different strengths to some degree. So we’re really trying to, sort like, what fits what we’re trying to do best. I think they all see that there’s minutes there, and they all want them, so it’s a very competitive environment for our goalkeepers right now.”
With a #1 preseason ranking in the GAC and similarly high expectations to claim back-to-back conference titles for the first time in school history, the Lady Tigers approach the year stronger than ever with a healthy balance of youth and experience.
Photo by Ashlyn Holt
Photo by Ashlyn Holt
BY PHIL BYRD
Whena new coach moves into town, there is always a bittersweet feeling permeating the air, especially when one as young as the new Ouachita Baptist Tigers men’s soccer head coach Wes Holifield takes the reins. In past years, the team has struggled to keep up with other members of the Great American Conference, winning only three games from 2021-2023. Coach Holifield, however, has approached the new job with a gritty attitude. “In the past couple of years, obviously results haven’t gone the way that anybody wanted, so a big thing was bringing back a core group of guys that were
bought into what we’re doing,” he said. “One of our seven pillars that we talk about is that we’re going to be blue collar.”
Returning starter Kristian Baker, a senior defender, received high praise from the new coach. “Returning captain Kristian Baker is going to be a really strong presence in the back,” said Holifield. Junior goalkeeper Dillon Staal also received praise. “Dillon also is going to be a leader within the team. He’s one of those older guys that guys look up to,” said the coach. Both players boast strong praise from the coaches, but their contributions to the team do not always show up on the stat sheet. “We want to be a selfless team. So winning 50/50 balls, winning second balls, winning balls in the air, a lot of those things don’t show up in the stat sheet,” Holifield continued.
The coach’s youthful energy can appear as optimistic, but Holifield also approached some areas in which his team can grow. “We’ve created a lot of chances in the run of play, but now once you get your opportunities, you have to bury them,” he said. “A little bit more of that killer instinct will come. That’s part of the culture.”
Holifield’s mantra for his team this year reflects that hard-working culture, encouraging the ideal student athlete, as it intends to grow the team as men as well as as athletes. “We want to confront
MEN’S SOCCER
the human tendency to be mediocre,” he said. “It’s very easy to fly under the radar and be average. That’s just human nature, but to do something worthwhile and to have success, you have to constantly be fighting that battle within yourself.”
Nonetheless, the team’s returners are sure to bring a new energy to the team this fall, and with a new defensive-minded strategy, hopefully bring back a winning tradition to Ouachita. “We want to put the opposition on their heels a little bit. We want to be the ones dictating, and on the ball we want to be fluid,” Holifield said.
This type of counter-attack heavy soccer uses precision to find the perfect moments to strike. In order to constantly be aware and moving the ball, players must be focused and ready the whole game. This style of play requires focus and energy at all times, which means the team is anticipating Ouachita fans to bring the energy to games this season. “When [the fans] are giving energy to our guys, they can then kick it into another gear,” Holifield said.
While the team is looking to return to winning ways, Holifield believes he has a way to impact the team’s attitude. “Learning to win is a real thing. So being able to flush
the last couple of years, it’s not easy. It’s a completely new culture, a completely new style of play, and almost a completely new group of guys. It’s a situation where if we’re going to move forward, we have to be in the present.”
The tone of the season will be set by the team’s first conference game against Christian Brothers University on Sept. 4. Holifield believes that a win here can boost the team to success further down the line. “I think once we win, it’s a bit of a domino effect,” he said.
Photo by Sarah Dean
Photo by Matthew Branch
VOLLEYBALL
BY KYNDALL FOMBY-BELL
Asvolleyball season sets in, the Ouachita Baptist Lady Tigers are ready to attack with intention and rally with their potential.
The team has been determined to make adjustments to prepare for the blocks ahead. Junior defensive specialist Peyton Church speaks on her team’s approach this season, “At the end of our first scrimmage, this year, Coach Frizz, talked about the right time to peak, Instead of coming in with big goals right out the gate we have started doing weekly goals to focus on letting the little things come together.”
intensity our season is set to take off,” middle blocker Eryn Dawson said.
The Lady Tigers’ striking team dynamic over the years has brought effective team culture through defining friendships. Fairchild, Church, and Dawson reminisce on what their trio has been, “While stepping into our leadership role we realize that our friendship gives incoming athletes hope, in the midst of a transition into freshman year we formed close bonds made possible by our sport and will stick throughout our whole life” Fairchild said.
spend together fun.”
The Tigers are tipping past the block as they follow their lone senior, defense specialist Avery Jauz. Jauz shares how she sides out through her unique athletic journey as she steps into her last year. “Recruiting was not the easiest for me, COVID hit right in the middle of my recruiting and my clubs’ games and tournaments were all canceled. Coach Frizz took a chance on me and gave me an offer without ever seeing me play,” she said.
This team has worked to align their goals and equipped their mindsets to ace the season ahead. “Our team’s focus is to take it one game at a time, from the preseason tournaments to conference games,” junior middle blocker Haley Fairchild said. “As we take on each team with the same mentality and
Over the years the team has set a connected foundation through enjoyable team bonding. Church speaks of her team’s loving culture, “we have participated in many team activities where we have bonded over things that have not been just volleyball. Between letting loose in Zumba, and laughing before and between practices, our team finds joy in not just our sport but in making any time we
Throughout the trials sent her way, Jauz credits her continuous drive to God, “I learned why I play this game and who I play it for is no one other than God. It’s uplifting coming into this mindset in your athletic journey when you do not let outside situations ruin your passion for the game.” Jauz said.
“My favorite verse is Psalm 46:10 ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ This means so much to me and has allowed me to still be here today. It reminds me to be still in my journey and realize who has given me what I have.”
Giving Glory to God is a key foundation in all sports, and with faithful walks like Jauz’s, she continues to inspire her team and other athletes at OBU. With last season’s accolades, Courtney Hanson GAC Setter of the year (Courtney Hanson), First team all-conference, (Riley Brazile, Leah Gardner) GAC Honorable Mention (Emily Adams) along with ten players joining the academic all-conference team, the Tigers have plenty of weapons returning to the court.
Head coach Allion Frizzell-Kizer mentions her feelings towards their ap-
proaching season, “I am excited that we have a bunch of experienced upperclassmen that know the intensity of the game. Early on, four juniors took starting spots as freshmen and all our upperclassmen have always upheld team culture to something very inspiring for underclassmen,” she said. Through experience, upperclassmen on the team have made a match point decision to change the dynamic for their incomers. “They allow a space for newcomers to be themselves early on. Our team is full of trustworthy, genuine, and loyal young women that deserve to be seen” Frizzell-Kizer states. This season volleyball will host their preseason opener, The Reddie Tiger Invitational, Sept. 6-7 , followed by the Union University Classic on the campus of Union University in Jackson, Ten. on Sept. 13-14. The Tigers pass an assist to their fans this year to show up and show out as they rotate into the start of their 2024 season.
Photo by Sarah Dean
Photo by Sarah Dean
CROSS COUNTRY
BY LAWSON SANDERS
The Ouachita Tigers cross country teams head into this upcoming season with goals to build on 2023, hoping to make noise in this year’s GAC championship. Summer training has concluded, and the Tigers are preparing to start their season at their very own Bob Gravett Invitational taking place in Arkadelphia, AR on Saturday.
With four meets on the schedule before the GAC championship race, both teams look to their training to improve each race, building each other up along the way. All four meets will be crucial to the team’s success, but the real testament is the championship race on Oct. 26, where every team aims to be their best.
Men’s Breakdown
Going into the new season, the Tigers were ranked fourth in the Great American Conference following a fourth-place finish in last year’s championship race. This ranking comes as no surprise as teams such as the Oklahoma Baptist Bison, East Central Tigers, and Harding Bisons head into the season with similar lineups as the previous year. The Tigers enter their fourth year as an official team since the 1990s and believe they have what it takes to reign among the top of the GAC rankings.
With the Tigers returning all five seniors who pioneered their program reboot and finished in the top 10 for Ouachita at their last championship race, they head into this year’s season with confidence and experience that senior Whit Lawrence hopes can catapult them to success in their final year. “As seniors, we are able to motivate our teammates and pass on advice that we didn’t have as freshmen “This will make for a fun team that runs smart and is ready for greater challenges.”
Assistant coach John Jones believes the Tigers have done a great job stepping into their roles as they build the team and is very excited to see it all come together this year. “In my opinion… we have done very well so far, [and] the key to this year is believing in themselves and believing in their training,” he said.
The men’s cross country team is more than eager to upset the 2024 coaches poll rankings, and their depth will be what can separate them from the other teams in the Great American Conference. East Central will be heading into this season after a 3rd place finish in nationals, while Harding will be returning their young runner who finished as the runner-up in the 10k at track nationals. With the conference getting stronger each year, the Tigers will need to adapt and overcome, and the coaches and athletes believe this is the year they will do so.
Women’s Breakdown
The women’s team returns all but one of their top 10 athletes, Taylor Koeth, who finished 3rd in the 2022 GAC championship race leading the women to their first program championship win. With Koeth graduating, the Tigers hope to repeat their success from two years ago with new runners stepping up.
The 2023 championship race featured a second-place finish by the Tigers, who were edged out by East Central by just 17 points. Following last year’s race, Ouachita was featured in the Coaches Poll GAC rankings in second behind the Tigers out of Ada, OK.
The women, unlike the men’s team, have been in the spotlight before and know what it takes to end the season with a 1st-place finish. The key to their success, according to head coach Steve Guymon, will be belief. “We have a strong senior class, [and] I love the way they have stepped up as leaders and have become a strong, talented team,” he explained.
Not only do the women head into this season off a strong finish in last year’s cross country championship, they are coming straight off a successful showing at the GAC Track and Field Championships, where senior Izzi Breaux finished 1st in the women’s 1500m. Breaux plans on using the excitement from this past season as motivation to break ground this Fall. Her motto throughout the last few
seasons has been “TTPARF.” Breaux explained this acronym stands for “trust the process and run fast” which is what the senior hopes can push her further this season.
Fellow senior Macie Cash shared her input on their goals of leading the team to another championship and believes their confidence has significantly improved this year. “I believe our team is finally at a point where we run with confidence because we trust our abilities.” she claimed.
The women believe they have what it takes to bring the trophy back to Ouachita and are optimistic for their upcom-
ing success this season. The coaches and athletes know it is not an easy feat, but this year they believe their team is faster and more confident than ever. With both men’s and women’s teams striving for success this season, the athletes plan to put their faith and trust in God and their training. The Tigers’ cross country team is large, but very tight knit. Both teams believe their teamwork and camaradie, both on and off the course, will lead them to a successful season. Despite the strong schedule coming up, it all comes down to who is more prepared on Oct. 26 at the GAC championships.
Photo by Sarah Dean
