Muster displays honor Aggies
watch, protection and care, the process begins months before the displays are set out.
By Theresa Lozano Life & Arts Editor
Yell Leaders, doctors, veterinarians, fathers, daughters, grandpas, mothers — all Aggies. The week before April 21, the Texas A&M community is reminded to honor Aggies and “softly call the muster” for the year’s campus Aggie Muster. With over 250 individual Muster ceremonies occurring annually across the globe, the tradition has continued for 101 years. But the Re ections Display, available in the Memorial Student Center, or MSC, Flag Room, have only been present for a few decades. As both current and former students view the displays, the glimpse of an Aggie’s life before them is more than just what meets the eye, and the heart. Made up of six subcommittees focused on di erent aspects of creating the Re ections Display, the student-run Aggie Muster Committee does its part to make families feel loved, seen and tended to every year. With constant
Re ections Display coordinator and petroleum engineering sophomore Caiden Stewart said there’s no limit to how much care is put into attending the displays, from setup to takedown, keeping an inventory sheet and checking it several times a day to make sure there is no damage and all items are accounted for.
“We individually bubble wrap every single thing that could potentially be broken before being placed and packaged back to be taken to Reed [Arena],” Stewart said. “ … From my personal experience last year, a lot of the families that whenever we handed back their items, they said it came back looking better than it did whenever they brought it themselves. And so we prioritize these items really, really, really well because these are families’ most prized possessions. It shows their honorees ... they’re invaluable. There’s no limt to how much we care about these items because they’re very sentimental to us, to A&M, and then, most importantly, the families.”
Stewart’s rst impression of Muster was through Fish Camp.
Currently in his second year on the committee, he said he wanted to contribute to the university by
giving back, and Muster was the way to do it. He said the best way to do the memorials justice is to foster community awareness in order to promote a greater appreciation for lost Aggies.
“We advertise the Re ections Display and we get people to tell their friends, tell their families to come visit and look through these displays,” Stewart said. “Because it takes a lot for the people, for the families to come out and put some of their family’s most prized possessions and achievements and awards out on the table for random strangers to look at.”
The MSC Flag Room is transformed as the displays wrap around the room. By the piano is where one may nd faculty members and the oldest class years.
The middle holds the 50-year class reunion display — this year celebrating the Class of 1975 — honorees from the class reunion and Silver Taps.
Within the displays are details of personal favorites and paraphernalia of honorees including candy, Corps of Cadets senior boots, diplomas from the university and photos along with other beloved objects and achievements.
“Each honoree is di erent, and they all have di erent life stories and di erent things that their families want the student body to be
able to see,” Re ections Display coordinator and allied health junior Chloe Timm said. “…We want the families to have that moment where they look at the display and they feel like, ‘Wow, like this is my loved one’s life that we’re able to portray.’ … It’s just little touches like that that make the families feel special and feel like, ‘My loved one still has a place here at A&M.’
” Making an e ort to help as much as possible, the committee serves out-of-state families and anyone who isn’t able to make it to College Station. The displays will get shipped to one of the two Re ections Display coordinators with a list of everything sent and, usually, pictures of how they’d like it set up.
Timm said if families aren’t able to do a display, the Flag Room also houses a letter-writing station and a Re ections Wall with pictures and links to the honoree’s obituary to put a face to the name.
“I think Muster as a whole, it’s probably the least you could give to these families,” applied mathematics senior and member of the roll call and family subcommittes Rachel Warren said. “… It means so much to these Aggies’ families, friends. … For the Re ections Display itself, like taking time to walk through the displays, to write
notes to these families, you see that these names are more than names. It reminds us that these are actual people that walked the same path to class that you did. And you know, it helps us nd that commonality between us all.”
Stewart said what he wants for people to take away from the displays is a better appreciation for life. As thousands of present and former students come together every year to honor those who have passed, it’s evident how the Aggie family keeps the Spirit of Aggieland alive.
“The thing about Texas A&M is we have a lot of traditions, and a lot of people that don’t go here often make fun of us for kind of doing the chants and all that other stu , but Muster is a tradition that I believe makes A&M, A&M,” Stewart said. “I think Muster is the one thing that embodies what the Aggie Spirit is, and it’s not something that you can describe easily, but if you had to show someone who we are as a college and who we are as students, you would show them Muster.”
The Re ections will be on
‘HERE’
IN D.C.
D.C. Aggies to hold annual Muster ceremony connecting locals far from
By Tenny Luhrs Associate News Editor
D.C. Muster will be held at George Washington Masonic National Memorial from 5:30-9 p.m. EST
old tradition, unites Aggies across the world. It is a true mark of the “once an Aggie, always an Aggie” sentiment that binds Texas A&M former students together long after they’ve left College Station, and the nation’s capital is no exception.
one of the largest A&M alumni groups in the country, the National Capital Texas A&M Club, otherwise known as D.C. Aggies.
ceremony annually to unify local have passed. The latest initiative pushing for D.C. Muster has come from the new leadership in charge
When president of the group, Mike Youngson ‘87, began volunteering with Muster and D.C. Aggies, he said he wasn’t expecting to be placed in his current role but happily took on the challenge. He has served as an event coordinator and a mentor for both students and alumni to bring Aggies together far from College Station. Muster in particular is a top priority for Youngson and the thousands of Aggies living in D.C., and he searches for ways to improve the
ceremony each year.
“There’s 4,600 Aggies in the D.C. area,” Youngson said. “Some people might be here for a semester, some people might be here forever and everywhere in between. And I think Muster is the one thing that
everybody really relates to.” to largest.
The club hosts a slew of events for Aggies to connect with one another throughout the year, but Muster is by far the largest. Being in D.C., local alumni and interns have a unique opportunity to honor those who have passed with a tradition that began with Mike Fransted ‘10,
Muster provides an opportunity for local Aggies to gather and find a sense of community and make connections that can benefit them down the road.
“There’s Aggies [in] many different places,” Youngson said. “The cool thing I like about D.C. is that it’s all about networking.” Youngson was a first-generation Aggie drawn to A&M with the hope that joining the Corps of Cadets would land him in his dream job of flying jets.
Born a U.S. Air Force brat, his goal was to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Youngson said he knew the Corps would be a great way to get his foot in the door.
But he didn’t know just how far his Aggie connections would reach throughout his career.
“There are 80, almost 90, Aggies buried at Arlington [National Cemetery],” Youngson said. “So, the Saturday before Muster, the 19th, we’re going to all show up with big stacks of carnations and broadcast out … placing flowers on
his daughter and a wagon. the headstones.”
The Aggie Network is alive and well on Capitol Hill, with former students and a revolving door of interns participating in the Texas A&M Policy Internship Program.
door
“When I was a student, I did not really understand what this whole Aggie Network was about,” Youngson said. “[At] my first base, the wing commander — the guy in charge — was an Aggie. So I was like, ‘OK, Aggies are kind of everywhere.’ I come to the Pentagon and I was a notetaker for the chief of staff of the Air Force, [who was] an Aggie.”
For D.C. Aggies, the Aggie Network is for those seeking work and guidance and those looking to fill a position or provide mentorship.
Youngson said D.C. former students working in all different fields are always on the lookout for recent graduates and interns to bring into open positions.
“It’s the networking where I’ll get something from an intern from years ago and they’re like, ‘Hey, I’m now doing whatever, but I remember talking to you at some event for [Public Policy Internship Program] … and I’ve got a buddy or a cousin or somebody who’s going to D.C., can you help them out?’” Youngson said.
D.C. Muster will honor 28 Aggies this year on April 21, but the ceremony is more than just a day of remembrance: It’s an opportunity for Aggies to make connections with each other and find community no matter where they are — even if that’s the capital.
Marquis de Lafayette outside of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 7, 2025.
Photos by Sophie Villarreal — THE BATTALION
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Richard Stevens ‘65, Mr. Mr. John Wahlquist ‘79, Lt Col Steven Hailes ‘80, Lt Col Edward Sandberg ‘77, Mr. John Wahlquist ‘68, Lt Col Robert Green ‘84, Mr. James Norton ‘69, Mr. Bruce Shulter ‘64, Miss Judith Kenworthy inson ‘06, Mr. Ron Mills ‘80, Mr. Liston Barber ‘50, Mr. George Jackson ‘68, Mr. Michael McCullough ‘63, Mr. Eugean Hinze ‘77, Mr. Dustin Holta ‘21, Mr. Phillip Wingate ‘87, Mr. Richard Randall ‘54, ‘86, Mr. Gary Mayes ‘69, Mr. Gerald Ryan ‘59, Mr. Joe Maddux ‘58, Mr. Robert Nolan ‘61, Mr. Norman Thomas ‘74, Mr. Arthur O’Keefe ‘70, Mr. Carl Schwarz ‘76, Mr. Charles Thomas ‘74, Mr. Joe Tydlaska Armando Canales ‘82, Ms. Celia Shryne ‘86, Mr. Hardy Johnson ‘63, Dr. William Abbott ‘72, Mr. Edwin than Cotman ‘58, Mr. Todd Overton ‘98, Mr. Charles Jenson ‘82, Mr. Glynn Cragin ‘62, Mr. Maurice ‘13, Mr. Richard Tanner ‘53, Mr. Alex Haas ‘76, Ms. Alison Cooper ‘19, Mr. Ryborn Kirby ‘54, Mr. CPT Frank Miller ‘10, Mr. Nikman Sarraf ‘28, Mr. David Phillip ‘72, Mr. Donald Seago ‘62, 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Leassear ‘97, Mr. Leopold Black ‘59, Ms. Savandra Leassear ‘97, Mr. Dawson Murchison ‘64, Mr. Lavelle Tony Joe Salvaggio ‘56, Mr. Emitt Herod ‘57, Mr. Billie Burns ‘48, Dr. George Thomas ‘50, Mr. Emitt er Smith ‘83, LtCol Thomas Cox ‘54, Maj. 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No. 1 A&M looks to capture its first SEC Tournament crown since 2022
Aggies enter the SEC Tournament as the top seed for the second time in three years
By Roman Arteaga Senior Sports Writer
Thanks to a remarkable Southeastern Conference season that saw newly No. 1 Texas A&M women’s tennis nish 14-1, the Aggies will take their talents to Auburn, Alabama to compete in the SEC Tournament. Because they are a top-four seed, the Maroon and White have already punched their ticket to the tournament's quarter nal round.
Coming o a breathtaking victory against then-No. 1 Georgia, A&M demonstrated immense mental toughness, consistency and ball-striking skills to claim a 4-3 victory and its fourth-straight SEC regular season title.
The 2024 ITA National Player of the Year No. 2 senior Mary Stoiana came up huge in singles. Matched up with Georgia’s No. 1 senior Dasha Vidmanova, it was Stoiana who proved to be the better creator. She moved her opponent from side to side, utilized drop shots and rushed the net whenever she felt like volleying a point away. With all of these factors in her favor, she was able to take a straight-sets win, 7-6, 7-6.
Looming is a potential quarter nals matchup against No. 8 Texas. While the Maroon and White were able to claim both matchups earlier in the season, the Longhorns have only gotten better as the season has progressed, currently riding a ve-match
winning streak.
Perhaps the biggest narrative of all is how the Aggies will respond to the heat of the ball o of the Longhorns’ racket. While A&M has been dominant throughout the season, they have struggled most against teams that re bullets across the net.
The 15-9 overall Longhorns are lled with strikers and power hitters. Led by No. 56 senior Sabina Zeynalova and No. 37 freshman Carmen Andreea Herea, Texas was able to put together a strong conference season with a 9-6 record. Throughout the season they proved to be capable contenders, picking up wins over then-No. 1 Georgia and No. 12 Oklahoma while showcasing their baseline skills.
The Aggies will have to rely on their ball-placement ability to constantly move them around the court and away from their strike zones. Making the Longhorns uncomfortable and forcing them to play defense has paid dividends for the Aggies in past matchups, and it will be interesting to see if A&M can win a third matchup against their in-state rival.
If the Maroon and White make it to the semi nals, there could be a potential matchup against the No. 11 Auburn Tigers, a smart and creative team that utilizes about every shot in tennis. A team with an 11-4 conference record and a 13-2 home record, Auburn could utilize its entire arsenal to push any team around — especially with the SEC Tournament being played on their home court.
No. 2 Georgia is another contender A&M could potentially meet later in the tournament. This group is infused with great allaround tennis players, currently boasting four players ranked in the top 90 for singles along with three duos ranked in the top 100 for doubles.
Led by No. 1 Vidmanova and No. 22 junior Anastasiia Lopata, Georgia has been a nearunstoppable force as they nished SEC play with an astonishing 13-2 record. However, Georgia is riding a lack of momentum entering the tournament as it is currently on a two-game losing streak. If the Bulldogs don’t regain focus soon, they could very well have an early exit in this tournament. Before these two brutal losses to A&M and Texas, Georgia was on a 17game winning streak that included nine sweeps.
If the Aggies want to beat the Bulldogs’ loaded roster again, they will have to play with great consistency and extend rallies. Georgia has proven itself prone to mistakes during long rallies as they attempt to overpower balls that lead to unforced errors.
Another key to success is to bully the Bulldogs’ backhand. Because their main weapons consist of heavy-topspin forehands and net brilliance, overusing their backhand will minimize the damage they can do. If they limit the Red and Black’s weapons, the Maroon and White will be able to use consistency to their advantage.
A&M will open their tournament at 6 p.m. on April 18 in the quarter nal round against an undetermined opponent.
While the Aggies were able to prevail in their only matchup of the season, the Tigers have gone 11-1 since and are in near-perfect form. A key for the Maroon and White will be to keep the Tigers on defense. If they are able to keep their options limited, the Aggies should be able to out-rally and overpower them.
Spring football returns to Aggieland
Annual Maroon & White Game set to showcase new talent at Kyle Field
By DJ Burton Senior Sports Writer
Football is back in Aggieland.
Texas A&M football will showcase its o season progress and newly added talent when the Aggies take to Kyle Field on Saturday in the annual Maroon & White Game, an intra-squad scrimmage.
In a press conference last week, coach Mike Elko shared his strong opinions regarding the structure of spring football. With programs like Colorado and Texas Tech oating the idea of joint practices and spring games, Elko stood strong on continuing the tradition that is the Maroon & White Game, emphasizing its e ect on development.
“The second we have to play a game, then obviously we have to win,” Elko said. “That means you got to game-plan … so you’re out of the mode of fundamental development, fundamental improvement because you immediately have to shift gears into game-planning.”
For redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed, it’s his rst opportunity to display the strides he has made after an o season of full-time rstteam reps and development. Last o season, Reed had to split reps with then-redshirt sophomore QB Conner Weigman. With Weigman’s departure to Houston, Reed has o cially been handed the keys to the o ense.
In his 10 appearances for the Aggies last season, Reed threw for 1,864 yards with a 15-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. While Reed had an impressive year throwing the football, his ability to create plays with his legs added a new aspect to A&M’s o ense. On the ground, Reed accounted for seven touchdowns and 547 yards.
With junior wide receiver Noah Thomas, senior WR Jabre Barber and senior WR Jahdae Walker either transferring or putting their name in the NFL
Draft hat, Reed will have to adjust without his top three targets.
To ll the void left by the trio, Elko brought in NC State transfer junior WR Kevin “KC” Concepcion and Mississippi State transfer WR Mario Craver. With the Wolfpack, Concepcion recorded 1,655 total yards and 18 touchdowns on 184 touches. Both receivers will be making their rst appearance with the Fightin’ Farmers on Saturday.
“KC has been phenomenal,”
o ensive coordinator Colin Klein said in an earlier press conference.
“We’ve moved him all over the place, playing him all over the eld.
… One of the best competitors
I’ve been around at the receiver position.”
Craver joined the Aggies after one season with the Bulldogs, in which he recorded 368 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 receptions.
“Mario Craver, from a speed component, has already visibly been di erent for us,” Klein said.
“I think he and Ashton BethelRoman — Ashton’s not new to the program but obviously another year developed — I mean both of those guys bring a homerun speed component that has been really, really good for us.”
Sophomore center Mark Nabou Jr. will make his return for the Aggies. In the season opener against Notre Dame, he su ered a season-ending torn ACL.
A&M is also returning its entire o ensive line from the 2024 campaign, which ranked in the top half of NCAA Division I FBS programs for sacks allowed while ranking 22nd in rushing yards.
While the Maroon and White obtained key pieces on o ense, defensively there are still some questions regarding the defensive line. After junior defensive end Shemar Stewart, junior DE Nic Scourton and senior defensive tackle Shemar Turner declared for the NFL Draft, the Aggies have some big shoes to ll.
“That’s college football,” Elko said after a March spring practice.
“If you’re running a program right in the SEC, you're going to have NFL talent walk out the door at the end of the season.”
Senior DE Cashius Howell is slated to be one of the anchors of
the defensive line. Serving under Scourton and Stewart last season, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Kansas City, Missouri native appeared in all 13 games and recorded 40 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defended, an interception and a forced fumble. Even on
limited snaps, Howell made quite the impression. Whatever questions are left over from spring practice and the rst half of the o season will be answered on Saturday. The Maroon & White Game will kick o at 2 p.m. on April
19 and will be streamed on SEC Network+. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with free admission.
“We've
Photos by Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION
Top to bottom: Junior Mia Kupres prepares to swing during Texas A&M’s match against Georgia at Mitchell Tennis Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025. Sophomore Luccianna Perez swings at the ball during Texas A&M’s match against Georgia at Mitchell Tennis Center on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Top to bottom: Quarterback Marcel Reed (10) throws a football during Texas A&M football’s spring practice on
1, 2025. Wide receiver Mario Craver (1) and coach Mike Elko during
2025.
Photos by Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION
Revisiting the 2022 recruiting class
Alabama signed nine in 2023.
By Matthew Seaver Associate Sports Editor
Texas A&M football and coach Mike Elko nished the 2024 regular season with an 8-4 record.
While Elko is now the head man in College Station, the foundation of his team was made up of players recruited by former Aggie coach Jimbo Fisher, including Fisher’s historic 2022 high school recruiting class. According to 247Sports, A&M not only managed to secure the No. 1 class in the country that year, but the highest-ranked class since 247 began tracking recruitment rankings in 1999.
The Aggies and Fisher surpassed Alabama and then-coach Nick Saban’s 2021 recruiting class, with composite scores of 333.13 and 327.8, respectively.
It’s well known that after landing the historic class, Fisher proceeded to go 11-11 before being red late in the 2023 season.
The Aggies' failure to capitalize on their highly-touted recruiting class is proof that sometimes, recruiting stars doesn't always work.
Now it’s time to look back at the major pieces of the highestrated recruiting class of all time.
A&M signed a then-record eight ve-star recruits according to 247Sports, which stood until
Defensive linemen Walter Nolen was the highest-ranked recruit to sign for the Maroon and White, as the No. 2 prospect nationally and the No. 1 DL. Nolen had two underwhelming seasons in Aggieland, accumulating just ve sacks and 11 tackles for loss before transferring to Ole Miss following Fisher’s departure. Nolen recorded 14 tackles for a loss along with 6.5 sacks in his lone season in Oxford, Mississippi and could potentially have his name called in the rst round of the NFL Draft.
The second recruit, ve-star wide receiver Evan Stewart, was the No. 1 wide receiver and No. 6 player nationally. Producing just 1,163 receiving yards and six touchdowns through two seasons, Stewart believed poor quarterback play was holding him back, so he transferred to Oregon for the 2024 season.The Frisco native had similar production with just 613 yards and ve touchdowns his rst season as a Duck, but will look to get his feathers together in 2025.
The third-ranked player was ve-star DL Shemar Stewart, who was the No. 3 DL and No. 9 player nationally. He excelled while starting as a true freshman in 2022, but had a sophomore slump in 2023. Stewart’s decision to stick around for the Elko era paid o ; while his stats didn’t spike, his NFL Draft stock did. Despite producing just 12 TFLs and 4.5 sacks in 37 games, the athletic freak is a nodoubt rst-round selection.
Nicholas Gutteridge Editor-in-Chief
The 6-foot-6, 290-pound Miami native, will be the only ve-star recruit from the 2022 class to spend the entirety of his career with the Maroon and White as the remaining top prospects no longer reside in Aggieland.
Another former ve star is DL Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy, who was the No. 4 DL and No. 11 overall. He appeared in just eight games through three seasons, only recording three TFLs and 0.5 sacks before transferring to South Carolina on Dec. 18, 2024.
Another ve star on the defensive line was LT Overton, who was the No. 6 DL and No. 17 overall ranked recruit. He had a decent freshman season with 31 combined tackles, three TFLs and one sack, but took a big step back as a sophomore, failing to record any sacks or TFLs before transferring to Alabama. He bounced back with 42 combined tackles to go alongside three TFLs and two sacks and projects to be a late rst-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Next was quarterback Conner Weigman from Cypress. The Bridgeland High School product was the No. 3 QB and the No. 22 prospect nationally. Weigman began his freshman year as the third-string QB, until injuries to Haynes King and Max Johnson launched him into the starting role.
Weigman looked sharp throwing eight touchdowns and no interceptions in his short ve-game stint and carried
that momentum into the 2023 season, beating Johnson for the starting job in spring practice. However, a season-ending foot injury against Auburn cut his promising sophomore campaign short after four games with a 69% completion percentage and 10 total touchdowns.
Coming into the 2024 season with rst-round hype, the sky was the limit for Weigman, but an injury su ered in the season opener against Notre Dame derailed his entire season with a lingering AC joint injury. The injury showed as the Cypress native appeared in just six games, throwing ve interceptions to just three touchdowns.
Then-redshirt freshman Marcel Reed stepped up in his absence, forcing the former starting quarterback to transfer after only playing 15 games in three seasons. Weigman will rep the red and white of the Houston Cougars in 2025 under coach Willie Fritz.
WR Chris Marshall was the seventh ve star, as the No. 3 WR and No. 24 overall recruit. He appeared in just six games, recording 108 receiving yards before being suspended inde nitely for violating team rules along with fellow freshman recruits defensive back Denver Harris and o ensive lineman PJ Williams.
Marshall was also a coveted basketball recruit and planned to play for then-A&M-coach Buzz Williams. However, he was left o the roster following his
suspension from the football program. Eventually transferring to Ole Miss, his troubles followed, as he was dismissed from the team during spring practice.
Marshall spent the 2023 season at Kilgore College, with 449 receiving yards and ve touchdowns in only six games, before transferring to Boise State. He missed a majority of the 2024 season injured, but will return to the Broncos in 2025.
The nal ve star, DL Anthony Lucas, was the No. 32 recruit nationally and No. 8 DL. He struggled to nd the eld as a freshman at A&M appearing just seven games, transferring to USC for a bigger role. After two seasons in Los Angeles, Lucas has still failed to become a di erence maker, recording just 26 combined tackles, four TFLs and no sacks, with hopes of nally taking a big step up in 2025.
The Aggies also amassed 19 four-star recruits, of which only six remain on the roster ahead of the annual spring Maroon and White Game. Along with two incoming transfers, a total of 30 players made up the recruiting class, but just 24% stayed in Aggieland.
The lack of long-term impact from the 22 class can be attributed to two factors. First and foremost, all the illustrious recruits were never bound to stay, especially in the new NIL-fueled landscape of college football. Finally, there is no escaping Battered Aggie Syndrome, no matter how much money you have.
File photo by Ishika Samant
File photo by Ishika Samant
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Clockwise from top left: Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman (15) scrambles during Texas A&M’s game against Notre Dame at Kyle Field on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Sophomore defensive lineman
Shemar Stewart (4) runs the ball to the end zone during Texas A&M's game against Mississippi State at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2023. Sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart (1) catches a pass during Texas A&M football's game against Alabama at Kyle Field on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
Photos by Adriano Espinosa
Photo Chief
