LIFE & ARTS
OPINION
SPORTS
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
PAGE 6
REVIEW: FANTASTIC FOUR WOWS AUDIENCES
UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS BELONG IN EDUCATION
VOLLEYBALL VETERANS LOOK TO MAKE NOISE
TUESDAY
September 2, 2025 VOLUME 115 ISSUE 4
Faculty advisory group replaces Senate temporarily to comply with SB 37 UNIVERSITY
By Arabella DiChristina News Reporter
Starting Sept. 1, Texas State University will be using a faculty advisory group until the faculty senate is reestablished by the Texas State University System (TSUS). Senate Bill 37 was passed into law in June, imposing new regulations on faculty senates. To comply with SB 37, TSUS dissolved all faculty senates and gave university presidents the power to create new faculty advisory groups until TSUS approves the new 68th
faculty senate in November. Texas State University’s faculty senate’s last meeting was held on June 11; however, they will restart meetings on Sept. 3 with a different name after President Kelly Damphousse approves all members. SB 37 grants university presidents the authority to appoint all faculty senate officers and choose up to half of the members, while the other half of senators are elected by faculty members.
SEE FACULTY PAGE 2
STAR FILE PHOTO
We’re all curious to know who the appointed people will be and any of their preconceived ideas or objectives” Kevin Jetton, secretary for the 66th Faculty Senate
Assistant professor of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Michael Supancic (right), speaks to the faculty senate during a meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in J.C. Kellam.
Ordinance could grant tenants right to organize CITY
By Lesdy Hernandez News Reporter
San Marcos tenants may soon be permitted to organize and advocate for themselves about housing issues under a new proposed ordinance. During its Aug. 5 meeting, the San Marcos City Council discussed an ordinance that, if approved, could grant tenants the right to organize. The ordinance, brought forward by the San Marcos Civics Club, would allow community organization and order to provide tenants a way to collectively advocate for themselves without fear of repercussions in San Marcos housing. Maxfield Baker
Maxfield Baker, founder of the San Marcos Civic Club, said one continuous issue people face is not knowing or understanding their rights as tenants, property managers or landlords. “When people don’t know how to report a leaky pipe and they don’t do it in time and they think that they’re going to write off some part of their rent for this or something like that, that is just not how it works and it all breaks down,” Baker said. According to the ordinance presentation, tenants were reported to have faced issues including substandard living conditions, harassment, intimidation by landlords or displacement.
SEE TENANTS PAGE 2
EVENT
LAURA WALKER | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Medical Explorers Omega Leo safety officer Libby Zuniga (left) takes Boko the Bobcat’s (right) blood pressure as part of the Business Showcase, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center. The Business Showcase lets local businesses and civic groups show their products and services to the community while decked in a tailgate-party theme. The Medical Explorers are a volunteer group of pre-health students who provide no-cost care and first aid to local communities.
SEE SHOWCASE PAGE 3
FOOTBALL
TXST aims to tame the Roadrunners once more By Ayden Oredson Sports Reporter
Last season, the I-35 Showdown saw a first for Texas State football as it finally took down UTSA for the first time in series history. The Bobcats thumped the Roadrunners 49-10. Now, Texas State looks to continue that momentum in 2025, but this time in an entirely new, yet familiar, setting: The Alamodome. Since Jeff Traylor became UTSA’s head coach in 2020, the MEG BOLES | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Roadrunners have been dominant
in the Alamodome, compiling a 29-3 record at home. Texas State has yet to beat UTSA in the Alamodome since the two programs started playing FBS football in 2012. Head Coach G.J. Kinne and company now seek to become just the fourth visiting team since 2020 to come away with a victory against the Roadrunners in the Alamodome. Breaking down the Roadrunners UTSA is looking for a bounceback season following a down year in 2024, after going 7-6. Compared to seasons under coach Traylor prior to last season, the Roadrunners struggled greatly due to their defense being one
of the American Athletic Conference’s worst, along with a struggling offense that was working to find its footing. Going into 2025, the offense is expected to be potentially one of the most productive among non-power four programs. The Roadrunners will be led by redshirt junior quarterback Owen McCown, who was UTSA’s starting quarterback last season. While Texas State was more than able to handle McCown in last year’s matchup, it might be a tougher challenge this season, given that he will have the comfort of playing at home and will have plenty of veteran playmakers to help him out.
SEE PREVIEW PAGE 6
NEWS
2
Ryan Claycamp | News Editor | starnews@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 2, 2025 FROM FRONT FACULTY Kevin Jetton, professor of instruction in McCoy College of Business and secretary of the 66th Faculty Senate which ran from May 2024-25, said that currently, there is a lot of anxiety about how the senate should proceed and who the president is going to appoint. Jetton said during the dissolution of the faculty senate, the senate conducted a re-election process that involved choosing one senator from each college, based on the number of full-time faculty members in each college. “Am I going to be in the Senate? Am I going to be serving? Yes or no, we don’t officially know, except for the people that got elected and in what capacity? It’s still all a big mystery until some decisions get made,” Jetton said. According to SB 37, appointed members can only serve one-year terms for up to six years, and elected members serve two-year terms and then must step down after.
“We don’t know if there’s any hidden agendas lurking, because again, anybody that’s appointed, you’ve got to wonder, well, how did you get appointed, and I didn’t,” Jetton said. After the elected members were chosen, the list was sent to the provost’s office with the dean’s and faculty recommendations for appointed members. Texas State Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Pranesh Aswath said Damphousse already approved of both the appointed and elected members; however, the provost’s office must make sure every future member is willing to accept their role. Aswath continued, stating that an official list of the faculty advisory group was sent out to faculty on Sept. 1. “I sent forth a list of recommendations [for members of the faculty advisory group] to the President, [he said] this looks good, and goes forward with it. There were no specific criteria; we
just wanted to make sure that the people who serve have the best interest of the university at heart,” Aswath said. According to Jetton, the faculty advisory board will have to create a full set of bylaws, turn its rules of conduct into a formal document and set formal policies, then present all of its updated policies to TSUS. “We’re all curious to know who the appointed people will be and any of their preconceived ideas or objectives or things like that,” Jetton said. “It could change the mindset of a senator if someone is trying to push a particular initiative or something like that.” Lynn Ledbetter, professor of violin and chair of the 66th Faculty Senate, said she doesn’t anticipate any changes to the activities and reviews of policy the senate has done in the past. “For right now, we are sort of the former senate, and as of Sept. 1, we will become the faculty advisory group, for lack of a better term, to work on the finalization of the work that needs to happen to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 37,” Ledbetter said. Aswath said the faculty advisory group will need to go through how SB 37 applies to Texas State, especially, and how to apply the new rules smoothly. “[Faculty advisory group] can only be a senate after the board approved it, so that’s the reason we’re calling it a senate advisory group,” Aswath said. TSUS did not respond to a request to comment on the changes to the Faculty Senate. The faculty advisory group will convene on Sept. 3 at 4 p.m.
Scan the QR code for more information on Faculty Senate.
CARSON RODGERS | CREATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR
FROM FRONT TENANTS Aside from tenant meetings, prohibits landlord interference with a tenants would be allowed to share or tenant’s organization and activities. post information on the organization’s “One of the inflection points around activities, meet with non-tenants tenants’ rights is whether they’re going or other tenant organizations at the to experience retaliation or harassment housing premises and invite potential for reporting basic health and safety tenants to help with organizing. issues,” Baker said. “So a proactive During the discussion meeting, rental inspection program would kind Councilmember Amanda Rodriguez of be a middleman for that and help said over 70% of San Marcos residents create a good list of landlords and are tenants. properties that community members “[Tenants] fit this model, given could reference.” preemption on those things. We found Landlord interference includes not an ordinance out of Austin that has allowing tenants usage of community shown to be both effective and within spaces, threatening tenants for the legal parameters of municipality to continued organizing and prohibiting enforce,” Rodriguez said. tenants from passing out or posting In 2022, the city of Austin, with the information flyers about meetings or help of various advocacy groups such as activities. the Building and Strengthening Tenant Baker said they are happy with the Action (BASTA), first adopted the support the ordinance has shown, but Tenant Right to Organize ordinance. they are focusing on their long-term The ordinance is now being strategy to pass the Tenants’ Right to adopted by the city of San Marcos, but Organize ordinance. the language of the proposed ordinance “[The Civics Club] is hoping to just may change as the city is planning go piece by piece, and we’re not trying on conducting revisions before it is to do some large reform and champagne brought back to the council. and say hey, we did it,” Baker said. “A person who violates a provision “We’re trying to really be mindful of of this article is guilty of a separate harm reduction...especially around offense for each day the violation of this things like evictions and dealing with article continues,” the Austin ordinance any changes to the eviction process,” states. “Each offense is punishable by a The ordinance is set to go up to the fine not to exceed $2,000.” council for the first reading during its Baker said the ordinance also Sept. 16 meeting.
Trinity Building 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487
History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 3,000. Printing is by the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung.
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
Editorial Staff
Publication Info
Editor-in-Chief: Blake Leschber
Sports Editor: Adrian Ramirez
stareditor@txstate.edu
starsports@txstate.edu
Managing Editor: Rhian Davis
Multimedia Editor: Meg Boles
starmanagingeditor@txstate.edu
starmultimedia@txstate.edu
News Editor: Ryan Claycamp
Engagement Editor: Tatum Pou
starnews@txstate.edu
starengagement@txstate.edu
Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 2, 2025. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
Life & Arts Editor: Carlene Ottah
PIR Director: Keely Florez
starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
starpr@txstate.edu
Opinions Editor: Andrew Bencivengo
Creative Service Director: Carson Rodgers
staropinion@txstate.edu
starcreative@txstate.edu
Design Editor: Jen Nguyen Read more at universitystar.com
stardesign@txstate.edu
Director: Laura Krantz, laurakrantz@txstate.edu
Corrections Policy: Errors appearing in the pages of The University Star and brought to our attention will be corrected as soon as possible.
Advertising Inquiries Contact at: 512-245-3487 advertising@universitystar.com
LIFE & ARTS
3
Carlene Ottah | Life & Arts Editor | starlifeandarts@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Review: ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ wows audiences with iconic flair By Marvin Goines Life and Arts Reporter
There’s an old idiom that says, “Third time’s the charm.” This appears to be the case for Marvel Studios’ recent foray into adapting Marvel’s first family onto the big screen. The early 2000s and the spectacular failure of the 2015 reboot had the Fantastic Four on pause until Disney bought 20th Century Fox in 2019, and the rights were reverted to the same studio that made “Iron Man” and “The Avengers” commercial and critical successes. The new entry “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” takes a wholly different approach from its predecessors. Rather than shying away from the retro-futuristic inspirations of artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, it completely embraces them to provide the appeal of these classic characters. Rounding out the famous characters are Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Susan Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch. The chemistry is undeniable between them, and the rigorous audition process that boiled down to these selections ensured the core four would pair perfectly on screen. The larger-than-life villain Galactus is voiced by Ralph Ineson, who also performed the motion capture to bring the city-sized cosmic being to life. Rising star Julia Garner is his herald, the Shalla-Bal version of the Silver Surfer who leads Galactus to new planets for him to consume. Thankfully, audiences are spared the origin story, instead jumping into a universe where the Fantastic Four have operated for four years and are universally lauded for their contributions and protection of society. Once the Silver Surfer appears to warn them of Galactus’ intentions to feed on Earth, the stakes are pushed to their limits.
SOPHIA GERKE | ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR
Richards is not only a superhero but a super genius who scrambles to think of alternatives to save the planet. Susan is an established diplomat who uses her position to get the rest of the Earth to align themselves and assist one another to ensure everyone’s survival. Meanwhile, Johnny is a multi-layered character who, on the surface, is somewhat childish but finds his purpose while being discounted by the rest of the team. There are several massive and beautiful sequences throughout “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” and there is no one better than composer Michael Giacchino to bring the heat with the score. The theme for the Fantastic Four is an instant classic, and each note heightens the sense of danger and urgency in the visual spectacle. The CGI in this film is incredible, which is even more impressive due to the various settings — space, a technologically advanced New York City, a spaceship interior and an underground city dubbed Subterranea. The Thing is a combination of a practical costume with digital enhancements that effectively convey his emotions. Human Torch lights up, literally and figuratively, to emphasize Johnny’s adrenaline-seeking antics of chasing the speedy
Silver Surfer. But the true feature has to be Galactus and the scale of his presence on the screen. The film commits to comic accuracy and makes him as large as skyscrapers, and he is an appropriate threat for the Fantastic Four, who have never tasted defeat before meeting him. The performances from the leads are all, well, fantastic. Kirby understands the multiple roles of Susan as a mother, wife, sister and protector, and stands out among the titular characters. Pascal is convincingly Richards as he tries to “solve everything” and allows his anxieties to get to him. Quinn is great as Johnny, who understands his place on the team and is more than just a handsome face and fast talker. Unfortunately, The Thing is the least developed and explored member, but Moss-Bachrach embodies the warmth and cohesive nature of Grimm through his relationship with the other three. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a nice change of pace from Marvel Studios, less formulaic than their standard fare. It’s also the only film from them until “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” hits theaters next July, as a preamble to the highly anticipated “Avengers: Doomsday” ensemble that brings the Fantastic Four in contact with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvin Goines is a film/TV critic who has been writing reviews on various types of multimedia since 2021. His work can be found on websites such as ‘The Cosmic Circus’ and ‘Movies We Texted About.’
FROM FRONT SHOWCASE
Business Showcase samples San Marcos spirit By Cara Cervenka Life and Arts Reporter
San Marcos businesses gathered for the 39th annual Business Showcase on Aug. 28 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center. The showcase featured a variety of vendors, from restaurants like Baskin-Robbins, Chuy’s and Black’s Barbecue to nonprofits like School Fuel, Kiwanis and PALS. Spirit was evident on the showcase floor, where vendors greeted visitors with energy and enthusiasm, eager to share their stories and promote their businesses. For attendees, the event offered a chance to discover new
places to support and a reminder of the community’s collaborative spirit. The showcase served as a networking event for businesses and a way to give back to the community. Page Michel, president and CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, has led the event for the past three years. “People love to do business with people they know,” Michel said. “They love to meet them, shake hands and feel like they know them. And so, when they’re ready for their air conditioning to be fixed, need a chiropractor or want to try a new restaurant, they love that they’ve met that person.” For Tiffany Harris, a Chamber of Commerce ambassador who attended four previous showcases, the event is as much about fun as it is about networking. “The whole point of this is to engage businesses and have residents find out about what’s available,” Harris said. “I think [Michel] was trying to make it more lively. Instead of people just wandering around booths, she wanted to bring in school spirit.”
LAURA WALKER | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Left: Equitable Advisors consultant Katie Blevins (left) and advisor Jacob Schlosser (right) sample nachos from Chuy’s. The pair attended the show to network with local businesses. Above: Texas State cheerleaders perform a halftime routine for the tailgate-themed Business Showcase. Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites Conference Center.
OPINION
4
Andrew Bencivengo | Opinion Editor | staropinion@txstate.edu
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
Undocumented students belong in education The Main Point is an opinion written by The University Star’s Editorial Board. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of our entire publication. By Editorial Board
Undocumented students are now being targeted by the Texas government. Students who have earned their spot at Texas institutions are now losing their right to attend due to the Texas Dream Act being overturned. On June 16, 2001, Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 1403, known as the Texas Dream Act, into law with bipartisan support. The act made Texas the first U.S. state to grant certain undocumented students in‑state tuition, with tens of thousands benefiting each year. 24 years later, the law has been overturned, effectively ending in‑state tuition benefits for these students. Now, thousands of deserving students will be shut out of higher education, dealing a significant blow to the state’s education system and workforce, and signaling a waning commitment to underserved communities in the state. Ending the Texas Dream Act risks pricing out deserving students from higher education and undermining Texas State initiatives and status as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The state’s action is one of many, rooted in partisanship, that showcases the state’s increasing focus on its agenda rather than its people. Undocumented students remain a primary target of state action. Students who earned the right
to an education at Texas State now face significant obstacles through no fault of their own. Universities and university systems are also left to face increased uncertainty. According to a March 2023 study by the American Immigration Council, undocumented students in Texas contributed $28.5 billion to the U.S. economy since 2001. Denying these students access raises questions about fairness and opportunity but also ignores the economic and social benefits they provide. Critics have called the Texas Dream Act unconstitutional. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a June 4 statement that he filed a joint motion with the Trump administration against the law, stating it “unconstitutionally and unlawfully gave benefits to illegal aliens.” He added that “ending this discriminatory
and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas.” This, however, remains largely deceptive. In-state tuition under the Texas Dream Act was already selective, with key benchmarks needed to qualify. Before being granted in-state tuition, students were required to live in Texas for at least three years, graduate from a Texas high school and submit an affidavit of intent to apply for permanent residency. This raises questions about the reasoning behind its removal. Undocumented students have already spent years in the Texas education system and are committed to pursuing residency. By portraying fairness and access to education as discriminatory and un-American, key lawmakers are alarming and actively dehumanizing Texas students. At a HSI like
Texas State, the harm is even more pronounced. With HSI universities being increasingly placed under scrutiny, Texas State is put in a tough spot. However, despite this uncertainty, undocumented students still have options for receiving in-state tuition. Texas State University has offered support to students affected by the act’s repeal. “Texas State University has established an email address, residencyhelp@txstate.edu, to assist students who may have questions regarding the repeal of the Texas Dream Act,” university spokesperson Jayme Blaschke wrote in an email to The Star. Additionally, requirements to retain in-state tuition include registration with the Selective Service for male students and receiving a competitive, merit-based scholarship through the university. Students may be eligible for a waiver of up to 12 months of in-state tuition if they receive a scholarship of at least $1,000 from an authorized committee, publicly advertised with a clear deadline and that is fully controlled by the university. Actions like these by Texas State are necessary to preserve fairness and opportunity for students. Partisan attacks on marginalized communities risk undermining Texas’s higher education and economic growth, while eroding decades of progress.
Health care cuts will harm students and the community
By Shar Kiefer
Opinions Columnist On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law. The OBBBA is estimated to increase the federal deficit by more than $3 billion, while cutting nearly $1 trillion from federal health care programs over the next 10 years. This will leave millions of Americans uninsured and make health care less accessible. The OBBBA is a threat to the services that health care providers intend to provide. OBBBA proposes cuts to Medicaid that could lead to the loss of health insurance for 12 million Americans by 2034. While the Student Health Center does not accept Medicaid, San Marcos currently has over 50 providers that do, all of which are at risk for losing funding. David Wiley, project manager of Community Action Inc. of Central Texas, a non-profit organization that works to guide people through programs like Medicaid, said students on Medicaid must be aware of other options available to them. “There was a work requirement, so a lot of people got kicked off of Medicaid because they didn’t know how to satisfy the work requirements,” Wiley said. “[In] Texas, it’s really tough. If you are on Medicaid and not
MADY CARPENTER | STAR ILLUSTRATOR
waived from it, you need to make sure you’re up to date on what documents it takes to verify your employment.” Under the new rules stated by OBBBA, automatic re-enrollment for all government-funded health care programs would be eliminated. Medicaid is not the only program that faces large budget cuts; the Affordable Care Act (ACA) also faces significant changes. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities states that many Americans currently using the ACA will pay higher costs to maintain health coverage. Wiley said that students currently benefiting from ACA must be aware of the changes and understand how they are affected. “The bigger problem...is the marketplace, which is [ACA],” Wiley
Letters to the Editor Policy The University Star welcomes letters from our readers. Letters must be 300 words or fewer to be considered for publication. Writers must include their full name, mailing address, major and academic year designation (for students), phone number and e-mail address when submitting a letter. Submissions that do not include this information cannot be published. This information is seen only by the editors and is used to verify the identify of the
said. “What’s happening right now is that as of Jan. 1, the federal subsidies to help you pay for [ACA] are being eliminated. If you have students at Texas State who are on [ACA], they need to be concerned.” Providers for government-assisted health care programs will have no choice but to follow the new rules in OBBBA. American Progress projects the immediate closures of more than 300 hospitals in rural areas. By taking away health care for millions of Americans, OBBBA will have a large impact on the future of health care. It is vital for students to understand their options and how to access them. Affected students can reach out to their communities for assistance and guidance. While the Student
Health Center doesn’t currently provide services to Medicaid or ACA users, plenty of providers, such as Communicare’s two San Marcos locations, do. Students must be willing to reach out to these providers to ensure they receive the healthcare they deserve. “We can call it the big, beautiful bill and the politicians can all stand behind the president [and] clap,” Wiley said. “They don’t think it’s a big deal until they see the SNAP benefit cuts or the San Marcos free bus service cut in half. It’s these little things that people don’t realize are due to budget cuts.” -Shar Kiefer is a political science sophomore
letter writer. It is not used for any commercial purpose. Letters become the property of The Star and may be republished in any format. The letter may be edited for length and clarity. An editor will contact the letter writer if their letter is a candidate for publication. The Star will not run letters that are potentially libelous, discriminatory, obscene, threatening or promotional in nature. Letters can be submitted to staropinion@txstate.edu or by mail to Attn: Opinion Editor, The University Star, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX, 78666.
GAMES & SNAPS
Carson Rodgers | Creative Services Director | starcreative@txstate.edu Meg Boles | Multimedia Editor | starmultimedia@txstate.edu
5
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
THIS WEEK AT TXST
Health Sciences freshman Lily Anderson (left) and Exercise & Sports Science freshman Katie Runnells (right) pose for a first day photo, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, under the TrauthHuffman Hall Arch.
LAUREN TOURISH | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Scan the QR code to view all photos. AYDEN OREDSON | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
ISABELLE CANTU | ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR
Texas State freshman midfielder Matsuri Tsutsui (14) launches a free kick against Stephen F. Austin for her first collegiate goal ,Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025, at Bobcat Soccer Complex. The Bobcats beat Stephen F. Austin 5-1.
Texas State fashion merchandising senior Everly Vaughn sets up her business ‘Remigems’ at the Bobcat Bazaar, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, at the LBJ Mall. Her business (@remigem.s on Instagram) sells handmade jewelry, keychains and vintage home decor.
SPORTS
6
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Adrian Ramirez | Sports Editor | starsports@txstate.edu
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball positional breakdown: veterans and newcomers looking to make noise By Adrian Ramirez Sports Editor
With the 2025 season officially underway, Texas State volleyball brings a new look from the 2024 conference tournament champion squad. Key departures such as Sun Belt Conference Setter of the Year Ryann Torres and libero Alyssa Ortega have left a couple of positions up for grabs, but the Bobcats are bringing back some key players. Here is a positional breakdown of the 2025 volleyball roster. Outside Hitter By far the largest positional group, Texas State is rostering nine outside hitters this season. Since she stepped on the court for the first time in 2023, Samantha Wunsch has been the leader of this position group. As a redshirt freshman, Wunsch led the Bobcats with 3.11 kills per set and 1.02 blocks per set, a season performance good enough to land a spot on the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team. Wunsch followed up her freshman campaign with a statistically better season in 2024. Tallying 3.72 kills per set, Wunsch once again found herself a member of the Sun Belt All-Conference First Team. Wunsch has the potential to lead the outside hitters again this year. After Wunsch, Maggie Walsh had the most time on the court. Walsh appeared in 93 sets for the Bobcats, tallying 136 kills, 24 assists, 21 aces and 30 blocks. Walsh’s experience, accompanied by the fact that she is the only senior, should play a SAMANTHA WUNSCH factor in her ability to make noise on the floor this season. An interesting player to watch this season will be junior Cal State Fullerton transfer Ameena Campbell. In her time at Fullerton, Campbell was named to the Big West All-Freshman team in 2023, averaging 2.28 kills per set and 1.62 digs per set.
Her numbers took a slight dip in 2024, but it appears she has the tools to contribute in her new home at Texas State. Rounding out the position group are juniors Brooke Bentke and Nina Moorer, neither of which have seen much floor time, sophomore Caelyn Emmerling and freshmen Addison Ozuna, Britton Finley and Isabella Andrews. Emmerling saw decent time as a true freshman, but could find herself in a logjam this season. Middle Blocker
The Bobcats carry five middle blockers, making it the secondlargest group. This group is led by senior Jade Defraeye. Defraeye didn’t see much floor time as a freshman, but immediately hit the ground running her sophomore year and JADE DEFRAEYE followed it up with an even better year as a junior in 2024. Defraeye played in every match and almost every set for the Bobcats, only missing three sets all season long. Defraeye tallied 181 kills in 2024 and led the Bobcats with 135 blocks. Her average of 1.27 blocks per set was among the best in the Sun Belt. Ultimately, Defraeye’s performance in 2024 landed her a spot beside Wunsch on the Sun Belt All-Conference First team. Alongside Defraeye, senior Bailey Hanner appeared in nearly all of the Bobcats’ sets last year. Hanner tallied 219 kills and 99 blocks in 104 sets for Texas State last season and should be in line for similar numbers this season. Rounding out the group are freshmen Naara Tanco and Ashley Euston, and redshirt sophomore Ally Adair, who played in one set last season. Defensive Specialist Listed as the only defensive specialist on the roster, redshirt junior Alyssa Clark appears set to
take over the role left by former Bobcat Alyssa Ortega. Clark tallied 198 digs in 2024, good enough for fourth on the team. With Ortega now graduated, Clark figures to be in line to take the next step in her career and become a major contributor for the ALYSSA CLARK Bobcats this season. Wunsch mentioned Clark by name, saying, “Specifically, Alyssa Clark has really stepped into the libero role,” when discussing players who have been stepping up leading up to the season. Setter Perhaps the biggest hole left by a departing player is the 2024 Sun Belt Setter of the Year, Ryann Torres. Torres was the starting setter all season for the Bobcats, but her departure leaves the door open for a new name. In Texas State’s first and only exhibition, Pacific University transfer Dylan Gilkey tallied 35 assists, 33 more than the next closest to her. As a sophomore, Gilkey appeared in all 32 matches for Pacific, tallying 224 digs and 178 assists. Gilkey appears to be in line to fill the hole left by Torres. Rounding out the setters is sophomore Anna Blaine. Blaine appeared in 12 sets as a true freshman, but was stuck behind Torres and might find herself waiting some more as Gilkey looks to be the Bobcats’ new starting setter.
Scan the QR code to view the full 2025 volleyball roster.
FROM FRONT FOOTBALL The Roadrunners offense will feature several returners in the receiving corps, including David Amador II, Willie McCoy III and Devin McCuin. The tight end room is arguably the best in the American Conference, featuring Houston Thomas and Patrick Overmyer as reliable targets. The same cannot be said regarding returners when it comes to defense. UTSA will have a lot to work on when it comes to patching up and crafting an effective defense. The Roadrunners statistically had one of the worst defenses in college football last season as they gave up an average of 30.1 points per game. On top of that, numerous defensive starters departed for the transfer portal, leaving questions regarding UTSA’s defense going into this upcoming season. How about the Bobcats? Texas State will head to San Antonio looking for its first victory in the Alamodome with a mix of new and old faces. Redshirt freshman quarterback Brad Jackson, who was announced to be the starting QB by Kinne during a post-practice conference on Aug. 26, will presumably start against the Roadrunners in what will be one of his first Jackson had minimal playing time across three games last season, showing mostly his running abilities as he rushed for 162 yards on 22 attempts, notching four touchdowns. Jackson will have a number of weapons at his disposal to counter McCown’s, featuring wide receivers Chris Dawn Jr, Beau Sparks, Tyrin Smith and L.J. Johnson Jr to air it out. On the ground, the Bobcats will have plenty to choose from as well, with options such as running backs Lincoln Pare and Greg Burrell. The Bobcats and Roadrunners had similar issues, particularly on defense
and discipline, that they both hope to correct this season. Texas State had a middle-of-thepack defense last year as they gave up 24.5 points per game, and many starters from the previous season left through the transfer portal, with most of them landing new roles at schools in power conferences. Both programs also dealt with plenty of issues regarding discipline. The Roadrunners were one of the most penalized teams last season, committing 113 penalties that resulted in a total of 1,054 yards, according to cfbstats. In comparison, the Bobcats committed 88 penalties that tallied 834 yards. SARAH MANNING | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER The week two matchup between Texas State mascot Boko holds the I-35 Showdown trophy with the Bobcats after the Bobcats and Roadrunners will be defeating UTSA, 49-10, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at UFCU Stadium. The win marked an early test for both teams as the I-35 Showdown shifts back to San Antonio. the first time the Bobcats beat UTSA in their rivalry series. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the Alamodome. It will be available to stream on ESPN+.
SARAH MANNING | STAR PHOTOGRAPHER
Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne holds the I-35 Showdown trophy with his son after defeating UTSA 49-10, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at UFCU Stadium.