Written by: Anlan Cheney
Fall 2013 was a booming season for OKWU athletics. With a National NAIA Elite 8 appearance, individual NAIA qualifiers, and introduction of a new women’s sport, the Eagles brought glory to God on the court, the field, and the green.
The men’s and women’s CROSS COUNTRY teams both finished third at the MCAC Cross Country Championships. Senior Allie Antrim, a four year qualifier, and Freshman Sarah Sharp both qualified for the NAIA National Championships.
For the first time in the program’s history, the MEN’S GOLF team won multiple tournaments, the Central Christian Invitational and the Mid-America Christian University Invitational. They also debuted their first “B” team. Men’s Golf qualified for the NCCAA National Tournament in Panama City, Florida, where they finished 7th out of 18 teams. The WOMEN’S GOLF team debuted their first season in 2013, finishing second on two occasions in their first tournaments.
MEN’S SOCCER team made an impressive showing in one of their most successful seasons as 2013 MCAC Champions and a NAIA National Quarterfinalist, losing to National Runner-up Auburn Montgomery 2-1 in double-overtime at the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships in Montgomery, Alabama. With a final record of 19-4, Men’s Soccer was ranked NAIA #5 and NCCAA #1.
WOMEN’S SOCCER (finished their year with a record of 15-5-2, including a 14 game winning streak. For the first time in OKWU’s history, the women’s team won the regular season conference, and finished the MCAC Conference Tournament as runner-up in a 2-1 loss to Bellevue. Women’s soccer entered the NCCAA Regional Tournament where they also finished as runner-up.
Women’s VOLLEYBALL ended their season with a 22-13 record at the NCCAA Central Regional Tournament. They placed fourth in the MCAC Conference Tournament.
OKWU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL began pre-season ranked 8th in the top 25 of NAIA Division II and were nominated to the 3rd position in the NCCAA Pre-season top ten for the 2013-14 season. The MCAC Conference Coaches poll also placed the lady eagles as the #1 team in the conference. The MEN’S BASKETBALL team was ranked #1 in the 2013-14 MCAC Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll and #13 in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll.
For game and tournament updates, schedules, news releases, player profiles, stats, and scores, visit OKWU Athletics online at www.okwu.edu/athletics.