Author name: The Bulldog Beat

Written by Gabe Katz The Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs men’s and women’s tennis teams have long established themselves as the pinnacle of elite competition in the NAIA collegiate tennis scene. Coach Francisco Gallardo has cemented his teams as regulars in the ITA and NAIA regional and national championships. The teams compete at the highest level in their sport, and now have a facility to match. On Wednesday, March 12, the Ben and Cynthia Wilson tennis facility was officially opened for use on campus. Prior to this facility, the tennis teams on campus had very little in the way of locker rooms, offices, changing rooms, etc. Ben and Cynthia Wilson have been figureheads in the Athens area for decades, always known for their charity and work in the community. They have been active throughout their church, local education, local coaching positions, and now have their name rightfully garnered upon the newest project on the Tennessee Wesleyan campus. Alongside the Wilsons, there are many other notable figures honored in this facility. Carter Runyan, Jerry Bryant, Valerie Carter Tipps, and Jim Mosher, whose lineage runs deep at Tennessee Wesleyan already, also have their names brandished throughout the facility. With the opening of the Ben and Cynthia Wilson tennis center, the Bulldogs will be able to continue to maintain their status at the top of the AAC and NAIA rankings and ensure that the program has all of the necessary perks to bring more hardware to the Friendly City. Interview by Dakota Caldwell Camera work by Noah Lones

By Hunter Cookston The Tennessee Wesleyan Bulldogs baseball program boasts a rich history. Just last year, the team made it to the NAIA College World Series championship game, falling just short of claiming their third title in school history. In addition to that achievement, TWU has won 24 conference championships and 12 conference tournaments. Despite such a storied success, Athens Insurance Stadium, home of the Bulldogs, has lacked some crucial features off the field. The absence of lights, in particular, has made it impossible to play later in the day. However, this is all about to change. A special donation from Dr. Bobby Goodfriend and his wife Wendy will fund major improvements to Tennessee Wesleyan’s facilities. These upgrades include the installation of lights, a new scoreboard with video capabilities, and an expanded outfield wall. Renovations to the concourse area are also planned. Coaches and players for the Bulldogs are eagerly anticipating these new additions. “You look at the dynamic for the program. This program has had so much history of success, and now to be able to complement it with a nice, upgraded facility will help us host regionals and set our players up for future success,” said Associate Head Coach Mike Mendoza. The Bulldogs are a program that consistently makes it to the NAIA tournament, so the opportunity to host the opening round in the future is an exciting prospect. Not only will the new facilities attract current players, but they could also play a key role in recruiting future talent. “It’s about attraction. I think what that facility is going to do is bring a new level to what we’re trying to accomplish—its street appeal. When you combine that with the legacy of our program and fine-tune the representation of what we’re about, it’s going to be a strong selling point for future recruits,” Mendoza added. The future of the Tennessee Wesleyan program is bright, quite literally, with the new lights coming in. But for now, the Bulldogs are focused on the present. “This team is really talented, we have great coaches, and I feel like we have the ability to go all the way, like we plan to do,” said Junior Cody McGill. Construction is set to begin in May, with the project expected to be completed by late summer or early fall. Edited and Produced by Tyler HarwellVideo editing by Lucia Bonfante Video by Tate Gray

By Cody McGill With the men’s team now ranked No. 2 and the women’s team ranked No. 7, Tennessee Wesleyan University’s (TWU) tennis teams are making noise on the national scene. The men’s team, which placed second nationally the previous year, is still unbeaten this season and is focused on winning the national championship in May, which would be the only trophy they have yet to acquire. The women’s team, which also qualified for nationals, is concentrating on raising their ranking, winning the conference and tournament, and performing better. Both sides stress the need for cooperation and support, particularly in difficult games. The team’s strong bond and the enthusiasm of the audience kept them going during the difficult battle against the Union Commonwealth. The women’s squad also celebrated Senior Day, which was a heartfelt occasion for the players, who were encouraged by the enthusiastic support of the fans. The newly built tennis facility has been a “dream come true,” according to Agustin Gaia. It is expected to significantly improve team performance and dynamics. The players believe that their training and sense of teamwork will be enhanced by the new facilities. Cultural ties have a significant impact on team dynamics. The majority of the men’s team’s players are from Argentina and Spain; therefore, communication is simple because almost all of them speak Spanish; only two players speak English as their first language. Although they have a close cultural bond as well, the women’s team actively assists Spanish-speaking teammates in learning English. Both teams have discovered a friendly and encouraging atmosphere at TWU, where instructors, fellow students, and teammates help overseas students adjust. The players’ future objectives are well defined. In addition to graduating and continuing to pass his classes, one member of the men’s squad aspires to win the national title. The goals of a female athlete are to graduate, play more, win the conference tournament, and get her degree. Both teams have a strong sense of teamwork and are prepared to succeed both on and off the court throughout the remainder of their season. Interview by Lucia BonfanteProduced by Nick CollinsVideo by Jordan SmithAudio by Jaci Powell

By Tate Gray In a nationally ranked match-up on Tuesday March 25th the number ranked 2 TWU Bulldogs faced off against number 3 nationally ranked Georgia Gwinnett. These two teams battled it out and, in the end, TWU would come up short after rallying to make it a one run game in the 9th. For the Bulldogs, CF Chris Catalano had a great day at the plate going 4-5 with 2 runs and an RBI. The Bulldogs tallied 8 runs on 13 hits, but their defense cost them the game. The wind played a major factor in the bulldogs defense as they had 5 errors. These crucial mistakes lost them this one, but they will look to bounce back with a win in their next game against Milligan on Friday March 27th at home.  Stats from Tuesday’s Game Photos by MaKaylee TorbettEdited by Tyler Harwell