Athletics

By Corbin Shaw Tennessee Wesleyan is pleased to welcome new head basketball coach Randy Casey! Casey is taking over Coach Ray Stone’s head men’s basketball coaching position in the upcoming season. Casey coached high school for many years and then moved to coach college level at the University of Pikeville then went back to the high school level to watch young boys chase their dreams to play college ball. The past three seasons Casey has been head basketball coach for the boys’ team at McMinn County High School. Tennessee Wesleyan Athletic Director Donny Mayfield states, “During our search, Coach Casey was a candidate that impressed us with his commitment to building a championship-caliber team while maintaining the character and academic standards that have been established in our athletic department.” Tennessee Wesleyan has a great foundation to build on, and there are high hopes for Randy Casey this upcoming season. Casey is a big believer in teamwork and hopes to find a way for the players to work well together. Casey makes a point to say, “Every player is unique and skilled, but being able to combine those skills is what makes a great team”. Casey not only wants a great ball team, but also wants to help his players develop lifelong skills and make them better people overall. Casey is a big believer in teamwork and hopes to find a way for the players to work well together. Casey makes a point to say that every player is unique and skilled, but being able to combine those skills is what makes a great team. Casey not only wants a great ball team, but also wants to help his players develop lifelong skills and make them better people overall. Casey believes that how you act on the court and off the court makes you a better person, “I feel like if we develop the whole person, not just a basketball player, then everything is successful. All that stuff that you do in a classroom, that carries over to how you are on the court, and stuff you do in the dorm that carries over how you are how you play, and how your things do on the court how you treat people in a cafeteria that carries over. All those things are important and we’re goanna emphasize it. And you guys, the first day I met with you, I really attested to this, that that’s one of the main things I was talking about is we’re going to treat people right and make sure that we help people that have nothing to give us in return so we that makes us better people,” stated Casey. “He’s going to share knowledge with you, he’s going to show you the way. He’s going to do everything it takes to be a head coach, and then when you become one, you learn how to treat them, let them work, give them your assistance, and let them grow. You know I’m not a micromanager- I’ll give them my assistance; they’re going to have requirements so they must do it in practice every day. I expect them to get it done but I’m not going to stand right over with my hand on the neck and make sure that because I trust them. And we were going to allow everybody to grow. The main thing is this: listen; a young coach? Listen. Listen twice as much, God gave you two ears and one mouth so you listen twice as much as you talk listen, everything somebody has to say you may not.” Casey makes a point to establish his stance on learning something new every day. “I’m blessed to have the opportunity to lead the TWU men’s basketball program moving forward. We are going to continue to build on the foundation laid by Coach Ray Stone, and we will not stop until we bring a National Championship back to Athens” expressed Casey. “I can’t wait to get started! We are going to set a standard of where our team will not be outworked, will be tougher, and we will produce a brand of winning basketball that our campus and our community can be very proud of,” added Casey. “You know it’s been proven that it could happen from here. Baseball has done it, you know a couple times, so it can happen from Athens, Tennessee. That’s our goal.” The Bulldogs men’s basketball team will kick off their season in October. This will start the new era of Tennessee Wesleyan basketball with Coach Randy Casey. Edited by Noah LonesPhoto by Matti BrayInterview by Willie Foreman and Dan ThorntonAudio by Elijah LoveladyAudio Editing by Jackson Lollis

By Elijah Lovelady and Jacob Parton Men: A slow start in men’s golf for the spring semester they have managed to fight back and place second in the last 2 tournaments. As the AAC direct qualifier starts on April 22-23 they are looking for the first win of the spring semester and a trip to nationals.   As the Season ends the Bulldogs are competing for a chance to win conference and a shot at nationals. Within recent tournaments beating top-ranked teams, the opportunity is there.   “We have the ability to be the best,” said TWU Senior Jacob Parton, “as long as we work together on the course.”   Women: With the Women’s Golf team having a rough start as well placing 3rd and 5th in their first few tournaments of the spring semester.   Senior Morgan Satterfield was named “Women’s Golfer of the Week” and turned things around for the Bulldogs, finishing 3rd at the Northeast Colligate and Winning the TWU spring Invitational.  Edited by Megan TippsPhoto by Jackson Lollis

By Megan Tipps On April 13 ,2024 The Tennessee Wesleyan Women’s Soccer team hosted their annual Alumni Game. The game was held at the McMinn High School field at 2pm. The alumni team wore white and the current soccer team there wore blue. Head coach Bryan Walker was the referee and both teams just coached themselves that day. During the first half the current TWU team scored two goals, while the alumni unfortunately didn’t get any. Regardless, both teams had a great first half, especially the girls that have not played sense they graduated.  The second half the teams were split up so the girls could have a chance to play with some of their old teammates. The game ended with the blue team scoring two goals with the white team only scoring one goal. Each team got one PK which was scored by Rachel Bean and Megan Snellgrose (both alumni). Photos by Matti BrayEdited by Noah Lones

By Gabe Katz As most of the Tennessee Wesleyan sports teams have concluded their season in the 2023-2024 academic year, there have been other noteworthy shakeups in the Bulldogs’ athletic department that has, on its face, not much to do with the success of any one team. Inside of the TWU athletic realm, there are vacant positions, shifting of employees from one coaching job to another, and undecided new faces set to assume a number of roles. One of these roles is Assistant Athletic Director, a position filled by former TWU men’s basketball coach Ray Stone. Stone has been a long-time staff member at Tennessee Wesleyan, assuming roles in admissions, head coach for men’s and women’s cross country, assistant coach for men’s basketball, and head coach for men’s basketball, all after obtaining his degree from TWU. “Counting admissions and counting coaching, that’s twenty-three years” according to Assistant AD Stone when asked to put a number to his tenure in Athens. Making the shift from coach to administrative staff member, Stone said that he is excited for his “growth” and the “opportunity to see things from a different side”. Stone’s internal transfer is not the only action taken place within the athletics department. Former women’s basketball coach Jeff Rice assumed the position of Director of Golf for the men’s team while the TWU men’s soccer team promoted Codi Crippen to the head role after his lengthy tenure as an assistant for the Bulldogs. These changes leave Athletic Director Donny Mayfield with both basketball head coaching jobs to fill as well as the assistants for men’s and women’s basketball as well as an assistant for the men’s soccer program. The old faces in new positions could be very beneficial for the athletic department as a whole in keeping with the rich athletic history that TWU has been so privileged to have. Edited by Jack ShawAudio by Elijah LoveladyAudio Editing by Jackson LollisInterview by Willie Foreman and Noah Lones

By Gabe Katz Very rarely are their athletic programs that have the reputation that justifies being unhappy with a top 25 ranking that has them situated outside of the top 10. Tennessee Wesleyan baseball is one of these programs. With 2 NAIA National Championships in the last 12 years, consistent appearances in the NAIA World Series, and a regular season conference title winning streak that extends beyond 20 years, it is safe to say that the Bulldogs anticipated another baseball season of “business as usual”. Beginning the season #6 in the country and on the road in Arizona for the East/West challenge, Tennessee Wesleyan brandished an 0-3 record with all 3 losses coming against very talented programs. Pitcher Julian Berenti acknowledged that during their preseason, “we were developing well, things were going well, and everything was rolling like we were all used to” and that the winless start to the season was “something we all really had to work through”. Once back home, a 9-3 stretch seemed to have righted the ship for the Bulldogs going into a pivotal conference matchup with the Eagles of Reinhardt University. In a fashion that no Bulldog player, coach, or fan of the last 15 or so years is used to, Reinhardt won all 3 games of the series. A sweep to start conference play was the last thing that coach Billy Berry’s team needed 3 weeks into a new season. The next batch of rankings now had the Bulldogs at #22 in the country, their lowest ranking in many years. At a pivotal point in the season, the Bulldogs’ were forced to “try new things with the pitching staff”. A 14-4 run following that Reinhardt series credits the Bulldogs’ ability to bounce back even as, we now know, the sweep to Reinhardt will cost the team their chance at extending the death-grip that they’ve had on the AAC for the better part of the 21st century. Even as that may be, the season is still very much alive for the Bulldogs and they are only “focusing on what is ahead” as they enter a stretch of games that is vital for seeding in the AAC tournament. The Bulldogs’ season closes with a 3 game road trip to Truett McConnell followed by 3 straight home series against non-conference Georgia-Gwinnett, and two conference series against St. Andrews and fellow Bulldogs of Union University on April 25-26. Interview by Jonathan PowersEdited by Brant HelmsEditorial Assistance by Jacob Parton

By Brant Helms Soccer player Gabe Katz sits down with our new Tennessee Wesleyan head coach Codi Crippen to discuss what led him to this position and what he is looking forward to in the upcoming fall season. In the interview, Codi talks about how he started in the field of athletics. Additionally, Crippen discusses how a professional career wasn’t in his line of sight and credits his promotion to his prior experience with former coaches and inspiration from amazing educators growing up, citing key figures that he displays as his motivation. View the TWU Athletics article: Crippen Announced as New Head Men’s Soccer Coach – Tennessee Wesleyan University (twbulldogs.com) Edited by Noah LonesInterview by Gabe KatzInterview Editing by Willie ForemanPhotos by Matti BrayPhoto Editing by Lauren Smith

By Jackson Lollis ATHENS, Tenn. – The Tennessee Wesleyan University Men’s Lacrosse team has been a fairly dominate team in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), although the Bulldogs are stuck between a rock in a hard place. This season the bulldogs started off rocky, only winning 3 out of their last 9 games. The Bulldogs are eager for a win in the last four games to stay in contention for the AAC playoffs.   The AAC has had teams win 6 NAIA nationals’ invitational in a row. As well as holding 5 top 8 teams, with 4 being top 5 in the NAIA 2024 rankings. With such a competitive conference, every game feels like a national championship game. The last four games mean a lot more than just the end of a regular season. Head Coach Kevin Parker stated, “they are important… If we don’t win the next one it will be very hard to get in the AAC tournament.” The Bulldogs are ranked 7thin the conference out of 9 standout teams. Yet only 6 teams make it to the playoffs. With a tough 4 games ahead, the Bulldogs will have a chip on their shoulder, with at least one game to win or the season will end March 13th against the University of the Cumberland’s.   But how will the Bulldog’s do it? Junior Carson Bowling shared “When we are on the field its business time, not time to mess around… hopefully we can do what we know best and go out there and win”. The Men’s lacrosse team have a lot of pressure and some big shoes to fill, being they have made every AAC tournament since 2017. With high hopes to do it again, the Bulldogs will have to utilize everyone on their team. Senior Points leader Robert Holekamp shared, “Lacrosse is a team sport, so it is very important that everyone is rolling, and we are working together as a team”. The last four games of the season mean a lot to the Bulldogs and everything to the seven seniors. There is a chance, but it will take a team effort and hard work no other team can match. As the Bulldogs take on the most crucial four games of lives, there will have to be major adjustments, and ultimately a never give up mentality.   Edited by Jack ShawEditorial Assistance by Elijah LoveladyPhotos by Megan TippsInterview by Jonathan Powers and Jack ShawAudio by Dan Thornton