Podcast: Spring Sports Update
Host Dante Leach, Gabe Katz, Eli Cox, and Pedro de Moraes discuss pre-game meals, rituals and superstitions, the hardest sport to play, and TWU Athletics. Audio by Sam RochardEditing by Pepe
Athletics
Podcast: The Glory Days
Baylie Davis, Robert Holekamp, Dan Thornton, and Joe Britton reminisce about their glory days, including the best athlete they’ve ever played with or against, best game, and worst game.
Podcast: How can we improve TWU Athletics?
Jackson Lollis, Jarimyah Cook, and Tucker Berry get together to discuss Tennessee Wesleyan Athletic Department and some possible improvements. Topics include community involvement, student involvement, game times, lights, and more.
Tennessee Wesleyan University Men’s Golf Team In Search For Redemption Season After a Disappointing 2022 Season
By Joe Britton and Tucker Berry ATHENS, Tenn. – An experienced Bulldogs have high expectations to the 2023-2024 golf season after coming off one of the worst seasons in Tennessee Wesleyan history. With four out five starters being seniors, and the team picking up a Walters State standout transfer the Bulldogs have expectations entering this season to hop into the top 25 rankings and reach the national tournament in the spring. The Bulldogs are entering this season being picked to finish 5th in the AAC conference rankings, behind their rival, Bryan College. Whom the Bulldogs finished behind in last year’s conference tournament ending the Bulldogs national tournament hopes. Following with the team to finish 5th in the conference, the Bulldogs are also receiving votes to finish first in the conference through the AAC Coaches Poll’s. The team has high expectations as the season comes closer as the Bulldogs roster has provided some of the better qualifying scores from pervious seasons. The Bulldogs will open their redemption season with two of the biggest tournaments in the NAIA golf season. They will travel to the Coastal Georgia Fall Invite in Waverly, GA on September 11th and 12th. The Bulldogs will then travel to the biggest tournament of their 2023-2024 season at the Invite at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, Florida. With the top teams in the nation participating in the tournament, the Bulldogs will be looking forward to jumping in the NAIA rankings. Graphics by Baylie Davis
Athletics
State of the Spring Sports
By Marco Martinez With the spring semester coming to an end, we will take a look at the state of the spring sports as regular seasons are closing and playoffs are about to start. BaseballComing in with an overall record of 37-7, 26-1 in conference, and with 3 conference games left the Tennessee Wesleyan Baseball Team has secured their 11th straight AAC Regular Season Championship. They head into the weekend playing their last conference series against ST. Andrews. Conference tournament is set to start next week in Kingsport, TN, where the Bulldogs will hold the 1st seed in hopes of making a long run back to Idaho. SoftballThe Lady Bulldogs have an overall record of 23-15, 19-9 in conference, and hold the number four seed in the conference tournament that started yesterday in Kingsport, TN. What seemed like an off year for the softball team has turned around to be very hopeful as they enter the conference tournament with another trip to Columbus, GA in mind. The Lady Bulldogs won their first game in the tournament against the number five seed, Point University, and are set to play the number one seed, Reinhardt University, today at 3 pm.  Track and FieldTennessee Wesleyan’s Trackdogs, which include both the women’s and men’s track and field teams, came off a week where they brought home nine first-place finishes from the conference meet in Black Mountain, NC. Paige Manney, a member of the women’s track and field team, brought home the AAC Field Athlete of the Year award and four first-place medals. Those who qualified headed to nationals April 24th-26th hoping to bring back some National Championships. GolfMen’s Golf had a couple of spring tune-ups to get them ready for the AAC Conference Tournament that started yesterday in Seneca, SC. The Women’s Golf Team saw their run in the playoffs come up short by just a few strokes in the AAC Tournament in early April. TennisThe Men’s Tennis Team brough home their third straight AAC Tournament Championship this past week and are headed to the national tournament, starting May 16th-20th, in Mobile, AL. The Women’s Tennis Team saw their shot at the tournament championship crushed as they lost in the final round which abruptly ended their run for a national championship. LacrosseBoth Men and Women’s Lacrosse Teams saw an early exit in a tough fought conference tournament, ending their season and a run at the national championship. Edited by Baylie DavisPhotos by members of the TWU Sports Media Team, including Baylie Davis, Dakota Caldwell, T’evon Shuler, Lauryn Smith, and Cheyenne Strong.
Getting to Know Your Baseball Seniors
By Parker Stinnett Every year in collegiate sports, every university says goodbye to their senior class once the final out, basket, or touchdown is made. This year, the Tennessee Wesleyan University baseball team says goodbye to only two, Parker Stinnett and Daniel Sayre. With this, if you are not familiar with the two, the following information should give you a pretty good idea of who they are. For starters, Parker Stinnett is a Communications Major from Knoxville, TN. Raised in Powell, TN, Parker grew up playing the game of baseball from the age of three. He would eventually go on to play for the panthers at Powell High School. Graduating in 2018, he made his way to Morristown, TN where he would play for two years for the Walters State Senators. With the 2019 season getting cut short because of COVID, he then committed to play at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. After a season of injuries and setbacks, he set his sights on TWU and what he claims to be, “The best decision I’ve ever madeâ€. A highly successful program ran by Head Coach Billy Berry, brought him in and treated him like family and he seemed to be one of the many puzzle pieces they were missing as he helped the 2022 Bulldogs to a 56-8 record, finishing third in the nation. The second senior, Daniel Sayre is a Sports Management Major from Marina, California. Just like Parker, Dan grew up playing the game of baseball, starting at a very young age. Attending Seaside High school, Dan began to take the game more seriously as he started to get looks from college scouts. He landed a scholarship at Sacramento City Junior College, where he excelled in his game of play, hitting .400 for his career. Another big addition to the Bulldog line-up in 2022, Dan came all the way across the country to wear blue and white and was immediately a threat at shortstop, and still is today. He is known for his wild attitude and his noble leadership as a senior. He too, has been brought into the Bulldog family with open arms and will always remember TWU, as, “Another place to call homeâ€. The two are primary examples of “Bulldog Baseballâ€. Being the only two seniors on the team and already having a great line of college baseball experience, they have stepped up to be the leaders of this year’s team. Their teammates look to them to be their spark, and voice between the lines each game and they always show up when the line-up is posted. Their time at TWU maybe coming to an end, but their bond will live forever. Edited by Marco MartinezPhotos courtesy of Danielle Proulx
Back-to-Back Pitcher of the Week Performances
By Marco Martinez Coming off an AAC Pitcher of the Week award Tennessee Wesleyan’s very own, Cheyenne Strong leads the Lady Bulldogs to two more conference wins behind two shutout performances while racking up 23 strikeouts on no runs and six hits in 14 innings of work. The Lady Bulldogs had four games against conference opponents, Bluefield University and Union College, both doubleheaders held at home at Athens Regional Park. Game one against Bluefield featured Strong’s 17 strikeouts in seven innings of work, giving up no runs on two hits leading the Lady Bulldogs to a 7-0 win. Right fielder, Caroline Moore, went 3-4 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored, followed by an impressive 3-3 performance from shortstop, Taylor Penning. The scoring was topped off by Loryn Sherwood’s two-run home-run in the bottom of the fifth. Game two featured an 8-0, six-inning mercy powered by another stellar pitching performance from Baylie Davis. Davis went six innings, striking out five on one hit adding a shutout to her record now. Third basemen, Emily Mikkola, and Penning powered the offense, both collecting two hits and two RBI. Game one of the doubleheader against Union ended in a 5-0 victory on another strong seven innings from Strong, striking out six and only giving up four hits. Moore went 4-4 with two runs scored, a triple, and a stolen base. While Mikkola had herself another solid day going 1-3 with two RBI and a stolen base. Game two gave the Lady Bulldogs their fourth win of the week, winning this contest 7-1. Davis picked up her second win of the week on seven innings pitched and nine strikeouts while only allowing one run. Center fielder, Destiny Painter, went 2-3 with two runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base. Mikkola went 3-3 with two runs scored and Penning added another three RBI on a 1-4 day. Edited by Baylie DavisPhotos by Matti BrayVideo by T’evon Shuler and Parker Stinnett
Baseball plows through Columbia International
By T’evon Shuler ATHENS, Tenn. – The Tennessee Wesleyan University Baseball team (13-0) swept a three-game series against visiting Columbia International University, February 23 and 24, at Athens Insurance Stadium. The dominant performance by the second-ranked Bulldogs came one day early, as forecasted rain caused the series to be moved up. Game 1: 12-2 After a slow start offensively, the Bulldogs ran away in the 6th inning, scoring seven runs en route to the eventual run rule after eight innings. Robert Kelley and Sam Rochard combined for seven strikeouts through eight innings, only allowing two runs. The 12-hit TWU attack was led by Andre Tarver, who recorded three hits, all doubles, and two RBI. Carson Ford added two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Parker Stinnett had two hits, including a two-run home run. Dan Sayre also had two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Game 2: 6-5 TWU earned the walk-off win in game two, as Stinnett scored on a pinch-hit single by Chad Picton. The second contest was closer as the Bulldogs and Rams battled through four lead changes and two ties. Offensively Cayle Webster led the team with a double and a home run, knocking in two. Preston Welchel also contributed two doubles, scoring twice. The winning pitcher was Kyle Bloor, who gave up one run in two innings, striking out four. Game 3 (Friday): 7-0 TWU completed the sweep with the shutout win, Friday. Blake Peyton earned the win, pitching 5.1 shutout innings with nine strikeouts, allowing just one hit. Carter Gannaway shut the door, not allowing a hit in 3.2 innings. Sayre helped the team on offense with two doubles and two runs scored. Stinnett added a hit, an RBI, and also scored twice. Edited by Parker StinnettPhotos by Matti BrayVideo by Dan Thornton