A Bearkat Merry Christmas
12/24/2014 9:36:00 AM | Athletics
There's never been a better time to be a Bearkat than right now. The success of Sam Houston sports teams across the board the fall semester has fans excited about every program.
Athletic highlights from August to December included Sam Houston's third Southland Conference football championship in the past four seasons; a fourth consecutive FCS post-season appearance; football's third semifinal FCS appearance in three years; the soccer program's best year yet; the volleyball team extending its string of Southland tournament berths to eight in a row and major accomplishments by the SHSU bowling, tennis and golf squads.
“Definitely the performances of the student-athletes who represented Sam Houston this fall have been something to make all alumni and fans proud to be Bearkats,” SHSU Director of Athletics Bobby Williams said.
Each sport seemed to produce an individual who stepped into the spotlight with outstanding accomplishments and help lead his or her team to success during the fall semester.
For the championship Bearkat football team, defensive end P. J. Hall earned Southland Conference “Freshman of the Year” honors and finished third in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award presented by The Sports Network to the top FCS freshman.
Hall is one of five SHSU football players who were recognized as All-America this fall. The others are Donald Jackson III, Lachlan Edwards, Luc Swimberghe and Trenier Orr.
Allie Johnson, Ashley Alonzo and Shelby McDaniel all earned first team all-league honors after leading the women's soccer team to its highest conference finish and most Southland victories and goals in program history. Three first team selections also are a Bearkat soccer best.
In volleyball, Deveney Wells-Gibson became only the second Bearkat in SHSU's 28 years in the Southland to earn first team all-conference honors three seasons in a row. The senior outside hitter led the league in kills and was the runner-up in the voting for Southland “Player of the Year.”
The men's golf team showed it is ready to defend its Southland Conference championship this spring after winning two tournament titles. Led by last spring's individual league champion Zach Cabra, the Bearkats defeated several Big 10 squads to claim one of their trophies in September.
The women's golf team also earned a tournament title at the Oral Roberts Classic. Paige Nelson took individual honors as the Kats placed second at the Louisiana-Monroe event.
Freshman Fabienne Gettwart became the first Bearkat tennis player to reach the Round of 16 at the annual NCAA/ITA women's regional championships this fall. The competition pitted Sam Houston against all 21 Division I programs in Texas.
Ana Moreno became only the third Bearkat woman to earn All-Southland honors in cross country with a top 10 finish at the 2014 conference meet. The Kats placed third in the team standings.
Sam Houston's national champion bowling team won one tournament championship and finished either second or third in three of their other four fall events. The Bearkats enter the spring season ranked No. 5 nationally.
To continue this success, the Sam Houston athletic department needs your support through the Bearkat Champions fund. Learn more at www.gobearkats.com today.
