Drover Athletics Year in Review 2023-24
CHICKASHA, Okla. – The 2023-24 year was once again filled with tremendous success for the USAO athletic department. On the playing surface, the Drovers produced one Sooner Athletic Conference championship, four NAIA National Tournament appearances, 161 wins, five NAIA All-American's, 40 All-SAC selections, two SAC Player of the Year awards, three NAIA Player of the Week awards, and 28 SAC Player of the Week awards.
2023-24 was without a doubt one of the most successful years in the classroom for the Drovers as well, with an impressive athletic department grade point average of 3.15. 10 of our 13 teams were recognized as SAC Scholar Teams for having a team GPA of 3.0 or better. In total, USAO's student-athletes produced 140 recognitions on the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, 114 Academic All-SAC selections, and 48 SAC Scholar Athlete awards.
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TRACK & FIELD (W&M)
Both teams had numerous student-athletes set new personal records as well as multiple program records. Aarin Simon qualified for the NAIA National Championship in the men's 400-meter dash, and he concluded with an 11th place finish out of a field of the nation's top 40 competitors.
CROSS COUNTRY (W&M)
The men's cross country season concluded their season with a ninth-place finish at the SAC Championship and the women's team had four competitors in the championship race.
WOMEN'S GOLF
The women's golf team had arguably their best season to date, earning a pair of team victories as well as an individual championship from Moriah Shrophire at the Battle at Winter Creek. Emma Fields and Shropshire were each recognized as the SAC Golfer of the Week for their terrific performances on the course throughout the year. As a team, the Drovers concluded in fourth-place at the SAC Championship and had seven players place in the top 25 at the conference championship. The team was also exceptional in the classroom, producing the highest team GPA on campus with a 3.66.
MEN'S GOLF
The men's golf team had their best season in program history and cracked in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history, narrowly missing out on a spot in the NAIA National Championship. The Drovers completed the season with a fourth place finish at the SAC Championship.
The team won three tournaments throughout the season, and three individual championships (Conner Cryer 2x, Jax Brewer 1x). USAO also had three individuals earn runner-up finishes at tournaments, including Caleb Smith's incredible performance at the SAC Championship, in which he lost by one shot in playoff holes.
For his efforts during the season, Conner Cryer became the first player in program history to earn an All-SAC selection.
The men's golf team was also stellar in the classroom, producing the departments highest team GPA for a men's team (3.24).
VOLLEYBALL
In 2023, the Drover volleyball team made their third consecutive postseason appearance with an overall record of 10-19, and a 6-14 record against their Sooner Athletic Conference foes. USAO finished the regular season in eighth place in the SAC standings and suffered a first round exit in the conference tournament.
Yaiza Larrauri earned a second-team all-conference selection and Victoria Southerland was recognized with an honorable mention selection.
Following the end of the season, the Drovers made a coaching change and brought aboard Robert Blakley to take the helm of the program. Blakley comes to USAO after being an assistant coach at UT Permian Basin (NCAA DII).
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The women's soccer team once again produced a successful season, consisting of lots of wins and goals. The team concluded the season with a 14-6 overall record and a 7-2 record against conference opponents. Additionally, USAO finished in third place during the regular season, but managed to earn a runner-up finish in the SAC Tournament, along with their ninth consecutive appearance in the SAC Tournament championship game.
Six players earned all-conference honors, led by Alicia Rey claiming her second consecutive SAC Offensive Player of the Year award. Alicia Rey earned her fourth consecutive first-team all-conference selection to add to her trophy case that also includes a pair of SAC Offensive Player of the Year awards, five SAC Player of the Week awards, and an NAIA All-American selection.
Alongside Rey on the all-conference teams were Laura Barrantes and Kylie Strotman as first-team All-SAC performers, while Luna Knoester, Dagbjort Gudmunsdottir, and Caitlin Worthington each landed on the second-team.
The team was also very successful in the classroom, producing a team GPA of 3.37.
MEN'S SOCCER
The men's soccer team overcame a rough start to the season and only suffered one loss in their final seven games of the year, concluding with an overall record of 9-8-4 and a 4-4-1 record against conference opponents. The Drovers finished the regular season in sixth place but turned things around late in the year. With their hot streak towards the end of the season, the Drovers advanced to the SAC Tournament championship game, in which they suffered a heartbreaking loss against No. 1 ranked MACU.
The squad was led by five all-conference performers, including Justin Croke on the first team, along with Matija Malenovic, Angelo Leendertse, Callum Shepherd, and Stijn Iding were second-team selections.
The men also achieved success in the classroom, producing a team GPA of 3.14.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
In 2023-24, the Drover finished the season with an overall record of 19-10, and a 15-7 record against their Sooner Athletic Conference foes to finish the regular season in fifth place.
USAO made its third consecutive appearance in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship tournament. The Drovers have appeared in five of the last seven seasons, and the team has qualified for the tournament seven times in total.
The team was led by four all-conference performers, including Lainey Morrow who earned a spot on the first team. Diaka Berete claimed a spot on the second team, while Crystal Ortiz and Jordan Bloomfield earned honorable mention honors. Devynn Harris proved herself as one of the top freshmen in the league and claimed a SAC All-Freshman team selection.
The team also experienced tremendous success in the classroom, producing a team grade point average of 3.14.
Following the end of the season, the Drovers made a coaching change and hired Jaye Nayreau as the new head coach of the women's basketball team. Nayreau joined the women's basketball staff after four years as an assistant coach at Tennessee State University (NCAA DI).
MEN'S BASKETBALL
In 2023-24, the Drover finished the season with an overall record of 19-10, and a 14-8 record against their Sooner Athletic Conference opponents. The Drovers finished in fifth place in the SAC standings and narrowly missed out on an appearance in the NAIA national tournament.
The team was led by Reggie Quezada, who earned a first team all-conference selection for his outstanding performances throughout the year. Jaden Harrell and Cade Allen each earned honorable mention selections on the all-conference lists.
SOFTBALL
For the third time in the last five seasons, the Drovers earned a third-place finish at the NAIA Softball World Series and concluded the season with an overall record of 49-9 and a 31-5 record against SAC opponents, good for second place in the SAC standings. Additionally, the Drovers claimed their fourth SAC Tournament championship, prior to winning the NAIA opening round to advance to the World Series.
Head Coach Jadyn Wallis became the first coach in USAO history to surpass the 500 career wins milestone.
Nine different Drovers earned All-SAC selections and four players were selected as NAIA All-American's.
- Sophie Williams – 1st Team All-SAC | SAC Pitcher of the Year | 1st Team NAIA All-American
- Macenzie Ruth - 1st Team All-SAC | 1st Team NAIA All-American
- Sierra Selfridge - 1st Team All-SAC | 3rd Team NAIA All-American
- Malea McMurtrey - 1st Team All-SAC | SAC Gold Glove award | 2nd Team NAIA All-American
- Jadyn Goucher - 1st Team All-SAC
- Leighanne Eaton - 1st Team All-SAC
- Jayden Anderson – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Taygan Graham – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Addison Willis – 2nd Team All-SAC
The USAO pitching staff continued its dominance, claiming the programs seventh consecutive SAC Pitcher of the Year award (Emily Cerny 5x, Sophie Williams 2x). Along with being named the SAC Pitcher of the Year and a first team NAIA All-American, Sophie Williams earned a first team All-SAC selection, eight SAC Pitcher of the Week awards, and three NAIA Pitcher of the Week awards. She also set a new NAIA record with four perfect games in a single season.
Macenzie Ruth also made history, climbing to No. 3 on the NAIA's all-time stolen bases list with 177 in her stellar career.
BASEBALL
The Drover baseball team advanced to their eighth consecutive NAIA national tournament with a 36-18 overall record, in addition to a 17-7 record against conference opponents. The Drovers finished in a tie for second in the SAC standings at the conclusion of the regular season and advanced to the semifinal of the SAC Tournament.
Head Coach Tyle Hankins claimed his 100th career victory in only his third season at the helm.
10 different Drovers claimed all-conference selections, along with a 3rd team NAIA All-American selection for Brian Ereu. Ben Bach was selected as the conference's Newcomer of the Year, and Peyton McDowall became the program record holder for home runs, runs batted in, doubles, and runs scored.
- Brian Ereu – 1st Team All-SAC
- Ben Bach – 1st Team All-SAC | SAC Newcomer of the Year | SAC Gold Glove award (3B)
- Gage Ninness – 1st Team All-SAC | SAC Gold Glove award (OF)
- Peyton McDowall – 1st Team All-SAC
- Christopher Martinez – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Gunnar Hansen – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Gabriel Arroyo – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Ben Lawson – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Kyler Denton – 2nd Team All-SAC
- Rob Schmidt – 2nd Team All-SAC
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