The Optimist
You are here: Home / Sports

Cats finish at 12-15: Pleasant: 15 points could’ve altered year

by

By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor If Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino could go back in time, he admits he would have taken his time rebuilding the Boston Celtics rather than try to make them an instant success. So, for ACU head coach Klint Pleasant, a 12-15 finish will do just fine-for now. "People come up to me on campus and ask why we ... [Read More…]

Loss to Midwestern sets back Lady Cats: ACU must win out to ensure LSC South division title

by

By Brian Roe, Sports Writer Two days after securing a playoff berth, the Wildcats dropped an important game to Midwestern State and simultaneously dropped in the standings. ACU, which was tied for first place in the Lone Star Conference South Division with Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A&M, now sits alone in second place. ACU rallied late ... [Read More…]

Klavina only auto-qualifier at Sooner meet

by

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer A small group of athletes traveled to Norman, Okla., to compete in the Sooner Indoor Invitational Saturday. After Saturday's meet, Wildcat athletes have only one left-next weekend's Clemson Classic in Clemson, S.C.-to qualify for the Division II Indoor National Championships. Liga Klavina was the only automatic ... [Read More…]

Note to NY: A-Rod can’t help you on the mound

by

By Brian Roe, Sports Writer Front Roe Seat Sorry to burst your bubble, Yank-ees fans, but as the Texas Rangers al-ready found out, Alex Rod-riguez is only a shortstop. Or wait is he a third baseman? Either way, A-Rod is not a pitcher. Though the Yankees will display one of the most powerful offensive lineups Major League Base-ball has ever ... [Read More…]

Pierson keeps ACU playoff hopes alive: 3-point play gives Cats much-needed win

by

By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Senior forward Tucker Pierson's 3-point play with 30 seconds left against Midwestern State Saturday gave the men's basketball team a narrow 82-81 win-and a narrow shot at still making the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament. "That was one of the better feelings I've had in my career," said Pierson, who was ... [Read More…]

Cats to meet Tarleton on road: Both teams fighting to get above .500 in win column

by

By Joel Weckerly, Sports Writer The Wildcat baseball team, coming off a 2-1 Lone Star Conference South opening weekend against West Texas A&M, will prepare to clash with division rival Tarleton State in Stephenville Friday and Saturday. ACU (8-8, 2-1) plays the Texans (7-8, 0-0) after a weekend in which it rebounded from a 12-2 loss to take the ... [Read More…]

At long last: ACU returns to playoffs: Lady Cats make LSC Post-Season tourney for first time since ’00

by

By Brian Roe, Sports Writer From the beginning of the pre-season to now, the ACU women's basketball team has had a single mission: to grab one of the four playoff spots from the Lone Star Confer-ence South Division. Mission accomplished. ACU won its 17th game of the season Thursday, 58-42 over Texas Woman's Univer-sity, guaranteeing the ... [Read More…]

Junior Katie Eckley proves heart can’t be measured as top pole vaulter in Division II

by

By Steve Holt, Sports Writer When legendary pole vault coach Don Hood first laid eyes on Katie Eckley, his scouting report was less than favorable. "I thought she was a little too short and a little too slow," said Hood, who has coached national champions and world record holders in the pole vault. That was three years ago, and Eckley was a 5-4 ... [Read More…]

It’s time to curb recruiting violations

by

By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor Weck's World Innocence in college athletics went out the door long ago, and with names like Eustachy, Price and Bliss earning headlines for the past year, that reality has been affirmed. Now, thanks to a scandal at the University of Colorado, we know of the garbage that goes on at recruiting visits for high ... [Read More…]

You are here: Home / Sports