{"id":1774,"date":"2016-10-27T20:37:17","date_gmt":"2016-10-27T20:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.obumagazine.com\/?p=1774"},"modified":"2017-05-05T20:00:10","modified_gmt":"2017-05-05T20:00:10","slug":"bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Bison and Lady Bison Teams Enter Final Year of Candidacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.okbu.edu\\\/obumagazine\\\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\\\/\"}' id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1774 gallery-columns-6 gallery-size-herald-lay-b1'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu.jpeg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-300x200.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-414x276.jpeg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-470x313.jpeg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-640x426.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-130x86.jpeg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-187x124.jpeg 187w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2541\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/football-mallory-ecu-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2903,1763\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS REBEL T3i&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474737436&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;300&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.000625&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-300x182.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Football-Mallory-ecu-1024x622.jpeg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-414x276.jpg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-130x86.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-187x124.jpg 187w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2542\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/laing-snu-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,2266\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474571704&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;70&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0025&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-238x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/laing-snu-1-813x1024.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-414x276.jpg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-130x86.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-187x124.jpg 187w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-990x660.jpg 990w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2538\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/cross-country-sechrist-xc-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2400,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1444471798&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;170&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;640&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0003125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Cross-Country-sechrist-xc-1-1024x683.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-414x276.jpg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-130x86.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-187x124.jpg 187w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-990x660.jpg 990w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2544\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/vicente-oua-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2400,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474732472&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;400&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.003125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/vicente-oua-1-1024x683.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-414x276.jpg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-130x86.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-187x124.jpg 187w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-990x660.jpg 990w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-1320x880.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2540\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/emmily-infante-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2400,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;10&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 50D&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1445088185&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;300&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;800&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Emmily-Infante-1-1024x683.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"herald-popup\" href='https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1.jpg'><img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-herald-lay-b1 size-herald-lay-b1\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-414x276.jpg 414w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-640x426.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-130x86.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-187x124.jpg 187w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-990x661.jpg 990w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-1320x881.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-attachment-id=\"2543\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/bison-and-lady-bison-teams-enter-final-year-of-candidacy\/swimming-goyetche3-ss-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1202\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D750&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1474561385&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Swimming-Goyetche3-ss-1-1024x684.jpg\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"p1\"><em>This fall, OBU advanced to the third year of NCAA Division II candidacy, the final year before consideration for full membership in the NCAA and the Great American Conference.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Bison Football Eyes Improvement<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">OBU is competing this fall in its second year against NCAA Division II opponents. The team is a little bit wiser, a lot more experienced and ready to improve.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI\u2019d say that we definitely figured out what we need to do to be more competitive in the NCAA level,\u201d said OBU Coach Chris Jensen. \u201cWe know we have to improve our depth up front. You play five starters, but you need to have at least nine guys you\u2019re comfortable playing. Last year we were closer to seven. Same thing is true on the defensive line.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Despite those needs last season, OBU played more competitively than the 2-9 record in 2015 indicated. The Bison lost two overtime games and three others were two-score games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Quarterback play might be improved this year by younger players able to push returning starter Dez Stegall, who led the team last year in passing and rushing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cIt\u2019s shaping up,\u201d Jensen said. \u201cWe only had two quarterbacks on campus in the spring. Both did an outstanding job in how they\u2019ve progressed. Grant Gower has had a huge impact as a quarterback coach. We\u2019ve got some young guys on campus who, just by their athletic ability, will be able to compete for the job and that\u2019s good for the program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">A two-horse race has developed for the running back spot with Dawson Myers and Isaiah Mallory both returning. The team has also added some size at the tight end position this year, giving the Bison offense more options.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The receiver corps will, for the first time, be without deep threat Derek Serowski.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cWe have some great possession receivers who can make something happen after the catch.\u201d Jensen said. \u201cI\u2019m really excited about the progress and the way they developed over the summer. They\u2019re ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">OBU has built some experience in returning starters on the offensive line. The squad has likely added depth to the defensive line. The linebacking corps has great starting experience and depth.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The defensive backs are loaded with speed and experience. Safeties D\u2019Ante Meeking and Erik Derrow return with solid experience and talent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI think we\u2019ll be much improved over last year,\u201d said Jensen. \u201cThere\u2019s no control over outcomes, but you can control how you prepare. What I\u2019ve seen so far in preseason, I think our players have taken it to another level in preparation. I think we\u2019re doing it the right way and hopefully it will pay dividends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The Bison were ranked 10th in the GAC preseason coaches\u2019 poll.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Volleyball Ready to Challenge<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">Coming off a season that saw them finish as runners-up in both the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) national tournament and Great American Conference, expectations are high for the Lady Bison Volleyball team heading into 2016. However, it\u2019s a new crop of faces that will be expected to answer the challenge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to have to play consistently, which is a little bit harder when you\u2019re younger and not as experienced,\u201d said Oklahoma Baptist head coach Anna Howle. \u201cI think these girls are ready for that. We\u2019re going to have to step up and compete, and be hungry to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Oklahoma Baptist returns six student-athletes from last season\u2019s squad, including two starters in Second Team NCCAA All-American Kynnedy Myers and Nicole Fleitman, a GAC Honorable Mention in 2015. Two seniors, Shekinnah Sharpe and Sierra VeraCruz, expect to see significant time on the floor after primarily appearing from the bench in 2015. They also will be tasked with teaching and guiding 11 new players, including eight freshmen, in what it means to compete for OBU.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI think that their leadership is really strong,\u201d Howle said. \u201cThis spring they really figured out what it meant to be the kind of team that we need to be in order to be successful.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI think Shekinnah and Sierra are doing everything they can do as seniors. They lived in Shawnee this summer, and have been working out. They\u2019ve been working extremely hard. They have the right mindset. Seniors in our program really understand what it is to step up and play and be successful. I think they\u2019re both really ready for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Cross Country Teams Look to Build on Success<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">OBU placed both its cross-country teams in the NCCAA top five last year. A fine season to be sure, but both Matt Kennedy, women\u2019s coach, and Mark Heard, men\u2019s coach, are expecting a better season in 2016.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">After establishing themselves as powers in the NAIA and Sooner Athletic Conference, the teams had to adjust last year to the NCAA and the Great American Conference.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI think as far as the GAC, we learned what that level of competition was going to be like,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cI thought we handled that competition pretty well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Heard added that the GAC was a tough conference for the men.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cThe GAC is tough,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a lot of great distance programs in there. We prepared hard for it. I think our first exposure in the conference was a good one.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The OBU men return a solid core, but one in need of veterans stepping into leadership and scoring roles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cJacob Janzen was 25th in the NCCAA last year overall and he\u2019s our top guy coming back,\u201d Heard said. \u201cBlaine Whitson is really getting better and better. He did a fantastic job in outdoor track. I look forward to having him back. Nathan Crowson is a fantastic runner. Tommy Uglean has a lot more foot speed and we need him to be a team leader, being a senior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">With Abby Hoover redshirting this season and the graduation of Miranda Dent, the Lady Bison lost their top two athletes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cWe lose our top two girls, but I think we are uniquely positioned to replace them,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cWe were young last year, but we\u2019ll be even younger this year in the top seven. I anticipate Sydney Lawrence, who had a good indoor and outdoor season after she got her cross-country legs back, and Emily Sechrist, who was national champion outdoor in the steeple chase, will lead us as sophomores. Kaylee Large will be important to our success. We\u2019ve always had great senior leadership, no matter where they rank on the depth chart, and I expect Lauren Franz, Emily Banks and Samantha Sweeney to lead the team this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Kennedy said he hoped some late season disappointment fuels this season\u2019s team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cThey\u2019re talented, they\u2019re motivated, they work well together and they compete for each other and that\u2019s a recipe for winning,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cOur season ended with a little bit of a hiccup last year and we didn\u2019t have the finish we wanted. I look for this team to be highly motivated and on a mission.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p3\">Men\u2019s Soccer Shoots\u00a0to Top Spot in the GAC<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">Following a second-place finish in the Great American Conference in the regular season and at the conference tournament, the Bison look to top the summit in 2016. Head Coach Anthony Yousey returns a sizable core in his fourth year at the helm, including six of last year\u2019s starters, and looks poised for a strong season in which they were picked for the top spot in the GAC preseason poll.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Both the reigning GAC Offensive Player of the Year, senior forward Vicente Castillo, and GAC Defensive Player of the Year, junior David Estrada, return for the Bison. Castillo led the league in scoring a season ago, bagging 12 goals, including four multi-goal matches, while also handing out a team-best six assists. Estrada marshalled the defense to two clean sheets and also knocked in one goal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p4\">\u201cVicente Castillo is taking over as captain of the team this year, so we\u2019re really looking for a lot of leadership out of him,\u201d Yousey said. \u201cDavid Estrada just brings so much experience to the game with his athletic ability and knowledge of the game. He really makes us strong in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">With longtime starter and Second Team All-GAC keeper Marcus Oliveira now on the bench as a graduate assistant, the Bison will look to reload between the sticks this season. Leading that effort is Colin Spencer, a redshirt junior who saw action in the Great American Conference Tournament last year, collecting 14 saves and holding a .824 save percentage. Working alongside Spencer and pushing for playing time is local product Bronson Wise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI think the biggest key is for the guys to stay focused and take care of business on and off the field,\u201d Yousey said. \u201cWe need to realize that we have a target on our back in our conference and show them who we are as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\">Lady Bison\u00a0Soccer Reloads<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">After finishing the 2015 season in sixth-place in the Great American Conference, OBU women\u2019s soccer head coach Michael White reloaded the Lady Bison soccer program with 17 new players on the roster for the 2016 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">However, the new additions to the squad will be able to count on an experienced core to help guide them through the rigors of life in Division II. The team returns six starters, including a pair of College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) First Team All-District honorees in senior goalkeeper Emma Beck and senior defender\/midfielder Kenzi Bice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI expect my seniors to lead us into a much better season this year,\u201d said White. \u201cWe have seniors in every area of the field. Markella Suka up top will be a handful to stop, while Kenzi Bice, Kierra Mattingly and Brenda Barnett are workhorses in the midfield. Kayla Kendall will anchor the backline, while Emma Beck will be the final wall for opponents. They are great leaders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cI\u2019m also excited about my freshmen, but if you don\u2019t have good leaders in front of them, then it can be a rough year. I\u2019ve got good solid returners though, and I\u2019m thankful for them. They\u2019ve been through a lot, and that experience will help them, and it\u2019ll shine through this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">\u201cThere\u2019s definitely the potential there to score, but it\u2019ll be a team effort,\u201d he said. \u201cIt won\u2019t be one or two players doing all the scoring this year, there\u2019ll be multiple people lighting up the scoreboard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Oklahoma Baptist closes out October, as well as GAC play, with three-straight home matches against East Central, SWOSU and Northwestern Oklahoma State. The last match, against Northwestern, is set for Oct. 29, and is OBU\u2019s final home match of the year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The last regular season tilt in 2016 is set for Nov. 3 in McPherson, Kansas, when the Lady Bison make a visit to Central Christian College.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p5\">OBU Swimming and Diving Joins RMAC<\/h3>\n<p class=\"p2\">OBU joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference as an associate member in men\u2019s and women\u2019s swimming and diving for 2016-17.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The Bison men\u2019s team will compete with Colorado Mesa, Colorado Mines and fellow associate member California Baptist. The women\u2019s team will compete with Adams State, Colorado Mesa, Colorado Mines, CSU-Pueblo, Western State, California Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney in RMAC meets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">The Bison, led by head coach Dr. Sam Freas, collected their first NAIA national title on the men\u2019s side in their first year of competition in 2012, while the women\u2019s team was national runner-up. This was the beginning of four straight national titles for the men and three straight women\u2019s national titles after their inaugural season, totaling seven national championships in four years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\">Although OBU is still transitioning into NCAA Division II, it will compete in the 2016-17 RMAC Championships. The Bison will look to take over California Baptist\u2019s reign on RMAC Swimming and Diving, as the Lancers took home both men\u2019s and women\u2019s titles last campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This fall, OBU advanced to the third year of NCAA Division II candidacy, the final year before consideration for full membership in the NCAA and the Great American Conference. Bison Football Eyes Improvement OBU is competing this fall in its second year against NCAA Division II opponents. The team is a little bit wiser, a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2561,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":""},"categories":[138,71],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/IMG_9586.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BMz3-sC","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1774"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1774"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2545,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1774\/revisions\/2545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.okbu.edu\/obumagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}