Another semester completed, spring sports teams stand out

As another semester comes to a close, my first one as sports editor, I’m reminded of the good times, many of which have come for the various sports teams at UCA.
The spring semester started with the red-hot Sugar Bears basketball team, which finished the season 24-5 overall and 14-2 in Southland Conference play, including 16-0 at the Farris Center.
The Sugar Bears’ conference record earned them their first conference title since moving to the Southland Conference and Division I.
The team also pulled in mulitple awards, including junior forward Megan Herbert’s Player of the Year award and coach Matt Daniel’s Coach of the Year award.
While the postseason was less than expected, the Sugar Bears still brought a lot of excitement to their fans and the huge crowds at the Farris Center.
With their third straight 20-win season under their belt and many returning players, including three starters, the 2012 season is shaping up to be something great for the Sugar Bears when it kicks off in November.
While Daniel has established himself as the head man of the Sugar Bears’ program, the Bears’ men and women’s soccer teams said goodbye to coaches of nine and 11 years at the university.
Coaches Tim Flanders and Tina Banham both stepped down at season’s end, but the university and athletic director Brad Teague made two potentially good hires by finding two coaches that were familiar with the programs.
The women’s team welcomed back former assistant Jeremy Bishop to take over and the men’s team promoted Ross Duncan from an assistant. Duncan was the interim coach after Flanders stepped down.
Both hires bring in new blood to the programs, while keeping continuity and trust with the current players.
The baseball and softball Bears have been an entertaining group to watch as well.
The baseball team has had its share of ups and downs, but has shown improvement in the second season under coach Allen Gum.
The team has shown improvements in all areas, including the win column. With a month to go in the season, the team has a chance to make its first apperance in the conference tournament.
The softball team has been nothing short of amazing this season under fourth-year coach David Kuhn, as it has already set a new school record for most wins in a season, currently at 33.
The Bears are led by a group of girls that have been on the field since arriving on campus as freshman three years ago. Juniors Melanie Bryant, Melissa Bryant, Kasey Britt and Kelsie Armstrong have been huge leaders for this team, and are a big reason for this year’s success.
As another semester ends it is safe to say that all of UCA’s programs are headed in the right direction: up.