2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ✓Invested in Your Success ✓Faculty Know You by Name ✓Resources to Help You Succeed ✓Academic Programs You Want

1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd. | Claremore, Oklahoma 74017 HILLCAT ATHLETICS www.rsuhillcats.com | www.rsu.edu 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ✓Invested in Your Success ✓Faculty Know You By Name ✓Resources to Help You Succeed ✓Academic Programs You Want

CLAREMORE | BARTLESVILLE | PRYOR | ONLINE WWW.RSU.EDU | 918-343-7777

RogersStateU | #HillcatNation ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SARA BRAUN | ASSOCIATE AD FOR EXTERNAL OPERATIONS/SWA

BEN DISHONG | ASSISTANT AD FOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS

GRANT FARRIS | GRADUATE ASSISTANT FOR TICKET OPERATIONS

JUSTIN NOBLE | ATHLETICS INTERN

RANDY RIGGS | GRAPHIC DESIGNER

RSU ATHLETICS | PHOTOGRAPHY

Rogers State University, in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, housing, ﬁnancial aid, and educational services. This publication was printed by the RSU Printshop. ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 3 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT

3 Letter From the President 4 Letter From the AD 5 Rogers State University Students First 7 Women’s Cross Country 10 Men’s Cross Country 13 Women’s Soccer 16 Men’s Soccer 19 Women’s Basketball 22 Men’s Basketball 25 Softball 28 Baseball 31 Women’s Golf 34 Men’s Golf 37 Women’s Track & Field 40 Men’s Track & Field 43 Dance & Cheer 45 Community Engagement 48 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee 50 Feature Stories 55 Academics 61 RSU Hillcat Compliance 62 Athletic Staff & Coaches Directory 64 About NCAA Division II 65 MIAA Conference 66 Hillcat Facilities 67 Keeping Up with the Hillcats 68 Hillcat Club LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT DR. LARRY RICE | RSU PRESIDENT

At Rogers State University, we are committed to providing a “Students First” experience that creates a close-knit learning environment in which they can succeed. This Students First approach is clearly demonstrated by our Athletic Department that develops our student-athletes to compete in their athletic endeavors, while also preparing them for a successful transition to life after college.

Despite the interruptions and setbacks resulting from the global pandemic, it’s been a remarkable year for our athletic programs and their student-athletes. This past year saw an all-time high for student-athlete performance in the classroom. In the classroom, all 12 athletic programs averaged a minimum of a 3.3 grade-point average for the spring semester with eight programs attaining a 3.5 GPA or higher. Overall 93% of student athletes ﬁnished with a 3.0 GPA or higher with 61 student athletes earning a 4.0 for the semester. A total of 48 degrees were earned after the completion of the semester. Our student-athletes also exhibited a commitment to community service that sets the example for everyone with whom they come in contact. RSU student-athletes from all sports were involved in community service activities touching the lives of countless individuals throughout our service area. These young men and women clearly represent the best of what it means to be a Hillcat.

At RSU, we strive to create a family-like atmosphere that emphasizes our commitment to academic excellence. Our students say the small college experience and the personal attention they receive delineates RSU from other universities. You’ll see it in our small classes (where less than 2% of classes have more than 50 students enrolled) as well as with our faculty and staff who know students by name and are personally invested in their success. I think this shows in our designation last year as the safest college campus in Oklahoma and the 13th safest nationally. As the only public university in the Tulsa metro area with on-campus housing, this allows RSU to provide the full college experience in safe environment to let them experience the life-changing power of a college education.

RSU has made strategic investments in its physical campus. In the past 15 years, we have constructed three student apartment communities on our main campus in Claremore to strengthen our position as a four-year university. Along with campus housing, RSU constructed the adjacent Chapman Dining Hall to provide healthy dining options, while also including a basement storm shelter large enough to hold all campus residents. The university has upgraded academic facilities in Baird Hall and the Stratton Taylor Library, as well as opened new campus facilities in Bartlesville and Pryor. Thanks to support from the student body, we have invested in our athletic programs through new or remodeled facilities at Soldier Field, the Hillcat Athletic Center, the Diamond Sports Complex and Bushyhead Fieldhouse.

Our commitment to the student experience also comes alongside our commitment to keeping a college degree affordable for our students. I’m honored to note that nearly half of last year’s graduating class earned their college degree without taking on student loans thanks to our affordable tuition and commitment to securing ﬁnancial aid for deserving students.

Thank you for your continued support for RSU and its athletics program. The support of our extended Hillcat family has created incredible opportunities for these young men and women to fully develop as students and prepare them as future contributors to the communities we serve. Go Hillcats!

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 5 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT LETTER FROM THE AD CHRIS RATCLIFF | RSU DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Greetings from the Hill,

2019-20 was a year to remember on so many fronts. We celebrated together and we cried together. In the end, we came closer to our coaches, teammates, administrators, families and friends. We learned new ways to communicate in a time of social distancing. We also were reminded how much sports is a part of everyone’s daily life. To each individual, sports provide the opportunity for competition, entertainment, life skills, and/or social gatherings. It brings us all together. This spring reminded us of the power of sports. I am excited to look back on 2019-20 and celebrate our student-athletes for their triumphs and accomplishments.

In a spring that saw so much change to the traditional way of life for a student-athlete, I am proud of the success our Hillcats showed in the classroom. Our student-athletes had the best semester in the 15 years of our athletic program, with 192 student-athletes having at least a 3.0 gpa, 61 student-athletes having a 4.0 and a department gpa of 3.58. Our student-athletes' success in the classroom in the face of so much adversity and uncertainty is something we are extremely proud of.

Our students combined for a 3.49 grade-point average over the entire academic year, which was also another department best. We had 122 student-athletes earn MIAA Honor Roll, MIAA Academic Excellence or MIAA Scholar-Athlete recognition. We had an academic All-American and also had 48 student-athletes who reached the ultimate goal of graduating with a degree this year.

As I mentioned earlier, this was year 15 for our athletic department and it is a blessing to see how far our athletic program has come in such a short time on College Hill. The footprint of Hillcat Nation continues to expand every year, with current and former student-athletes coming from 38 different states and 36 countries. Those numbers are expected to rise again in 2020-21 as we have commitments from three new countries and a new state, which would bring both to 39. Our Hillcat Family is continuing to grow and we are excited for the future.

Our athletic department also had tremendous success this year, starting with our men's soccer program claiming the inaugural GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship. The team set several records and was led by a pair of All-Americans in Jake Simpson and Dillon Dean.

Men's Basketball took second in the MIAA regular season and earned the program's ﬁrst NCAA Tournament berth. Unfortunately, the Hillcats were unable to play in the National Tournament due to the shutdown, but it was truly an amazing season for our men on the hardwood.

The spring semester was cut short, but multiple programs showed signs of great things ahead for the Hillcats. Softball was in the top 25 throughout the spring and climbed as high as No. 11, the highest mark for any RSU program in the NCAA era. Men's golf recorded top two finishes in all three spring tournaments, including a win. Women's golf added a pair of victories, including a win in their final tournament. In track & field, Nick Williams ran the fifth fastest time in the NCAA in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase before the season was shut down.

The 2019-20 athletic and academic year was unprecedented with so much change in the traditional way of life for college athletics. We are excited for the success we have shown and we are looking forward to building on that platform for an even better year in 2020-21, one we hope makes you proud to be a supporter of the Hillcat Nation.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 6 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT Since being established as a four-year regional university in 1999, professional graduate programs. In the past few years, more than Rogers State University has quickly developed into a dynamic 100 RSU students have been accepted into health-related graduate university widely recognized for its high-quality academic programs. programs, distance learning options, and high-technology learning environment. RSU students work closely with faculty members, many of whom hold doctoral degrees or the highest degrees available in their RSU stands as the only public, four-year, residential university in ﬁelds from esteemed institutions across the nation. The RSU the Tulsa metropolitan area, which allows students the opportunity Honors Program provides an atmosphere where scholars can to fully immerse themselves in the college experience while living challenge themselves academically through specialized courses, in one of its three on campus student apartment communities. student/faculty joint research projects and a strong emphasis on Students also may live at home while enjoying the flexibility of service learning in the community. The President’s Leadership taking classes at RSU’s three physical campuses (Claremore, Class (PLC), a four-year scholarship program that fosters personal Bartlesville and Pryor) or through the nationally recognized RSU and professional development, was designed for RSU students Online program. who have demonstrated leadership abilities.

Whatever a student’s path, RSU provides rigorous educational Students are able to participate in a broad selection of internships, preparation coupled with personalized attention attained through including The Washington Center Internship Program, a nationally small class sizes and faculty committed to student success. RSU recognized program placing students with private, public and offers a wide variety of bachelor’s and associate degrees, and it nonproﬁt organizations in Washington, D.C. The university offers most recently added its ﬁrst graduate program featuring a Master international study-at-large programs to provide students with of Business Administration. opportunities to see the world, learn about other cultures and enrich their educational experience in locations that have included DISTINGUISHED ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS Italy, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Korea. Academic quality has long been a hallmark of the RSU experience, with highly regarded programs in health care, biological sciences, GROWTH IN LEARNING FACILITIES social sciences, criminal justice and business. RSU’s nursing Visitors to RSU’s main Claremore campus are quick to praise its program is considered one of the most rigorous in the state with attractive, collegiate appearance that blends remodeled historic graduates consistently exceeding state and national averages for buildings alongside newly constructed facilities. nursing exams. The Dr. Carolyn Taylor Center, which opened in 2009, has become The university has quickly established itself as an institution of the centerpiece of the main campus in Claremore. This two-level, choice in the Tulsa metro for students who plan to study biology 50,000-square-foot facility combines student services programs and apply to medical school, dental school or other related medical- under one roof, serves as a central location for students to study

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 7 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT and socialize, and provides a focal point for the RSU campus in A STORIED HISTORY Claremore. The facility also offers ballrooms, conference centers, RSU holds a unique position as Oklahoma’s newest four-year and meeting rooms for the community. regional university, but with roots that extend back to the earliest days of statehood RSU was founded in 1909 as Eastern University A major expansion and renovation of Baird Hall on the Claremore Preparatory School in Claremore. The school prepared the campus was completed in 2010. The new Baird Hall has doubled daughters and sons of area residents to attend college. Historic in size and contains many of the leading-edge features associated Preparatory Hall, known for its iconic gold dome, was the first with higher learning today, including modern classrooms, a building on the school’s campus. performance studio, a television production studio, an art gallery, and an outdoor classroom for learning outdoors on sunny days. However, the school closed only a few years after it opened. Taking its place was the storied Oklahoma Military Academy (OMA), Opened in 2004, the Stratton Taylor Library features extensive which operated on the Hill from 1919 to 1971. Known as the printed and digital informational resources, electronic databases, “West Point of the Southwest,” OMA has an extensive register of multimedia collections, study areas, reading rooms, computer graduates who became great leaders, both in military and civilian stations, and classrooms. Additional academic facilities include a life. More than 2,500 OMA graduates served in the Armed Forces full-powered public television station, a student-run radio station, of the United States during World War II, the Korean War, and the a 100-acre conservation reserve, advanced nursing facilities, an Vietnam War. More than 100 graduates gave their lives in service EMS classroom featuring a full-sized ambulance, art facilities, and to their country. the historic Will Rogers Auditorium. In 1971, OMA closed and Claremore Junior College opened on The Claremore campus houses RSU’s residential community with the Hill, serving more than 400 students. The junior college grew capacity for more than 800 students in three student apartment rapidly in the 1970s, and by the time it was renamed Rogers State communities (constructed in 2001, 2011 and 2015) and family College in 1982, the institution boasted a variety of associate housing. Residents can choose from several floor plans within degree programs, distance learning capabilities, a new radio and the housing communities, which are adjacent to Chapman Dining television station and intercollegiate athletics. Hall (opened in 2014). Chapman Dining Hall features a dedicated emergency generator for food preparation during long-term power In 1999, the Oklahoma Legislature renamed the institution Rogers outages and a basement storm shelter large enough to hold all State University and charged it with seeking accreditation as a campus residents. four-year university offering bachelor’s and associate degrees. Its first graduate program, a Master of Business Administration, The RSU campus in Bartlesville is located in a nine-story building launched in 2014 and graduated its first class in May 2016. in the heart of downtown and serves as the educational anchor for the revitalized business district. The Pryor campus is located in a two-story, 38,000-square-foot facility (opened in 2014) in the MidAmerica Industrial Park, which donated the facility to address the region’s workforce needs. The largest single gift in the university’s history, the approximately $10 million project included site development and construction on the 83-acre property.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 8 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT FR. WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY GLORIA BUTTS | GLORIA

ROGERSROGERS STATESTATE UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY [[ 99 ]] 20202020 RSURSU ANNUALANNUAL REPORTREPORT WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The 2019 women’s cross country season was a year of growth as six of the nine Hillcats were newcomers. Freshman Brianna DeAngelis led the way for the Hillcats most of the year. The COACHING STAFF team had several members compete for the second spot throughout the season, with Elizabeth Head Coach: Matt Kennedy Reidlinger, Gloria Butts, Avery Buck, and Rylan McCord all holding the number two spot at one Years (First): 0 (2020) point in the year. Office Phone: (918) 343-7689 Email: [email protected] 2019 Head Coach: Chris McCormick DeAngelis finished first on the team in every race but the UCO Land Run, finishing just behind Years (First): 10 (2010) Katelyn Alexander. Alexander finished 18th in the race and completed the 5k course in 20:14.6. Assistant Coach: Hunter Briggs (1st) DeAngelis turned in a time of 20:42.2 on the course and finished 31st. The Hillcats had their best finish as a team with a seventh-place finish at the meet. 2019 SEASON IN REVIEW Best Finish: 7th MIAA: 13th NCAA Regional: 30th

HISTORY First Year: 2010 (10) Individual Conference Titles: 1 Brenda Felipe (2011) NAIA Nat’l Championship App.: 1 Brenda Felipe (2011) 5k Record: 18:07.0 by Brenda Felipe on 11/3/2012 6k Record: 22:15.9 by Andi Gourd on 10/26/2013

HIGHLIGHTS Individual Awards 1 - Conference Runner of the Year 1 - Conference Freshman of the Year (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Hunter Briggs, Tayler Lee, Avery Buck, Chris McCormick Row 2: Rylan McCord, Madeline Caruthers, Elizabeth Reidlinger Row 3: Brianna DeAngelis, Ashley Wyatt, Gloria Butts Row 4: Katelyn 8 - All-Heartland Conference Selections Alexander, Jaeden Coon, Ellie Nickell 4 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference Selection 4 - Conference Runner of the Week Selections DeAngelis led the Hillcats in the next two races in loaded fields at the Missouri Southern Stampede and Lewis Crossover. At Missouri Southern, the freshman improved on her time in the Academic Awards 5k, finishing in 19:50.3. Reidlinger was the second Hillcat across the line for the day with a time 43 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll Selections of 20:37.7. At the Lewis Crossover, the Hillcats trudged through a muddy 6k course. DeAngelis 2 - CoSIDA Academic All-District® 1 - Capital One Academic All-District® finished in the top spot with a time of 26:04.4, while McCord finished with a time of 27:15.5, 3 - USTFCCCA All-Academic Team which was good enough to be the second Hillcat across the line. 2 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees In the postseason, several Hillcats turned in their best performances of the year. In the team’s first-ever MIAA Cross Country Championship, DeAngelis once again was the top Hillcat, improving on her 6k from two weeks prior with a 24:33.0. Gloria Butts also turned in her best performance of the year with a time of 25:13.6, finishing second for the Navy and Red.

At the NCAA Central Regional, DeAngelis improved on her time in the 6k race with a 24:21.6. Avery Buck stepped up for the Hillcats and ﬁnished with a personal best time in the 6k of 25:12.8, to take second for the Hillcats. In the ﬁnal two meets of the season, the Hillcats had six runners set personal best times in the 6k races.

Five Hillcats earned academic recognition with MIAA Cross Country Honor Roll honors.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 10 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT CHRIS McCORMICK 2019 HEAD COACH

Chris McCormick announced his retirement from collegiate coaching following the 2019 cross country season in November. McCormick had been with cross country since its inception back in 2010.

McCormick guided the Hillcat women to a second-place ﬁnish in their ﬁrst chance to compete at the Heartland Conference Championship in 2014.

McCormick and the RSU women had their ﬁrst individual conference champion at the 2011 Sooner Athletic Conference meet as Brenda Felipe won the race earning a spot to represent the Hillcats at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Washington. She went on to ﬁnish 53rd of 323 competitors.

Overall, McCormick coached 12 All-Americans, four conference runners of the year, three conference freshman of the year, 147 all-conference athletes (29 cross country/118 track & field), 10 all- BRIANNA DEANGELIS region track performers and 18 athletes of the week. Freshman Brianna DeAngelis quickly became the Hillcats MATT KENNEDY team leader after RSU lost its top returning runner to injury. HEAD COACH DeAngelis filled the spot well, finishing first on the team in all but one race during the season. Matt Kennedy joined Rogers State in December of 2019 from Oklahoma Baptist, DeAngelis, who came to College Hill after a successful where he had served as Head Coach for the running career at Byng High School, improved with each cross country programs and Assistant Coach race of the season. At the MIAA conference meet, DeAngelis for the Bison track & field programs. He will enter his first year as improved on her 6k time from two weeks earlier by over 90 the Hillcat cross country coach in 2020. seconds, running a 24:33.0. At the NCAA Central Region meet two weeks later, DeAngelis progressed on her time Kennedy, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, came to College Hill once again, setting a new personal best with a 24:21.6. after spending eight and a half years with the Oklahoma Baptist program. Kennedy had been the head coach of the women’s cross Aside from running, DeAngelis also spends time volunteering country program since 2014 and took over the men’s cross country in the Claremore community. She works with the Catalayah program in 2018. Running Club, helping to promote fitness and a healthy lifestyle to elementary school students. She also helped Kennedy guided the Bison to four Great American Conference Cross run events at the Claremont Elementary School Carnival and Country Championships and two NCAA National Championship worked a booth for RSU Athletics at Food Truck Thursday. appearances. Kennedy’s teams swept the Great American Conference Team Championships in late October of 2019, with the Women’s and Men’s programs winning their respective conference titles in his final season with the program. Overall, Kennedy was named Great American Conference Coach of the Year four times and swept the honors in 2019.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 11 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT FR. | MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY JACKSON STINNETT JACKSON

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 12 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The men’s cross country team made its MIAA debut in 2019. Nick Williams, who led the Hillcats to a third-place finish in the Heartland Conference last year, once again set the tone in 2019. Byrun Ratliff COACHING STAFF also made his return, as he laced up the spikes after taking a redshirt in 2018 due to injury. Ratliff Head Coach: Matt Kennedy finished behind Williams in the second spot for the majority of the season. Years (First): 0 (2020) Office Phone: (918) 343-7689 Williams started the season with a career-best time in the four-mile race at the UCO Land Run, Email: [email protected] 2019 Head Coach: Chris McCormick crossing the line with a 20:41.1 to take second place. In his return, Ratliff turned in a top-20 Years (First): 10 (2010) performance with a time of 21:27.3. RSU also turned in its best team performance of the year with Assistant Coach: Hunter Briggs (1st) a fourth-place finish at the UCO Land Run.

2019 SEASON IN REVIEW Best Finish: 4th MIAA: 8th NCAA Regional: 20th

HISTORY First Year: 2010 (10) NCAA Division II All-Americans: 2 Baylor Harvey (2016 & 2017) Team Conference Titles: 1 (2017) Individual Conference Titles: 3 Baylor Harvey (2014, 2016 & 2017) NCAA National Championship App.: 3 2 – Baylor Harvey (2016 & 2017) 1 – Team Appearance (2017) NAIA National Championship App.: 1 Caleb Clark (2010) 8k Record: 24:07.6 by Baylor Harvey on 9/30/2017 10k Record: 30:52.3 (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Hunter Briggs, Nick Williams, Preston Turner, Chris McCormick Row 2: Hunter Hart, Jackson Stinnett, Byrun Ratliff Row 3: Justin Noble, Colton Green, Collin McHugh Row 4: Tristan Owens, by Baylor Harvey on 11/19/2016 Ty Graham, Bolton Fortune HIGHLIGHTS During the regular season, the Hillcats competed against some of the best teams in the nation at Individual Awards the Missouri Southern Stampede and the Lewis Crossover. Williams led the team at the Stampede, 2 - NCAA Division II All-American breaking the 26-minute barrier with a time of 25:59.7 on the 8k course. Freshman Jackson Stinnett 2 - NCAA Division II All-South Central Region crossed the line second for RSU, edging out Ratliff. Stinnett finished with a time of 27:15.8 and Ratliff 3 - Conference Runner of the Year finished with a 27:18.8. Two weeks later, in muddy conditions at the Lewis Crossover, Williams led 1 - Conference Coach of the Year 2 - Conference Freshman of the Year the Hillcats with a 26:48.3. Ratliff finished second for the navy and red with a time of 28:00.2. 15 - All-Heartland Conference Selections 1 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference Selection At the MIAA Conference Championship, the top five Hillcats all set a personal-best time. Williams 11 - Conference Runner of the Week Selections led the team in the 8k race with a time of 25:29.0, finishing in the top 25 at the meet. Ratliff turned in his best time in the 8k with a 26:19.5. Freshman Hunter Hart recorded his season-best finish for the Academic Awards Hillcats with a 26:40.4 to cross the line third for the navy and red. 2 - CoSIDA Academic All-American® 37 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll Selections 3 - CoSIDA Academic All-District® Five of the top six Hillcats finished with a personal best in the 10k at the NCAA Central Region meet. 1 - Capital One Academic All-District® Williams led the team in the final race of the season with a time of 32:05.2, to reach a new personal 2 - USTFCCCA All-Academic Team best. Ratliff also turned in a personal best with a 33:01.7. Stinnett, Hart, and senior Justin Noble also 5 - USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals turned personal best times in the event. 1 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete 1 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honoree Seven Hillcats earned academic recognition with MIAA Cross Country Honor Roll honors.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 13 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT CHRIS McCORMICK 2019 HEAD COACH

Chris McCormick announced his retirement from collegiate coaching following the 2019 cross country season in November. McCormick had been with cross country since its inception back in 2010.

Under the watchful eye of McCormick since April of 2010, the Hillcats developed a strong program that has reached national recognition in recent years. McCormick guided the men’s cross country program to the 2017 Heartland Conference Championship and was subsequently named the Heartland Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year. The navy and red made their ﬁrst appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship after being ranked in the NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll most of the 2017 season.

Overall, McCormick coached 12 All-Americans, four conference runners of the year, three conference freshman of the year, 147 all-conference athletes (29 cross country/118 track & field), 10 all- NICK WILLIAMS region track performers and 18 athletes of the week. Senior Nick Williams capped off his collegiate cross country MATT KENNEDY career as a Hillcat by leading the team as the number one HEAD COACH runner for the entire 2019 season and the majority of the 2018 season. The senior closed the 2019 season with a Matt Kennedy joined Rogers State in pair of personal bests in the 8k (25:29.0) and 10k (32:05.2) December of 2019 from Oklahoma Baptist, events. where he had served as Head Coach for the cross country programs and Assistant Coach A native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Williams arrived on the Hill for the Bison track & field programs. He will after running for four years at Sapulpa High School. Williams enter his first year as the Hillcat cross country coach in 2020. grew up in a running family with his mother, Deb Williams, competing in cross country and track at Tulsa University. Deb Kennedy, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, came to College Hill was also his high school coach. Nick, who is a sport fitness after spending eight and a half years with the Oklahoma Baptist major, is currently interning at his alma mater as an assistant program. Kennedy had been the head coach of the women’s cross coach for their track program while also competing for the country program since 2014 and took over the men’s cross country Hillcats. program in 2018. Williams also works with Catalayah Running Club, Kennedy guided the Bison to four Great American Conference Cross volunteering with elementary school students to promote Country Championships and two NCAA National Championship fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Williams is set to wrap up his appearances. Kennedy’s teams swept the Great American collegiate career in 2021 in track & field and plans to pursue a Conference Team Championships in late October of 2019, with the job in coaching after he graduates from Rogers State. Women’s and Men’s programs winning their respective conference titles in his final season with the program. Overall, Kennedy was named Great American Conference Coach of the Year four times and swept the honors in 2019.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 14 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT JR. ALEX WYNN | WOMEN’S SOCCER

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 15 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT WOMEN’S SOCCER SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The Rogers State women’s soccer team just missed out on the MIAA tournament in its first season in the league. However, the Hillcats picked up several key results during the season, COACHING STAFF in one of the toughest leagues in the country. The Hillcats finished with a record of 5-6-4, but Head Coach: Joshua Smith earned a pair of draws against nationally-ranked opposition. Years (First): 0 (2020) Office Phone: (918) 343-7996 The navy and red began their season by going 3-1 in non-conference play, including a 1-0 win of Email: [email protected] 2019 Head Coach: Yolanda Thomas Seattle Pacific, who qualified for the NCAA tournament the previous year. Years (First): 2 (2018) School Record (Pct.): 15-14-7 (.514) 2019 Assistant (Year): Michael Moritz (2nd)

2019 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 5-8-5 Home: 1-3-3 Away: 2-5-2 Neutral: 2-0-0 MIAA (Finish): 2-5-4 (9th)

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2007 (13) All Time Record: 122-100-21 (.545) Home: 69-42-13 (.609) Away: 49-56-7 (.469) Neutral: 4-2-1 (.643) Conference: 60-51-12 (.537) - MIAA: 2-5-4 (.364) - Heartland: 24-36-7 (.410) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Kori Watters, Audrey Maxwell, Alex Wynn, Hannah Mushisky, Brooklyn Buckminster, Mackenzie Belyeu, Rylee Orton, Hailey Gunn Row 2: Michael Moritz, Lexi Bobo, Anita Gaspar, Cambree - Sooner Athletic: 36-19-4 (.644) Towle, ReVella Fisher, Ashley Anderson, Sydney Connelly, Bailey Jarvis, Alize Boatright, Yolanda Thomas Row 3: Hailey Postseason: 8-5-2 (.600) Wells, Jazlyn Reese, Janell Hernandez, Jennifer Paz, Laurelle Theodore, Aspen Cope, Maggie Brown, Bria Salazar HIGHLIGHTS RSU opened up conference play by earning its first point against Northeastern State with a 0-0 Individual Awards draw after double-overtime. The Hillcats earned their first MIAA win against Missouri Southern, 2 - NAIA All-Americans defeating the Lions 2-0 at Soldier Field. 3 - United Soccer Coaches All-Region 2 - NSCAA NAIA All-Southwest Region RSU picked up back-to-back ties against ranked teams in its next two games. The Hillcats 3 - NAIA All-Region VI faced No. 7 Central Missouri for the first time in program history and shut out one of the top- 1 - Conference Offensive Player of the Year scoring offenses in the country over 110 minutes, forcing a 0-0 tie. The Hillcats welcomed No. 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year 1 - Conference Goalkeeper of the Year 14 Emporia State to Soldier Field next and registered another tie against a nationally ranked 1 - Conference Coach of the Year opponent with a 1-1 result. 7 - All-MIAA Selections 9 - All-Heartland Selections Rogers State picked up a big win for the program late in the season at Missouri Western, 18 - All-Sooner Athletic Selections defeating the Griffins in overtime, 2-1, to finish with 10 points in conference play. The Hillcats 3 - NAIA National Players of the Week were edged out by Washburn in a tiebreaker for the final tournament spot. 9 - Conference Offensive Player of the Week 17 - Conference Defensive Player of the Week 3 - Conference Goalkeeper of the Week Alex Wynn, ReVella Fisher, and Laurelle Theodore earned All-MIAA recognition with Wynn and Fisher on the second team and Theodore on the third team. Janelle Hernandez, Anita Gaspar, Academic Awards Bria Salazar, and Kori Watters earned honorable mention recognition. 31 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll 4 - CoSIDA Academic All-Americans The Hillcats also earned several academic honors as 12 members of the team earned MIAA 9 - CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades. Mackenzie Belyeu and Kori Watters both earned the prestigious MIAA Academic 5 - NSCAA Scholar All-South Region Excellence Award. Wynn was named an MIAA Scholar-Athlete. 10 Hillcats earned MIAA 8 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes 8 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees Academic Honor Roll honors. 1 - NSCAA Academic Team Award 1 - NAIA Scholar Team Award

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 16 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT YOLANDA THOMAS 2019 HEAD COACH

Yolanda Thomas, who resigned as the head coach in December, guided the Rogers State Women’s Soccer program for two seasons, including the inaugural year in the MIAA. Under Thomas, the Hillcats were 15-14-7 in two seasons, including a pair of ties against teams ranked in the top 15 in the nation.

Thomas inherited a program that had a strong winning tradition with seven 10-win seasons, but just one winning season in the previous six years. She guided the Hillcats to a 10-6-2 mark, including a 7-5- 2 record in the ﬁnal year of the Heartland Conference.

Overall, she coached 12 all-conference honorees in two years, as well as two all-region performers and an academic all-district performer. Hillcats earned nine Athlete of the Week honors in two years under Thomas.

JOSH SMITH BRIA SALAZAR HEAD COACH MIDFIELDER

Josh Smith became the fifth head coach for Bria Salazar holds numerous accolades in a stellar career on the RSU Women’s Soccer program after being and off the soccer pitch as she heads into her senior season named to the position in January of 2020. in 2020. Salazar was named the Heartland Conference Smith comes to College Hill from Eastern Freshman of the Year, along with All South-Central Region New Mexico, where he led two of the most successful seasons in and All-Heartland Conference honors in 2017. In 2018, she Greyhounds Women’s Soccer history. would once again earn All South-Central Region team and All-Heartland Conference honors. This season, Salazar Smith took over at Eastern New Mexico ahead of the 2018 season earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors in the first year and turned around the program in his first season, leading the for Rogers State in the MIAA. The midfielder and captain led Greyhounds to an upset of #19 West Texas A&M en route to a trip the Hillcats to a pair of memorable results against Top 25 to the Lone Star Conference championship game. Over his two ranked opposition. seasons in Portales, Smith also coached the Greyhounds to the best win percentage of any coach in the program’s 17-year history. The Glendora, California native has made a significant impact off the field as well. This past year, Salazar moved into the The Greyhounds won their first two Lonestar Conference role of president of the Student Athlete-Advisory Committee postseason games in school history under Smith, who coached at Rogers State. Salazar has spearheaded several activities the program to multiple other school records. Greyhounds student- through SAAC and has volunteered with many different athletes won the LSC Newcomer of the Year awards in 2018 and events in the Claremore community through SAAC and 2019, five All-LSC selections, one all-region honor, two academic women’s soccer. all-conference honors, one academic all-district selection, and raised the team GPA from 3.09 to 3.39 in two years under the guidance of Smith.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 17 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S SOCCER JR. | DILLON DEAN DILLON

ROGERSROGERS STATESTATE UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY [[ 1818 ]] 20202020 RSURSU ANNUALANNUAL REPORTREPORT MEN’S SOCCER SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS In 2019, Rogers State men’s soccer lifted the program’s first GAC/MIAA conference championship trophy. A record-setting year for the Hillcats included the team’s first-ever ranking in the United COACHING STAFF Soccer Coaches National Top 25 Poll, including a ranking as high as No. 15 in the nation. Head Coach: Derek Larkin Years (First): 13 (2007) Jake Simpson set a pair of school records in his senior season to lead the way for the Hillcats. School Record (Pct.): 127-89-26 (.579) Simpson finished the year with 14 goals and 36 points. Office Phone: (918) 343-7995 Email: [email protected] Assistant Coaches (Year): Mac Orr (1st) Bryan Weygand (11th)

2019 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 13-5-2 Home: 8-1-0 Away: 4-4-2 GAC/MIAA (Finish): 9-5-0 (2nd) GAC/MIAA Tournament Champions

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2007 (13) All Time Record: 127-89-26 (.579) Home: 79-36-11 (.671) Away: 45-52-15 (.469) Neutral: 3-1 (.750) Conference: 64-52-17 (.545) - GAC/MIAA: 9-5-0 (.643) - Heartland: 29-29-9 (.500) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Manuel Camerena, Matthew Sweetman, Jake Simpson, Luke Morgan, Noah - Sooner Athletic: 26-18-8 (.577) Robson, Nathan Asiedu, Michael Turner, Logan Smith, Jarrod Cooper, Blake Costello, Chris Sowder, Jose Portillo, Dillon Postseason: 4-7-1 (.375) Peaster, Jose Ortega Row 2: Cin Mang, Sebastian Hernandez, Kyle Young, Nathaniel Minott, Grant King, Jamie Ponce, Conference Championships: 1 (2019) Anthony LaRosa, Jaxon Pitt, Callum Hubble, Pedro Garcia, Jesus Ramirez, Dylan Peyton, Trey Robertson Row 3: Derek Larkin, Jordan Watson, Adolfo Bustos, Erol Banuelos, Dillon Dean, Austin Wormell, Jazz Dhaliwal, Cairo Allen, Darrion Wilson, Luc Schade, Mac Orr HIGHLIGHTS Individual Awards The Hillcats started the season going undefeated in non-conference play, including a trio of 2 - United Soccer Coaches/D2CCA All-Americans victories and a draw. After falling in the first two conference games of the season, the Hillcats 8 - United Soccer Coaches All-Region bounced back to win the next four games. The Hillcats would end the season winning five of 8 - D2CAA All-Region their last six, including an overtime victory over rival Northeastern State with Noah Robson 4 - United Soccer Coaches All-Region scoring the game-winning goal. 2 - NSCAA NAIA All-Region 1 - USL PRO Combine Attendee 1 - Conference Player of the Year The Hillcats would secure the No. 2 seed for the GAC/MIAA Tournament. In the first game of 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year the tournament, the Hillcats would once again take down Northeastern State to advance to the 7 - All-GAC/MIAA Conference championship game against Fort Hays State. 5 - All-GAC/MIAA All-Tournament Team 17 - All-Heartland Conference Tied at 2-2 after regulation and overtime in the championship game, the Hillcats and Tigers 1 - Heartland All-Tournament Team went to a penalty kick shootout. Fort Hays State missed its first shot. The Hillcats made their 19 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference first effort to take the lead. Each team then had three successful attempts. Goalkeeper Austin 1 - NAIA National Player of the Week 13 - Conference Offensive Player of the Week Wormell secured the win, and the championship, for Rogers State with a save on the final shot 21 - Conference Defensive Player of the Week from the Tigers. 5 - Conference Goalkeeper of the Week The Hillcats racked up a total of 33 postseason honors, led by Jake Simpson and Dillon Dean, Academic Awards who were named All-Americans. Simpson completed the sweep of All-American honors, as he 86 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll was also named an Academic All-American by the United Soccer Coaches and CoSIDA. Jaime 2 - CoSIDA Academic All-Americans Ponce was named the GAC/MIAA Newcomer of the Year. Ponce, Simpson, and Dean were trio 5 - CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 - NSCAA/USC Scholar All-Americans joined by Noah Robson, Michael Turner, and Jordan Watson with all-conference and all-region 9 - NSCAA/USC Scholar All-Region honors. 3 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees 4 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 19 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT DEREK LARKIN HEAD COACH

Derek Larkin wrapped up his 13th season leading the Rogers State men’s soccer team after creating the program in 2007. Larkin has established a winning tradition on the Hill, leading the Hillcats to a 127-89-26 record in 13 seasons, including the program’s ﬁrst conference championship in 2019.

Under Larkin, the 2019 Hillcats had the most successful season in school history, as Rogers State defeated Fort Hays State in a penalty shootout to lift the GAC/MIAA Conference Championship trophy. Rogers State was ranked for a majority of the season and had the program’s ﬁrst two NCAA All-America selections, forward Jake Simpson and goalkeeper Dillon Dean. Simpson was also named an Academic All-American. Hillcats earned 12 athlete of the week honors, while Jake Simpson set multiple school records, including goals (14) and points (36) in a season.

During his 13 seasons with the men’s soccer program, Larkin has JAKE SIMPSON FORWARD amassed 11 seasons of .500 or better, including five straight after 2019. He also has guided the Hillcats to eight 10+ win seasons. Jake Simpson had one of the best seasons in RSU men’s soccer history. The Cambridge, England set or tied six single- During his 13 years with Rogers State, Larkin has coached and season records in 2019 and set four career records while guided four All-Americans, six Conference Players of the Year (two on the Hill. He was named an All-American and also earned Players, two Goalkeepers, and two Newcomer), 30 All-Region/ Academic All-American and Scholar All-American honors for District selections and 64 All-Conference selections. His athletes his work in the classroom. Between athletics and academics, have also succeeded on the academic side, as he has coached Simpson earned ten postseason honors in 2019. eight Academic All-American selections, 34 Academic All-Region/ District and Scholar-Athlete honorees, and had two teams earn an Aside from his work in the classroom and on the soccer field, Academic Team distinction. Simpson has been active in the community since arriving to College Hill. He read to elementary students at Catalayah Larkin joined RSU in January 2007, tasked with being the Elementary School once a month during the school year for University’s first head soccer coach. Before coming to the Hill, all three years he has been in Claremore. Larkin enjoyed success as the head boys soccer coach at Bishop Kelley High School from 2004-06. He led the Comets to back-to- He was also a part of the men's soccer team that worked back state championships in 2005 and 2006. with the Top Soccer organization, creating a fun soccer environment for kids with disabilities. Simpson also created A four-year starter at Missouri Valley College, Larkin was a two- a striker academy to work with youth in Claremore and the year captain leading the Vikings to two Heart of America Athletic Tulsa metro area, working on attacking portions of the game Conference championships. He was twice named first-team all- of soccer. conference and second-team all-region.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 20 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT FR. | WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALYCHE BROWN ALYCHE

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 21 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The 2019-20 season was a year of growth for the Rogers State women’s basketball team. The Hillcats made their debut in the MIAA, the top Division II conference in the country for basketball, COACHING STAFF under second-year head coach Kyle Bent. Head Coach: Kyle Bent Years (First): 2 (2018-19) The Hillcats picked up their ﬁrst win of the season against Randall, 107-41, setting a school School Record (Pct.): 18-38 (.321) Office Phone: (918) 343-7883 record with 27 assists in a game while matching a school record for ﬁeld goals made in a game Email: [email protected] with 44. The 107 points scored by the Hillcats were third all-time in school history. Assistant Coaches (Year): Ashlee Pitts (3rd) Jasmine Cincore (1st)

2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 4-24 Home: 4-9 Away: 0-14 Neutral: 0-1 MIAA (Finish): 2-17 (13th)

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2007-08 (13) All Time Record: 188-197 (.488) Home: 111-76 (.594) Away: 64-104 (.381) Neutral: 13-17 (.433) Conference: 111-134 (.453) - MIAA: 2-17 (.105) - Heartland: 36-64 (.360) - Sooner Athletic: 73-53 (.579) Postseason: 8-12 (.400) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Jasmine Cincore, Ashlee Pitts, Vanessa Gajdosova, Rylie Elkin, Bailey Kliewer, Darian Jackson, Kyle Bent, Vuye Magalela Row 2: Samariah Thompson, Alyche Brown, Alicia Brown, Julie Luna, HIGHLIGHTS Katrina Christian, Lilly Garner, Azaria Floyd Individual Awards 6 - NAIA All-Americans Rogers State also picked up a narrow victory, 70-68, against former MIAA member Southwest 3 - Conference Defensive Player of the Year Baptist in non-conference play. Senior Darian Jackson made a layup with eight seconds left to 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year give the Hillcats the lead and eventual win. 1 - NAIA National Championship All-Tournament 6 - All-Heartland Conference The first MIAA victory of the season came against Lincoln, as the Hillcats defeated the Blue 22 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference 4 - Conference All-Tournament Selections Tigers, 99-75. In the game, the Hillcats made 13 threes, which tied a school record. Freshman 9 - Conference Players of the Week Bailey Kliewer also tied a school record for field goal percentage, making all eight shots she attempted. It was just the third time in program history that a Hillcat made all of her shots and Academic Awards had at least eight attempts. 46 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll 1 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honoree The Hillcats also picked up a win against local rival Northeastern State. RSU battled from behind 1 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete to take a sizeable lead, before holding off the RiverHawks to win the game, 70-62. It was the first 1 - CoSIDA Academic All-District time in women’s basketball's program history to defeat the RiverHawks.

Seven Hillcats earned MIAA Honor Roll. Seniors Darian Jackson and Azaria Floyd, along with junior Lily Garner, made the initial list. Newcomers Katrina Christian, Vanessa Gajdosova, Bailey Kliewer, and Julie Luna joined the list after the spring semester.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 22 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT KYLE BENT HEAD COACH

Kyle Bent wrapped up his second season with the Hillcats in 2019-20, leading RSU into a new era as the Hillcats began competition in the MIAA. His second season with the Hillcats saw the influx of a large recruiting class and the development of a couple freshman and newcomers into the starting rotation.

Under the guidance of Bent, freshman Bailey Kliewer became just the third Hillcat to make at least eight shots and shoot 100 percent from the ﬁeld, as she went 8-for-8 in the program’s ﬁrst MIAA win against Lincoln. She also fell one block shy of the school record with six in the same game.

Fellow freshman Alyche Brown was second for Rogers State in minutes played and was a key defensive piece to the Hillcats. Her six steals at Northeastern State tied for the eighth best single- game performance in school history.

After taking over the women’s basketball program in August before LILLY GARNER the 2018-19 season, Bent and Rogers State reached the Heartland GUARD Conference Tournament as the No. 4 seed, the highest regular- season finish in the program’s Heartland and NCAA history. Under Lilly Garner worked into a starting role in 2019-20. The three- Bent’s guidance, the Hillcats finished the season 14-14 with a 7-7 point shooter, from Mannford, Oklahoma, started in 20 of the record in conference play. Lauren Schuldt, who set multiple school 25 games after featuring as a reserve during her first two records during her senior season, was also named the Heartland seasons in Claremore. Garner averaged 11 points per game Conference Defensive Player of the Year. in Hillcat victories this season and also led the charge in an upset bid of Fort Hays State with five threes. Bent became Rogers State’s fourth women’s basketball head coach after spending four seasons as the head coach at Martin Off the court, Garner brings just as much to the women’s Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee. In his four seasons at basketball program. Named to the Heartland Conference MMC, Bent guided the RedHawks to four straight NAIA National President’s Honor Roll twice heading into her junior season, Tournament appearances. Bent, with an overall record of 95-38, Garner added MIAA academic honors again this season. left Pulaski as the all-time winningest coach in MMC history. In four Garner also works with her team and other groups on campus years at Martin Methodist, Bent coached five NAIA All-Americans in community engagement and outreach projects. and ten all-conference selections. Academically, the Global Humanities major holds a 3.97 Bent started his coaching career by leading the University of Illinois GPA and is a member of the President's Leadership Class. Women’s Club Basketball Team to the 2009-10 National Collegiate Garner, who is also a member of SAAC, was nominated by Club Basketball Championship, going 36-8 to lift the title. the organization for Homecoming Court and then voted the Homecoming Queen by the students of Rogers State for Homecoming 2020 in February.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 23 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S BASKETBALL SR. | MARQUES SUMNER

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 24 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The Rogers State men’s basketball team had one of the best seasons in program history. The Hillcats ascended into the NABC Top 25 poll for the first time in the NCAA era, climbing as high COACHING STAFF as No. 15. The Hillcats also qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program Head Coach: Justin Barkley history. RSU accomplished it all in their first season in the MIAA, the toughest conference in Years (First): 10 (2010-11) Division II basketball, where the navy and red finished second in the standings, only behind the School Record (Pct.): 207-94 (.675) defending national champion and top-ranked team in the country, Northwest Missouri State. Office Phone: (918) 343-6804 Email: [email protected] Assistant Coaches (Yr): Tyler Wayman (4th) Lucas Hunter (1st) Connor Moore (1st)

2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 24-6 Home: 11-2 Away: 9-3 Neutral: 4-1 MIAA (Finish): 15-4 (2nd)

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2007-08 (13) All Time Record: 280-117 (.705) Home: 153-33 (.823) Away: 93-67 (.581) Neutral: 34-17 (.667) Conference: 170-83 (.672) - MIAA: 15-4 (.789) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Jett Sternberger, Jordan Flood, Brewster Peacock, Destin Eke, Gabriel - Heartland: 69-39 (.639) Ferreira, Christopher Miller, Ricardo Lynch, Michiah McQuarters, Darraja Parnell, Maques Sumner Row 2: Reginald - Sooner Athletic: 86-40 (.683) Gibson, Tavian Davis, Jeff Paden, Lucas Hunter, Justin Barkley, Tyler Wayman, Connor Moore, Vaughn Raney, Cole Kinnamon Postseason: 15-12 (.556)

HIGHLIGHTS The Hillcats started off with a six-game win streak and nine victories in the first 10 contests. The Individual Awards Hillcats knocked off several strong teams in the region, while also starting MIAA play with three 6 - NAIA All-Americans victories. The biggest win of the fall semester came in mid-December, as the Hillcats knocked 3 - NABC All-District off No. 24 ranked Northeastern State on a three at the buzzer from freshman Jett Sternberger. 2 - D2CCA All-Region 3 - Conference Player of the Year After a three-game skid to begin 2020, which included a loss to the reigning national champions, 1 - Conference Defensive Player of the Year the Hillcats went on a memorable run, falling just twice the rest of the way. Justin Barkley 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year 1 - Conference Coach of the Year reached 200 career wins at Pittsburg State. The Hillcats then capped off their longest win streak 4 - MIAA All-Conference of the season of eight games with a victory at No. 11 Missouri Southern. The navy and red 13 - Heartland All-Conference defeated the Lions on their home court, which snapped their 26-game home winning streak. 23 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference 1 - NAIA National Championship All-Tournament RSU finished the regular season with a five-game win streak, including the last three wins on the 1 - Conference Tournament MVP road, earning the second spot in the MIAA behind only No. 1 Northwest Missouri State. 5 - Conference All-Tournament 12 - Conference Player of the Week Rogers State fell for the last time in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament. At 24-6, the Hillcats Academic Awards earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament, the first appearance 29 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll in the NCAA era. However, the season was cut short before the opening round due to the 1 - CoSIDA Academic All-America COVID-19 pandemic. 3 - CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees The Hillcats registered numerous postseason accolades. Tavian Davis led the way for the 2 - NAIA Champions of Character Scholarship Honorees Hillcats, named to the MIAA All-Defensive Team. He also earned All-MIAA Third Team honors. Marques Sumner received All-MIAA Second Team accolades. Christopher Miller and Junior Brewster Peacock were named All-MIAA Honorable Mention.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 25 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT JUSTIN BARKLEY HEAD COACH

Justin Barkley capped off his 10th season at the helm of the Rogers State men's basketball program by leading the Hillcats to their ﬁrst- ever NCAA Tournament. The Hillcats earned an at-large bid after ﬁnishing second in RSU's debut season in the MIAA.

Rogers State hit several milestones during the season, including the highest-ranked victory in the NCAA era for the program, as the Hillcats snapped No. 11 Missouri Southern's 26-game winning streak at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. The win helped propel the Hillcats to their ﬁrst-ever NCAA-era top 25 ranking at No. 23 two weeks later. The Hillcats would climb as high as No. 15 before ﬁnishing the year at No. 18.

Under Barkley's guidance, the Hillcats finished second in the regular season standings in their first season in the MIAA, often referred to as the toughest league in Division II, behind only No. 1 and defending national champion Northwest Missouri State. TAVIAN DAVIS GUARD The Hillcats have advanced to the postseason in all four eligible years since moving to Division II, including this season in the MIAA Tavian Davis will go down as one of the best players in Rogers and three straight seasons in the Heartland Conference. State men’s basketball program history. The Muskogee, Oklahoma native broke two career records in his final season Barkley coached three-straight Heartland Conference Player of on the floor for the Hillcats. Davis broke the record for the Year recipients: Jeylyn Sharpe (2016-17), JC Hartzler (2015- career assists, tallying 324 during his time on the Hill. He set 16), and Frederico Santos (2014-15). Overall, he has also coached another career record for steals with 140. Davis also broke three All-Americans, five all-region/district honorees, three players the single-season mark for assists, as he put up 136 during of the year, one newcomer of the year, 24 all-conference selections his senior year. In the final regular season game, Davis set and 12 conference player of the week selections. the single-game record for assists with 12.

As a player, Barkley led Inola High School to a state championship The senior is also a leader in the community for the Hillcats under the direction of his father in 1998. He continued hishis playingplaying men's basketball program. One of his favorites during his career at NSU, where he spurred the Redmen to a Division II time in Claremore was reading to Westside Elementary National Championship in 2003. School students. Davis also read to students and helped with classwork at an elementary school in Kansas City while the team was competing at the MIAA Tournament. Davis also led the way for elementary students on National Walk to School Day this year in the fall.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 26 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT JR. | SOFTBALL ANDREA MORALES

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 27 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT SOFTBALL SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS Rogers State softball’s historic season came to an abrupt stop in early March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Hillcats achieved many milestones and records in 2020, including the program’s COACHING STAFF first-ever National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) ranking in the NCAA era, climbing as Head Coach: Andrea Vaughan high as No. 11 in the nation. Years (First): 5 (2016) Record (Pct.): 138-110 (.556) Office Phone: (918) 343-7562 The Hillcats were dominant early, including a 3-1 opening weekend at the Gulf Shores Invitational. Email: [email protected] The navy and red then went 5-1 in Commerce, Texas, recording the program’s first two ranked Assistant Coaches (Year): Malori Moss (4th) victories in the NCAA era, taking down No. 23 Arkansas Tech and host No. 10 Texas A&M- Chris O’Brien (1st) Commerce. The Hillcats also set a school record for runs scored in a game, putting 21 across home plate against Arkansas-Monticello, with 13 of those runs coming in the first inning. 2020 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 21-8 Home: 4-2 Away: 3-3 Neutral: 14-3 MIAA (Finish): 4-2 (n/a)

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2006 (15) All-Time Record: 447-345 (.564) Home: 206-118 (.636) Away: 115-157 (.423) Neutral: 126-70 (.643) Conference: 137-182 (.429) - MIAA: 4-2 (.667) - Heartland: 62-88 (.413) - Sooner Athletic: 71-92 (.436) Postseason: 12-20 (.375) NCAA DII Tournament Apps: 1 (2018) NAIA National Tournament Apps: 1 (2013) Heartland Tournament Championships: 1 (2018) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Elexis Watson, Makayla Bowman, Sabrina Anguiano, Edie Fairchild, Hayley Womanck, M’Kayla Hillman, Payton Sabolski, Allie McFetridge, Abigail Taylor, Rylee DeLozier, Breyanna Estep, Danelle Day Row 2: Brielle Tyseling, Kimberli Presnell, Jaylan Gibson, Miranda Nester, Maeme Ward, Chris O’Brein, Andrea HIGHLIGHTS Vaughan, Malori Moss, Tailee Reding, Andrea Morales, Mikayla Waggnor, Faren Walker, Payton Stroud Individual Awards 1 - Fast Pitch News NCAA D2 All-American The Hillcats went 5-0 at the Edmond Regional Festival II, including a win against undefeated 1 - NAIA All-American Lubbock Christian. At 13-2 through the first three tournaments, the Hillcats moved into the top 1 - Hero Sports Division II Coach of the Year 4 - All-South Central Region 25 for the first time in the NCAA era, debuting at No. 22 in the first ranking of the season. 5 - NAIA All-Region VI 1 - Conference Pitcher of the Year In the home opener, the Hillcats swept Texas Women’s. In game two, freshman M’Kayla Hillman 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year pitched the first perfect game in program history. After the fourth tournament, which included 1 - Conference Freshman of the Year another ranked win over Texas A&M-Commerce, the Hillcats climbed to No. 11, the highest 1 - Conference Coach of the Year ranking by any RSU program in the NCAA era. 18 - All-Heartland Conference 28 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference 5 - Heartland Conference All-Tournament In their first MIAA conference game, the Hillcats put up 14 runs in the fourth, setting a new 1 - Heartland Conference Tournament MVP program record. The Hillcats swept the Jets before falling twice to Central Oklahoma on the 4 - Sooner Athletic Gold Gloves road. However, the Hillcats bounced back to sweep Fort Hays, in the final games of the season. 15 - Conference Hitter/Player of the Week 15 - Conference Pitcher of the Week The patience at the plate for the Hillcats was unmatched in 2020. With 141 walks, Rogers State led all divisions of the NCAA. The pitching staff also showed dominance with nine shutouts, Academic Awards third in NCAA Division II. Morales finished with an NCAA leading 15 victories and was second 68 - Academic All-Conference 2 - Capital One Academic All-Americas in strikeouts with 143. The Hillcats finished the shortened season ranked No. 17 in the nation. 4 - Capital One Academic All-District 8 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees 4 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes 1 - NAIA Scholar-Team Award

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 28 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ANDREA VAUGHAN HEAD COACH

Andrea Vaughan wrapped up her ﬁfth season as the head coach of the Rogers State softball team after being named the interim head coach a week before the 2016 season. Vaughan was ofﬁcially named the fourth head coach in program history on April 25, 2016.

The 2020 season for the Hillcats will go down as one of the best in program history, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NCAA to cancel Spring Championships in early March. Vaughan guided RSU to its ﬁrst NFCA top-25 ranking in the NCAA era with the ﬁrst poll of the season. The Hillcats remained in the top 25 all season and closed the year at No. 17. Rogers State ascended as high as No. 11, setting an NCAA era best for any programs at Rogers State.

The Hillcat offense added plate presence to a powerful lineup, creating a mix that was unmatched in the NCAA. The Hillcats led all levels of the NCAA with 141 walks, with the next closest being Arizona State (NCAA D1) with 133. The Hillcats also set records DANELLE DAY for runs in an inning (14 at Newman) and runs in a game (21 vs CATCHER Arkansas-Monticello). Danelle Day has been one of the most dominant hitters Under the watchful eye of the former pitcher, the Rogers State Rogers State softball has seen in program history. In 2019, pitching staff also excelled with nine shutouts and 200 strikeouts, the Fort Worth, Texas native established herself as one of averaging 6.9 per game in 2020. The shutouts were third in Division the best hitters in the NCAA, hitting 20 home runs during II. Andrea Morales was second in Division II in strikeouts with 143 the regular season, which was ranked first heading into and first in victories with 15. Vaughan's guidance of freshman the postseason and in the top five at the end of the year. pitcher M'Kayla Hillman led to the program's first perfect game She was noted multiple times during and after the year by in school history, as Hillman retired Texas Woman's in order in a the NCAA and other softball media for being one of the top 5-inning run-rule victory. sluggers in the country. Day helped her team to a conference championship in 2018, a season that included 17 homers. Vaughan guided the Hillcats to their first-ever Heartland Conference Day was named to the NFCA and CCA All-Region teams in Tournament Championship and first-ever NCAA Tournament 2019 and was named First Team All-Heartland and the appearance in 2018. She was named the Heartland Conference Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week in 2018 and 2019. Coach of the Year and voted the NCAA Division II National Coach Including the 2020 shortened season, Day has 42 career of the Year by Hero Sports. Vaughan led the Hillcats to their best- home runs for the Hillcats. ever record since transitioning to NCAA Division II with a 39-20 record, including an 18-game winning streak. Day volunteered at several events in the Claremore community this year, including the Catalayah Fall Festival, Vaughan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from OCU as she helped run several activities and games. She also and earned a Master of Education degree in Sports Administration volunteered with student-athletes across several sports at from East Central in 2014. the annual Christmas Tree Lighting festivities.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 29 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT BASEBALL JR. | JONATHAN SOTO JONATHAN

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 30 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT BASEBALL SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS Rogers State baseball opened a new chapter in 2020, only to see its debut season in the MIAA cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coming off a Heartland Conference Tournament COACHING STAFF Championship and two wins in the NCAA Tournament, RSU looked to continue the momentum. Head Coach: Chris Klimas Years (First): 6 (2015) The Hillcats started the season by returning to the site of the 2019 Heartland Conference Record (Pct.): 149-121 (.552) Championship, playing in the Alpine Fresh 4-Him Classic in Cleburne, Texas. The Hillcats started Office Phone: (918) 343-7787 Email: [email protected] strong, winning the ﬁrst two games. The navy and red were able to pick up victories against the Assistant Coaches (Yr): Robert Brown (15th) University of Mary and Southern Nazarene before falling to Colorado Christian and Newman. Jimmy Rogers (14th) Skyler Ellis (6th)

2020 SEASON IN REVIEW Record: 9-11 Home: 7-3 Away: 0-6 Neutral: 2-2 MIAA (Finish): 0-6 (n/a)

HISTORY First Year (Yrs): 2006 (15) All-Time Record: 430-309 (.582) Home: 237-132 (.642) Away: 154-152 (.503) Neutral: 39-25 (.609) Conference: 170-170 (.500) - MIAA: 0-6 (.000) - Heartland: 69-88 (.439) - Sooner Athletic: 101-76 (.571) Postseason: 22-17 (.564) (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Jackson Simonsgaard, Leonardo Castro, Brett Karalius, Grifﬁn Keller, Kyle Simms, Patrick Reynier, Seth Gerardy, Nick Marinac, Brent Dickey Row 2: CJ Edwards, Victor Ceniceros, Vinny Riggio, NCAA DII Tournament Apps: 1 (2019) Ethan Rivera, Corey Murphy, Sean Craig, Grant Ruthenburg, Brady Delgado, Case Woodard, Davin Kapuras Row 3: Dylan NAIA World Series Apps: 2 (2012, 2013) Russell, Brandon Bradshaw, Cameron Castaneda, Jonathon Soto, Nathan Chase, Drake Norton, Jordan Stamp, Erick Heartland Tournament Championships: 1 (2019) Leef, Nick Follett, Christian Merriwether, Mason Harvey

HIGHLIGHTS Jackson Simonsgaard and Nick Follett received Alpine Fresh 4-Him Classic All-Tournament Individual Awards Team accolades. Simonsgaard picked up a shutout win with ten strikeouts against the University 2 - MLB First-Year Draft Picks of Mary. Follett hit .625 and had ten hits with a home run. 3 - NCBWA All-Americans 2 - D2CCA All-Americans 2 - NAIA All-Americans In the first home games of the season, the Hillcats bounced back from the two losses by 1 - ABCA/Rawlings All-American sweeping Truman State in a four-game series. Simonsgaard picked up another shutout win in the 6 - ABCA/Rawlings All-Region series opener, facing the minimum in a one-hitter. After giving up his lone hit of the afternoon, 5 - NCBWA All-Region Simonsgaard picked off the runner on first. Corey Murphy picked up a shutout victory in the third 4 - D2CCA All-Region game. Follett added his second homer of the season, while Ethan Rivera hit his first collegiate 1 - NAIA All-Region VI home run in the series. 1 - Conference Player of the Year 1 - Conference Newcomer of the Year 1 - Conference Coach of the Year After dropping a midweek game to East Central at home, the Hillcats took on McKendree in 19 - All-Heartland Conference another four-game series at home, winning three of four against the Bearcats. Mason Harvey 20 - All-Sooner Athletic Conference had a hit in each game, batting .462 in the series with two doubles. Harvey scored six runs and 3 - NAIA World Series All-Tournament had seven RBIs. Simonsgaard pitched a complete game to pick up his third-straight win to begin 1 - NAIA World Series Gold Glove the season. 10 - Sooner Athletic Gold Gloves 1 - NCBWA Region Pitcher of the Week Rogers State got a quick glimpse of the new league, as they faced a pair of top MIAA programs 1 - Conference Tournament MVP 6 - Conference Tournament Team before the season was shut down, including No. 4 Central Missouri, who made an appearance in 19 - Conference Hitter of the Week the College World Series in 2019. 13 - Conference Pitcher of the Week

Academic Awards 90 - Academic All-Conference 1 - Capital One Academic All-District 1 - CoSIDA Academic All-American 4 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees 4 - Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 31 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT CHRIS KLIMAS HEAD COACH

Chris Klimas wrapped up his sixth season as the head coach of the Rogers State baseball team in 2020. Rogers State's title defense and ﬁrst year in the MIAA came to an abrupt end with the cancelation of the season in March by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, Klimas guided the Hillcats to the Heartland Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA National Tournament berth, advancing within one win of the NCAA Super Regional.

Klimas has overseen a steady rise of the baseball program back to regional and national prominence after being hired as the second head coach in program history in July 2014. Klimas has guided the Hillcats to four-consecutive 25-plus win seasons, which culminated with an NCAA-era best 36 wins in 2019 as the Hillcats claimed the Heartland Conference title in the ﬁnal year of the league. MASON HARVEY Klimas was named the Heartland Conference Coach of the Year as SECOND BASE he led the Hillcats to their ﬁrst NCAA-era postseason appearance. The Hillcats swept the Heartland Conference Tournament, Mason Harvey, a native of Camarillo, California, was proving including a pair of wins over the six-time defending champions to be one of the best players for the Hillcats this season. of St. Edward's to win the title. In the NCAA Tournament, Klimas After taking a medical redshirt last season, Harvey started led the Hillcats to wins over #22 Lubbock Christian and #4 Angelo in all 20 games the navy and red played this year. The junior State in the opening two games, coming one win shy of the NCAA was batting .370 with 27 hits in 73 plate appearances, Super Regional. leading the team. Harvey scored 25 times and had an on- base percentage of .453, leading the team in both categories The Hillcats have garnered 20 all-conference award winners, 16 as well. Harvey made his return to the lineup this season all-region honors, and six All-American selections since Klimas after having to sit out a majority of last season. Before taking took over the program. the redshirt in 2019, Harvey hit .324 in eight games.

A native of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Klimas was a two- Away from the baseball diamond, Harvey and the baseball year starting catcher for Oklahoma Baptist from 1999-2001 team work with the Claremore community often, volunteering and graduated from OBU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts in throughout the fall and winter. Harvey worked heavily with Communication Studies. Before his time with the Bison, Klimas Roosa Elementary School students, reading to the kids, as earned an Associate of Arts from Collin County CC (Texas), where well as joining them for lunch. Harvey and the Baseball team he was a two-year starter, earning all-conference and all-region spent time every week in September with the kids as part of honors in 1999. Klimas earned a Master of Science in Secondary the "Hillcat Homies" initiative. Harvey and the Hillcats also Education with an emphasis in Sports Administration from East provided baseball instruction to children at the Claremore Central in 2012. Community Center Clinic in January.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 32 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT JR. | WOMEN’S GOLF JESSICA GREEN

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 33 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT WOMEN'S GOLF SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS Rogers State women’s golf was having a remarkable year before the NCAA shut down in March. In seven tournaments throughout 2019-20, the Hillcats finished in the top three on four occasions, COACHING STAFF including two team wins. Head Coach: Whitney Hocutt Years (First): 3 (2017-18) After a fifth-place team finish and a second-place finish from Mariana Flores at the Central Office Phone: (918) 343-7894 Region Fall Preview to open the year, the Hillcats won their second tournament of the season at Email: [email protected] the Northeastern State Women’s Classic. The navy and red overcame a seven-stroke deficit in the 2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW second round to overtake the leader. Marybeth Bellnap and Mariana Flores both turned in top-three Head-to-Head Record: 87-19 (.821) finishes with Bellnap finishing tied for first and Mariana finishing tied for third. Individual Victories: 2 Team Victories: 2 MIAA Championship: n/a

HISTORY First Year: 2009-10 (11) All Time Record: 786-483 (.619) Hillcat Classic: 25-11 (.694) Conference Championships: 20-28 (.417) - MIAA: n/a - Heartland: 16-9 (.640) - Sooner Athletic: 4-19 (.174) Individual Tournament Victories: 6 Tournament Victories: 8 Low Round (Team): -1 (287) on 9/25/2019 Low Round (Individual): -6 (66) by Raquel Flores (9/25/2019)

HIGHLIGHTS Individual Awards (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Whitney Hocutt, Mariana Flores, Grace William, Marybeth Bellnap, Patrizia Schaefer Row 2: Jessica Green, Jaelynn Unger, Raquel Flores, Paulina Flores, Sydney Murray 1 - WGCA All-American 2 - WGCA All-Region Selection 6 - Tournament Individual Champions The Hillcats followed up the win by tying for second place at the MIAA Preview. Raquel Flores shot 4 - All-Heartland a single-round school record with a 66 on day two, breaking the old record by three strokes. Raquel 1 - Conference Freshman of the Year finished second overall in the tournament. 10 - Conference Golfers of the Week After a seventh-place finish at the Midwest Classic Golf Tournament, the Hillcats bounced back for Academic Awards 35 - Academic All-Conference Selections a third-place finish at Arkansas Tech Golf Classic to close out the fall semester. 1 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honoree 7 - WGCA All-American Scholars The Hillcats opened the spring with a seventh-place finish at the St. Edward’s Women’s Invitational. However, RSU bounced back by winning the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational after a playoff against Central Oklahoma. Jess Green, who won the tournament by three strokes, led the way for the Hillcats. Grace Williams also turned in a season-best fifth-place performance to help the Hillcats win.

The Hillcats earned several honors and accolades throughout the year. Bellnap, Green, and Raquel Flores were named MIAA Golfer of the Week. Mariana Flores earned WGCA All-Central Region Team honors. Green, both Flores sisters, and Sydney Murray earned WGCA Scholar All-America Team recognition. The team also ﬁnished the year with a 3.685 GPA, ranked No. 18 in Division II.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 34 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT WHITNEY HOCUTT HEAD COACH

Whitney Hocutt wrapped up her third season as the head women's golf coach for her alma mater at Rogers State in 2019-20. Hocutt was a student-athlete and assistant coach previously for the RSU golf program.

Under Hocutt's direction, the Hillcats were on a roll in 2019-20, with a pair of victories, a second, and a third- place finish to lead the results in seven tournaments. The Hillcats finished in the top half of the field in every event.

The Hillcats claimed a team victory at the NSU Women's Classic in the second tournament of the year in early September, the program's ﬁrst victory since April of 2016. Sophomore Marybeth Bellnap tied for medalist honors at the event as the Hillcats defeated 13 other teams.

In late September, Hocutt guided the Hillcats to a second-place finish at the MIAA Fall Preview and coached sophomore Raquel RAQUEL FLORES Flores to a school-record round of 66 (-6) on day two, as she finished second overall. In her second season on the Hill, Raquel Flores rewrote women’s golf program history, firing a 66 (-6) to break The Hillcats closed out the year with a victory at the Diffee Ford the previous single-round record by three strokes. Flores Lincoln Invite. Junior Jessica Green led the way for the Hillcats claimed the record on day two of the MIAA Fall Preview, as , shooting back-to-back rounds of 72 to take individual medalist she finished second overall. honors for the tournament. Flores came to RSU, following in the footsteps of her sister Hocutt was recognized off the golf course in 2019 as well, named Mariana, who is currently a senior, and ahead of her younger to the Claremore Progress 40 Under Forty list in August for her sister, Paulina, a freshman at RSU who made it a trio this work with RSU and in the Claremore community. season. The left-handed golfer contributes heavily to the performance of the Hillcats on the course, playing in every Hocutt joined the coaching staff after a four-year career with the round since she stepped on campus, including two victories Hillcats. She was a three-time selection as the most valuable this season. player for the women's golf team and the Hillcat Award recipient from the athletic department as a senior. Raquel represents the Hillcats well in the classroom and the community. She was named an All-American Scholar by the Hocutt earned a bachelor’s degree from Rogers State in medical/ WGCA as a freshman and earned the accolade again this molecular biology in 2014. She completed her master’s degree in season. Raquel also works with the Rogers County Adult education/sports administration from East Central in 2015. Day Center and has participated in senior proms and special dances with retirement homes in Claremore.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 35 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S GOLF JR. | LUKE PALMOWSKI LUKE

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 36 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN'S GOLF SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS Rogers State men’s golf had a dominant spring before the 2019-20 season ended abruptly due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Hillcats won once and had two second-place finishes in the three COACHING STAFF tournaments during the spring semester. Head Coach: Steve Brown Years (First): 3 (2017-18) In the first tournament of the spring semester, the Hillcats defeated a trio of ranked teams and Office Phone: (918) 343-7888 won the Jack Brown Memorial Invitational. In the final round, the Hillcats shot the fourth-best Email: [email protected] round in program history, going eight-under-par to secure the win. Nico Horder also took an 2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW individual victory at the Jack Brown Memorial, setting a school record in the process, as he Head-to-Head Record: 64-31 (.674) finished at -12 for the 54-hole tournament. Individual Victories: 2 Team Victories: 1 MIAA Championship: n/a

HISTORY First Year: 2009-10 (11) All Time Record: 687-604 (.532) Conference Championships: 27-31 (.466) - MIAA: n/a - Heartland: 11-14 (.440) - Sooner Athletic: 16-17 (.485) Conference Championships: 1 (2018) Individual Tournament Victories: 8 Team Tournament Victories: 12 Low Round (Team): -10 (278) on 4/22/2018 Low Round (Individual): -6 by Preston Bartley (2x), Hagen Barmasse, Nico Horder

HIGHLIGHTS (From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Steve Brown, Edwin Blomander, Gonzalo Chaves, John Williams, Adam Individual Awards Dahlstrom Row 2: Aidan Gavey, Nico Horder, Luke Palmowski, Logan Meehan 1 - PING All-American 3 - PING All-Region Selections The Hillcats followed up the victory with a pair of second-place finishes, starting with a runner- 1 - Conference Golfer of the Year up finish at the Battle of Hilton Head, which hosted top teams from all over the country. After 1 - Conference Coach of the Year holding second place for the majority of the tournament, the Hillcats fell back to third late in the 2 - Conference Freshman of the Year final round with just a few holes remaining for each golfer. However, the Hillcats closed strong 6 - All-Heartland Selections to regain second-place and finish as the runner-up. Horder and Edwin Blomander both turned in 2 - All-Sooner Athletic Selections 5 - Conference All-Tournament Team top-10 finishes, with Horder finishing second and Blomander eighth. 9 - Conference Golfers of the Week In what would be their final tournament of the season, the Hillcats turned in another second- Academic Awards place performance and finished as the top Division II school at the LCU Chap Classic. Luke 39 - Academic All-Conference Selections Palmowoski closed out the season with a third to lead the way for the Hillcats. 2 - GCAA All-America Scholars 2 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees In the fall semester, the navy and red finished in the top 10 at three of its four tournaments. Blomander picked up a win in the first tournament of the season, the 21st Annual NSU Men’s Classic, shooting a 203 to win by four strokes. His -10 would tie the school record for the best 54-hole tournament score until Horder broke the mark in February.

The Hillcats garnered two accolades during the season. Palmowski and Blomander were both named the MIAA Athlete of the Week. The duo also became the second and third Hillcats in program history to be named to the GCAA All-Region Team.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 37 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT STEVE BROWN HEAD COACH

Steve Brown wrapped up his third season as the Rogers State head men's golf coach in 2019-20. In 2020, Brown guided the Hillcats to a victory and two runner-up ﬁnishes in three tournaments before the season ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In early February, the Hillcats claimed a team victory at the Jack Brown Memorial in Laredo, Texas. Rogers State took second at the Battle at Hilton Head and ﬁnished as runners up at the LCU Chap Classic in Lubbock, Texas. The Hillcats were averaging 1.1 strokes over par per round in 2020, one of the top-scoring averages in Division II.

The Hillcats had two individual victories in 2019-20 as well, with Edwin Blomander starting the year with a win in the 100-golfer field at the 21st Annual NSU Golf Classic. Under Brown's guidance, Blomander shot three rounds in the 60s and finished at -10. Freshman Nico Horder also picked up a victory as claimed GONZALO CHAVES medalist honors at the Jack Brown Memorial, claiming a school record with a -12. In 2017, Gonzalo Chaves came to Rogers State from Madrid, Spain, and has been a key player ever since. Chaves was a part Brown made an immediate splash with the Hillcats, guiding of the team that won the Jack Brown Memorial tournament the men's golf program to its first-ever Heartland Conference this year. Chaves also shot a career-best round this season, championship in 2018 and an appearance in the NCAA Division II shooting a 68 at the 21st Annual NSU Men’s Classic. In his Men's Golf Championship. first year on the Hill, Chaves helped the Hillcats capture the Heartland Conference Championship, finishing 13th overall. The Hillcats captured the league title with a school-record 54-hole tournament score of 845 to win by one shot. RSU advanced to the Chaves also spends time volunteering in the Claremore 2018 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Regional Championship for the community. He has participated with the golf team in several first time since becoming full members of NCAA Division II. events, most notably going to Brooksdale Senior Living to participate in their Valentine’s Day dance. He also helped Brown earned a bachelor's degree in social science from Chico serve lunch and interacted with veterans at the Veteran's State and played one season for the Wildcats. Brown also played Center Valentines Lunch and read to elementary students at two seasons of collegiate golf at Butte College before his move to Westside for an hour a week in the spring. Chico State.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 38 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD SO. | KATELYN ALEXANDER KATELYN ROGERSROGERS STATESTATE UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY [[ 3939 ]] 20202020 RSURSU ANNUALANNUAL REPORTREPORT WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS The Rogers State Women’s track and field team saw a shift in coaching this spring, welcoming Matt Kennedy as the new track and field and cross country head coach in December. COACHING STAFF Head Coach: Matt Kennedy Under new leadership, the Hillcats broke several records during the indoor season. Freshman Hannah Years (First): 1 (2019-20) Anello was the first, setting a record in the opening meet of the season at the Crimson and Gold Office Phone: (918) 343-7689 Invitational. Anello ran a time of 1:41.66 in the 600-meter dash to set the new record. Email: [email protected] Assistant Coach: Hunter Briggs (1st)

2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW MIAA Indoor: 12th MIAA Outdoor: n/a New School Records: 3 (Indoor)

HISTORY First Year: 2014-15 (6th) Individual Outdoor Conference Titles: 10

HIGHLIGHTS Individual Awards 51 - All-Great American Conference 1 - Conference Runner of the Week

Academic Awards 20 - Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll 3 - CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 - USTFCCCA All-Academic Team 2 - D2ADA Academic Achievement Honorees (From Left to Right) Row 1: Ashkey Wyatt, Ellie Nickell, Rylan McCord, Madeline Caruthers, Brianna DeAngelis, Gloria Butts, Elizabeth Reidlinger, Tayler Lee, Katelyn Alexander

At the MSSU Lion Invitational, freshman Brianna DeAngelis ran a time of 20:06.69 to set the school record for the indoor 5k. Katelyn Alexander ran the second-fastest time in school history in the indoor 5k, ﬁnishing at 20:15.35 in the meet.

At the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship meet, Alexander topped DeAngelis’s indoor 5k time from earlier in the season. Alexander broke the 20-minute barrier with a time of 19:22.42 to set the new record. DeAngelis was not far behind her as she also broke the 20-minute barrier to run the second-fastest indoor 5k in school history with a time of 19:33.74.

Sophomore Gloria Butts also added a top-ﬁve time in program history in the 5k with a 20:09.15 at the MIAA Indoor Championships, putting her at number four, and the only name besides Alexander or DeAngelis in the top ﬁve.

Alexander set another record at the MIAA Championships, breaking the 3k mark on day two of the event. Alexander became the ﬁrst Hillcat to break the 11-minute barrier, ﬁnishing with a time of 10:56.97. DeAngelis put her name at number three all-time for the race, running an 11:19.09 at the meet.

Unfortunately, the season came to a close after the MIAA Indoor Championships, with the outdoor (From Left to Right) Row 1: Hannah Anello, Katelyn Callender, Kaylee Jimboy, and Kayla season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hillcats had eight members earn MIAA Honor Pruitt Roll recognition after the season.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 40 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MATT KENNEDY HEAD COACH

Matt Kennedy joined Rogers State in December of 2019 from Oklahoma Baptist, where he served as Head Coach for the Cross Country programs and Assistant Coach for the Bison track & ﬁeld programs.

Taking over the Track program immediately before the indoor season, Kennedy guided the Hillcat Women to three different school records, including the 600-meter run, the 3k, and the 5k. Both Katelyn Alexander and Brianna DeAngelis broke the 5k record, with DeAngelis setting it ﬁrst before Alexander topped the mark at the conference championships.

The 2020 outdoor season was canceled for the women before they could compete, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the NCAA to cancel the season.

Kennedy, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, came to College Hill after spending eight and a half years with the Oklahoma Baptist program. HANNAH ANELLO Kennedy had been the head coach of the women's cross country program since 2014 and took over the men's cross country program Hannah Anello, a freshman from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in 2018. made an immediate impact in her first year on the Hill. The Lincoln Christian alum set a school record in her first meet Kennedy guided the Bison to four Great American Conference Cross with the Hillcats, claiming the 600-meter dash record. Anello Country Championships and two NCAA National Championship set the mark with a time of 1:41.66. appearances. Kennedy's teams swept the Great American Conference Team Championships in late October of 2019, with the Women's and She also showed promise in the 400-meter dash, as she Men's programs winning their respective conference titles in his final improved by seven seconds in the event over the course of season with the program. He was named the GAC Coach of the Year the indoor season. Anello has proven to be a versatile runner in 2019. for the Hillcats in her first season, running events from the 200-meter dash up to the mile.

Away from campus, Anello also volunteered time in the Tulsa community, working with Night Light Tulsa to build relationships with the homeless and inner-city community. She also helped run events at the Claremont Elementary School Carnival in the fall.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 41 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S TRACK & FIELD FR. | ETHAN ADAMS

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 42 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN'S TRACK & FIELD SEASON REVIEW QUICK FACTS Men's track & field began a new era in 2020 under first-year head coach Matt Kennedy, who took over the cross country and track & field programs in December. The Hillcats started off the era, COACHING STAFF which also included competing in a new conference, with strong peromances in a year of growth. Head Coach: Matt Kennedy Years (First): 1 (2019-20) The Hillcats had several school records fall during the indoor season. Ethen Adams was the Office Phone: (918) 343-7689 first Hillcat to break a record, doing so in his first collegiate meet at the Crimson and Gold Email: [email protected] Assistant Coach: Hunter Briggs (1st) Invitational. The freshman from Oologah ran the 600-meter dash in 1:18.51 to set the top mark.

2019-20 SEASON IN REVIEW The Hillcat relay team of Byrun Ratliff, Adams, Preston Turner, and Jackson Stinnett claimed the MIAA Indoor: 11th Distance Medley Relay record. The group broke the previous record by 10 seconds, completing MIAA Outdoor: n/a the race in 10:36.81. New School Records: 5 (Indoor)

HISTORY First Year: 2015-16 (5th) NCAA Division II All-Americans: 7 Alfred Thomas - 2019, 200 meters (indoor) Alfred Thomas - 2019, 100 meters Alfred Thomas - 2019, 200 meters Ricky Bell – 2018, 60 meters (indoor) Baylor Harvey – 2017, 5,000 meters Quintin Powell – 2017, 400 meters Quintin Powell, Ricky Bell, JaQuan Johnson and DJ Lilley – 2017, 4x100 meter relay Individual Indoor Conference Titles: 3 Individual Outdoor Conference Titles: 10

HIGHLIGHTS Individual Awards 7 - NCAA Division II All-Americans 56 - All-Great American Conference 10 - USTFCCCA All-South Central Region (From Left to Right) Row 1: Tristan Owens, Justin Noble, Byrun Ratliff, Nick Williams, Jackson Stinnett, Preston Turner, Ty 3 - Conference Track Athlete of the Week Graham, Hunter Hart, Colton Green, Collin McHugh Not Pictured: Jaquan Johnson, Jacques Morgan, and Ethen Adams 1 - Conference Field Athlete of the Week Adams was not the only runner to break multiple records on the season. At the Gorilla Indoor Classic, senior Byrun Ratliff took down the 800-meter mark, running a 2:00.13 to beat the Academic Awards previous record by two seconds. Ratliff also broke the top time in the mile by three seconds. 2 – CoSIDA Academic All-Americans The senior from Catoosa broke his record in the event, ﬁnishing the mile in 4:22.79 at the MIAA 29 – Academic All-Conference/Honor Roll 3 – CoSIDA Academic All-District Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Nick Williams also claimed a school record in 2020, setting a new indoor 5k race record by 13 seconds. The senior from Sapulpa also won his heat of the 5k at the MIAA Championships.

In the only outdoor meet of the season, Williams ran a time of 9:39.42 in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase. His time was ﬁfth in the nation before the outdoor season stopped from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Hillcats had eight members of the team named to the MIAA Track and Field Honor Roll.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 43 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MATT KENNEDY HEAD COACH

Matt Kennedy joined Rogers State in December of 2019 from Oklahoma Baptist, where he served as Head Coach for the Cross Country programs and Assistant Coach for the Bison track & ﬁeld programs.

Taking over the Track program immediately before the indoor season, Kennedy guided the Hillcats to ﬁve indoor school records, including the 600 and 800-meter runs, the mile, the 5k, and the distance medley relay.

Under Kennedy’s guidance, Nick Williams ran the ﬁfth-fastest time in Division II in the 3000-meter Steeplechase before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the outdoor season.

Kennedy, a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, came to College Hill after spending eight and a half years with the Oklahoma Baptist program. Kennedy had been the head coach of the women's cross country program since 2014 and took over the men's cross country program BYRUN RATLIFF in 2018. Byrun Ratliff, a senior from Catoosa, Oklahoma, wrapped Kennedy guided the Bison to four Great American Conference Cross up his collegiate career on the Hill by putting his name in Country Championships and two NCAA National Championship the school record book three times during the indoor track appearances. Kennedy's teams swept the Great American Conference season. Ratliff broke individual records in the 800-meter Team Championships in late October of 2019, with the Women's and dash and mile run, a record he already owned. Ratliff was Men's programs winning their respective conference titles in his ﬁnal also a part of the Distance Medley Relay team that set a new season with the program. He was named the GAC Coach of the Year record as the 1200-meter leg of the relay. in 2019. Ratliff has also proven himself as an outstanding student. In 2019, the senior was named the Greater American Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for his performance, not only on the track but in the classroom as well. Ratliff was also named to the MIAA Cross Country and Indoor Track and Field Honor Roll this season.

Away from school and competition, Ratliff worked heavily with his church in Tulsa, Church on the Move, helping to set up and run community events.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 44 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT SR. CHEER & DANCE | YEAGER BREANNE FR. |

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 45 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT SAMI PICKERILL CHEER QUICK FACTS CHEER SQUAD

COACHING STAFF Head Coach (Yrs.): Titus Massey (3rd) Office Phone: (918) 343-7782 Email: [email protected]

DANCE QUICK FACTS

(From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Seth Shirley, Tanner Thoendel, Conlan Miller, Nate Callis Row 2: Victoria Middleton, Emily DeVore, Emma Spear, Destiney Dailey, Mya Hilderbrand Row 3: Amaya Eurich, Katelyn Callender, Breanne Yeager, Bre Weathers

DANCE TEAM COACHING STAFF Head Coach (Yrs.): Amy Alt (3rd) Office Phone: (918) 343-7789 Email: [email protected]

(From Left to Right, Top to Bottom) Row 1: Hannah Gray, Cassidy Beck, Gracy Head, Bailee Bilyeu Row 2: Madison Reed, Kianna Taylor, Emily Wengerd, Megan Kelley, Shaunette Lindsay Row 3: Hannah Bergner, Yasmyn McHenry, Ashley Applegate, Kathryn Methvin Row 4: Kinsey Grooms, Sami Pickerill, Moriah Rake Row 5: Sierra Smith, Katie Jones

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 46 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT Everywhere you turn in Claremore and Rogers County, the Hillcat logo continues to pop up and make an appearance. That’s because of the Rogers State athletic department’s conscious effort to “We cannot be successful on the Hill engage the community. without the support of the Claremore In the last year, kids across the area engaged with Hillcat student- community,” RSU Director of Athletics athletes in the classroom, during sports clinics, and at RSU sporting Chris Ratcliff said. “It is important for events. Several senior citizens also have enjoyed social events our athletic department to be involved sponsored at their assisted living center by student-athletes. on campus and across the community. Those acts are just a sampling of the way Hillcat Athletics has It is the best way to create well-rounded impacted the community during the year. student-athletes and allows us to be a The RSU athletic department takes an active role in the local part of what makes this a great place to community and has participated in many community and live.” University events throughout the year. By providing opportunities for student-athletes to serve, these young men and women make Community involvement is an essential component of developing meaningful contributions to society in the present and learn to be strong, well-rounded student-athletes, and a uniﬁed athletics servant leaders in the future. department. RSU athletics is committed to service initiatives that respond to the needs of the community while providing student- athletes, coaches, and staff the opportunity to learn and grow.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 47 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT BASEBALL Rogers State baseball worked 19 different events as volunteers this year, leading heavily with Roosa Elementary. The team spent the fall semester working with the “Hillcat Homies” of Roosa Elementary, volunteering in classrooms on a weekly basis. The team concluded the semester with “Lunch with the Hillcats” where the baseball players signed autographs for each student at Roosa during lunch. RSU baseball also joined students from Roosa on National Walk to School Day. The team worked several local events, including American Ninja Warrior: Claremore, FBC Claremore Trunk or Treat, Homeless Outreach/Service, Disaster Relief and Cleanup, and Salvation Army Bell Ringing, among others.

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WOMEN'S GOLF The women’s golf team volunteered at the Rogers County Adult Day Care Center weekly in the spring, interacting and completing various activities every Friday. The team worked with the Claremont Back to School Bash and also helped volunteer at several other events, including 50/50 raffles for Make-A-Wish, events at the Brookdale Assisted Living Center, and the Claremont Day Basketball game at the Expo Center. Women's golf also worked with the men’s team, as the two teams danced with the residents at Brookside Assisted Living Center's Valentine’s Dance.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL Men’s basketball worked with the students at Westside Elementary School several times throughout the academic year, reading to the students and joining them on National Walk to School Day. The men’s program also worked with an elementary school in Kansas City while at the MIAA Tournament, reading to kids and also helping students learn to ride bicycles.

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MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD A group of the cross country runners worked in the afternoon with their “Running Buddies” at Catalayah Elementary, helping students with their running techniques. Cross country participated in the Deer Creek Mile, creating a fun atmosphere while teaching youth to run properly. The cross country and track programs also volunteered at the Claremont Elementary School Carnival, running activities and games.

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ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 48 ] 20162020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT MEN’S SOCCER The men’s soccer program worked with several different schools and organizations this year, starting with volunteering at the Claremont Elementary School Carnival, running activities and games. The team also worked with Catalayah Elementary School, reading to students in the class. The group assisted in Operation Christmas Child and also partnered with Owasso TopSoccer for the 10th-straight season.

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DANCE The dance program worked the “Rise and Shine” event for the Pryor Early Childhood Center. The dancers visited with the Brookﬁeld Assisted Living Center residents at Thanksgiving and Christmas time and also helped guests at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Event in Claremore.

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WOMEN'S SOCCER Women’s soccer worked with Claremont Elementary School several times throughout the year. The team assisted with the Claremont Elementary School Carnival, running activities and games. They also walked with the students on National Walk to School Day and assisted with an aftercare event at Claremont.

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MEN'S GOLF The men’s golf team worked with Westside Elementary School during the spring, reading weekly with the students. The men’s golfers volunteered to serve lunch at the Veteran’s Center on Valentine’s Day. Men's golf also worked with the women’s team, as the two teams danced with the residents at Brookside Assisted Living Center's Valentine’s Dance.

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL For the 10th-straight year, the women’s basketball team partnered with the Catoosa Special Olympics. The team put on a clinic for the athletes from Catoosa and cheered them on at their basketball tournament. Women’s basketball also helped work the Claremore Community Center Camp and the Claremore Square Festival.

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SOFTBALL The softball team volunteered at the Catalayah Fall Festival. Throughout the night, the softball team helped pass out snacks and prizes, painted kid’s faces, and facilitated several activities and games.

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ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 49 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

SAAC LETTER FROM THE In February, RSU held Homecoming Week, a week dedicated to fun events for students and the community. With the help of many PRESIDENT student-athletes, SAAC won the window art contest for Paint the Greetings, Town Blue! SAAC also nominated student-athletes Jesus Ramirez and Lilly Garner as representatives for Homecoming Court. To be a student-athlete in college is During the Homecoming Game, Jesus and Lilly were crowned as truly a privilege and an experience like King and Queen. We continued our efforts to help raise money no other. RSU provides student-athletes for the Make-A-Wish foundation by conducting a 50/50 raffle with an excellent opportunity to learn, grow, and compete. The during our basketball games. With the help of women’s golf, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is an organization men’s soccer, and women’s soccer, we successfully raised over that serves as a means to help enhance and further promote a $1000 to donate to children with critical illnesses. It sure was a positive overall experience for the student-athletes here at RSU. successful Homecoming for SAAC this year! By doing so, SAAC promotes engagement within our athletic programs, department, and the community. I’ve had the pleasure Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we were unable to of being a member of SAAC for the past two years. I have been continue our work and efforts in helping our teams, our campus, able to meet and work with many devoted and kind individuals and the community. Although we were unable to ﬁnish the work who enjoy taking part in our organization and providing campus- we set out for, we are hopeful that this upcoming year will be wide representation for RSU athletics. Together, we look for ways an opportunity to bounce back and continue contributing to RSU to make RSU one-of-a-kind. as a whole. It has been an absolute pleasure serving SAAC as President over the past year, and I look forward to seeing RSU, Kicking off our 2019-20 school year in August, our athletic and its athletes, continue growing and helping make a difference programs were able to participate in the Claremore Food to others. Truck Thursdays by promoting our programs to the public and signing autographs. They also helped play games and serve Sincerely, food at the Claremore Elementary School Carnival. In October, Bria Salazar numerous teams participated in “Wednesday Walking Pals” on National Walk to School Day, by assisting students to school ––––––––––––––––––––––––– and welcoming them as they arrived. Later that month, SAAC RANEY BECOMES LATEST members participated in the Claremore Halloween Kiddie HILLCAT INVITED TO NCAA Carnival, passing out candy and playing games with kids. LEADERSHIP FORUM Rogers State men's basketball player and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Vice President Vaughn Raney was selected to participate in the 2020 NCAA Leadership Forum. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a cancelation of the event, Raney was unable to attend it this spring.

The Cashion, Oklahoma native has been a member of the RSU's SAAC for three years. Raney joins a growing list of Hillcats invited to the event in a short time as members of the NCAA.

In the first four years of full NCAA Division II membership, Rogers State has had five representatives selected a total of six times to take part in the NCAA Leadership Forum. To be selected for the event, a student-athlete must first receive a nomination from his/ In November, SAAC members set up a booth for Senior Day, an her school. The student-athlete must then be one of two student- event RSU holds for current high school seniors to recruit future athletes selected by the conference office to attend the event. Hillcats. In December, SAAC held a Holiday Party where student- athletes were able to enjoy food, and each sports team was able In 2016, RSU SAAC President Lexi Ellingsen and RSU SAAC to donate wish list items for a child associated with the Children’s Advisor Sara Braun earned an invitation to the event. Tayler Advocacy Center. Just before the holidays, SAAC members and Stover then received two selections, first in 2018 as RSU SAAC many other athletes participated in Claremont Elementary Day President, and then in 2019 as an NCAA SAAC representative. by passing out food, treats, and making the day a fun experience RSU SAAC President Bria Salazar was also invited in 2019 ahead for kids to enjoy. of Raney in 2020.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 50 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT RSU SAAC REPRESENTATIVES FOR 2019-2020

BRIA SALAZAR VAUGHN RANEY LILLY GARNER CASE WOODARD President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Women’s Soccer Men’s Basketball Women’s Basketball Baseball

CJ EDWARDS MARIANA FLORES DARIAN JACKSON BYRUN RATLIFF AVERY BUCK RYLEE DELOZIER Baseball Women’s Golf Women’s Basketball Men’s Cross Women’s Cross Softball Country/Track Country/Track

JESSICA GREEN LUKE PALMOWSKI BREWSTER PEACOCK JESUS RAMIREZ TAILEE REDING LOGAN SMITH Women's Golf Men’s Golf Men’s Basketball Men's Soccer Softball Men's Soccer

GONZALO CHAVES KAYLA PRUITT BROOKLYN BUCKMINSTER PRESTON TURNER SARA BRAUN Men’s Golf Women’s Track Women's Soccer Men's Cross Country/ SWA/Associate AD for Track External Opeartions

RSU STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT The Rogers State University Hillcat Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) mission is to foster open communication between student- athletes and the athletic department administration, and to enhance the student-athlete experience by developing leadership skills, promoting a positive student-athlete image, and improving the day-to-day life of all student-athletes through activities, social events, and community service

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 51 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ALL-AMERICANS

THREE HILLCATS EARN ALL-AMERICAN HONORS He set the school record for goals and points (36) in a season and finished one assist shy of the school record. Simpson was also Three Rogers State student-athletes were named All-Americans named the GAC/MIAA Offensive Player of the Week three times during the 2019-20 academic year. Cheerleader Breanne Yeager this season and was first in the conference, as well as first in the was the first to earn an All-American accolade, receiving the region, in assists and points. honor in late July. Jake Simpson and Dillon Dean, both of the men’s soccer program, earned All-American recognition during Dean was named to the Division fall. II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-America Yeager was named an All-American team. The junior goalkeeper broke by the National Cheerleaders the school record for goals-against Association on July 30, 2019. With average (.42). His .867 save her NCA All-American selection, percentage finished second all- Yeager, a senior for RSU, became time for a single season at Rogers the first Hillcat to receive an All- State. American honor of any kind in the history of the Cheerleading The Mustang, Oklahoma native finished with five shutouts, and program. two shared shutouts this season. Dean also had a streak of 455 minutes and 49 seconds without allowing a goal. Dean won three Yeager earned the All-American honor following her performance straight conference Goalkeeper of the Week honors to close the of various cheerleading skills at the NCA Summer Camp and was season. recognized during the Final Awards Ceremony on the last day of camp. Yeager was rated on her ability in jumps motions, tumbling, Dean and Simpson became the first Hiillcats in Men’s Soccer to stunting, dance and leadership.Yeager was the leader for the garner All-American honors for the program. Hillcats, as they competed at the NCA National Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida last season.

Simpson earned United Soccer Coaches Association All-America team honors. The senior led RSU to a GAC/MIAA Conference Tournament Championship with 14 goals and eight assists.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 52 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT LEADING LADIES

BRAUN AND RSU ALUM Braun was one of two award PEREZ EARN CLAREMORE winners with ties to Rogers State LEADING LADIES HONORS Athletics, as Katarina Perez was also an award winner. Perez, who played for the Women's Soccer Rogers State's Sara Braun was program and graduated in May recognized at the 5th Annual 2019, was named the Rising Star Leading Ladies Awards with the Award winner. She currently works Behind the Scenes Award in Early for RCB Bank. October. Perez is the second-straight Rising Star Award winner with ties to The Leading Ladies Awards honor seven women in the community RSU Athletics, as former Hillcat Softball player Katelyn Gamble who go above and beyond the call of duty. Nominations from received the award in 2018. peers in the community are sent out-of-town for judging. The 2019 Leading Ladies Award winners and presenting Braun received the Behind the Scenes Award, which was presented sponsors are: by Baker Hughes. Braun is the Senior Woman Administrator and - Behind the Scenes Award, presented by Baker Hughes, honors Associate Athletic Director for External Relations in the Rogers Sara Braun, Rogers State University State Athletic Department. - Business Leadership Award, presented by Wallace for Life, honors Jeanine Coleman, PELCO Structural "This is a very well-deserved honor for Sara and we are extremely - Community Supporter Award, presented by CIEDA, honors Sara proud of her and the work she does, not only for RSU athletics, but Moss, RCB Bank for the university and her commitment to helping the Claremore - Leader in Health Award, presented by the Board and Staff of community," said Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff. "Around RSU, we Safenet Services, honors Lynn Waugh, 6:19 Nutrition all know how much Sara does and how important she is to the - Nonproﬁt Leadership Award, presented by Red Crown Credit athletic department, and this award helps show to those outside Union, honors Dawna Church, The Glass Slipper of our campus community how much she does and how important - Rising Star Award, presented by Advanced Vision Center, honors her contributions are." Katarina Perez, RCB Bank and formerly with Visit Claremore - Leading Lady of the Year, presented by Northeast Tech, honors Braun coordinates the department's fundraising, marketing, and Debbie Butler, Licensed Counselor and Community Volunteer promotions efforts, as well as supervising event management staff. Braun also oversees the athletic department's community engagement efforts and aids in the social media efforts for the Hillcats.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 53 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT 40 UNDER FORTY

RSU GOLF COACH "I am proud of Claremore and to be from this great community," WHITNEY HOCUTT NAMED said Hocutt. "I am thankful to have been nominated and selected TO ROGERS COUNTY 40 as a member of this class of 40 Under Forty. A big thank you to Claremore Daily Progress for putting on this great event to UNDER FORTY recognize young professionals in Rogers County. It is a great honor and I am grateful." Rogers State Women's Golf Head Coach Whitney Hocutt was Hocutt is in her third season as the head women's golf coach for inducted into the 2019 class of the her alma mater at Rogers State. Hocutt was a student-athlete and Rogers County 40 under Forty by assistant coach previously for the RSU golf program. In her first the Claremore Progress in late August of 2019. season in charge of the RSU women's golf program, Hocutt guided the Hillcats to their first-ever regional ranking and an individual "We are extremely proud of Whitney on being named to the 40 appearance in the NCAA Division II West Super Regional. Under Forty and she is very deserving of the honor," said Athletic Director Chris Ratcliff. "She has done an amazing job with the Hocutt's instruction led to the first All-American in program history Women's Golf program since her return to RSU and has been great as Jess Whitting went on to earn Heartland Conference Freshman in the community as well. This honor shows off her work, not only of the Year honors along with being named to the All-Heartland to everyone at RSU, but to Claremore and Rogers County." Conference team. Hocutt has also pushed for the development of the Hillcats in the classroom and has overseen three Hillcats who Hocutt is the third member of the Rogers State Athletic have earned WGCA All-American Scholar honors. Department to be inducted into the 40 Under 40 of Rogers County. Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and Senior This year's Rogers County 40 Under Forty honorees represent Woman Administrator Sara Braun is a member of the inaugural outstanding individuals in all facets of the community from 2017 class, followed by Men's Basketball Head Coach Justin education, manufacturing, newspaper, government, tourism, Barkley, a part of the class inducted in 2018. media, and small business.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 54 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT D2 ADA PRESIDENT

CHRIS RATCLIFF SERVED Ratcliff also sat at the head of the ADA during the unprecedented AS PRESIDENT OF time of the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to lead Division II through DIVISION 2 ATHLETICS the process and ever-changing dynamic, creating stability for Division II programs for the future. DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION “With the craziness of the pandemic, the opportunity to be on the Rogers State Athletic Director forefront in discussions that are helping solve these problems Chris Ratcliff became a leader for has been eye-opening and professionally rewarding,” said Ratcliff. small college athletics in 2019- “Tough decisions have to be made and we took the consequences 20, speciﬁcally guiding Division II of these decisions seriously. During the pandemic, each week new athletic directors through an unprecedented time in collegiate challenges came forward. With each new challenge, leadership athletics with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the summer of 2019, rose.” the Division II Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) selected Ratcliff to serve as President for the 2019-20 membership year. Ratcliff was meeting weekly during COVID-19, via conference calls and video conferencing, to bring policies and adjustments “It has been a great honor serving as President of the D2 Athletic to college athletics and created a sustainable future for Division Directors Association and its Athletic Directors across the country II college and university athletic programs. He worked heavily on this past year,” stated Ratcliff. “It has been incredibly valuable for the process to adjust minimum and maximum contest numbers me to be part of this process. More importantly, every time I am for the 2020-21 academic year to help Division II athletics ensure in a meeting, I can push the Rogers State brand forward. People full participation through the coronavirus pandemic and the know where Rogers State is and all the great things its coaches, effects following it. administration, and student-athletes are doing.” Ratcliff will serve on the board for the 2020-21 term, serving in the Ratcliff took over for Past President, Jim Johnson, the athletics past president slot. director at Pittsburg State University in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, where Rogers State moved About D2 ADA: The D2 ADA is the ﬁrst organization of its kind to as an associate member in 2019-20. Ratcliff served as 1st vice provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement president under Johnson in the 2018-19 academic year. of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of As president of the ADA, Ratcliff took a leading role in Division II athletics directors. For more information about the D2 representing athletic directors at the NCAA level during the 2019- ADA, please visit www.div2ada.com. The D2 ADA is administered 20 year. Sitting down with the NCAA Division II department heads by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics quarterly, Ratcliff and his vice presidents brought key issues (NACDA), which is in its 54th year. For more information on and policies amongst D2 athletic directors to the national level NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its to help D2 athletics continue to grow in the collegiate athletics umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com. landscape. ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 55 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT REPRESENTING RSU AT THE NCAA CONVENTION

TAYLER STOVER In the Internal Operations Coordinator position, Stover chaired REPRESENTS ROGERS the Nominations Subcommittee, which is in charge of selecting STATE AT NCAA new SAAC members for the Management Council to approve. With these new members, she oversaw their orientation onto the CONVENTION committee and assigned them mentors from the committee to aid in their ﬁrst year. Rogers State Alumna Tayler Stover represented the athletic Stover also served as the Joint SAAC representative, whose department and the NCAA Student- goal is to maintain open lines of communications with issues in Athlete Advisory Committee on the Division II amongst all three divisional SAACs. panel Engaging Your Campus Community on Student-Athlete Activism at the NCAA Convention this year. Along with serving as a representative for the Women’s Soccer team on Rogers State’s SAAC, Stover also represented Rogers Stover, who was a member of the women's soccer program and State at the conference level with the Heartland Conference. graduated in 2019, was appointed as a member of the NCAA Stover reached the National SAAC by serving as the representative Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in February of from the Heartland Conference. 2017. She served in that capacity until being elected into a one- year position in the Spring of 2019 as the Internal Operations During her time on College Hill, Stover, along with teammate and Coordinator for the National SAAC organization. 2019-20 RSU SAAC President Bria Salazar, also served Rogers State, the Heartland Conference, and the NCAA at the NCAA Stover served on the national executive board through her Division II SAAC Super Region Convention and Leadership Forum graduation and into the Spring of 2020 when her term ﬁnished in Orlando, Florida. The convention participants planned for up. Her service included a chance to represent Rogers State and successful fundraisers and worked with Team IMPACT and Make- speak on a national panel in front of athletic directors across all A-Wish. The program also engaged a diverse representation levels of the NCAA and other athletic administrators at the NCAA of student-athletes and administrators from the campus and Convention in late January. conference levels.

The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native served as a student-athlete The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) serves as the liaison that monitored and discussed happenings on campuses, primary governance arm representing student-athlete interests within the conference and at the national level, representing in Division II affairs. SAAC members serve as student-athlete speciﬁcally the Hillcats and other Division II student-athletes. liaisons that monitor and discuss happenings on campuses, within the conference, and at the national level.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 56 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 57 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT instruction to online in the middle of the semester, and produced the greatest single semester academically in athletic department history.

All 12 programs (14 if you separate cross country and track & ﬁeld) completed the spring semester with a grade-point average of at least 3.36, the ﬁrst time in school history that all athletic programs had at least a 3.33.

After Hillcat student-athletes combined for 37 4.0 GPAs in the fall semester, the Navy and Red surpassed the mark easily in the spring with hard work in the classroom, as the athletic department had 61 student-athletes obtain a GPA of 4.0.

RSU had superb numbers in the fall, which included 150 student- athletes (approximately 75% of the student-athlete population) earning at least a 3.0 GPA. In the spring semester, excellent work from the Hillcats in the classroom saw the number of 3.0 GPAs or higher climb to 192 student-athletes.

For the entire academic year, Hillcat student-athletes turned in a 3.49 department GPA, which is also the best in school history for HILLCAT STUDENT-ATHLETES SET ACADEMIC Hillcat Athletics. RECORD IN THE CLASSROOM AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC GPAs by Sport for Spring 2020 Sport GPA Rogers State Athletics set several records in 2019-20, with Women's Golf 3.85 multiple teams achieving program ﬁrsts or reaching program Women's Basketball 3.72 highs. Multiple Hillcats set game, season, and career records Dance 3.69 during competitions throughout the 2019-20 academic year. Men's CC-Track 3.63 While those accomplishments are held high and are regarded as Women's Soccer 3.62 major milestones, the Hillcats completed an academic record in Softball 3.59 the spring semester that tops all of them. Men's Golf 3.56 Women's CC-Track 3.52 The Navy and Red completed the spring semester with a 3.58 Baseball 3.48 grade-point average, smashing the old athletic department record. Cheer 3.48 The coronavirus pandemic was unprecedented and something Men's Soccer 3.45 that could not have been planned for. Hillcat student-athletes Men's Basketball 3.36 battled adversity from all over, including the shifting of course Department Average 3.58

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 58 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT JAKE SIMSPON

JAKE SIMPSON NAMED RSU'S FIRST DUAL and 36 points in the campaign. He also had eight assists, second- ACADEMIC/SCHOLAR ALL-AMERICAN FOR MEN'S most in program history. His 1.80 points per game also claimed SOCCER a school record. Rogers State Men's Soccer forward Jake Simpson had a dream This season, Simpson was named the GAC/MIAA Offensive Player senior season on the pitch, guiding the Hillcats to a GAC/MIAA of the Week three times before being named to the All-GAC/MIAA Conference Championship. Simpson also set several school First Team and GAC/MIAA All-Tournament Team. Simpson was records, but he also made history for the Hillcats in the classroom, also recently named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team. becoming the first men’s soccer player to earn multiple Academic/ Scholar All American honors in the same season. In his career, Simpson finished with 27 goals, ten assists, and 64 points. His points and goals tally, along with seven game-winning As the fall semester came to a close, Simpson earned CoSIDA goals, 188 shots and 94 shots on goal are second-best all-time at Academic All-America Second Team recognition. He became just RSU. Simpson leaves RSU with career records in points per game the second Hillcat men’s soccer player to earn the honor behind (1.08), goals per game (.46), shots per game (3.19) and shots on Henrique Sousa (2011). Simpson also became the first Academic goal per game (1.59). All-American for Rogers State since Baylor Harvey (2017). Simpson earned dual Scholar/Academic All-American honors, Simpson, who holds a 3.72 grade-point average in Sport the first for any soccer player in Rogers State’s history. He also Management, made Rogers State history a few weeks later. became the first Hillcat soccer player to earn Academic/Scholar Simpson became the first Hillcat to be named to the United All-American honors and All-American honors in the same season Soccer Coaches Scholar All-American Team, an honor only given and the first Hillcat since Harvey to do it in any sport for RSU. out to 11 players across Division II.

Simpson was named United Soccer Coaches Scholar-All West Region First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-District Team in the build-up.

The Cambridge, England native was also named a GAC/MIAA Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete in November after his performance in the classroom and on the ﬁeld in 2019, helping to lead the Hillcats to the 2019 GAC/MIAA Tournament Championship.

Simpson set or tied six single-season school records in 2019, as well as four career records. He scored a school-record 14 goals

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 59 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ROGERS STATE BASEBALL EARNS ABCA TEAM ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD The Rogers State baseball team has been named an American Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award winner for the 2019-20 season, announced the organization in July. 2020 VIRTUAL GRADUATION DAY FULL OF HILLCAT STUDENT-ATHLETES The Hillcats claim the academic honor for the fourth straight Rogers State University announced its fall and spring graduates season, a distinction that just a few schools in the NCAA can with 49 former and current student-athletes receiving their claim. degrees during the University’s 2020 virtual commencement ceremonies on May 16. Rogers State is one of 55 NCAA Division II teams to earn the honor and just one of two teams from the MIAA to receive the The 49 Hillcat student-athletes were among more than 600 award this year. The Hillcats were just one of two teams from the students awarded master’s, bachelor’s, and associate's degrees association to receive the honor in 2018-19 as well. for completing their course of study during the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters. Two former student-athletes earned their To qualify for the award, a team must have a minimum cumulative master’s degrees in Business Administration with the other 47 GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale during the 2019-20 academic year. The earning bachelor’s degrees. Hillcats completed the year with a 3.24 GPA, earning a slightly higher GPA than last season's 3.22. “The RSU Athletic Department would like to congratulate all of our Hillcats student-athletes who graduated this year and are The American Baseball Coaches Association has a long tradition now set to take the next step in their lives,” said Athletic Director of recognizing the achievements of baseball coaches and Chris Ratcliff. “We are extremely proud of our student-athletes student-athletes. The ABCA/Rawlings All-America Teams are the for persevering during challenging times through the COVID-19 nation's oldest, founded in 1949, and the ABCA's awards program pandemic to complete their degrees. It is a proud moment for also includes the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Awards, the ABCA/ them, their families, and the Hillcat Family to see these Hillcats Diamond Regional & National Coaches of the Year and several complete the ultimate goal of a student-athlete. We thank every other major awards such as the ABCA Hall of Fame and the Dave one of them for their commitment to their education, as well as Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award. athletics, during their time on College Hill and we are excited about their future.”

13 of the 14 RSU athletic programs were represented among the 49 graduates with former Hillcats earning degrees in Allied Health Science-Pre-Physical Therapy, Biology-Environmental Conservation, Business Administration-Accounting, Business Administration-Management, Business Administration-Marketing, Communications-Radio and Television, Community Counseling, Justice Administration -Law Justice, Medical/Molecular Biology, Nursing, Social Science-Psychology, Sport Management-Fitness Management, Sport Management-Sport Business, and Visual Arts-Graphic Design.

More than 400 student-athletes have now earned bachelor degrees from RSU since the inception of athletics in 2005-06.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 60 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT RSU STUDENT-ATHLETES, STAFF EARN HONORS AT HONORS GRADUATE AWARDS CEREMONY Rogers State Athletics Student-Athletes received honors in May after virtual awards ceremonies recognized academic achievements at Rogers State University this year.

The event was traditionally held before graduation, but awards were announced virtually and through the mail, with 11 members of Rogers State Athletics receiving awards.

Five graduating student-athletes received Outstanding Graduate honors, while three graduating student-athletes received Distinguished Graduate honors.

Track & ﬁeld sprinter JaQuan Johnson was named the Outstanding Graduate for the Allied Health Sciences- Pre-Physical Therapy major.

Cross country/track & field runner Justin Noble was named the Outstanding Graduate for the Sport Management- Sport Business major. SECOND WGCA ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR TEAM Hillcats swept both awards in the Sport Management- Fitness HONOR FOR GREEN Management major, with baseball’s Seth Gerardy taking Jessica Green earned WGCA All-American Scholar Team honors Outstanding Graduate honors and former cross country/track & for the second time as the junior posted a cumulative 3.83 GPA field runner Brooks Cataudella earning the Distinguished Graduate in Business Administration. Green competed in all seven events, honors. averaging a score of 76.36. She shot a season-best round of 70 and averaged a score of +5 for the year. Her tournament score of Another former cross country/track & field runner and fine arts 144 was the second-best 36-hole score for the Hillcats all season. major, Seth Whittington, was named the Outstanding Graduate for the Department of Fine Arts. BLOMANDER NAMED CLEVELAND GOLF/SRIXON ALL-AMERICA SCHOLAR BY GCAA Former cross country runner Malinda Moore was named the Edwin Blomander earned GCAA All-American Scholar Team Outstanding Graduate for the Master of Business Administration honors after posting a cumulative 3.74 GPA. Blomander competed program. in all seven events this season, averaging a score of 72.20 over 21 rounds. He shot a season-best round of 66 and averaged a score Cross country/track & field runner Byrun Ratliff was named of even-par for the year. Blomander claimed one individual victory the Distinguished Graduate for the Business Administration- and had a team-best 54-hole tournament score of 203. Management major.

Men’s basketball’s Vaughn Raney also earned Distinguished PONCE NAMED TO UNITED SOCCER COACHES Graduate honors, receiving the Award as an Honors Program - SCHOLAR ALL-REGION TEAM Biology graduate. Jaime Ponce was named 2019 United Soccer Coaches Division II Men's Soccer Scholar All-West Region Second Team. Ponce, Softball’s Hailey Seago also received honors, being recognized who holds a 3.40 grade-point average in Business Administration, with the Outstanding Capstone Research Project honor for the earned the honor after a remarkable ﬁrst season in navy and red Department of Biology, Environmental Conservation. that has included First Team All-Region, GAC/MIAA Newcomer of the Year and All-GAC/MIAA First Team honors. The dance program also had a pair of winners. Freshman Cassidy Beck was named the President’s Leadership Class Outstanding WGCA ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR TEAM HONOR Freshman. Sophomore Moriah Rake was named the Honors FOR FLORES Program’s Outstanding Sophomore. Mariana Flores earned WGCA All-American Scholar Team honors as a senior after posting a cumulative 3.55 GPA while double 11 Hillcat student-athlete award winners are up from last year, as majoring in Psychology and Sport Management. Flores competed eight student-athletes earned honors after the 2018-19 academic in four events this season, averaging a score of 76.38 over eight year. rounds, the second-best average on the team. She shot a season- best round of 72 and averaged a score of +5 for the year.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 61 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT BELYEU EARNS MIAA ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD Mackenzie Belyeu received the MIAA Academic Excellence Award. Belyeu is a junior majoring in Psychology and holds a 4.0 grade point average, a requirement for an MIAA Academic Excellence Award recipient. Belyeu played in 11 games for the Hillcats this season.

BANUELOS, COOPER, SIMPSON NAMED GAC/MIAA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR STUDENT-ATHLETES Three Hillcats were named GAC/MIAA Distinguished Scholar Student-Athletes. Jake Simpson, Jarrod Cooper, and Erol Banuelos were three of just eight student-athletes in the conference to receive the prestigious honor. To qualify for the GAC/MIAA Distinguished Scholar Student-Athlete award, student-athletes must have completed a minimum of 70 hours toward their degree, with at least a 3.7 grade-point average, and be competing in the conference tournament.

SECOND WGCA ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR TEAM HONOR FOR FLORES Raquel Flores earned WGCA All-American Scholar Team honors for SIMPSON NAMED TO UNITED SOCCER COACHES the second time as the sophomore posted a cumulative 3.97 GPA SCHOLAR ALL-REGION TEAM in Business Administration after this season. Flores competed in Rogers State men's soccer forward Jake Simpson received 2019 all seven events, averaging a score of 77.93 over 14 rounds. She United Soccer Coaches Division II Men's soccer Scholar All-West shot a school-record 66 this fall. Her tournament score of 143 Region First Team recognition. The senior, who holds a 3.72 was the best 36-hole score for the Hillcats all season. grade-point average in Sport Management at Rogers State, earned several academic accolades this fall, including being named a WATTERS EARNS MIAA ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE CoSIDA Academic All-American and a GAC/MIAA Distinguished AWARD Scholar Student-Athlete after his performance in the classroom Kori Watters received the MIAA Academic Excellence Award. and on the ﬁeld in 2019. Watters is a sophomore majoring in Business Management and holds a 4.0 grade point average, a requirement for an MIAA WYNN NAMED MIAA SCHOLAR-ATHLETE Academic Excellence Award recipient. Watters played in all 18 Junior Alex Wynn was named an MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award games for the Hillcats this season and earned All-MIAA Honorable winner for women's soccer. Wynn, who is a Sport Management/ Mention honors. Business major, holds a 3.5 grade point average. She was named All-MIAA Second Team as a defender. To qualify as a Scholar- Athlete, an individual must have a grade point average of 3.5, and the student-athlete must earn All-MIAA honors.

THIRD WGCA ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR TEAM HONOR FOR MURRAY Sydney Murray earned WGCA All-American Scholar Team honors for the third-straight year as the senior posted a cumulative 3.77 GPA in Sports Management. Murray competed in ﬁve events on the season, averaging a score of 78.0 over ten rounds. She shot a season-best round of 73 and averaged a score of +7 for the year.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 62 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT RSU HILLCAT COMPLIANCE

Rogers State University is responsible for the actions of its What are Boosters permitted to do? coaches, student-athletes and staff, as well as its alumni, boosters u Notify coaches about prospects in your area and fans. The following information is intended to help educate u Attend athletic contests where prospects compete, but athletic boosters and organizations, so they can best support RSU may not contact the prospect or the prospect’s relatives athletes without putting the institution or the individual student- athletes at risk. If you have any questions or would like to seek u Continue existing friendships with families of prospects, clarification regarding your actions as a supporter of Hillcat but not attempt to recruit athletics, please call the athletic compliance office at 918-343- u Participate with prospects in organized institutional 7884 or email RSU’s NCAA Compliance Coordinator, Dawn Tatro community engagement activities when prospects reside at [email protected]. within 100-mile radius of location (Effective 8/1/07) BOOSTERS u Provide a student-athlete or the entire team in a sport an You are a Booster or Representative of Athletic Interests, if you: occasional meal, provided the meal is in the individuals u Have participated in, or ever have been, a member of a home, on campus or at a facility that is regularly used for booster organization that supports RSU athletics; home competition and may be catered. u Have made any financial contribution to the RSU athletic ENROLLED STUDENT-ATHLETES department or any athletic organization of the University; A booster may not provide a student-athlete any benefit or special u Have been involved in the recruitment of a prospect or arrangement that would not be offered to the rest of the general have been asked to assist in the recruitment of a student population. This would include: prospective student-athlete; u May not entertain student-athletes or their friends or family; u Have provided or are providing benefits to an enrolled student-athlete or his or her relatives or friends; u May not use the name or picture of an enrolled student- athlete to advertise, recommend, or promote any product u Have otherwise been involved in promoting the RSU or service; athletic program; u May not provide awards or gifts to student-athletes; u Have helped arrange employment for student-athletes; u May not allow a student-athlete to use a telephone to u Are a parent or guardian of an enrolled student-athlete; make free calls, or allow use of a free or discounted auto u Are or have ever been a season-ticket holder. mobile; u May not provide a student-athlete free or reduced cost NOTE: Once someone has been identified as a Booster, they will goods or services; retain that identity forever. EMPLOYMENT RECRUITING A student-athlete may be employed so long as compensation is A prospective student-athlete is any person who has begun classes only for work actually performed, at a rate commensurate with the in the ninth grade. A prospective student-athlete remains so even going rate in that locality for similar work, and the student-athlete after signing a National Letter of Intent or accepting financial aid was not hired based on athletics ability. and until they report for the first day of classes. NOTE: Employment may be arranged for a prospect provided What are Boosters prohibited from doing? the employment does not begin before the completion of the u Contacting a prospect in person on or off campus prospect’s senior year of high school. u Writing or telephoning a prospect or member of the prospect’s family INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL RSU is responsible for the actions of its boosters and booster u Making arrangements for the prospect or the prospect’s support groups. Boosters are regulated by the same NCAA relatives or friends to receive money or financial aid rules and regulations placed upon all institutional athletics staff u Providing transportation for a prospect or the prospect’s members. family or friends to visit the campus CONSEQUENCES u Providing free tickets or reduced priced tickets to attend If a booster provides an impermissible benefit to a prospect, a an athletic event to the prospect or the prospect’s family student-athlete, or their relatives or friends, institutions may be or friends subject to penalties, even if the student-athlete has completed u Entertaining coaches of prospects his or her eligibility. A prospect or student-athlete who accepts an impermissible benefit faces the loss of eligibility.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 63 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ATHLETIC STAFF & COACHES DIRECTORY

NAME POSITION EMAIL PHONE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ADMINISTRATION Chris Ratcliff Director of Athletics [email protected] 918-343-7782 Sara Braun SWA/Associate AD for External Operations [email protected] 918-343-7989 Dawn Tatro Assistant AD for Compliance & Academics [email protected] 918-343-7884 Toryn Jones Assistant AD for Digital Media & Operations [email protected] 918-343-8350 Benjamin Dishong Assistant AD for Athletics Communication [email protected] 918-343-7839 Grant Farris Graduate Assistant for Ticket Operations [email protected] 918-343-6862 Kim Bagwell Executive Assistant to the Director of Athletics [email protected] 918-343-7782 Dr. Brian Andrews Faculty Athletic Representative [email protected] 918-343-7684

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ATHLETIC TRAINING Trey Robertson Head Athletic Trainer [email protected] 918-343-5203 Jeff Paden Assistant Athletic Trainer [email protected] 918-343-6808 Conditioning Coordinator Annette Morton Assistant Athletic Trainer [email protected] 918-343-5201

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BASEBALL Chris Klimas Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7787 Bob Fannin Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-6815 Skyler Ellis Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-6815

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BASKETBALL (M) Justin Barkley Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-6804 Tyler Wayman Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7678 Levin Thornton Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-6864

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– BASKETBALL (W) Kyle Bent Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7883 Ashlee Pitts Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7881 Jasmine Cincore Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7757

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK (M&W) Matt Kennedy Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7689 Hunter Briggs Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7288

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GOLF (M) Steve Brown Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7988

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– GOLF (W) Whitney Hocutt Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7894 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 64 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ATHLETIC STAFF & COACHES DIRECTORY

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NAME POSITION EMAIL PHONE ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SOCCER (M) Derek Larkin Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7995 Jake Simpson Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7995 Bryan Weygand Assistant Coach 918-343-7995

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SOCCER (W) Josh Smith Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7996 Jessie Vilkofsky Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7290

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– SOFTBALL Andrea Vaughan Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7562 Malori Moss Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-6813 Chris O'Brien Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-6813

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– TRACK AND FIELD (M&W) Matt Kennedy Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7689 Hunter Briggs Assistant Coach [email protected] 918-343-7288

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CHEERLEADING Titus Massey Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7782

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– DANCE Amy Alt Head Coach [email protected] 918-343-7782

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 65 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT NCAA DIVISION II

WHAT IS NCAA DIVISION II • NCAA Division II offers intercollegiate athletics in a ﬁscally responsible way and, in the process, offers all the student-athletes a positive intercollegiate athletics experience. • In Division II, a “balance” exists that emphasizes both academic excellence and athletics achievement, and an environment Higher education has lasting importance on an NCAA individual’s is created that leads to the student-athlete’s total personal future success. For this reason, the emphasis on the student-athlete development, emphasizing the integration of athletics into the experience in Division II is a comprehensive program of learning learning environment in ways that allow institutional members to and development in a personal setting. The Division II approach focus on the total and comprehensive co-curricular experience of provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, their student-athletes. learning in high-level athletics competition and development of • Student-athletes are valued for their athletics contribution and positive societal attitudes in service to community. The balance for being an important part of the overall student body. and integration of these different areas of learning opportunity provide Division II student-athletes a path to graduation, while Division II provides an intersection where athletically gifted cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead. students can compete at a high level, while maintaining much of a traditional collegiate undergraduate experience. This balance, NCAA Division II has 284 active member institutions, ranging where students are recognized for their academic success, in size from less than 2,500 to over 15,000, with the average athletics contributions and campus/community involvement, is at enrollment being around 4,500. The division has almost 90,000 the heart of the Division II student-athlete experience. student-athletes competing and providing an intersection where athletically gifted students can compete at a high level, while ACADEMIC SUCCESS maintaining much of a traditional student experience. Additionally, The latest ﬁgures show a 73 percent Academic Success Rate the athletics programs are properly aligned with the educational (ASR) for Division II. This means that 73 percent of all Division mission of the institution and higher education. This balance is II student-athletes (scholarship and nonscholarship) receive a what distinguishes Division II from the other divisions. degree within six years of initial full time collegiate enrollment.

• Division II teams usually feature a number of local or in-state The division’s “comprehensive program of learning and student-athletes. development” and research-based initial- and continuing-eligibility • Many Division II student-athletes pay for school through a standards result in Division II student-athletes consistently combination of scholarship money, grants, student loans and graduating 10 to 15 percentage points higher than the total student employment earnings. body. • Division II athletics programs are fully integrated into the institution’s operations and budget, like other academic The gap between the Division II student-athlete and the student departments on campus. body graduation rate is bigger than at both the Division I and • The Division II membership is focused on an “academics ﬁrst” Division III levels. philosophy and the division’s commitment to academic excellence supports the primary mission for NCAA schools: We are preparing FINANCIAL AID student-athletes to go pro in something other than sports. Nearly 50 percent of all Division II student-athletes receive some • A regionalization philosophy is used to select teams for Division amount of athletically related ﬁnancial aid. Many Division II student- II national championships. This emphasis on being the best team athletes pay for school through a combination of scholarship in your geographic region helps schools prioritize scheduling of money, grants, student loans and employment earnings. regional opponents, limit missed class time, and manage travel expenses. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Division II institutions have embraced a philosophy whereby DIVISION II ATTRIBUTES athletics is positioned as the institution’s front porch to community. • Learning – multiple opportunities to broaden knowledge and By engaging community in this way, all programs, departments, skills and events that a campus has to offer can be showcased in a • Service – positive societal attitude through contributions to strategic way. community • Passion – enthusiastic dedication and desire in effort Division II institutions have intentionally focused on creating • Sportsmanship – respects for fairness, courtesy; ethical a civil, comfortable and entertaining game environment for its conduct toward others athletics events that are affordable, puts fans in close proximity to • Resourcefulness – versatile skill set drawn from broad range of the action, and the environment is “fan friendly.” experiences • Balance – emphasis on collective knowledge; integration of The Division II National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee skills has committed its fundraising activities to the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2003. The overall amount raised during this timeframe is more than $1.5 million. It is estimated that more than 150 wishes have been granted from these Division II dollars.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 66 ] 20202016 RSU ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT THE MIAA Rogers State begins its second season as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) in 2020-21. The MIAA is a 14-school collegiate athletic conference headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. It is a member of the NCAA’s Division II for all sports. Its fourteen members, located in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, include 12 public and two private schools.

Over the past 107 years, the MIAA has gained the reputation of being one of the best NCAA Division II conferences in the nation. Student-athletes have won 45 NCAA team championships and well over 300 individual national titles. In the classroom, hundreds of student-athletes have earned Academic All-America and All-District honors. The MIAA has seen its members claim 27 NCAA team championships in the last 12 athletic years with at least one championship every year. Over the past three athletic years, MIAA teams have won eight NCAA team championships with two undefeated seasons. The MIAA Identity: An Historic Conference…The MIAA is one of the nation’s oldest athletic conferences, founded in 1912. Seven of the 14 member schools were founded in the 1800’s. Every institution was founded more than 80 years ago. By the Numbers…The MIAA has more than 5,000 student-athletes competing on its 14 campuses every academic year. MIAA schools enroll more than 120,000 undergraduate students on its 14 campuses each year. There are more than 700,000 alumni throughout the world from MIAA member schools. Student-Centered Athletics…The MIAA cares about its student-athletes. MIAA institutions are committed to helping student-athletes develop life skills and competencies, which prepare students to be successful in college and after graduation. MIAA institutions feature some of the nation’s best facilities, most innovative teachers/coaches and most dedicated student-athletes in the country. Higher Education Success…The MIAA is also one of the NCAA’s most successful athletic conferences, winning 45 NCAA team championships and more than 300 individual national championships. The 14 institutions in the MIAA are consistently ranked among the top academic universities in the Midwest. MIAA, We Care: The MIAA cares about its student-athletes. Nothing illustrates this more than the WE CARE initiative the MIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee oversees to provide a comprehensive program of learning and development, which is at the heart of the MIAA student-athlete experience. Each letter in WE CARE represents a “pillar,” or focal area in which MIAA institutions commit to developing students who are prepared to be successful in college and after graduation:

Wellness: We care about student-athlete wellness, with a focus on health and well-being. The MIAA expects student-athletes to make informed decisions that protect and enhance their health and ﬁtness. The MIAA promotes an environment in which student-athletes are open to seeking help or assistance when wellness issues need to be addressed. Education: We care about providing student-athletes with educational opportunities in their chosen curricula and support their path to graduation. The MIAA expects student-athletes to be successful in their educational goals and be aware of campus resources to help them achieve these goals. Compassion: We care about developing student-athletes who demonstrate a capacity for compassion, and we provide opportunities for them to serve others and engage in their community. The MIAA expects student-athletes to think beyond themselves, be good role-models and serve those with need. Athletics: We care about student-athlete skill development, and opportunities to excel and achieve in their chosen sport. The MIAA provides outstanding coaches, stateof-the-art facilities and nationally competitive programs. The MIAA expects student-athletes to take advantage of these resources to achieve their athletics goals. Respect: We care about promoting a culture in which student-athletes respect their teachers, students, coaches, administrators, teammates, opponents and ofﬁcials. The MIAA expects student-athletes to demonstrate behavior that is appropriate as part of an activity sponsored by a higher education institution. Engagement: We care about student-athlete engagement at their institution and in their community. Engagement and involvement are the keys to success for college students. The MIAA expects student-athletes to take advantage of the many activities, clubs, events and leadership programs offered on their campus and in their community. The MIAA SAAC takes a leadership role in working with institutional SAACs to ensure that these “pillars for success” are being discussed and enhanced on each campus.

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 67 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT BUSHYHEAD FIELDHOUSE Bushyhead Fieldhouse serves as the on-campus practice facility for RSU’s basketball teams. The gym features six goals, digital scoreboards, and portable seating with a capacity of 300. Bushyhead is also the home of the athletic department offices as well as the RSU Wellness Center - a private weight training facility for student-athletes. Bushyhead houses both the men’s and women’s basketball locker rooms, an athletic training room, the Hillcat Academic Center for student-athletes, and public restrooms. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– CLAREMORE EXPO CENTER Claremore Expo Center serves as the home of Hillcat basketball on game nights and is utilized as a secondary practice facility for the basketball teams. The Expo Center features arena seating on all four sides of the court for up to 2,000 fans. A four-sided digital scoreboard adorns center court accompanied by professional playing goals with three-sided shot clocks on each end of the floor. A state-of-the-art sound system helps produce a fun atmosphere for fans and often creates a hostile environment for opponents. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– DIAMOND SPORTS COMPLEX The Diamond Sports Complex features a professional playing surface, lights, a large inning-by-inning scoreboard, batting cages, and grandstand seating for 1,200. A spacious locker room is located adjacent to the Hillcat dugout featuring individual lockers, coaches’ offices, and an area for athletic training. The first floor of the centerpiece, two-story building, includes concessions, restrooms, and umpire dressing rooms. The second floor features separate baseball and softball press boxes, offices, and a donors’ suite with indoor and outdoor seating. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– SOLDIER FIELD Soldier Field is located in the heart of the RSU campus with a new digital scoreboard added in the south end zone. It features a large press box, lights, a public address system, and stadium seating for a great view of the action capable of supporting 2,000 fans. The installation of artificial turf at Soldier Field was completed in May 2012, allowing RSU to maximize the availability and functionality of historic Soldier Field. ––––––––––––––––––––––––– HILLCAT ATHLETICS CENTER Located in the north end zone of Soldier Field, the 8,986 square- foot Hillcat Athletics Center was completed in the summer of 2012. The facility features spacious locker rooms for the men’s and women’s soccer teams as well as the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams. Coaches’ offices and an athletic training room are located in the central area of the building. The facility also includes permanent concessions and restrooms for patrons and a paved concourse area with sightlines to the field. –––––––––––––––––––––––––

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 68 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT RSU ATHLETICS WOMEN’S GOLF /RSUHillcatAthletics /rsuwgolf /RSUHillcats /RSUHillcatAthletics MEN’S GOLF www.RSUHillcats.com /HillcatsGolf /rsumgolf COMPLIANCE /rsucompliance MEN’S SOCCER /HillcatMensSoccer BASEBALL /rsumsoccer /rsubaseball WOMEN’S SOCCER MEN’S BASKETBALL /HillcatWomensSoccer /HillcatMensBasketball /rsuwsoccer /rsumbb SOFTBALL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL /RSUsoftball /HillcatWomensBasketball /rsuwbb CHEER /HillcatCheer CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK AND /rsucheer FIELD /HillcatXCTF DANCE /hillcatxctf /HillcatDance /rsudance

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 69 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT 2019-2020 RSU HILLCAT CLUB SUPPORTERS

== PLATINUM == == GOLD == == NAVY == == RED == RCB Bank Village Tours Clark & Cindy Victory Jones Toyota TTCU Rogers County Abstract Frank & Pat Elwell Anita Horton Robson Properties Overhead Door of Tulsa Dick Thornburg Grady Lowrey David Merriman - State BancFirst Pete & Pam Fowler Farm RCI Insurance Bill & Vicki Beierschmitt == WHITE == James & Norma Morrison Red Crown Credit Union OK Farm Bureau El Maguey Restaurant Executive Lawn Care Dr. Tobie & Jeanne Titsworth Dawn Tatro Whataburger == SILVER == Joe & Sharon Gardner Whitney Hocutt Advance Orthopedics Jack Kissee Ford Dennis & Kathleen Houtz Steve Brown Domino’s Hillcrest Healthcare System Steve & Janet Valencia Promise Hotels Chris & Andrea Ratcliff William & Shirley Campbell Justin & Emily Barkley Tommy & Kathy Andrews == DIAMOND == Ronnie & Sherri Robison Steve & Sara Braun Claremore Compounding == BRONZE == Community Home Health Chris & Penny Klimas Pixley Lumber Company Gary & Lynn Boergermann Hammett House Susan Haggard, Doug Claremore Chiropractic Bob & Susan Willis Mosier, Dr. Mark Peaden Bill & Lou Flanagan Robertson Tire Larry & Donna Jenkins Visit Claremore Brian & Jill Andrews Paul & Adele Simpson Jerry & Susan Beggs Roberts Law Firm Lloyd Phillips Ronald Lessley Shirley Ewton & Barbara Davis David & Beth Bath Mark & Cinda Meadors Gary & Terri Wayman Larry & Peggy Rice

To JOIN THE TEAM call the RSU athletic department at 918-343-7989 or visit

ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY [ 70 ] 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT “The esports program has allowed me to level up. Many times gamers have friends out of state or out of the country. RSU esports has given me the opportunity to develop a community of local friends with common interests.” - MIAHRA TRELEAVEN B.S. Business Technology ‘21 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW, PLEASE VISIT: www.rsu.edu/miahra ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

RSU stands on the cutting edge of adding esports among Oklahoma college campuses, including a new esports major and minor. Now it’s your turn to be part of history. If you think you’ve got what it takes to earn a spot on RSU’s Esports team then jump in the game with RSU. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– OPEN TO CURRENT RSU STUDENTS | SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE GAMES: OVERWATCH, LEAGUE OF LEGENDS, ROCKET LEAGUE, CS:GO ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

www.rsu.edu/esports ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY

1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd. | Claremore, Oklahoma 74017 HILLCAT ATHLETICS www.rsuhillcats.com | www.rsu.edu 2020 RSU ANNUAL REPORT