A Fall to Remember
ADA, Okla. – With the new year just around the corner, East Central University Athletics takes a moment to reflect on the remarkable successes achieved by our sports teams throughout the Fall of 2023.
The ECU men's and women's cross country teams dominated, winning big at the GAC Championships by claiming the individual title for both programs to accomplish a clean sweep. The women's team clinched the program's third GAC Championship title, its first since 2016, amassing 45 points while the men's team took home their ninth title as the first team in GAC history to earn a perfect score. The men's team continued to etch their names in history as the Tigers swept the individual and team championship at the 2023 NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. Two weeks later, ECU landed on the podium at the NCAA Division II National Championships, securing an impressive third-place finish for their best in program history.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Danielle Essix, the volleyball team made their fourth GAC Championship tournament appearance after clinching the No. 6 seed. The team posted a 14-15 overall record, just one victory shy of matching the school's win tally, and
Emma Strickland and
Odalys Gonzalez were recognized on the All-GAC Teams – Strickland earning First Team honors and Gonzalez selected to the Second Team.
In football, John Litrenta officially became head coach after leading the team in the interim role since December 2022. The Tigers saw eight players land a spot on the All-GAC team, with
Devon Roush highlighting the group earning All-GAC Second Team accolades and nominations for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy and Cliff Harris Award.
Soccer saw
Tanja Bauböck and
Abbie Morris earn recognition for their performances during the 2023 season as both secured First Team All-GAC accolades. Bauböck's defensive skills were acknowledged with the title of GAC Defensive Player of the Year and her stellar performance further earned her a spot on the Division II Conference Commissioners Association 2023 Central Region Women's Soccer First Team – a huge honor for her and the team. And now, Alyssa Taramona is set to take the helm as the new head coach in the coming year, bringing fresh beginnings to the team.
The powerlifting team, in just their second season, displayed immense strength in their first meets of the 2023-24 season. At the Brewhouse Brawl meet, head coach
Allison Nally was awarded the Best Female Lifter while she and two ECU athletes (
Amree Wingfield and
Briana Perez) qualified for Collegiate Nationals. During their most recent meet in December at the Kilo Showdown, an additional six athletes (Angelica Franzen, Jake Smith,
Rico Tubbesing,
Jay Frost,
Caleb Forte, and
Denton Ross) secured their spots for Collegiate Nationals.
The ECU men's and women's basketball teams are gearing up to return to GAC action after the winter break with their next games scheduled for Jan. 4
th and 6
th in Arkansas. As of now, the women's team holds a 4-4 overall record while the men's team posts a 7-3 overall record, positioning them in a tied spot for second place in the league standings.
As ECU Athletics bids farewell to a successful Fall season, we eagerly await the kickoff of the upcoming Spring sports and all the excitement to come!
