My apologies for the late and final round up. I have found myself busy with some work related duties. I decide to catch up on the final wrap up for the year, and that is the spring sports, so, let’s get to it.

Golf-

For the first time ever, the Lion Women’s golf team advanced to the NCAA Regional Championships. This was the best season the Women’s team in years, maybe even ever. The team took second place at the LSC Championships and won the Arkansas-Fort Smith Invitational. Overall, this was a very competitive team that was always in a tournament. Sarah Wongsinth was named LSC Female Golfer of the year, the first Lion Woman to ever win the award, while Paige Lee-Garris was named LSC second team. This team should really excite you for next year, because aside from Senior Lauren Leslie, there were NO Juniors and Seniors on the team, so be out on the lookout for a LSC Championship next year and deeper run in the team postseason.

On the Men’s side, The Lions took two invitational Championships, winning the Dallas Baptist University title and the Arkansas-Fort Smith hard scrabble. They also took 2nd place for the second straight season at the LSC Championships, but did not make the Regional Championships as a team. However, Senior Lucas McCubbin did qualify individually and aside from being named LSC Male Golfer of the year, took 19th place at the Southwest Regional. McCubbin and Garrett Landers are the only two Seniors on this team, so this team comes back loaded as well. A LSC title in 2020 is very within reach. Overall both the Men and Women are both primed to make serious runs at the LSC title and Regional Titles with what they have coming back and the program is in good shape.

Softball-

This was the best season in the 5 year history of the A&M-Commerce Softball program, and that might not mean much to programs that are less than a decade old, but not this one. This team set a school record for wins and went back to the South Central Regional Championships, this time serving as hosts. Second place in the LSC, Richie Bruister’s club found themselves one inning away from repeating as Regional Champions, but a walk off home run against a Cameron team the team swept in the regular season ended their season to be ranked 16th in the nation. Emily Otto and Madison Schaefer both had standout seasons for the Lions. Otto is the first Lion to ever win an All-American honor in softball. Richie Bruister is now 182-89 over five years, with 5 winning seasons, 3 NCAA National Tournament appearances, and a regional championship. Bruister got an extension, and Gay McNutt was promoted to associate head coach, however former assistant Christina May is leaving as her husband Jared, who was the QB coach and co-offensive coordinator for the Lion program moved on to SFA with Colby Carthel and his staff. Lion Nation will miss her and all of the great wives of all our coaches in that program who contributed to the school the way that Coach May did. The Lions lose Seniors Katie Dean, Cieara Nunez, Kayla Kilcrease, Bri Sims, and Vanessa Murro, but return much of the firepower they had this year. Could we see a Women’s athletic department take LSC titles in Volleyball, Soccer, Track, Cross Country, Basketball, and Softball? With the way the teams finished this year and how young many were, it is very possible.

Track-

Track once again had a successful season. During the Indoor season, both squads showed the Nation they were going to be reckoned with during the outdoor season. The Men’s 4×400 relay squad were Indoor National Champions and the Women saw multiple placed in the top 10 and having both teams took 3rd at the LSC Indoor Championships. During the outdoor season, The Women’s team won the East Texas State Invitational and the East Texas quad meet team titles and finished 3rd at the LSC Championships, while finishing 11th at the National Championships in Kingsville. Chelsea Cheek took 5th place in the Women’s High Jump, while Minna Svaerd took a Silver Medal at National’s in the 400 Meter Dash, Lancaster’s Eboni Coby took Bronze Medals in the 100 and 200 Meter Dash at the National Championships, while Tamara Susa took 12th place, giving her all-American honors in the Javelin throw. A great season for the Women’s track program.

On the Men’s side, the Lions took second place in the outdoor season. Just like in the indoor season, the Men’s team won a National Title in an individual event. Rashard Clarke took third place in the 400 meter dash also, while Joseph Brown won the National Championship in the Discus throw. The Men’s team finished 14th in the nation, wrapping up a great sports season.

This season overall was a great and exciting time. From sitting out at Wichita Falls to get revenge on MSU in Football, to seeing exciting LSC Championship Basketball games, walk off home runs in Softball, and seeing track teams lifting team and individual trophies is always something that makes you proud to be a Lion.