MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State athletics combined for 131 wins, and 44 athletes were named all-conference in 2015-16. Morehead State student-athletes compiled a cumulative 3.043 grade-point average in the spring semester. Eleven teams compiled a GPA over 3.0, and 40 student athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA.
On the volleyball court, Merideth Jewell was named OVC Freshman of the Year. She led the Eagles with 462 kills on the year, which ranked second in the conference and 19th in the country.
On the soccer field, Abby Timm was also named OVC Freshman of the Year, along with being named First Team All-OVC and to the All-Newcomer Team. She recorded a team-high nine goals and four assists.
After being picked to finish eighth in the Pioneer Football League, football rallied to win five of their last six games and finished tied for second in the PFL. Junior quarterback Austin Gahafer led the league in passing yards and touchdowns and became the first player in school history to be named outright PFL Player of the Year.
Along with Gahafer, 17 players were named to All-PFL teams, including senior cornerback Justin Grier, who was also named Associated Press All-American after leading the PFL and the entire Football Championship Subdivision with a school-record nine interceptions.
Men's basketball recorded one of the best seasons in program history. The Eagles finished 23-14 for the school's seventh 20-win season. The 37 games played were the most in program history, and the 23 wins ranked fourth.
The team's run to the College Basketball Invitational Finals marked the program's first ever trip to a national postseason championship game. Their four postseason wins were the most in school history. Despite falling in game three of the CBI Finals, the Eagles earned the respect of the nation as their grit and determination were on full display to a national TV audience on ESPNU all three nights of the finals.
Women's basketball finished in the top ten of five league stat categories, and four different players were selected for Ohio Valley Conference honors. Junior Brianna McQueen was named Second Team All-OVC and All-Newcomer Team. Miranda Crockett earned seven OVC Freshman of the Week accolades.
Men's Golf captured their first team title since 2004 when they took first place honors at the NKU Fall Invitational in late September. Senior Logan Hogge led the way for the Eagles in the tournament as he finished second overall at four-under.
After falling behind early in the OVC Tournament, the Eagles rallied from 12 strokes back in the final round and briefly held the lead as the tourney wrapped up, finishing in second place, just one stroke back of UT Martin. Hogge and fellow senior Will Branham closed the tournament with rounds of 68, one stroke off of the best round of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the season, Hogge was named to the All-OVC team for the second straight year and was also named an OVC Scholar Athlete Award Winner to become the first Morehead State student-athlete to receive the award since 2011.
Women's golf recorded a victory at the Murray State Invitational and recorded six top-five finishes in 11 events this season, including two second place finishes.
Junior Anna Magnusson captured victories at the Bluegrass Fall Kickoff and Matador Golf Invitational. She was named to the All-OVC Team for the third straight year and was joined by seniors Katie Rice and Linnea Scholin.
The Morehead State softball team earned their fourth straight trip to the OVC Tournament, and freshman Allison Rager's strong performance in the circle led the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Tennessee Tech, giving them their first postseason victory since 2009. Rager was named to the All-OVC Newcomer Team, while sophomore catcher Robyn Leighton was named Second-Team All-OVC.
Baseball finished with 32 wins, giving the program 70 wins in the last two seasons. They also advanced to their third straight OVC Tournament, something the program had not accomplished since 1994 through 1996.
Senior pitcher Matt Anderson became the all-time single-season strikeout leader with 130, and junior workhorse Cable Wright established the career record for appearances (88) in just his third year. Seven players were honored as members of the All-OVC teams.
Senior Desmond Bell became the first Eagle since 2006 to participate in the NCAA Track Regional. Bell also set the school record in the 800-meter at 1:49, a mark which had stood since 1977. Junior Dylan Rich also broke the school record in the 1,500-meter run during a meet in California.
Morehead State cheerleading swept the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) College Nationals in Orlando, Fla., claiming national titles in partner stunt team, all-girl, and coed. With the sweep of championships, MSU cheerleading added to their tradition of excellence, now holding 39 UCA titles since the program's first competitive event in 1988.
From championships, to individual accolades, to high marks in the classroom – a successful 2015-16 season for Morehead State Athletics is a good building block towards an even brighter future.
