LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Tech University secured its third consecutive Great American Conference All-Sports Trophy after a strong spring season enabled the Wonder Boys and Golden Suns overcome an 8.5-point deficit after the winter and edge Harding in the closest competition in the three-year history of the conference.
Tech finished the 2013-14 athletic season with a total of 64.5 points, one point ahead of the second-place Bisons. The competition came down to the final weekend of the spring season as wins by the baseball and softball teams enabled Tech to hold off Harding for the third straight year.
The Golden Suns finished second at the Women’s Golf Championships and in women’s tennis while the Wonder Boys earned runner-up points at the Men’s Golf Championship. They claimed their first regular-season championship since 1992 in baseball. Over the five spring spots, they accumulated 33 out of a possible 41 points and out-pointed Harding by 9.5 points.
For the 2013-14 season, Arkansas Tech earned regular-season titles in men’s basketball and basketball and claimed second-place points in volleyball, men’s golf, women’s golf and women’s tennis. The Wonder Boys and Golden Suns advanced to NCAA postseason in all six sports.
Harding finished second for the third straight year. The Lady Bisons’ women’s tennis team earned the fourth regular-season trophy of 2013-14 to go along with titles in women’s cross country, volleyball and women’s basketball.
Southwestern Oklahoma State held off East Central to finish third in the All-Sports standings for the second time in three years. The Lady Bulldogs took third in women’s golf and fourth in men’s golf. Both teams advanced to NCAA play. The Lady Tigers posted its best finish at women’s golf, fourth place, and tied for fourth in softball.
Henderson State turned in the second-best spring season of the 11 GAC teams. The Reddies and Lady Reddies each won at the GAC Golf Championships. The men won for the title for the first time since Ken Duke led HSU to the 1992 crown and the women won a conference title for the first time in program history. Henderson State moved into a tie for fifth place with Southern Arkansas. The Lady Muleriders finished second in softball and the Muleriders took third in baseball. Both won the conference tournament titles to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Southeastern Oklahoma State moved up one place after the spring thanks to a third-place showing in men’s golf and a second regular-season title in softball. Each team had impressive postseason results as golfer Marcos Sevilla advanced to the NCAA Championships and the Savage Storm softball team matched the lowest seed in the last six years to advance to the NCAA Division II Softball Championships. They won a pair of games and finished fourth in the NFCA final poll.
Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas-Monticello rounded out the All-Sports Standings. UAM finished second to Tech in baseball and joined the Wonder Boys and SAU at the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
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