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Show A7 ORIENTATION ISSUE Entering the upper echelon of D-1 Wolverine athletics ushered in the beginning of a new era when it officially joined the WAC on July 1 By Kyle Spencer 440111•1 • .1 Sports Editor -• 1-m. IM• p -Pi al- ••• @kyledspencer When UVU announced last fall that it would join the Western Athletic Conference, a confounding, previously unknown excitement swept across campus. The news echoed throughout the surrounding community and immediately improved the stature of Wolverine athletics amongst its peers in a state replete with collegiate juggernauts. Most importantly, the potential success of UVU is now unlimited. While competing in the Great West Conference the past four years as a member of Division I, the best the Wolverines could hope for was to impress the decision makers of the NCAA selection committee. WAC membership comes with the benefit of automatic qualification in the NCAA postseason tournaments as a result of winning the conference tournament. "It sets up new challenges and new opportunities in front of our coaches and student-athletes," said first year athletic director Vince Otoupal. "With those great challenges comes great reward. We're going to have the opportunity to win championships and be recognized on a different level and on a different scale for our academics." Going unrecognized is an all too familiar feeling for UVU. In 2012 the Wolverine baseball team finished the season with the most wins in the NCAA (47), won 32 straight games (40 out of 41), beat thenNo.4 Arizona (who won the national championship) and were crowned regular season and tournament champions of the GWC. The team produced multiple players that signed with MLB organizations. Yet what was arguably the best college baseball team the state of Utah has seen in the past decade went a unelected for the NCAA regionals. The men's basketball team has experienced similar unsatisfying finishes to successful camP paigns. In 2004 the Wolverines won the provisional Division I national championship when it =1 beat March's most recent Cinderella story Florida Gulf Coast. The UVU team has produced multiple players that have gone on to play professionally, including Ronnie Price of the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite the achievements and accolades, one will always wonder what those talented teams could have done against the nation's best. "There's tremendous excitement," said men's basketball coach Dick Hunsaker. "This is a wonderful opportunity to now be in an automatic qualifying conference. It's a new day at Utah Valley." First year and tenured coaches alike know that the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament is no longer merely an idealistic conclusion to the season, but an expectation. "It is going to be my job to come in and put them to work right away and make sure that we continue that success and shoot for the top of the WAC if not a WAC championship," said new softball coach Nikki Palmer. The rest of the WAC will be comprised of Cal State Bakersfield, Grand Canyon University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, New Mexico State University, Seattle University, and former GWC mates Chicago State and University of Texas-Pan American. New Mexico State won the men's conference basketball tournament held in Las Vegas in 2013 and UTPA garnered the honor of representing WAC baseball in NCAA regionals. By joining the conference, the Wolverines will square off against experienced coaches that lead athletes superior to those commonly opposed in the GWC. This is a fact that every UVU coach and student-athlete will need to embrace in order to compete for the confrence's coveted postseason berth. ■toymak■• w L PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK LANCE LARSEN// UVU REVIEW Members of MAWL help give the Wolverines a true home court advantage by raucously berating visitors and uncooperative referees, all for the love of the game. How to get the best tickets to every game MAWL is the UVU student section for all sporting events By Garrett Coleman Assistant Sports Editor garrettjcoleman@gmail.com Welcome to wonderful Utah Valley University. UVU is headed into new territory this year by joining the WAC, and the athletic programs need the student support more than ever. By joining the WAC, all sports teams are now eligible to qualify for the NCAA national tournaments, which is kind of a big deal. Students can support the Wolverines in this next step by joining MAWL, the Mighty Athletic Wolverine League, where the passionate voice of the student section collectively cheers on our student-athletes. MAWL is the rowdy student section at the sporting events that advises the referee when he or she makes a bad call. By joining, you receive a sports pass to all the games, a t-shirt to show off your school colors, free food at tailgate parties and most importantly, the best seats in the house! There are several advantages to joining MAWL. As previously mentioned, UVU is now a mem- ber of the WAC, which means that UVU will have the opportunity to play a higher quality of opponents. It would be a shame to miss the school take on an elite basketball program like Duke or North Carolina simply because it's sold out. Join MAWL today in order to reserve your spot to witness the action. MAWL is also one of the best opportunities to meet new people and have fun at UVU sporting events. UVU has a rich history of winning; the school captured several conference championships while part of the Great West Conference. For the teams to continue to have success in a bigger conference, they will need as much support as possible. When you join MAWL you also have a chance to demonstrate school spirit. UVU has the highest enrollment of students in the state of Utah. Unfortunately, many of the students grew up to be a Ute, a Cougar, or the rare Aggie fan. This is an opportunity to change that culture and get behind a great athletic program and distinguish yourself as a Wolverine. Who doesn't want to be that crazy fan dressed in all green and face painted? Great fans are the life giving blood to all sports teams. What would any sports team be without its dedicated fans? Would the New York Yan- kees, LA Lakers or Pittsburgh Steelers have as many championships as they do if they didn't have people show up to the game and cheer them on? It is unlikely. Fans can be the motivational force behind a team's success. The athletes' drive to win is strengthened greatly when it is supported by their peers. UVU has beautiful arenas and ballparks that are just waiting to be filled with rambunctious college students who are insane about their teams. The seats in the UCCU Center are so close to the action that with a full crowd, it has the potential to be one of the toughest places to play in the conference. To join MAWL, go to the UVUSA office, SC105. The charge will be $15 for access to all home sporting events and a free shirt. Other schools charge over $100 for their sports package. This is definitely the perfect bundle on a budget and the ticket to some of the most exhilarating events on campus. This is the perfect opportunity to witness the evolution of UVU athletics. The possibilities have never been more intriguing. Reserve a spot amongst the rowdy home crowds to give the Wolverines the advantage they need to have success in their new conference. Don't delay, join MAWL today! |