May
24
2013

Swaner named Academic All-American



Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Athletics, Honors


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Lea Swaner anticipates the play before scoring a run against UT-Dallas.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Lya Swaner anticipates the play before scoring a run against UT-Dallas.

NCAA Division III sports information directors have named ETBU catcher Lya Swaner an Academic All-American 3rd team member — marking the 3rd consecutive year an ETBU Softball player has earned the honor.

“This award puts her as one of the top student-athletes in the nation for NCAA Division III,” said Adam P. Ledyard, ETBU Sports Information Director. “ETBU will definitely miss her leadership and attitude, as she was a special athlete to have around.”

Swaner, who graduated with honors this month with a double major in chemistry and biology, helped ETBU to its 7th ASC Tournament Championship this year with a .500 batting average. She plans to go to medical school and become a doctor.

Read the full story, here.

May
22
2013

2012-13 Martian Yearbook available



Posted by Tiger Pride in Memories on the Hill, Photo Galleries


The 2012-13 ETBU  yearbook, The Martian, now is available.

See the e-edition, here.

May
22
2013

Liles earn All-American status



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics, Honors


Lacy Liles drives a double, March 25, against UT-Dallas. Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo

Lacy Liles drives a double, March 25, against UT-Dallas.
Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo

After leading ETBU in most batting categories, softball first baseman Lacy Liles was named 2nd Team All-American by the National Fast-Pitch Coaches Association.

Liles finished the year hitting .417 with eight home runs, 47 RBI, 15 doubles, four triples, 60 hits, 47 runs and a .743 slugging percentage.

Liles is the 2nd all-American under Janae Shirley and the program’s eighth overall since it started in 1998. Pitcher Ayrika Anderson was named an all-American in 2010. The other all-Americans for ETBU have been Amanda Reed, Missy Mohon, Angela Gonzales, Tonya Minor, Christy Shipley and Allison Ratcliff.

Read the full story, here.

May
22
2013

Dr. Falke chosen for seminar series



Posted by Tiger Pride in Faculty/Staff, Honors


Dr. Cassie Falke

Dr. Cassie Falke

The School of Humanities of East Texas Baptist University announces that Associate Professor of English Dr. Cassie Falke has been selected to attend one of seven “Summer Seminars for College and University Teachers” sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. A large number apply but only a few are chosen to attend, which brings together teachers from a broad variety of institutions to work in collaboration with peers and to study with experts in various humanities disciplines.

Dr. Falke, who is also the director of ETBU’s University Scholars Program, will participate in a seminar entitled “Reassessing British Romanticism” held at the University of Nebraska. The seminar will be directed by Stephen C. Behrendt, George Holmes Distinguished University Professor of English at the University of Nebraska.

Read the full story, here.

May
15
2013

Windham, Pinder, Bates are ASC 1st Team Selections



Posted by Tiger Pride in Academics, Honors


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Outfielder Tyler Bates was named Freshman of the Year.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Outfielder Tyler Bates was named ASC East Freshman of the Year.

ETBU Baseball’s Phillip Windham, Tyler Bates and Jeremy Pinder were all named 1st-team All-American Southwest Conference East Division.  Bates was named the ASC East’s “Freshman of the Year” for his play.

ETBU, under first-year head coach Lee Driggers, advanced to the ASC Tournament for the first time since 2005 as the East Division’s no. 4 seed.  They finished the season a 19-23 overall and was 9-9 in the ASC East. ETBU finishes 4th in the NCAA in home runs (31) and 5th in home runs per game (.30).

Windham led the ASC in home runs with 12, and he led ETBU in RBI and slugging percentage.

Read the full story, here.

May
15
2013

Liles named All-Region 1st Team



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics, Honors


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Lacy Liles belts a home run, April 2, against Mississippi College.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Lacy Liles belts a home run, April 2, against Mississippi College.

ETBU infielder Lacy Liles earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region 1st Team honors, and three other Tigers were named to west region teams.

Liles leads the way being named to the 1st team and now is eligible for All-American honors.  This past weekend she was named to the NCAA All-Regional Tournament team, and she also is an All-ASC East first-team selection. She led the team in batting (.417), hits (60), doubles (15), triples (4), home runs (8), and RBI (47).  In 144 at-bats, she only struck out twice and she posted a .743 slugging percentage with eight stolen bases. On defense at first base, she had a .992 fielding percentage with only three errors and 380 put outs. In the American Southwest Conference she is in 10 different categories in the top 10.

Pitcher Shelby Parker and outfielder Alyssa Romero earned 2nd team honors, and outfielder Kayla Garcia earned 3rd team honors.

ETBU ended the season in the NCAA Regional Championship game and had a 37-12 record.  They also won their 7th ASC Tournament Championship.

Read the full story, here.

May
8
2013

Tennis player selected to elite NCAA Forum



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Kayla Franklin serves against Centenary.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Kayla Franklin serves against Centenary.

East Texas Baptist University women’s tennis player Kayla Franklin will participate in the NCAA’s National Career in Sports Forum (CSF) in June after being selected to the elite NCAA group of athletes from Division I, II and III. More than 700 athletes applied to go to the CSF, and 300 were chosen.

“This is a great honor for Kayla and our program,” said Joe Vann, Head Tennis Coach at ETBU.  “This selection shows her hard work as a student-athlete and what we strive for in our program. She will be amongst the best NCAA student-athletes of all divisions learning about careers in athletics and meeting some great people who could help her in that career path.”

Read the full story, here.

May
8
2013

Hayes Named NFF Scholar-Athlete



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics


Jordan Hayes was named a National Football Association scholar-athlete.

Jordan Hayes was named a National Football Association scholar-athlete.

Earning an elite academic award in football in the state of Texas, Jordan Hayes was named a National Football Foundation scholar-athlete.  The Gridiron Club of Dallas awarded Hays and eight other Texas college football players the award in early March.

Hayes one of two NCAA Division III football players given the award. The award is voted upon and given to players that are outstanding in academic achievement, community leadership, and football performance.

A four-year letterman for ETBU, Hayes finished his career in the top 10 in tackles in fifth with 245 tackles and was a two-time All-ASC selection.  This past season he was an All-ASC first-team selection and finished third in tackling with an average of 8.7 tackles per game.

Read the full story, here.

May
8
2013

Eight players earn All-ASC awards



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Alyssa Romero drives the ball against LeTourneau University.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Alyssa Romero drives the ball against LeTourneau University.

Fresh off winning their seventh American Southwest Conference tournament championship, eight East Texas Baptist University players received awards from the American Southwest Conference in the East Division as five players landed on the first team.  It is the first time for six of the eight players to earn an All-ASC post season award.

Lacy Liles, Maranada Westbrook, Alyssa Romero, Tawny Hank, and Shelby Parker were all named to the first-team as Lya Swaner was on the second-team.  Kayla Garcia, Kelly Jo McLendon, and Westbrook (Utility) were voted honorable mention.  Westbrook receives two awards on the first-team as a second baseman and honorable mention as a utility player.  Hank was then named the ASC East “Newcomer of the Year” for her play.

Read the full story, here.

May
8
2013

Softball back in Top 10



Posted by Tiger Pride in Athletics


Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo Infielder Maranda Westbrook beats the tag at the plate against Mississippi College.

Ryan C. Perry/ETBU Photo
Infielder Maranda Westbrook beats the tag at the plate against Mississippi College.

For the 10th straight week, East Texas Baptist University is in the NFCA Top 25 jumping back into the top 10.  This is the second time this year that ETBU has been ranked in the top 10 after being ranked 8th in the Week Five poll.

ETBU went 4-0 last week with three wins over top 25 teams to win the American Southwest Conference Tournament for a seventh time.  They defeated Howard Payne and then came from behind for wins over #20 Texas Lutheran and #1 Texas-Tyler.  ETBU then defeated #1 Texas-Tyler for a second straight day, 6-2, claiming the championship.  ETBU is now 34-10 overall and will play in the NCAA Regional Tournament on May 9-13.

Read the full story, here.