State of the Pack: March 15

ALL-AMERICA

Congratulations to Camryn Newton-Smith on receiving Indoor Track & Field Honorable Mention All-America honors. Camryn had an excellent season and was leading the pentathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships before withdrawing due to injury. Camryn is our first A-State women’s athlete with multiple indoor All-American honors since Sharika Nelvis in 2013 and 2014.

RACKING UP AWARDS

After sweeping the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track and Field titles, our track program racked up on postseason awards announced by the league. Dr. Jim Patchell swept the league’s Coach of the Year honors, Colby Eddowes was named Men’s Freshman of the Year, freshman Myles Thomas earned Men’s Newcomer of the Year, Camryn Newton-Smith was named Women’s Field Performer of the Year and Rahel Broemmel was lauded as the Women’s Freshman of the Year. Coach Patchell joined Brad Bobo and Matt Stolz on this week’s “Second to None” podcast to talk about his path from a high school student-athlete at a small school to an 18-time Coach of the Year at his alma mater.

ON A ROLL

Our nationally–ranked bowling team is winding down its regular season and has seen three different individuals finish at the top of the standings the last three events. Most recently, freshman Maggie Thoma led the standings at the Big Red Invite hosted by Nebraska to take Tournament MVP honors. Last weekend, she competed at the Intercollegiate Singles Championship sectional and finished runner-up to qualify for the championship event April 19-22 in Las Vegas. The Music City Classic this weekend in Smyrna, Tenn., is next on the schedule for our squad ahead of the Southland Bowling League Championship (March 24-26) in Rowlett, Texas.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL MAKES QUARTERFINALS RUN

Our women’s basketball team won two games in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament for the first time since 2014-15 and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016-17. It was great to see the men’s basketball team supporting the women’s team in their games and the women’s team in the front row cheering on our men’s team during their contests in Pensacola.

RUNNER-UP

Olivia Schmidt led the women’s golf team to a fifth place finish this week at the Spring Break Shootout. Olivia shot even-par to finish runner-up individually and extend her program record to 43 par or better rounds. Our women’s golf team has two more spring events before heading to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the Sun Belt Conference Championship (April 16-18).

BASEBALL READIES FOR LEAGUE PLAY

Our baseball team heads to Lafayette, La., this weekend to take on the Ragin’ Cajuns in the opening weekend of Sun Belt Conference play. Following the weekend series, our Red Wolves visit Mississippi State and Memphis for midweek contests before welcoming new league member James Madison to The Tom, March 24-26, for the first conference series at home.

LETTERMEN’S CLUB PRESIDENT

Mike Gleghorn has decided to step down from his role as President of the A-State Lettermen’s Club. Providing over 30 years of service, Mike’s dedicated work to advancing the Lettermen’s Club is greatly appreciated. Blake Barber has accepted the role of President, and we look forward to having his tremendous leadership in place with the Lettermen’s Club.

SPRING CAMP / EARLY RENEWAL DEADLINE FRIDAY

Our football team’s first spring-camp practice was March 9, and our Pack Day Spring Game will be played April 15. Speaking of our Spring Game on April 15, we’re currently working on a full day of activities for A-State fans. The day will start with our first “Pack Day Cornhole Classic,” beginning at 9 a.m. in Halsey Thrasher Harpole Tailgate City. There will be Beginner and Advanced brackets in the doubles event. For more information on how to enter the tournament, go to https://bit.ly/23PackDayClassic. And be looking for a full schedule of “Pack Day” events coming soon.

The early renewal period for football season tickets ends this Friday, March 17, and anyone renewing their tickets by that date will receive two additional single-game tickets in the upper east stands for our home game against Memphis. Additionally, anyone renewing their tickets by March 17 will be entered into a drawing for four tickets in the Woodard McAlister Club and one premium parking pass for the game of their choice.

The final renewal deadline for football season tickets is May 1, while the renewal period for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball will run through Aug. 1.

CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT

Announced earlier this week, the John and Patricia Gibson Education Scholarship is being established by their family with an endowment gift of $25,000 to the university, in addition to a scholarship of $3,000. The scholarship will provide $1,000 a year for the first three years and is available to those seeking a degree in education to become teachers or educators. The scholarship honors the late Dr. John W. Gibson, who graduated from then-Arkansas State College. John played for the baseball team before earning his bachelor’s degree in 1962 followed by his master’s degree in 1965. He dedicated his professional career to public education, working as a teach, principal and superintendent for more than 30 years.

GET YOUR WOLVES UP!

This week’s #WolvesUp photos features A-State alum June Hafner, a member of our first women’s basketball team, repping her alma mater with her Wolves Up at the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament in Las Vegas.

Our second photo features Tom and Debbie Miller with their Wolves Up in downtown Oranjestad, Aruba.

Remember to use the hashtag #WolvesUp in your social posts and tweet your photos to me @JeffPurinton if you have any pictures with your Wolves Up! or promoting A-State. We will select photos to feature in each edition of State of the Pack.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

View the list of scheduled events, broadcast information, start time and stat links on our composite calendar. (Note: All times are listed in Central Time.) Access live stats from your desktop or mobile device by visiting AStateStats.com.

TICKETS

Season and single-game tickets for our fall and winter sports are available by visiting AStateRedWolves.com/Tickets or calling the A-State Ticket Office at 870-972-2781. You can contact the Red Wolves Foundation at 870-972-2401 for additional information and/or to purchase tickets in our premium areas.