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The sports year is wind-ing down but there is much to do before the last pitch. Our track and fi eld program will host their annual track meet on campus April 21.

The women’s golf team just fi nished fourth in their conference tournament outside of San Marcos Texas. The men’s golf team participates in their conference tournament April 23-25 in McKinney Texas. The Tennis team won the most confer-ence matches and overall matches ever in our DI existence. Our softball program is pushing toward the playoffs with the most victories ever in school history, currently at 31. The baseball program is tied for fourth in the league with several games to go. It is an exciting time for all of our sports. We expect this year to be easily the most successful in total for our 17 sports combined. This summer will see the completion of the Sky Boxes and Administrative Offi ces at Bear Hall. We are anxious for the debut of this facility on Sep-tember 15 when we open the 2012 season on the Stripes. We hope you will join us for a game as the spring wraps up. Please also note this is our Purple Circle campaign push. You can help us spread the word of how much impact private funds have on our programs. We have been able to accomplish much due to your support. This information is on-line at our web site UCASports.com. Go Bears and Sugar Bears.Bradfollow me on Twitter @bradteague

UPCOMINGEVENTSDr.

BradTeague April

20-21 – UCA Open (Track & Field – all day)

21 – Men’s Soccer vs. UCA Soccer Alumni (2 p.m.)

24 – Softball vs. UT Arlington (DH, begins 4 p.m.)

27 – Baseball vs. UTSA (6 p.m.)

28 – Softball vs. Oklahoma (1 p.m.) Baseball vs. UTSA (4 p.m.)

29 – Baseball vs. UTSA (1 p.m.)

May4 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (6 p.m.)

5 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (6 p.m.)

6 – Baseball vs. Northwestern State (1 p.m.)

9 – Baseball vs. Mississippi Valley St. (DH; 1 p.m.)

17 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (6 p.m.)

18 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (6 p.m.)

19 – Baseball vs. Sam Houston State (1 p.m.)

F O L L O W U S O N L I N E facebook.com/ucasports

@ucasports

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SPRING BREAK-OUTNEW PLAYMAKERS EMERGE AS BEARS FINISH SPRING WITH OFFENSIVE OUTBURST

Last season as the Bears made a run to their fi rst-ever Division I playoffs, quarterback Nathan Dick was re-writing the school record book and running back Jackie Hinton led the charge on the ground – more than doubling any other Bear’s rushing total.

This spring, Dick is training for the next phase of his career as he hopes to hear his name called in the NFL Draft later this month. Hinton is also doing what little training he can do, hoping to get back on the fi eld this fall after injuries kept him out of spring drills.

Those losses, among others, left the Bears searching during the spring for what could be key offensive cogs this fall. If results of spring practice are any indicator, they may have found what they were looking for.

In the battle to replace Dick, fourth-year junior Wyn-rick Smothers made the most of his opportunity as the frontrunner. In the three scrimmages, he combined to throw for 586 yards and 6 TDs on an incredible 73.1 completion percentage (38 of 52). In the Purple-Gray game, he showed the ability to make plays with

his feet as well, rushing for 107 yards on just fi ve car-ries – including an 87-yard touchdown run.

Wesleigh Foster, a freshman running back out of Clarksville, had a breakout performance in the spring game as well, leading the team with 121 rushing yards on just eight carries – an average of 15.1 per rush.

Nearly every member of the receiving corps fl ashed big-play ability throughout the spring, with Jesse Grandy, Dominique Croom, Al Lasker, Dezmin Lewis, and Damien Watts among those who stood out in the vertical passing game at various points.

New offensive linemen emerged as well, with sopho-more Cole Caruthers (6-4, 278) from Sugarland, Texas (Clements HS) and redshirt freshman Kyle Stouffer (6-7, 321) from Highland Park, Texas earning head coach Clint Conque’s praise following the fi rst scrimmage.

In all, the UCA offense totaled 691 yards of offense in the Purple-Gray game with 375 coming through the air and 316 on the ground.

junior quarterback Wynrick Smothers

photo by Bill Patterson

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CLIMBING THE LADDERCLIMBING THE LADDERTHOUGH AT DIFFERENT RUNGS, WOMEN’S PROGRAMS TAKING STEPS UPTHOUGH AT DIFFERENT RUNGS, WOMEN’S PROGRAMS TAKING STEPS UP

two-time southland conference player of the year Megan Herbert

In March, the Sugar Bears basketball program completed what was easily its most successful season in Division I, and arguably its best season ever, as they claimed their fi rst Southland Conference championship with a 14-2 league record and fi nished the season 24-7 after a loss at eventual champion Oklahoma State in the WNIT.

The 24 wins improved on the 21 of each of the previous two seasons, mak-ing them the fi rst Southland team in a decade to record three straight seasons of 21 or more wins. They also had an in-credible season inside the Farris Center, going a program-record 16-0 at home.

They, much like the two-time league champion Sugar Bear volleyball program, have reached the top in the Southland Conference. They have raised banners, cut down nets and fi lled trophy cases – success at the highest level.

Success, however, comes in many forms, and other programs around campus are experiencing their highest level of suc-cess since the Division I move.

The UCA softball program has increased its win total in each of its four seasons under head coach David Kuhn, and this season is enjoying the most fruitful of any season in program history regard-less of classifi cation as the Bears have reached and eclipsed the 30-win mark for the fi rst time and sit 31-18 with seven games remaining before what is likely to be their fi rst appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament in

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CamI Newsomesenior pitchersweeny, texas

May. Heading into this weekend’s series at Stephen F. Austin, the Bears are holding on to the sixth and fi nal position for the league tournament and have a three-win lead on the nearest competitors with six league games remaining.

The Sugar Bear tennis team, in its fi rst year under head coach Jeff Borengasser, also made strides in 2012 – recently wrapping up what was easily its best Division I season to date. Having never won more than four matches in a season since making the D-I move for the 2007 season, the Sugar Bears doubled that number this season by posting eight wins. They also ended their Southland Conference losing streak that dated back to ‘07, and fi nished the season with their second conference victory of the season – their fi rst time to do so. The future appears stable for the program, as four of the top six were freshmen or sophomores this season.

Simona Horsikyanno. 1 singles

kardzhali, bulgaria

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GREAT BEAR CLASSICGREAT BEAR CLASSICL E T T E R M E N ’ S C L U B H O S T S G O L F T O U R N E Y AT C E N T E N N I A L V A L L E YL E T T E R M E N ’ S C L U B H O S T S G O L F T O U R N E Y AT C E N T E N N I A L V A L L E Y

The UCA Lettermen’s Club hosted its an-nual golf tournament on Friday, April 13 at the Centennial Valley Golf & Athletic Club in Conway with 21 teams participating.

The team of Allen Perry and Will Huffman shot a 62 to take home the crown, while Kevin Leach and Brian Henderson fi nished second at 65.

RESULTS:FIRST FLIGHT:Perry/Huffman 62Leach/Henderson 65Myers/Teague 65Ramer/Johnston 66Weaver/Dunseath 67Hess/Hess 68Taylor/Tarkington 68

SECOND FLIGHT:Shelton/Shelton 71Neighbors/Neighbors 71Goodloe/Zimmerman 73Newman/Hull 73Barnett/Shock 73Osburn/Taylor 73

THIRD FLIGHT:Strange/McVay 74Hawk/Hawk 74Goodpaster/Scherrey 77Spurlock/Spurlock 77Dangeau/Grisham 79Bing/Bone 79Restum/Farr 80Jordan/Jordan 82

steve hess

ALLEN PERRY/WILL HUFFMANSHOOT 62 TO WIN

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MANUFACTURING A RUN

Farr is F ie ld , home of UCA Softba l l ,as captured from the out f ie ld berm

on March 28 by Bradley Widding .

BASEBALL BEARS SPORT LONGEST SOUTHLAND WINNING STREAK;SIT IN TIE FOR THIRD IN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Having won their last fi ve Southland Conference contests, most recently sweeping Nicholls, the Bears fi nd themselves in a four-way tie for 3rd place in the league standings at 10-8 with fi ve series remain-ing. UCA will be at home – where they are 8-1 in league play – for three of those fi ve, including UTSA (6-12) on Apr. 27-29; Northwestern State (10-8) on May 4-6; and 1st-place Sam Houston State (15-3) on May 17-19. The Bears must still travel to Texas State

(8-10) and Stephen F. Austin (7-11). If the Bears can maintain one of the top eight spots in the league standings, they will qualify for the Southland Conference tournament for the fi rst time. This season’s tournament is being held at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas. The Bears need just four wins in their fi nal 15 league games to eclipse their previous high of 13 Southland wins in a season, done both in 2011 and 2008.

blake marchaljunior infi elderla porte, texas

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HOME SUITE HOMESKYBOX CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AS SEPTEMBER OPENER NEARSSKYBOX CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES AS SEPTEMBER OPENER NEARS

BEARS TO PLAY SIX GAMES ON STRIPES IN 20122012 UCA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SEPT. 01 at OLE MISS

SEPT. 08 at MURRAY STATE

SEPT. 15 BACONE COLLEGE

SEPT. 22 SAM HOUSTON STATE

SEPT. 29 at STEPHEN F. AUSTIN

OCT. 06 NICHOLLS

OCT. 13 at MCNEESE STATE

OCT. 20 LAMAR

OCT. 27 at SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

NOV. 03 NORTHWESTERN STATE

NOV. 10 OPEN

NOV. 17 EASTERN ILLINOIS

After opening the season with a road trip to Oxford, Miss. for head coach Hugh Freeze’s debut at Ole Miss,

followed by a date at Murray State, the Bears will make their 2012 home debut and unveil the new luxury

suites on Sept. 15 against Bacone College in the fi rst of six home games. The next week, defending Southland Champion and national runner-up Sam Houston State

comes to Conway.

Two weeks later, Coach Clint Conque’s alma mater of Nicholls State rolls into town. Lamar will make its fi rst-ever football trip to Conway on Oct. 20, and two weeks later the Northwestern State Demons come to First Security Field at Estes Stadium, where they won in their last visit. After an open date, the Bears will fi nish

the regular season with a non-conference game against Eastern Illinois, a team UCA beat on the road two sea-sons ago. Ticket renewals for Purple Circle members

are ongoing, while new sales will begin in July.

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UCA Lettermen’s Club

Membership Application Please act now to reserve your membership in the UCA Lettermen’s Club!

It only takes a minute to be remembered for a lifetime! PRINT this form and return to address listed below. Name __________________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________

City _________________________________________ State ________ Zip __________

Home Phone _______________________________ Business Phone ____________________

*Email Address__________________________________ Years Lettered __________________

Sports _________________________________________________________________

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*Must have current email address to receive monthly newsletter

�Active Lettermen members receive double credit in the Purple Circle beginning at the $100 level.

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Please charge my Visa – Mastercard - Discover or Personal Check

Card Number__________________________________________ Expires _________________

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For additional information on the UCA Lettermen’s Club contact Carole Good at 501.450.3150 or caroleg@uca.edu

Please return this form with check or credit card authorization to the address below.

Go Bears!!

If you are not already a member, please consider becoming a member of the Pur-ple Circle Foundation and enjoy the benefi ts of membership while helping enhance UCA Athletics and supporting the hard-working student-athletes who represent our university.