Austin Wylie competes during the St. Mary’s Invitational in October.

“If you don’t expect someone to do something they probably won’t do it.” That was the first sentence uttered by University of the Incarnate Word Men’s and Women’s Golf Head Coach Brad Martin in a recent interview and it shows exactly what he is trying to do for his program—raise expectations. Currently, both of his teams are at their highest national ranking in years with the women ranked 35th and the men ranked 53rd in NCAA Division II by GolfStat.

Martin asks that his teams and players expect they can win rather than just hope they can win. He works extensively with his teams on tournament preparation to put them in the position to excel. “I expect the players to prepare for a tournament and not just show up the day before and hit (golf) balls,” said Martin.

“Playing for Coach Martin has been a great learning experience. He keeps us on our toes,” said Jessica Cornish, UIW senior and member of the women’s team.

Martin served as assistant head coach at St. Mary’s University for two years prior to coming to UIW. When not coaching at the university, he provides golf lessons at Rolling Oaks Golf Center. He has worked in the San Antonio area at a number of courses and clubs to include La Cantera Golf Academy and Northern Hills Country Club.

(Pictured L-R) Assistant Coach Rob Lee, and team members Alejandro Flores, Austin Jordan, John Paul Taylor, Austin Wylie, and Archie Ramos won first place in September at the Cameron Golf Tournament at The Territory Golf Course in Duncan, Okla.

Martin joined UIW’s athletic department in the Spring of 2011 as the assistant coach. He became the interim head coach after the departure of Head Coach Doug Quiere and on July 1, 2011 Martin had the interim tag removed.

While Martin has both the men’s and women’s team playing at a high level this year, he knows there is still work to be done. “Right now, we have the potential to make the Regional Tournament,” says Martin.

But Martin admits the teams are still working on their consistency.

The NCAA Division II Super Region 4 Tournament is open to the top 10 teams in the entire region and will be played May 5-7 in DuPont, Wash. The top four teams in each of the four Super Regions will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Hershey, Pa. on May 15-18.

Both teams began the fall schedule with a tournament victory. The women opened the season by winning the UIW Fall Invitational at The Club at Sonterra South. Junior Flower Castillo, the 2012 Lone Star Conference Champion, won that tournament and followed it up with a second place finish at the Angelo State Concho River Classic and a fourth place finish at the prestigious Gus Harvey Invitational played at the PGA National Golf Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Lizeth Escobedo on the course at the UIW
Fall Invitational.

The men’s team has been a little more up and down than the women’s. They began the season with a 10th place showing at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate. Two weeks later, they won the Territory Classic that included Abilene Christian, the No. 6 team in the nation. October proved to be similar to September as they took eighth place at the Ryan Palmer Invitational, but then tied for second place at the Bruce Williams Memorial Invitational hosted by St. Mary’s University to close out the fall schedule.

Martin’s star pupil has been Castillo, a San Antonio native who graduated from Lee High School. “No one works harder than she does,” said Martin. “But she is also working hard on her academics as well, which is a good thing.”

Martin believes that Castillo has the ability and work ethic to accomplish great things. “She can do whatever she wants to do and right now I think she has a future beyond college golf,” said the coach.

“Being a part of this team has helped me grow and improve not only as a player but in all aspects of my life,” said Castillo. “My experience with the golf team has been amazing and extremely memorable.”

Martin’s goal is to build a program that focuses on academics and outstanding play on the course. When I am recruiting the first thing I look at is grades,” said Martin. “Incarnate Word is a place where the teachers know their students and if someone isn’t in class I will hear about it.”

Martin has high expectations for his teams in the classroom as well as on the course and is clear with his current players and recruits that they have to be willing to put the time into both endeavors to be successful.

(Pictured L-R) Team members Maddy Buhler, Samantha Martinez, Flower Castillo, Jessica Cornish, and Christina French pose for a photo during the UIW Fall Invitational at The Club at Sonterra South in October. The women’s team took first place at the tournament.

One area that sets Martin apart from his coaching counterparts is his willingness to allow walk-ons onto his teams. A normal NCAA Division I golf program carries eight men and eight women. The UIW squads currently feature 18 men and 15 women. He holds a special place in his heart for walk-ons because he is a former NCAA Division I walk-on himself. “I like to be able to give players a chance to earn a spot on our traveling team and we have already had one walk-on earn a scholarship in the short time I have been here,” said Martin.

With Incarnate Word moving to Division I next year, Martin plans to carry two to four walk-ons per team. He wants to keep 13 to 15 per team and noted that if his teams started to get too big he would conduct a tryout for the walk-on spots.

Martin is cautiously optimistic about UIW’s future in Division I. “The competition will be very tough and we will have some budget limitations, but I think player-wise that we can compete,” said Martin.

Cornish said the team is excited about the vision he has for the team. All-in-all it should be an exciting spring for the Cardinals and the future is bright.

To learn more about UIW’s men’s and women’s golf team, and to view the roster, stats and competition schedule, visit www.cardinalathletics.com.

]]> http://www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/2013/03/uiw-golf-teams-strive-for-excellence-on-and-off-the-course/feed/ 0 http://www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/2012/11/uiw-accepts-invitation-to-division-i/ http://www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/2012/11/uiw-accepts-invitation-to-division-i/#comments Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:09:43 +0000 Brance Arnold http://www.uiw.edu/thewordonline/?p=5147 [continue reading...]]]>

Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett welcomes President Dr. Louis J. Agnese to the Southland Conference.

By Brance Arnold ’10 MA

Division I—Here we come! Beginning in the fall of 2011, UIW actively pursued a transition from Lone Star Conference (LSC) in NCAA’s Division II to Southland Conference (SLC) in Division I. And now it’s official!

SLC’s Commissioner, Tom Burnett, formally invited UIW to the league during a press conference held Aug. 20, 2012. The transition becomes effective July 1, 2013 and will mark UIW’s four-year shift to Division I with SLC’s assistance and supervision.

For scheduling purposes, UIW will continue to compete in Division II’s LSC, but will be recognized as a Division I team in 2014-15. The Cardinals will be fully eligible for NCAA Championship events in 2017-18.

“We are truly blessed to be joining such an outstanding conference like Southland,” said UIW President Dr. Louis Agnese. “We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with SLC that will be equally rewarding to our students and the residents of San Antonio.”

After announcing UIW’s invitation to the conference, Southland Board Chairman and president of Stephen F. Austin State University Dr. Baker Pattillo continued: “Further, we are honored to learn of the institution’s acceptance of our offer, and we are gratified by the approval of the UIW Board of Trustees and the visionary leadership of the university’s administration. The Southland presidents look forward to a beneficial partnership with UIW, its athletics, and the San Antonio community.”

“As is the case with other membership additions, the board has only shown interest in institutions that clearly bring added value to the league,” said Burnett. “That includes strong academic performance, athletic competitiveness and achievement, excellent playing facilities, geographic fit, media market size and presence in the market, and strong fan support. UIW is a historic and accomplished institution, and has the potential and resources to be a competitively successful member of the South- land Conference and NCAA Division I.”

SLC participates in the NCAA’s Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in Division I’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).

UIW will be the Southland’s 12th member and will participate in all of the 17 sponsored championships. In men’s sports they include basketball, baseball, cross-country, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field. In women’s sports, they are basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, and indoor and outdoor track and field.

“We want to give you a first-class competitive experience,” said Burnett, addressing student athletes at the press conference. “We want you to succeed academically. We compete in a great, tight geographic area. You are going to be able to get home and get to class.”

The pursuit of Division I status has been a multi-faceted yet steadfast one. After presenting a formal proposal to South- land Conference representatives and its board of directors last January, a four-person delegation from Southland visited UIW in July. Led by Burnett, the committee met with UIW board members, administrators, coaches, athletic officials, faculty and student-athletes, and attended receptions held by UIW officials and local dignitaries.

“We quickly, as a site visit team, acknowledged and saw for ourselves all the wonderful things happening on this campus,” Burnett expressed.

To culminate SLC’s visit, a press conference was held where Burnett addressed the media and shared his impression of UIW. “I can’t remember when I have seen an institution so well embraced by its city, government officials and the corporate shakers in the community,” said Burnett. Now begins the logistical transition to NCAA Division I. And with the move comes the need to recruit more Division I athletic talent.

“We have been recruiting Division I athletes, with Division I coaches and now we have a Division I to enter,” expressed Dr. Agnese at the press conference officially inviting UIW to the conference.

Leading The Cardinals’ charge to Division I in football is Head Coach Larry Kennan, former executive director of the NFL Coaches Association. Kennan has worked with all-pro quarterbacks, coached at all levels, and possesses a Super Bowl ring. He was named head coach of the UIW football program in December of 2011.

Currently, UIW sponsors more sports than any other NCAA Division II school in Texas with a total of 21 teams in men’s and women’s sports. Since 2007-08, over 20 Cardinals’ squads have claimed league titles and advanced to national postseason play.

Not only will athletics be enhanced, but the university and its student body as a whole will experience some remarkable improvements with the move to Division I status. Some of the most profound enhancements include the elevation of the equity of student degrees due to increased admission standards; an increase in state and federal funding for student financial aid; an increase and improvements in academic advising resources, academic facilities, such as study areas and computer labs; and improvements and renovations to UIW facilities.

Division I status will further elevate academic standards. Burnett indicated at the press conference in August that the academic standards in the division are different and that coaches and institutions in the conference are aware of the need to recruit students of a high caliber.

The move will also expand and elevate the brand of UIW in the region and nationally.

“Overall, the move to Division I will make the school a household name across Texas and across the Division,” said Shane Meling, UIW’s sports information director. “You will see us on ESPN on the listing of scores and the name recognition will benefit the school.”

Before officially shaking Agnese’s hand to formally welcome UIW to SLC, Burnett expressed: “We love this city. We have fallen in love with this university. And we think there is a great future here.”

Dr. Agnese addresses the crowd at a press conference on Aug. 20.

It may be hard to believe, but the University of the Incarnate Word football program has been playing games for four seasons now. The seniors of the “Forever First” group of recruits are entering the final days of their playing careers.

“Forever First” Seniors Andy Seaman (61) and Ty Warnasch (75)

The program’s first official signing day came in February of 2008 when 27 players became the first members of the Cardinal football program. There are only 11 players left from that initial group plus six more who joined the squad prior to the start of the 2008 practice season. With only two of the players having eligibility left for the 2013 season it is literally the end of the first era of Cardinal football.

The last four years have been a time of many firsts; the first game, the first score, the first win, the first season and many others. The “Forever First” group officially began play on Aug. 29, 2009 against the Monterrey Tech Borregos Salvajes. Some 6,235 fans passed through the turnstiles and were treated to a thrilling game. Junior quarterback Thomas Specia scored the first touch- down on a 52-yard run to spark a 42-39 victory.

The first year saw the Cardinals go 5-5 with three of the current remaining “Forever First” players; Chaz Pavliska, Alan Ford and Dakota Mawyer, earning D2football.com All-Independent honors.The following season the Cardinals joined the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The team finished with a 3-8 record, but all three wins came against top LSC competition and they nearly upset nationally ranked Midwestern State on the road before falling in overtime.

Since joining the Lone Star Conference, the Cardinals have continued to earn the respect of their opponents even though the scores may not always be in their favor. Much of that respect is due to the hard work and perseverance of the “Forever First” class that remains with the program today.

“Forever First” Senior Trent Rios

“We can look back and say we started all of this,” said linebacker Mawyer.

The Cardinals record book is filled with the names of players who began with the program in 2008 and are still with the team. Whether it has been running, catching, passing, blocking, tackling or kicking, the group has made an impact that will be felt for years to come.

On the offensive side of the ball, running back Trent Rios should be the team’s leading rusher for a fourth consecutive year. It is an accomplishment that is very rare in college football. He will finish his career with numerous school records including rushing yards in a game, rushing yards in a season, rushing yards in a career, touchdowns in a game, touchdowns in a season, touch- downs in a career, all-purpose yards in a season and all-purpose yards in a career, just to name a few. While he has been outstanding on the playing field, Rios has been just as distinguished off the field earning a pair of First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VI citations in his career.

Rios reached a milestone on Sept. 14, 2012 when he surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. Making the moment even more special is where he was when he surpassed 2,000 yards, Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX.

Playing at Cowboys Stadium is another first for the Cardinal football program. Getting a chance to play there is something that none of the UIW players will ever forget.

While Rios has been the player to set numerous records, one of the big reasons has been the offensive line. The group of Jayson Hierholzer, Jake Roby, Charles Segura, Andy Seaman and Ty Warnasch started 21 straight games together on the offensive line covering the entire 2010 and 2011 seasons. All five players are a part of the “Forever First” class.

“Forever First” Senior Alan Ford

Of the entire offensive line, Segura is the one who has gotten the most recognition in his career. He has been named to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic Team on two occasions and was a First Team Capital One Academic All-District VI selection in 2011. The most impressive honor that he has earned was the 2010 UIW Student-Athlete of the Year which shows the exemplary person he is both on and off the field.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dakota Mawyer and Chaz Pavliska have etched their names in the UIW Record Book. Both players are four-year starters who have been the heart- and-soul of the Cardinal defense from the moment they stepped on the field. They have each earned all-Lone Star Conference honors and in a nice twist of fate, each player recorded his 200th career tackle in the same game.

While the “Forever First” class is coming to the end of their time on the field, they have laid the foundation for the future of UIW football. This ending is just the beginning of bigger and better things to come in the future. The class has guided the program from its infancy stages and now it is time to turn over leadership to the next group of players.

“When I look back on how far we have come in so little time, all I can do is praise God for allowing me to be a part of some- thing so special,” said the program’s first secondary coach Nick Debose. “The reason I came to UIW was to be a part of building a college football program. We have done much more than I ever could have imagined.”

“Forever First” will long be remembered as the group of players that helped put the Incarnate Word athletic department in position to join NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference. Future Cardinals will forever have a debt of gratitude to this class and the class in which they went about the business of starting a program.

The names of this first class should never be forgotten: Devan Avery, Alan Ford, Dominic Hamilton, Jayson Hierholzer, Caleb Kocian, Eric Massoni, Dakota Mawyer, Saul Meza, Trent Rios, Jake Roby, Andy Seaman, Charles Segura, Alex Torres, Ty Warnasch, Robert Williams and Aaron Willis. They have prepared the way for a bright future.

Each athletic year at Incarnate Word ends with an impressive list of student-athletes who have received special recognition for their efforts both on the field, court, track, or pool and in the classroom. There is also a second list, shorter and more exclusive that adds “of the year” behind a player’s name and an extra star or two to their credit.

The 2011-2012 Cardinals had an impressive group of 11 individuals being singled out as the year’s best in their areas.

UIW’s fall competition had four “of the year” awards presented to three athletes. Callum Riley, of men’s soccer was voted the Lone Star Conference (LSC) Offensive Player of the Year while teammate Chris Fidler received double honors as LSC Academic Athlete of the Year and the Daktronics South Central Regional Player of the Year. Cross country’s Amanda Bishop was the LSC Female Runner of the Year.

During the winter competition, a trio of Cardinals were recognized with “of the year” awards. Swimmer Mark Rubin was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Academic Athlete of the Year while Kaitlyn Whalen, also a swimmer, was the RMAC Female Freshman of the Year. Shaun Umeh of men’s basketball was named LSC Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

When spring arrived another trio of Incarnate Word athletes were honored. Luke Trautmann was the LSC men’s tennis Sportsman of the Year while Coach John Newman was voted the LSC Women’s Coach of the Year.  UIW track and field team member Howard Gill also received honors as the LSC Track Academic Athlete of the Year.

As the dust settled on the athletic year, members of the UIW coaching staff along with athletic administrators voted on their own choices for male and female athletes of the year.  Those honorees were Chris Johnson from basketball and Flower Castillo from golf.

On a quiet Saturday morning in June, UIW was transformed into an Olympic village of sorts, with approximately 3,500 athletes from 49 companies competing in 13 events to be crowned the Corporate Cup Champion.

UIW was selected by San Antonio Sports as the host location for their inaugural Corporate Cup, a “Corporate Olympics” type of competition, pitting like-sized San Antonio companies against each other in events such as a tug of war, dodge ball tournament, precision soccer kicks and football throws, bean bag toss (“corn toss”), a 5K wellness walk, a 5K competitive run, 4×100 and 4×400 relays, a three-point shooting competition, golf chipping, and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

The 66 members of Team UIW practiced for six weeks in preparation for the event. On Saturday, they welcomed their competitors, their families and friends to the beautiful UIW campus.

Congratulations to Team UIW for placing third at the inaugural event in Division I (companies with over 1,000 employees.) First and second place winners were USAA and H-E-B, respectively.

Howard Gill Student-Athlete of the Year for 2011-2012

Being named Student-Athlete of the Year is not only an honor bestowed for excellence on the field, track, or court, but for paramount achievements in the classroom and among the community as well.  Student Howard Gill exemplifies these accomplishments and has been selected as the University of the Incarnate Word’s (UIW) Student-Athlete of the Year for 2011-2012.

A biology major, Gill earned a 3.9 cumulative GPA to include a pristine 4.0 for the 2012 spring semester.  He graduated summa cum laude in May and received his bachelor’s degree within three academic years.  At UIW, he was a Dean’s List student, a Presidential Scholar, a Military Children’s scholarship recipient, a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and secretary of UIW’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the UIW Pre-Med Society.

Classified as a junior in athletics, he ran cross country for the Cardinals, finishing 36th at the Lone Star Conference (LSC) championships and 45th at the NCAA Division II South Central Regional meet.  In track, he set UIW records in the indoor 1600-meters, outdoor 1500-meters and the indoor 1k.  During the outdoor season, he placed 5th in the Lone Star Conference 800-meter run, attained 7th place in the 1,500-meter event, and was voted Lone Star Conference Academic Athlete of the Year for track & field as well as led a group of 11 notable track and field athletes on LSC Men’s All-Academic Team.

According to Howard’s coach, he embodies all that is exemplary of a candidate for Student-Athlete of the Year.

“He is what I call a shooting star—someone who comes in and does great things with a wonderful personality and attitude,” said Derek Riedel, UIW’s head cross country/track and field coach and Gill’s coach for his three years at the university.  “He exceeded my expectations with his love for running, school, Christ, and his teammates.”

Gill’s achievements and contributions have not only been academic and athletic, they have extended into the San Antonio community.  He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, St. Peter’s School and Seton Home for Single Women via San Antonio’s Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST).

Selected by UIW’s coaches and athletic administrative staff at the conclusion of each school-year,  criteria for receiving the accolade is based upon a grade point average of 3.5 or better, academic classification as junior or senior, residence at UIW for a minimum of one year, and contributions to one’s team.  The ballot for this academic year included forty-one student-athletes; the nominees represented seven of the nine men’s sports and nine of the ten women’s teams.

“He was the right person for the student-athlete of the year award,” said Riedel.  After receiving the elite distinction and completing his baccalaureate at UIW, Gill now plans to attend the University of Texas Medical School at Galveston this Fall.

Senior Anna Nelson performs a solo routine during the 2011 UIW Water Show, the team's annual fundraising event at the Anne Barshop Natatorium.

Academics and athletics stand as the core of every great university and the University of the Incarnate Word is an embodiment of these traditions. Synchronized Swimming is a unique sports program that is technically demanding and reflects these two disciplines, continually raising them to a level of excellence. UIW’s current Synchronized Swimming team is determined to capture a national championship in 2012.

Head Coach Kimberly Wurzel-LoPorto

The team’s coach is a former Olympian and team members are held to the highest of competitive standards. Head Coach Kimberly Wurzel-LoPorto competed in the Olympic Games held in Sidney, Australia, and she brings that very kind of dedication, focus, and prestige to UIW’s program.

“I competed in the 2000 Olympic Games and that is something that less than one percent of the population achieves,” she said.

Among her many accolades, she is a six-time Senior National Team member, a five-time national champion, a two-time Junior National Team member, the Athlete of Year in U.S.A. Synchro in 2000, and an eight-time All-American.

From Santa Clara, Calif., Wurzel-LoPorto’s experience stretches back to early childhood. LoPorto’s father was a World Masters Swimmer and inspired her to take to the pool as a toddler. Her siblings were also swimmers. At the age of nine, her father suggested she try synchronized swimming and the rest is history.

“I loved it because it’s an art but you have to be focused because it is such a demanding sport,” she said.

Members of the UIW Synchronized Swimming team put on a duet performance at the annual Water Show.

She competed in synchronized swimming for 16 years before transitioning to the role of coach. However, the transition was not immediate. In 2001, she moved to San Antonio and performed as a synchronized swimmer for Sea World’s VIVA show, where she swam with Beluga whales and Pacific White-sided dolphins.

Soon after, UIW hired Wurzel-LoPorto, first in exchange for completing her degree in psychology, and then full-time after graduating.

“For the first three and a half years, I was a student here and I went to class during the day and coached either in the early morning or late in the evening,” she said.

Wurzel-LoPorto built the program from scratch, recruiting members by passing out fliers on campus. She began with only three swimmers who held minimal experience. “One swimmer was a UIW soccer player, one a ballerina, and the third an athlete who had tried synchronized swimming but hadn’t practiced for six or seven years,” she said.

In the program’s first season, UIW ranked 17th in the nation. However, the following year, the team achieved 6th place in the country with a roster of seven athletes. After the program’s fourth year, the team achieved 3rd place nationally, only behind Stanford University and Ohio State University, and has maintained that status to this day.

The UIW synchro duet team of Molly Knight and Saki Fujise features two senior students who have worked together for every season of their time at UIW. Fujise, from Nagoya, Japan, is a kinesiology major, and Knight, of Walnut Creek, Calif., is an interior environmental design major.

Since the program’s inception, not only has its prestige grown, so has the team’s roster. UIW’s 2011-12 team consists of sixteen members from the Ukraine, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Freshman, Inga Gillyer, who was on the Ukrainian Olympic team and ranked 2nd in her country, heard about UIW’s program and came to the university in the fall. She hopes to compete in the 2020 Olympics. The roster also includes Suki Fujise, a UIW senior and a Junior National Team member, whose hometown is Nagoya, Japan.

“It is great to have an international influence, it helps the momentum of the team,” said Wurzel-LoPorto. “There is a pride that runs through and through, and it’s not just American pride, it is Incarnate Word pride. They are so proud to be members of this community and members of this school. A lot of them want to stay here in the community and live here after they graduate.”

With the team’s diversity there also exists a unified determination to be the best in the nation.

“Our team is the most cohesive we’ve ever had,” Wurzel-LoPorto said. “They amaze me when they get in the pool, and I have pretty high standards for them. Being an Olympian, I am very much a perfectionist and it has to be done a certain way, and they exceed my expectations.”

The discipline of the team is palpable considering they often practice as early as 5 a.m. during the week. Armed with this unwavering discipline and feverish preparation, this season UIW’s Synchro team faces a challenging schedule competing against high caliber teams.

The team performs solo, duet, trio, and team routines. Every routine consists of a theme that the team members choose themselves.

“I let the swimmers choose the theme and music because the more they enjoy the music they are swimming to, the better they’ll swim,” Wurzel-LoPorto said.

As one of only nine varsity synchronized swimming programs in the country and the only collegiate program in Texas, the team often travels by plane to compete. The team hosts fundraisers to help support the program. Wurzel-LoPorto said they have held a water show and silent auction, as well as, a South Zone Clinic to mentor aspiring swimmers of all ages and provide instruction for coaches with their respective programs.

Though synchronized swimming is not an NCAA-sponsored sport, Wurzel-LoPorto’s team is held to the same Division II standards as every other sport on campus and has the complete support of the university.

“We are extremely blessed because we have the support of everyone on campus,” says Wurzel-LoPorto. “They are backing us through this time so we can get back on that emerging sports list.”

Due to the fact that the NCAA requires 20 varsity teams or more and there are only nine in the entire nation, these programs have lost their emerging sports status. Wurzel-LoPorto’s team, however, remains undaunted and maintains their pursuit of excellence.

UIW freshman Inga Gillyer, of Donestk Ukraine, performs a solo routine in her debut as a member of the UIW Synchronized Swimming team at the 2011 Water Show.

“We struggle with other universities recognizing what a great sport this is and to add it on a varsity level,” she said. “Nothing has changed for us and we continue forward.” The program’s recruiting also remains aligned with NCAA standards. Wurzel-LoPorto seeks the most elite athletes in the nation. She now finds the university’s reputation has reached athletes around the world and those swimmers are now contacting her about being on the program’s squad.

“They’re sending me videos and interviewing me to have a spot on our team,” she said. “We are a household name now.”

Team members are as passionate as their coach about being on the squad. Junior Brianna Andreychuk from Canada, who has been a member of the team for three years and has competed for 13 years, said she loves being on the team.

“We have great team chemistry and all work really well together,” Andreychuk said. “Our season is going to be very busy, but we have a very good chance at moving up in placement this year, and even winning Collegiate Nationals, which is very exciting.”

Enjoy bonus content about UIW’s Synchronized Swimming program below:

Wurzel-LoPorto agrees that the team’s chance of winning a national championship this year may come to fruition,

“The great thing is we’ve closed the gap between the overall points, so we’re really hoping this year to get first or second,” she said. “My athletes deserve it, they really want that national championship.”

Some of her former athletes have continued in synchronized swimming after graduating from UIW. Lyssa Wallace, in 2011, competed in the Pan American games in Guadalajara, Mexico and at the FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China.

Wurzel-LoPorto hopes her athletes will carry with them the values they have acquired as members of the team even after leaving the sport.

“I try to instill values that they can take throughout life,” she said.

Wurzel-LoPorto is also proud of the efforts and achievements of her athletes outside of the pool. “We have one of the highest GPAs in all of athletics and we’ve had that for years,” she said. “They are all Americans in the water and academically superb.”

According to the head coach, she receives emails from professors thanking her for the quality of her athletes because they are such excellent students.

“That is what I take home every day,” she said. “I feel like an accomplished coach because they are earning straight A’s and want to win a national championship. You can’t beat that.”

To learn more about UIW’s Synchronized Swimming program and to view their 2011-12 team roster and current schedule, please visit www.cardinalathletics.com. Also visit UIW Synchronized Swimming on Facebook.

It’s the proverbial work in progress. In recent months, much discussion has emerged about the University of the Incarnate Word actively pursuing a transition to NCAA’s Division I status and, more specifically, seeking an invitation to join the Southland Conference. UIW currently holds membership in Division II’s Lone Star Conference.

On Jan. 19, 2012, the university met with Southland Conference representatives, including their board of directors.

“Athletics Director Mark Papich explored the infrastructure requirements needed to go Division I last fall,” said Stacy Nordquist, UIW associate athletic director. “Utilizing the information Mr. Papich garnered, a group put together a proposal package that was presented to the Southland Conference.”

UIW President Dr. Louis Agnese led the presentation, emphasizing the benefits of UIW’s addition to the conference and answered questions from conference representatives.

According to Nordquist, the representatives will “disseminate” all information to the presidents of each academic institution belonging to the conference. Each president of the member universities has one vote to determine whether UIW will be offered an invitation into the conference.

“It is not certain exactly when the Southland Conference would contact UIW with a determination,” Nordquist said. “However, Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett has stated that he would like to ‘move quickly.’ ”

If invited into the Southland Conference, the full transition to Division I will be a multi-year process. Nordquist explained that UIW will have to formally withdraw from the Lone Star Conference according to its bylaws and provide a notice of exit prior to Sept. 30 of this year if the university accepts an invitation into the Southland Conference.

The university would remain for the 2012-13 academic year in Division II’s Lone Star Conference and eligible for post-season play in Division II.

Wayne Witt, UIW’s sports information director, said for the first year, UIW would continue as Lone Star Conference for scheduling purposes and the following school year, UIW would assume a provisional membership into the Southland Conference at the Division I level.

“The 2013-14 academic year would also start the reclassification process with the NCAA,” Nordquist said. “The reclassification process takes four years, which means Incarnate Word would most likely achieve full eligibility for Division I in the 2017-18 academic year.”

UIW has taken specific actions to determine whether the transition to Division I is feasible. During a press conference held last December, Agnese stated that the process began in August when he met with student athletes and the coaching staff to discuss the movement. The next and first formal step involved an online student survey via Blackboard, that took place prior to Thanksgiving, to assess support for the change.

“The real first step was seeking the opinion of the populace, namely the students, with an online poll,” Witt said.

After the survey results were determined, Agnese met with the University Planning Commission and the Executive Council voted in favor of the move. Finally, a recommendation was made to the UIW Board of Trustees. At the December press conference, Agnese announced the Board of Trustees had voted to move forward with the transition process into Division I.

Moving to Division I would create changes for the university and the athletics program.

“In athletics, there will be a need to provide Division I services and amenities including the addition of athletic staff members and changes to athletic facilities,” Nordquist said. “The move will expand the university’s brand and make the institution better known outside the region.”

Changes for the university will extend beyond athletics. Several benefits listed in the proposal include an increase in admission standards; elevating the equity of student degrees; an increase in academic advising resources, and academic facilities, such as study areas and computer labs; improvements and renovations to other facilities; and an increase in state and federal funding for student financial assistance.

“I have heard nothing but positive comments about a proposed move to NCAA Division I,” said Nordquist. “UIW graduates will see the value of their degree enhanced with the move.”

Larry Kennan, new head coach of the Cardinal football program, at the press conference announcing his appointment.

In Dec. 2011, UIW named Larry Kennan as the new head coach of the Cardinal football program. An experienced coach, Kennan has worked with all-pro quarterbacks, coached at all levels, and has a Super Bowl ring.

For the last 13 years, Kennan has been executive director of the NFL Coaches Association based in Washington, D.C. During that time he also worked with and trained quarterbacks such as Drew Bledsoe and Jeff Hostetler. Other quarterbacks he has worked with include Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Drew Brees.

Kennan has coaching experience with seven professional teams, six in the National Football League (NFL) and one in the former World Football League (WFL). He was the quarterbacks coach for the Super Bowl winning Los Angeles Raiders and head coach of the London Monarchs of the WFL.

At the college level, Kennan was the head coach at Lamar University for three years, and was the offensive coordinator at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Men's head soccer coach Vincent Martinez looks out at Benson Stadium.

By Andrew Festa

The departure of a coach has the power to weaken even the most talented team and shut a window of opportunity before players can regain their rhythm under a new leader.

The University of the Incarnate Word Men’s Soccer Team has proven to be in capable hands under the newly appointed men’s head soccer coach Vincent Martinez, and UIW’s impressive performance in his first season is evidence.

As assistant coach from 2008-2010, Martinez helped former head Coach John Smith assemble a gifted group of athletes. So when Smith resigned this summer, Martinez was a natural replacement. The players didn’t flinch, eventually achieving the program’s highest national ranking since 2004.

“The team loved Coach Smith, but since I have stepped in, they have rallied around me,” Martinez said. “I have been very happy with the team’s focus, and their attitudes in training. Their approach has been very professional.”

With 10 seniors returning after a 13-2-3 season, drastic changes weren’t necessary.

Martinez earned his coaching stripes at Las Positas College in Livermore, Calif., where he served as assistant coach for the women’s team and co-head coach for the men between 1995 and 2005. He played collegiately for Fresno State and professionally for the Monterey Bay Jaguars, Nashville Metros and Hershey Wildcats.

“I like him very much because he used to be a defender as well,” said senior defender Edward Estrada. “So he sees what I see on the field, and I understand exactly what he says whenever he explains things to me.”

It makes a new coach’s job easier when his players are already motivated.

“UIW was the only top 25 team to miss the playoffs last year,” Martinez said. “This left the Cardinals hungry to reach the postseason, win the Lone Star Conference and more.”

“We are all here working very hard, and we all have one thing on our mind, which is a national championship,” Estrada said.

So losing the season opener 2-1 to then-ninth-ranked Colorado School of Mines was a wake-up call.

“I think the team realized that not everything is going to come easy for us and we have to work hard for it,” Martinez said. “It was a game we should have won and we outplayed them, but that’s the way it happens in soccer. I think it made us stronger.”

The Cardinals responded by rattling off six consecutive victories and shooting into the top 5 of the national Division II poll. One remarkable victory came Sept. 16 against then-No. 3 Midwestern State at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium. Senior Max Gunderson scored the game’s lone goal, sending UIW from unranked nationally to No. 8 at the time and putting them atop the NCAA Division II South Central Region.

“Everyone has bonded,” Estrada said. “In the huddle we always say, ‘one team, one family,’ and we work for each other. We have everyone’s back on or off the field.”

A big reason for the surge was senior midfielder Callum Riley, who led the Lone Star Conference (LSC) with 17 goals and 38 points in 2010 and was named “LSC Offensive Player of the Year.” The Leicester, England, native earned a hat trick in a 4-2 victory over No. 19 Texas A&M International on Sept. 23.

Costa Rica native Carlos Picado also notched a three-goal game, in a 3-2 win over St. Edward’s University on Sept. 7.

The UIW men’s soccer team roster brims with talent from around the world. In addition to Riley and Picado, four other Cardinals come from England and one from Toronto.

“Our recruiting boundaries are not just in the state of Texas, they are all over the place,” Martinez said. “I think it is always good to have a mix of different backgrounds. Not only is college soccer the experience on the field, but it is good for the guys to learn from other backgrounds as well.”

Incarnate Word’s sterling reputation and the program’s winning tradition make it easy to bring in recruits, Martinez said.

“They are going to be playing on a good team, they are going to get a good education, they are in a good environment, and they have good facilities. Once recruits get here to visit, I do not really have to be the salesman too much, it sells itself.”