DLP: Cory Driskill returning to ACU Athletics

Wildcat fans,

I'm excited to tell you that Cory Driskill will be returning to a role in ACU Athletics beginning June 1. Cory will assume the duties as associate director of athletics for sports performance and will serve as the head athletics trainer and oversee both the sports medicine and strength and conditioning programs.

Cory transitioned from interim director of athletics after I was hired in November 2014, serving as senior associate director of athletics. He entered private business in December 2015 before joining Hardin-Simmons University as a teaching instructor and clinical coordinator for its athletics training program. He was a beloved member of our program as head athletics trainer from 2008-13, and I know everyone involved in ACU Athletics is thrilled to see him return "home."

After five terrific years as the director of sports medicine and head athletics trainer, Adam Ybarra is becoming instructor and clinical education coordinator for the Master of Athletics Training program started last year by Dr. Melissa Long, the wife of our associate AD Drew Long. Adam did a terrific job taking care of our student-athletes and managing his staff, and we will miss him, but know he will do a great job in his new role on campus.

WILDCAT CLUB / FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET RENEWALS

Members of the ACU Wildcat Club only have a few more days to renew their membership in time for the Priority Deadline. Donations made to the Wildcat Club through May 31 will count toward each member's Wildcat Loyalty Points, which will determine priority for football season ticket upgrades for the 2018 season, as well as tickets to our football game against Baylor on Sept. 1 in Waco.

Anyone who contributes $100 or more annually to any area within ACU Athletics will automatically become a member of the Wildcat Club and will receive exclusive member benefits. Those interested in renewing online can visit acuwildcatclub.com and click on the "Join Now" tab at the top right of the web page. For questions about renewals or to make your donation over the phone, please call 325-674-2323.

The deadline to renew your football season tickets is also May 31, and we look forward to having you back with us for another exciting season of Wildcat football at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. Renewing your football season tickets and/or Wildcat Club membership ensures your same seats in 2018 and continues your support of the entire athletics program. You will need to renew your current seats to be eligible for an upgrade.

There are four ways to renew your tickets for 2018-19:

• Renew online at acu.edu/season-tickets

• Call 325-674-CATS (2287) during regular business hours (11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday)

• Visit the Wildcat Ticket Center during business hours (11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday)

• Mail your paper renewal to Wildcat Ticket Center, ACU Box 27916, Abilene, Texas 79699-7916

SPRING SPORTS BANQUET

We had a great night celebrating a wonderful 2017-18 season on May 7 at the annual Student-Athlete Banquet. Men's tennis standout Josh Sheehy and women's track and field / cross country standout Allie Hackett were recognized as winners of the Paul Goad Award as men's and women's athletes of the year, respectively.

Numerous other well-deserved awards were handed out that night, and you can read the entire story about those honors here.

SPRING / SUMMER GRADUATES

Last Friday afternoon, we hosted our annual ceremony honoring our graduates, and recognized 45 student-athletes who graduated either Friday or in December:

• Baseball – Caleb Dougherty (business management), Drew Hanson (accounting), Zach Kornely (accounting/finance)
• Football – Quentin Bryant (environmental science), Gavin Burford (political science), Sam Denmark (engineering), Dylan Douglass (kinesiology), Brady Melde (kinesiology), Royce Moore (communication), Myles Solsberry (information systems)
• Men's Basketball – Drake Green (business management), Isaiah Tripp (multimedia journalism)
• Men's Tennis – Henry Adams (accounting), Paul Domanski (accounting), Brad Gleason (psychology)
• Men's Track and Field – Jaden Dement (interior design and architecture), Josh Hunter (social work), Kai Schmidt (management), Ryan Simmons (accounting/finance)
• Softball – Brianna Barnhill (kinesiology), Alyson Bishoff (kinesiology), Peyton Hedrick (kinesiology), Holly Neese (nutrition), Hannah Null (convergence journalism)
• Volleyball – Corinne Grandcolas (nursing)
• Women's Basketball – Taudenciah Olouch (composite interdisciplinary)
• Women's Soccer – Megan Baer (communication disorders), Emily Duke (nutrition), Chloe Fifer (composite interdisciplinary),  Chantal Kinsey (biology)
• Women's Tennis – Ansley Boarman (nursing), Lucille Pothier (marketing), Erin Walker (nutrition/business), Whitney Williams (kinesiology)
• Women's Track and Field – Sierra Bennett (education), Gabby Thompson (communication)

SPRING COMPETITION NOTES

• Head coach Bobby Reeves directed his team to the Southland Conference Postseason Tournament in its first year of eligibility by finishing 15-12 in league play. The Wildcats were led all season by senior pitcher and all-time strikeout leader Hannah Null, who was voted first team all-conference.

• The men's and women's tennis teams also qualified for their respective postseason tournaments after the men finished third in the regular season and the women sixth.

• Both ACU teams had successful outings at the conference track and field meet with the men finishing runner-up to Sam Houston State and the women finishing third behind SHSU and Stephen F. Austin. Both teams showed tremendous improvement over their finishes at the 2017 meet where the men finished sixth with 51 points, and the women were ninth with 37 points.

We made some tremendous strides in several programs this past school year. Many great memories were made, not the least of which was the night of Sept. 16, 2017, when we opened Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium with a big win over Houston Baptist in front of a sold-out crowd of student, faculty, staff, alumni and other fans. We look forward to making new memories in 2018-19. Enjoy a fun, relaxing summer and see you next season!

Go Wildcats!

Lee De León
Director of Athletics
Abilene Christian University