New Mexico football has named its four team captains for the upcoming season, and the selections are unprecedented in more ways than one. The team elected senior linebacker Dakota Cox, safety Daniel Henry and the two starting quarterbacks from last season, Austin Apodaca and Lamar Jordan.
Divided into two separate teams, the University of New Mexico women’s soccer team stepped on the field for their first game action of the year on Thursday night. In the intrasquad scrimmage, Cherry ended up defeating Silver by a 3-2 count. The entire team was in attendance besides head coach Heather Dyche.
After a long summer break, players and coaches returned to Robertson Field for the first official Lobo men’s soccer practice of the season on Wednesday morning. “I’ve been anxiously awaiting today and came away feeling great. I really like this team,” said head coach Jeremy Fishbein. “Energy levels were good today. The players where fit, sharp, unified. All you could ask for, for a first practice.”
Change doesn’t necessarily mean some things can’t stay the same. New Mexico completed the search for a pair of new tennis head coaches. Although there will be some new faces at the helm, a pedigree of success is something the new hires can continue to build on.
The preseason polls are in and New Mexico has been selected to finish fifth in the Mountain West and two defenders have made the cut for preseason All-Mountain West.
The Rio Grande Rivalry has been around for decades, and like this past season, UNM football took the victory against New Mexico State in 1969.
UNM athletics was unable to bring home a national title for 115 years. Then, in just over a decade, two programs stood alone in their respective sports.
Shortly after setting a new collegiate record, 9:24.41, in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase last month, Frerichs signed a professional contract, joining Bowerman Track Club, to continue training for the Olympic Trials. Frerichs’ dream became a reality when she qualified for the Olympics with a late burst to finish second in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in Eugene, Ore. on July 7, finishing in 9:20.92.
New Mexico women’s soccer Head coach Heather Dyche will be making the trip to the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio this year. Dyche will be scouting and analyzing opponents in Rio, a UNM release stated.
New Mexico decided to “keep it in the family” and announced former player and assistant coach Ben Dunbar as its new men’s tennis head coach. Dunbar played tennis for the Lobos from 2008-2012 and served as the assistant coach for the past two seasons, joining the staff when his predecessor, Bart Scott, took over the program.
The New Mexico tennis program has been dealt another hard blow, leaving both tennis teams leaderless. Head coach Bart Scott of the men's squad recently announced his resignation to pursue a career in the private sector. Now multiple reports have confirmed former UNM women's tennis head coach Kelcy McKenna has accepted a coaching position at the University of Wisconsin.
Freshman recruit Sammie Woodward will no longer be a Lobo, as announced by the University of New Mexico late Wednesday morning.
Last month, at the NCAA outdoor championships, Frerichs set a new collegiate record in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, turning in a time of 9:24.41. Television analysts said Frerichs had a good chance to make the Olympic team if she could shave another four seconds off her time—on Thursday, she did exactly that.
The University of New Mexico Men’s Hockey team is one of the longest active club sports teams in school history dating back to the late 1960s. Currently, the team comprises the only upper level competitive hockey program that the state of New Mexico offers, which makes it unique. The Lobos sold out almost every single game last season, and is continuing to grow a tremendous fan base.
Big things come in small packages — unless perhaps you are talking about someone with seemingly endless energy, fierce competitiveness and a larger than life personality, so much so that everything just won’t fit. Emily Olivier is anything but a small package.
In two straight semesters, New Mexico athletes have broken GPA records in the classroom. According to a UNM release, the Lobos have broken the record three times in the past five semesters. The 3.31 achieved by student athletes in the Spring of 2016 just edged out the 3.30 plateau reached in the Fall of 2015.
Courtney Frerichs has continued to ride her extraordinary collegiate career and has raced right into the waiting arms of a contract with Nike. The former Lobo runner who ran her way a team national championship in cross-country and an NCAA record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, garnering an individual gold medal. Her time of 9 minutes 24.41 is sixth best in U.S. history.
New Mexico Craig Neal has added another member to his staff, the University of New Mexico announced on Monday. Glenn Cain will trade his Jayhawks’ attire for Lobo gear after signing as the new Athletic Performance Coach for the men’s basketball program.
Former Lobo Khadijah Shumpert’s collegiate career may have come to a close, but her professional playing days have just begun. After signing a contract with the Panathlitikos Sykeon in Thessaloniki, Greece, she will be the second Lobo in as many years to take a plunge overseas to pursue a career in basketball, across the Atlantic.
One dedicated New Mexico runner is going out a champion, both literally and figuratively, putting the finishing touches on a storybook ending to a decorated collegiate career. Not many athletes could claim the success that distance runner Courtney Frerichs has enjoyed this past year.
Solutions by The State News
