Shorthorn Sports

UTA men’s and women's tennis swung back into action, completing their first fall tournaments. The women’s team is eager to build off of making it to last year’s Western Athletic Conference championship after losing in the semifinals back-to-back in the two years prior. Even with the loss to rival Grand Canyon University in the finals in spring 2025, the team will have a new look going into this season after losing four seniors and bringing in five freshmen. The women’s team started its season competing in the three-day Diving Eagle Invite hosted by the University of North Texas at the Waranch Tennis Complex. Freshman Tasnime Ahamout shone in her debut, sweeping in both singles and doubles. Freshman Natalia Gonzales starred as well, going 2-1 in singles and partnering with Ahamout in their doubles sweep. The men’s tennis team comes into this season looking to get back to the mountaintop after aspirations of a three-peat were spoiled in the semifinals against Abilene Christian University in the 2025 spring WAC tournament. The men’s team kicked off its season competing in the Waco Fall Kickoff Classic, hosted by Baylor University at the Hurd Tennis Center. Junior Yazid Lahjomri stood out for the Mavericks as he saw a 2-1 win in open singles while going 1-2 in doubles with sophomore Finbar McGarvey. The Mavericks’ only doubles win came on the final day, with Lahjomri and McGarvey beating Abilene Christian's sophomore Luis Jose Nakamine and junior Merse Deli 8-6. Junior Saul Berdullas and freshman Jesse Gothelf both made their UTA debuts over the weekend. They each finished 0-2 in singles action and were also paired up for doubles, going 0-3 over the tournament. Both teams look ahead to their next tournament, starting with the women’s team competing in the ACU Invite starting Sept. 26. The men’s team looks to bounce back at the Ron Wesbrooks Invitational starting Oct. 3. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

In a small village in Ghana, 5-year-old Nathaniel Acheampong played soccer in mud fields with no shoes and no socks, equipped only with the clothes on his back, no matter the conditions. His passion never stopped. Now a mechanical engineering sophomore, Acheampong moved to the U.S. in 2022 with notable aspirations. “I do want to play as a professional one day,” Acheampong said. “I do love the way that it brings people together from everywhere — it doesn’t matter your age, your gender, everything. Honestly, I love the game.” Even after moving to the U.S., he indulged in the competition he has always loved, now as a part of the men’s soccer club. The group practices twice a week and plays a competitive seven-match schedule. They face some of Texas’ most well-known universities, including the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University and the University of Texas at Dallas. The club currently has over 70 interested students, each with their own unique background. Only about 20 players are taken to compete on gameday. The organization is student-led, with each member pulling their weight to help the club succeed. With a $65 roster fee and volunteer fundraising, the team works together to afford travel, referee fees, equipment and more. Five officers run the club from behind the scenes, alongside head coach Daniel Luna. Acheampong, who joined the team last year, said he was initially afraid his accent and newcomer status would isolate him. But looking back, he said the team helped him feel welcome, which made him all the more excited to play. “I felt so much joy because of the hospitality here and how they were actually so genuine with me,” Acheampong said. “They tried to correct me by actually pointing out all my mistakes, and that gave me the courage to keep playing.” Like Acheampong, computer science senior Rabib Husain, a goalkeeper for the club, came from overseas to enroll at UTA. He said that everything is different compared to his home in Bangladesh; the people, the food and culture, even the late summer sunsets were something he had to acclimate to. “It took a while to cope up, but I think soccer was one thing that helped me stay sane,” Husain said. Comparing the conditions, he said the fields in the U.S. are “heavenly,” and now he has more freedom to play his beloved sport. “It feels like a great community, everyone’s connected,” Husain said. “The games, practice — everyone thinks it’s consistent.” Luna said he focuses his attention on setting up effective training sessions and analyzing what the team needs. Before graduating in 2022 and assuming a head coach role, Luna served as captain of the men’s club as a student. Donovan Robinson, team secretary and kinesiology junior, said that the bonds he has made over the past few years have become special to him, some dating back to high school. “We win together, we lose together,” Robinson said. “It’s still good to come out here, have fun and play with these guys because I know they give a lot of passion, a lot of heart out there.” Robinson, originally from Memphis, Tennessee, acknowledged the diversity on the field and said it allows students to experience the unique play styles of others, seeing it as a benefit. At the end of every season, the team has the opportunity to participate in the Texas Club Soccer League Regional Tournament as a part of the Men’s North Division. The winner earns a bid to the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association Championship Series. The team kicked off its season on the road against Abilene Christian University, tying 2-2 Sept. 6. The club's first home game is slated to be against Southern Methodist University at 3 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex, next to Allan Saxe Field. “The main goal for me here is just leave my mark here and try to improve on some things that I feel like can be improved on,” Robinson said. “All in all, while I’m doing that, just have fun with it as well.” @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Blue lights swallowed College Park Center, their reflection shimmering off the royal blue and tan floorboards to kick off the first on-campus athletic competition for the fall semester. UTA volleyball produced its second win of the UNT-UTA Invitational against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in a dominant 3-1 rally Saturday. UTA entered the match on a seven-game win streak, after rebounding from a shaky exhibition opener loss against Stephen F. Austin State University to start the preseason. Head coach Tania Schatow said it has been beneficial for the team to understand playing in a loud environment throughout the tournaments, as it has helped the team learn from its initial match. “I really wanted to go there to play, to see all the things that we need to get better at, and we took that to heart,” Schatow said. “We knew we had to get better and we’ve only caught up from there.” The first kill of the season on Maverick grounds came from Sophie Ocampo, redshirt junior outside hitter, one of the few returning players who was part of the 2024 NCAA run. Little Rock rallied in the opening set after trailing 17-11, edging out UTA 26-24. The Mavericks responded without hesitation, taking the next two sets to grab a 2-1 lead over the Trojans. UTA found success with serves and setting up the front court to deal damage throughout the game. Junior outside hitter Evyn Snook said having strong serving and defensive control as a core value has allowed them to shift tempo in games. “I think as long as we keep serving with the amount of pressure that we have and forcing them to make the errors instead of us, we’re going to be golden,” Snook said. Throughout the game, junior libero Samantha Glenn, the Western Athletic Conference Preseason Libero of the Year, anchored the defense with 27 digs and an ace in her return to the home court. As another of UTA’s few returning players, she was a defensive cornerstone throughout the four sets. Despite her standout performance, Glenn credited her teammates and the home crowd. The eruptions of fan support helped fuel the team’s momentum “to get the kill,” she said. To solidify another home game unscathed, the Mavericks battled a tightly contested fourth set. Senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt tied the game at 18 with an explosive kill, setting UTA up to take the lead. Little Rock lingered behind, keeping the score within a point or two, but could not overcome the deficit UTA had created. The team will play one more game before heading to its final preseason tournament, the Roadrunner Classic. UTA will face its invitational co-host, the University of North Texas, at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Mavericks look ahead to their first game in WAC play, slated to host Southern Utah University at 1 p.m. Sept. 27. The regular season opener will be available to stream on ESPN+. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Dallas Wings (10-34) beat the Phoenix Mercury (27-17) 97-76 in their last game of the season Thursday in a sold-out College Park Center. The Wings went into the game with a ten-game losing streak after the Los Angeles Sparks dealt them their 34th loss this season in their most recent matchup. Even with the team finding double-digit wins, the Wings were not able to ride a win streak this season. “Lots of close games in that stretch, just could never really get to the finish line. Was excited at home that we threw punches,” head coach Chris Koclanes said. Prior to this match-up, the Wings faced the Mercury in back-to-back games in July. Dallas won the first game 98-89 before traveling to Arizona, where they lost 102-72. While the Wings' season hasn’t gone as planned, rookie guard Paige Bueckers provided a spotlight for the team by breaking the franchise’s single-season scoring record for a first-year player with 650 accumulated points as of a Sept. 4 game. “Just a whole bunch of potential, and it showed up in so many different stories this season,” Bueckers said, reflecting on the season. “I feel like there's so many different things that have captivated what we've been through as a team and how much we've overcame.” In the first quarter, the Wings came out reckless with two early fouls by Bueckers, contributing to the team being in an early hole. A late-quarter run from the bench allowed them to shorten the lead, ending the quarter down 28-25. For the Mercury, forward Satou Sabally came out strong, scoring 11 of her 14 points in the first half and looking unstoppable in the paint. In the second quarter, the Wings tied the game at 30 for the first time with seven minutes left in the half. Multiple clutch shots from the Wings allowed them to pull away at the end of the half, taking a 57-47 lead. In the third quarter, the Wings opened up the half on an 8-2 run, with multiple steals and rebounds. The Wings outscored the Mercury 25-13 and ended the quarter 82-60. The Wings' bench also played a crucial role in the team securing their final win of the season, with players like guard Aziaha James and forward Amy Okonkwo scoring 20 points each. On the defensive side, starting Wings forward Myisha Hines-Allen led in rebounds with 10. “The season hasn’t been great, but [the fans] stood beside us the whole time, and tonight was their night and we had to give it back to them today,” James said. With the team’s delayed relocation to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Auditorium, the Wings are expected to continue their tenure at College Park Center for the 2026 season, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. @tracysansomjr sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA volleyball will co-host the UNT-UTA Invitational, the team’s first and only home invitational, starting Friday. After the first match at the University of North Texas, the team will return home to play two more matches. The first is against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the first home game of the season at 5 p.m. Saturday at College Park Center. The Mavericks look to continue defending their home court at this week’s competition, as they’ve tallied 681 days since their last loss at the arena. Coming off a three-set sweep against Alcorn State University in the Cowgirl Classic, UTA will have the opportunity to keep its undefeated six-game win streak alive in Denton, Texas, where the team is slated to face Northwestern State University to open the tournament. The last time the teams faced off was in 2021, when the Mavericks secured a 3-2 win in a five-set match. An almost completely revamped roster fuels the Mavericks as they prepare for their only home invitational. The team will bring back only seven players from last year’s NCAA tournament run. The team will close out the tournament with a second home game against invitational co-host UNT at 5 p.m. Sunday. The Mavericks will compete in one more preseason tournament, the Roadrunner Classic, starting Sept. 19. Western Athletic Conference play will begin for volleyball with a home game against Southern Utah University at 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at College Park Center. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA men’s golf team opened its 2025 fall season with a ninth-place finish in the Whirlwind Invitational at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona, on Sept. 8 and 9. In the season-opening invitational, UTA was one out of 12 teams competing, with 71 participants total. The Mavericks shot a combined 285-281-286 in the three-round meet, finishing 12-under-par. Freshman Arth Sinha led the way, as he shot 70-69-65 for a 12-under-par total, clinching a fifth-place finish. Sinha went 7-under-par in the final round and tied host University of Southern California’s Jaden Dumdumaya for the second-best single-round score of the tournament, which let him jump up 12 spots. The only other Maverick with an under-par score was freshman Ajay Morris, who shot 5-under for 24th place. Morris, an Arizona native, played his first collegiate tournament less than 40 miles southeast of his hometown of Avondale, Arizona. Freshman Nicholas Lyman also made his collegiate debut in his home state, as the Whirlwind Golf Club is about a 50-mile drive southeast from his hometown of Surprise, Arizona. He shot 2-over-par over the course of the tournament and placed 44th. Sophomore Jerry Huang and junior Matthew Broder rounded out the team performance for UTA, as the two shot a respective 4-over and 11-over-par. Huang placed 52nd, and Broder placed 69th. Junior Michael Chevalier competed as an individual but shot the fourth-best of the six Mavericks in Chandler, with a 3-over-par total due to a 5-over final round. This performance notched him in 47th place. The Mavericks will have the next week off before heading to the Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational in Air Force Academy, Colorado, just north of Colorado Springs, starting Sept. 20. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA intramural volleyball spikes into its second week of the season with students having fun and bringing a competitive spirit. The fall semester includes sand and indoor volleyball at the Maverick Activities Center. Sand volleyball teams are allowed three to eight players on the roster and indoor volleyball allows four to 12 players. Kinesiology junior Kaitlyn Bener said she is enthusiastic about the connections and learning opportunities through the intramural volleyball team and encouraged her peers to give it a try. She said that it’s as easy as going to open gym at the Maverick Activities Center and asking if there are any open spots. “I’ve been able to build connections with some of my fellow coworkers and also learn how to referee new sports,” Bener said. “I was excited to get to learn how to understand how those work.” Intramurals boast a wide range of talent, which include people playing for fun to more experienced players who have played the sport for years. Some of the games often get intense, no matter the sport, especially when playoff season closes in. Accounting junior Daryon Jackson is no stranger to the intramural volleyball scene, as he said he played during his freshman and sophomore years. Jackson said the club has a competitive nature and he said he plans on continuing his involvement in the volleyball program. “They all have a competitive nature,” Jackson said. “Even if you're new, they won’t yell at you or anything — they’ll push you to get better, they're always nice people.” With intramurals being such a popular attraction, students have offered feedback on ways that it can be improved upon and be more rewarding for the winners. Caleb Ventura, marketing and finance senior said adding better incentives or consistent prizes for each sport would bring out more students and raise the competitiveness of the programs. “They’ve fluctuated in the past years between rings and shirts,” Ventura said. “If they could just make some sort of prizes that I think students would actually want to fight for more, it can definitely increase the competitiveness; it’ll also be something we could cherish more.” Students can buy semester-long intramural passes on UTA’s website for $10, so students don’t have to buy multiple passes for other sports. Students can download the Fusion Play app to join or create an intramural team after they have purchased an intramural pass. The app contains all of the registration deadlines, teams, schedules and times of games. The regular volleyball season runs from Sept. 2-18, with practices running every Tuesday through Thursday. Even though registration for teams has ended, interested students can still sign up for a team, up until playoffs start. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Texas Rangers (74-70) beat the American League West-leading Houston Astros (78-66) 4-2 to take the series, bouncing back from an 11-0 loss Saturday. The Rangers took two of three from the Astros, on the back of great pitching performances and an offensive explosion with a three-run sixth inning. The first run of the game came in the bottom of the second inning after a dropped third strike and a throwing error by Astros catcher Yanier Diaz allowed Rangers second baseman Dylan Moore to come around and score. Pitcher Patrick Corbin racked up five strikeouts in 5.2 innings, allowing only one run on three hits, leaving the game tied 1-1 before getting relieved by Phil Maton, who got the final out of the inning. The Rangers have been struggling with injuries, losing key players like shortstop Corey Seager, second baseman Marcus Semien and starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. Corbin said injuries are a part of the game and he tries his best to perform regardless. “I just try to be out there [every day], be accountable, try to pitch as deep as I can in every game and try to give us a chance to win,” Corbin said. Head coach Bruce Bochy said Corbin's effort and pitch command were what they needed from him as they bounced back from the loss they suffered the previous game. Heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, it looked like a close call for the Rangers until third baseman Josh Jung lined an RBI double to center field, giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead. What followed was the eventual nail in the coffin when Jake Burger blasted his second homerun of the series, a two-run bomb to right field that gave the Rangers a three-run lead. From that point on, the Rangers never lost the lead, but the Astros had some fight left, scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning off a Rangers’ subpar bullpen. They rank 17th in ERA and have blown 27 saves, according to Fox Sports. However, after giving up the run, Maton was perfect from there on out, earning the win behind shutdown pitching from Robert Garcia and Shawn Armstrong, who allowed only one hit in two innings of work combined. With this win, the Rangers handed two losses to the team leading their division but gained no ground in the Wild Card race as the Seattle Mariners bulldozed the Atlanta Braves 18-2. The Rangers remain 1.5 games back of the final playoff spot with only 18 games left in the season. While they gained no ground in the standings, Bochy said it was good to take a big series as the team keeps fighting for a playoff spot. “It's good for those guys. I'm proud of how they’re playing, they're getting after it and bouncing back,” Bochy said. The Rangers will finish out this home stretch with a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the team with the most wins this season. Game one of the series starts at 7:05 p.m. Monday at Globe Life. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA men’s golf team will begin its fall season at the Whirlwind Invitational at the Whirlwind Golf Club in Chandler, Arizona, on Monday and Tuesday. Despite it being in Arizona, this opening tournament will be hosted by the University of Southern California. Throughout the fall season, the Mavericks will not host a competition at their shared home venue, the Texas Rangers Golf Club in Arlington, which both the men’s and women’s teams use. The Mavericks then take the next week off before competing in the Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational, hosted by the United States Air Force Academy, at the Eisenhower Golf Course at the Air Force Academy, just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, from Sept. 20 to 22. According to a UTA press release, this season will be the Mavericks’ first time competing at the Whirlwind Invitational and at the Air Force Academy. A week after going to Colorado, the Mavericks will take a shorter trip to the Westwood Golf Club in Houston for the Bayou City Collegiate Classic, hosted by Rice University, on Sept. 29 and 30. UTA competed in this tournament last year and placed 11th. UTA will then finish off its fall schedule less than a month later at the Bayonet Golf Club in Monterey, California, for the Saint Mary's Golf Invitational, hosted by Saint Mary's College of California, from Oct. 20 to 22. According to the UTA press release, the Maverick golf spring schedule will be announced at a later date. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As the sun rose, fans scattered across the Harold Patterson Sports Center as UTA’s men’s and women’s cross country teams placed first and third respectively in their season opener at the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational on Friday. The complex, which features baseball, football and soccer fields within it, filled its open grass with tents along the coned paths serving as a guide for runners that were competing. Families and friends from various colleges and universities across the state packed the complex, showing support throughout the route. The men's team brought home the gold with a team title, winning the invitational trophy as it secured a standout first-place finish. Notable runner Toby Eaton, a sophomore transfer, led the team 5K with a fourth-place finish with a time of 15:07.10. “Felt good, today as a team, I think we did what we wanted to do,” Eaton said. “We went out hard and fought, and I think we're going to keep on rolling this high through practice and keep training hard.” The event started with the women’s 5K at 7:30 a.m., followed by the men’s 5K. In addition to the collegiate events, the invitational featured high school teams in the University Interscholastic League Regional Meet with various varsity and junior varsity divisional events. As each race wrapped up, runners could be assisted to their respective tents to rehydrate and went on a cooldown run after competing. UTA, serving as the host for the invitational, provided on-site medical care under a tent marked with the university's name and colors. Head coach John Sauerhage was impressed with the performance of both the men’s and women's teams as they were pitted against comparable competition. He was pleased with the men’s finish, despite missing key returning runners, he said. ”Unfortunately, our two returners both had the flu this week and that kind of killed us,” Sauerhage said. “If we can get everybody healthy, eat good, and get some rest, we'll perform even better.” The women's team completed its 5K with a third-place finish. Freshman Dorcas Jepkosgei and junior Matro Jepkemboi led the way as they finished in the top five among three Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi runners. “Our top two girls ran really well. The other gals had a nice performance,” Sauerhage said. “They’re just going to have to have good days. There's a lot of good teams out there. It’s gonna take a lot of work for us to be an elite team.” Out of the freshman newcomers, Angel Sanchez and Jameson Stewart both finished in the top 25 in their first meet, both hitting sub-16-minute times. Stewart said he thought the team performed well, touching on how being around his teammates affects success. “I think we did amazing,” Stewart said. “We did a great job sticking together as a group, went out strong and stuck with it, beat some really good teams, and yeah, really proud of how we did.” The teams will head to College Station, Texas, to participate in their second competition of the season in the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 13. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The first phase of ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including nine matches at AT&T Stadium, begins Sept. 10, with prices starting at $60 for group-stage matches. The matches are a tournament high and mark the first time the AT&T Stadium has ever hosted a World Cup game. Starting at 10 a.m., Visa cardholders who have registered will be able to join the Visa Presale Draw through Sept. 19 for a chance to purchase tickets, according to a FIFA press release. Selected customers from the draw will receive emails starting from Sept. 29, giving them a date and time slot to purchase tickets. Time slots start Oct. 1. A successful draw does not guarantee a ticket. High demand has led to FIFA rolling out the tickets in phases, giving fans numerous opportunities to buy them. The first phase will include group stage tickets starting at $60. Customers can choose between ticket categories 1-4, four being the most affordable and one the highest-priced seats. Phase 2 expects an Early Ticket Draw from Oct. 27-31. Time slots for purchase are from mid November to early December. Like the first phase, fans must apply and will be randomly selected. Phase 3 will have a Random Selection Draw that opens shortly after the official Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026, allowing fans to submit applications for specific matches once most group-stage matchups are revealed. While it's unclear how expensive tickets will get, FIFA shared in the press release that prices are dynamic, fluctuating as demand increases, noting tickets for the final match will reach up to $6,730. The 2026 World Cup marks the first time three countries — U.S., Canada and Mexico — will serve as joint hosts, and the first time the U.S. has hosted since 1994. While Arlington is making its World Cup debut, Texas last welcomed the tournament 31 years ago when the Cotton Bowl hosted six matches. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA cross country will jump-start its season by hosting the Gerald Richey UTA Invitational on Friday at the Harold Patterson Sports Center. The invitational will be held in memory of Gerald Richey, a former track and field assistant coach who mentored pole vaulters at the university for 18 years. He died at 83 in 2019. Prior to Richey’s tenure at UTA, he spent 27 years working at Arlington High School. During his career, he coached football, cross country and track. He saw two state championships, a regional championship, and 18 district championships in cross country. Going into this year's invitational, the team aims to build on last year’s success in the race, as the men’s team finished second and the women’s team finished third. Then sophomore Matro Jepkemboi secured a second-place finish with a time of 17:33.90 for the women's team, and then junior Jackson Cichon aided the men’s team with his fourth-place finish with a time of 15:09.40, according to a UTA press release. UTA, in addition to its season opener, will host the Western Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on Oct. 31. It’s the team’s first time since 1992 to host a conference championship. Despite the decision to withdraw from the John McKenzie Invitational in August, UTA has three more competitions scheduled ahead of the WAC championships this season. The team will participate in the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 13 and the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Oct. 17. The Mavericks will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional on Nov. 14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. To finish out the postseason, the team will head to Missouri, where the NCAA championships are slated to be held Nov. 22. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

In the team’s final practice ahead of an exhibition match against Stephen F. Austin State University, volleyball head coach Tania Schatow was focused on communication. She talked one-on-one with each player and had open discussions with the team frequently. “Probably the most important part of my job is building the right culture,” Schatow said. “And that comes with open communication. I have a truly open-door policy.” Schatow, UTA’s eighth volleyball head coach and former assistant coach at Pacific University, brings a wealth of experience to the program. Her volleyball journey began in high school, where she joined the team as a sophomore. She played as a middle blocker during her four years at Louisiana State University, seeing an NCAA tournament berth each season and winning a Southeastern Conference championship in 2009. She graduated with a kinesiology degree in 2011, according to the UTA Athletics website. She traveled overseas to Belgium to gain coaching experience and develop as a player after college. Schatow returned to LSU to further her growth as a coach after spending six years overseas. In Europe, she saw notable success with her team, earning a bid to the European Volleyball Confederation cup, where some of the top teams in Europe compete. “She’s a badass,” redshirt junior Sophie Ocampo said. “I have never met anyone like her and don’t get me wrong, it’s hard a lot of the time, but you know, pressure is a privilege. And for her to be this hard on us, it’s just because she loves us and she wants us to win.” Schatow succeeded former head coach J.T. Wenger in January. Wenger resigned in December of 2024, shortly before accepting a head coach position at Gonzaga University. Wenger spent eight seasons at UTA, and solidified himself as a decorated coach after leading the team to an NCAA appearance, the university’s first in over two decades. Going into a fresh season with the intention of defending the team’s title as the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Champions, Schatow said her pillars for success consist of hard work, discipline, family and trust. “Winning will be a by-product,” Schatow said. “So I think that’s been my biggest focus, is just having us work hard, keeping our feet on the ground, and doing the work every day to get 1% better.” Building off of the culture she is wanting to create, Schatow shared a book that she and the team read: “The Energy Bus” by Jon Gordon. She said it “goes well beyond the volleyball court,” opening their eyes to how they should communicate with each other, she said. “It’s refreshing for them that I’m just very real and honest when we have conversations,” she said. “Some of them have had that, some haven’t. I think that’s been really big from a culture standpoint.” The volleyball team introduced nine new players to the roster, four of whom are freshmen. Despite the changes, the team has already reminded the conference why they were last year’s champs. Junior libero Samantha Glenn was named the WAC Preseason Libero of the Year, her first time receiving the award. Additionally, both Glenn and Ocampo were selected to the All-WAC Team, according to a UTA Athletics press release. The team will play its first home game against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the UNT-UTA Invitational on Sept. 13 at College Park Center. WAC play for the Mavericks will start with a home game against Southern Utah University at 1 p.m. Sept. 27. “I think that last couple of weeks have been very, very good, and a lot of different things that we’re being taught with volleyball, and I think that’s what we need for the program,” freshman outside hitter Andrea Nunez said. “I’m definitely changing and learning a lot more, and I’m so grateful for Tania. The last couple of weeks have been awesome.” @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA volleyball team swept the Bradley Invitational Tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Renaissance Coliseum in Peoria, Illinois. In the tournament, the Mavericks took a 3-1 win over Quinnipiac University, a 3-2 win over Bradley University and a 3-2 win over Western Illinois University. These games were the first of the regular season for UTA, and the Mavericks began with a 3-0 record. Across the first two games, senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt led the way with 27 kills, followed by Sophie Ocampo, redshirt junior outside hitter, with 17 and freshman middle blocker Sophia Krichev close behind with 16. Also in the first two matches, Krichev had the most blocks of any Maverick, with 2 solo blocks and 8 block assists, followed by Alexis Bull, redshirt sophomore middle blocker, with 1 solo and 6 assists and junior setter Mira Ledermueller with 5 assists. Junior libero Samantha Glenn got 41 digs, the most for UTA, followed by 22 for Tritt and 19 for Ledermueller in the first two games. In the final match, the Mavericks took the lead early against Western Illinois University, winning the first set 25-17 and the second set 25-15. The Leathernecks mounted a comeback, winning both the third and fourth sets 25-23. UTA pulled out with a 15-11 win in set five to clinch the tournament sweep. The Mavericks continue their nonconference slate at the Cowgirl Classic starting Sept. 4 at Legacy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where they’ll play the University of Louisiana Monroe, McNeese State University and Alcorn State University. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Maverick Stadium will host high school football games for Arlington ISD on Friday nights and select Thursday nights from Aug. 29 through Nov. 6. The decision to host the games comes as UTA continues its efforts to support and connect with the Arlington community, according to a UTA press release. "We are thrilled to open Maverick Stadium to Arlington ISD this fall," Jon Fagg, UTA Athletic Director, said in the release. "High school football is a cornerstone of Texas culture, and we want to give players, families, and fans an unforgettable experience while showcasing our beautiful campus." AISD features six high schools, three of which are scheduled to play at the campus' recently updated stadium, including Martin High School, Bowie High School and Arlington High School. Arlington is slated to be the first team to play in Maverick Stadium as they take on Mesquite High School in their season opener at 7 p.m. Aug. 29. With high school football being a cornerstone of Texas, Fagg said he hopes hosting AISD games will inspire young athletes and strengthen UTA’s connection to the city of Arlington. Game attendees will also get to experience Maverick Stadium’s recently upgraded scoreboard, which was installed in February. This isn't the first time AISD has used Maverick Stadium for events. In 2024, the stadium hosted the Dean Corey Marching Extravaganza, which was previously held at Lamar High School until it could no longer seat all guests. The Maverick Stadium’s uses have come and gone, but it has stood firm as the home of UTA’s track and field team since its opening in 1980. Along with the scoreboard, the track itself also received a renovation. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

From gospel yoga to full-body workouts, Arlington residents can attend Epic Fit Fest 2025, a weekend experience filled with fitness and wellness from Friday to Sunday at the Loews Arlington Hotel. Black Girl Fit is hosting its second annual Epic Fit Fest, which invites attendees of all ethnicities and sizes to work out in a safe and comfortable environment, co-founder Kristi Andrew said. Attendees can choose from one of three passes, ranging from a one-day pass to a three-day VIP option that includes exclusive amenities, according to the event website. Andrew said attendees aren't limited to a certain schedule or workouts. Guests can build their own experience by choosing when to arrive and what classes to take, allowing them to train in a way that fits their lifestyle. “We actually do curated fitness events, so we're not just trying to do workouts. We’re trying to do fun workouts in fun and different places to make people enjoy exactly what they're doing,” Andrew said. This year's event is expected to feature 16 instructors, who will lead a variety of classes across different fitness zones, including cycling, yoga, strength training, glutes, dance and high-intensity interval training, according to the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau website. Alongside the workouts, more than 60 vendors will showcase health and wellness products. The event will also feature Epic Conversations, a mental health panel with New York Times best-selling author Sarah Jakes Roberts. As a pharmacist, Andrew said she believes mental health is as important as physical well-being and wanted to set aside time to have a conversation about mental health and the role it plays in a person's health journey. “We’ve been focusing on health as a whole, and that of course starts with the fitness journey, but of course it also encompasses being internally healthy,” she said. “Not just physically, but spiritually and mentally.” Andrew and LaTosha Duffey, a former UTA basketball player, co-founded Black Girl Fit and created Epic Fit Fest to combat the health disparities people of color face, which Andrew said often stem from lack of access and inclusion. “We wanted a place where people feel comfortable letting their hair down, maybe not necessarily being a size two, maybe being able to take their wig off and to basically have no barriers to get in the way for their health,” she said. Last year's event drew 500 participants as a one-day event at The Epic Grand Lawn in Grand Prairie, Texas. With the expansion to three days and a new venue, attendance is expected to more than double. “I think people had a really good time last year. They came out and understood and saw what we’re about and we’re doing. Also, this year it’s a lot more,” she said. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Fans erupted into repeated chants of “Beltré!,” reminiscent of those he drew during his playing days, as the Texas Rangers unveiled Hall of Famer Adrian Beltré’s honorary statue Friday at Globe Life Field. The figure, depicting Beltré in his iconic kneeling follow-through, puts the former third baseman in a select group of Rangers legends to be forever memorialized in bronze, including fellow Hall of Famers Ivan Rodriguez and Nolan Ryan. The statue, located outside the ballpark near the Northeast Plaza entrance, was designed and sculpted by Mike Tabor and recognizes a career defined by many unforgettable moments. The announcer for the Texas Rangers, Chuck Morgan, introduced Beltré as not only a great player in Rangers history, but as one of the greatest to ever play the game, with Beltré’s statistics and accolades backing that sentiment. In 21 Major League Baseball seasons, Beltré racked up five Gold Gloves, four Silver Sluggers, four All-Star appearances and is one of 33 players to be part of the elusive 3,000-hit club. Despite reaching heights many players can only dream of, when it came time to give a speech, Beltré remained humble and thankful for the opportunity to play in a Rangers jersey. “I don’t know if I’m worthy of this. One thing is for sure, I know I’m grateful and I’m glad to always be a Ranger,” Beltré said. Ray Davis, managing partner and majority owner of the Rangers, recalled the effect Beltré had on the winning culture the team was working to cultivate day after day. “Adrian was a tremendous ballplayer, but on top of that, he was a tremendous leader,” Davis said. “Today I see Ian [Kinsler] and Elvis [Andrus] here, but I used to call it the Beltré stare. Beltré was a leader because all he had to do was look at somebody if they messed up, and they knew they messed up, and they changed.” As a testament to the person he was, former teammates of Beltré’s were present to support him, including Shin-Soo Choo and Rangers Hall of Famer Elvis Andrus. Andrus rubbed the statue’s head, paying homage to their playing days when Beltré would avoid getting his head rubbed at any cost, going as far as running away or playfully telling Andrus off, similar to how an older brother would. Beltré’s impact extends further than Arlington. While leaving the unveiling, Beltré stopped to greet fellow co-founder and CEO of Baseball United, the first professional baseball league in India, Kash Shaikh, who said it felt surreal to see Beltré get a statue. Shaikh said he and Beltré were in a board meeting over Zoom joking with each other when he took a moment to reflect on how iconic Beltré is as a player and how great he is as a person. “I had the honor of watching him get inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame, and now to see this statue was pretty special,” he said. This unveiling meant a lot to many, but for lifelong Rangers fan and Arlington resident Colton Benge, it’s more than bronze — it’s a reminder of the joy Beltré brought to Arlington and the Rangers. “He was a great captain and a role model for the team, and on top of that, he just brought a lot of laughter and fun to the teammates and to the fans, which made it really easy to root for him and root for the team,” Benge said. Along with the funny moments, Benge said his favorite Beltré moment was when he hit a walk-off homerun in 2013 to complete a sweep of the Los Angeles Angels. Benge said if he had the opportunity to speak with Beltré, he would ask him about that game and thank him for all the memories. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA women’s golf team finished third in the Jayhawk Invitational on Aug. 25 at The Jayhawk Club in Lawrence, Kansas. The team combined to post scores of 309-305-299 and finish 49-over-par. The meet, hosted by the University of Kansas, was the first of the 2025-26 season for the Maverick golf program. In the summer, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association named sophomore Tarini Bhoga and senior Nitisha Manikandesh to the All-American Scholar Team. This was Manikandesh’s second time receiving the recognition, according to a UTA press release. Bhoga led the way as she shot 71-76-75 on her way to a 6-over-par for the weekend and a sixth-place overall finish in the competition. In round three, she had two birdies and 12 pars by the end of the invitational. Senior Kamri Gabel finished in 14th, six strokes behind Bhoga. Manikandesh finished in 19th, with a 14-over-par score for the weekend. Graduate student Salome Arango Marin and redshirt senior Chandler Browning rounded out the performance by UTA, with 27th-place and 34th-place finishes respectively. The team competes again Sept. 23, when the team will participate in the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas. The Mavericks will compete in three more tournaments: the Golf Iconic Classic starting Oct. 13 in Las Cruces, New Mexico; the Diamante Intercollegiate starting Oct. 19 in Little Rock, Arkansas; and the Bear Brawl on Oct. 28 in Waco, Texas. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Chuck Morgan, Texas Rangers’ public address announcer, said when he came to Arlington to be a part of the Rangers, it had a great feel. “I just really fell in love with the area and fell in love with the ballpark and just thought it was the right thing to do, and it just turned out, having been here now for over 40 years, it was the right decision to make,” Morgan said. Over the years, the team has achieved monumental feats and carved its place in Major League Baseball history, including a World Series win from three appearances, six MVP awards, dozens of Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winners and has hosted two All-Star Games. As for the city, Arlington has firmly established itself as a sports hub for decades. Fans can grab a drink at Texas Live and walk across the street to Globe Life Field – all part of the atmosphere that defines a night out at the ballpark. Arlington has stood out nationally, serving as home to some of Texas’ most well-known theme parks and three professional sports venues. Since 1972, the Rangers have become a cornerstone in the city by blending innovation with tradition. One of the clearest examples of that blend is the complete repurposing of the Rangers’ former home, Choctaw Stadium, which is now strategically managed behind the scenes by REV Entertainment. The company is no stranger to the Rangers franchise. Formerly Rangers Enterprises and Rangers Events, the company has maintained a working relationship with the team for over a decade. It became REV Entertainment in 2017 and took over operations at Choctaw Stadium in 2021. “We made a promise to the city that we were going to do everything we could to continue to operate the venue and run content through there, and make sure people could still visit the stadium,” said Jared Schrom, REV Entertainment senior vice president. Updates to the facility have only ramped up since REV Entertainment took the reins of Choctaw Stadium. Following $7.8 million invested into the west side retail development, the stadium is now undergoing over $4.2 million in additional renovations, including public safety developments, parking improvements and a storefront for the Arlington Police Department. Choctaw Stadium offers a multitude of experiences outside of the sports realm, including classic stadium food, storefronts with restaurants and gift shops such as Lone Star Dry Goods and Lucchese Bootmaker. The stadium even offers private and shared office spaces with Spark Arlington. Regardless of the time of year, the stadium buzzes with an unprecedented amount of catered activities. Even when teams such as the United Football League’s Arlington Renegades are out of season, they are still in and out of the facility, Schrom said. Choctaw Stadium currently hosts the Renegades and North Texas Soccer Club, which is home to FC Dallas’ reserves. It will also host the Catholic Charity Bowl on Sept. 13. Previously, it was the home to the Dallas Jackals, a Major League Rugby team that withdrew from the stadium after it ceased operations in 2024 amid ownership uncertainty. While the Renegades’ 2026 season is slated to remain at Choctaw Stadium, North Texas Soccer Club, which won the 2024 Major League Soccer NEXT Pro Cup, will depart from Arlington following its 2025 season. The club is set to move to Mansfield Stadium, which is expected to open in the summer of 2026. Choctaw Stadium may no longer echo with the crack of a ball hitting a Rangers bat, but it still holds deep ties to its past. To many, it’s more than just a building; the stadium is a landmark of historical and personal moments. Former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene said its design was a tribute to the history of American baseball. Arlington is one of the few cities able to say it houses a Major League Baseball team, owing much of its national identity to the sport, Greene said. Even with the former mayor playing a key role in the construction of the stadium, originally known as The Ballpark in Arlington, he said it was the people of Arlington who ultimately pushed the project across the finish line. “The actual credit for all of this happening is to the forward-thinking, optimistic people of the community who, when asked to approve the partnership between the city and the Rangers, they show up in record numbers and say, ‘Yes, we want to do it,’” Greene said. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Texas Rangers (66-66) won 5-0 against the Cleveland Guardians (64-65), shutting them out for the second time to sweep the series Sunday at Globe Life Field. Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said they’ve needed wins, and this was a good bounce back from the away series they lost against the Kansas City Royals. The series sweep marked the Guardians’ eighth of the season, dropping them back below the .500 for the first time since July 29. For the Rangers, the sweep brought them back to .500, building momentum from their 10-0 shutout in the second game of the series Saturday. The Rangers added a 10th player to their injured list, placing second baseman Marcus Semien on the 10-day with a foot injury. Meanwhile, outfielder Adolis García returned to the outfield this weekend after being sidelined with a left ankle sprain. The Rangers started pitcher Merrill Kelly, whom they acquired on the final day of the trade deadline in July. Kelly made his fifth start with the Rangers since leaving the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is among the quality and experienced pitchers the Rangers have acquired to enhance their earned run average, which is currently the highest of any team in Major League Baseball. In his seven innings on the mound Sunday, Kelly found six of his eight strikeouts by the top of the fourth. Additionally, he recorded two walks and a pickoff on first while only giving four hits. Danny Coulombe took the mound for a single inning, and Kelly received a standing ovation on his way off the field. “I take a lot of pride in the fact that these guys did trade for me,” Kelly said. “I feel like games like today are one of the reasons why, just to add some more stability to the rotation and continue just the depth down the line.” The Rangers struggled to capitalize early and had left four on base by the top of the fourth inning, three of which were walks. In the bottom of the fourth, the Rangers opened the scoring with a two-run home run from first baseman Rowdy Tellez, whom the Rangers acquired from Triple-A Round Rock in July, scoring Adolis García. “He clutched up quite a few times as he’s come up here. I think he’s done a nice job at first base too,” Bochy said. “He’s a really good clubhouse guy, good teammate, guys have a lot of fun with him.” The Rangers continued to carry momentum in the fourth, finding two more runs from a RBI single produced by center fielder Wyatt Langford to run in second baseman Ezequiel Duran and third baseman Josh Jung, which forced the Guardians' second pitching change in the inning. The Rangers have had a notable offensive series against the Guardians, forcing constant changes in the diamond and getting 17 on base. Cleveland had six different pitchers on the mound and several fielding changes and subs throughout the game. In the seventh inning, designated hitter Joc Pederson smashed a right field home run to bring the score to 5-0. The homer was Pederson’s sixth of the season. The Rangers held the lead through the end, finalizing the series sweep. They'll face Cleveland once more to close out the regular season on the road in September. With a quick turnaround, the Rangers will open their home series against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday at Globe Life Field. The series is available to stream on Rangers Sports Network. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu