This is the fifth of a 16-part series, analyzing the fall sports of each school in the Lone Star Conference. Today will feature Tarleton State.
Football
The only new head coach in the Lone Star Conference is hardly a new face to the LSC.
Cary Fowler takes over the Tarleton State football team and will use his league experience to help guide him through his first year. Fowler was the defensive coordinator for the Texans the last two years and has seven years with the same title at conference rival Midwestern State.
“I know the conference well and I know the players and coaches, so I feel like it should be a smooth transition,” said Fowler, who replaced Sam McElroy when he joined the Texas Tech staff this spring. “This is exactly where I want to be. I’m so excited to be the head coach at Tarleton and I feel like we’ve got a chance to have a really good season.”
And the Texans were pretty good last year, earning an 10-3 record and advancing to the second round of the NCAA playoffs. To improve on that this year, not only does Fowler need to figure out a way to replace several key starters, but also find a way to duplicate Tarleton’s fourth-quarter magic.
Tarleton had some dramatic finishes, none bigger than the first round of the playoffs when Texan kicker Garrett Lindholm booted a 64-yard field goal to force overtime with Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Texans eventually won that game 57-56 and also three other LSC games by a touchdown or less.
Lindholm has since departed, along with other offensive starters at quarterback, running back and wide receiver.
However, tailback Evan Robertson is back after rushing for 894 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. The leading returning receiver is Arthur Buckingham, who had 17 catches for 255 yards.
At quarterback, the competition is wide open with at least three players vying for the starting role. Guard Bubba Wagner (second-team All-LSC) returns to anchor the offensive line.
Defensively, safety Lonnie Buchanan is not only the lone returning first-team All-LSC pick, but has earned a few All-American selections this preseason. The secondary should be strong with cornerback Brandon Johnson, a second-team all-conference pick, also returning. Johnson led the Texans last year with four interceptions.
Linebacker Matt Knicky led the team with 98 tackles and also recorded two sacks and three interceptions. Defensive end Jamaal Steamer had 8 ½ tackles for loss last year and three sacks.
The schedule won’t be easy for the Texans, who have road games at Central Oklahoma, Abilene Christian, West Texas A&M, Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce, not to mention Division I foe Northwestern State.
“We know it’ll be a tough schedule, but that’s the way it is in this conference,” Fowler said. “I’m excited as I can be to get started.”
Volleyball
The TexAnns took quite a step back in 2009 with a 10-21 record, which followed a 22-win season the previous year.
Head coach Mary Schindler has a lot of new faces, but will also count on a few seniors, including outside hitter Rachel Wolf and libero Shea McBrearty - a pair of honorable mention All-LSC picks. Wolf was second on the squad last year with 287 kills, while McBrearty set a single-season school record with 514 digs.
Other returning contributors include Jessie Heartman, who had a team-high 24 aces. Tarleton will also count on upperclassmen Margaret Luedecke, Catherine Cutbirth and Monica Hamel.
The TexAnns have five freshmen on the roster, along with junior transfer Breawn Waynes (Eastfield College).
Men’s Cross Country
The Texans have been on the cusp of unseating ACU for the top spot in the LSC but haven’t been able to top the mountain just yet. Tarleton has finished second in each of the last two years and third in 2007. Once again this year, the Texans are picked second in the preseason polls, behind the Wildcats.
Head coach Pat Ponder returns for a fourth season and will look for seniors Ryan Quezada and Westyn Rosiles to add some experience, along with juniors Chris Hearell and Jonathan Kern.
Rosiles earned All-South Central Regional honors with a 10th place finish at the regional meet.
Women’s Cross Country
The TexAnns are looking to improve on a sixth-place LSC finish from a year ago. But the squad did finish fourth in the regional tournament. However, Tarleton was picked eighth in the preseason poll.
Head coach Pat Ponder doesn’t have a senior on the roster, but juniors Shadoh Campbell, Vanessa Elizondo and Katherine Grillo have some experience. Sophomores Rhyland Pittenger and Kyndall Trnka should provide some depth to the squad.
The TexAnns also have seven freshmen in what was a talented recruiting class.