While you were gone: summer sports headlines
By: Daniel Massa – Staff Writer
Collegiate athletics are a yearlong venture for schools and their student-athletes around the country, and the University of Dayton is no exception.
While most students were back home for the summer, athletic officials, coaches and some student-athletes were on campus making decisions that would affect the future of Dayton athletics. This summer was especially eventful at 300 College Park Ave.
NEW LOGO,
UNIFORMS UNVEILED
On July 18, the athletic department made an announcement which immediately divided the Flyer faithful. Alumni and fans created Facebook groups and signed petitions to voice their displeasure with the new logo, a stylized letter “D” with a wing protruding from the upper left corner.
The logo is part of a widespread identity shift that will affect every team, from basketball to track and field. New men’s basketball uniforms were unveiled along with the logo.
KHARI PRICE TRANSFERS
Rising junior point guard Khari Price, who started every game this past season for the men’s basketball team, announced his intention to transfer through a Dayton press release on June 8.
Price’s stated desire to attend a school closer to his home of Slidell, La., has led him to decide to continue his career at the University of Southern Mississippi. The university has not officially announced Price’s commitment, but several local media outlets, including Jason Munz of the Hattiesburg American have confirmed his decision.
The USM Golden Eagles compete in Conference USA and finished with a 29-7 record in a season that ended with an 81-73 defeat to the University of Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
Barring the event of receiving a waiver to play immediately (it is unknown whether Price will request one), per NCAA transfer rules, Price will sit out the 2014-15 season and will begin playing in the 2015-16 season. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Price’s departure opens the door for sophomore Dayshon “Scoochie” Smith to assume a much bigger role on this season’s squad. Smith was effective as a freshman backing up Price, logging just over 17 minutes per game while amassing 3.6 points and two assists per game.
KAVANAUGH, OLIVER GO PRO
Matt Kavanaugh and Devin Oliver are continuing their basketball careers professionally in Europe. The two, along with fellow classmate Vee Sanford, ended their time in a Dayton Flyers uniform after an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.
According to the team’s website, Kavanaugh signed with the NOMA Iserlohn Kangaroos, who play in the third tier of German professional basketball. Their season begins Oct. 3.
Oliver took a lengthier journey to Europe. He first secured a spot on the Boston Celtics’ summer league team, where he played a total of 18 minutes in four games, scoring zero points and grabbing seven rebounds.
After being let go from the Celtics, Belgian squad Limburg United, a newly established team which plays in the first division of Basketball League Belgium, announced they signed Oliver. Their season also starts on Oct. 3.
CONSTRUCTION OF OLSEN ATHLETICS PERFORMANCE
CENTER BEGINS
The Olsen Athletics Performance Center, a new 10,000 square foot atheltic facility, is currently being built in the building formerly known as Reichard Hall, which housed the university’s marching, jazz, concert and pep bands.
According to an athletic department press release, this addition to Dayton’s on-campus athletic facilities will mainly serve men’s and women’s basketball but will be available to all student-athletes. Its primary purpose is to assist student-athletes in sustaining proper strength and conditioning standards as well as appropriate nutrition.
The basketball weight room from the Donoher Center will be moved to the Olsen Athletics Performance Center when construction is scheduled to be completed in December, according to the press release.
MEMBERS OF MEN’S,
WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAMS
RECEIVE HONORS
With soccer season quickly approaching, College Sports Madness recently released their Atlantic 10 preseason picks. Nine Flyers between the men’s and women’s team cracked the lists.
Senior forward Greg Enstone was named to the first team, while junior goalkeeper Chris Froschauer made the second team. Freshman midfielder Nick Hagenkord was named the pre-season Freshman of the Year.
Women’s head coach Mike Tucker was awarded Coach of the Year and freshman midfielder Kaitlynn Kiehl received pre-season Freshman of the Year honors. Junior forward Ashley Campbell, junior midfielder Nicole Waters and sophomore defender Erin O’Malley each made the first team. Senior defender Allison Klinefelter was named to the second team.
The men begin their 2014 campaign on Aug. 30 at Loyola-Chicago, while the women kicked off their season at No. 9 Texas A&M on Aug. 22 with a 4-3 loss.