As 2017 comes to a close, it is safe to say that it has been yet another exhilarating year for Trinity athletics. Four spring teams snagged Southern Collegiate Athletic Association (SCAC) championships, including big wins by men’s and women’s tennis, women’s track and field, and women’s golf. This fall, four more teams captured SCAC championships including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s cross-country, and women’s cross-country.
With all of the wins, all-conference recognitions, and championships, it’s pretty difficult to give credit to all of the amazing athletes. However, we thought it would be pretty neat to make a list of some of the coolest Trinity sports moments of 2017. Take a look at some of our favorites down below.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s basketball team rung in the new year with a thrilling double-overtime victory against University of Dallas on Jan. 28. The win was sealed when sophomore Brooks Mays pulled up for a buzzer beating three-pointer with only 2.8 seconds left on the clock. The Tigers escaped with a 92-91 victory. If you have a chance, go check out this play on YouTube. Every time I watch it, I get the chills.
Track & Field
After six athletes qualified for the NCAA championships, senior Cody Hall and sophomore Ayriel Coleman earned All-American honors at the Division III outdoor track & field championships. Coleman broke record after record in the triple jump all season long and became Trinity’s first women’s track & field athlete to acquire All-American honors as a first-year student-athlete. Coleman is back this year and will continue to help lead the Tigers to another SCAC championships.
Women’s Soccer
When a team goes 19-2, it is close to impossible to highlight a singular top moment of their season. The women’s soccer team had numerous stellar performances throughout their 2017 season, but the most impressive performances came from Chelsea Cole, Colleen Markey and Halleanne Dure, who each posted a hat-trick this season. Cole scored three goals against University of Dallas in a 6-0 win. Markey scored three to lift the Tigers over Centenary College in a 10-0 win on senior night. Dure tallied her hat trick against Texas Lutheran in a 13-0 win, the Tigers highest scoring performance since 2002.
Cross Country
The Tiger cross-country teams — both men’s and women’s — swept the SCAC championship in October, and a week later, head coach Emily Daum was recognized as the SCAC men’s and women’s — both again — coach of the year. The Tigers were led by sophomore Laura Taylor, who finished first in the SCAC championship and was later recognized as SCAC women’s cross-country runner of the year. The women also won the South/Southeast Regional Championship and proceeded to place 15th at the DIII National Championships.
Men’s Soccer
It is often said that success is the best revenge, and nothing solidifies that quote more than the men’s soccer team’s double-overtime victory against the University of Dallas on Oct. 6. Earlier in the season, Dallas handed Trinity their first home loss since 2013 in a heartbreaking overtime victory, 3-2. The Tigers used this as fuel to put Dallas back in their place, and defeated them on their home turf 3-2. The game winner was headed in by junior Austin Michaelis, sealing the 3-2 victory.
Football
As we all know, Tiger football kept us on our toes all fall with comeback victory after comeback victory. Out of all of their wins, it’s safe to say that the victory over Rhodes College was the most exciting. On Oct. 7, the Tigers defeated Rhodes 40-34 in overtime. As time expired, senior Colby Doyal drilled in a 48-yard field goal to tie the game 34-34. The 48-yard field goal was the fifth longest in Trinity history.
