Tag Archives: NAIA National Championships

OLLU celebrates achievements of Track and Field teams

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OLLU recognized the achievements of the men’s and women’s track and field teams from the 2022-2023 season during the virtual 11th Annual Big Blue Athletics Banquet.

The season was highlighted by the men’s 4x100m relay team finishing in fifth place at the NAIA National Championships and earning NAIA All-American honors. The four team members include Richard Davis, Troy Stinson, Cerrone Thompson and Julian Verastegui. Twelve members of the men’s team made it to the NAIA National Championships in Indiana. 

In addition, the women’s 4x100m relay team also qualified for nationals. They include Alondra Toledo, Kiana Kebbi, Autumn Roberts and Larrisa McHenry. Qualifying for the NAIA Indoor Championships earlier in the spring were Jose Zarate for the 5000m, Tr’Darius Taylor for the 60m and Ian Lee Heung for the Triple Jump.

The season also featured the men winning the Red River Athletic Conference championships and the women finishing in second. Jose Zarate was the men’s high point track athlete of the year.

Kane Ybarra shines at NAIA Championship and finishes in 10th place

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Star golfer Kane Ybarra placed 10th at the 69th Annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship at TPC Deere Run. He shot a four-round 290 (73, 73, 74, 70).

The individual medalist was Corey Matthey, who also was an individual qualifier. He shot a four-round 280.

Head Coach Arnie Martinez commented, “It was great to see Kane play well. This course was not to e taken lightly. The rough was long, the greens were fast, and it was some of the wettest conditions I’ve ever seen throughout the tournament. Four days is a lot of golf, and Kane grinded on every stroke. It was a  pleasure to watch him play all week. I know his goal was to win, but finishing 10th individually out of over 150 players is something to be very proud of. It was a great finish for a great player. He’s going to be hard to replace. He’s helped elevate OLLU golf to a higher level, and for that, I thank him. It’s been a heck of a ride. Congrats, Kane.”

Top Fifteen Final Individual Scores 

1 Corey Matthey, Morningside (Iowa) – 280

T2 Ben Rebne, Dalton State (Ga.) – 284

T2 Logan Smith, William Woods (Mo.) – 284

4 Beng Keat Lim, Ottawa (Ariz.) – 286

T5 Hunter Clay, Reindhardt (Ga.) – 288

T5 Ruan Pretorius, Point (Ga.) – 288

T7 Eric Wowor, Point (Ga.) – 289

T7 Javan Johnson, Taylor (Ind.) – 288

T7 Troy Watson, Kansas Wesleyan – 288

10 Kane Ybarra, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) – 290

T11 Javier Neira Garcia, Keiser (Fla.) – 291

T11 Steve Kibare, Dalton State (Ga.) – 291

T13 Jacob Thomas, South Carolina Beaufort – 292

T13 Tyron Davidowitz, Texas Wesleyan – 292

T15 Taylor Beckstead, Texas Wesleyan – 292

T15 Sentanio Minnie, Wayland Baptist (Texas) – 293

T15 Alberto Uriach, Webber International (Fla.) – 293

T15 Florian Benner, Keiser (Fla.) – 293

T15 Hugo Ronnberg, Bellevue (Neb.) – 293

This marks the highest finish for a men’s golfer who competed as an individual. In 2012, the Saints team made it to the finals and placed seventh overall, while Aaron Flores took sixth place. The following year, the Saints once again took seventh place, while Flores was the NAIA’s runner-up.

In 2017, the team grabbed 15th place, and in 2018, the Saints came out in 21st place, while Rafael Jauregui went on to the finals finishing in 33rd place. In the 2019 season, the Saints took 36th place, but Steve Landry qualified for the finals, where he placed 38th. Unfortunately, the 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19

OLLU celebrates the accomplishments of Ybarra, who has had a highly successful five years from 2016 through 2021 that encompasses achievements both in the classroom and out on the course. They include:

  • 5-time NAIA Scholar Team
  • 2-time NAIA All-American
  • NAIA-PING All-American
  • NAIA PING All-Region
  • 4-time All-Conference
  • Conference Player of the Year
  • Conference Newcomer of the Year
  • Conference Freshman of the Year
  • 5 Golfer of the Week awards
  • 5-year Conference Scholar-Athlete
  • 2-time Top Saint for Golf
  • 3 first-place finishes
  • 9 top-five finishes
  • 10 top-10 finishes
  • Earned his Bachelor of Business in Business Marketing

The Saints will get set for their 14th season in 2021-2022. They will play a handful of tournaments in the fall and then play their official season in the spring of 2022.

Kane Ybarra will represent OLLU golf at NAIA National Championship

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Senior Kane Ybarra (SR/San Antonio, Texas) of OLLU men’s golf will be competing in the 69th Annual NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship at TPC Deere Run starting on May 18 in Silvis, Ill.

Ybarra started the 2021 season strong by hoisting the San Antonio Shootout individual trophy. Following the tournament, Ybarra was ranked No. 2 in the NAIA. He is now ranked sixth among 150 NAIA collegiate players from throughout the country.

Ybarra recently took third place on the individual leaderboard at the A.I.I. Conference Tournament in early May. His 216 score in three rounds of play helped lead the Saints to a second-place finish. He received an individual bid for nationals based on his performance throughout this season.

Ybarra said, “I’ve been practicing every day leading up to the NAIA Championship. I’ve also been thinking a lot about the course and mentally preparing for the holes and shots I will have to hit while playing.”

During his four years at OLLU, he tallied 13 top-five finishes. Ybarra finished in first place at the University of Houston-Victoria Fall Classic in only his second collegiate tournament during his freshman season in 2016. His other top-five finishes include: 

  • Fourth at the Litz Memorial – Feb. 2014
  • Second at the San Antonio Shootout – Feb. 2017
  • Fourth at the TPC Deer Run – April 2017
  • Third at the RRAC Tournament – April 2017
  • Third at the UHV Fall Classic – Sept. 2018
  • Fifth at the Texas Intercollegiate Invitational – Sept. 2019
  • Fourth at the UHV Fall Classic – Sept. 2019
  • First at the Greater San Antonio Amateur Championship – July 2020
  • First at the San Antonio Shootout – Feb. 2021
  • Third at the Schreiner Shootout – March 2021
  • Fourth at the UHV Claud Jacobs Invitational – March 2021
  • First at the San Antonio Invitational – April 2021
  • Third at the A.I.I. Conference Tournament – May 2021

He has helped lead the team to three first-place finishes in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament and three NAIA National Tournament appearances. During nationals in 2017, the team finished in 15th place; in 2018, in 21st place; and in 2019, in 36th place. in 2016-2017, Ybarra was an All-American First-Team selection.

He also was part of the RRAC All-Conference team during his freshman 2017 season and sophomore 2018 season. The 2019-2020 season was canceled after three fall tournaments and three spring tournaments due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite most of the spring season being canceled, Ybarra was still awarded the A.I.I. All-Conference team in 2020. In 2017, Ybarra was named Player, Freshman and Newcomer of the Year for the RRAC. 

Head Coach Arnie Martinez has guided Ybarra during his career at OLLU and will be making the trip with him to nationals. Martinez commented, “It’s great that Kane received an individual bid. He’s been working hard and playing well all year. I’ve been able to coach Kane since he arrived at OLLU. He’s been through his ups and downs and it’s great to see him finish off his collegiate career with a chance to win a national championship. He’s one of the best golfers to come through this program. It will be a fun week, and I am excited to see what it entails.”

When asked about Martinez’s coaching, Ybarra responded, “Arnie has been with me since my freshman year, so we have spent a lot of time together. Over the years I have been able to grow and mature and he has always been there for anything I have needed. He is family.”

Ybarra, who completed his Bachelor of Business in Marketing this May, plans to either play one more summer of amateur golf or begin his journey of chasing his dream to becoming a professional golfer. He is hoping for a solid finish at nationals to open doors in the near future. He will tee off at 9:30 a.m. on May 18 alongside Jack Dudeck and Alberto Uriach.