Green and Gold members received a preview of the Arkansas Tech University fall 2018 sports season during a luncheon at Western Sizzlin of Russellville on Monday, Aug. 20.
Raymond Monica, who is beginning his sixth year as head football coach at ATU, reported that sophomores Carter Burcham of Greenbrier and Cale Fulsom of Russellville have moved to the front of the pack in the competition to succeed Ty Reasnor as starting quarterback.
Monica said that sophomore Tanner Gaines of Hector is working at the halfback position in addition to receiving repetitions as a quarterback out of the wildcat formation.
The Wonder Boys are also trying to identify successors to a trio of All-Great American Conference specialists. Place kicker Eric Perez, punter Clayton Watson and kick return specialist Braden Stringer all exhausted their eligibility in 2017.
Monica indicated that freshman Carson French of Grapevine, Texas, has solidified himself as the player who will handle kickoffs and that freshman Isaac Disney of Prairie Grove has shown ability as a punt returner and kick returner during preseason camp.
Competition remains open as to whom will handle field goals and extra points as well as the punting position.
Monica pointed to the emergence of sophomore Richard Butler of Clinton, Md., and freshman Carlos Gordon of North Little Rock as pass-rushing defensive ends who will be valuable to ATU in third down-and-long situations.
Negatives from preseason camp have included injuries along the offensive line and in the defensive secondary, but Monica went on to explain that the situation has provided the Wonder Boys with an opportunity to get younger players more experience and create depth.
Arkansas Tech will begin its season with an Aug. 30 Great American Conference game against Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Wilkins Stadium. Radio station KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com will provide live coverage.
When asked about the 2018 GAC preseason polls, Monica responded that he expects a deep and talented league this season. The Wonder Boys were slated in a tie for fourth in the GAC coaches’ preseason poll.
“Anybody can beat anybody any week,” said Monica. “There are some really good teams. I think anyone in that upper echelon can win the conference, just like last year.”
The Wonder Boys were 8-4 overall and finished tied for second in the GAC in 2017. They went on to make their second postseason bowl appearance in the last three years.
First-year head volleyball coach Kera Dukic inherits another ATU program that is well acquainted with posetseason play. The Golden Suns won the GAC Tournament in 2017 and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament before finishing the season with a 35-1 overall record.
Dukic is succeeding her mentor, Kristy Bayer, who resigned after 14 years at Arkansas Tech to accept an athletic administration position at Emporia State University (Kan.).
“It’s hard when you go 35-1 to do better the next year,” said Dukic. “That was a dream season. Our hope is to make a push in our region. We want winning the conference to go from being a goal to an expectation. In order to make that push in the region, we have to step it up defensively and with our serve receive. I think our girls feel the pressure, but I think they like it.”
The Golden Suns reported for preseason camp on Aug. 8 and have been participating in two-a-day practices since arriving in Russellville. It’s been a homecoming for Dukic, who played at ATU from 2007-10 and served as a graduate assistant coach for the Suns before moving on to coaching opportunities at the University of Central Oklahoma and St. Thomas University (Fla.).
“I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to come back where I played,” said Dukic. “This is the place I want to be.”
Tech begins its 2018 volleyball season on Friday, Aug. 24, and Saturday, Aug. 25, at the Peggy Martin Challenge in Warrensburg, Mo.
ATU head cross country coach Tom Aspel believes that strength in numbers will fuel his team’s success this fall.
“We may not have one girl who can win the race, but I believe we have five or six who can compete for that second team all-conference level,” said Aspel. “If we can do that, we can do some damage.”
The Golden Suns finished fourth at the 2017 GAC Championships. They are scheduled to begin their 2018 season Sept. 1 at a meet in Edmond, Okla.
Green and Gold membership is open to any fan of Wonder Boys and Golden Suns athletics.
Contact Caroline Vining, director of annual giving programs, at (479) 356-2071 or cvining@atu.edu to learn more about joining Green and Gold.
Photographed (from left-to-right): Tom Aspel, ATU head cross country coach; Raymond Monica, ATU head football coach; Kera Dukic, ATU head volleyball coach; and Steve Mullins, ATU director of athletics.
