It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not just compete in the Paralympics, but to become part of the first wheelchair basketball team to achieve three consecutive gold medals in the Paris Paralympic Games, said Fabian Romo, Paralympic gold medalist and UTA alumnus. “[I] couldn't be more proud to be their teammate, to be part of that team that made history with them,” Romo said. “Super grateful that I could be part of that whole team, to be able to finish [the veterans’ careers] off on such a high note.” Throughout the past two weeks, Movin’ Mavs players hosted Paralympic watch parties to cheer on the wheelchair basketball teams at Trinity Hall and the Maverick Activities Center. With each U.S. bucket made, cheers grew louder as the players held their breath between every point, glancing at each other in excitement. When the U.S. team secured the Paralympic gold, they couldn’t contain themselves as “USA” chants filled the room. “That’s history-making,” kinesiology junior Ke’Sean Paire said. Team USA’s men’s wheelchair basketball cemented themselves in history defeating Great Britain, 73-69, during the 2024 Paris Paralympics, becoming the first men’s wheelchair basketball team to win three consecutive gold medals at the Paralympics. Romo said he’s known a lot of players in the Movin’ Mavs community since they were kids. He said he feels like a big brother to them, and it means a lot to have their support and to have them in his corner. “I've always done what I can, not just for them, but for the [Movin’ Mavs],” Romo said. “Ever since I graduated, I would always come back and stick around because this is a family. I'm always going to support the program and whoever comes in, that's family.” The men’s team won all three games in group play, their quarterfinals and semifinal matchups by an average of 36 points, becoming the most successful men’s wheelchair team of all time. “Knowing that their hard work paid off, and I was able to watch their hard work, hopefully I can apply some of their knowledge of the game and how their hard work came to play,” Movin’ Mavs player Carrington Marendes said. The USA women’s wheelchair basketball team secured silver after falling to the Netherlands, 63-49, in the finals. Paire said watching and supporting the Paralympics as a team motivates players to keep working hard to improve every day. He’s able to look back on the film to see what the U.S. teams did, implementing it in practice. “It’s amazing,” he said. “Just being able to watch in real time is an amazing feeling. Especially, when you know people that’s on the team you either played against or played with, it’s just like, ‘Wow.’” Marendes said he didn’t register the feat Team USA would accomplish until the announcers continuously repeated the chance for its third consecutive gold. “That really speaks about the consistency and about the longevity of the team. They’ve been together for so long doing the same thing,” Marendes said. Former UTA players like Romo and Paul Schulte, with assistant coach Mike Paye, won on an international stage after competing on university courts. After winning gold, Romo embraced his parents, thanking them for their sacrifices from driving him to practices to watching him win a gold medal in Paris. “They’ve been my biggest fans,” Romo said. “They’ve seen all the losses and all the wins. So it’s always been them behind me, and they just couldn’t be more proud of me.” Watching the men’s team claim gold was a bittersweet feeling, Marendes said. It’s been his goal to make the U.S. team, and being around his teammates created a fun atmosphere when cheering the team on and watching UTA alumni achieve their dreams. “In the inside, I’m feeling a lot more excited about it, because I want to be there one day,” Marendes said. “It’s a really great feeling.” @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Given the fluidity of the collegiate athletics coaching business, Mike Trapasso, UTA head baseball coach, wasn’t surprised about former head coach Clay Van Hook’s resignation. After supporting Van Hook’s decision, Trapasso had a question to answer: Was it time to step back into a head coaching role again? Trapasso, who has coached Division I baseball for over three decades, was hired as an assistant coach by Van Hook. Following Van Hook’s resignation in early August, UTA Athletics made the decision to promote Trapasso. “My job was to give him my thoughts. If he took it to heart, great. If he wanted to do something else, great. We presented to the players as if it was all of our idea,” Trapasso said. “That’s what being an assistant coach is about.” Trapasso said a lot of young coaches aren’t secure enough in what they’re doing to hire a former head coach, but Van Hook didn’t have those insecurities, something that showed what kind of person he was. “I was very happy in that role, supporting [Van Hook] and trying to help him not make the same mistakes, as a young coach, that I made when I was a young coach,” Trapasso said. Prior to his time in Arlington, Trapasso spent 20 years as the head coach for the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, guiding the Rainbow Warriors to multiple National Collegiate Athletic Association Regional appearances and later served as a pitching coach at the United States Naval Academy in 2022. He was also named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year three times, making appearances in back-to-back WAC championship games in 2010 with a title win and going back in 2011. Three years removed from his head coaching job at Hawai’i, Trapasso knew he wanted to venture into head coaching again and told Athletics director Jon Fagg that he was interested in the job the day after Van Hook’s resignation was announced. “My faith is the most important thing in what I do, and I feel strongly that we’re all called to do things until we’re not,” Trapasso said. “And I still feel called to really do this and try to create a culture for these young men where they can succeed.” Less than two weeks after Van Hook resigned, Trapasso was announced as the eighth coach in program history. Mavericks first baseman Tyce Armstrong said that with Trapasso’s experience as a head coach and the team, they had a feeling he would be the one hired to the position. “We were just hoping they weren’t going to bring in somebody that hasn’t been here and only give them a week for getting recollected with this team,” Armstrong said. The coaching staff was consistent and collaborative, leading to a seamless transition, Trapasso said. He added that the coaching change isn’t like many where a new coach has to go in and learn the whole team. While the personality of the team needs to be figured out, that’s something that changes every season. “We have that relationship with these guys already. We were ready to take, and are hoping to take, that next step in development with a lot of guys who’ve been here for a year or two, and it’s going to take a lot of work and we’ll have to see how that goes,” Trapasso said. Armstrong, entering his fourth year at UTA, has had three different head coaches during his time as a Maverick and said he’s thankful his newest coach will be someone he already knows. “I have a connection with him and so do most of the guys that have been on this team. Even the new guys are already making connections with him,” he said. In his first year as head coach, Trapasso hopes to set a culture for the team and establish an identity for the program. “We want our program’s identity to be one where we develop guys. Where guys come into our program and get better through good coaching and hard work,” Trapasso said. “But then each team, every year, depending on its personnel, has to have its own identity as a team, and that’s based usually on skill sets.” He hopes to use his time with the team during fall practices to eliminate team issues such as walks, errors, strikeouts and not being able to get bunts down. “I know that he’s going to get our guys right,” Armstrong said. “We have a lot of talent who just came in from the [transfer] portal and from [junior college], so he’s going to work with them this fall, he’s going to get them right, and I’m really excited to see what it’s going to be in the spring.” The team is set to announce their fall exhibition schedule in the coming weeks. @jwheels_1 @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The volleyball team (6-0) remains undefeated with a victory over the University of Louisiana Monroe (1-5) on Saturday at College Park Center to complete the UTA Classic sweep. After winning a challenging opening match of the three-game home set against Santa Clara University, UTA cruised to victories against McNeese State University and ULM in straight sets. UTA dominated the first set 25-13, led by five kills from graduate outside hitter Brianna Ford, who was named last week’s Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week. Louisiana Monroe provided more resistance in the second and third sets. However, UTA pulled ahead in both, 25-21 and 25-20. Head coach J.T. Wenger said the team has leaned on the leadership and experience of the group of graduate students. “It's very impactful to have a handful of graduate students that have been around,” Wenger said. “They know the ups and downs of the season, they've weathered storms in the past, they know how to ride a wave when things are going well.” Ford said the team’s motto for the season is “just believe,” inspired by Ted Lasso. The team even created their own version of the sign, adding glitter. The players want to prove to themselves that they can beat any team. “I think that we just want to prove to ourselves that we are capable of beating any team,” Ford said. “We just have to go out and have our best two and a half hours out on the court.” Graduate setter Mollie Blank said the team works hard in practice to get tempo and location on point to maintain a high-level offensive performance. She led all players with 23 assists. Graduate middle blocker Paige Reagor recorded 13 points and 11 kills. The Mavericks will return to action at 6 p.m. Sept. 12 as they prepare for the Dr. Mary Jo Wynn Invitational. @babyboimatt news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Maverick community gathered amongst a crowd of nearly 23,000 fans rocking orange, white and blue co-branded baseball caps Thursday at Globe Life Field for the annual UTA Night at the Rangers. The Texas Rangers (68-73) kicked off a four-game home series with a 3-1 victory over a division rival the Los Angeles Angels (58-82). Rangers pitcher Cody Bradford was credited with the win on the mound, pitching six innings and racking up four strikeouts while giving up one earned run and two hits. “Tonight [Bradford] was on top of his game. Good command, solid six innings,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. Adding a Texas Rangers and UTA specialty cap to his collection, David Cruz, IT Service Management assistant director at UTA, said he plans to place the newest addition on display at Trinity Hall. Rangers right fielder Adolis García smashed a three-run home run in the first inning, one of five total hits in the opening frame. The home run ended up being the only offense the Rangers needed en route to their victory. On the opposing side, the Angels' lone run came in the top of the third inning, with the Rangers unable to complete a double play with runners on first and third base allowing a run to score. Rangers pitcher Kirby Yates picked up the save for the team, his 27th of the year, striking out three in the top of the ninth inning. Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz was credited with the loss, pitching six innings and giving up eight hits and three earned runs. James Hollis, director of Alumni Relations at UTA, said planning for the annual night starts a year in advance in order to find an appropriate date with the Rangers and create promotions for the event. “This relationship has existed for several years, and it's an opportunity for us as an institution, UTA, to work with the Rangers to create some sort of special promotion that [gives] an opportunity for everybody to go and enjoy the Rangers game,” Hollis said. Philanthropy major Paul Barton, who attended last year’s UTA Night, said the university creates a conducive experience during community nights, making it easy to socialize with other Mavericks. “I do like to get the hats, and also my wife works the tabling event as well for the donor relations, so I come to hang out with her and then come see all the UTA people,” Barton said. Barton said he purchased the discounted ticket, not only for the ball caps but in support of UTA too. “I feel like just getting the recognition out there because UTA is such a great school and I just want to go around people that love it as well,” he said. @babyboimatt @jwheels_1 news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA Volleyball (4-0) earned a nail-biting victory in five sets, 3-2, Thursday night over Santa Clara University (1-2) at College Park Center in the Maverick’s first regular season home game. Coming off last weekend’s sweep, the Mavericks looked to build on their momentum. This was the teams first matchup since 1999 opening the the UTA Classic, a three-game tournament running through Saturday. Before the Thursday night game, the Western Athletic Conference named Brianna Ford as its Player of the Week. Despite the offensive efforts by graduate outsider hitter Ford and middle blocker Paige Reagor in the first set, UTA ultimately dropped the set 26-24. “We ultimately found that rhythm and we were able to ride it out,” head coach J.T. Wenger said. The first set was a nail-biter after both teams each posted 37 attacks. UTA shifted the momentum in the second set after taking an early 10-3 lead. Ford and graduate libero Alyssa Duran helped guide the Mavericks to their first set, 25-25. It was a back-and-forth battle between both teams, but Santa Clara pulled away with the 25-16 victory. UTA battled back and closed out the set on a 5-1 run to even the score, 25-19, and push the game to a decisive fifth set. Ford recorded 25 kills, 15 digs, and 52 attacks. Reagor helped guide UTA with three kills, as the team picked up the 15-13 victory. “Overall we learned that we need to lean on each other,” Ford said. “That first set, it felt like we were all playing alone, like we were not celebrating each other's victories.” Sophomore outside hitter Evyn Snook contributed 14 total attacks, four kills, and six digs. “The grittiness of our team and the willingness to say ‘Yes I’m gonna go’ and not stop at everything, we did a really good job at slowing down who we needed to slow down on their side,” Snook said. Snook said the team took what Santa Clara gave them, and went to work. Volleyball will return to action 6 p.m. Thursday at College Park Center against McNeese State University. @logan_p42 @stephanie_q03

The Dallas Wings (9-24) and Washington Mystic (10-23) entered College Park Center on Tuesday looking to bounce back after their last game. Unfortunately, Dallas dropped a heartbreaker, 90-86, going 0-3 against Washington this season. Head coach Latricia Trammell said the team was focused on locking in defensively and not giving up easy 3-pointers. Washington currently sits third in the league with made 3-pointers while the Wings are eighth. After taking a day off, the team went into Tuesday’s practice energized, knowing how important the next three games are for its playoff hopes. Trammell said that the game would come down to sharing the basketball, setting up screens and assists. “Every game is a playoff game, and so we've got to treat it that way,” Trammell said. “Everyone's good in this league, and we know that. Everyone's really playing well. Washington's not any different.” Guard Arike Ogunbowale led all Wings scorers with 21 points and four assists. Ogunbowale set another record Tuesday, surpassing Skylar-Diggins Smith for most free throws made in Wings history with 757. Center Teaira McCowan recorded her 11th double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. McCowan said it was a much-needed performance, with her teammates boosting her up after underdelivering in the past few games. During the second quarter, forward Satou Sabally headed to the locker room to have her shoulder evaluated, which sidelined her for a large part of the season. Despite having their roster back, Trammell said Sabally and many other players are not at 100% yet. Center Kalani Brown recorded 10 points and said the team will reevaluate how they start games and their energy. The team is fighting for playoff contention and she said they need to act like it. “We can't come out the way we started,” Brown said. “It was flat. We were relaxed, like we not trying to make playoffs and I think we got on each other about that, but Washington's a well-coached team. You can't come out against well-coached teams like that. They're not going to let you out of the hole.” Looking ahead to Friday’s game, the team plans on getting back in the gym, watching film and looking to add another win, Trammell said. The Wings will hit the road 6:30 p.m. Friday against the Atlanta Dream, kicking off their two-game road stretch. @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

At 12 years old, aerospace engineering major Austen Smith traded a typical teenage experience to focus on skeet shooting. When Smith was younger, she would always play rhythmic video games. Her father noticed her hand-eye coordination and suggested she try shotgun shooting. Her family didn’t hunt, and shotguns never crossed her mind, but the moment she hit a target for the first time, something clicked. “I shot a couple targets for the first time, and the moment that I hit one, yeah, that’s kind of whenever the addiction started,” Smith said. Now, at 23 years old, Smith has attended two Olympic Games, winning silver and bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She said it’s been affirming to see her hard work pay off and to share those memories with her parents. “Realizing you could say that you’re not just an Olympian, but a two-time Olympian — it really does mean something special to me,” Smith said. “I don’t think I could ever get over that feeling.” When she’s not training, Smith is working toward her degree at UTA. Growing up in the Metroplex, she always had a fascination with planes and NOVA, a science series on PBS demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define human lives. Smith frequently traveled on American Airlines’ MD-80s and as a kid. She would sit in the back to hear the engines go, which sparked her interest in aviation. She loved doodling, science, math, engineering and planes, so aerospace became the “perfect fit.” Her passion began young, as Smith started practicing skeet regularly in middle school, attending a match where she first met Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock. At the time, Hancock had two Olympic gold medals in men’s skeet, and by the end of Smith’s competition, he asked her father if he could train her. The answer was no. “Thankfully, one of the other parents went up to [my dad] and said, ‘Don’t you know who that is? That’s Vincent Hancock, the two-time gold medalist,’” Smith said. “Of course, right then, my dad’s like, ‘Oh, okay, nevermind. Yeah, you can go train with him.’” Smith thought it would be a one-off, but she began training regularly with Hancock. Smith credits her father and Hancock for developing her shooting style. Her father helps with the mental game while Hancock teaches her the fundamentals. Silver medalist Conner Prince, whom Smith describes as her “best friend in shooting sports,” has played a crucial role in her journey. While the two push each other on the range, she said they’re also “complete goofballs.”. That’s what was so special about Paris, Smith said: On and off the field, the Shotgun Olympic Team members were all close friends. “We can go on the field, shoot, and then we can goof off after,” she said. “That’s the kind of chemistry that not a lot of teams have, and I think that positive atmosphere is what really helped drive us to do well this Olympics.” To qualify for the Olympics, participants compete in two selection matches, shooting 250 targets in the first match. In comparison, national and international matches involve 125 targets, but the increased targets ensure that Team USA selects the most consistent shooters. The top six participants advance to the final, which Smith described as a “very intense elimination-style final.” Athletes shoot 20 targets and then rounds of 10, eliminating the last place in each round to determine first and second place. Several months later, the process is repeated, and a final qualifying score determines who makes the Olympic team. “The U.S. team is definitely more intense in terms of that selection,” Smith said. “We’re put through the wringer, but that’s why we have such good shooters. We have people who can weather a lot.” Anybody can sign up for selection matches, Smith said, so nobody is ever safe. It pushes every shooter to be their best and strengthens the organization. It wasn’t until after placing 10th in women’s skeet at the 2020 Games that Smith realized she needed to improve her mental game. “I made the team just based off of pure determination,” she said. “And at the end of the day, I didn’t really have a mental process yet.” After taking a year off, she connected with Lanny Bassham, a UTA alumnus and Olympic gold medalist. The two met virtually a couple of times a week from late February to May to sharpen Smith’s mental process. Bassham specialized in rifle shooting, winning the three-position smallbore silver in 1972 and gold in 1976. Bassham said that at that time, there were no classes on mental training. Athletes believed mental toughness was inherent rather than a developed skill. During the 1972 Olympics, Bassham’s nerves got the better of him, and he lost the gold after dropping points early. He realized he needed to strengthen his mental game and spent the next few years calling successful Olympians to learn about their mental preparation. “Nobody had the whole story on the mental game,” Bassham said. “But everybody had a piece of it.” After learning all he could, Bassham returned to the 1976 Olympics and won gold, also becoming the first Maverick to compete in two Olympic Games. In 1977, Bassham started Mental Management Systems, a family-run company working to help teach people how to think under pressure. The goal going into Paris was to medal, Smith said. If she “did everything properly and if all the stars aligned,” she’d walk away with a medal. Now a two-time Olympic medalist, Smith said it’s her job to help make the next generation better than her, reminding them to stay cognizant of their mental game. “We always say shooting is 10% physical, 90% mental to a certain point,” Smith said. “Why not focus on that 90% mental?” Smith recalled the memorable experience of walking at Champions Park in Paris. Shooting athletes don’t get a lot of recognition, Smith said, and they never expect to. But as thousands of people gathered to congratulate athletes, shouting “USA,” and asking for selfies and autographs, Smith said it was a special moment to see her hard work pay off. Talking to her loved ones after winning was special for Smith. “My dad’s not a very emotional person, and he was tearing up over there,” she said. “That was a very special moment for me.” Smith never thought she would have her own Olympic medal, and to many athletes, the Olympics can feel like just another competition. But when she showed her medal to her family and friends, the fact that she earned an Olympic medal really sunk in. “The moment that you show it to somebody and you see their face light up — or I’ve even had friends who are shaking whenever they’ve held it — I’m like, okay, yeah, no, it is a big deal,” Smith said. “That is really cool, and I’m just happy to be able to share it with others.” Upon Smith’s return home from Paris, computer science senior Rudy Orozco and others in their friend group met her at the airport with her family, waving American flags and signs saying, “Welcome back, Austen” and “Olympic medalist.” Orozco met Smith near the start of 2020 through a Discord group. The group used the platform to chat, study and organize a safe meet-up at the University Center, post-COVID-19. When Orozco first heard Smith mention her competitions, he had no idea that she was a skeet shooter set to become an Olympian. After learning Smith was going to Tokyo, the whole friend group began rooting for her. “It’s astonishing how she’s able to go to school and then keep shooting and do all that,” Orozco said. “The balance is really insane.” Smith said it’s good to be back to learning after taking the year to practice her shooting. Being in the classroom is her “second happy place.” Paris re-sparked her passion for shooting, but for now, Smith is focused on getting her aerospace engineering degree. She plans to take a break from competitions before preparing for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. “You can have a balance between your student life and whatever your extracurricular may be,” Smith said. “There’s always a path, and you just got to take enough time and effort to find it. You don’t have to completely give one up for the other.” @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Volleyball and cross country are in full swing this week as they return home. Both teams are hosting events on campus this week. This is the schedule for Sept. 3 through 8. Volleyball The volleyball team will host the UTA Classic Sept. 5-7 at College Park Center. The Mavericks open the tournament against Santa Clara University at 6 p.m. Thursday, followed by McNeese State University at 6 p.m. Friday and the University of Louisiana at Monroe at 3 p.m. Saturday. The classic will be the first home game of the regular season. The Mavs are coming off a 3-0 sweep in the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic, having defeated all three opponents in Lafayette, LA. Cross Country The men’s and women’s cross country teams will host the Gerald Richey Invitational at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake. Gerald Richey was a longtime track and field coach at UTA before retiring in 2013. In honor of his accomplishments, UTA named their annual invitational after his namesake before passing away at 83 years old in 2019. Texas Rangers The Texas Rangers will host their annual UTA Night at 7:05 p.m. Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field. Tickets purchased through this link will receive a UTA/Rangers co-branded hat Thursday. Caps can be picked up at the theme night kiosk on the main concourse near section 116. Pickup is available when the gates open until the end of the third inning. @babyboimatt news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Movin’ Mavs hosted a Paralympians watch party Thursday to cheer on the men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams at Trinity Hall. Players and coaches from both groups scattered around the room in support of current players and alumni on the USA and Canada teams. The room was decorated in red, white, and blue, setting the scene for the occasion. Movin’ Mavs players matched the energy during a close game between USA and Spain, cheering and applauding each time USA scored. Aaron Gouge, Movin’ Mavs head coach, said the event was organized by Cezar Olivas, assistant director for Adapted Sports. “We just really wanted to be able to support our UTA athletes that are out there,” Gouge said. After a slow start, USA pulled away in the fourth quarter, winning the game 66-56 to begin their quest for a third consecutive gold medal. Current Lady Movin’ Mavs player Élodie Tessier was featured in the late window as Canada dropped its opening game against China, 70-65. Gouge was part of the 2016 USA team that brought back gold for the first time since 1988. “It was a really special team,” he said. “USA had not won a gold medal in years at that point, so we were kind of the first ones to turn it around and kind of start this trend, and now here they are going for three in a row, hopefully,” he said. Cheers were the loudest when the final buzzer sounded, when Olivas called for a celebration for someone through a call that lasted 20 seconds. Chants of “USA” roared in what was a patriotic scene at Trinity Hall. Carrington Marendes, art studios super-senior, was among the ones cheering the loudest, saying he hopes to have more watch parties in the future because the Paralympics need more exposure. “Especially for people here in America. We need to have more exposure for the Paralympics because some people still call it Special Olympics. It’s the Paralympics,” Marendes said. International business junior Rodrigo Linares expressed excitement to watch his former teammate, Fabian Romo represent Team USA. Romo helped lead the Movin’ Mavs to a national championship in 2017, graduating in 2020 and now playing professional wheelchair basketball in Spain. “He played a couple years before I came in but a phenomenal player, still, on the court. Also an amazing guy off the court,” Linares said. “It’s just pretty cool to see people that you know at that level.” @babyboimatt news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Dallas Wings (9-23) and Indiana Fever (17-16) entered College Park Center on Sunday looking to extend their three-game win streaks. Unfortunately for Dallas, miscommunication cost them the victory, 100-93. Head coach Latricia Trammell loves where the team stands mentally and even through tough times, the locker room has been good all season. As the team continues to stay committed and move forward positively, she said it always presents a chance to win. “We're trying to make the playoffs,” Trammell said. “We're finally, for the most part, 98% healthy, and that hasn't been that way this season so we're focused on us and trying to take one game at a time,” Trammell said. After a slow start, forward Satou Sabally took off in the second half, finishing with 25 points which kept Dallas locked in and engaged, Trammell said. “We kept huddling, we kept communicating and talking,” Sabally said. “Kudos to [Indiana], they had a great game, and they matched us really well. But, we stay together. That is our identity, and we'll move forward to the next game.” Even in defeat, Trammell expressed gratitude for the team’s effort and pointed out the positives. It was the team’s fourth straight game reaching 90 points. The Wings produced a team-high 13 made 3-pointers and committed fewer turnovers than the Fever. Sunday’s playoff-like atmosphere drowned out the Wings crowd with Fever fans throughout the game. Fans sported Fever guard Caitlin Clark’s jersey across the arena and cheered for every shot she took. After familiar matchups in college, guard Jacy Sheldon started the game defending against Clark. Clark is a strong player, but Sheldon knows her game better than anyone, Trammell said. “You just look forward to those matchups when you’re a competitor,” Sheldon said. “She can really pass the crap out of the ball, and that's what makes her so hard to guard, honestly, you got to pick your battles and choose.” While Dallas remains the No. 11 seed in the standings, the team continues to battle for the eighth spot as playoffs near. Guard Arike Ogunbowale led all Wings scorers with 34 points, eight rebounds and set a career-high with nine 3-pointers. Five of those shots came in the first quarter where she recorded 15 first points. “She's probably not even worried about that,” Trammell said. “She did an amazing job, but she's not satisfied. But we're proud of that. That's a big record.” Ogunbowale had a lot on her shoulders to start the season due to all of the injuries and sitting out one game, Trammell said. Without a victory, Ogunbowale won’t be satiated. The team announced its eighth regular-season sellout, marking its ninth of 2024 and the second sellout in the last three home games. The Wings will be in action 7 p.m. Tuesday at College Park Center against the Washington Mystics. @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA men’s and women’s soccer clubs split into separate lines, focusing on footwork, drills and shaping team chemistry. Both clubs spent the last few weeks growing their rosters and welcoming newcomers. Both teams compete in the Texas North Division under the Texas Collegiate Soccer League. The UTA Women’s Soccer Club kicks off their fall 2024 campaign Sept. 7 against Tarleton State University. The seven-game schedule features four home games at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex. The men will kick off their season Sept. 7 against Oklahoma State University. Games are free admission and the clubs are looking for all the support they can receive. The women’s club remains optimistic after an underwhelming season last year and returning players look to lead the club in a positive direction. Architect sophomore Haylee McCall is looking forward to the team’s match against Tarleton, a team that is evenly matched against UTA each time they play. “I don't think it’s any sort of rivalry, I think it’s just like both teams are equally skilled,” she said. “We’re happy to play each other.” This men’s team has depth in every position and everyone is excited to be there, alumni and assistant coach Talal Alrababah said. There are no words to express the joy and excitement around the team, he added. “We're getting students that are starting to realize what it means to play for UTA, to represent everything that UTA is about,” Alrababah said. “Season after season, we're just getting better and better, and we're trying to build something for the future. There should be a legacy and this is what we're trying to build. A legacy.” Alrababah believes this will be the club's best season yet. The players are approaching the season in a serious manner, making sure voluntary practice fits into their schedules. Alrababah said the key to success is attitude. If you don’t have a good attitude, it will end up affecting all other 10 players and on the pitch. If the team doesn’t have a great foundation, it will end up crumbling down when you least expect it, he added. Information systems junior and team secretary Eduardo Hernandez mentioned that team chemistry will lead to success. “As a team we make sure to help out the younger players who are coming in,” Hernandez said. “The older guys are always helping out the newer guys and we're getting them mixed in with us.” You can be a team and have a stacked roster, but if you’re not passionate then what are you there for, Hernandez said. Finding out how passionate the club was and discovering it was fighting for something deeper than just soccer is what drove Hernandez to join the soccer club. McCall has played soccer since she was four and said the UTA club was a good fit for her. “I honestly just wanted to find somewhere to play,” she said. “It’s just something that fits into my life and my personality.” After last season's underperformance, McCall emphasized that the team wants things to be different this year. The team is committed to stepping up at practice and holding each other accountable for their mistakes. Team bonding is viewed as a key factor in the team's success. “I think that our first step is really like unity and forming more of a team,” McCall said. “Last year, like I said, we had a lot of division between the two teams.” There will also be a familiar face stepping back in as head coach. McCall said she hopes that he’ll be able to formulate the team back to how they used to be. Soccer at UTA isn’t part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association but the culture and love for the sport keeps the team united. Students have to juggle homework, classes and jobs outside of UTA but are always willing to help each other out. “Learning how to work with people, even new people on the fly. I think it’s so important. Just building together, like in skill and practicing,” McCall said. “Just passing drills and things like that, so we can move together on the field instead of just one person having to feel like they’re taking all the work on themselves.” Alrababah has played soccer since he was in his home country, Qatar, and was excited to find out that UTA had a club when he arrived. This team wants all the support they can get from students because they believe they can build a legacy at UTA. After struggling with funds, Hernandez is focused on getting the team new jerseys this season after reusing their old jerseys last season. “It was really funny because our jerseys that we went with, we were taping our numbers on there,” Hernandez said. @Stephanie_q03 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The men's and women’s cross country teams are gearing up for the second annual John McKenzie Invitational against Texas Christian University at 7:45 a.m. Saturday at the Athletic Performance Ranch in Fort Worth, Texas. This event kicks off UTA’s fall season and provides an opportunity for runners to test their fitness on a familiar course. Head coach John Sauerhage said the big prize is in November and he hopes to use this event as a stepping stone for the Western Athletic Conference championship. "We're trying to get them ready for [WAC],” Sauerhage said. ”Everything is a method. A way to get better.” As the team aims to perform well at the invitational, the focus remains on building towards peak performance later in the season because the first two meets are low-key, Sauerhage said. Both teams will run 5k races before reaching 8-10k races to close out the season. The invitational will serve as a benchmark for team progress compared to last season, he added. “They're ready to compete at the level that they're capable of,” Sauerhage said. TCU is viewed as a template for how the team might perform against stronger competition in the WAC, Sauerhage said. TCU has its advantages, but the team believes they can win Saturday. Both the men's and women’s teams placed third at TCU last year. With several athletes returning, Sauerhage remains hopeful that team veterans will show improvement from last season. "We're capable of winning, so we'll just have to see what happens," Sauerhage said. The John McKenzie Invitational is the first challenge for UTA, as they look to push themselves to the limit starting Saturday. @logan__p29 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Dallas Wings (8-22) showed out for UTA Night, pulling off its second consecutive comeback, 93-90 against the Las Vegas Aces (18-12) on Tuesday at College Park Center. It was a close game to the final buzzer, with the Wings outscoring the Aces 32-21 in the fourth quarter. Head coach Latricia Trammell said the Aces are a great team and though Dallas always plays it tough, it was going to be a challenging but fun battle. With 10 games remaining, the message remains: play to win. “We do have the hardest schedule in the league in the second part,” Trammell said. “Every game is a playoff game.” Vegas has a chip on their shoulder but so does Dallas, forward Natasha Howard said. She acknowledged the Aces as a tough matchup but credited the Wings for containing both ends of the court. Howard delivered another huge performance with 24 points and six rebounds. Guard Arike Ogunbowale added 20 points, six assists and five rebounds. Despite allowing 42 points from Aces center A’ja Wilson, forward Satou Sabally said the Wings contained other key opponents and got strong contributions from their own bench. Dallas limited Vegas to eight bench points. “We contained a lot of other players on the team, and I think this is really what set us apart today,” Sabally said. Sabally led all Wings scorers with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists, recording her best game since returning from injury. Howard said it was great having her back on the court and the team syncs well with Sabally back, creating difficulties for other teams. “We can see everything coming together slowly, and this is what we wanted,” Sabally said. Despite a rough start to the season, Sabally said the team’s confidence has remained high. The team knew adversity was inevitable, but now with most players healthy, it feels like a fresh start to the season. “We still have the playoffs to reach, and that's our goal,” she said. “Taking game by game, we wanted to win today, and we know we can win. That's the mindset we need for every single game, playing together. I mean, we were in the semifinals last year for a reason and I don't want people to forget that.” Alumna Donna Boutwell is a Wings season ticket holder and has been a fan of the team since they moved to Arlington in 2015. At a game night like this, in a student environment, she said everybody is enthusiastic and kind. “I didn't like sports as a kid, but it's so much fun to be around a group of people who are all hollering on the same side,” Boutwell said. With a year remaining in Arlington before the Dallas Wings leave for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, not everybody is thrilled about the relocation, Boutwell said. It won’t be easy following the team to Dallas as an “Arlington girl.” Recently celebrating Texas educators in a past game, Trammell said the Wings and UTA have a supportive system. “It's a great partnership. I’m proud of the students for coming out and supporting us and we couldn’t ask for anything more,” she said. Leading up to the game, a special promotion was available to the first 75 UTA alumni who purchased tickets, granting a free-throw shot on the court after the game. The team announced its seventh regular-season sellout Monday, marking its eighth of 14 home games in 2024, including the preseason opener against the Indiana Fever. Across 13 regular season games, the Wings have averaged 97% capacity in CPC. The Wings will be back in action 6:30 p.m. Friday at College Park Center, taking on the Minnesota Lynx. @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Graduate student Élodie Tessier and several former UTA athletes will compete in the first-ever Paralympic Summer Games hosted in Paris, beginning Wednesday through Sept. 8. The U.S. Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team will feature Rose Hollermann and Josie Aslakson. Tessier, a current Lady Movin’ Mav athlete, will compete with Team Canada. The U.S. Men’s Wheelchair Basketball National Team features athletes Fabian Romo and Paul Schulte, with Mike Paye as an assistant coach. Jon Rydberg will serve as an assistant coach for the men, women and quad U.S. Wheelchair Tennis teams. Tessier, a native of Québec City, Canada, is set to make her second Paralympic appearance after debuting in the 2020 Tokyo games. This will be the first international tournament her family is able to attend. COVID-19 restrictions during the Tokyo games prevented spectators from attending events. With her family traveling from Canada, she said she’ll be holding back tears seeing them in the crowd. “It’s really special, very unique, I feel because they have been really supportive throughout my career, but in a virtual way,” Tessier said. “Having them here in person, I think it’s going to be very special.” Hollermann will make her fourth Paralympic appearance after winning gold with Team USA in 2016 and bronze in 2020. Hollermann attended UTA from 2014-2019, where she competed with the Lady Movin’ Mavs. She said the fundamentals she learned remain important in her career, like chair defense, making layups and using her left hand. “The work ethic and the life of being a student athlete, learning how to balance sports while also balancing something else, is something [that] as an athlete even after college, you’re really grateful that you learned while you were in school,” Hollermann said. The U.S. team will feature 11 returners and one newcomer who’s been on and off the team since 2018. While it may be their first time at the Paralympics, Hollermann said because wheelchair basketball is a “tight knit community,” she won’t be completely new to Team USA. Romo will make his Paralympic debut after narrowly missing the cut during the Tokyo games. He attended UTA from 2015-2020, where he helped the Movin’ Mavs win its eighth title in 2017, ending an 11-year drought. “I’m super excited and nervous,” Romo said. “But I think the excitement will overtake all the nerves.” The selection process is like no other, Romo said. Around 28 athletes are chosen for tryouts, and the group is then reduced to 16. After another round of cuts, tryouts continue until the final 12-man roster is finalized. It’s a challenging and stressful process, he said. “I heard my name, and I couldn’t believe it. I went over to the other room, and the previous guys named before me, we were all congratulating each other,” Romo said. “That’s when it hits you. That’s when it hit me. I just thought to myself, ‘This is it, I finally did it.’” Romo’s parents were the first to find out he made the team, followed by his fiancé. He credits his parents for playing a huge role in his career, taking him to every practice and attending every game. “I called them first, and tears just came out,” Romo said. “There was just no other way to let everything out but to just cry. That was a very special moment, for sure.” Making the team is just the start of the journey. Romo “shifts into gear,” putting in extra hours, training and staying disciplined. Romo recalls his first Paralympic tryout where he placed 13 out of 12 in 2020, chosen as an alternate. The 2020 coaching staff encouraged Romo to keep training. This time around, he used those tryouts as encouragement to show why he deserved a spot on Team USA. After winning gold in 2016 and 2020, the men’s team has a chance to make history with its third consecutive win. With many players considering retirement, Romo said there’s no better motivation to earn his first medal and help the veterans go out on top. Tessier won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and silver at the 2023 Parapan American Games. Having a taste of gold is familiar, but she said representing Team Canada on the podium is the dream. In the end, it’s about having fun and living in the moment, Tessier said. After the sudden death of a Canadian teammate and several coaching changes, the team has grown closer. “I don’t want to worry about all the other factors that are uncontrollable,” Tessier said. “I just want to be in the moment, accept the role that I’ve been given and just play the best I can. Support my teammates the best I can.” Tessier is proud of her UTA accomplishments and aims to give back to the team while focusing on winning a national championship for her country. Throughout the week, she’s received texts from Lady Movin’ Mavs members, expressing how much they miss each other and offering support. “I would support any girl that would be in my shoes right now, that would compete for their country,” Tessier said. “I have a good team that’s supporting me.” @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Those who loved the thrill of international competition need to look no further than the 2024 Paralympics. The Olympics drew 30.6 million daily viewers, doubling its 2020 Tokyo viewership. The Paralympics debut Wednesday and run for two weeks. Like the Olympics, the Paralympics have a big show to put on from Aug. 28 through Sept. 8, where nearly 4,400 Paralympians will compete in 22 sports with a total of 549 medal events. The 2020 Paralympics already doubled its 2016 viewership with an average of 14.1 million U.S. viewers, but with record-breaking numbers during the Paris Olympics, The Shorthorn Editorial Board believes the same should be expected for the Paralympics. “The world is taking a turn in favor of people with differences,” Morgan Wood, Lady Movin’ Mavs head coach, said. “Which is a great thing, not just for disability, but race, gender, right? That benefits the Paralympics in every way.” This year, graduate student Élodie Tessier and several former UTA athletes will play a role in the Paralympics. “It’s important that we put, especially our UTA athletes, on a pedestal,” Wood said. Viewers often underestimate the amount of training Olympians and Paralympians go through year-round, Aaron Gouge, Movin’ Mavs head coach, said. But while support in the U.S. is growing and moving in a positive direction for Paralympians, it still trails in other countries. In 2019, the United States Olympic Committee updated its name to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. That visibility matters, Gouge said. The Spirit of 2012, an independent Trust by the National Lottery Community Fund founded in 2013, showed that attitudes in the U.K. began changing towards adaptive sports by 70% after the 2012 London games. Though adaptive sports have grown, research shows there’s still work to be done. “They’re not out here just for fun. They’ve been training for years to get to this point and are out there to compete and to win,” Gouge said. Gouge spent 12 years training before competing in his first Paralympics in 2016, where he won a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro. Team USA’s 2016 victory sparked back-to-back gold medals in men’s wheelchair basketball. This year, they have the opportunity to win three consecutive golds, a feat no Paralympic team has done before, Gouge said. Wood spent years trying out for Team USA before getting the opportunity to serve as captain during the 2017-2018 campaign. Unfortunately, injuries derailed the end of her collegiate career but allowed Wood to venture into coaching. While Wood never competed at the Paralympic Games, she’s competed in World Championship games and collected a silver medal during the America’s Qualifier Cup. “First and foremost, representing your country, that’s a different feeling altogether,” Wood said. It doesn’t matter who’s watching, an athlete should be proud to represent their country, she said. It’s a lot of weight to carry, and it involves a different mindset to train as a Paralympian alongside being a college athlete. There have been several factors over the years that have promoted the growth of Paralympic sports, such as Paralympian Hunter Woodhall and Olympian Tara Davis-Woodhall, who recently won gold in the women’s long jump. With the attention they’ve received, they reminded viewers to tune in to the Paralympics. In 2020, Toyota launched its Toyota U.S. Paralympic Fund, offering monetary support and sponsorships to eligible Paralympians. The Hershey Company has been a supporter of Team USA since 2015. Seeing support from big companies makes everyone feel included, Wood said. Several athletes can’t afford to be on a national team, and there are athletes who, at times, get paid next to nothing. For those who win a medal, that is their yearly salary, so it’s even more crucial for companies to back athletes through partnerships. The Paralympic movement gained significant momentum heading into Paris, and hopefully, the support carries into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, sparking a bigger opportunity for the Paralympic movement, Gouge said. “If we can’t make LA a big deal for the Paralympics, then we’ve messed up,” Wood said. The Shorthorn Editorial Board is made up of editor-in-chief Christine Vo; managing editor Hannah García; news editor Pedro Malkomes; associate news editor Amanda Aldridge; copy desk chief Jinelle Sánchez; multimedia editor Ronaldo Bolaños; engagement editor Francisca Gomez; news reporter James Ward; and copy editor Leslie Orozco. editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

After three straight losses, the Dallas Wings (7-22) clinched a crucial 113-110 win over the Los Angeles Sparks (6-24) on Sunday at College Park Center. Despite trailing all game, the Wings took their first lead with 7.2 seconds left, outscoring the Sparks 40-18 in the fourth quarter. Sunday marked the Wings’ third century mark this season. Although playoff hopes are slim, a strong finish could turn things around for Dallas. It’s about breathing life into one another, head coach Latricia Trammell said. “We're competitors, they're professionals,” Trammell said. “They know and understand the situation all throughout the season.” Miscommunication disrupted the Wings from the get-go. The Sparks jumped to an 8-0 run, forcing a Wings timeout less than 90 seconds into the game. Sparks rookie forward Rickea Jackson scored 16 first-quarter points, keeping the Wings on its heels. This rookie class is setting standards for all rookies that come into the league, Trammell said. Jackson is finding her way in the Sparks’ system and will be a force to be reckoned with, she added. Guard Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 33 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Former Wings guard Odyssey Sims put on a show in her return to College Park, recording a double-double with 26 points and 10 assists as a Spark. The team struggled defensively but stayed resilient, holding the Sparks to 18-point in the fourth quarter. Trammell said she was extremely proud of them. The Sparks entered Sunday on a six-game losing streak after beating the Wings on July 13, a loss that left a bad taste in Dallas’ mouths. Ogunbowale said it wasn’t about how the team began but how they finished, showing her that they can overcome anything. Forward Natasha Howard said the team had to regroup after an underwhelming first half. She emphasized holding each other accountable and credited everyone who came off the bench. Howard scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Despite struggling with free throws all season, Howard sank two crucial shots with 2.5 seconds left, giving the Wings a three-point lead. “Without my teammates believing in me to knock free throws down, I probably wouldn't believe in myself,” Howard said. “Thanks to Arike and [Sevgi Uzun] for believing in me to knock those free throws down.” That fourth quarter was one of the team’s best, Howard said. Being down 11 with three and a half minutes is doable, but it’s difficult when the team isn’t getting stops and losing stamina. She said everything came together when it mattered. An emotional Trammell expressed gratitude, having witnessed the team build confidence throughout the game to earn a victory during a challenging season. “You think about one of those things and your season's rough, but to see the fight in this team and everyone contribute and to still stick together, I mean, that's all you can ask for,” Trammell said. “I'm just extremely proud of them. I love this team.” The Wings will be back in action 7 p.m. Tuesday at College Park Center, where they will take on the Las Vegas Aces. @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The volleyball team returned to action Friday at College Park Center with a 3-1 victory over Dallas Baptist University in an exhibition match. Coming off a (21-11, 9-7) record in 2023, the Mavericks look to set high expectations going into their season, after ranking second in the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll. College Park was buzzing Friday night in support of the volleyball team. Art education major Yarettzy Rubio said she hopes the team is able to finish first in the preseason coaches’ poll. The Mavericks narrowly won the first set 26-24. The tide changed when UTA called a timeout while being down 24-22. UTA followed the timeout with a 4-0 run to close out the set. Head coach J.T. Wenger credited the team’s experience for settling in under the bright lights after a close first set. “It definitely can get the nerves jittery a little bit, and I think having that experience under our belt, I think you can see, just from watching every set, we got a little bit smoother,” Wenger said. UTA won the second set 25-19 before DBU answered back 25-19 for the third, avoiding a sweep. The Mavericks won the final set 25-15. Prior to the game, graduate students Brianna Ford and Paige Reagor were named to the 2024 Preseason All-WAC Team. The graduate athletes had their fingerprints all over the game with Ford posting 11 kills to lead the team and Reagor recording four blocks. Graduate setter Mollie Blank was honored as the Preseason Setter of the Year. She recorded 25 assists and seven digs. Wenger didn’t hesitate to express the importance of playing a good team early in the season. “Being able to iron out some of the wrinkles, for sure. This is a good Dallas Baptist team,” Wenger said. “I definitely recruited a handful of them and they know how to play.” After dropping the third set, the team focused on what they could control on their side of the net, Blank said. “We felt like there was a couple of times we were really out of system and setters started taking shagging balls with their platform,” Blank said. “We just knew we had to be in system so we could run our offense because I think that’s what really helped us out and that’s what was helping us score points on the other side of the net.” The Mavericks will be back in action 3 p.m. Aug. 30 as they prepare for the Sawyer Camillo Memorial Classic. @babyboimatt @logan__p29 @stephanie_q03 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA Athletics announced Mike Trapasso as its eighth head baseball coach in program history Thursday, following the departure of Clay Van Hook. Former assistant coach Trapasso joined UTA in 2022 after serving for a season as the Naval Academy’s pitching coach and 20 years as the University of Hawai’i head coach. "There was no question that [Trapasso] was the right person to take the reins of our baseball program," said UTA Director of Athletics Jon Fagg in a UTA Athletics statement. "He has extensive experience leading a program at a high level and brings us continuity, having been with us the past two seasons. We're very excited for the future of UTA baseball and what Coach [Trapasso] brings to the table." In 2006, the National Baseball Association named Trapasso the National Coach of the Year. In his time with Hawai’i, he guided the team to two NCAA regional appearances, was named three-time Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and won the WAC championship in 2010. The news of former head coach Van Hook’s resignation came as a shock to sophomore pitcher Caylon Dygert. He said the team was concerned about what would happen, factoring the timing of the decision and the NCAA transfer portal. While Dygert was in Houston, Van Hook called him to share his decision and perspective. Dygert said that the last minute decision was what was best for Van Hook and his family. Van Hook played a meaningful impact on everyone’s lives, Dygert said. “He really wanted us to just be better young men, whether it was school, whether it was baseball or even relationships,” Dygert said. “He helped us with every single aspect of life and let us grow.” Van Hook left behind a group of well-rounded individuals, Dygert said. The talent pool feels deeper heading into next season, and everyone is eager to follow Trapasso’s lead. “Ultimately, whenever we were moving forward and went with [Trapasso], it really helped everybody,” Dygert said. “It’s the guy a lot of people wanted.” @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The men’s and women’s cross country team officially kicks off their season Aug. 31 in Fort Worth. Heading into the John McKenzie Invitational at Texas Christian University, head coach John Sauerhage returns to lead both teams in his 28th season. Looking ahead, the Arkansas Chile Pepper Invitational on Sept. 27 and Arturo Barrios Invitational on Oct. 18 are important meets for the team due to great competition, Sauerhage said. The team is hoping for a successful outcome. Navigating the offseason is tricky knowing athletes recently competed, Sauerhage said. The hope is that everybody returns to practice in shape with a few weeks to prepare before the first race. With NCAA limitations during the offseason, there’s limited contact withathletes and no scheduled practices, Sauerhage said. But, sthletes are provided with a training guide, spreadsheet and monthly calendar over the summer. The men have seven returners and two new runners After the team placed fourth in the Western Athletic Conference, Sauerhage said he’s optimismic everyone has improved with the core team returning. Kinesiology junior Lauren Walls-Portillo was sidelined during the offseason to nursea foot injury. With help from the team training staff, she is ready for the upcoming season. Portillo stressed the importance of having a strong support system within her team and family. She’s able to lean on her mother who encouraged her through the years. “All the incoming runners and returners are also working at the same time, so there should be no time that I have to slack off while they're doing the work as well,” Portillo said. “That's what kept me motivated.” The depth of this team is going to prove its importance this upcoming season, Portillo said. Having runners finish not only first, but also obtaining high points can determine a race. Portillo is anticipating the Arkansas Chile Pepper Invitational, a challenging hilly course, where she hopes to set personal records. Junior accounting major Brian Guevara said team’s support has impacted their motivation. Runners are constantly pushing each other during meets and practice, boosting moral. “We do a lot of bonding together, not just in practice, but outside, which often has helped build a culture around us and make the team stronger,” said Guevara. Growing up in México, Guevara credited his parents for allowing him to appreciate the opportunities he has received at UTA. He looks forward to using those opportunities to motivate him this season. @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Texas: Where the best wrestle. The Metroplex is well known for hosting major global events and continues to be a hub for entertainment and sports. In March, Sports Business Journal named Arlington the No. 6 sports business city in the U.S. At an Aug. 15 press conference, Mayor Jim Ross announced the city will host All Elite Wrestling’s largest annual event, All in Texas, on July 12, 2025 at Globe Life Field. This year, the event will take place on Aug. 25 in London for the second consecutive year. In 2023, the company broke several records including the highest-grossing AEW wrestling event and the largest pro-wrestling crowd held in Europe, with over $10 million in revenue. The show marks the first professional wrestling event at Globe Life Field, AEW’s first pay-per-view show in Texas and its first stadium show in the U.S. “I couldn’t think of a better place to do it. There’s not a better place to do it,” Tony Khan, AEW president and CEO, said. “This is the perfect home for AEW’s first [U.S.] stadium show.” Matt Wilson, executive director of Arlington Sports Commissions, anticipates that AEW: All in Texas and its related events will generate around $15 million in economic impact. Arlington preserves a storied history in hosting major events, Wilson said. The city appreciates AEW for trusting it to host the event and utilize arenas and stadiums. The city is a big stage and these shows not only bring global attention to it but also benefit the residents, he added. In May, AEW announced a partnership with Arlington to host a summer series featuring six shows from July through August at Esports Stadium Arlington. This marked the first residency of its kind in the city and while All in Texas discussions were ongoing, the relationship began with these events, he said. Wilson said there’s been great demand from wrestling fans across the region to attend these shows, which has helped AEW deliver high-quality events in Arlington. While economic numbers aren’t available, the city is pleased with the sold-out shows and boosts for local businesses. Khan said the announcement for All in Texas couldn’t come at a better time. He noted this will be AEW’s largest show in the U.S., emphasizing the company’s commitment to delivering its best in Texas, where everything is done bigger. The state has been hosting AEW shows since its inception in 2019. “It just feels right,” Khan said. “There’s never been a wrestling show here and I think we can do something really special. Our goal is to set the building attendance record, which I believe we can do.” Dallas native Adrienne “Athena” Palmer, Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, started her wrestling career in Mesquite, Texas, and began training on her first shows in Arlington at 18 years old. More than 10 years later, she still excitedly detailed familiar territories in Arlington, like boba tea shops, Insomnia Cookies and classic restaurants. “To have my humbling beginnings turn into something as big as All in Texas, it’s very humbling. It’s very awesome. It’s a very full circle moment,” she said. “I say that a lot, but I’m very biased, because I love Arlington to death.” With residency in Arlington for a month, Athena’s been fortunate to not go through TSA every week, drive 15 to 20 minutes to work, sleep in her own bed and still enjoy energy from the crowds. Wrestler Darby Allin and others paced around, scouting the stadium, possibly running scenarios in their heads of what the show will look like next year. The look in their eyes, they’re imagining what they’re going to jump off and what it’s going to be like, Khan said. “It’s a great tradition. There’s such a rich history around the great state of Texas, of [professional] wrestling,” Khan said. “It’s in everyone’s blood here, [professional] wrestling, and there’s great community support for it.” The summer series was part of a strategy to determine ticket sales, but recent sellouts provided confidence in making Arlington home, Khan said. Strong fan support reinforced the belief that All in Texas will be successful. “Texas is Texas,” Athena said. “We love our [professional] wrestling, we’ve loved [professional] wrestling since World Class days, since the Sportatorium was up and running. It’s a really cool opportunity, a really cool moment, just to be a part of the community a little bit more so than I already am.” Appearing on All in Texas is “do or die,” Athena said. Performing in front of a large crowd is bigger than being a performer. It’s about showing friends, family and those who haven’t quite made it to this level, that hard work pays off, she said. “It’s immensely important for me to be on this show as a Dallas native, as someone that’s very familiar with the area,” Athena said. “I am the homegrown talent.” @heyyyitslando sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu