COLLEGE REPORT: Former prep stars sparkle in conference competition
A pair of former high school athletic recently sparkled as some of the biggest stars in their conference constellation.
At Arkansas Tech runner Kenzie Hendrix (Wesleyan Christian School, Class of 2022) burst onto the All-Great American Conference Women’s Track Team with her blazing blast in the GAC championships.
Meanwhile, Abilene Christian’s Nate Collier (Oklahoma Union High, Class of 2021) made a tremendous display in — coming off a disabling injury — to launch a discus throw that earned him the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Field Athlete of the Week award.
Several other outstanding area prep athletes of the past also have distinguished themselves in recent college competition.
Following are more details.
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NATE COLLIER
(Oklahoma Union)
Abilene Christian track & field
Collier had spent most this season recuperating from prohibitive injury, following an blockbuster showing in 2022 in a red-shirt/unattached status. When Collier got back to action this season he could have earned the nickname “Launchpad.”
At a Texas Tech meet, Collier propelled the discus 183-feet-6-inches to finish fifth. That was a significant distance — for the season it was second best in the WAC, 35th longest in the west and 56th furthest among all NCAA throwers.
As a result, Collier garnered the athlete of the week kudos.
In a previous meet, hosted by Abilene Christian, Collier finished second in the shot put (51-11.25) and third in the discus (177-2).
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KENZIE HENDRIX
(Wesleyan Christian)
Ark Tech women’s track
Hendrix catapulted herself to fourth place in the 5000m run at the GAC championships, with a time of 18:44.42. That performance lifted her to the conference women’s track first team.
Back in April, Hendrix surged in the John Jacobs Invitational to a personal best mark of 18:24 in the 5000.
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JAKOB HALL
(Bartlesville)
Oral Roberts baseball
The former Bruin diamond icon continues to boost ORU to a spectacular season — including a 36-11 record overall and 20-1 in conference.
Hall (7-3) has filled the role of Friday game pitching ace
During a recent 8-3 win against St. Thomas, Hall pitched 6.2 innings but didn’t receive the decision. He allowed seven hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out four.
Hall collected his most recent win during a gem against South Dakota State — 7.2 innings, four hits, three runs, no walks and six strikeouts.
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CHESNIE HEWITT
(Oklahoma Union)
Murray State softball
Wow!
Five years ago, Hewitt helped propel the 2018 OUHS Lady Cougars to 27 wins and their first ever state tournament quarterfinal appearance.
Some might rightly consider that the program’s greatest-ever season.
This year, Hewitt is a key component for Murray State’s softball team in an even more amazing journey.
The team came into this week with a 53-0 record, including a 3-0 sweep through the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) regionals.
Murray State is riding a tsunami of momentum toward unfinished business from last season — winning a national title.
In 2022, Murray State lost in the national final. This year’s final chapter could be much happier.
Hewitt is a two-year Murray State starter and one of the most consistent clutch hitters.
She hit an extra-base hit in each of last week’s regional wins.
In the 18-1 thumping of Carl Albert, Hewitt ripped a double and a single, walks and scored three times.
Murray State then survived a grinder against National Park College, 5-4. Hewitt banged a solo homer, which would be the margin of difference.
The regional final rematched Murray State against National Park College. Murray State won, 12-0, as Hewitt doubled, walked twice and scored tree runs.
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DANIEL BARHAM
(Caney Valley)
Coffeyville baseball
Barham came out of the bullpen in a 9-3 loss to Neosho. He allowed one hit and two runs.
Barham has made 16 relief appearances and work 17.2 innings. He has notched one save and whiffed 20 batters.
He recorded his save in a 10-8 thriller against Highland Community College.
Entering the game in the ninth inning, Barham snapped off a shutout inning. He struck out two batters while giving up one hit.
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JACE KAMINSKA
(Caney, Kan.)
Nebraska baseball
Kaminska has carved out a 6-3 record and 4.77 earned run average for the ‘Huskers.
In his most recent winning decision, he scattered five hits in 7.0 innings in an 18-0 win against Minnesota. He didn’t allow a walk and he struck out seven batters.
Kaminska didn’t earn the decision in a 12-10 triumph against Maryland. He had a challenging four-inning stint but walked only two and fanned four batters.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Former high school sports stars turn in shining college performances
