Athletic Legacies Throughout all the athletic programs, students faced a myriad of challenges. The playing fields held many new coaches. Numerous young freshmen joined the teams. Injuries prevented key athletes from playing. Conference championships were on the line. Harding athletes rose to meet the challenges and achieved success in their respective sports. In every sport, students reached their goals and established significant legacies. Harding won the "Best Road Trip Destination in College Basketball" competition sponsored by GEICO. The award was based on categories including the atmosphere of games, historical aspects of the program and the scenery of the town. To win the title, Harding beat out well-known Division I schools such as Brigham Young University, West Virginia University and Indiana University. After Harding won the competition, CBS came to Searcy on March 2 to film the basketball teams competing agains Southeastern Oklahoma University. That same night the men's basketball team became the Great American Conference regular season co-champions. The feature aired in April on CBS Sports during the Final Four tournament, giving Harding athletics national publicity. Another tremendous accomplishment included the football team advancing to the NCAA postseason playoffs for the 286 1 Athletics Student athletes leave their mark on the record books first time in school history, finishing with the best re~1ular season record in 40 years. Standout senior Ty Powell left his footprint on the field by receiving an invitation to the NFL Combine after the season was over. The Lady Bison volleyball team made a name for itself by being the third team in program history to go undefeated in conference play. The players ended the season by winning the Great American Conference Tournament for the first time since joining the new conference. The track and cross-country teams made strides toward their goals as well. Several of the members qualified for nationals against prominent runners from across the country and earned All-Region honors and All-America honors. The women's golf team also added to the many awards gained by Harding athletics. The team won the GAC tournament, its first conference championship in Harding history. Three of the underclassmen received All-Tournament and conference honors. By facing their challenges with confidence and embracing the changes, the teams overcame more than they expected. From conference championships to national awards, the athletic department left significant marks on Harding's history. SydneyHamm
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