Murray State Athletics had one memorable weekend when many of their student-athletes took part in graduation ceremonies at the CFSB Center and Wrather West Kentucky Museum in Murray, Ky.
From this month through December, MSU Athletics will have 63 student-athletes earn their degrees and graduate.
The 2017 graduation day Saturday at the CFSB Center also saw the return of two former Racer greats from the football program. Mathias Vavao, was a defensive lineman in 1995 and 1996 when Coach Houston Nutt patrolled the Racer sideline. Vavao was an All-Ohio Valley Conference pick in his last two seasons and helped the Racers to back-to-back OVC championships (16-0 overall in the OVC) and 22 wins combined. He later played in the National Football League with the Atlanta Falcons in 1997 and later in the Arena League.
“When I came back for the homecoming reunion of those 1990’s championship teams, I ended up getting in touch with Meagan Short and Crystal Morrow of the athletics department and I never realized how close I was to getting my degree when I left,” Vavao said. “When the NFL calls, you go. And for a long time, that was my only excuse for not finishing, so I’m very happy that I did and so is my family. All these years go by, it’s family, work, church, school and your kids playing sports, I finally made it a priority to finish it up. Murray State has a special place in my heart.”
MSU’s 2009 OVC Defensive Player of the Year Austen Lane walked across the stage Saturday to receive his degree. He played for the Racers from 2006-09 and is still the MSU all-time sacks leader. Lane was drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. After leaving the Jaguars in 2013, Lane went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Detroit lions and the Chicago Bears.
“I did promise my mom I’d graduate and I do remember the conversation we had one day as I was coming to Murray State,” Lane said. “She told me to pursue a career playing football if I wanted to, but to make sure I got that degree and now I have.”
The poignant moment wasn’t lost on Racer head football coach Mitch Stewart.
“This is my favorite time of the year,” Stewart said. “This is what it’s all about. You go into mom and dad’s living room during the recruiting process and tell them you’re going to coach their son. All of the football talk is great, but in the end, they’re supposed to graduate. To see Austen and Mathias come back after their NFL careers, it means a lot for it being that important that they wanted to get their degrees from Murray State.”
Here’s to seeing a lot more of these two Racer greats here at Murray State when they can come back for a visit.
Aside from the main graduation ceremony the CFSB Center, many of the Racer student-athletes couldn’t make it. For the second year in a row, a ceremony was held for those who couldn’t make the main gathering because they were competing. The families of those student-athletes gathered at Wrather Museum and it was a moving moment for those in attendance.
Special recognition is given to the 12 Racer seniors that completed “Four Years-Two Goals”. The motto recalls the goal for every MSU student-athlete as they strive to earn their degree and win an OVC championship. The 2016-17 school year produced 12 seniors who accomplished the goal.
Four Years/Two Goals
Men’s Basketball: Gee McGhee, Terron Gilmore
Soccer: Taylor Richerson, Ali Critcher
Volleyball: Kristen Besselsen, Scottie Ingram, Audrey Lewis, Ellie Lorenz, Hannah Stultz, Kamille Jones
Women’s Golf: Sydney Kelley
Women’s Track: Ali Hester
Graduating Seniors
May & August Graduates
Men’s Basketball: Damarcus Croaker, Bryce Jones, Gee McGhee, Jonathan Stark
Women’s Basketball: Krystal James, Daniella Pisano
Baseball: Aaron Bence, Chad Gendron, John Lollar, Jack Hranec, Ramsey Scott, Brandon Gutzler, Reed Thompson, Adam Bauer
Football: Tobi Omli, Zuri Ellington, Mitch Stults, Zach Shipley, Jesse Blackburn
Women’s Golf: Sydney Kelley
Soccer: Ali Critcher
Softball: Maggie Glass, Taylor Odom
Women’s Tennis: Alina Schibol
Men’s Cross-Country: Evan Staviski, Neil Yockey
Volleyball: Kristen Besselsen, Audrey Lewis, Scottie Ingram, Hannah Stultz, Ellie Lorenz, Kamille Jones
Women’s Cross-Country, Track & Field: Darcy Sullivan, Taylor Adcock, Chleo LeGrand, Tia Weston, Caroline Grogan
December Graduates
Baseball: Ryan Dills, Austin Dubsky, Caleb Arbeiter, Tyler Lawrence, Derrik Watson, Chance Carner, Tyler Anderson
Football: Lamont Crittendon, Marcus Meredith, Marico Paige, Ingram Tillard, D’Montre Wade, Zach Wade, Greg Willard, Landon Stratton
Men’s Cross-Country: Gavin Davis, Gavin Galanes
Men’s Golf: Matt Zakutney
Soccer: Lyssie Wright, Taylor Richerson
Softball: Jocelynn Rodgers, Mason Robinson, Mallory Young, Cayla Levins
Women’s Basketball: Ke’Shunan James
Dave Winder
Murray State Athletics – Assistant AD – Media Relations