Weeks of practice go into the race: blood, sweat and tears. They learn the corners, they practice stamina for the straightaways. The runners get one chance. When the gate goes up and the music stops — they’re off. Every day at the State Fair of Texas, three groups of pigs race for the ultimate prize: Oreos. The groups included the powder-puff derby race, made up of all girl pigs, the Sesame Street Gang, made up of pigs named after famous children’s characters, and the athletes. Pig races announcer Joe Hedrick said they try to change up the names every year. Hedrick has been helping raise and train the pigs to compete for over 35 years. He said they prefer purchasing farm-raised pigs and buy many of them back home in Kansas. Hedrick said they start training the pigs when they are about six or seven weeks old, and that food is a big motivator. “They hear that bell ring, and it’s kind of like mom when she’s cooking at home,” he said. “You hear the pots and pans rattling the kitchen. You’re ready to go eat, you know? Well, that’s the way the pigs are, they hear that bell ring and they know that food’s going to be there.” At the start of every race, the pigs line up in their respective gates, snorting and gnawing at the white-painted metal bars that hold back their urge to run. A bugle is blown, initiating the dash, and away they go. As the races went on, Hedrick and his team began putting pit obstacles on the circuit. The pigs ran over bumps and jumped over small hurdles; not much could deter them from getting that Oreo cookie. The crowd members roared with excitement, rooting for their desired winner as the final race ensued. The small swine swung their legs back and forth to be the first to cross the finish line while fairgoers jumped out of their seats and threw their hands up to encourage the competitors. Dallas resident Fern Rodriguez, 29, said people might come to the pig races for their entertainment value and questioned whether spectators would be placing wagers on the contenders. During the show, Hedrick said that attendees can bet on the pigs as long as the high sheriff doesn’t come around. Fairgoers sat down on metal bleachers on both sides of the track, looking at the pigs. Before the race started, little kids were picked as “cheerleaders” and were given pom-poms correlating to the saddle colors that the pigs wore. Hedrick said people want to see the races because they are unexpected and competitive. Rodriguez said he has attended the state fair plenty of times but had never been to the pig races. “My family wanted to go see the pig races,” Rodriguez said before the races. “I like pigs. We have pigs in our ranch, and so I’m interested to see how this is going to work.” Past the oddity of watching young pigs swerve around each like race cars, fairgoers acknowledged the event as a long-standing fixture of the fair. The Hampletons traveled from Aurora, Colorado, with their great niece for their second trip to the state fair. They came to the fair for the day to be a part of the Texas tradition, with all the heat and squeals that come with it. “It’s Texas, it’s history. People come here because they want to be a part of Texas,” one of the Hampletons said. @wall035203 @kaleivie_ news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s and women’s golf and cross country teams are set to compete on the road while the volleyball and softball teams host home games on campus. This is the schedule for Tuesday through Monday. Volleyball The Mavericks will take on Utah Tech University at 1 p.m. Saturday at College Park Center. The team is looking to break its four-game losing streak with a win against the Trailblazers. This is game one of a three-game home stand for the volleyball team. The game will also feature an alumni celebration, as well as the Camper Reunion Day, which will feature a bounce house and balloon animal artists. Women’s golf The women’s golf team heads into round two of the Golf Iconic Classic on Tuesday in New Mexico. The team is tied for 13th place after the first round and will finish the tournament Wednesday. After the invitational, the Mavericks will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the Diamante Intercollegiate starting Sunday. Men’s golf The men’s golf team will travel to Monterey, California, to compete in the Saint Mary's Golf Invitational starting Monday at the Bayonet Golf Club. The invitational will serve as the team’s third and final competition for fall play. The team previously competed and tied for eighth place with Utah Valley University in the Bayou City Collegiate Classic, which wrapped up Sept. 30. Men’s tennis UTA will make a trip down to College Station, Texas, for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships starting Friday. The Mavericks have competed in two other competitions this season: the Waco Fall Kickoff Classic and the Ron Wesbrooks Invitational. Women’s tennis The women’s tennis team will conclude the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championships Tuesday. The team fell short in the singles round of 64, with none of the Mavericks being able to produce a winning match on the opening day last Thursday. Softball UTA softball will host Grayson College at 6 p.m. Friday at the Allan Saxe Field to start their week and continue their fall ball stint. The team will then face the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Ronald McDonald Showcase on Saturday. The game begins at 6 p.m. at Collins Park in Spring, Texas. Cross-country The cross-country teams will travel to College Station, Texas, for the Arturo Barrios Invitational on Friday. The teams last competed in the Chile Pepper Festival on Oct. 4 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the women’s team finished sixth and the men’s team finished ninth. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

As the sun rose bright and early, the UTA women’s tennis team swung into action in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships on Thursday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center in Fort Worth, Texas. At the helm, head coach Diego Benitez, who has been at the university for about 22 years, led the new group of young players into one of the team’s first large-scale tournaments. Benitez said this year’s group is full of newcomers and he wants them to have fun. “We have a lot of new players, and we want to make sure that they just learn to have fun on the court,” Benitez said. “They were playing ITF, this junior circuit where you just play by yourself, and now they're in a team setting with a bunch of teammates supporting each other, so that adds a little bit of an extra pressure to the game.” With most of the team being freshmen, this tournament was the first opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the collegiate level. Benitez highlighted the importance of getting the girls into physical shape so the mental aspects of the game follow suit, he said. “When they feel that they’re really good physical condition, they’re a lot tougher in the mental part of the game, so we really focus on that and make sure that they relax,” Benitez said. Despite the preparation for the regional tournament, UTA fell short in the women’s open singles with freshman Tasnime Ahamout and graduate student Elizaveta Mladentseva losing in straight sets. Freshmen Diana Kaibara, Flora Farkaslaki and Natalia Gonzalez fought hard but lost in straight sets. Sophomore Vanja Cado battled and won the first set 6-4, but then lost back-to-back sets. Despite the loss, Cado embraced the chemistry of the team. “We work really good together, and I get along with all the girls really well, and we have become really good friends really fast,” Cado said. “And the coaches are amazing.” Regardless of the outcome, Ahamout remains confident and loved the atmosphere, mentioning the Texas heat and adding how exciting it was to see the variety of universities competing. “I just want to do my best. That’s the most important thing,” Ahamout said. “No matter if I lose or win, just do our best.” The team looks to rally in doubles play, where all but Mladentseva will begin competition, with two matches at 8 a.m. and one at 8:45 a.m. Friday at the Bayard H. Friedman Tennis Center. @tdreevess @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA’s women’s tennis team will compete in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships, with the opening day Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas. The tournament is a single-elimination draw, with 64 players competing for the next spot in each bracket. Thirty-two matches will kick off at 8 a.m., and the remaining half will be played at 9:30 a.m. UTA will start in the women’s open singles at 8 a.m. The Mavericks will feature freshman Tasnime Ahamout against UT San Antonio freshman Laia Tarazona Peyro. UTA freshman Diana Kaibara, who had a strong performance in the second fall tournament, will face Rice University freshman Ema Mravcova. Fifth-year Elizaveta Mladentseva will take on University of Houston junior Iva Sepa. The winners of the initial games will advance and play again at 11 a.m. To kick off the second half of the bracket for UTA, freshman Natalia Gonzalez will face University of North Texas junior Lilly Schultz at 9:30 a.m. Freshman Flora Farkaslaki will play UT San Antonio sophomore Ayra Salim, and UTA sophomore Vanja Cado will match up against Rice sophomore Valentina Ponce, both at 9:30 a.m. The winners will play again at 12:30 p.m. in the second round. This will be UTA’s second opportunity in the regional tournament. The team competed in the regionals previously to close out its fall slate in October 2016. This will be the women’s team members’ first experience competing in a regional championship together, as the roster has been fully revamped since the program’s Western Athletic Conference championships run in spring 2025. The regional championships will wrap up Tuesday, spanning over the weekend and serving as the team’s second-to-last competition for fall play. To wrap up the autumn season, the Mavericks will compete in the States Up Slam, hosted by Texas State University, starting Nov. 1 in San Marcos, Texas. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Dallas Wings concluded the 2025 WNBA regular season with a 10-34 record, failing to meet expectations despite a strengthened roster. “There’s so many different things that have captivated what we’ve been through as a team and how much we’ve overcame, and it started from the beginning of the season,” rookie guard Paige Bueckers said after the final game of the season. With the Wings placing last in the league, the team’s winning percentage was the fourth worst in franchise history and the second worst since the team’s move to Arlington in 2016 to play at UTA’s College Park Center. Despite subpar results, the Wings still improved from their 9-31 record in the 2024 season. Head coach Chris Koclanes credited the players’ bonds and grit, emphasizing the value of team chemistry and staying true to their identity throughout the season. “The mental side of the game and the mental work that you all don’t see, that they really bought into it,” Koclanes said after the final home game. “You see it in the camaraderie, in the interactions here, you just see this team is connected.” Despite that connection, the Wings fired Koclanes last week, concluding his only year as head coach as the team looks to reset after an underwhelming season. Koclanes was picked up by Dallas after the team hired Curt Miller, general manager and executive vice president. The now former Wings coach was an assistant for Miller while he served as head coach for the Connecticut Sun from 2016-2022. Rookie guard Aziaha James said Koclanes helped her develop patience and let the game come to her. She said Koclanes instilled confidence in her game. With the 2025 season in the rearview mirror, the team has set its sights on a new practice location. In June, the Dallas City Council approved plans for a new Wings practice facility at Joey Georgusis Park in West Oak Cliff, Dallas. The facility’s groundbreaking was Sept. 26, and it is expected to open in spring 2026, according to a Dallas Wings press release. The Wings played their first non-pandemic home games outside College Park Center this season, with two games against the Indiana Fever at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The first saw a sold-out crowd of 20,409, a franchise record and the largest crowd recorded at any WNBA game in Texas. Throughout the season, Dallas made multiple trades and hardship contracts in an attempt to flip the script. In June, the Wings traded their 2026 second-round and 2027 third-round draft picks to the Seattle Storm for center Li Yueru. Later that month, the Wings sent forward NaLyssa Smith to the Las Vegas Aces for the Aces’ 2027 first-round draft pick. In August, they traded guard DiJonai Carrington to the Minnesota Lynx for forward Diamond Miller, guard Karlie Samuelson and the Lynx’s 2027 second-round draft pick. Amid the trades, much of the team’s season was defined by extended losing streaks. The Wings’ season began with 11 losses in their first 12 games, and the team lost 15 of its final 17 games. Several major injuries added to the Wings’ woes. Guard Tyasha Harris underwent surgery for a left knee injury in June, leaving her on the sidelines for most of the season. Yueru was unable to finish her season after spraining her left ACL in August. Rookie guard JJ Quinerly suffered the same injury later in the month and has since had surgery on her left knee, the Wings announced Oct. 3. Even with the setbacks, the season was not all lows for the Wings. Their first win came on the road in a 22- point blowout of Koclanes’s former team, the Sun, marking the only time the Wings broke triple-digit points this season. Amid the losing streaks, the Wings had five wins during a seven-game stretch in June, securing half their season’s wins, against the Golden State Valkyries, the Sun, the Atlanta Dream, the Washington Mystics and the Phoenix Mercury. The Wings’ season would’ve finished with an 11- game losing streak if not for a 21-point win in their final game of the year at home against the Mercury, in which three players boasted 20 points or more. A silver lining for Dallas came when the team acquired Bueckers as the No. 1 pick in the draft. By the end of the season, Bueckers had collected a multitude of awards and recognitions for her impact on the league and the Wings’ franchise, backed by impressive rookie stats. Bueckers set a WNBA rookie single-game record with 44 points in a loss to the Sparks. She broke the Wings rookie single-season assist and scoring records and became the fastest WNBA rookie ever to score 500 career points and 100 career assists while averaging the fifthmost points and steals of any WNBA player in 2025. “Once you get a couple games under your belt and you learn and you grow and you watch film, you gain confidence,” Bueckers said in the final home game. “That’s throughout the entire season and my teammates and coaching staff just pouring into me.” Bueckers wasn’t the only Wings player with standout moments this year. Guard Arike Ogunbowale scored 37 points in a loss to the Chicago Sky and later tied a franchise single-game record with 14 assists in a win over the New York Liberty. Forward Maddy Siegrist had a career-high 23 points in a loss to the Dream. For the 2026 season, the Wings will continue playing home games at College Park Center due to delays in plans to renovate the Memorial Auditorium at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas for their new home arena. “I’m just grateful to be around this community,” rookie guard Aziaha James said, reflecting on the season during the final game. “Everyone here helps everyone. We’re just a big family here, and I just can’t wait to do it again next season.” @TyRoland06 @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Dallas Cowboys have become Arlington’s sole professional football franchise, with the United Football League making shifts across the nation into new markets. The Arlington Renegades have switched the team name to the Dallas Renegades and will relocate from Choctaw Stadium, the Texas Rangers’ former ballpark. The team will share Toyota Stadium with FC Dallas, a Major League Soccer club, in Frisco, Texas, for the 2026 season. The changes stem from a broader restructuring of the league, as several of the eight teams in the UFL will undergo similar movements within their respective franchises. The league will see three new teams in Columbus, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Orlando, Florida, with all three playing at preestablished soccer arenas, according to The Dallas Morning News. Both Texas-based teams will undergo rebrands, with the Houston Roughnecks becoming the Houston Gamblers, joining the Renegades in the realignment. With the introduction of new teams came the departure of others. The San Antonio Brahmas, the Memphis Showboats and the Michigan Panthers have all been disbanded for the 2026 season. The changes follow the addition of the UFL’s newest investor, sports business entrepreneur Mike Repole, who joined the ownership group July 31. Alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and other members of the coalition, Repol looks to create a bright future for the UFL, according to ESPN. The partial owner of the league believes it can sell out smaller venues and said he hopes the league's size will double over the next decade, according to ESPN. "It's going to feel real, real different, and it's going to show better on TV," Repole said to ESPN. "The sound is going to be better, and the experience and the engagement is going to be better." The UFL will still have a foothold in Arlington, keeping the league’s headquarters rooted in the heart of the Arlington Entertainment District, a decision made in January. As for Choctaw Stadium, this is the third professional team to part ways with the venue in the last few years. The Dallas Jackals said their farewells to the stadium due to uncertainty among ownership ahead of the 2025 season. The North Texas Soccer Club has since wrapped up its tenure at Choctaw Stadium, as the team will head to Mansfield, Texas, to call Mansfield Stadium its home in the summer of 2026 when the facility opens. @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The UTA men's soccer club will host a FIFA tournament from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Central Library Basement. The event will serve as a fundraiser to help the team. Players will compete for a cash prize, and the $10 entry fee includes pizza and drinks for all participants. Eduardo Hernandez, information systems senior and the club’s committee chair, helped organize the event and said the team hopes to make it an annual tradition. The tournament currently has 30 players signed up, and the club can accommodate up to about 60. Hernandez said the team hopes to fill every spot so students can enjoy the event with as many fellow players as possible. Participants must be UTA students to sign up, which they can do through the team’s social media posts and flyers found around campus with QR codes. The deadline to register for a spot in the tournament is 4 p.m. Thursday. The UTA men's soccer club is a student-led organization that provides students the opportunity to train, compete and grow through soccer. The team competes in the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association Region IV Conference of the Texas Collegiate Soccer League Men’s North Division and welcomes players of all skill levels. The club is currently in season, with its next home game against the University of North Texas at 3 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Campus Recreation Fields Complex, next to Allan Saxe Field. Beyond the field, the club emphasizes community, sportsmanship and building lasting friendships. “Just come out there and be ready to compete. We have a lot of good players showing up,” Hernandez said, “so definitely just be out there and try to win it all.” @tracysansomjr sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s tennis competed at the Ron Wesbrooks Invitational last weekend at Beaumont Municipal Tennis Center in Beaumont, Texas. The meet, hosted by Lamar University, was the second of the season for the Mavericks and their first competition in weeks. Junior Saúl Berdullas Calviño pulled off a highlight performance for UTA. Berdullas Calviño went a perfect 4-0 run to win his first flight title in singles for UTA. Berdullas Calviño began with two 2-1 victories over players from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi before his third opponent defaulted due to injury, sending the Maverick to the flight championship. In the championship match, he beat a third Islander 2-0 to secure a flawless run. UTA also saw wins from junior Yazid Lahjomri, who went an even 2-2 to finish fifth in his flight. Both wins came against Corpus Christi players. The Mavericks had only one doubles team compete in Beaumont, while another lost by default in its only match. The competing team, made up of Lahjomri and Bardullas Calviño, lost its opening matchup 6-4, but won the consolidation match 7-5. UTA men’s tennis has the next weekend off before competing in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships, starting Oct. 17 in College Station, Texas. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA volleyball spikes into action this week along with women’s tennis and women’s golf teams preparing for action. Here is the schedule for Tuesday through Oct. 14. Volleyball The women’s volleyball team looks to bounce back from its two-game losing streak with an away game against conference foe Utah Valley University at 8 p.m. Thursday in Orem, Utah. The team will finish the week off against California Baptist University in another away match at 3 p.m. Saturday in Riverside, California. The games will be available to stream on ESPN+. Women’s tennis The women’s tennis team will kick off its play in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Texas Regional Championships Thursday in Fort Worth. The regional championship matches will run through Oct. 14, with six days scheduled for Maverick play. The team comes off the Abilene Christian University Invite, where freshmen Tasnime Ahamout, Natalia Gonzalez and Diana Kaibara went 2-1 in singles action over the tournament. Women’s golf The women’s golf team will participate in the Golf Iconic Classic hosted by New Mexico State University starting Oct. 13. The team most recently competed in the Red Raider Invitational, where they placed ninth out of 15 participants. UTA saw a top 10 finish from sophomore Tarini Bhoga, who placed seventh while recording a three strokes over par. Softball UTA softball will continue its fall slate with a match against Weatherford College at 4 p.m. Friday at Allan Saxe Field. The team began its fall season Friday, serving as a pre-season ahead of Western Athletic Conference play in the spring. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

With a wealth of resources and activities available most hours of the day, the Maverick Activities Center is considered by many students and staff to be a great place to hang out and get involved. The Maverick Activities Center is open from 6 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday, with varying hours during school holidays. Josh Hale, Campus Recreation assistant director for sports programs, said his department provides a wide variety of events and activities at the MAC, including intramural sports, sports clubs, Rec Fest, Rec Day and the annual tradition of Oozeball. He also mentioned that the organization assists with Halloween Casino Night and some homecoming events. Recently, programs at the MAC have seen a lower pay scale, Hale said. The group exercise fee is now just $10 per semester. For intramural sports, students now pay $10 to play on any team, in any sport offered. The Group Ex Pass was previously $35, while athletes used to pay $25 per intramural team. On the decision to lower these costs, Hale said he wants to keep financial constraints to a minimum for students. “Our ultimate goal is we want to remove any and all barriers possible to get students access to any additional resources that they may want or are interested in,” he said. Hale said the weight room and basketball courts at the MAC are used often. He highlighted the various sports that are played on the courts, such as pickleball, volleyball and basketball, adding that badminton is also a massive sport on campus. Many students agreed that the courts and weight room were popular parts of the building. Aerospace engineering sophomore Joseph Fagboyegun, who typically uses the basketball and indoor soccer courts, said he likes to practice with friends at the MAC. “It has a lot of space for people to play and to meet new people, and there's a lot of places to sit and to talk to people, or eat your food or study,” he said. Biochemistry doctoral student Lakshitha Madalagama said he goes to the MAC to lift weights. “We have all our friends here, so it's better to hang out with friends and work out together,” Madalagama said. “It has a lot of good resources, like machines and everything, so it's a good place to do your workout.” Hale also discussed facilities he thought were underused that more students could benefit from. He mentioned the MAC’s climbing wall, calling it “a sweet opportunity that students often don't see.” He also mentioned the billiards hall at the MAC and said it's packed now that students are back on campus. “We have a little bit of everything, and we're kind of the catchall, and we love it. We love to pack this place,” Hale said. “We're just excited for students to be back on campus in the fall semester.” @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s golf finished eighth in the Bayou City Collegiate Classic on Tuesday at Westwood Golf Club in Houston. The tournament, hosted by Rice University, was the third of four fall 2025 competitions for the Maverick men’s golf program. As a team, UTA shot two-over-par in each of the first two rounds and was tied for fifth with Abilene Christian University entering the final round. In the final round, the Mavericks shot a combined 15-over-par, which dropped them three spots into their final placement of eighth. Freshman Ajay Morris had a notable finish among the UTA golfers in Houston, as he shot under par in each round and finished five-under-par. He placed seventh in the individual rankings and was the only Maverick to finish under par. Freshman Arth Sinha finished the second round with a one-over-par score, but a four-over final round placed him 31st in the tournament. Coming off a standout performance in the previous competition, sophomore Liam Hartling began the final round just two-over-par, but bogeys in his final 18 holes placed the California native in 47th. Freshman Nicholas Lyman shot nine birdies and an eagle in the first two rounds, but went without either in the final round. He finished in 57th with an 11-over-par score. Junior Michael Chevalier shot on par in 33 of the 54 holes in the tournament, with a four-over-par total after two rounds. An eight-over-par finish across the back nine holes, however, tanked Chevalier’s score as he went on to place 62nd with a 13-over-par score. UTA men’s golf will compete in its final scheduled tournament of the fall season at the Saint Mary’s Golf Invitational, starting Oct. 20 at the Bayonet Golf Club in Monterey, California. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA Athletics announced Friday that women’s basketball head coach Shereka Wright signed a three-year contract extension, according to a UTA press release. The contract will allow Wright to maintain her leadership role with the university through 2030. Wright’s extension comes from her success as head coach, as she led the Lady Mavs to their first Western Athletic Conference tournament championship game. Wright has also etched her name into UTA history with an all-time best at-home record of 12-1 while going 10-6 in WAC play during the 2024-25 season. Wright currently sits at a .569 winning percentage with 82 wins in her tenure with the Lady Mavs, according to the press release. She has produced both an NCAA tournament berth in 2022 and a Women’s National Invitation Tournament berth. UTA won its second Women’s National Invitation Tournament game in school history against the University of the Incarnate Word 78-52 before falling to University of North Texas last season. With this extension, Wright will enter her sixth season with the program, setting the culture and laying the groundwork for the continued future of the Lady Mavs. "I am truly blessed and grateful to continue serving as head coach of the UT Arlington Lady Mavs," Wright said in a UTA press release. “I look forward to another season with our team, staff, and fans." This year’s roster will feature new faces, as only six players from last year’s team will be returning. The team has seven new members, including a single freshman for the 2025-26 season. The start of the fall season marks the final year UTA will compete in the WAC, as the conference will be reshaping into the United Athletic Conference beginning in the 2026-27 season, according to a UTA press release. With Wright at the helm, the women’s basketball program looks to stand out in its final season in the WAC. The women’s basketball team will kick off its fall season in a preseason, home-opening match against The University of New Mexico at 5 p.m. Oct. 28 at College Park Center. @tdreevess sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

Alex Gettinger, one of UTA volleyball’s assistant coaches, serves up passion to the team as a lighthearted leader, with hamburger socks on the side. With a complete staff reconstruction, Gettinger, alongside assistant coach Julianna Cramer and graduate assistant Alyssa Duran, supports head coach Tania Schatow by serving as a backbone to the program. Since his arrival in February, he has provided intentional one-on-one training, advice to players and more, always with a smile and a laugh. Junior outside hitter Evyn Snook, who has entered her third year on the team, said Gettinger has brought a fresh perspective and introduced new elements to her game. While carving out his role on the team, Gettinger’s quirks were hard to miss from the start. Players said Gettinger comes to practices in a colorful outfit with a different pair of socks pulled up high every day, ready to dig deep and deliver sharp, witty jabs to the players. “It is hilarious to see,” Snook said, “but I love how he can be goofy but also can be really hard on us as well.” As an inside joke, Gettinger calls Snook “Even” — a play on her first name. She responds by calling him “Odd,” which suits his silly personality, she said. His love for volleyball is nearly as strong as his love for the people he surrounds himself with. His wife, Emily Gettinger, whom he proposed to in 2022, has been by his side through thick and thin, but it wasn’t always that simple for them. They started dating right before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, and with the travel restrictions, they rarely saw each other. When they resumed regular life and Alex Gettinger graduated from Pepperdine University with a Master of Science in business, the two found their harmony. His personal life wasn’t the only thing disrupted by COVID-19. In 2020, Gettinger was named to the USA Volleyball Collegiate Team and the USA Volleyball Youth Continental squad, but the pandemic canceled the collegiate camp and cut the opportunity short. While studying at Pepperdine, Gettinger played for the men’s volleyball team for five years as an outside hitter. Despite not catching the limelight until his final year, his patience paid off, seeing a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation conference tournament championship win as a starter. “I worked really hard to help us get to that point, and I know all my teammates did as well,” Gettinger said. “Being able to learn from that experience of not playing, playing a little bit, and then finally getting an opportunity, it was awesome.” Following graduation, he turned toward club volleyball to start his coaching career, becoming an associate director for the boys’ program of the 630 Volleyball club in 2023. While it served as a foundation, it didn’t quite scratch his itch, he said. After a season as a volunteer assistant at the University of Wyoming, taking the role after relocating to support his wife’s career with the Colorado Rockies, he reached out to Schatow for a position at UTA. In the blink of an eye, the interviews were over. He landed in Arlington and immediately got to work with the Maverick volleyball program. “From the start, when we challenged them, they answered that call, giving 100% effort no matter what,” Gettinger said. His arrival wasn’t just fast; it was felt. Gettinger quickly became a vital part of the Mavericks’ system. His defensive insight is spread across the roster, whether he’s offering in-game adjustments or helping players find the right fit on the court. Freshman middle blocker Sophia Krichev said that most people who attend matches might not be aware of his impact. During games, he is constantly giving signals to the back row. “They probably don’t understand how important he is for the game. I look to him for every single play,” Krichev said. “You might just see him as an assistant coach, but he is somewhat leading the court in that aspect.” Gettinger’s impact on the back row and all aspects of defense has proven effective, with UTA currently sitting at a comfortable third place in digs and first place in opponent hitting percentages in the Western Athletic Conference. “He’s always looking out for our best interest and for the program’s best interest on the things we practice,” Snook said. “Implementing them into the game has really made a big impact because we start with a game plan, and sometimes that changes, and Alex is the one who makes those calls.” @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA Athletics will be in full swing as September ends, set to compete in golf, volleyball, tennis and cross-country competitions throughout Texas and Arkansas. This is the schedule for Tuesday through Oct. 6. Men’s golf Men's golf will play in the final round of the Bayou City Collegiate Classic on Tuesday at Westwood Golf Club in Houston. The Mavericks look to rebound after a last-place finish in the Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational. Despite the standings, sophomore Liam Hartling stood out with a top finish as an individual in the competition. Volleyball The women’s volleyball team gears up for its first away game of conference play, set to face Tarleton State University at 6 p.m. Thursday in Stephenville, Texas. UTA is coming off a 3-0 win against Southern Utah University in the home opener. To close the week, UTA will return home to host Abilene Christian University at 1 p.m. Saturday at College Park Center. Men’s tennis The men's tennis team is scheduled to participate in the Ron Wesbrooks Invitational at Lamar University starting Friday. The team will compete through Sunday in Beaumont, Texas. The team wrapped up its first week of the fall season at the Waco Fall Kickoff Classic, spanning Sept. 12-14. The Mavericks saw two wins from returning junior Yazid Lahjomri in the men's open singles. Cross-country The cross-country teams will compete in the 37th annual Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival starting at 10:25 a.m. Saturday in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The teams come off a fifth-place finish in the Texas A&M Invitational, which wrapped up Sept. 13 at the Dale Watts ’71 Cross Country Course in College Station, Texas. @tracysansomjr sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA volleyball (9-4) swept Southern Utah University (1-12) 3-0 Saturday at College Park Center. The win was the first conference game of the season for the Mavericks and ended their four-game losing streak. Before the game, UTA unveiled three banners commemorating the 2024 season’s Western Athletic Conference championship, WAC tournament championship and subsequent NCAA tournament appearance. They are the only banners hung in the arena. Senior outside hitter Jalie Tritt and junior libero Samantha Glenn were both members of the 2024 team and said it was amazing to have that honor, hoping to repeat the run this year. “Hopefully we can continue that legacy every year after this, and it was great unveiling the banner going into the game too,” Tritt said. “I think it put a lot of confidence on our team this year.” Tritt led the Mavericks in kills with 16 while Glenn led in digs with 21, saving many potential SUU points from hitting the hardwood. UTA began the first set hot, taking an early 5-1 lead. SUU began to come back, but the Mavericks found a way to keep and increase the lead, going on a 17-8 run to secure the first set 25-13. The second set began much closer, as the Thunderbirds took a 4-3 lead. The Mavericks then took back the lead and extended it to 14-8. SUU went on a rally to force a tie at 20. These were the last points of the set for Southern Utah, as UTA finished with a 5-0 run to win the second set 25-20. The third set also began close, with both teams tying it up at five. UTA pulled away with a 17-8 run that made the score 22-13. The Thunderbirds began coming back, as an 8-1 run put the set within two points. The Mavericks survived, pushing through to score the final two points needed to win the third and final set 25-21. This was the first conference win of head coach Tania Schatow’s tenure at UTA but she preferred having the focus on her players. “The girls have been working so hard in practice that it's something that they really deserve,” Schatow said. “So for all their hard work, they really deserve that win.” This was also the first WAC win in junior setter Mira Ledermueller’s career after transferring to UTA. She led the Mavericks in assists with 29. “I don't think we could have had a better start than this, so really proud of the team,” Ledermueller said. “Winning at home, our first game, is just phenomenal.” The Mavericks look to repeat this result as they continue conference play against Tarleton State University at 6 p.m. Thursday, when they travel to Stephenville, Texas, for the second game of the regular season. “At the end of the day, it's a team thing,” Glenn said. “We were just telling ourselves, ‘We got to keep pushing and every point counts.’” @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA student organizations Women of Gold and A Collection of Brothers will jointly host a coed volleyball tournament interest meeting at noon Monday in Room 180TH of the Follett Student Leadership Center in the University Center. The meeting will share information about the future tournament with those interested in competing and provide an opportunity for those involved to meet teammates, according to a joint Instagram post. A Collection of Brothers is an organization focused on building community through brotherhood. The organization was established to include all male figures regardless of classification, organization affiliation or any other differences. Women of Gold, founded in 2015, was established to empower women in the community. The student organization was created for community service through the means of women's empowerment. It cultivates strength, virtue and value and promotes acts of grace, dignity, optimism and love. Prior to the upcoming volleyball tournament, the organizations have collaborated on multiple events this semester, including Black Maverick Welcome and the Kinfolk Kickoff. Recently, Aux Wars, co-hosted by the Collection of Brothers, the African Student Organization and Students of East Africa, was a round-based competitive event in which participants took turns choosing songs matching the round’s theme. The judges and audience collectively decided the winner of each round based on music taste, creativity and “crowd-pleasing skills,” according to the event page on MavEngage. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

The Texas Rangers (80-79) got shut out 4-0 by the Minnesota Twins (69-90) in their final home game of the 2025 season, marking a disappointing end to professional baseball in Arlington. Rangers starting pitcher Tyler Mahle was welcomed by Twins’ center fielder Byron Buxton, who hit a home run on the first pitch of the game. Most fans hadn't even returned from the concession stands, and the Rangers already trailed, failing to ever take a lead. Despite the loud starts from the Twins, the game was a pitchers' battle. Mahle didn’t allow another run for the rest of the night, finishing with five innings pitched and four strikeouts. The Rangers' pitching staff was able to shake off the lead-off home run and kept the game close. The Twins' pitching was dominant, holding the Rangers to only three hits in 28 attempts. Starter Bailey Ober led the way with six scoreless innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts, followed by three scoreless innings from a locked-in bullpen to secure the shutout bid. Despite the loss, Rangers head coach Bruce Bochy said the Twins' pitchers did a good job of keeping their guys off balance with a combination of changeups and high fastballs. Mahle is in the final year of his two-year,$22 million contract but has struggled to stay healthy, missing time in 2023 for Tommy John surgery — a procedure used to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in the throwing elbow — and recently came off the injury list for a rotator cuff strain. In his two starts since returning from the IL, Mahle has pitched nine innings, allowing only one run to Buxton. Despite the big decision he has to make with the agency looming, he said he was happy about coming back and pitching well for the Rangers. Down only one run going into the top of the eighth inning, the Rangers called on reliever Chris Martin to keep the game close, but that would prove difficult when Byron Buxton blew it wide open with yet another homerun, this time a three-run bomb. With two swings, Buxton had driven in all four runs for the Twins, causing Rangers fans present to call it night. The Rangers went into this game already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention after losing eight games in a row. Bochy said he expects his players to play the game “the way it's supposed to be played” and keep fighting as they go into the final series of the season. “You can have a say in this playoff situation and we want to give it all we have, to make things tough,” Bochy said. The Rangers will travel to Cleveland as they take on the Guardians in a three-game series to end the season, starting at 6:10 p.m. Friday. The Guardians (86-73) and Detroit Tigers (86-73) are currently tied for the number one spot in the American League Central, so while the Rangers won't be making the playoffs, winning out this last series could have a ripple effect on teams still fighting for a postseason spot. @diegocllazo sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA has introduced an esports course in the College of Liberal Arts, merging graphic design, communication and the cultural production that makes up the video game industry. The topics in digital studies course, which counts toward the esports certificate that was introduced at UTA in 2019, is led by assistant professor Doug Stark. Available to English and computer science engineering majors, the class is tailored through open discussions and frequent excursions, whether it’s video editing workshops in the Central Library or taking the class to practice hand-eye coordination in the video game Aimlabs in The Basement of the library. Esports was first introduced at the university in the early 2010s as a campus club formed by a group of students. The group went on to win the 2017 Heroes of the Dorm National Championship, earning more than $500,000 in scholarships. In 2019 the club transitioned into a varsity program and has since fielded teams in several major esports games, including League of Legends, Overwatch and Rocket League. The program’s first major competition was Battle4Texas, which UTA hosted at the Esports Stadium Arlington. The professor at the helm of the new course, Stark, an England native, competed for England in a decathlon in 2015 and coached track and field. He earned an English master’s degree at Loughborough University, where he developed a passion for research and critical thinking, becoming deeply focused on questioning how things should be done. He said that when he was writing his master’s thesis, he realized that the things he is passionate about were not much different from what he enjoyed about sports. When he moved to the United States, he pursued a doctorate in English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017, embracing his time as a literary scholar with the intention of moving into education. “I really loved working with people. I would say that was the first thing that got me into higher education, was that I much preferred to see the success of others than myself,” Stark said. At UTA, Stark blends his background in athletics and academia to develop synthetic humanities, a critical and creative exploration of how generative media is reshaping what it means to be human. He uses this approach to engage students in examining the evolution of video games into a competitive and culturally significant field. During project demonstrations, students shared a presentation about the similarities and differences between esports and physical sports. Rather than reading from a screen, students engaged, asked questions and challenged each other on the points made or perspectives brought up. Computer science senior Preston Loera, who was taught by Stark in a prior course, was interested in the digital studies course after hearing that computer science and engineering students were cross-listed. Additionally, Loera competed in an amateur esports scene for KOSA GAMING, which became a big part of his life. Loera said he enjoyed the professor’s approach being more hands-on compared to other classes he’s had in the past. He found his love for video games similarly to the movie “Free to Play,” which happened to be the first assignment given in the class. Steven Nguyen, computer science senior and member of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, said he was drawn to the class for its focus on video game analysis and the inner workings of esports. “A class all about it, it’s something I’m very interested in, it’s fun,” Nguyen said. “Something related to my field and what I want to do outside of college is kind of interesting and just different skills, even video editing, I didn’t think I was gonna learn that as a CS [computer science] major.” @kaleivie_ sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA men’s golf wrapped up its outings at the Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational on Monday at the Eisenhower Golf Course. Collectively, the Mavericks concluded with a score of 891, shooting 298 Saturday, 299 Sunday and 294 Monday. Despite notable individual performances, the team placed last out of the 23 participants in the three-round competition. University of Idaho took the No. 1 finish in the tournament, graced by a third-place individual placing from senior Josh McCartain. The host, the U.S. Air Force Academy, lingered at 21st throughout, with a top individual ranking of 35th from senior Eric Liveringhouse. For UTA, sophomore Liam Hartling put on an impactful individual performance in the third round. Hartling finished nine under par with a score of 207 to place second overall in the Silver Course, with rounds of 65-73-69. Freshman Ajay Morris set a steady pace for the Mavericks throughout the tournament, going two over par and tying at 42nd overall. Morris recorded an overall performance of 71-74-73 to finish off the second tournament of the fall season. Sophomore Jerry Huang shot 72 for the final round. Huang ended his performance five over par, shooting 221 to tie for 72nd overall. A notable jump was made in round two by freshman Arth Sinha, seeing a seven-shot improvement from round one, recording three birdies, 12 pars and three bogeys. He finished 10 strokes over par to tally his overall performance. UTA will be back in action Monday, when it will participate in the Bayou City Collegiate Classic in Houston, hosted by Rice. @player_z0 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu

UTA women’s golf will compete in the Red Raider Invitational at The Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas starting Tuesday. Hosted by Texas Tech University, the tournament will consist of three rounds, with the first two Tuesday, and the final round Wednesday. The Mavericks will hope to either repeat or improve on a third-place finish in their first tournament of the season, the Jayhawk Invitational. The tournament will allow UTA to compete for the first time this season against other Western Athletic Conference teams, such as Abilene Christian University and California Baptist University. In total, 15 schools will compete in the tournament, including two from the Conference USA and four from the Southland Conference. Teams from the American Conference, Atlantic Sun Conference, Big 12 Conference, Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference will also be present. Two of the teams competing at The Rawls Course snatched a first-place finish in their most recent tournaments, as Ball State University won the Brittany Kelly Classic and James Madison University tied for the win in the Elon Invitational. Recent notable performances include ACU and Houston Christian University, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in The Lady Clerico. Other recent fourth-place finishers include Texas Tech University in the Sam Golden Invitational and California Baptist University in the Yellowstone Intercollegiate. UTA will hope for a repeat performance from sophomore Tarini Bhoga, who finished sixth in the Jayhawk Invitational. Seniors Kamri Gabel and Nitisha Manikandesh joined Bhoga in the top 20, finishing in 14th and 19th, respectively. @TyRoland06 sports-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu