Sports - The Echo

Trojan tipoff: Men's basketball ride out early season

By Alex Boothby · Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

You have heard it before: In 49 states, it is just basketball … but this is Indiana. The 2023-2024 men’s basketball season has tipped off. With neutral site tournaments wrapping up, the Trojans are 4-4 and 0-1 in conference play.

Fight to the finish: Taylor cross-country battles at Nationals

By Elise Hoylman · Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

Across the country in Vancouver, WA, Taylor’s cross-country teams dominated in their final race of the 2023 season.

Terry's Takes: 2023's Rivalry Week was one of the best ever

By Caleb Terry · Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023

We always experience the intensity of rivalry week in college football, but the games during 2023’s edition carved a spot among the all-time greats. Running backs across the country scored multiple touchdowns, multiple games went down to the wire and players celebrated with backflips. Let’s recap week 13.

Taylor XC teams excel at CL Championships

By Elise Hoylman · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

The Taylor cross-country teams dominated once again at the Crossroads League Championships on Nov. 3. Still ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, the women’s team won their 11th straight Crossroads League championship, scoring a dominant 33 points. The men’s team finished in an outstanding second place in the league meet with 71 points.

Terry’s Takes: CFB Playoff and Championship predictions

By Caleb Terry · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

After waiting 11 weeks, we have officially arrived at the most exciting time of the college football year. According to ESPN’s Playoff Predictor, there are 10 teams still alive, and that includes No. 11 Oregon State holding onto a 1% chance. What teams will make it, and what will transpire in the CFP? Let me lay it out.

PSA from CJH: Is there a shot for a non-quarterback MVP anymore?

By Caleb Joshua Heffron · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

Okay, hear me out. It’s 2023. Everyone knows that the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award is now a “best quarterback” trophy; meanwhile, Offensive Player of the Year seems to be a “best player that isn’t a quarterback (but sometimes is still a quarterback)” award. But that all could change this year, thanks to the Miami Dolphins’ number one wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the San Francisco 49ers’ starting running back Christian McCaffrey.

Words from Wis: Is low World Series viewership a problem?

By Stephen Wisnewski · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

For a sport like baseball, a sport driven by statistics and analytics, one alarming stat many commentators and fans alike have pointed to is the record-low viewership of the World Series. Is that really something the MLB should be alarmed about, or are analysts overreacting?

Women's basketball plays for an "audience of one"

By Mallory Dotson · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

In the first seven games of the season, Trojans women’s basketball went 3-4, falling to St.-Mary-of-the-Woods 78-64 on Nov. 11.

Siblings in sports creates legacies that last a lifetime

By Conrad Otto · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

Memories of athletes can be echoed from generation to generation. For siblings in sports, their name can be held with a certain standard in and out of play.

In the helmet of number 43: "The most incredible teammate"

By Dalton Keay · Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023

Every Taylor home football game has one thing in common: “the party.” No matter the score or situation, the Trojan sideline is bouncing and chanting. Whether it be “Jump Around” by House of Pain or chanting “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, there is never a quiet moment on the Taylor sideline. But one player stands out from the rest: No. 43.

TU Frisbee is the "ultimate" sport of the year

By Dalton Keay · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

Ultimate frisbee is not the first thing that comes to mind when many students think of sports on Taylor’s campus. However, it is a new and growing club sport at Taylor University. Sophomore co-captains Max Newlon and Garrett Farnham have revamped the co-ed ultimate frisbee team this past season.

United States military members participate in Base HIIT Program

By Caleb Joshua Heffron · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

Across the United States, sports leagues show their appreciation for the military in many ways: the NFL has the month of November dedicated as Salute to Service, NBA teams have Military Appreciation nights and MLB teams honor active personnel and veterans throughout the season. For the Washington Nationals organization, one of their special events for military members is the Base HIIT Program.

The Pacers have a star power shortage in a league built on stars

By Will Riddell · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

The Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis. The Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. The Suns have Devin Booker and Kevin Durant. The Celtics have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. And the Nuggets — who also happen to be the defending champs — have Nikola Jokić, who won back-to-back MVPs in 2021 and 2022. The Pacers have Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner? Yeah, that’s not going to cut it.

Terry's Takes: CFB fanbases are upset again

By Caleb Terry · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

College football is home to some of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. This kind of deep-rooted emotion comes out either in excitement or heartbreak. A few contenders have been knocked out, but not every team’s destiny is determined just yet, so not every fanbase is up in arms. Let’s take a look at who is.

Smith plans, designs first-ever Taylor disc golf course

By Stephen Wisnewski · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

After much back and forth with administration, senior Frank Smith was finally able to act on his dream of creating a disc golf course on Taylor University’s campus this year.

Taylor winter sports are at the starting line for 2023-24 season

By Conrad Otto · Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023

Apart from the cold temperatures, this upcoming 2023-24 winter season of Taylor sports looks to be a dominant time for Trojan athletics. Three different sports – basketball, competitive cheer and track and field – look to either start their season off on a high note or continue the dominance they’ve already established.

Henson: on the court, behind the lens

By Marco Aguirre · Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023

Sometimes, the best shots at a sports event don’t go into a net or a hoop — they come from a camera.

Freshman Nathan 'Burns' the competition

By Alex Boothby · Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Nathan Burns is an exciting addition to the Taylor University men’s cross-country team, as he has exploded into stride taking the number one position on the team and breaking course records. As a talented runner who has dominated throughout high school, what led him to Taylor?

Trojans cross-country runs straight in the eye of the Blazing Tiger

By Elise Hoylman · Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

Omaha, Nebraska, heard Taylor cross-country roar on Saturday, Oct. 21. Taylor’s cross-country teams competed in the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic against 23 teams. Taylor women’s cross country team finished third at the meet behind College of Idaho, and Saint Mary (Kan.) ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The men’s team finished in an outstanding fourth place ahead of several ranked NAIA teams including Oklahoma City, Southern Oregon and Kansas Wesleyan. The Trojans have since moved up in ranking to No. 12.

Taylor football back in the win column with homecoming victory

By Dalton Keay · Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023

A fun-filled homecoming weekend was capped off with a convincing Taylor football victory on Oct. 28. With almost 5,000 fans in attendance, the Taylor Trojans trounced the Madonna Crusaders 54-14 in a game that never felt close.