Oklahoma Baptist Bison

The Oklahoma Baptist Bison are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma Baptist University, located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Great American Conference (GAC) since the 2015–16 academic year.[2] They were also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Central Region of the Division I level.

Oklahoma Baptist Bison
Logo
UniversityOklahoma Baptist University
ConferenceGreat American (primary)
NCAADivision II
Athletic directorRobert Davenport
LocationShawnee, Oklahoma
Varsity teams13
Football stadiumCrain Family Stadium
Basketball arenaNoble Complex
Baseball stadiumBobby Cox Field at Bison Park
Softball stadiumBison Field
NicknameBison
ColorsGreen and gold[1]
   
Websiteobubison.com

Prior joining the NCAA, the Bison previously competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) from 1978–79 to 2014–15; and in the Texoma Athletic Conference from 1973–74 to 1977–78.

Varsity teams

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OBU competes in 13 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football and track and field; while women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, stunt, track & field and volleyball. Former sports included men's golf, women's lacrosse, men's soccer, men's & women's swimming, men's & women's tennis and women's cheerleading.

Men'sWomen's
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross Country
Cross CountryGolf
FootballSoccer
Track & FieldSoftball
Stunt
Track and Field
Volleyball

Move to NCAA Division II

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As of July 11, 2014, the NCAA Division II Membership Committee recommended the membership application for the institution to set up the move from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, competing in the Great American Conference, effectively the 2015–16 season.[3]

National championships

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Team

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SportAssociationDivisionYearOpponent/Runner-upScore
Men's basketball (2)NAIASingle1966Georgia Southern88–59
Division I2010Azusa Pacific84–83
Men's swimming and diving (4)NAIASingle2012Fresno Pacific757–752
2013Concordia Irvine881–448.5
2014Olivet Nazarene900–485
2015Olivet Nazarene798.5–575.5
Women's swimming and diving (3)NAIASingle2013SCAD Savannah845–600
2014SCAD Savannah849–492
2015SCAD Savannah745–481
Men's indoor track and field (1)NAIASingle[4]2013Wayland Baptist86.5–70
Women's indoor track and field (7)NAIASingle[5]2005McKendree86.5–72
2007Wayland Baptist52.33–51
2010Wayland Baptist68–67
2011Simon Fraser58–75
2013Indiana Tech113–87
2014Indiana Tech133–123
2015Indiana Tech87–79
Men's outdoor track and field (2)NAIASingle[6]1990Azusa Pacific57–53 (+4)
2007Dickinson State77–58 (+19)
Women's outdoor track and field (1)NAIASingle[7]2012Concordia Oregon101.5–81 (+20.5)

Individual programs

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Baseball

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Brandon Brewer plays second base for the Oklahoma Baptist Bison

Oklahoma Baptist has had 15 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965.[8]

YearPlayerRoundTeam
1966Charlie Stewart8Cardinals
1984James King36Mariners
1989Jose Olmeda23Braves
1989William Hocking22Giants
1991Darin Haddock42Rangers
1994Pat Evans21Indians
1997Dustin Robinson12Reds
1999Wes Faust46Giants
2005Felix Peguero28Royals
2009Spencer Hylander50Astros
2011Richie Mirowski45Nationals
2011Kyle Brule32Padres
2014Osvaldo Vela21Dodgers
2014Matthew Page10Nationals
2014Julian Merryweather5Indians

Swimming

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OBU has won NAIA championships in men's swimming and diving (2012 and 2013) and women's swimming and diving (2013).[9]

On March 9, 2012, swim team member Ivan Maciuniak, age 22, drowned in the pool. A native of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain, Maciuniak had joined his brother, Mateo, at OBU in January 2012. The Maciuniak brothers were on the four-man 400-meter relay team which won the final event of the meet to claim the national championship in OBU's first year of intercollegiate swimming.[10][11]

References

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  1. ^ "OBU Athletics Branding Guide" (PDF). June 18, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma Baptist University Athletics". obubison.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  3. ^ "NCAA admits Oklahoma Baptist into membership process". Tulsa World. July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  4. ^ "NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). Men’s Championship History. NAIA. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  5. ^ "NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA. NAIA.org. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ "NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA Sports Information Directors Manual. NAIA. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  7. ^ "NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results" (PDF). NAIA Sports Information Directors Manual. NAIA. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  8. ^ "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)"". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  9. ^ "Oklahoma Baptist University". Okbu.edu. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  10. ^ "Hundreds Gather to Remember Swim Champion". okbu.edu.
  11. ^ "Ivan Maciuniak, 22, dies after swim", Associated Press at ESPN.com, March 12, 2012.
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