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.

Move to NCAA Division II

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]

Varsity teams

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's Women's
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross Country
Cross Country Golf
Football Soccer
Track & Field Softball
Stunt
Track and Field
Volleyball

Baseball
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.[4]

Year Player Round Team
1966 Charlie Stewart 8 Cardinals
1984 James King 36 Mariners
1989 Jose Olmeda 23 Braves
1989 William Hocking 22 Giants
1991 Darin Haddock 42 Rangers
1994 Pat Evans 21 Indians
1997 Dustin Robinson 12 Reds
1999 Wes Faust 46 Giants
2005 Felix Peguero 28 Royals
2009 Spencer Hylander 50 Astros
2011 Richie Mirowski 45 Nationals
2011 Kyle Brule 32 Padres
2014 Osvaldo Vela 21 Dodgers
2014 Matthew Page 10 Nationals
2014 Julian Merryweather 5 Indians

Swimming

OBU has won NAIA championships in men's swimming and diving (2012 and 2013) and women's swimming and diving (2013).[5]

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.[6][7]

References
  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. "MLB Amateur Draft Picks who came from "Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)"". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  5. "Oklahoma Baptist University". Okbu.edu. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  6. "Hundreds Gather to Remember Swim Champion". okbu.edu.
  7. "Ivan Maciuniak, 22, dies after swim", Associated Press at ESPN.com, March 12, 2012.
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