We haven't done a lot of sports on this blog, but this amazing accomplishment by the HSU athletics teams just can't go by without notice.

When the dust settled on the 2005-2006 HSU athletic season, many thought HSU had seen its best year ever. Ten post season appearances by HSU teams in the American Southwest Conference and the women’s basketball team’s Cinderella journey to the NCAA Division III Final Four were an accomplishment that would be hard to surpass; certainly in consecutive seasons.

There’s something about Hardin-Simmons University’s heart, commitment, coaching, and player talent that just doesn’t settle for a one great year. So the HSU athletic teams did something during the 2006-2007 year that has never been done before in the American Southwest Conference (ASC). HSU became the first university in ASC history to send all of its teams into post-season play. Yes, that’s six league titles and 7 bids to NCAA postseason play. Not only did HSU student athletes charge farther into the record books than ever before, but they did it while soaring just as high in academics; this is the eighth consecutive semester HSU athletes have kept a cumulative grade point average over 3.0.

The Cowgirl soccer team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. The men’s soccer, football, and volleyball teams all played in NCAA Championships in the fall, making HSU the only school in the nation to have all four of those teams advance to post season action this year.

In basketball, the Cowboys advanced to the ASC Championship game and the Cowgirls went to the ASC semifinals.

HSU’s spring sports teams continued the success with men’s and women’s golf teams each placing fourth in the league and the baseball team advancing to the ASC postseason.

The tennis teams extended their long ASC winning streaks. The women won their seventh straight title and extended their ASC winning streak to 67 straight matches. The men won their sixth straight title and have now won 60 consecutive contests. The women claimed their third trip to the NCAA Championship and the men earned their inaugural bid.

HSU’s softball team won its second straight ASC title and will go to the NCAA regional in May.

Individually, HSU had the league most valuable offensive player in men’s soccer, women’s soccer, volleyball, football, and men’s basketball. Spring standouts are still being selected, but Tracy Henington was named the ASC most valuable player for the second straight year, and Shane Williford was named coach of the year in tennis. Baseball centerfielder, Michael Simpson, was named the ASC Co-West Division Player of the year by head coaches in the league.