Season Roundup - Summer '26

The Tennessee Iota Chapter of Alpha Chi National Honor Society welcomed 14 new student members during an induction ceremony held March 16 in Chapel Hall. New inductees included Sydney Blewett, Raedia Duperron, Jacob Farber, Macey Gardner, Sara Hunt, Emma Grace Johnson, Eden Larue, Lexi Lewis, Daniel Puckett, Ammie Spellings, Nathan Stanford, Emily Taylor, Cade Thompson and Gabriel Yaeger. All of the new members share the same grade point average — an impressive 4.0.

FHU Theatre presented its original production, “The Fabulist,” during a May 11 campus performance in Dryden Auditorium, helping raise funds for the cast’s upcoming international tour. Co-written and directed by theatre director R. Cliff Thompson in collaboration with Brad and Kristi Montague, the production will travel to the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland this August, featuring student performers Levi Secula, Jenna Salvato, Madison Parker, Drew Bramblett, Rachel Graves and Natalie Barker.

Freed-Hardeman University named its 2026 Mr. and Miss FHU, selecting seniors Tiro “Philly” Nong, of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Anna Claire Butt, of Columbia, Tennessee, following a campus-wide vote. The honor was announced during a special chapel presentation April 23, where eight senior nominees were recognized.

FHU celebrated the 10th anniversary of University Scholars’ Day this spring with a campus-wide showcase of student research, creativity and collaboration. Approximately 41 presentations, musical performances and research displays highlighted projects in areas ranging from relationship studies and artificial intelligence to visual art and business innovation.

FHU Senior Kannon Scott (right) and his brother, Jackson Scott (left), who helped him on the film, premiered “The Old Man 2” during Sigma Rho’s film festival held March 12 at the Luez Theater in Bolivar, Tennessee.

An April 14 celebration at Five Wells Field brought campus and community members together for an evening of baseball, food and festivities honoring the nation’s 250th birthday. The event featured a Lions matchup against Blue Mountain Christian University, along with a pregame tailgate, themed activities and a postgame fireworks show. The evening offered a shared opportunity to enjoy America’s pastime while marking a historic milestone for the country.

Freed-Hardeman University honored Professor Emerita Laquita Thomson’s upcoming retirement with her exhibition “20 Years: A Retrospective,” which was on display March 12-April 15 in the Bulliner-Clayton Visual Arts Center. The exhibition highlighted a broad body of work created during her time at FHU, including drawings, paintings and printmaking pieces that reflected her creative range and lasting influence on the university’s visual arts program. A public opening reception was held March 12 in the Troy Plunk Art Gallery, featuring an artist talk and celebration of her two decades of teaching and artistry.

The Lions finished the season with a 32-17 winning record and eight players earning postseason honors from the Mid-South Conference. Brennen Gibson was named MSC Freshman of the Year and joined Drake Blackwood, Hunter McLemore and JJ Pruneau on the First Team All-MSC, while Trace Anderson, Brooks Jones and Hunter Ryan earned Second Team honors. JJ Pruneau, Brooks Jones and Colton Bryant also received Gold Glove recognition.

Softball closed out the year with a 22-21 winning record and a record-breaking season from Myleah Hardy. Hardy shattered program records for career home runs (41) and single-season home runs (21), earning Mid-South Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-MSC honors alongside Alivia Eggleston, Lana Rowland and Karli Quillin. Chloe Carter earned Second Team All-MSC recognition and a Gold Glove award, while Christa Warren also received Gold Glove honors.

Track & field celebrated a season of growth and achievement, with every athlete recording at least one personal best and the team setting 13 new school records. New records were set by LaCaria Moore in the women’s 100m and 200m, Mary Pearce in the women’s 1500m, Elli Chumley in shot put and the women’s 4×100 relay. On the men’s side, records were broken by Jackson Overton in the 100m and 200m, Barrett Poe in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase, Oakley White in high jump, Caleb Gallagher in long jump, Jonah Gardner in shot put and Greer Davis in javelin.

Freed-Hardeman’s golf programs celebrated a strong season with multiple Lions and Lady Lions earning Mid-South Conference recognition. On the men’s side, Drew Massengale was named Second Team All-MSC, while Lane Walton tied the lowest round in program history with a 65 at the Music City Invite and set a new program record at 7-under-par. For the Lady Lions, Zoe Phillips and Hannah Ruth Walton also earned Second Team All-MSC honors.

Tennis was recognized at this year’s Roar Awards for team leadership, character and performance. Elise Kruzan and Tom Marie were named Outstanding Teammates, Brayden Hanna and Morgan Brown earned Outstanding Christian Example, and Daan van Miltenburg and Suri Gomez were selected as Team MVPs.

Student-athletes gathered May 5 for the annual Roar Awards presented by FirstBank, celebrating excellence across FHU Athletics. Thabo Mahlaha of men’s soccer received Outstanding Individual Accomplishment, Jenna Satterly earned Outstanding Female Student-Athlete, Drake Blackwood was named Outstanding Male Student-Athlete and Brooklyn Crouch received the Charlie Smith Heart of a Lion Award.

Incoming students and their families visited campus in May for ROAR Day, a full-day orientation experience designed to help new Lions prepare for the transition to college life. Faculty and staff members guided students through class registration, orientation sessions and other preparations for the fall semester while families connected with the Freed-Hardeman community and experienced a day centered on beginning the Lion journey.

Freed-Hardeman University honored five longtime employees whose combined service helped shape generations of students and strengthen the university community. Retirees included Lisa Beene, Dr. Mike Cravens, Dr. Dana Baldwin, Dr. Paul Fader and Susan Kimpel, representing more than 170 years of service to FHU. Since the retirement reception was held in April, the university has also mourned the passing of Dr. Cravens, whose impact as a teacher, mentor and colleague continues to be felt across campus. Together, these retirees leave behind a legacy of leadership, service and dedication that will influence Freed-Hardeman for years to come.