By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director
Centenary’s first official intercollegiate football season in many decades kicks off soon and thanks to a new streaming partnership, Gents fans can watch home action online.
Centenary Athletics and KTAL have agreed on a partnership to stream all Centenary athletics home events across 19 varsity sports during the 2024-25 athletics season.
Various sponsorship and advertising opportunities will be available including digital, print, and gameday-specific ones.
“We are proud and honored to partner with the Centenary College of Louisiana Athletic Department to livestream every home game on KTALnews.com/gocentenary,” said Marissa Diaz, KTAL’s digital director. “This partnership exemplifies our pledge to help our partners succeed and an invest in our communities.”
Centenary Director of Athletics and Recreation David Orr said the partnership will greatly broaden exposure for the college’s NCAA Division III athletics program, and strengthen local ties.
“Our coaches and student-athletes have a strong love and connection with Shreveport-Bossier City and we are all proud to represent Centenary and our community. It is obvious that aligning Centenary Athletics with KTAL Sports, with our combined love for our community, would be natural,” he said.
“We want to earn and gain support and excitement from our community by providing the opportunity for the Shreveport-Bossier audience to stream Centenary athletic contests along with attending the live events on our campus,” Orr said. “We strive to be Shreveport-Bossier’s Team and KTAL is a great partner, aligned with the values of community and service.”
GYMNASTICS HONORS: Nine Centenary gymnasts won national academic acclaim for the 2023-24 academic year from the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association.
Centenary finished 71st nationally in team grade-point average (3.43) and two Ladies earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and all nine had a 3.50 GPA or above.
The Ladies recognized and their majors and GPAs:
Freshman Hayden Cagle (Austin, Texas): Chemistry – 3.97 GPA
Sophomore Claire Flores (Oklahoma City, Okla.): Business – 3.50 GPA
Senior Kendall Huff (Riviera, Texas): Business Administration – 4.0 GPA
Junior Emma Lavelle (Mandeville, La.): Mathematics – 4.0 GPA
Freshman Cecilia Paredes (Rockwall, Texas): Kinesiology – 3.75 GPA
Senior Isabel Plaza (San Antonio, Texas): Biology – 3.59 GPA
Sophomore Sophie Schmitz (Trophy Club, Texas): Business – 3.83 GPA
Sophomore Olivia Stratmann (Houston, Texas): Kinesiology – 3.85 GPA
Senior Lacey Wedge (Belle Chasse, La.): Business Administration – 3.70 GPA
The WCGA is the advocate for women’s collegiate gymnastics.
FOOTBALL ADDS ASSISTANT COACH: Jenetrell Oliver has joined the Centenary football staff as defensive ends coach/analyst.
Oliver, a native of Keithville, is a practicing attorney and reunites with Dawson after playing for him at Evangel Christian Academy from 2009-12. Oliver was an All-State defensive lineman and was a part of two state championship teams.
Oliver continued his athletic career at Louisiana-Lafayette as a running back for the Ragin’ Cajuns. He was part of two New Orleans Bowl championship teams. An injury sidelined him for a year, during which he pivoted to coaching, leading the defensive line at Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge in 2014.
After graduating, Oliver became defensive coordinator at Logansport High School in 2016, where he helped produce the team’s first undefeated season and their second state championship in 20 years. He then enrolled at the Southern University Law Center.
After earning his degree, Oliver returned home to establish Oliver & Watkins Legacy Law Firm LLC and 4Points Construction. Concurrently, he resumed his coaching career at Evangel Christian.
The Gents begin their preseason workouts Monday.
Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu