![Assistant Athletic Director of Academic Retention & Services Jill Gerloff delivers the opening speech at her final NGWSD dinner before her retirement. “I love all of my athletes and my women's teams always show up for me, and I want to make sure that I can do something to show up for them,” Gerloff said. [File photo]](https://therambler.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/OpeningSpeaker_Gerloff-1200x800.jpg)
On Jan. 30, the Texas Wesleyan men’s basketball team defeated the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Aggies during Senior Day in the Sid Richardson Gymnasium [74 – 54].
Following the Lady Rams’ victory over the Aggies women’s basketball team [80 – 39], the Rams celebrated their senior athletes in front of an ecstatic Sid Richardson crowd. Graduate guard Matt Nero and senior guard Daylan Hamilton were among eight senior Rams who walked out to mid-court with their family and received a portrait from their coaches and teammates.
“It’s an honor,” Nero said. “Seeing our families come out and support us, that have supported the years of us playing to get where we’re at is just a big deal man.”
Similar to the Lady Rams’ performance in the previous game, the Rams competed fiercely and did not take their foot off the gas pedal. From slam dunks to three-point shots, the Rams put on a show. Hamilton said there wasn’t much struggle or toil against the opposing Aggies squad.
“Coach [Wanamaker] had a good plan for us, and we came out here and got the win,” Hamilton said.
The Rams bench displayed pure camaraderie as they watched their senior teammates crush the Aggies. Their reward was a few more minutes of playing time, where they got to show off their skill and added on to the lead. Brian Wanamaker, Rams head coach, said it was special seeing his squad be loud and supportive.
“We always talk about cheering on your teammates and being unselfish and not making things about you,” Wanamaker said.
The Rams continue to sit in the No. 3 spot in Sooner Athletic Conference standings. With a Nelson University loss, the Rams have a chance to steal either the No. 1 or No. 2 spot with a Langston and Nelson loss.
“The mindset is just concentrating on ourselves,” Wanamaker said. “Don’t wish that this team lose or that team lose, just take care of what we do, and I think we’ll be fine.”
The Rams next game is against the College of the Ozarks (MO) Bobcats on Feb. 2 on the road.
