Spurs & Feathers September 2019 by Spurs & Feathers

OCTOBER 2019 • VOLUME 41 • ISSUE 10

Hilinski Brings Hope Freshman Ryan Hilinski shows promise as quarterback of the future September 2019 February 2019

September 2019

FOUNDERS LOYALTY SELECT EARNING

5.38% APY.1

WHAT IS LOYALTY SELECT?

Loyalty Select is our highest yield Savings Account - earning 5.38% APY.1

HOW CAN YOU DEPOSIT FUNDS INTO LOYALTY SELECT?

Earn Loyalty Select deposits with our Loyalty Products below! Edge Up2 - use your debit card and we’ll round up your purchase to the next whole dollar amount and transfer it into Loyalty Select Dividend Amp3 - transfer dividends earned from eligible interest bearing accounts Cash In4 - exchange the CURewards® points you earn on your qualifying Founders Credit Card for a Loyalty Select deposit.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

TH OF SOU VERSITY UNIV

NA CAROLI

Visit foundersfcu.com/LoyaltySelect for more information on all your funding options. 2 3456 78 9 01 6 5 4 3 GOOD 12 12/20 THRU

4238

ER A. MEMB B.A

DON’T FORGET YOUR USC DEBIT CARD!

AS A MEMBER OF THE GAMECOCK CLUB, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP WITH FOUNDERS. Visit one of our more than 30 locations or RelaxJoinFounders.com to complete the application process and see what Founders membership can do for you!

foundersfcu.com • 1-800-845-1614

Federally insured by NCUA.

1 Annual Percentage Yield of 5.38% is accurate as of September 1, 2019. The APY may change after the account is opened. No minimum balance is required to open the account or earn the advertised APY. Fees may reduce earnings. Deposits can only be made by FFCU through qualifying or enrolling in a Loyalty Account Program. 2 Only Checking Accounts that have the option to receive a Debit Card qualify for the Edge Up program and all account types may not be eligible. ATM or cash back purchases, Debit Card credits, checks, ACH, disputed transactions and other non-Debit Card transactions may not qualify. The Credit Union �� 3 �� of �� owner. �� 1 Teens under the �� are�� required to have an�� adult�� sign�� as joint Accounts without Requires�� credit��evaluation. age 18 �� at any time. Points redeemed are non-refundable. The Credit Union reserves the right to cancel or modify the Cash In program at any time. For a complete �� eStatements will be charged $2 for periodic statements by mail.

Federally insured by NCUA.

September 2019

Publishing Schedule

Contents

purs & Feathers is the official publication of the University of South Carolina Gamecock Club. It is published monthly, 12 times per year and is available to Gamecock Club members as well as additional subscribers. To opt in or subscribe, email subscribe@spursandfeathers. com or call 843-853-7678. The Gamecock Club and Spurs & Feathers thank you for your support. Below is our publication schedule for 2019:

Jan. 23 Feb. 20 March 20 April 24 May 22 June 19 July 24

18 GOTCHA BACK

34 ON THE ATTACK

Aug. 28 Sept. 25 Oct. 23 Nov. 20 Dec. 18

Editor’s Note: The editorial deadline for this issue was Sept. 13. GAMECOCK CLUB EVENTS Got a Gamecock Club event you’d like us to list? Email jowens@ spursandfeathers.com

gamecock club 5

The Zone gets new name

17 student-athletes earn special scholarships

Fan of the Game: Kitty Lewis loves her Gamecocks

Tyson Lusk: Former baseball exec working for all student-athletes

20 22

26 Bouncing Back: Offense erupts vs. CSU

Soccer 30 32

12 Forever to 3: Hilinski honors brother on field 16 Ryan’s Hope: Hilinski foundation helping others

18 Class Act: Versatile Joyner becomes ultimate teammate

4 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

going to be good’

Columns Gunter: Martin building toward strong run

Girardeau: 5 losses worse than the NC stinker

VolleyBall

Ryan Hilinski

Hungry for More: Mendoza’s team ready for next step

Cover Design by Lisa Heinz

Photo by Jenny Dilworth

Social icon

Square Only use blue and/or white. For more details check out our Brand Guidelines.

@SpursFeathers

Spurs & Feathers

2101 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29204 803-765-0707

Chase Heatherly

Publisher/Advertising Director cheatherly@spursandfeathers.com 803-765-0707 x129

EDITORIAL Jeff Owens

Executive Editor jowens@spursandfeathers.com

Josh Hyber

Kingston: ‘We’re

On the cover

Staff

SPURS & FEATHERS, 2101 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29204

Back to the Future: Berson excited about young team

Postal Information:

Postmaster: Send changes to

Baseball

Stellar D: Defense has women’s team poised for big year

Set Up: Courtney Koehler making her mark

28 Photos: SC vs. CSU

Football

SPURS & FEATHERS (USPS 12779) (ISSN7454368X) is published 12 times a year, monthly January-December. The annual subscription price is $50 for non Gamecock Club Members. Members of the Gamecock Club receive a discounted subscription as a member benefit. Spurs & Feathers is published by Evening Post Industries, 2101 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29204. Periodicals postage paid at Columbia, SC.

The Blues: Painful day vs. UNC

24 Photos: SC vs. NC

10 Firehouse Subs Athlete of the Month

Veteran Leadership: Sixth-year man leading way on OL

30 ON GOAL

Staff Writer jhyber@spursandfeathers.com

spursandfeathers

TO SUBSCRIBE:

Call 1-843-853-7678 Annual subscription price is $50

Contributing Writers

Lisa Heinz

Bill Gunter, Langston Moore, Ed Girardeau, Brian Hand

ADVERTISING

Photographers Allen Sharpe Jenny Dilworth

PRODUCTION & DESIGN Lauren A. Haley

Layout and Graphic Design

Production Manager

Bailey Dunlap

Multimedia Account Executive bdunlap@spursandfeathers.com 864-923-5558

Brooks Rogers

Advertising Representative brogers@spursandfeathers.com 803-446-4022

September 2019

Founders awarded naming rights for The Zone at Williams-Brice By Staff Reports • Photo by Allen Sharpe

ounders Federal Credit Union and South Carolina Athletics announced a five-year partnership awarding naming rights of The Zone at Williams-Brice Stadium to Founders. The Zone is now officially known as Founders Zone. Founders is the first naming partner to be associated with The Zone. The partnership includes naming rights and other partnership benefits for Founders.

“This partnership strengthens our commitment to the university, community and our market area in Columbia. Relax ... welcome to Founders Zone,” said Founders President and CEO Bruce Brumfield. The Founders Zone continues a partnership between Founders and South Carolina Athletics that began with the naming of Founders Park baseball stadium in October 2015. At the time of the naming

announcement, it was one of only three on-campus college baseball stadiums that had corporate naming rights. “We value our partnership with Founders Federal Credit Union and the commitment they have made to Gamecock Athletics,” SC Athletics Director Ray Tanner said. “Founders is a great friend to Gamecock Athletics.” Fans with tickets in the Founders Zone saw the new

“The Ribs & Wings are Great!”

branding at the Charleston Southern game Sept. 7. Built in 1995, the 11,000-square-foot, climate-controlled space features premium seating for 1,500 in the south end zone between the lower and upper levels. Amenities include outdoor, covered seating, indoor television monitors, inclusive catering, individual lockers for storing beverages and personal belongings and direct access via elevator and escalator. .

$ 00 COUPON $5.00 Off on all orders of $25.00 or more. Dine In or Take Out

Can not be used with any other specials. House rules apply. Expires October 31, 2019.

NOW OPEN!

DOWNTOWN | 1120 Washington St. CAYCE, SC COLUMBIA, SC 1120 Washington St. 2423 Fish Hatchery Rd. 803-542-7114 803-926-9622

RED BANK, SC 1767 -E S. Lake Dr. 803-808-0488

LEXINGTON, SC 105 Northpoint Dr. 803-356-6244

BALLENTINE, SC 1000 Marina Rd. 803-851-4500

CarolinaWings.com September 2019

FOUNDERS ZONE • SC ATHLETICS 5

Carmen Mlodzinkski

Anna Kate Stoddard

Jake Bentley

Lois Kaye Go

SC Athletics announces 17 endowed scholarships for 2019-20 From staff reports • Photos by Allen Sharpe, Travis Bell & SC Athletics

hortly after the 2019 academic year began, South Carolina Athletics announced the recipients of 17 endowed scholarships across seven sports and the Gamecock Club. Recipients for endowed scholarships are selected each year by the sport’s head coach or department head. The 2019-20 recipients of endowed scholarships are:

ranked the No. 1 catcher in South Carolina in the Class of 2019.

Baseball

Women’s Basketball

The Ken Branch and Kathy Falls Endowed Baseball Scholarship — Jax Cash The Curtis H. and Lisa B. Dickerson Endowed Baseball Scholarship — Graham Lawson The Everette and Beverly Newman Endowed Pitcher’s Scholarship — Carmen Mlodzinski The Ken Rosefield Family Endowed First Baseman’s Scholarship — Wes Clarke The Katherine Wilson Endowed Scholarship — Sawyer Bridges Baseball’s endowed scholarships recognize two seniors, two sophomores and a freshman. Bridges and Lawson, both seniors, were both part of the Gamecocks’ 2018 Super Regional team. Clarke, a sophomore, played in 19 games in 2019, while Mlodzinski, a redshirtsophomore pitcher, has overcome the injury that cut his 2019 season short and was named a top pitching prospect in the Cape Cod League by Baseball America this summer. Cash, a freshman catcher, is a Spartanburg, S.C. native who was 6

The Aleighsa Welch Endowed Women’s Basketball Scholarship — Victaria Saxton The A’ja Wilson Endowed Women’s Basketball Scholarship — Aliyah Boston Saxton is back to follow up her SEC All-Freshman season in 201819. Boston, a freshman forward, was the No. 3-rated player in the class of 2019 and the highest ranked signee of the Gamecocks’ five-freshman class, which was ranked No. 1 in the nation.

The Mozingo Family Endowed Football Scholarship — Bryan Edwards Football’s five endowed scholarships include three positionspecific awards. Bentley, a senior, is a four-year starter and two-time team captain who ranks in the top five of nearly every career passing list in South Carolina history. Kinlaw, a senior defensive tackle, has played in 25 games over the past two seasons, drawing preseason attention as an All-SEC and All-America candidate in 2019. Edwards, a senior wide receiver, has caught a pass in every game he has played and entered 2019 just 44 receptions shy of the school record. Farrell, a redshirt-junior, earned a scholarship prior to the 2018 season, during which he played in five games as a reserve center. Markway, a redshirt-junior tight end and four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, was named the Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete during the 2019 Garnet & Black Spring Game.

Football

Women’s Golf

Men’s Basketball

The Mac Credille Men’s Basketball Manager Endowed Scholarship — Adam Roach A Charlotte, N.C. native, Roach is in his fourth season working with the men’s basketball team. The senior manager is a sport and entertainment management major.

The Tommy Suggs Endowed Quarterback Scholarship — Jake Bentley The Wraellen and Larry Winn Endowed Tight End Scholarship — Kyle Markway The Ed Pitts Defensive Tackle Endowed Scholarship — Javon Kinlaw The Marcus Lattimore Endowed Football Scholarship — Chandler Farrell

SC ATHLETICS • ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

The Kenneth T. Lytle Endowed Women’s Golf Scholarship — Lois Kaye Go Go, a senior, is on pace to break the program record for career scoring average, entering the season with a 72.63 mark. The two-time All-SEC and Honorable Mention All-America selection also excels in the classroom, picking up WGCA All-American Scholar honors each of the last two seasons.

Men’s Soccer

The John P. Salamone Memorial Endowed Scholarship — Kyle Gurrieri Gurrieri, a junior, is a highlytouted transfer who played and started his first match in 2018. The midfielder has battled injuries since then but remained a positive influence on the team throughout his comeback.

Track & Field

The Schreiber Family Endowed Scholarship — Anna Kate Stoddard Stoddard, a junior, has been a standout in both track & field and cross country. In 2018-19, she lowered her personal record in the indoor 3000m, setting the seventhbest mark in program history. In the classroom, Stoddard is a twotime member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Gamecock Club

The Jack Wilson Internship Endowment — Andre Streete In its first season, the Jack Wilson Internship Endowment goes to Streete, a former men’s soccer student-athlete from Wolverhampton, England. After earning his degree in sport and entertainment management in May 2019, he works full-time in the Gamecock Club, assisting with all aspects of development. For more information on endowing a scholarship, please contact Steve Eigenbrot, Executive Associate AD for Development, at 803-777-8116. .

September 2019

Kitty Lewis honored as Legendary Fan of the Game By Brian Hand | Contributing writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe

hen she originally received the news she was surprised. In fact, in her own words, she was “flabbergasted.” “I have always seen in Spurs & Feathers the previous Legendary Fans, and I had always kind of wondered if I might ever get a chance to get the special jacket they received,” Kitty Lewis said. “I never really imagined it would actually happen.” In fact, when Gamecock Club Executive Director Patrick McFarland told her the official news, she was so surprised that she made him repeat it several times just to be sure. Surprised or not, Lewis was more than deserving of serving as the Legendary Fan of the Game before the Gamecocks’ 72-10 win over Charleston Southern Sept. 7 at Williams-Brice Stadium. Lewis has been a member of the Gamecock Club for 45 consecutive years, and she has been attending games “for much longer than that.” Her love for the Gamecocks is truly a family affair, with her children attending the university and many of her grandchildren as well. She hopes that is a tradition that lasts for a long time, noting, “I hope our family continues to have many more Gamecocks.” Lewis’ passion for the Gamecocks has allowed her to see many highlights over the years. Her favorite memory is of George Rog-

ers hoisting the Heisman Trophy in 1980. It was only fitting that on the same day she was honored by the Gamecock Club that Rogers was also honored on the field and presented with a special painting. Lewis says one of her favorite parts of being a Gamecock is tailgating with family and friends

before and after games. She said the whole experience of being honored as the Legendary Fan of the Game was just “fantastic” and something she will “never forget.” “I am thankful for the opportunity, and I cannot wait to hopefully make more Gamecock memories in the future,” she said.

RIVALS

A STORE DIVIDED

GARGANTUAN!! 18,000 SQUARE FEET GAMECOCK SUPERCENTER

ALL THINGS GAMECOCK! 2320 Trade Ct., |

Florence, SC 29501

Florence I-20 Exit September 2019

(843) 667-1779 |

Florence, S.C.

Next to Lowes

FT8-1819690-1

KITTY LEWIS • LEGENDARY FAN OF THE GAME

Resource Guide

Tyson Lusk goes from running baseball program to raising support for all student-athletes By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photos by Allen Sharpe

ark Kingston has a great coaching staff and has coached some great players in his two seasons at South Carolina. But there’s one guy Kingston absolutely could not do without during his first two years. Director of Baseball Operations Tyson Lusk. “Tyson is a superstar,” Kingston said. Lusk, who left the baseball program last month to become the assistant director of development for the Gamecock Club, was the man behind the scenes that made the baseball program at Founders Park run. A 2009 graduate of North Carolina, Lusk was a student manager for the baseball program at UNC while former South Car8

olina head coach Chad Holbrook was there. After graduating, he was the equipment manager for the Tar Heels for four seasons before joining Holbrook’s staff at South Carolina in 2013. For the past seven years, Lusk has done everything for the Gamecock baseball program but coach. “The goal of the job is basically to try to do everything you can so the coaches can focus on coaching the team and recruiting,” Lusk said. “You’re trying to take everything else off their plate and handle all of the off-the-field business of the program.” As Director of Baseball Operations, Lusk coordinated team travel, handled the schedule, managed the budget, made arrangements for visiting teams,

SC ATHLETICS • TYSON LUSK

coordinated recruiting visits, served as the liaison between the team and the SEC and was the point person for all the other athletic departments, including the Gamecock Club, at South Carolina. Simply put, Lusk did everything behind the scenes that allowed the Gamecocks to succeed and play in one of the best college baseball stadiums in the country. “It’s a fun job because at a place like South Carolina, where baseball is such an important and well-known sport and has such a huge fan base, it makes it a really neat deal,” he said. In his seven years with the program, South Carolina played in four NCAA Regionals and three Super Regionals. The Gamecocks hosted the Region-

als in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and hosted the Supers in 2016. Those experiences were among the highlights of Lusk’s baseball career. “Obviously playing in the postseason is a lot of fun,” he said. “Postseason baseball is a blast. It is a lot of work, but it is an absolute blast. Getting to play in a Regional or Super Regional at Founders Park is pretty special because you know fans are excited and they are energetic and they want to do everything they possibly can to help you win.” Along with that, his best memories are the relationships he built with the players and coaches. Lusk worked with two different coaching staffs between Holbrook’s 2013-2017 teams and Kingston’s 2018-19 squads. Between those two organizations, he built relationships that will last a lifetime. “Because of the transition, I got to build strong bonds with two coaching staffs and got to know so many coaches and players,” he said. “My relationships with the players has changed from my time at UNC from when we were contemporaries to where I am older than they are. Watching that relationship evolve has been fun. The nature of the relationships has changed but they are still pretty strong. “These are folks that in 30 years I am still going to be great friends with when we come back for a reunion or something like that. I was told once that the days are long but the years are short, and that’s really true because you just enjoy being around each other so much. You are in the trenches and there is a lot of hard work going on. The coaches are working so hard and the players are working so hard and you are there basically just trying to support them and help them in everything they do. You can’t not become really close to them because you are around each other so much and you are all pulling on the same rope and fighting for the same ultimate goal.” Now, in his new role, Lusk is in position to help make sure the baseball program and all the rest of South Carolina’s athletic programs have the resources they need to succeed. As Assistant Director of Development for the Gamecock Club, Lusk works with donors and helps raise funds

September 2019

that support student-athletes and their respective teams. His role is so crucial that Kingston joked, “Fundraising needed so much help that they came and took my best guy.” “The thing I really like about it is that you are supporting student-athletes and coaches by trying to provide them with the resources they need to compete,” Lusk said. “Obviously we are in

the best conference in the country and to compete in the best conference in the country, you’ve got to try to match resources for resources and facility for facility and the student-athlete experience, and that takes resources. “To be able to be a part of the team that is trying to provide coaches and student-athletes with those necessary resources is really intriguing to me.”

Tyson Lusk

Charlie Guarino

Frank Cannon

Lusk has already discovered that South Carolina has a lot of donors and potential donors willing to support the athletic program. There are plenty of examples of their support around campus, from Founders Park to the Long Family Football Operations Center and some of the finest athletic facilities in the SEC. “We have a very, very passionate and loyal group of individuals who want to support us financially, and we are very grateful for them,” he said. “They are willing to support us at a level that allows us to build beautiful facilities to provide our student athletes with a great experience.” Lusk has enjoyed meeting those donors and putting a face to some of the names that Gamecock fans have become familiar with at athletic facilities throughout the university. “That’s not just a plaque, it’s a person who believes in us and believes in what we are trying to do and wants to see us moving forward and understands that we want to compete at a high level and that it takes resources,” he

Jackee Moye

Laurel Suggs

said. “For people to be able to join us in that effort and donate is really, really special and a really incredible thing.” Lusk believes greatly in his new mission and believes Gamecock Nation is filled with supporters willing to help South Carolina continue to provide its student-athletes the best of everything. “It’s where the rubber meets the road,” he said. “We can draw up the greatest plans in the world, but if we can’t fund those projects it’s just a cool concept. That’s where you can really move the needle is when you have those resources to make those things come alive. “I think people are receptive to what we are talking about because we have got great leadership in our athletic department, we have a loyal and passionate fan base, we have great coaches and we have student athletes who want to do everything they can to succeed. I think people are very receptive to joining in that effort and want to be a part of building something special.” .

Mark Ackerman

Perry Orth

HERE TO HELP PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST IMG is a full-service insurance agency located in Columbia, SC. Our dedicated team of specialists, with over 150+ years of combined experience, provides ongoing support of your employee benefit programs, commercial, and personal insurance needs. We represent multiple national carriers ensuring the best solution for you, your family, and your business. Let IMG take on the complexities of insurance because we’re here to help protect what matters most.

CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.

888.252.1766 September 2019

SOUND ADVICE.

info@IMGSC.com

ONGOING SUPPORT.

www.IMGSC.com TYSON LUSK • SC ATHLETICS

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Ryan Hilinski R

yan Hilinski, South Carolina’s backup quarterback, was forced into action for the home opener when senior and fouryear starter Jake Bentley was injured in the first game of the year. But the true freshman from Orange, Calif. proved to be up to the challenge. Hilinski completed 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yarder to Bryan Edwards. He also scored the game’s second touchdown on a 4-yard run. Hilinski ran the South Carolina offense to near perfection, completing his first 12 passes and leading the Gamecocks to a 44-3 halftime lead and a 72-10 victory. He was just the sixth true freshman to start at quarterback since South Carolina joined the SEC in 1992 and is expected to lead the team the rest of the season. “I thought Ryan played extremely well for his first start,” head coach Will Muschamp said.

Firehouse Subs and Firehouse Subs Catering are proud to present the Spurs and Feathers Athlete of the Month! FT11-1818644-1

FIREHOUSE SUBS ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

September 2019

Owned and operated by Gamecocks

PERFECT FOR TAILGATING

Irmo #114 7467 St. Andrews Rd. Irmo, SC 29063 (803) 407-8548

USC-Columbia #307 633 Main St. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 733-9836

Lexington Medical Center #460 2805-B Sunset Blvd. West Columbia, SC 29169 (803) 708-4761

Killian Crossing #1629 1516 Ellie Drive, Suite 104 Columbia, SC29203 (803) 735-3997

Lexington #197 109 Old Chapin Road Lexington, SC 29072 (803) 957-1100

Hardscrabble #410 4546 Hardscrabble Rd. Columbia, SC 29229 (803) 736-9680

Forest Drive #665 3250 Forest Drive Columbia, SC 29204 (803) 445-1312

Spring Valley #256 10136-B Two Notch Rd. Columbia, SC 29229 (803) 419-8161

Harbison #446 150-A Harbison Blvd. Columbia, SC 29212 (803) 749-5535

Dreher Plaza-West Columbia #1186 2301 Augusta Rd. West Columbia, SC 29169 (803) 764-1940

Garnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ferry #1692 6041 Garners Ferry Rd, Suite A Columbia, SC 29209 (803) 995-5855

September 2019

FIREHOUSE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH 11

FOOTBALL

Forever To 3 Ryan Hilinski honors brother as Carolina’s new starting quarterback By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe, Jenny Dilworth & Hilinski family

yan Hilinski swayed — left arm wrapped around Traevon Kenion, right arm on the back of John Dixon — as the South Carolina alma mater boomed from the WilliamsBrice Stadium speakers. Hilinski sang, lyric by lyric, in harmony with the Carolina Band. As the song ended and Hilinski sang “Forever to thee,” he looked to the heavens and changed the ‘C’ he had formed with his right hand into three fingers pointed upward. The three soon became just the pointer, which he shook back and forth while gazing at the sky. Hilinski clapped four times before holding up ‘OK’ signs with both hands — the pinky, index and middle fingers again symbolizing the number three. The true freshman from Orange, Calif., starting against Charleston Southern with Jake

FOOTBALL • RYAN HILINSKI

Bentley sidelined with a foot injury, had just completed 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns and run for another in his college debut. “He was very accurate with the football, quick with his decisions and decisive where he was taking the football, and we played well around him,” Gamecock head coach Will Muschamp said. “He played well for his first start.” But Saturday, Sept. 7 — the day Hilinski led the Gamecocks to a 70-10 victory over the Buccaneers — was about more than just one early-season victory. It was the culmination of an emotional, exciting week for Hilinski and his family. But more than that, it was an uplifting moment for a family that has been through a heart-rending 19 months.

BEHIND-THE-SCENES WITH THE HILINSKIS

The Hilinskis had been anxious for weeks leading up to Aug. 31, not only because of South Carolina’s season opener against North Carolina, but because Kelly, Ryan’s oldest brother, was scheduled to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in Columbia that day. On the day of the game and test, Kym Hilinski, Ryan’s mom, stayed in Columbia with Kelly and then raced to Charlotte, where the Gamecocks played the Tar Heels at Bank of America Stadium, to watch 20 minutes of warmups before getting in her car to return to Columbia. But Ryan’s dad Mark — who settled in Charlotte and spent some time with Ryan on Friday night — stayed the entire game. He enjoyed what he saw from the Gamecocks through two and a half quarters, when the team built a 20-9 lead.

September 2019

He cheered for Tavien Feaster and Kyle Markway and felt “awful” when the game slipped away and turned into a 24-20 North Carolina victory. “It was a long ride home,” he said. Sunday and Monday were normal for the Hilinskis until sometime Monday afternoon, when Ryan sent Kym, Mark and Kelly a text message in the family’s group chat. “Hey, what are you guys doing Saturday?” Ryan messaged. “It looks like I’m going to be starting.” “We know what happened in the game. We know quarterbacks get way too much credit and way too much blame, as do head coaches,” Mark said. “It’s always been said that the backup quarterback is the most popular guy on the team because he hasn’t made a mistake yet. “But it didn’t take us 30 seconds to go, ‘Wait a second, why? Not that you don’t deserve it, but what happened?’” Ryan told his family Bentley was on crutches with a broken foot and it looked like he might miss the home opener. “When we heard that, it was a mixed bag,” Mark said. “It just sucks,” Ryan, the Gamecocks’ newest starting quarterback, told his dad, clearly upset about his friend’s misfortune. “We were happy for him and it’s great to have that opportunity,” Mark said. “But it’s the worst way possible to get it. It was that sort of realiza-

September 2019

tion of why that tempered the excitement a little bit.” “I wasn’t ready for it, really,” Kym said. “First off, I was so sad for Jake. It’s terrible when someone gets injured and can’t play. It’s his senior season, and to come back and to be injured in the first game, it just breaks my heart for him and his family.” Kym texted South Carolina quarterbacks coach Dan Werner and asked him to reach out to Bentley and Bentley’s dad Bobby, the Gamecocks’ tight ends coach, to let them know how sorry she was. “Jake’s been nothing but great to Ryan,” Mark said. “Bobby [Bentley] and the staff have been great to us and we’ve got nothing but praise for them. “Your heart sinks a little bit because you know how hard that kid worked. … To see your leader on offense go out that way … was devastating. We’ve had, I would argue, more devastating information in the last couple of years, certainly, but we felt for Jake just the same.” But the Hilinskis have learned over the past 19 months that time doesn’t stand still. That night Kym, Mark and Ryan had what Kym called a relatively normal family dinner at Liberty Tap Room & Grill in Irmo. At first, there was sadness. “There’s a fraternity between quarterbacks, and they feel for each other and respect each

other,” Kym said. “When someone gets hurt, it really pulls at them.” But sadness soon turned to a celebratory, albeit calm, mood. Kym sensed Ryan’s excitement and asked him if anything will be different. “Nothing. I was ready last week,” Ryan told the table. “I was ready the week before. I know I haven’t played. I get it. I know it’s different. I understand it’s going to be louder and crazier. “But it’s football. I’ve been doing this for a long time. I want to go out and do what I do.” “He doesn’t want anything to be different or to be treated any differently,” Kym said. “There’s a difference in confidence and cocky, but Ryan feels very confident he’s ready to play and he’s ready to help his team,” Mark said. “That’s his mentality and mindset. He thinks he can help them be better on the field.” Ryan’s reaction to learning he would be a freshman starting quarterback in the SEC echoes that sentiment. “Let’s go,” he told Muschamp. Then came the 62-point victory.

PLAYING FOR TYLER

On Jan. 16, 2018, Ryan lost his second-oldest brother, Tyler, to suicide. The starting quarterback at Washington State, Tyler was found in his apartment after not showing up for practice that day. It was a horrific time for the Hilinskis — one that has been detailed by Sports Illustrated, ESPN and The New York Times, among others — and has since led to countless unanswered questions. “There’s no script for how you handle that situation,” said J.P Presley, Ryan’s head coach for two seasons at Orange Lutheran High School. “You survive and you make sure Ryan knows he’s loved and cared for. People poured their hearts out. You give him space, but you also make sure he knows you’re there. I know that’s not something that goes away, ever. “He embraced it, and I think that turned into a lot of strength from the family.” Ryan was a high school sophomore at the time and had just completed his first season as a starter. He was still friendly but did not really talk to anyone about what happened, according to teammates. “The two words that come to mind are calm and confusion, with him almost being so confused about what happened, maybe him questioning why it happened to him,” teammate David Tax said. “It kind of calmed him. “He couldn’t even get sad or distraught because it was so surreal. He just went with the flow.” “He took it as motivation,” teammate Jojo Hawkins said. “He just played football and did it for his brother.” Teammate Jack Fierro sat quietly with Hilinski in the Lancer locker room days after the tragedy. “After he threw his first touchdown his junior year, he came off the field bawling,” Fierro said. Ryan switched from jersey No. 4 to Tyler’s No. 3 that season and has stuck with it ever since. Which made the week before his debut as a Gamecock even more emotional. RYAN HILINSKI • FOOTBALL

“When I found out he was starting, my first thought went straight to Tyler, and I started crying of course,” Kym said before the game. “It’s the first time we’ll see another ‘Hilinski 3’ on a college field. I don’t know how I’m going to do it.” “Watching him run out with number three, we’ve only seen one other guy do that,” Mark said. “And he was pretty special to us.” But Ryan has always stayed strong. The first post he made on social media after it was announced he was going to start was about playing for Tyler. “To say it’s complex is probably even understating it,” Mark said. “Not to put any more pressure or trivialize any of it, but it’s football. At the end of the day, it’s Ryan’s dream. He wanted to come here. He wants to win for himself, for his team, for his coaches, for the university and for the fans. “But I think he’s got a big weight on his back, carrying his brother around.” “Tyler got sick, and he’s not with us anymore, but that doesn’t change how much we love you guys and how much we want you to be successful and be happy,” Kym and Mark tell their boys.

SATURDAYS IN THE SOUTH

Mark Hilinski had driven the roads around Williams-Brice Stadium and the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Practice Facility hundreds of times in the months his son had played for South Carolina. The week of the Charleston Southern game, when he looked in his rearview mirror while driving down National Guard Road, Hilinski felt differently.

“You look back at the stadium and you think, ‘This thing’s a monster,’” he said. “There’s 300 people right now working on the field, in the parking lots, in the buildings, all for Saturday’s game. Their collective purpose, whether it’s planting trees or painting lines, it’s all for this team. “And to be a part of that, in whatever way, as the backup quarterback, as the starting quarterback, all of us have to do our collective best. “I think Ryan loves that part of it.” But Ryan starting so early in his college career was not the plan. Said Mark, “If you wrote the game plan, it was, understudy, let Jake teach you everything he knows. Fight with Dakereon [Joyner] and make each other better. Let’s figure out how to work together. Nothing but ultimate respect for Dakereon and how much he’s helped Ryan. “But in 48 hours he goes from, ‘That’s my plan,’ to, ‘Hey, there’s a new gameplan.’” Fortunately, about a dozen Hilinski family members had already planned to fly in from around the country for the Gamecocks game against the Buccaneers — family from the west coast and Boston and one cousin who attends the University of Miami. “Ryan has deserved every bit of it. He has worked hard and earned it, in terms of the opportunity to compete and the opportunity to play with his team and to add to their collective success,” Mark said before the game. “I think he’s got the right mindset going into the rest of the season, whatever role he plays for however long. “We need to put some wins on the board. Everybody feels that way. He’s no different.”

A ‘GUNSLIGNER’ AND CHOIR BOY

Hilinski, a four-star recruit and high school All-American, will be no stranger to facing top talent when he plays SEC opponents. In high school, he played in Southern California’s famed Trinity League. He faced national powerhouses, like Mater Dei (with Southern Cal quarterback JT Daniels) and St. John Bosco (with Clemson commit DJ Uiagalelei and Iowa State’s Re-al Mitchell), on a weekly basis. When Hilinski arrived at Lutheran, the Lancers ran the triple option. But as a junior and senior, with Presley and offensive coordinator Matthew Hatchette, a former NFL tight end, at the helm, the team transitioned to a no-huddle attack with three or four play options every snap and threw the ball 65 percent of the time. “Which was right up his alley,” Presley said. “He had an absolute rocket of an arm,” Fierro said. “He would make throws when we were out at practice, even going into our sophomore year, that I would say, ‘Dang, I literally cannot make that throw.’” The Lancer offense was driven by run-pass options. “But a lot of the times we were like, ‘We have this great gunslinger, let’s make sure he’s throwing the ball,’” Presley said. “He has one of the prettiest spirals,” Tax said. “He always keeps his throwing motion the same. You see it now with Pat Mahomes not even looking when he throws. Hilinski is the opposite. This dude is always in stance and throwing in form.” From the start, despite loads of national attention, Hilinski spent time honing his craft. He spent time learning defenses and improving his

The Hilinski family at Williams-Brice Stadium. Photo by Josh Hyber

FOOTBALL • RYAN HILINSKI

September 2019

Jack Fierro, Elijah Mojarro, Hilinksi and Kyle Ford

accuracy. He took receivers out to work on timing. He never bragged about the attention and still wanted to work and push his teammates. “He always took notes and knew everything the coaches asked,” teammate Logan Gonzalez said. “You could tell the difference between his answer and somebody else’s. He was more confident.” “He’s a serious player, but he’s a fun player to play with,” Hawkins said. And a quality one. “Almost all of his throws are dimes,” Fierro said. “Throws when he chucks it across the field and just puts it right where it needs to be, they’re really hard to defend.” “The best balls he’d throw were the deep balls,” Tax said. “Whether it was the oneon-one seam throws. That’s definitely his strong suit.” Despite being one of the best players in the state and nationally, Hilinski’s recruitment picked up when the Lancers beat Vista Murrieta in the third game of his junior season. “All we really talked about was playing at the next level,” said teammate KJ Trujillo, who now plays for Colorado. “Let’s make sure we’re the best high school football quarterback in the country,” Presley told him. “And each week he got more comfortable. He developed so many tools.” His teammates and coaches still marvel at some of the plays Hilinski made. “There was one play when nobody was open and I thought, ‘What’s Ryan going to do?’ But he tucked it and ran and ran over their linebacker into the end zone,” Trujillo said. “I was like, ‘Wow, I never would have expected that.’” Against Santa Margarita, Hilinski threw a deep pass to star receiver Kyle Ford, who’s now at Southern California. “Across the field. It was about a 70-yard bomb,” Presley said. “A strike.” “He was a baller,” Hawkins said. “He’s a winner. He hates losing. He’s very determined and holds himself and everyone accountable.” But Hilinski was never just a football player. Gonzalez first met Hilinski when the former tagged along with the star quarterback during

September 2019

Ryan

Ryan, Tyle

r, Mark an

d Kelly Hil

inski

one of Orange Lutheran’s “shadow” days for perspective students. “A lot of people around school looked up to him and were saying, ‘Hi,’” Gonzalez said. “I was surprised he was only like 16 years old, because the way he spoke, he was very comfortable and mature,” Presley said. “He’s really engaged with people. You can tell he’s a good listener. “Everyone on campus knew Ryan, not because of the football, but because of the person he is. He was in choir. He’s very well-rounded. His awareness for people, that’s one of his qualities and strengths. He’s very genuine.” Yes, choir. “He was in quite a few shows,” Fierro said. “He seemed to really enjoy it and was pretty good at it. He has a pretty good voice.” Hilinski and a classmate even sang the national anthem before a game against Romoland Heritage. “That’s him,” Presley said. “That’s the personality that he has. That’s the type of leader he was on campus. “He cares about his community.” Said Trujillo, “He’s really a silly dude. He’s real goofy off the field and really approachable to everyone. He gets along with everybody.”

GROWING INTO A GAMECOCK

That remains true. South Carolina fans have embraced Hilinski and he has embraced them right back. He often surprises fans with phone calls and direct messages on social media. After the win over Charleston Southern, he jogged the perimeter of the field with his teammates and high-fived every fan, took selfies and signed autographs. He looked comfortable. He looked at ease. He looked at home. “[When] something very tragic happened to your family, and being a very public situation, it makes you grow up very quickly,” Muschamp said after the game. “It helps you handle criticism. It helps you handle negative people in the day and age we live in now with social media. … “His family has been through just a tragic situation and he’s lived that in public life. He’s handled it tremendously well. “I’m very proud of him.” . RYAN HILINSKI • FOOTBALL

Hilinski’s Hope

After tragedy, Hilinski family helping raise mental health awareness By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo courtesy of the Hilinski family

elly Hilinski has the following quote pinned to the top of his Twitter account: “They say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.” Hilinski and his family, including parents Mark and Kym and little brother Ryan, South Carolina’s starting quarterback, have made it a point to make that mantra true. Tyler Hilinski, the middle of the three brothers, committed suicide on Jan. 16, 2018 after suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. The family has made sure he does not die twice. With the leadership of Mark and Kym, the family started Hilinski’s Hope, an organization that works to end the stigma of talking about mental health. “If this could happen to Tyler, who was as beautiful and success-

ful, well loved, doted on person, it could happen to anybody,” Kym said. “We don’t want another person to go through what Tyler went through or another family to go through what we’re going through.” Over the past several months, the family, along with mental health professionals, has traveled the country to speak with college sports teams, fraternities and sororities spreading awareness. Said Mark, “As we continue to talk and meet with so many people, what we’ve found is student-athletes who say, ‘I can tell you I tore my ACL and you’re going to feel bad for me. But the minute I say, ‘I’ve been having this same weird dream about taking my life or I’ve had these strange thoughts and I can’t get sleep or I sleep too much,’ whatever it is. They don’t want to say that because, what we’ve found, is they worry about their job on the team.

16 FOOTBALL • HILINSKI FOUNDATION

“They worry about negatively impacting their family. They worry about what other people are going to say about them.” The Hilinskis and the mental health professionals who travel on behalf of Hilinski’s Hope have shared their message everywhere from Indianapolis and San Diego to college campuses at Texas A&M, Stony Brook, Ole Miss, Montana State, Eastern Washington, Idaho and UCLA, among others. They teach the mental health curriculum Step Up, an NCAA approved program that teaches how to look for changes in people, how to respond to those changes, who to reach out to and the right words to say. “The number dealing with depression or anxiety, it’s pretty high,” Kym said. “It’s higher than I think most people realize.” They also deal with athletes set to graduate who aren’t going to make it professionally.

South Carolina athletes embraced the initiative, wearing Hilinski’s Hope bracelets throughout training camp and the regular season. “The whole town has embraced it,” Mark said. “You can’t put a price tag on it.” South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp understands the importance of the cause and has made sure his program supports it. “Anything that is really important to you in life and that really drives you in life, you don’t need to keep that away from somebody,” he said. “Obviously, [Ryan’s] foundation, his family’s foundation, is very important to him, and to us as well. … I’m excited that he is able to promote and help the awareness of mental health, and that’s very important. “I think he handles it extremely well. He’s mature beyond his years.” .

September 2019

VISTA

ART

YOUR SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCK ART AND MEMORABILIA HEADQUARTERS!

VISTA ART does high-end, custom framing.

FT8-1819687-1

Let us frame your USC diplomas!

We can custom build shadow boxes, showcases, sh and frame jerseys.

1752 AIRPORT BLVD, CAYCE, S.C | (803) 794-7252 | VISTAARTSC.COM |

September 2019

@VISTAARTSC 17

Ultimate Teammate Dakereon Joyner shows class in embracing ever-changing role

By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor •Photos by Allen Sharpe

akereon Joyner could have taken the news hard. When he was told that fellow freshman Ryan Hilinski had won the backup quarterback job, Joyner could have sulked and let it drag him down. Or he could have even transferred, as so many other college quarterbacks do after losing a job. But that’s not Dakereon Joyner. “I’m a very positive guy,” he said. “I feel like everything happens for a reason. I’m just here to be the best teammate possible and I’m here to play the best role.” With a week remaining in training camp, Hilinski was named 18

the backup quarterback after a long offseason battle between the two. Joyner would continue repping at quarterback but experiment with a transition to wide receiver to take advantage of his athleticism and dynamic play-making ability. Head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Bryan McClendon delivered the news to Joyner delicately. They not only wanted to make sure the redshirt freshman handled it well, but also gauge whether he was open to a move to another position. Joyner, a four-star quarterback in high school and South Carolina’s

FOOTBALL • DAKEREON JOYNER

“Mr. Football,” handled the decision like a pro. “He’s been great, very open attitude about everything,” Muschamp said. “That’s who he is as a person. He handles everything in a firstclass manner.” McClendon said Joyner immediately embraced the idea of switching to receiver and playing other roles on offense. “You want to make sure, expecially a guy in his postion, that he wants to take on any other type of role,” McClendon said. “You want guys that want to do it, regardless of what their skill set might be or what the situation or positon may

be, you want guys that want to embrace that. “He’s working hard to do a good job for us in whatever we ask him to do.” That’s Joyner. A three-year star at Fort Dorchester High School in North Charleston, Joyner said he never considered transferring or walking out on his teammates. “I’m here to be a team guy and be the best person possible, not just for me but for my team,” he said. “I’m good here. My focus is on this season.” Two weeks later, Joyner’s role would change yet again. After starting quarterback Jake Bentley

September 2019

suffered a broken foot in the season opener against North Carolina, Hilinski was named the starter with Joyner moving into the backup role. Suddenly, Joyner was an even more valuable player as the backup quarterback who would also play wide receiver. He wasted no time making an impact. After catching a 12-yard pass from Hilinski early in the home opener, he lined up under center and immediately delivered one of the plays of the game, juking two defenders as sped down the left sideline on a 41-yard run. Two plays later, he scored his team’s third touchdown on a 6-yard run. “I knew I was going to have opportunities,” he said. “When you get your chance, go make plays. That’s what I do. … It’s just playing football.” Joyner finished the game with 53 yards rushing, 12 receiving, completed his only pass and led South Carolina on two second-half scoring drives in the 72-10 win. Muschamp had no reservations about preparing him to play two positions. “His approach, not just this week but every week, has been phenomenal,” he said. “He’s extremely

Forest Lake $259,900

Close to The Rockbridge Club & move-in ready! 3 Bdrm, 2 Bath, nearly 1/2 acre lot!

bright so he handles everything really well. He can really help our football team in a lot of areas, not just at receiver and not just at quarterback.” Though he had never played the position before, Joyner said the

transition to receiver was natural. “I have always been a guy who, I can do whatever,” he said. “It’s about helping the team. I don’t think it’s a challenge at all for me. I am a team guy, and I can do it.” Joyner proved to be a team guy

Dakereon Joyner

Lake Murray $1,189,900

Private Dock & Lift , 6 Bdrm, 4.5 Bath, 3 Bay Garage, Theater, Wine Cellar

University Hill $499,900

again when Hilinski was named the starting quarterback after Bentley’s injury. Despite their battle for the backup job, he and Hilinski became good friends during the offseason and training camp and Joyner was there to support him in his first career start. “Always. That’s never changed,” he said. “We still hold each other accountable in everything we do. That never changes. Now we just have to continue pushing each other even more, be even more detailed in the film room and be ready to go.” Muschamp said after the Charleston Southern game that Joyner’s role would continue to evolve. His ability to play multiple positions puts pressure on opposing defenses as they prepare for the Gamecock offense. “His role is going to continue to expand and help us be more productive offensively,” he said. “He’s hard for a defense to count. What is he? Is he a quarterback? Is he a receiver? From a preparation standpoint, you create some issues.” Joyner is just glad to be used any way possible. “I’m just here to be the best guy I can be,” he said.

Kingston Harbour $495,000

Convenient to USC & Downtown, Desirable Lake Access community, Beautiful Hdwd ﬂoors, 4 Bdrm, with plenty of elbow room! 4.5 Bath, Garage 5 Bdrm, 4 Bath, 3 Bay Garage

ON THE MOVE FOR YOU

BISHOP REAL ESTATE GROUP 803.665.1442

FT11-1818638-1

September 2019

DAKEREON JOYNER • FOOTBALL

Donell Stanley (72) and Sadarius Hutcherson (50)

Sermon On The Mount Senior Donell Stanley helps lead Gamecocks out of dark valley after early loss By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photos by Allen Sharpe & Travis Bell

fter South Carolina’s seasonopening loss to North Carolina, Donell Stanley went to church the next morning. The sermon was about peaks and valleys. It was fitting after the devastating 24-20 loss. Stanley took it to heart and found himself using the same message as the sixth-year senior tried to rally his team. “We are in a valley right now,” Stanley said three days after the loss. “You find out who your true friends are and you learn a lot about yourself in a valley. When you are on a mountain everything is going good. We are in a valley right now and we have each other. It’s dark and cloudy but we have to get out of it, we have a long season ahead.” South Carolina’s offensive line had major problems in the season opener. With two new starters in redshirt freshman Hank Manos at center and sophomore Eric Douglas at right guard, the Gamecocks gave 20

up three sacks and had protection problems all day. After church on Sunday, Stanley went to practice and team meetings at the Long Family Football Operations Center. After the team meeting, he gathered his teammates on the offensive line to deliver his own message. “We brought them in and told them, we need to lead the team. We have to play better, we have to communicate, we have to do the little things, we have to be more disciplined,” Stanley said. “That’s the message I wanted to get across to them. We are going to get this thing right.” Stanley’s message worked. With two new starters — sophomore Jordan Rhodes at left guard and redshirt freshman Jovaughn Gwyn at right guard — South Carolina rolled up a school record 775 yards of total offense, including 493 rushing, and scored the most points in

FOOTBALL • DONELL STANLEY

the Muschamp era in a 72-10 win over Charleston Southern. Stanley, a three-year starter, is not only Carolina’s most experienced and valuable offensive lineman. He is one of the emotional leaders of the team. He entered the season having played in 38 games with 26 starts at three different positions across the offensive line. After redshirting twice — once due to a season-ending injury — Stanley is in his sixth season as a Gamecock. He played on Steve Spurrier’s last two teams and earned a starting spot on Will Muschamp’s first team as a redshirt sophomore. He has been around so long, when he began his South Carolina career, this year’s freshman class was in the seventh grade. “Looking back at all the changes that have been made, it’s crazy how long I’ve been here and all I have seen,” he said. “It really taught me how to fight through adversity. I

came in when the team was winning 11 games a year and then we won three games two years later. With the injuries and stuff, it helped me handle adversity. “I wouldn’t change anything. I still love that I came to South Carolina and I still think it’s the greatest university on earth.” One of the top players in the state as a senior at Latta High School, Stanley played in 12 games under Spurrier as a redshirt freshman. He earned a starting spot on Muschamp’s first team in 2016 but suffered a high-ankle sprain on the first series of the season opener against Vanderbilt and missed the rest of the season. Having had a full season wiped out by injury, it broke Stanley’s heart to see good friend Jake Bentley break his foot in the season opener against North Carolina. “It was a sad thing,” he said. “I’ve been in his shoes, so I know how it feels.”

September 2019

Donell Stanley (72)

As a senior leader, it was not only Stanleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job to help his team get over the season-opening loss but to help it rally behind new starter Ryan Hilinski and move forward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We just have to move on,â&#x20AC;? he said prior to the home opener. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now we are in a dark spot, and we all know it. But we are at

the beginning of the season and we have a lot of football to play. We could sit back and moan and feel sorry for ourselves but we are moving on and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to take every guy in that locker room.â&#x20AC;? That kind of leadership means a lot to a team that still relies on a lot of young players in Muschampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth season. Stanley, who gradu-

ated last year, spends hours off the field with the other offensive linemen, cooking for them at his house and always offering guidance and advice. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awesome to have a guy like that who has been around to share some guidance with, not just about stuff on the field but how to carry yourself and what it means to be a student-athlete,â&#x20AC;? said junior offensive lineman/tight end Chandler Farrell. There is no one Stanley has helped more than junior left tackle Sadarius Hutcherson. The 320-pound Hutcherson gained more than 75 pounds as a freshman to transition from a defensive end and tight end to one of the most athletic linemen on the team. He credits Stanley with helping him make the transition and earn a starting spot as a redshirt freshman in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The thing about me and Donell, me and him have a bond between us, like we are brothers,â&#x20AC;? Hutcherson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kinda like we were born together. He helps me a lot, especially when it comes down to plays and watching film together. We do pretty much everything together.â&#x20AC;?

Hutcherson began the season playing beside Stanley before Muschamp shuffled the offensive line, moving Stanley back to center, where he started 12 games in 2018. He says having a player with Stanleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience on the offensive line is invaluable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It means a lot. You just feel comfortable when you have a oneon-one and you know the guy next to you is going to win his,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That just makes me want to do better because I have to play up to his level too.â&#x20AC;? Stanley canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but laugh when he thinks about how long heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been at South Carolina and about working with young players who were in middle school when he began his college career. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These younger guys, they are different. I got little cousins and nephews who are the same,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They come in and think they are going to take somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spot or that this team owes you something, and [I tell them], â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;you are wrong.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think they look up to me and always ask me questions and look for me to point them in the right direction, and I take pride in that. I want to do them right because I have been in their shoes.â&#x20AC;?

FT11-1818639-1

Â Â?Â?

September 2019

DONELL STANLEY â&#x20AC;˘ FOOTBALL

North Carolina 24, South Carolina 20

Painful Start Season-opening loss hurts even worse after Bentley’s season-ending injury

By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photos by Travis Bell

HARLOTTE — After limping off the field following South Carolina’s 24-20 loss to North Carolina, a dejected Jake Bentley stood in front of a crowd of reporters in the bowels of Bank of America Stadium and searched for words to describe the pain of the devastating loss. After completing just 16 of 30 passes for 142 yards and throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions, Bentley took the loss with class, accepting full responsibility for his team’s disappointing performance in the season opener. “I was given every opportunity by the team to go win the game and I didn’t do it, so it hurts a lot,” he said. “It starts with me.” Two days later, the pain only intensified as Bentley suffered a deeper, much more intense heartbreak after learning that he had suffered a Lisfranc injury that would require surgery and end his senior season. “You hurt for Jake,” Muschamp said in announcing the injury. “Senior year and he has given a lot to this program. An outstanding young man, exactly how you want someone to represent the University of South Carolina. I just hurt for him.” Immediately after the game, Bentley was beating himself up over missing a wide-open Shi Smith in the end zone with two minutues remaining. “That’s probably never going to go away,” he said. But the final play of the game turned out be much more fateful. With 11 seconds remaining, Bentley had one more chance to throw the ball downfield and hope for a miracle. But he was sacked for the third time in the game, his leg bending under a North Carolina defensive lineman, breaking a metatarsal bone in his left foot. After an MRI confirmed the injury, Bentley learned that he would need surgery, leaving true freshman Ryan Hilinski as the starting quarterback. As disappointing as the season-opening loss was, this was a bitter pill to swallow for a team with high hopes in Muschamp’s fourth season and for a four-year starter who was on pace to break all the school passing records. “It’s devastating,” running back Rico Dowdle said. “We hate it for him.” “It was a sad thing,” said sixth-year senior center Donell Stanley, who called Bentley immeditely after hearing about the injury. “I told him I would be behind him 100 percent. I’ve been in his shoes so I know how it feels.” “I’m sorry that happened to Jake,” backup quarterback Dakereon Joyner said. “He’s definitely one of our leaders and definitley one of the guys everyone looks up to.” Bentley, who’s future seemed uncertain immediately after the injury, took the news hard, but like the class act he’s always been, quickly bounced back and was ready to help Hilinski, Joyner and his team. “It’s hard. The guy puts everything into being the quarterback here and it’s very difficult,” Muschamp said. “[But] that’s who he is. That’s the type of person he is, that’s how he was raised. That’s why he will be succesful in life.” “He’s a guy that takes a lot of stuff but he takes it and rolls with it,” linebacker T.J. Brunson said. “It definitely sucks, but he’s out here still motivating everybody and being the guy that we need.”

FOOTBALL • NORTH CAROLINA RECAP

Jake Bentley

PLAYER OF THE GAME

ERNEST JONES

Jones led the Gamecocks with 12 tackles in his first career start and also had two pass breakups, one in the end zone. “He made a lot of plays,” head coach Will Muschamp said. “I was pleased with his first real start at the Mike.” September 2019

NUMBERS THAT MATTER

DB Jaycee Horn had two forced fumbles in the game, including one on a sack that led to a turnover.

101 Westpark Blvd. Suite D Columbia, SC 29210 Bus. 803-772-2221 mac.senn@edwardjones.com

DE D.J. Wonnum, returning from an injury-marred 2018 season, had three tackles for loss in the season opener. DT Javon Kinlaw had his third career blocked kick and now has one in each of the past three seasons.

Kinlaw had four tackles in the game. He also had a pass breakup, a sack, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry.

Mac Senn Financial Advisor

RB Tavien Feaster had an exciting debut, scoring on a 34-yard run for South Carolina’s first touchdown of the season. Feaster led the Gamecocks with 72 yards rushing on 13 carries.

www.edwardjones.com

Gamecock Marketplace

LB Ernest Jones and RG Eric Douglas made their first career starts vs. North Carolina, while freshmen DBs John Dixon and Jammie Robinson both started in their first games. Dixon and Robinson became the eighth and ninth Gamecocks to start an opener as true freshmen.

“The best Pimento Burger in town! It melts in your mouth!” – Ed G S&F

Mon-Fri 7am-6pm • Sat 7am-4pm • Closed Sunday

7235 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212 phone 803.781.4002 • fax 803.781.4220 MathiasSandwich.com

SENIOR RATES/STUDENT/MILITARY $23 MON.-FRI. $28 SAT.-SUN.-HOLIDAYS GUEST $34 MON.-FRI. $38 SAT.-SUN.-HOLIDAYS TWILIGHT SPECIALS EVERY DAY!

Student Twilight: $18 after 11AM Mon.-Fri. $18 after 12PM Sat. Sun. Holidays. 803.755.2000 WWW.CHARWOOD.COM

The Publick House Restaurant & Pub

September 2019

2307 Devine Street 803-256-2625

www.publick-house.com

QB Jake Bentley threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to TE Kyle Markway. Bentley is now responsible for 63 career touchdowns, tying him with Stephen Garcia for third on the all-time list.

Always Open 2 Hours Before Kickoff!

NORTH CAROLINA RECAP • FOOTBALL

SC President Robert Caslen

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. NORTH CAROLINA PHOTOS BY TRAVIS BELL, ALLEN SHARPE & JENNY DILWORTH

Will Muschamp and Mack Brown

FOOTBALL â&#x20AC;¢ SC VS NORTH CAROLINA

September 2019

SC VS NORTH CAROLINA â&#x20AC;¢ FOOTBALL

South Carolina 72, Charleston Southern 10

Bounce-back Performance Edwards, Hilinski lead Gamecocks on record-setting day By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor Photos by Allen Sharpe & Jenny Dilworth

ryan Edwards caught just one pass for seven yards in the seasonopening loss to North Carolina. To Will Muschamp, that was unacceptable. Unacceptable for Edwards, and the offense. “We have to get the ball to Bryan Edwards. We have to put him in situaitons where he is getting the ball,” Muschamp said. “Coming out of that game, that is something that I demanded.” Freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski, making his first career start, heeded that advice. And Edwards answered the call, leading South Carolina with five receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns on a record-setting day for the Gamecock offense. With Carolina leading 21-3, Hilinski capped a 61-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Edwards early in the second quarter. Less than two minutes later, he found Edwards again for a 60-yard touchdown to blow the game open in a 72-10 rout of Charleston Southern. “He did a good job getting the ball to me,” Edwards said of Hilinski. Edwards was one of many stars on a day when South Carolina set a school record with 775 yards of total offense. Hilinski was spectacular in his first start, completing 24 of 30 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown, as did backup quarterback Dakereon Joyner. The Gamecocks were also dominant on the ground, rushing for a school-record 493 yards and scoring eight rushing touchdowns. Rico Dowdle scored two while fellow senior Mon Denson rushed for 118 yards and had a 57-yard touchdown. Freshman Kevin Harris led the Gamecocks with 147 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including TD runs of 45 and 75 yards. It was a much-needed performance after the Gamecocks managed just 270 yards of total offense in the 24-20 loss to North Carolina. Especially with senior quarterback Jake Bentely sidelined with an injury and Hilinski making his first career start. “I thought we came out of the chute well offensively,” Muschamp said. “I thought Ryan played extremely well. He was very accurate with the football and quick with his decisions, and we played well around him. “All in all, I thought it was a good day.”

FOOTBALL • CHARLESTON SOUTHERN RECAP

September 2019

NUMBERS THAT MATTER

QB Ryan Hilinski made his first career start, scored his first career touchdown and threw his first career TD pass. QB Dakereon Joyner also scored his first career touchdown. RB Kevin Harris had his first career carry and also scored his first career touchdown.

WR Bryan Edwards had five receptions for 112 yards, moving him to third on the all-time list with 169. Hilinski became just the sixth true freshman to start at quarterback since the Gamecocks joined the SEC, joining Steve Taneyhill (1992), Mikal Goodman (1999), Lorenzo Neal (2015), Brandon McIlwain (2016) and Jake Bentley (2016).

Edwards also scored two touchdowns, giving him 18 for his career, sixth on the all-time list.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Kevin Harris

While Ryan Hilinski and Dakereon Joyner both had big games against Charleston Southern, it was another freshman who stole the show. Kevin Harris saw his first action and led Carolina with 147 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just six carries. Harris scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter and then broke loose for touchdown runs of 45 and 75 yards. He became the first true freshman to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Marcus Lattimore in 2010. September 2019

South Carolina scored the most points under Will Muschamp, the fifth-most in school history.

Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rushing total was the most in program history and the most since 474 against Presbyterian in 1937.

493

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN RECAP â&#x20AC;˘ FOOTBALL

SOUTH CAROLINA VS. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN PHOTOS BY ALLEN SHARPE & JENNY DILWORTH

FOOTBALL â&#x20AC;¢ SC VS. CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

September 2019

SC VS CHARLESTON SOUTHERN â&#x20AC;¢ FOOTBALL

SOCCER

Not In Our Net

Anna Patten

Nationally ranked Gamecocks led by stellar defense again By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by Allen Sharpe

outh Carolina allowed less than a goal per game in 15 of Shelley Smith’s first 18 seasons as head coach. In the history of the Gamecock program, five of the team’s best goals-against averages have come in the past seven seasons. Led by stellar defense and elite goalkeeping, the Gamecocks have routinely ranked among the nation’s best when it comes to keeping the ball out of its own net. This season has the potential to be the best of the best. “We have a lot of potential and we know that,” Gamecock center back Anna Patten said in mid-August before the season began. “And we know we have a target on our

WOMEN’S SOCCER • PREVIEW

backs because of that. But we work hard and we want to keep clean sheets. That’s our goal. We’ll be disappointed if we concede one.” With record-setting goalkeeper Mikayla Krzeczowski and a defense that includes Patten, two-time defending SEC Defensive Player of the Year Grace Fisk and outside backs Tatumn Milazzo and Sarah Eskew, the Gamecocks backline has tremendous depth. “It’s full of All-SEC [type] players,” Smith said. “I think we’re one of the best in the nation,” said Milazzo, a senior and team captain. “I think we work so hard and work so well together. … I think we can definitely be

unstoppable and have potential to push the team hopefully deep in the [NCAA] Tournament.” The Gamecocks (5-0) ranked No. 7 in the nation as of midSeptember and had allowed just 0.2 goals per game. The Gamecocks pitched four shutouts in their first five games, and Patten and Milazzo each won an SEC Defender of the Week award. “We’re very strong defensively,” Fisk said. “… Limiting the goals against us and keeping shutouts is definitely going to be a strength for us.” Krzeczowski entered her senior season with a program- and SEC-

record 34 career shutouts. She’s the active NCAA leader in the category and will likely end the season first in program history in goals-against average and minutes played for a goalkeeper. “We’ve been lucky to have a long history of strong goalkeepers, and that has a lot to do with our defense,” Smith said. “The quality of defenders in front of [Mikayla] can be that much better knowing they can leave balls in the 18 [yard box] that she’ll sweep up or come out to get. “She’s vocal, makes good decisions. … That makes everyone else around her confident.” Fisk, a senior and two-time All-American, was named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, an annual honor that recognizes the top NCAA Division I women’s soccer player. Entering this season, she had been part of 28 shutouts during her 44-match career, a percent (63.6) that’s the best in the SEC during that span. She’s the first Gamecock to win SEC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and the first defender to be named an All-American in back-to-back seasons in South Carolina history. Patten, a teammate of Fisk’s in the England national team program, joined South Carolina in April as a transfer from Florida State, where she was a part of the Seminoles’ 2018 National Championship team. She tied for fifth on the team in points and was part of a Seminole defense that had 16 shutouts. “We have full confidence she’s going to do well and make our back line as strong as ever,” Smith said. Patten and Fisk have known each other since before they were teenagers, when their club teams played against each other. They both entered the national team program around 15 years old and teamed up to help England earn bronze at the 2018 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. They remained good friends (they roomed together for most of the World Cup) and spoke often during Patten’s transfer process. “We joked around that [Grace] was my agent,” Patten said.

September 2019

Milazzo, a senior who earned All-SEC second-team honors in 2017, brings an ability to come forward from her right back position. She scored two goals last season, including a game-winner against Georgia. “We’ve always been kind of defense-heavy, so it’s always been a battle … every single practice,”

Mikayla Krzeczowski

she said. “Anything can change so everyone’s always battling for a spot. It pushes everyone to be better. We all want to be on the field when the games come.” Junior Sarah Eskew, who played in more 80 minutes five different times last season, rounds out the starting group at left back. Redshirtfreshman Paige Mikula slotted into the starting unit while Patten spent time earlier in the season with the England national team. At the end of a chat with reporters before the season, Smith was jokingly asked about the chances her team goes the entire season without allowing a goal. “That’s impossible in soccer, but I thought it was impossible to go undefeated in the SEC and we’ve done that two seasons,” Smith said. “So I guess anything’s possible. “ … I think we’re capable of limiting top opponents to few goals.” While the Gamecocks allowed a goal in the first half of the first game of the season, the team proved over its next stretch of games why such a ridiculous statement could be made. Said Milazzo, “[Defensively], I think we can definitely break a lot of records and barriers that this program hasn’t done before.”

“The best dishwasher we’ve ever tested.” – Reviewed.com, Best of Year awards

2019 ROSTER NO. NAME

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 33 40 49

Mikayla Krzeczowski Heather Hinz Amanda Martin Rebecca Koch Anna Patten Luciana Zullo Camryn Dixon Paige Mikula Bianca Galassini Elexa Bahr Jenn Colter Riley Tanner Samantha Meredith Riane Coman Abby Hugo Grace Fisk Eveleen Hahn Samantha Chang Susan Kehl Ryan Gareis Tatumn Milazzo Lauren Chang Frances Ann Matise Claire Griffiths Anne Frances Lorio Meredith Christopher Sutton Jones Jyllissa Harris Morgan Armstrong Sarah Eskew

FT8-1819696-1

Tatumn Milazzo

September 2019

CLASS HOMETOWN SR FR SO SR JR JR FR R-FR JR SR JR SO FR FR FR SR FR R-FR JR JR SR JR SO R-SO FR JR SO SO R-FR JR

Douglasville, Ga.

Laytonsville, Md. Miami Cary Grove, Ill. Harpenden, England Flemington, N.J. Cary, N.C. Richboro, Pa. Frankfort, Ill. Buford, Ga. Savannah, Ga. Caledonia, Mich. Charleston, S.C. Charleston, S.C. Cary, N.C. Bromley, London Lake Wylie, S.C. Mississauga, Ontario Dubuque, Iowa Naperville, Ill. Orland Park, Ill. Alpharetta, Ga. Dallas Wake Forest, N.C. Charlotte Fort Mill, S.C. Fort Mill, S.C. Hazlet, N.J. Davie, Fla. Centerville, Ga.

Grace Fisk

COACHING STAFF Shelley Smith — Head Coach Jamie Smith — Associate Head Coach Clark McCarthy — Assistant Head Coach

PREVIEW • WOMEN’S SOCCER

2019 ROSTER Aleksander Bjerke Christensson

Youth is Served Berson looking for growth from young team By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photo by Allen Sharpe

ark Berson knew his 2019 team was young, but it didn’t quite strike him just how young until he looked onto the field during a few of South Carolina’s preseason scrimmages. “One time there were [only] two players out there who had played on the field for South Carolina before,” the Gamecock head coach said. Eighteen of the 28 players on the 2019 roster, including nine freshmen, are new. “We have a very, very young team,” said Berson, who’s in his 42nd season as head coach. “… We have a nice blend of youth and some experience. “It’s the youngest team we’ve had in a long, long time. But that’s OK. There’s a reason why they’re on the field, and that’s because they’re good.” “I think if we play the way we want to play and everyone puts in 100 percent effort and attitude, I think we can beat everyone in the country,” said senior Luca Mayr, who led the team with 11 points (four goals, three assists) last season.

MEN’S SOCCER • PREVIEW

As of Sept. 11, the team was 3-1, including a come-from-behind overtime victory at Stone Stadium against Gardner-Webb. (Because of its youth, Berson reminded his team before overtime that the next goal would win the game.) “They’re a pretty talented bunch, so the biggest thing for us is trying to get them to meld together and play off of each other and play quickly,” Gamecock assistant Justin Cook said. “I think we’re better in the attack going forward than we have been in a long time. “… Once that starts clicking, we could score a lot of goals.” That attacking group features Mayr, senior Tucker Monheimer, who scored the game-winning goal against Gardner-Webb, and Brian Banahan, who scored an overtime game-winner against USC Upstate. Banahan, a freshman, was a twotime first-team all-state high school player in Kentucky. It also features freshman Logan Frost, the Alabama Gatorade High School Player of the Year last season, as well as sophomore Andrew Halloran.

NO. NAME CLASS 0 Nick Brady JR 1 Justin Bauer JR 2 Mitchell Myers JR 3 Frano Buhovac JR 4 Dylan Bartel FR 5 Paul Quildies GR 6 Kyle Gurrieri JR 7 Luca Mayr SR 8 Jared Gulden JR 10 Tucker Monheimer SR 11 CJ Mitchell-Smith JR 12 Brian Banahan FR 13 Logan Hitzeman FR 14 Donovan Wu FR 15 Mark Roby FR 16 Aleksander Bjerke Christensson SR 17 Logan Frost FR 18 Andrew Halloran SO 19 Brad Kurtz R-SO 20 Seth Wiebusch SO 21 Josh Corning SO 22 Parker League FR 23 Elijah Bebout SO 24 Zach Kirkwood FR 25 Ryan Bilichuk SO 26 Ethan Rose FR 29 Drew Johnson SR 33 Buenyamin Yusufoglu JR

HOMETOWN Jacksonville, Fla. Oviedo, Fla. Aiken, S.C. Capljina, Bosnia Fleming Island, Fla. Essen, Germany Totowa, N.J. Steyr, Austria Greenville, S.C. Louisville, Ky. Brampton, Ontario Lexington, Ky. Thornton, Col. Medford, N.J. Lewisville, Texas Oslo, Norway Birmingham, Ala. Greer, S.C. Crown Point, Ind. Harrisonville, Mo. Chapin, S.C. Huntsville, Ala. Denton, N.C. Lewisville, Texas Falls Church, Va. Milton, Ga. Duluth, Ga. Dinslaken, Germany

COACHING STAFF Mark Berson — Head Coach Justin Cook — Assistant Coach Tyler Kettering — Assistant Coach

Mayr and juniors Mitchell Myers and Paul Quildies, three of the team’s top-six point scorers from last season, all missed time at the start of the season, which paved the way for freshmen Parker League and Logan Hitzeman and sophomore Elijah Bebout to see extended minutes. “Some of our younger guys are having to step up,” Berson said after the Gardner-Webb game. “I’m really pleased with what they’ve done.” Berson’s major takeaway from the early games is that his team is resilient. South Carolina was down 2-0 in an exhibition match at Duke and came back to tie it 2-2. It trailed Wofford 1-0 in an exhibition and came back to win 7-1. It also scored to tie Clemson before falling to the Tigers 4-1 in its regular-season opener. “The biggest thing we pride ourselves on is commitment to playing every game to our best potential

and never leaving anything on the field,” Monheimer said. “We’re here to fight and we’re here to win,” Hitzeman said after the Gardner-Webb game. With a young roster, the team has made a point of trying to establish a familial environment. “Everyone runs for everyone,” Mayr said. “One loses, everyone loses. One wins, everyone wins.” The team preaches attitude, effort and toughness. Berson knows the team will have to weather some low points during the season. He just wants to see it trend upwards. “You definitely have to get a game program when you come to our matches and start to learn these guys,” Berson said. “But we’re excited about them. We’re excited about this team and we’re excited about how it’s going to grow throughout the season. “ … The future’s exciting, but the future’s now. We want to win now.”

September 2019

823 Lady Street Columbia, SC 29201

GO GAMECOCKS!

FANS! FT2-1819771-1

WEL OME When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anticipating game day, you have Gamecock football on the brain. But lucky for you Columbia SC has plenty of hotels, restaurants, live music spots and activities for the whole family to turn game day into a full-ďŹ&#x201A;edged weekend. Plan your trip at ExperienceColumbiaSC.com

FT2-1819969-1

September 2019

VOLLEYBALL

Mikayla Shields

Hungry For More

Coach Tom Mendoza

Gamecock Volleyball ready for next step after NCAA Tournament run By Josh Hyber | Staff writer • Photos by SC Athletics

om Mendoza learned plenty during his team’s historic 2018 season, when it reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and the tournament as a whole, for the first time since 1992. The South Carolina volleyball coach wants his players to cherish the memories and learn from the experiences. But he also wants his talented, deep and experienced 2019 team to move on from its past — to write its own story. Maybe one with an even better ending than last season. “[Last season is] just the tip of the iceberg for where I think this program can go,” Gamecock senior outside hitter Mikayla Shields said. “ … Last year was like, ‘Oh my goodness, we can do this.’ Now this year it’s, ‘Let’s see how far we can push this. Let’s see how far we can go.’ 34

VOLLEYBALL • PREVIEW

“That’s a driving force for this year. Let’s see what happens when we put in the work and do our best and keep staying hungry.” Chapter one of the regular season had the Gamecocks play three road tournaments (Pittsburgh, Orlando, Clemson) with just one home game sandwiched between. As of Sept. 11, the team was 4-3. “We have to be careful not to think that last year gets us anything,” Mendoza said. “ … We’re slowly going to build a résumé. And that takes consistency. I think our team understands that. But it’s easy to say, hard to do. Hopefully we’re prepared for those challenges. Hopefully, if we’re deserving at the end of the year, those things will happen.” “Last year was great. It was awesome. We made really great strides, but now we have to focus on

this year,” Gamecock senior setter Courtney Koehler said. “ … We need to use what we did last year and really push for what’s ahead.” In short, the Gamecocks are talented and, like Shields said, hungry. First, the talent. “We’ve got five hitters that can kill the ball,” Mendoza said. “And our setter does a really good job making choices and putting our hitters in good situations.” South Carolina has Shields, a two-time All-SEC performer, junior Mikayla Robinson, an All-SEC honoree last season, and senior Brit McLean, who ranked second on the team with 301 kills. It also has Koehler (see page 36), who ranks seventh in the program’s 46-year history in assists, senior Claire Edwards, who had career bests in kills (184) and blocks (78) last season, and junior Jess Vastine,

who led the team in both serves received (584) and service reception percentage (.942) last season. “They’ve matured. They’re growing into different roles,” Mendoza said. “They all want a little bit more ownership. And they’re ready for that responsibility.” Outside hitters Kylie Stokes, Alicia Starr and Holly Eastridge have also seen extended playing time. The Gamecocks lost libero Aubrey Ezell, who graduated as the only player in program history to reach 2,000 assists, 1,000 digs and 175 aces in a career. Enter senior Addie Bryant. The junior libero (defensive specialist) played all but two sets for the Gamecocks last season and finished fourth on the team in digs and second in serve reception percentage, committing 24 errors in 408 receptions (.941). Sophomore Lauren Bowers has also seen time at libero. It’s a determined, focused squad. “I know we’ve got it. We’ve got the stuff. We’ve got the fire and the intensity and the chemistry and everything you need to make an amazing team, and I think it’s going to show,” Koehler said. “Our players know what they’re preparing for,” Mendoza said. “Our players know why the standard is what it is.” Last season, Mendoza’s first with the program, he implemented only some of his playbook and philosophies. The team stuck to simple schemes, which allowed it to play loose because it knew its system inside and out. But it hurt the team,

September 2019

2019 ROSTER NO. NAME

according to Mendoza, when it was pushed out of its comfort zone. This season, the entire playbook is in. With a deeper roster, it’s a team ready to implement more wrinkles to its attack. The team talks often about trusting the process and being the best it can be every day in practice. Mendoza knows those are clichés,

but they’re true. “The thing we focus on most, in practice, is being consistent enough to be at our best every time we step on the court,” Shields said. “Once you put in that work, and we have, then you can be good. I think we’re going to be good.” “The sky’s the limit,” Koehler said.

TAILGATE TRAYS TO-GO See website for menu

GAMECOCK CLUB MEMBERS

$5.00 off any ticket of $25.00 or more Just show your membership card.

September 2019

Established 1978

Claire Edwards Addie Bryant Jess Vastine Lauren Bowers Courtney Koehler McKenzie Moorman Mikayla Shields Camilla Covas Cordova Mikayla Robinson Holly Eastridge Kaely Ann Thompson Brittany McLean Anna Holman Amari Wilson Alicia Starr Courtney Weber Gabby Brown Kylee Stokes Brooke Gostomski

CLASS

HOMETOWN

SR Columbia, S.C. SR San Antonio JR Wittman, Ariz. SO Simpsonville, S.C. SR Asheville, N.C. FR Elmhurst, Ill. SR Orlando FR San Juan, Puerto Rico JR West Dundee, Ill. FR Avon, Ind. R-SO Greenville, S.C. SR Rosemount, Minn. FR Murrieta, Calif. SO Allen, Texas SR Blue Springs, Mo. R-FR Concord, N.C. FR Summerfield, N.C. FR Phoenix, Arizona JR Muskego, Wisconsin.

COACHING STAFF Tom Mendoza — Head Coach Shonda Cole Wallace — Assistant Coach Ethan Pheister — Assistant Coach

BRUNCH

Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m Sun: 10:00 a.m. – Noon Full Bloody Mary Bar

REGULAR MENU

Sun – Thurs: 11:15 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Bar: 12:00 p.m./till) Fri and Sat: 11:15 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Bar: 11:15am -1:00 am)

PREVIEW • VOLLEYBALL

FT8-1820370-1

Courtney Koehler (6) and Claire Edwards (1)

1 2 3 4 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 19 20 22 23 24 N/A

Setting ‘Em Up Courtney Koehler leaving her mark on Gamecock program By Brandon Alter | Contributing writer • Photos by SC Athletics

“N

atural leader” and “hardest worker on the court” were the words South Carolina volleyball head coach Tom Mendoza and senior Claire Edwards used to describe Courtney Koehler. A senior, Koehler has been the team’s primary setter for her entire Gamecock career. “I think we just talk to Courtney Koehler differently than we would someone that hasn’t been through it,” Mendoza said. “I think we can explain the why a little bit more. We can tell her what we’re looking for in certain situations. She understands that. We don’t have to worry about freaking her out. She can handle a little bit more of that. “We can hold her to a little bit of a higher standard because we know she can get the job done. She has confidence in herself and she knows that we have the confidence in her.” 36

With a dominant final season, Koehler has a chance to crack the top five in program history in assists after having back-to-back seasons with over 1,100. These numbers are in large part due to the chemistry she has developed with her hitters. The setter, much like the point guard on a basketball team, has to conduct the offense and make decisions quickly on the court. And much like a point guard, Koehler has to decide whether to keep feeding someone the ball if they are on a hot streak or in a rut. Before most rallies, Koehler can be seen pulling on her jersey and signaling play calls to her teammates. “I think she does a good job of understanding those things on her own. Hopefully we [the coaching staff] do a good job of helping Courtney feel prepared for what our game plan is,” Mendoza said. “But

VOLLEYBALL • COURTNEY KOEHLER

those decisions are so fast that a lot of them are in her hands. “She has a great sense for the game.” “If that first pass isn’t perfect, she knows where to put it and we know where to go,” said Edwards, an outside hitter. “It just happens with being with her over time. She knows how we hit and we know how she sets. It’s really a fluid motion.” Koehler often goes to a hitter who is in a rut to see if setting the ball differently could help. “She knows how to pick [us] up,” Edwards said. “… Being with her for four years has definitely helped our connection and helped other juniors and seniors. I think she also does a really good job with helping freshman become comfortable on the court as well.” Koehler likes to keep things light on the court. “I like to make little jokes here and there,” she said. “If it’s a more

intense situation, I’ll just say, ‘I’m going right back to you. Just continue to be up, and I’ll find you.’” While Koehler said she doesn’t care about the numbers, it would still mean a lot to finish top five in program history in assists. “It would be the biggest honor. It would be the biggest honor because it is something that I left here. I really left my mark on the program,” Koehler said. “It would be amazing, but honestly putting the team in a better situation than when I came here is my main goal.” With three years under her belt, Koehler has the experience and intangibles every coach looks for. “She’s going to leave her mark,” Mendoza said. “… I think it’s a great privilege to coach someone like that. It’s such an important position and to have someone of her quality as a player and a person, it’s certainly a nice benefit for a coach.”

September 2019

All Baseball content sponsored by: DiPrato’s

BASEBALL

With strong recruiting class, Mark Kingston says, ‘We are going to be good this year’ By Jeff Owens | Executive Editor • Photo by Jenny Dilworth

September 2019

to the draft while backup Chris Cullen graduated. Two of the top players in the new class are grad transfers Dallas Beaver from Central Florida and Bryant Bowen of Southern Miss, who can both catch. Beaver was a Cape Cod League All-Star this summer, while Bowen hit .341 last year at Southern Miss. Both can also play the corner infield positions. Sophomore catcher Wes Clarke also had a big summer, making the Valley League all-star team. There are also two freshmen catchers in Jax Cash and Colin Burgess. “We feel pretty good that that will be a very strong position for us,” Kingston said. “I think our pitchers will be incredibly better this year and our catching situation is very good.” Kingston also welcomes back two key pitchers who missed last season with injury. Friday night starter Carmen Mlodzinski made just three starts before breaking his foot against Clemson and missing the rest of the season. He also shined this summer in the elite Cape Cod League. Senior Graham Lawson also returns after missing last season with Tommy John surgery. Lawson is expected to be the team’s closer after closing some big games down the stretch in 2018. Kingston said he is already throwing 92-94 mph and will probably top out at 95-96 by the time the season starts. The offense returns four starters and will get a boost from Beaver, Bowen and such highly touted recruits as freshman infielder Brennan Milone and junior-college transfers Noah Myers and Jeff Heinrich. With pitching ace Brett Kerry leading a deep staff, Kingston believes his 2020 team will be much better than the 2019 group. “Very, very excited about where this thing is going,” he said. “We are moving where we need to be moving, that I can assure you.”

Coach Mark Kingston

Let us cater your next event Home or Away!

Delightful. Delicious. DiPrato’s. Brunch at Di Prato’s

Voted Best Brunch three times by Free Times, Columbia Metropolitan, and The State Newspaper!

Saturday and Sunday 10 am - 2 pm!

Pick up our Famous Pimento Cheese and other Gourmet items, or order from our Catering Menu to take home! Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm • Sun. 10am-4pm Brunch Served: Sat. and Sun. 10am-2pm

FT8-1819695-1

he start of football season was just days away, but there was no one on campus more excited than South Carolina baseball coach Mark Kingston. Kingston had his first team meeting of the year Aug. 23 and welcomed 17 new players to his 2020 squad. “I’m very excited moving forward and can’t wait for that first team meeting to look into their faces for the first time and talk about why we are going to be good this year,” Kingston said prior to the meeting. After leading the Gamecocks back to the NCAA Super Regionals in his first season in 2018, Kingston’s second team struggled to a 28-28 record (8-22 in the SEC) last year and missed the postseason. South Carolina lost five players to the MLB Draft and eight others who either graduated or left the program. Kingston calls his 2020 class “one of the best in the country.” The class, which includes 17 new players, was ranked No. 11 in the nation by Baseball America. Among the 17 are nine high school players, six junior-college transfers and two graduate transfers. Nine recruits from this year’s class were drafted, the most in the country, with six deciding to come to South Carolina. “They all will have a pretty signifcant impact on our team this year and moving into the future,” Kingston said as he prepared for the start of fall practice on Sept. 16. “We are very optimistic about where this thing is going. That doesn’t guarantee anything but it is sure as heck a nice place to start.” Among the 17 new players are seven pitchers, including three of the top four junior-college pitchers in the country last year in Andrew Peters, Thomas Farr and Brannon Jordan. There are also four new catchers. The Gamecocks lost starting catcher Luke Berryhill

342 Pickens Street, Columbia • 803.779.0606 www.dipratos.com FALL PREVIEW • BASEBALL

Martin’s program could be on verge of strong run By Bill Gunter | Contributing writer

eptember features plenty of college football, but later this month basketball practice for the 2019-20 season begins. This is probably one of the most anticipated seasons in a long time due to the talent on the roster and the way the team finished the 2018-19 season. Here’s a few reasons this could be a season to remember. One of the main issues with Martin’s teams over his first seven years has been the amount of turnover in the offseason. Following the incredible Final Four run in 2017, the Gamecocks lost seniors Sindarius Thornwell, Duane Notice and Justin McKie as well as sophomore P.J. Dozier, which created big holes to fill. While people were excited for basketball, losing your two best players in Thornwell and Dozier, as well as key pieces in McKie and Notice, made it hard to expect a repeat. That is not the case this season with nearly the entire roster returning, along with the addition of two highly-touted players that sat out

last season. The Gamecocks return one of the most dynamic players in the SEC in sophomore guard A.J. Lawson. He will be joined by senior Maik Kotsar, redshirt sophomore Justin Minaya and sophomore Keyshawn Bryant, who have all shown the ability to contribute and lead the team. While those three players will be expected to carry the load, the Gamecocks also feature new additions in grad transfer Micaiah Henry, transfer Jair Bolden and redshirt freshman Jermaine Couisnard. This will give Martin one of his deepest rosters to date and allow him to play multiple rotations that should match up with the opponent each night. The depth of the roster is one of the reasons fans should be excited, along with the different types of players that fit Martin’s preferred defensive style. The Gamecocks’ Final Four run was propelled by strong defense with big guards that could get into the passing lanes and make it difficult for opponents to run their offense.

This year’s team is loaded with players 6-5 and taller that should create similar mismatches. Lawson, Bryant and Minaya are all big guards or forwards capable of guarding the perimeter, which will make it fun to see what type of havoc they can create against a halfcourt offense. Martin has produced solid offensive teams in the past, but his style works best when he has the athletes to cause nightmares for opposing ball handlers. The Gamecocks should have that this season. Along with a solid roster, the Gamecocks have a fun schedule against quality teams. The nonconference home game against Houston in December will bring a Sweet 16 team from a year ago to Colonial Life Arena and will be followed up with road trips to Clemson and Virginia. Prior to that, in November, the Gamecocks will participate in the Cancun Challenge against Wichita State and head coach Gregg Marshall, and then hopefully against Martin’s former boss, Bob Huggins and West Virginia.

All five of those non-conference games will give the Gamecocks a solid RPI ranking heading into the conference schedule, which features home games against Florida, Kentucky and LSU. Martin faced an uphill climb trying to make South Carolina basketball relevant again but in seven years it looks as if he has built a roster that can play with anyone in the SEC and be a serious contender to make a tournament run in March. And this season could be a springboard for Gamecock basketball for many years to come. Martin has laid the foundation with solid players that will carry the Gamecocks for multiple years and this could be the start of a good run.

Bill Gunter is the co-host of the Early Game on 107.5 The Game in Columbia. Follow him on Twitter @WillGunter.

an Dream It.. If You C . We Can Build It! Partner With An Award Winning, Established and Respected South Carolina Swimming Pool Company With Endless Referrals of Satisfied Customers.

Owned and operated by Bill Muller, USC team captain for ‘66, ‘67, ‘68 Swim Teams.

Bill Tindall 803.783.1037

USC Class of ‘89 795 Greenlawn Dr., Columbia SC

Discount and insurance offered only with select companies and subject to availability & qualiﬁciations. Discount amount may be lower. Allstate Fire & Casualty Insurance Co. Northbrook, IL Z 2009 Allstate Insurance Co.

COLUMN • BILL GUNTER

FT11-1818661-1

You deserve an Agent that can tackle more. Insure your home & car with Allstate, and I can help you save on both policies.

Since 1972 • South Carolina’s Largest and Oldest Pool Builder!

7433 1/2 Broad River Road, Irmo, SC 29063 732-3636 ext 10 or “0” • info@aquarianpools.com

www.aquarianpools.com

FT8-1819701-1

September 2019

Five losses worse than the North Carolina stinker By Ed Girardeau | Contributing writer

hat a start to 2019. Once again, I have been proven to be not much of a prognosticator. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m officially retired from guessing how South Carolina football games will go before they are played. The fallout from the seasonopening loss was harsh and fast. I have to admit, I was pretty disgusted along with many of you. It was just an all-around poor performance against North Carolina. It did not take long to get messages that the season was over. My cousin, who was at the game, wrote me a message that it was the most disappointed heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been in his 62 years of life. My response to him was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Really?â&#x20AC;? My cousin and I are lifers. We used to sit together at Carolina games before they played at Williams-Brice Stadium in our early teens. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been disappointed before. Which got me to thinking, what would be the most disappointing loss in my history of Gamecock football?

Keep in mind, I only go back to 1970. I was too young to remember before that, so you may recall some bad losses before that time. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my top five (excluding losses to Furman, Pacific, App State, and The Citadel, twice, and every loss to Clemson). 1. Navy. Need I say more? That one word and all of Gamecock Nation, including those who born after 1984, know what it means. At least we beat Clemson the next week. 2. 1980 at Georgia. George Rogers would go on to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out Herschel Walker, but on that day the Dawgs had the last laugh, winning 13-10. Carolina was the better team that day and was headed toward the winning touchdown, but a fumble turned it over and Georgia went on the win the national championship and South Carolina would go on to lose in a huge upset at Clemson and get blown out by Pittsburgh in the Gator Bowl. Sick ride home from Athens.

3. 2015 at LSU. After a flood hit Columbia, the LSU game was moved to Baton Rouge. In a mostly empty stadium, LSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s band played the USC fight song to try and make us feel better about the 45-24 loss. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work and three days later Coach Spurrier resigned (not retired). Hard to be lower than that. 4. 2014 vs. Texas A&M. Coming off a season where the Gamecocks finished No. 4 in the country, Carolina was ranked No. 9 and a preseason favorite for another big year. Texas A&M came into Columbia and just blew through South Carolina for a 52-28 win. Carolina would finish out of the top 25 by seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end. 5. 1992 Carolina opened the season with five straight losses, including a 48-7 drubbing by Alabama that included the new hero, Steve Taneyhill, getting in the game and throwing a pick-six. As if that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bad enough, the team had a meeting after the game and asked head coach Sparky Woods to resign. I can remember thinking, this is it. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re never going to recover from this.

The point of ending with that season is that Woods didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t resign, despite the howls. Taneyhill became the starter and Carolina won five of its next six games, beating two ranked teams (Mississippi State and Tennessee). The Gamecocks gave No. 11 Florida all they wanted and beat Clemson, 24-13, in Death Valley. All was not lost after that dreadful start and all is not lost now. The schedule is challenging, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an opportunity to win a game or two or three that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not supposed to win. All is well. If history tells us anything, the Gamecocks will bounce back. With loyal devotion, remembering the days â&#x20AC;Ś

Ed Girardeau is a 1982 South Carolina graduate and has been a columnist for Spurs & Feathers since 2012. You can reach him at edgirardeau@spursandfeathers.com.

Touchdown Zone Tailgate Spot Available!

The Touchdown Zone. Spot 52, right by the exit.

Next to bathrooms, TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and live music. Just off Key Road and right across from the cockabooses and stadium.

Contact Mark Ackerman â&#x20AC;˘ 888.252.1766 â&#x20AC;˘ MarkA@imgsc.com

| | THE WILLIAMS GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY

September 2019

$10,000 or best offer SPACE E, Front Row Parking Near Gate Call for details: 803-206-0234

FT8-1820399-1

Parking Space for Sale The COOP

FT8-1820623-1

ED GIRARDEAU â&#x20AC;˘ COLUMN 39

FT11-1818634-1

September 2019