ATHLETIC UPDATES

Recent Mission Trips

Mission Trip to Portland, Maine

The Campus Ministry Mission team began their 2019 winter break by going to Portland, Maine. There they served with Preble Street, an organization that assists those experiencing homelessness. This was Campus Ministry’s second trip to Preble Street, but the first time in the winter. Over and over, the team was asked the same question, “Why in December?”

December was a perfect time for a mission trip. The need in Portland was great. Portland has had an increase of those experiencing homelessness. The city has been the host to a large population of Congolese refugees that are awaiting to be granted asylum.

Rev. Wiles says of the trip, “We carried with us the prayers of the campus, the community, and partnering congregations. We gifted our new friends with scarves (many handmade), socks, hats, gloves, coats, and homemade Christmas cards. We carried the light of Christ into a chilly neighborhood and watched as the warm embers of that light/love ignited many hearts.”

Mission Trip to Waianae, Hawaii

Spring Break 2020, Campus Ministry took sixteen students to Waianae, Hawaii. There they served at Pu’u Kahea Conference Center, a camp owned and operated by the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention. The team prepared the facility to host thousands of people by remodeling the dining hall, cleaning, and repairing the outsides of the bunkhouses. The Chowan team was the largest group of volunteers the facility has ever had. The team worked effectively and efficiently to complete four days of work in 2 1/2 days.

The team also partnered with Waianae Baptist Church with their extensive food bank ministry, packing and distributing over 150 boxes of food. Additionally, the team led worship at the church and the local family shelter.

Through these experiences and new connections, the team experienced God through the residents of Waianae, HI, and learned that this beautiful island is more than a vacation destination.

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS 2019-20

COOPER DRAFTED BY PERFORMANCE LAB IN ASBA DRAFT

The dream to play professionally became a reality for one Chowan student-athlete, Haley Cooper, as her name was announced as the 54th pick in the American Softball Association's (ASBA) draft by the Performance Lab team.

The ASBA is in their second year of existence comprising of four teams: The Performance Lab, E1 Pro Ballers, The Field, and Moh-BEEL! USA. The league is held from June 14-July 30 at Pat Hicks Softball Field in Satsuma, Alabama.

Cooper, a Perquimans County, N.C. native, was a four-year standout for the Hawks' Softball program. The catcher turned infielder helped the program to four straight CIAA Northern Division Titles, back-to-back CIAA Softball Championships (2017 and 2018), and back-to-back NCAA Atlantic Regional appearances (2017 and 2018).

CHOWAN ADDS ESPORTS

Chowan University announced the addition of Esports beginning Fall of 2020. Esports is competitive gaming using video games on various platforms, most often in the form of organized, multiplayer competitions.

Chowan will join the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), which formed in 2016 and serves as the largest governing body of intercollegiate Esports in the country. NACE currently has over 60 member institutions across the United States, accounting for over 94 percent of intercollegiate programs in the country. In 2018, the Peach Belt Conference will sponsor Esports as a conference championship, with the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and the East Coast Conference (ECC) sponsoring championships as well.

CHOWAN’S 197980 FOOTBALL TEAM HONOR LEGENDARY COACH JIM GARRISON

Members of the 1979-80 Chowan Football Team converged on campus Saturday, November 2 for the final home game of the season. Mike Grant, Hall of Famer and reunion organizer, presented each alumnus a Chowan Blue t-shirt which read, "Inspired By The Legend ---Coach Garrison." Jody Schultz, who was a second round draft pick for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles in 1983, was also in attendance. His professional football legacy tallied five memorable seasons (1983-87) with the Eagles.

The former Chowan teammates enjoyed sharing stories of their days under coach Jim Garrison.

MEN'S SOCCER CLAIMED 2019 REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP

The Chowan Men’s Soccer team continued their climb to the top of the Conference Carolinas by obtaining the 2019 Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship and the top overall seed in the

Chowan Men's Soccer claimed the Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championship with a 2-1 overtime win against Emmanuel.

tournament. The Hawks would host the Conference Carolinas Championship, ultimately falling to eventual champion, Limestone, in overtime.

TOBY SIMS NAMED D2CCA ALL-AMERICAN

Toby Sims accomplished something that no other player in Conference Carolinas’ history had done before by being named Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Sims would also go on to become the second player in Chowan Men’s Soccer history to be named Division II Conference Commissioner Association (D2CCA) All-American.

COKER SCORED 1,000 CAREER POINTS

Mariah Coker became the seventh player in Chowan’s NCAA history to score 1,000 career points. Coker, a four-year starter for the Chowan Women’s Basketball program, finished off her career as the Chowan Division II leader in steals (226) and assists (424). Coker also became the first player for the Hawks to be named All-Conference in two different leagues after earning Conference Carolinas Third Team honors in the program’s first season in the new league. Coker was named CIAA Rookie of the Year and AllCIAA Rookie Team in 2016-17.

THE PANDEMIC EFFECT ON SPORTS

The afternoon of March 12, Chowan Athletics suspended all spring sports due to COVID-19. The Conference Carolinas honored the senior studentathletes by naming them AllConference. On July 9 the CIAA suspended football. On July 22 Conference Carolinas plans to proceed with Fall season. Then on August 15 the Conference Carolinas suspended fall season. On October 30 CIAA canceled the 2020-21 Bowling Season And Championship.

In November, Conference Carolinas officially unveiled its 2021 conference basketball schedule.

ALL DIVISION II AND ALL DIVISION III TEAMS

Teams were created based on the following criteria but not limited to: Chowan Hall of Fame, All-American, Conference Player of the Year, First Team AllConference, All-Region, Second/ Third Team All-Conference, Career Stats, Graduation from Chowan (or in their senior year), and drafted by professional sports organization. These teams can been seen on the following pages. Congratulations to those named.

ALL-DIVISION TEAMS

ALL-DIVISION TEAMS

ALL-DIVISION TEAMS

SEESE TABBED TO LEAD CHOWAN MEN'S LACROSSE PROGRAM

The Chowan Athletic Department announced the hiring of Josh Seese as the head coach of the Men's Lacrosse program in June 2019. Seese comes to Chowan after spending three seasons as the head coach at Potomac State College (NJCAA). During his stint with the Catamounts, Seese saw improvement in two seasons competing against Division I programs and several NJCAA top25 programs.

NIKKI WHITE PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF SWIMMING

The promotion of Nikki White as Director of Swimming in June 2019. She entered her third season in with the Hawks after spending her first two seasons as the assistant men's and women's swimming coach. White helped the program to a fourthplace finish on both sides at the Conference Carolinas Swimming Championships in 2018-19.

ASHLEY GUSTAFSON NAMED HEAD SOFTBALL COACH

Ashley Gustafson was hired as the head coach of the Chowan Softball program in June 2019. Ashley Gustafson is no stranger to Chowan athletics after spending three seasons as an assistant coach under former coach Brian DeWitt from 2014-2017.

Gustafson returns to Chowan after spending the past two years as a middle school teacher at Conway Middle School in nearby Conway, N.C. During her time with the Blue Devils, Gustafson was the head softball coach, assistant volleyball coach, Math department chair, and a part of the Staff Leadership and PBIS Culture teams.

SNELSON LEADING NEW ESPORTS PROGRAM

In March, it was announced that TJ Snelson would begin the Chowan Esports program. Snelson comes to Chowan after a stint with the Petersburg Racquet Club in Martinez, Georgia. Aside from his career in the tennis world, Snelson played competitively in Rocket League seasons 1-3, where he was the Rocket League Grand Champion in season 3. He was a Diamond level player in League of Legends during season 3 and Legend ranked player on Hearthstone.

ATHLETICS

CHRIS HARRIS LEADING CROSS COUNTRY

Chris Harris joins the Chowan Women's Lacrosse staff as an assistant coach for the 2021 season. Harris will also serve as the Head Coach of the Men's and Women's Cross Country programs. Harris comes to Chowan after five seasons at Northside High School in various positions.

NEW ASSISTANT COACHES

Several assistant coaches joined the Hawks:

Michael Branch, Assistant Coach for Men's and Women's Swimming Ashley Collins, Assistant Softball Coach.

Leon Eason, Assistant Football Coach: Wide Receivers

Colin Neely, Assistant Football Coach: Defensive Coordinator

Erik Pratt, Assistant Football Coach: Offensive Line/Strength And Conditioning John Wheeler, Assistant Football Coach: RB/TE/Special Teams Coordinator